Jason

Haha I like that one, Keith and Rita! Anyone else have a cruise joke or two to share?

Haha I like that one, Keith and Rita! Anyone else have a cruise joke or two to share?

Welcome to CruiseCrazies!!!! Hope to see you posting often!

It's with great pleasure that I announce to you that as of today, CruiseCrazies is listed as the first website on Yahoo, Google, and AOL seach engines, when you search for the phrase "cruise forums."

It's with great pleasure that I announce to you that as of today, CruiseCrazies is listed as the first website on Yahoo, Google, and AOL seach engines, when you search for the phrase "cruise forums."

Cruise line donates $100,000 for city's youth, elderly programs By MELANIE CREAMER, Portland Press Herald News Assistant Matthew Hudson, owner of Scotia Prince Cruises, presented a $100,000 donation to the city of Portland on Wednesday for the Elders and Children Trust proposed by former Mayor James Cloutier. The trust will be used to improve existing recreational programs and create new efforts to target Portland's youth and the elderly in the Portland area. As mayor, Cloutier presented the idea to the City Council, which voted to pass the initiative last week. Cloutier, who was recently succeeded as mayor by Nathan Smith, said the trust is a creative way to provide funding for recreational services in two of the city's most at-risk populations. "The trust will help provide funding for recreational activities for children and elders that would otherwise not have the financial means," said Cloutier. "We understand the relationship between exercise, health and a good quality of life. This is a way for the business community to help provide to this community effort." The Kiwanis Club made one of the first donations to the trust by donating the cost of admitting children to the Kiwanis Pool on Douglass Street. Hudson's donation from Scotia Prince Cruises is a matching grant, designed to generate a total of $200,000 in contributions from local businesses. The gift is being presented in $50,000 donations. One was made Monday, and the other will be made June 1. The money will be made available over a six-month period as matching grants are made. Any unmatched funds will go to the state and will be allocated by Gov. John Baldacci.

Cruise line donates $100,000 for city's youth, elderly programs By MELANIE CREAMER, Portland Press Herald News Assistant Matthew Hudson, owner of Scotia Prince Cruises, presented a $100,000 donation to the city of Portland on Wednesday for the Elders and Children Trust proposed by former Mayor James Cloutier. The trust will be used to improve existing recreational programs and create new efforts to target Portland's youth and the elderly in the Portland area. As mayor, Cloutier presented the idea to the City Council, which voted to pass the initiative last week. Cloutier, who was recently succeeded as mayor by Nathan Smith, said the trust is a creative way to provide funding for recreational services in two of the city's most at-risk populations. "The trust will help provide funding for recreational activities for children and elders that would otherwise not have the financial means," said Cloutier. "We understand the relationship between exercise, health and a good quality of life. This is a way for the business community to help provide to this community effort." The Kiwanis Club made one of the first donations to the trust by donating the cost of admitting children to the Kiwanis Pool on Douglass Street. Hudson's donation from Scotia Prince Cruises is a matching grant, designed to generate a total of $200,000 in contributions from local businesses. The gift is being presented in $50,000 donations. One was made Monday, and the other will be made June 1. The money will be made available over a six-month period as matching grants are made. Any unmatched funds will go to the state and will be allocated by Gov. John Baldacci.

Welcome to CruiseCrazies, to those of you who have recently joined us! Hope to see you all posting often

By Dale K. DuPont, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 3 - Norwegian Cruise Line has two weeks to fork over $26,164.95 to pay travel expenses of attorneys suing the company over the explosion aboard the Norway. Another $22,000 is still in dispute. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Lawrence Schwartz told the Miami company on Tuesday to pay for the plane tickets, hotel stays and other costs of a trip to Germany to examine the ship. The expense flap is part of a $50 million lawsuit filed on behalf of the survivors of Winston Lewis, a steward and 31-year veteran of NCL. He was one of eight crew members killed in the May 25 boiler-room blast at the Port of Miami-Dade. Miami admiralty lawyer Luis A. Perez wanted to take maritime experts onboard before the ship was towed to Germany this past summer. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Leslie Rothenberg first ordered the ship to stay in port, but NCL objected saying it already had lined up the tugs and wanted to leave before hurricane season. Judge Rothenberg let the ship go, but NCL had to let Perez inspect it and pay his trip expenses. A group of eight lawyers and experts made the three-day trip in July. they started sending invoices to NCL soon after they returned. A motion filed in mid-November said NCL had not paid for any of the expenses. The lawyers wanted a total of $48,094.36, but the sides will have to battle early next year over the hourly fees for the experts to go to Germany instead of Miami. "Right now, we're going to reimburse [Perez] for his out-of-pocket expenses," Judge Schwartz told NCL's attorney Noah Silverman. Later, Silverman declined to comment further. This is the second recent collection dispute involving the accident. Last week, relatives of 10 dead and injured Filipino crew members sued because they want NCL to give them money from a charitable fund established after the explosion. They also accuse the line of refusing to say how much has been collected and how it will be distributed. An NCL attorney said the fund is for everyone affected by the blast and decisions about distributing the money will be made by those running the fund. Meanwhile, the Norway is sitting at the yard in Bremerhaven awaiting its fate. NCL in July said the liner would not return to service until next spring at the earliest. The explosion will cost about $11 million in lost revenue and other expenses this year, NCL parent Star Cruises said in August. The Malaysian company already has received a $9.2 million insurance payout, which helped boost third-quarter profit.

By Dale K. DuPont, The Miami Herald Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Dec. 3 - Norwegian Cruise Line has two weeks to fork over $26,164.95 to pay travel expenses of attorneys suing the company over the explosion aboard the Norway. Another $22,000 is still in dispute. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Lawrence Schwartz told the Miami company on Tuesday to pay for the plane tickets, hotel stays and other costs of a trip to Germany to examine the ship. The expense flap is part of a $50 million lawsuit filed on behalf of the survivors of Winston Lewis, a steward and 31-year veteran of NCL. He was one of eight crew members killed in the May 25 boiler-room blast at the Port of Miami-Dade. Miami admiralty lawyer Luis A. Perez wanted to take maritime experts onboard before the ship was towed to Germany this past summer. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Leslie Rothenberg first ordered the ship to stay in port, but NCL objected saying it already had lined up the tugs and wanted to leave before hurricane season. Judge Rothenberg let the ship go, but NCL had to let Perez inspect it and pay his trip expenses. A group of eight lawyers and experts made the three-day trip in July. they started sending invoices to NCL soon after they returned. A motion filed in mid-November said NCL had not paid for any of the expenses. The lawyers wanted a total of $48,094.36, but the sides will have to battle early next year over the hourly fees for the experts to go to Germany instead of Miami. "Right now, we're going to reimburse [Perez] for his out-of-pocket expenses," Judge Schwartz told NCL's attorney Noah Silverman. Later, Silverman declined to comment further. This is the second recent collection dispute involving the accident. Last week, relatives of 10 dead and injured Filipino crew members sued because they want NCL to give them money from a charitable fund established after the explosion. They also accuse the line of refusing to say how much has been collected and how it will be distributed. An NCL attorney said the fund is for everyone affected by the blast and decisions about distributing the money will be made by those running the fund. Meanwhile, the Norway is sitting at the yard in Bremerhaven awaiting its fate. NCL in July said the liner would not return to service until next spring at the earliest. The explosion will cost about $11 million in lost revenue and other expenses this year, NCL parent Star Cruises said in August. The Malaysian company already has received a $9.2 million insurance payout, which helped boost third-quarter profit.

From a passenger cruise ship, everyone can see a bearded man on a small island who is shouting and desperately waving his hands. "Who is it?" a passenger asks the captain. The cruise ship captain replied, "I've no idea. Every year when we pass, he goes nuts." Let's put together a list of all our favorite cruise jokes here!

From a passenger cruise ship, everyone can see a bearded man on a small island who is shouting and desperately waving his hands. "Who is it?" a passenger asks the captain. The cruise ship captain replied, "I've no idea. Every year when we pass, he goes nuts." Let's put together a list of all our favorite cruise jokes here!

Welcome home imosoreal! Hoping to hear all about it!!

Welcome home imosoreal! Hoping to hear all about it!!

Welcome aboard to CruiseCrazies, APH! Hope to get to know you through your postings.

Hey Neon, Welcome back!! I hope you had a great time. Can't wait to hear all about the Zuiderdam and how your week went!

Hey Neon, Welcome back!! I hope you had a great time. Can't wait to hear all about the Zuiderdam and how your week went!

By SARA KUGLER The Associated Press 12/2/03 8:00 PM NEW YORK (AP) -- Faced with increasing pressure from New York City officials, industry associations and labor leaders, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay decided Tuesday to cancel plans to house guests for the 2004 Republican National Convention on a cruise ship off Manhattan, his spokesman said. "Where we hold events for the Republican convention is not something he cares about, it's not worth spending energy on," said DeLay's communications director, Stuart Roy. "He'll go to the mat on things that matter, but this does not." Also, Norwegian Cruise Line, which owns the ship DeLay planned to charter, said in a statement it was pulling out of the deal because it determined the use of the ship for the convention was not commercially viable. The turnaround came hours after the city's hotel association, labor leaders and Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney urged Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. George Pataki to pressure GOP leaders to scuttle the plan, saying the river retreat would draw more than $3 million away from city businesses during the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 convention. "I'm glad Congressman DeLay has decided to sink this idea once and for all," Maloney said late Tuesday. "It's good for New York and good for the Republican convention." The plan was to house visiting convention-goers on the Norwegian Dawn, which is usually used to take vacationers from New York to Florida and the Bahamas. The ship features 10 restaurants, 14 bars, several swimming pools, basketball courts, movie theaters and a spa and could have accommodated more than 2,200 conventioneers, who critics said would otherwise spend their money in city hotels, restaurants and theaters. "We don't need to have this party out in the river; we need to have this party and this convention in New York City," said Peter Ward, president of the New York Hotel Trades Council, a union that represents 25,000 hotel workers. "Our citizens and my members in the hotel industry are expecting the revenue." A spokesman for Bloomberg said the mayor had called DeLay on Monday in an effort to talk him out of the cruise ship idea, and they when they finally spoke on Tuesday, DeLay agreed to put the idea aside. A spokeswoman for Pataki said the governor had always encouraged convention attendees to use the city's hotels and said he believed the right decision was made. DeLay had argued that a ship docked on the Hudson River, a few blocks from convention headquarters at Madison Square Garden, would allow increased privacy and security for the members of Congress, lobbyists and others who stay aboard.

By SARA KUGLER The Associated Press 12/2/03 8:00 PM NEW YORK (AP) -- Faced with increasing pressure from New York City officials, industry associations and labor leaders, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay decided Tuesday to cancel plans to house guests for the 2004 Republican National Convention on a cruise ship off Manhattan, his spokesman said. "Where we hold events for the Republican convention is not something he cares about, it's not worth spending energy on," said DeLay's communications director, Stuart Roy. "He'll go to the mat on things that matter, but this does not." Also, Norwegian Cruise Line, which owns the ship DeLay planned to charter, said in a statement it was pulling out of the deal because it determined the use of the ship for the convention was not commercially viable. The turnaround came hours after the city's hotel association, labor leaders and Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney urged Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. George Pataki to pressure GOP leaders to scuttle the plan, saying the river retreat would draw more than $3 million away from city businesses during the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 convention. "I'm glad Congressman DeLay has decided to sink this idea once and for all," Maloney said late Tuesday. "It's good for New York and good for the Republican convention." The plan was to house visiting convention-goers on the Norwegian Dawn, which is usually used to take vacationers from New York to Florida and the Bahamas. The ship features 10 restaurants, 14 bars, several swimming pools, basketball courts, movie theaters and a spa and could have accommodated more than 2,200 conventioneers, who critics said would otherwise spend their money in city hotels, restaurants and theaters. "We don't need to have this party out in the river; we need to have this party and this convention in New York City," said Peter Ward, president of the New York Hotel Trades Council, a union that represents 25,000 hotel workers. "Our citizens and my members in the hotel industry are expecting the revenue." A spokesman for Bloomberg said the mayor had called DeLay on Monday in an effort to talk him out of the cruise ship idea, and they when they finally spoke on Tuesday, DeLay agreed to put the idea aside. A spokeswoman for Pataki said the governor had always encouraged convention attendees to use the city's hotels and said he believed the right decision was made. DeLay had argued that a ship docked on the Hudson River, a few blocks from convention headquarters at Madison Square Garden, would allow increased privacy and security for the members of Congress, lobbyists and others who stay aboard.

Hey gogetter! Thanks for sharing your review with us. Sorry to hear the gambling didn't work out. Better luck next time. Glad to hear you had a nice time anyways. I can't wait till our next cruise - I think I'll be able to gamble in the casino..isn't is age 18?

Hey gogetter! Thanks for sharing your review with us. Sorry to hear the gambling didn't work out. Better luck next time. Glad to hear you had a nice time anyways. I can't wait till our next cruise - I think I'll be able to gamble in the casino..isn't is age 18?

Hey Aaron! Welcome to CruiseCrazies! We hope to see you posting often so we can get to know you!! Enjoy!

Cruising event draws 1,300 travel agents to Fort Lauderdale by Tom Stieghorst Business Writer Sun Sentinel About 1,300 visitors are expected in Fort Lauderdale this week for the Winter Cruise-a-thon sponsored by Travel Trade Productions. The event helps travel agents sell cruises more effectively. Included are tours of some of the cruise ships operating at Port Everglades, including Holland America Line's brand new Oosterdam, and vessels from Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. The program begins Wednesday at the Broward County Convention Center and continues through Sunday. Keynote speakers include Holland America Chief Executive Officer Kirk Lanterman and Norwegian Cruise Line Senior Vice President Andy Stuart. The Marina Marriott Fort Lauderdale and Embassy Suites 17th Street are the primary hotels that will benefit from the event. American Airlines is limiting the number and size of bags during the holiday season on flights to Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the flights affected are American Eagle's between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau, The Bahamas, where luggage will be limited to two checked bags and one carry-on between Nov. 22 and Jan. 9. For many other destinations, boxes will not be accepted and bags are limited to two checked and one carry-on from Dec. 10 to Jan. 9. Those destinations include Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Caracas, Venezuela, which are served from Fort Lauderdale. Other destinations on the list served through Miami include: Cali, Colombia; Maracaibo, Venezuela; La Paz and Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Lima, Peru; and Quito, Ecuador (all South America); Managua, Nicaragua; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Panama City, Panama; San Salvador, El Salvador; San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, Honduras (all Central America); Kingston, Jamaica; and Port of Spain, Trinidad (both Caribbean). All American Eagle flights to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, are also included. Peter Dolara, senior vice president of Miami, the Caribbean and Latin America, said this year's list of affected cities has been narrowed from last year's and the embargo period has been shortened. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will present its annual courtesy awards on Thursday to a dozen Broward County hospitality workers who have performed exemplary acts of customer service this year. In addition to recognition, winners typically get a free weekend at a resort, trips, shopping sprees and other prizes. The awards are scheduled for noon at the Palm Room in the Broward County Convention Center. Airline passenger traffic surged in South Florida in October, according to reports from airports in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Traffic at Palm Beach International Airport rose 19.7 percent over the same month a year earlier, with 438,833 total passengers. That contributed to a 10.1 percent jump in traffic for the 12 months ended Oct. 31. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways are neck and neck for fourth and fifth place among carriers serving the Palm Beach airport, with Southwest holding 9.56 percent of the traffic in October, and JetBlue 9.54 percent. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, traffic rose 12.1 percent in October to a record 688,686 passengers. It was the first double-digit monthly increase all year. For the first 10 months of 2003, traffic is up 4 percent.

Cruising event draws 1,300 travel agents to Fort Lauderdale by Tom Stieghorst Business Writer Sun Sentinel About 1,300 visitors are expected in Fort Lauderdale this week for the Winter Cruise-a-thon sponsored by Travel Trade Productions. The event helps travel agents sell cruises more effectively. Included are tours of some of the cruise ships operating at Port Everglades, including Holland America Line's brand new Oosterdam, and vessels from Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. The program begins Wednesday at the Broward County Convention Center and continues through Sunday. Keynote speakers include Holland America Chief Executive Officer Kirk Lanterman and Norwegian Cruise Line Senior Vice President Andy Stuart. The Marina Marriott Fort Lauderdale and Embassy Suites 17th Street are the primary hotels that will benefit from the event. American Airlines is limiting the number and size of bags during the holiday season on flights to Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the flights affected are American Eagle's between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau, The Bahamas, where luggage will be limited to two checked bags and one carry-on between Nov. 22 and Jan. 9. For many other destinations, boxes will not be accepted and bags are limited to two checked and one carry-on from Dec. 10 to Jan. 9. Those destinations include Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Caracas, Venezuela, which are served from Fort Lauderdale. Other destinations on the list served through Miami include: Cali, Colombia; Maracaibo, Venezuela; La Paz and Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Lima, Peru; and Quito, Ecuador (all South America); Managua, Nicaragua; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Panama City, Panama; San Salvador, El Salvador; San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, Honduras (all Central America); Kingston, Jamaica; and Port of Spain, Trinidad (both Caribbean). All American Eagle flights to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, are also included. Peter Dolara, senior vice president of Miami, the Caribbean and Latin America, said this year's list of affected cities has been narrowed from last year's and the embargo period has been shortened. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will present its annual courtesy awards on Thursday to a dozen Broward County hospitality workers who have performed exemplary acts of customer service this year. In addition to recognition, winners typically get a free weekend at a resort, trips, shopping sprees and other prizes. The awards are scheduled for noon at the Palm Room in the Broward County Convention Center. Airline passenger traffic surged in South Florida in October, according to reports from airports in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Traffic at Palm Beach International Airport rose 19.7 percent over the same month a year earlier, with 438,833 total passengers. That contributed to a 10.1 percent jump in traffic for the 12 months ended Oct. 31. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways are neck and neck for fourth and fifth place among carriers serving the Palm Beach airport, with Southwest holding 9.56 percent of the traffic in October, and JetBlue 9.54 percent. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, traffic rose 12.1 percent in October to a record 688,686 passengers. It was the first double-digit monthly increase all year. For the first 10 months of 2003, traffic is up 4 percent.

Lisa, Let's make it easy and instead of making our own ships, let's put our imagination and creativity together to create one mega-cruise ship!