Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'cruise'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Forums

  • Cruise Questions?
    • Ask our Expert Cruisers!
  • Cruise Discussion
    • Let's Talk Cruise!
    • Cruise Lines
    • Roll Calls and Group Cruises
    • Bon Voyage Messages
    • Cruise & Travel Deals
  • Community
    • Welcome New Members!
    • New Member Introductions
    • Community News Updates
  • Loyal to Royal Cruisers's Ship Talk
  • Loyal to Royal Cruisers's Crown & Anchor Stuff
  • Carnival Cruise Fans's Ship Talk
  • Carnival Cruise Fans's Cruise Director Chat
  • River Cruise Enthusiasts's Lines
  • River Cruise Enthusiasts's Destinations
  • River Cruise Enthusiasts's Rhine Getaway 2019
  • P&O Cruises United Kingdom's Welcome To P&O Cruises
  • CruiseCrazies Cruise 2019 - Let's PLAN!!'s Plan
  • CruiseCrazies Group 2020 - Never Too Early!!'s Cruise Ideas-2020
  • CruiseCrazies Group 2020 - Never Too Early!!'s Ready to Book: Sky Princess 11/05/20
  • Australian Cruising News's Australian Cruising News
  • CruiseCrazies Go Mediterranean- Viking Sea - May 28, 2021's Topics

Categories

  • Cruise Line News
    • Carnival Cruise Line
    • Royal Caribbean
    • Norwegian Cruise Line
    • Disney Cruise Line
    • Celebrity Cruises
    • Costa Cruises
    • Holland America Line
    • P&O Cruises
    • Princess Cruises
    • Other Cruise Lines
  • Articles
    • Unique Perspectives
    • Cruising Tips and Tricks
    • Planning your Cruise
    • Port Destinations
    • Cruising with Kids
    • Theme Cruising
    • First Time Cruising
    • Finding Cruise Deals
    • Romantic Cruising
    • Cruising Solo
    • Seasonal Cruising
  • Cruise Industry News
  • Port News

Categories

  • AmaWaterways
    • AmaBella
    • AmaCello
    • AmaCerto
    • AmaDante
    • AmaDara
    • AmaDolce
    • AmaDouro
    • AmaLea
    • AmaKristina
    • AmaLyra
    • AmaMagna
    • AmaMora
    • AmaPrima
    • AmaReina
    • AmaSerena
    • AmaSonata
    • AmaStella
    • AmaVenita
    • AmaVerde
    • AmaVida
    • AmaViola
    • Zambezi Queen
  • Avalon Waterways
    • Avalon Affinity
    • Avalon Artistry
    • Avalon Creativity
    • Avalon Felicity
    • Avalon Imagery
    • Avalon Luminary
    • Avalon Panorama
    • Avalon Poetry
    • Avalon Scenery
    • Avalon Tapestry
    • Avalon Tranquility
  • Azamara Cruises
    • Azamara Journey
    • Azamara Quest
  • Carnival Cruise Lines
    • Carnival Breeze
    • Carnival Celebration
    • Carnival Conquest
    • Carnival Destiny
    • Carnival Dream
    • Carnival Ecstasy
    • Carnival Elation
    • Carnival Fantasy
    • Carnival Fascination
    • Carnival Freedom
    • Carnival Glory
    • Carnival Holiday
    • Carnival Horizon
    • Carnival Imagination
    • Carnival Inspiration
    • Carnival Legend
    • Carnival Liberty
    • Carnival Magic
    • Carnival Miracle
    • Carnival Panorama
    • Carnival Paradise
    • Carnival Pride
    • Carnival Sensation
    • Carnival Spirit
    • Carnival Splendor
    • Carnival Triumph
    • Carnival Valor
    • Carnival Victory
    • Carnival Vista
  • Celebrity Cruises
    • Celebrity Beyond
    • Celebrity Century
    • Celebrity Constellation
    • Celebrity Eclipse
    • Celebrity Edge
    • Celebrity Equinox
    • Celebrity Flora
    • Celebrity Galaxy
    • Celebrity Horizon
    • Celebrity Infinity
    • Celebrity Journey
    • Celebrity Mercury
    • Celebrity Millennium
    • Celebrity Quest
    • Celebrity Reflection
    • Celebrity Silhouette
    • Celebrity Solstice
    • Celebrity Summit
    • Celebrity Xpedition
    • Celebrity Zenith
  • Costa Cruises
    • Costa Allegra
    • Costa Atlantica
    • Costa Classica
    • Costa Concordia
    • Costa Crociere
    • Costa Deliziosa
    • Costa Diadema
    • Costa Europa
    • Costa Fascinosa
    • Costa Favolosa
    • Costa Fortuna
    • Costa Luminosa
    • Costa Magica
    • Costa Marina
    • Costa Mediterranea
    • Costa Pacifica
    • Costa Romantica
    • Costa Serena
    • Costa Smeralda
    • Costa Venezia
    • Costa Victoria
  • Crystal Cruises
    • Crystal Serenity
    • Crystal Symphony
  • Cunard Cruise Line
    • Queen Elizabeth 2
    • Queen Mary 2
    • Queen Victoria
  • Disney Cruise Line
    • Disney Dream
    • Disney Magic
    • Disney Wonder
    • Disney Fantasy
  • Holland America Cruises
    • Amsterdam
    • Eurodam
    • Koningsdam
    • Maasdam
    • Nieuw Amsterdam
    • Nieuw Statendam
    • Noordam
    • Oosterdam
    • Prinsendam
    • Rotterdam
    • Ryndam
    • Statendam
    • Veendam
    • Volendam
    • Westerdam
    • Zaandam
    • Zuiderdam
  • MSC Cruises
    • MSC Armonia
    • MSC Fantasia
    • MSC Grandiosa
    • MSC Lirica
    • MSC Magnifica
    • MSC Melody
    • MSC Meraviglia
    • MSC Musica
    • MSC Opera
    • MSC Orchestra
    • MSC Poesia
    • MSC Rhapsody
    • MSC Seaside
    • MSC Seaview
    • MSC Sinfonia
    • MSC Splendida
  • Norwegian Cruise Line
    • Norwegian Breakaway
    • Norwegian Crown
    • Norwegian Dawn
    • Norwegian Dream
    • Norwegian Encore
    • Norwegian Epic
    • Norwegian Escape
    • Norwegian Gem
    • Norwegian Getaway
    • Norwegian Jade
    • Norwegian Jewel
    • Norwegian Joy
    • Norwegian Majesty
    • Norwegian Pearl
    • Norwegian Sky
    • Norwegian Spirit
    • Norwegian Star
    • Norwegian Sun
    • Norwegian Wind
    • Pride of America
    • Norwegian Bliss
  • Oceania Cruises
    • Oceania Insignia
    • Oceania Marina
    • Oceania Nautica
    • Oceania Regatta
  • Imperial Majesty
    • Regal Empress
    • Royal Lotus
    • Santa Cruz
    • Victoria Anna
    • Victoria Jenna
    • L'Austral
    • Le Boreal
    • Le Ponant
    • Le Soleal
  • Orient Lines
  • P&O Cruises
    • Pacific Aria
    • Pacific Dawn (Formerly the Regal Princess)
    • Pacific Eden
    • Pacific Explorer
    • Pacific Jewel
  • Paul Gauguin Cruises
    • m/s Paul Gauguin
  • Princess Cruise Line
    • Caribbean Princess
    • Coral Princess
    • Crown Princess
    • Dawn Princess
    • Diamond Princess
    • Emerald Princess
    • Golden Princess
    • Grand Princess
    • Island Princess
    • Ocean Princess
    • Majestic Princess
    • Pacific Princess
    • Regal Princess
    • Royal Princess
    • Ruby Princess
    • Sapphire Princess
    • Sea Princess
    • Star Princess
    • Sun Princess
    • Tahitian Princess
  • Regent Seven Seas
    • Seven Seas Explorer
    • Seven Seas Mariner
    • Seven Seas Navigator
    • Seven Seas Splendor
    • Seven Seas Voyager
  • River Cruises
  • Royal Caribbean
    • Adventure Of The Seas
    • Allure Of The Seas
    • Anthem Of The Seas
    • Brilliance Of The Seas
    • Empress Of The Seas
    • Enchantment Of The Seas
    • Explorer Of The Seas
    • Freedom Of The Seas
    • Grandeur Of The Seas
    • Harmony Of The Seas
    • Independence Of The Seas
    • Jewel Of The Seas
    • Legend Of The Seas
    • Liberty Of The Seas
    • Majesty Of The Seas
    • Mariner Of The Seas
    • Monarch Of The Seas
    • Navigator Of The Seas
    • Oasis Of The Seas
    • Ovation Of The Seas
    • Passion Of The Seas
    • Pulse Of The Seas
    • Quantum Of The Seas
    • Radiance Of The Seas
    • Rhapsody Of The Seas
    • Serenade Of The Seas
    • Sovereign Of The Seas
    • Spectrum Of The Seas
    • Splendor Of The Seas
    • Symphony Of The Seas
    • Vision Of The Seas
    • Voyager Of The Seas
  • Seabourn Cruise Line
    • Seabourn Encore
    • Seabourn Legend
    • Seabourn Odyssey
    • Seabourn Ovation
    • Seabourn Pride
    • Seabourn Sojourn
    • Seabourn Spirit
    • Seabourn Quest
  • Silversea Cruises
    • Prince Albert II
    • Silver Cloud
    • Silver Muse
    • Silver Shadow
    • Silver Whisper
    • Silver Wind
  • Star Clipper Cruises
    • Flying Clipper
    • Royal Clipper
    • Star Clipper
  • Uniworld
  • Windstar Cruises
  • Viking Ocean Cruises

Blogs

  • Where is Danny Black
  • The Smart Cruiser
  • The Accidental Cruiser
  • Cruise Confidential Blog
  • Jan's Sea & Shore Escapes
  • The Cruisetacular Weekly
  • Brilliance of the Seas 2013 - UNCUT!
  • Tuesday Travel Tips
  • Cruise With Us On The Jewel Of The Seas
  • CruiseMiss Goes Cruise Crazy
  • When Ship Happens
  • Roger Allnutt's Blog
  • Cruise Ship Crayz
  • Why I love cruising.

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


First Name


How did you find us?


Last Name


City


Zip


First Cruise Ship


First Cruise Year


Cruises Sailed


Days Cruised


Favorite Cruise Ship


Favorite Port of Call


Places I've Cruised To


Last Ship Sailed


Last Cruise Date


Next Cruise Ship


Next Cruise Date


Hobbies & Interests


Music


Movies


TV Shows


Sports


Food


Pets


Books


Quotes


Occupation

Found 23 results

  1. After 25 cruises it shocked me that I had not yet sailed onboard Norwegian Cruise Line and I knew I was way overdue to experience "Freestyle Cruising." Fast forward a few months, and I find myself on a train racing toward Grand Central Station to Board the Norwegian Escape to Bermuda! Perk number 1 of NCL departing out of Manhattan, it is the most convenient departure port for New Englanders that is a train, bus or car ride away. With the taxi, Uber and Lyft drop off directly in front of the terminal getting from Port Authority Bus Station or Grand Central Train Station could not be easier and takes about 10 minutes. Once you arrive at the Pier, your luggage is taken by a porter, and you are through security in about 5 minutes. Check-In: After security things got a little confusing, with lines every which way but little signage that directed me to where we needed to be, however, I believe this was because the Escape was very new to New York, I did find my way and was happy to be so close to boarding. I am very used to a check-in process that is different from Norwegians'. Typically my onboard expense account is set up when I check in online 2-3 weeks before my cruise, with Norwegian this is not, currently, an option and your expense account is handled at the pier. This lead to noticeable longer wait times to check in and was clear to me that the expense account was the reason for this, especially with chip cards. After the longer than normal check-in process, Thanks to Norwegian, my friend and I were quickly escorted onto the Escape before any other passengers and then the fun began! Boarding: Stepping onto the ship was that same feeling you get every time that feeling of escape, relaxation and excitement for the week that awaits you. The one thing that I was most excited to see was 678 Ocean Place! The hub of the ship did not disappoint, with a marvelous multi-colored Chandelier dangling in the center, I immediately realized that this was going to be my favorite part of the ship! Booking Onboard Experiences: I have been on quite a few ships that have well over 4,300 passengers and have always been able to make reservations online before sailing. With Norwegian, I realized that there is a significant amount of onboard experience that you can only book once you are onboard. We were lucky enough to be the second people in line and finished booking everything that we needed and even though we just booked three activities it took about 20 minutes for the crew member in the box office to do this and an extremely long line formed behind us, definitely not the way I want to start off a cruise. So I would make sure this is your first stop when boarding to try and avoid lines! Garden Cafe: The buffet area onboard Norwegian Escape, the Garden Cafe, had a lovely relaxed vibe with hand washing stations at every entrance and a large variety of foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night snacks until 12 A.M! Dinner was a different global influence every night, with breakfast and lunch remaining consistent throughout the cruise! Accommodation: We were booked in a Family Balcony Stateroom on deck 9. The stateroom was spacious, had plenty of storage space, a mini refrigerator, hairdryer, television, plenty of outlets included one on each side of the bed and a beautiful view from the spacious private veranda! This stateroom has the capacity of 4 people with a bunk bed that drops from the ceiling and a sofa bed with plenty of room to move around! Freestyle Dining: Freestyle dining was the best, included, dining I have ever experienced on a cruise ship! Being able to choose a different restaurant and time every night was fantastic. I was expecting a different menu in each restaurant; however, most everything on the menu is the same in each restaurant, but the atmosphere is different in each one! For those of you who are unfamiliar with "Freestyle Dining," this is how it works. You can make reservations for one of, typically, three "main dining rooms" in this case we had choices of the Manhattan Room, Savor, and Taste. Each restaurant has the same menu and same times, but you can enjoy different atmospheres, times and wait staff every night! So say goodbye to being stuck in one dining room, at the same table, at the same time for the length of your cruise and hello to freedom to do what you like! For those of you who still enjoy the traditional way of dining with the same place, time and waitstaff you can do that too! To ensure you have the same time place and waitstaff every night go to a hostess at the very beginning of your cruise and let them know that is what you want and they will make it work! Onboard Activities: The Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the Breakaway Plus class of ships, so there are many activities onboard with but unfortunately laser tag and Go Karts did not make it onboard ? #firstworldproblem, am I right?) Waterslides: An absolute must try, my only regret was not trying them sooner. The Escape is equipped with two freefall slides and one "Aqua Racer" which is a nice relaxing slide! So you can opt for the exhilaration of the racer slides or the laid back lazy Aqua Racer slide and have the time of your life on both! Ropes Course: I understand why the Go-Kart tracks have replaced this, it was anti-climatic, at least for adults I can see children from 7-15 enjoying this activity. Is it worth doing, of course, but only once per cruise is fine! Learn More about Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard features here! Onboard Entertainment: While on a cruise that is overnight in a port it is easy to miss the onboard entertainment, but we made it a point to try and get to everything we could! The comedy shows onboard were offered almost every night both for families and for adults only. Of course, we chose the adults-only show and we left Howl at the Moon exhausted from laughter! The on-stage shows offered onboard Escape currently are, After Midnight and For the Record: The Brat Pack. Both shows are can't miss, it is a bit difficult to follow the story but the talent is OUT OF THIS WORLD do not miss one show! The small shows such as the Newly Wed game and similar shows were typically held in the Atrium, each show was unique and had its distinctive flair. In addition to small shows, you can also see cooking demonstrations, dance classes, cruise ship 101 and more in the atrium daily! Learn More about Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard entertainment here! Disembarkation: Although this is the worst part of the cruise, regardless if the process is smooth or not we all know smoother disembarkation is preferred over a prolonged wait for the enviable (reality). Disembarking the Escape was, and I hate to say it, the most unorganized process I have ever experienced. Now I definitely can not place all of the blame on Norwegian because it seemed that customs and the coast guard slowed them down, a lot. So disembarkation was quite horrible, but we were able to get a glimpse of the Norwegian Bliss, so that made everything better! Ratings: The below ratings are based on a 5 "wave" 5 being the best and 1 the worst, and it is waves because why not! These ratings are strictly opinion based and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cruise Ship Crayz TM. Check-in and embarkation: 3 Waves Some improvement is needed on the organizational side at the Manhattan cruise terminal to speed up the check-in process. Security is quick and Easy! Onboard Dining: Included Dining: 5 Waves The food onboard the Escape was some of the best-included food I have had at sea in a long time, and of course, the service was impeccable! Specialty Dining: I can not give a rating because I enjoyed the main dining rooms so much I forgot to try one! Onboard Activities: Solid 4 Waves The wide variety of activities offed onboard the Escape keep you busy all day, but I didn't get that WOW factor from the activities. Onboard Entertainment: 4 Waves As mentioned above The talent was incredible, but I was looking for more of a storyline, still can't miss shows! Accommodations: 5 Waves We loved our stateroom and attendant, and we had more than enough space to spread out and unpack completely! Disembarkation: 2 Waves Disembarkation was horrendous with people coming from all direction to get in a line that I am still looking for. I would opt for the express walk off! Overall I absolutely loved my first Freestyle cruising experience and can not wait to be back onboard a Norwegian cruise ship! I would highly recommend cruising onboard a Norwegian cruise to anyone, especially those with children! Click here to learn more about Norwegian Cruise Line and the Norwegian Escape!
  2. I set the phone back in its cradle and with a sigh of irritation I leaned back in my chair. The custom shower tile was going to be late…even later than it already was. Delays are a part of custom home building, but this particular job has had hiccup after hiccup, and frankly this little gem of good news is not going to be received well by my client. Deciding to put off that impending phone call for just another moment, I instead began opening up the mail. Bill…bill…bill…junk…bill…junk…big manila envelope. Hmmm…it’s from our lumber supplier. Frowning in puzzlement, I slid out the glossy brochure and a letter that was addressed to myself and my partner-in-crime and “boss,“ my husband Scott. Dear Scott and Stacey, Congratulations! As a thank you from SmallTown Lumber Company, we are pleased to announce that you have qualified for our end-of-the-year “SmallTown VIP Giveaway!” As a top customer, you are one of our “SmallTown VIP‘s!” As a token of our appreciation, we’re giving our largest customers an all-expense-paid “VIP” dream vacation! This “VIP” vacation includes a 7 night Alaskan cruise, airfare to Seattle and all transfers. Please contact our corporate travel agent for scheduling and details. From everyone here at SmallTown Lumber, we thank you for being a “SmallTown VIP!” I believe I read the letter a dozen times. Is this for real? Yes…the return address is correct. Yes…I recognize the signature on the bottom of the letter. Holy cow…this is for real!! I started thumbing through the glossy brochure in amazement. The photos showed an enormous ship silently gliding through channels of sheer cliffs and snow kissed mountains. Happy looking people dotted the outside decks pointing in amazement at the beautiful scenery. A bald eagle majestically soared through the unbelievably blue sky in the background. The plume of vapor from a whale erupted from the glassy surface of the water. Bright white icebergs were dotted all around the ship’s hull. Wait…ICEBERG’S?? Reality hit me like a face full of arctic water. Uhhh…me…on a cruise??? I’m too young to go on a cruise…I’m only 28!! We’re too active for a cruise!! We’ll be bored!! What if we get seasick??!! Why, I’ll surely feel trapped! Oh. My. Gosh…What if the ship hits one of those iceberg things? What if it sinks??!! I can’t swim in freezing water! A mental image of Scott and I running together in panic, hand in hand just like Jack and Rose flashes through my mind. Ok, enough. I snapped myself out of my dramatic little daydream and snatched up the phone to call Scott to tell him the news. He had the same reaction as me, while we were overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief at the generous gift…we just couldn’t shake the, “Oh goody…a cruise,” state of mind. While we love to travel, we’d never even considered taking a cruise before. Knowing we could not turn this down, I called the travel agent to get the details. By the time I hung up, we were booked. June 6...a ship called the Diamond Princess….balcony room…Seattle round trip to somewhere called the “Inside Passage.” A cruise. We’re going on a cruise. Blinking a few times in shock, I started thinking of all the planning and research that was ahead of me. Me, on a cruise? In six weeks??!! Little did I know, I was about to become “The Accidental Cruiser”…. To be cont'd...
  3. When it comes to cruising, many of you know I have no issues just letting it all hang out. Well, I do put my belt on to suck some of it in, but when it comes to deck parties and night-life on the high seas you can bet your bottom dollar that yours truly, his whistle and party crew will be in the house ready to BAA-RING DA NOISE! A conversation I had with a fan inspired this post and I hope the words I shared with her would also encourage you to jump out of your comfort zone and live life to the fullest! YOLO! So there I was a few months ago sitting in the karaoke lounge sailing on Carnival Glory. A fan of the blog approached and struck up a conversation with me. She was saying how she couldn't understand how I could get up in front of so many people and not seem to care what they thought of me; if they were laughing at me and even wanted to know how I "showed my face" around the ship the next morning. I simply told her this, "I stopped caring what people had to say about me when I realized no matter if I pleased 1 or 1 million, everyone was not going to like everything I did - which is fine by me. I also realize that I will never see most of the people on this cruise ever again in my life... so why not give them a show?" She began to nod and laugh. I said, "You only get one shot to live this life here on earth, so why not spend your days laughing hard, cuttin' a rug and showing others they too don't have to just sit there but can join in!" She soon grabbed her teenage daughter, brought her to the karaoke lounge and together they took the stage singing Coldplay's smash hit, "Viva la Viva!" I gave them both a standing ovation and the mother told me, "I did it because I took what you said to heart!" I have walked into many nightclubs on cruises where people aren't dancing and the mood needs to be that of a club and not a community music sitting center. So with all the dance floor space I see, I round up my crew, we jet for the floor and GET IT INNNN! Then before I know it, others are joining us asking if they can hang with us while we're in the club. That's when I realized that when cruising people can get so caught up into what everyone else is thinking of them, they allow strangers to hinder themselves from having a great time. Is that you? Stop that right now if it is! Yes, now I do know that not everyone is an extrovert and/or is comfortable with displaying goofy moments in poolside games, vocal abilities at karaoke or even their gaming skills in the casino, but I do know that we all have a chance to use a cruise to help us step outside of our comfort zone, wouldn't you agree? I mean come on, you eat all that food when everyone is looking (you may not even know it sometimes, but people are watching), so why not put on a show for 'em?! Next time you hit the high seas, don't let your shy and bashful side get the best of you - shine like the brightest star in galaxies and let the ship know YOU know how to bring the noise! As always, you're cruisetacular for reading and I have nothing but love for ya! Keep cruising and grooving--Shon!
  4. Happy Monday, cruisetacular peeps! I hope you all have been enjoying the cruising stories I've shared over the past few weeks. I'm gonna take a break from them today, but know I'll have many more in the weeks and months ahead. In fact, I just finished my blog-writing schedule last night for the duration of 2013 and it's hard to believe another year is getting ready to close on us. Whew! Time is flying, wouldn't you say? I noticed a trend on my side of town and was wondering if you all have the same thing happening where you live? I was going through my closet the other day and realized I have an overabundance of cruise ship t-shirts. Many I wear to the gym, some I use as clothing changes when doing videos for my Youtube Channel and others are archived in plastic because they're so vintage. I have Carnival Cruise Line's m/s Celebration's inaugural cruise tee, Celebrity Cruises' m/v Horizon graphic tee and even Norwegian Caribbean Line's (now Norwegian Cruise Line) s/s Norway on a tee (you can view here). Many of you may have seen these shirts in a few videos I've done, but if you do the math something doesn't quite add up... Many of you may wonder how do I own shirts of cruise ships that are older than me? How did I find them? Where did I find them? Well, the answer lies in a hidden gem in my neighborhood - my local thrift store. Seriously, I find so many cool cruise momentous in there! It came as a suggestion from a friend of mine one day and ever since, I've been going there looking for cruise tees and sporting them like no tomorrow. Do you shop at thrift stores? I know many people "look down" on 'em, but they are truly loaded with treasures many others have trashed (you know how the saying goes). Feel free to share what you've found that's cruise related, in your local thrift store below. And if you've never been to one, you now have some motivation to not just look for tees, but also mugs, pins and host of other cruise collectibles (you never know what you'll find)! Keep cruising and grooving and be sure to rock your new 'thrifty cruise finds' along the way! See ya next Monday with more cruisetacular coverage!
  5. Hey, y'all! If you read The Ocean Escape (my other blog) on Friday, then you would have seen I had a "big reveal" to make this past weekend of a cruise ship I would be on. If you followed me on the numerous social media sites I have over this past weekend, you may have noticed I broke away from Baltimore to visit, tour and have a blast on Norwegian Breakaway! It was so much and yes, she is truly all that and then some! I got to sample food from five of the specialty dining facilities onboard, as well as from the Garden Cafe (Norwegian's version of Lido). The coolest thing was walking around Ocean Blue on the Waterfront (an area of the vessel) and running right into a hot dog cart - how cool is that? I have a super funny video of some New Yorkers "shunning" me for putting ketchup on my hot dog which apparently is crime in the Empire State (they thought I was from Florida because apparently that's what people from Florida do...)? I may have even tried getting Norwegian Breakaway's Godmothers, the Rockettes, to let me do the can-can with them? Okay, that was all in my head. I also got to check out the spa, gym, water park (which is Spongebob themed for the Nick lovers), ropes course and even the ice bar! There's so much to share, and I don't have all my pictures and videos edited at this time, but they will be forthcoming - I promise! Norwegian Breakway was truly everything I thought she would be and then some. Innovative. Revolutionary. Gorgeous. Any word you can dish out to describe a ship, she's that, the bag of chips on the side and free drink to compliment the combo! Be sure to keep it locked to my Twitter Feed, Youtube Channel as well as Facebook and Instagram sites for so many pictures, videos and a cruisetacular insight about this fantastic vessel! Also, while in New York, I was able to see Aida Cruises' AIDAluna in port and got some video and pics with and of her as well! Lots of great content is on the way, so don't change the cruise channel just yet! Until we talk ship again, keep cruising and grooving!
  6. Hey, everyone! Happy Monday and Memorial Day! To all the service men and women THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You have helped keep this amazing nation safe and my freedom a humbling privilege. Again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! Okay, so I was initially planning on talking about my cruise on Carnival Glory this week... but I saw the news just like y'all did this morning. Now you may remember just a few short weeks ago, I was on Grandeur of the Seas. I posted pics and videos from my time aboard and had a BLAST! And I was saddened to see that nearly 3.5 weeks later after I disembarked her, she was now sporting a blackened aft and damages. Just in case you haven't heard, at approximately 2:00am on Monday, May 27, 2013, Grandeur of the Seas had a fire occur in the mooring area of the ship. No one was injured. No one died. You know, these incidents are isolated and has anyone else notice that no one has died in any of the cruise ship headlining stories? Seriously, this is amazing and nothing less than a miracle from God! AND they are all getting flown home, a full refund and a free future cruise! So I want to just say I will be praying for the passengers and crew of Grandeur of the Seas as well as making sure to lift ALL cruise ships in my prayers! Whew! We've been having a pretty interesting 2 years, wouldn't you say? You know 2012 was Titanic's 100th year anniversary... I guess she's coming back for ALL the ships? LOL jk jk I'll be keeping tabs with what's what on this particular story and know y'all will too! Maybe we'll have even more insight as the week progresses? Do y'all think the media will soften the blow on RCI versus the TKO they gave Carnival earlier this year? Well, in other cruise news, I am on Carnival Glory this week, so be sure to follow along on Twitter for live updates from me. AND I won't be blogging on The Cruisetacular Weekly while sailing, BUT I will blog from The Ocean Escape! So be sure to stay connected with your boy - you know I Iove interacting with y'all! Thanks for always reading along! Until we talk ship again, keep cruising and grooving! Come sailing with me on Carnival Glory this week, vicariously! I wanna hear from ya! Send me a tweet, I'll reply back... promise!
  7. Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo has vindicated what I’ve been saying since I wrote Cruise Confidential. Alas, it did not involve meeting the sexy sports legend, but merely her quote. A highly relevant quote. “There’s a lot of sex going on,” she stated to ESPN in July. "With a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you want to build memories, whether it's sexual, partying, or on the field. I've seen people having sex right out in the open. On the grass, between buildings, people are getting down and dirty." She was talking about the Olympic Village, but if you inserted ‘crew cabins’ she would have been right on the money. Swimmer Ryan Lochte—another multiple gold medalist—backed Solo up, stating he believes "70 percent to 75 percent of Olympians” hook up behind the scenes, adding slyly, "Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do." But these are Olympians, humans who do stuff daily the rest of us would find impossible, right? Enter your cruise ship waiters. They work every day, all day, for up to ten months straight. Sure, the time-clocks say only 80 hours a week, but we all know that doesn’t include time spent guarding your station from roving packs of waiters, hungry for your saucers and side plates. Many of us showed up an hour early before every shift, and most days that’s three shifts. All that’s on top of boat drill: both passenger’s and crew’s. Yet crew still find plenty of time to hook up, and not necessarily in their cabins, either. I’ve seen crew going at it on open decks (a particularly wild crew party on Carnival Fantasy comes to mind...). At sea the reasons for this wild abandon are very much the same as in Olympic Village. Despite coming from every corner of the globe, everybody is there for the same reason. They’re all far from home, working hard at something nobody back home can possibly relate to. All are generally young, generally attractive, and generally can’t get on board unless proven squeaky-clean. And ships provide free condoms for the crew. More than 100,000 condoms were distributed to athletes for the London Olympics, according to Yahoo contributor David C. Cutler. It took only one week for athletes at the Olympic Village at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games to run out of the 70,000 condoms supplied. See? Similarities between Olympians and crew are rising. Funny how cruise lines won’t reveal just how many condoms they distribute. Those of us who lived below the waterline certainly know. Working on a cruise ship is a work-hard, play-hard lifestyle. For most of us, it’s only for a short period in our lives, when we’re young and adventurous. Why not make the most of it? You have a world-wide smorgasbord of bodies to choose from, probably for the only time in your life. That’s worth losing a little sleep over. And for those who still don’t believe that crew can party like Olympians and still function in the morning, I offer Hope’s parting words to ESPN: "When we were done partying, we got out of our nice dresses, got back into our stadium coats and, at 7 a.m. with no sleep, went on the TODAY show drunk." By Brian David Bruns, author of national best-seller Cruise Confidential. Win an autographed paperback of Brian's latest cruise book! http://www.BrianDavidBruns.com/BDB/Books.html
  8. Hi everyone, I hope you are having a great day and this is OK to post here. I am working on a few designs to a website to improve the customer experience, to make the information they want when booking a cruise easier to find and the process of booking smoother and more user friendly. To help me with this I have created a small survey, obviously optional but any help is greatly appreciated. The survey should take no more than 2 minutes to fill in. Apologies if this sort of content isn't allowed here (let me know and I will delete it) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1infHXsSSUIzLRZcElbMzw62Vwb7rqf2hy97FRroXL30/viewform?usp=send_form The above is a safe link, to google forms. Any information collected will not be used for marketing purposes; used to email you selling any products or promotions. The information will be used to help improve the cruise booking process. Appreciate the help. Thanks again, Craig.
  9. My name is David and I am a cruiseaholic. My wife and I took our first cruise in 2003 with seasoned cruisers. I have to admit I never had a desire to cruise and went to Miami, from NJ, kicking and screaming to board Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas. BAM! One hour later, the ship hasn't even left port and I am hooked. That is my short story. My introduction to the fabulous world of cruising. Thank you to the Admins for allowing me to join and I hope to get a chance to meet many of you through these virtual pages. I'm not sure I'll get cured of my addiction on this site but I have a sneaky suspicion it is going to be all right.
  10. Heritage Line, a consummate collector of ships and vessels and a dynamic cruise company offers guests an experience at once intimate, authentic and adventurous. Heritage Line designs ships to re-create the past of an era gone-by. Each detail painstakingly crafted, to remake history. Always in search of the exceptional, and this naturally draws guests from distant corners of the planet to partake in their splendors. Heritage Line is artisans. It is more than a mere provider of tours on water. They craft the most memorable on- and off-shore experience and bring to life untold stories with the right mix of comfort, adventure, culture, history, luxury and tradition, and passion. Heritage Line travelers are inspired by the people they meet, by the closeness to nature during their journeys and of course by bringing home those everlasting glimpses of Asian beauty. There is a reason Heritage Line is called a boutique spark on water. They are personal. They are exclusive. They are veritable hosts who embrace you with unbridled warmth and never let you forget your stay. Where intimate bonds are created and friendships are nourished. And they remember your names. Website: Heritage-Line.com Heritage Line Co. Ltd. 68 Street No. 10 - Nam Long Residence Tan Thuan Dong Ward (District 7) Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam T: +84 (0) 8 377 385 55 F: +84 (0) 8 377 384 44
  11. what does it mean a crusie to nowhere ??????????????
  12. "One of my relaxing Cruise!!" Click here to view the cruise review
  13. So have you heard the cruisemazing news? I am super excited for this week because on Thursday I'm gonna be chatting it up with all about one of my favorite destinations of all time: BERMUDA! Last Tuesday, the secret was no longer and just in case you missed it you can read the official announcement (see it here). Want some inside information on what I plan to talk about? Want to see the questions? Well... I'm not going to give any spoilers, but if want a preview... NAAAAAAAAW, I can't do that! BUT I can say I can basically call Bermuda my third home, after any cruise ship of course! I've cruised there twice and have a third planned cruise there in 2014. Honestly, it's like THE premiere summer cruise destination for folks who aren't feeling Canadian, want to fly to Europe or Alaska or are worn out by what's in the Caribbean Sea! I'll be sharing links to some of my pictures, videos and so much more coverage I have from the island which is conveniently located east of the Carolinas in the Atlantic Ocean. Want to know what you can do for free? Want to know WHY a ship has to dock there for three whole days? Wonder if the Bermuda triangle rumor is just hype? Want to see the pink sand beaches there in Bermuda? Well be sure to sign up for the Cruise Chat session happening this Thursday, June 20, 2013 beginning at 8:00pm. I hope to see all of you there! Let me get my thoughts organized so I'll be ready when we talk Bermuda all night on Thursday! Who's ready? I know I sure am! Join me and the cruisetacular, Bermudian fun! See ya in a few days! Participation limited to members only (it's free to join). To access the chat room click the following link: Cruise Chat LIVE!
  14. The average cruiser spends $50 per day on alcohol! Solution; bring Cruisin & Boozin flasks and make your own drinks. You’ll be able to use the money you save on a better cabin or more excursions. Our flasks are easy filling, heavy duty, reusable, and collapsible. Cruisin & Boozin Flasks are made of durable, puncture resistant, odor proof and taste proof PBA free clear polyester. The flask stands up when filled, it can be rolled up and put in your pocket when empty, and is also reusable. The flask has a positive seal spout, it is freezable and perfect for any liquid, excluding HOT. Cruisin & Boozin Flasks are ideal for cruises, sports fans, travelers, golfers, hikers, skiers, concerts, and stadium events. Special for Cruise Crazies members Buy the 6 pack (only $14.99 with FREE shipping) and get 2 extra flasks for FREE!! That’s and extra 32 shots (32oz) just put the promo code CRUISECRAZIES0513 in the comments section when you place your order at CruisinandBoozin.com Offer valid from 5/10/13 – 6/15/13 Thousands of very happy customers, what are they saying about us? “AAAAA+++++++super fast wwwoooowwww“ “A++ easy to use and worked perfectly!! Highly recommend! Thanks!! “ “Item was amazing, and it worked! Had a much better time because of these! GREAT! “ “Perfect! Very Very Happy with purchase and seller! Will GUARANTEED BE BACK!“ “Fast shipping!! These worked great and saved us $$$$$$. Wicked Awesome!! “ “fast shipping...screw them cruise lines high drink costs!“ “Fast Ship - Used on Cruise without being detected! Will be using on next cruise“ “Great for cruising if my ship hadnt caught fire... second thought even better!! “
  15. Anybody interested in an interactive Mystery Cruise?
  16. I travelled to Galapagos Islands and it was an amazing experience , very nice people and amazing landscapes , I recomend Ocean Adventures as your cruise operator, the price it's ok and you have a lots of diferent options to enjoy your travelling fuente:http://www.oagalapagos.com/'>galapagos destination
  17. "Warm Service, Great Food & Overnights in Ports" Click here to view the cruise review
  18. StaRed

    July 24, 2012

    See ya later, Mariner! View from tender boat

    © C. Scott Redish

  19. StaRed

    May 25, 2012

    There is nothing like a sunset at sea.

    © Larry Reno

  20. StaRed

    May 15, 2012

    The Balcony Club. Serenade of the Seas.

    © Larry Reno

  21. StaRed

    May 16, 2012

    Lido Deck at dusk. Mariner of the Seas.

    © C. Scott Redish

×
×
  • Create New...