Outrageous Last Minute Deal!!!

UNBELIEVABLE!  ....  From Miami to Barcelona on the Norwegian Epic....  11 Day Transatlantic, departing April 20th...

$299pp for an inside room ...  $599 for a Mini Suite.  That is less than $60 per day / passenger!

All You Can Drink Packages. Are They Worth It?

                                               Celebrity Summit's Martini Bar

It was on my last cruise that I was made aware of a new program... The All You Can Drink Package.  If I recall correctly, it was about $56.00/day per person and it included all specialty coffees, soft drinks, water, premium beers, alcohol and wine.  The question was.... to take it or do I pay as I go.  Which way am I going to come out ahead, after all on a 7 day cruise we were talking about almost $800/couple!

I ran across an interesting article today which covered this very subject, so I thought I would pass it along:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2011/11/08/all-you-can-drink-packages-cheers-or-jeers/#.UThhO8ijWZk.mailto

The one comment that I quite agree is that the all you can drink package gives you a sense of freedom, not having to be concerned with that nagging question..."what is my bill going to be at the end of this cruise?"

In all honesty, I never approached the program with the attitude .... I am going to make sure I come out ahead... but in the end I felt that I probably broke even... plus or minus a few dollars.  I guess I would do it again.

Ray
cruisewithray@gmial.com
@cruisewithray


PS:  I never thought the photo would come in handy.

Family Cruising NCL Style

Last week I attended an interesting webinar sponsored by NCL, Norwegian Cruise Lines.  I was interested in what they had to say about cruising, particularly with young children.

In recent months, NCL has partnered up with The Kings Foundation to develop a comprehensive children's program called Splash Academy for kids 6 months to 17 years.  It seems that NCL is making a special push to attract young family cruisers insuring that parents and children enjoy their days at sea.  Nickelodeon characters are on board the Epic, Breakaway, Gem and Jewel to entertain the young ones as well.

Having traveled with my own children 30 years ago and again last year with my granddaughters, I can say that considering the young ones is not a bad idea when choosing a cruise line.

Family staterooms on NCL can easily and comfortably accommodate four or more passengers, with multiple bedrooms and baths.  The NCL Breakaway was awarded the Best Cruise for Families 2013 by Yahoo Travel.

NCL pioneered Free Style Dining... that is, you can eat at any time you choose as opposed to the early or late seating options.  Definitely something to consider when traveling with children.

Last year a friend, who I consider a savvy cruiser, sailed on a Disney Cruise with his children and grandchildren... he was very satisfied.  We all know that Disney does things right!  That being said, NCL does provide a more affordable alternative to a Disney Cruise by almost 40%.

If you are considering a cruise with you family, NCL is worth taking a look.




Ray
cruisewithray@gmail.com





 

Long before it became fashionable, I have always had a curious interest in ill fated Titanic.  I recall seeing the film A Night to Remember back in the early 60's.  It made a lasting impression on this then 12 year old particularly because I was to make my fist trans-atlantic crossing shortly thereafter.  I remember asking my parents daily during the crossing... "Are you sure I will be considered woman and children?"

Now it appears that a replica of the Titanic will be built shortly, and people will be able to recreate an ocean voyage of the early 20th century.

Check out this article at:  www.cruisecritic.co.uk/blog/?p=6866

Ray
@cruisewithray
cruisewithray@gmail.com

There is an advantage to Cruise Consulting and being associated with Cruise Brothers, I am now privy to interesting deals on cruise that I might not ordinarialy have been aware.

Rather than e-mail you with every offer the Cruise Line sends to me, I will filter them, and put those that I feel are interesting on my blog.  I have joined the 21 Century too, by creating a Twitter Account ... @cruisewithray.  Through Twitter, I can make you aware of opportunities, or share information about, ships, cruise lines or ports of call.

This week, for example, I learned of a great deal... A 10 day Trans-Atlantic cruise, San Juan to Lisbon on the Brilliance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) in April, for the unbelievable price of $349pp for a balcony room! (Category E3).

Keep reading.... more information to follow.

Ray
cruisewithray@gmail.com
973-330-6030

August 1971... The Oceanic

Home Lines:  SS Oceanic

It will be 41 years ago in August that we met.  As I said it was a chance meeting at breakfast, by an astute Matre' d the fist morning we were out to sea.  I walked into the main dining room, and was directed to a table with three single women, one of whom was Ellen.  She sat across from me... it was an instant attraction, as if I had known her "from before".  

Forty years ago, each passenger was assigned a deck chair for the duration of the cruise.  As fate would have it, Ellen's chair was directly in front of mine.  Could the gods be working any harder? Finally, on the second night at sea we met up in one of the lounges for a drink and dancing... and that's it...  we've  been together ever since.

Here are some photos.

Ellen: August 1971

Ray:  Life Boat Drill

First Date:  Nassau on Motor Bike

Second Date:  Nassau in a VW Thing

How could she resist?

Oceanic:  Nassau, Bahamas

Then:  August 1971

Now:  September 2011

(Cunard: Queen Victoria)

Planning

Four weeks from today is the long awaited Anniversary Cruise.  Just today a friend mentioned to me that Dr. Oz recommends travel as a means to stay young, vital and engaged.  The planning process, he says, is a vital part of the travel experience, and truthfully I could not agree more.

Here are some of the subjects we are discussing:

Shore Excursions:  We have been to Bermuda at least four or five times.  Twice before on a cruise.  Hamilton and St. George are interesting to walk around for a day.  A beach day sounds good.  And the third and last day... maybe a Segway tour of the King's Wharf area.

Celebrity offers tours of the island, but with few exception, I find that the ship's tours are often expensive and of short duration.  Public transportation and taxi's are generally the best alternatives.  So, at the moment it is Day 1:  Hamilton and St. George via ferry.  Day 2:  Horseshoe Bay Beach.  Day 3: A Segway tour.

The Photo Package:    I read that Celebrity offers a photo package for $235.00 and includes all photos that we (Ellen and myself) are in.  Normally I would run when I see the ship's photographer, because I prefer not to be tempted to buy a 8x10 at $25.00 each.  HOWEVER, the package fine print says something about "minor children traveling in a separate cabin would be included".  If the broad deffinition of children includes grandchildren, then, this is a deal.  I don't care about pictures of myself...but my granddaughters -- that's something else.  Best to wait until we get on board before we commit.
                                           
                                         

                                                                   Celebrity Summit

Specialty Dining:  The Celebrity Summit offers two specialty dining restaurants for an additional charge of $40.00pp.  One restaurant, The Normandy, gets rave reviews... we are going.  Andrew and Melissa are going on July 11th... their 9th Anniversary, and Ellen, Kristen and I, the night after.  I am not sure if the restaurant is a replica of the French Line's, Normandy or if the wood paneling is from the Normandy.  In any event, the ambiance and the menu are supposed to be terrific.

The Celebrity Drink Package:  At first glance the $385.00 drink package seems a bit steep, but Kristen, the forever accountant, has convinced us that it is a good deal.  The package included unlimited alcoholic beverages... up to $12.00 per glass, water, premium coffee, soft drinks, wine and champagnes.  At the moment the package is on sale until the 15th of June... must be pre paid, and the fee includes the gratuity as well.  Maybe if we purchased each drink as we went along the total would be 10 - 15% higher, but pre paying the alcohol makes for a smaller ship board account at the end of the trip.  I am sold.

Wardrobe:  This Bermuda cruise is probably the most informal of all of our past cruises.  (Sign of the time, I think)  Dress is listed as "casual" for five of the nights and "formal" for two.   For me, this eliminates the necessity for bringing suits and sports jackets, dress shirts and ties... with the exception of a tux.   Ellen, on the other hand, has her own definition of "casual" and sets the bar very high....

The countdown begins.