Your Cheatin' Heart

I did not realize that the main reason people do not cruise is that they have a fear that the ship will sink or that the trip will be so turbulent that they will spend most of their time in the bathroom. I want to assure you that today’s cruise ships have stabilizers that take the jolt out of your trip. In fact, I never know when the ship has left the port.

You will find me somewhere onboard getting my party started! For example, I won a medal for knowing that Hank William’s wrote Your Cheatin’ Heart in response to problems that he was having with wife. Living in Music City, USA, made the answer to that trivia question a no brainer.
I know that I told you earlier that I had to leave the ship wearing my sarongs. Well, the prelude to that action was on our first evening.
We had traveled all night to get to the ship and so to relax, my girls and I went to the sauna and steam room. The steam room was also on hyper drive because it was so hot, that we could not breathe. In fact, our eyeballs were burning! The sauna was relaxing. We made it back to our room and prepared for dinner. However, a piece of my luggage did not arrive by 8 pm. I put on a sarong as a skirt and one as a shawl, found my luggage in the lobby of the information booth (the tag had fallen off) and went to dinner. I need to keep a sarong with me at all times.

What happened on the day that you took your passport picture!

I am still euphoric! I have cruised before and that experience is what fuels my passion for travel. I was so excited about our cruise that I did not mind the 13-hour road trip that my family had before us. We finally get everything into the van one hour after the predetermined departure time and then we have to remove everything because Lady Sai has misplaced her cell phone. The phone is on vibrate and is somewhere beneath the back seat. We do not find it until we can locate a flashlight that has batteries in it because it is evening. Now, why is there such panic for this phone? Well, Sai is a teenager and my teens have been have been told that they cannot text or make calls once the ship leaves the port at 4 pm the next day. What will they do for three nights with no cell service? We find the phone, repack the car and we’re off to our next stop, Birmingham Alabama. Two and a half hours later, we have additional passengers, my niece and cousin. And we’re off again. We make it to Atlanta, where my husband and I tease our son. We tell him that he should call his girlfriend and tell her to wave at us as we pass near her house. He didn’t think that we were so funny!
We noticed that there were fewer 18-wheelers on the road. I am told that the high cost of fuel has affected how distributors are shipping their goods. At daylight, I take over the drive and get us to Port Canaveral, where our ship, Carnival’s Sensation is docked. Porters assist us with our checked luggage and we then proceed to Customs and Immigration. The boarding process was a lot less chaotic than I remember it to be in Miami and would have been even more convenient, if I had known that I could take advantage of my VIP check-in status. We continue the boarding process with another check of credentials and the establishment of on board accounts. You really know that you are getting closer to entering the ship when you take those first two pictures, one that you never see, but security does and the one everyone will see later in the photo gallery. My niece, Tia said on our last evening that she could finally have a meal without having to pose. I will tell you more later!

Sarong Song

If I haven’t told you before, I helped to sponsor the inaugural annual Dream Achievers “Friend and Family Cruise”. It was too short, only 3 nights with an overnight stay in Nassau, Bahamas. The day prior to debarkation, Carnival’s Cruise Director asks that at least one member from every stateroom attend a program where he tells you what you need to do to make leaving the ship and getting back into the States easier. I attended this meeting and found out that adults 21 and older could bring in two bottles of liquors, one from the ship’s store and 1 from the Bahamas duty free. Now, this bit of information was important to me because this is how we restock our bar at home! Mr. Director also explains how many cigars are duty free (100 but cannot be from Cuba) and how much money you could spend without making a declaration ($800 per person). Lastly, he explains how non-carry on luggage should be tagged and that the number will correspond to when you will be called to leave the ship and visit our great Immigration officers. This was the most entertaining part of his talk because he says that someone, usually a man, will invariably forget to lay out what he is going to wear the next day. We laughed about this at dinner and talked about how silly my husband would look in my dress.
Well I am glad that I can laugh at myself because I forgot to lay out my outer clothing for the next day! What did I do? I did not panic. I just coolly and calmly pulled out two sarongs that I had brought with me for gifts and resell and had a colorful outfit! Once I got through customs I sashayed to our van in Port Canaveral’s parking lot and as discreetly as one can in a parking lot, changed into my clothing! I am glad that God has granted me the wisdom to be able to think my way out of a paper bag or in this matter a potentially embarrassing situation. Enjoy and laugh out loud, LOL!

Cruising with the Mouse

Multigenerational Cruising with the Mouse

The Disney Wonder sails 3 and 4 night Caribbean cruises throughout the year and is great for a multi-generational stress free vacation. Children are awed as they get onto the boat with its enormous mouse ears and its horn that play “When You Wish Upon A Star”. Many of the staterooms are designed for families. They are a comfortable size and feature a split bathroom so that the kids and adults can be happy.
While the kids are at one of the age appropriate clubs, where they will learn how to hula with Lilo and Stitch, or perform science experiments. The children’s programs are safe as once they are registered, they receive a security wristband and the adults receive a pager, so that parents can be reached if an emergency arises. While the children are at play, the grown folks can slip away and have a romantic couples massage or other treatment for two at the ship’s vista Spa and Salon. Other adult-only activities are relaxing at the adult’s only pool or enjoying a quiet evening in Palo, the adult’s only restaurant.
Entertainment on the Disney Wonder is a hit with all age groups. Stage shows and outdoor Pirates in the Caribbean deck party provide Broadway-caliber fun. Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay also provides age appropriate and age exclusive activities. Disney Cruises are wonderful for our blended families and provide a wonderful adventure for the entire family. If you need assistance booking a Disney cruise, please email me at yourimanitravel@comcast.net.
I am your faithful Disney specialist.
P.S. I'll be letting you know how we are enjoying ourselves! Happy traveling!

Cruising 102

I want to share with you information on how to find the cruise for you!
1. Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.
2. Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, in suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available.
3. Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery.
4. Choose to cruise for VARIETY. With over 150 distinctive ships, 1800 ports-of-call and an unbelievable array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour.
5. Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES. Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, musical revues, gaming or a quiet evening gazing at the stars.
6. Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don't come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; a CLIA-affiliated travel agent like myself can handle all of the details. Once you're on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid... talk about hassle-free.
7. Choose to cruise for NEW HORIZONS. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new horizon... and you only have to pack and unpack once!
8. Choose to cruise for FAMILY. Families love cruising. Children's programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone.
9. Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock.
10. Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.
Choose to cruise for YOU. You can have the vacation of a lifetime, see the world, completely unwind, take a walk on the wild side, dance the night away, feast on fabulous cuisine, learn something new, make friends, bond with your family, steal quiet moments with your spouse. Whatever your heart desires, is yours, when you choose to cruise.

Cruisin' With You

The clock on my page for Carnival Cruise Line says that I have less than 2 days before I will be cruising. Every day, more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. More singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends are sailing away on the vacation of their lives. Last year alone approximately seven million people enjoyed a cruise vacation. When you add it all up, it's easy to see why.
The price of your ticket includes all of your meals and in-between snacks on-board; your stateroom, activities, parties and entertainment; plus, an exciting voyage to some of the most enchanting and culturally-enriching places in the world.
You'll find that a cruise ship is a floating resort, with all the things a fine resort has to offer and more! You'll meet new friends who share the same tastes and interests as you.
The hassles of an ordinary vacation are completely eliminated. A cruise is one convenient package. You don't have to worry about making dinner or nightclub reservations, running to make flight connections as you travel from one destination to another, or packing and unpacking.
You can lie back and be completely pampered. Or, go non-stop. Dine like never before. Enjoy one great show after another. Let your cares float away!
It's no wonder that more people are taking cruise vacations than ever before. And once they get a taste of cruising, they come back for more, again and again.
FACT - Cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience. Ask a CLIA-affiliated travel agent like myself about cruising. Chances are, he or she will recommend a cruise vacation from personal experience

Counting down! A dream vacation

I can’t say this too many times, but, get a passport. I am going on a Friend and Family cruise next week and since January, I have said that we will need passports for this trip! Well, my friend, I just love her to death, got spanked horribly with additional fees, because she had to go to the Philadelphia office to expedite her family's passport application.
What is going on with the passport issue? You WILL need a passport if you are flying internationally, and this includes the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada or Mexico. If you plan on sailing from a U.S. port to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada or Mexico, you WILL NOT have to bring along a passport right now (maybe—Homeland Security is still tinkering with the rules). However, the cruise lines are asking that their clients have a passport, because if something happens such that one would have to enter a foreign country or have to fly internationally, you could have difficulties re-entering the country.
I'll let you know about our trip! Bon voyage!