JohnG

The $600 deposit on HAL is going to be about the same on Princess. On their 2009 sailings Princess is now requiring 30% deposits on cruises over 7 days. That would make the deposit similar to the HAL deposit (they are sister companies). The announcement, dated Mar 10, 2008 from Princess: DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS for 2009 - 2010 will be based on a percentage (%) of the fare rather than a flat dollar amount ($). Most voyages will require a deposit that represents 30% of the cruise fare.

By the way, those prices on the Noordam are complete, including port charges, taxes, and fuel surcharge. No surprises.

I think you should still vote on the 27th-28th on your preference of which itineraries we have pricing on at that time. (Should be two, Noordam and Constellation, if we can get pricing on Connie that week.)

Joey asked me to share some information about group bookings, aft balconies, etc. He asked me, in order to get the limited number of aft balconies on one of these ships, why don't we just open a group now pending final decisions. Blocking group space doesn't guarantee you any specific cabin until you are deposited. So while we could "block" Noordam now, it doesn't guarantee stern cabins. By "aft balcony" I understand you to mean stern facing balconies, such as category VA on Noordam, or BB on Emerald Princess, or CC on Constellation. I think those of you saying mid to aft are referring to balconies on either side of the ship not forward of midships but possibly acceptable if a bit aft of midships. Generally people who are concerned with motion seek that location. For example there are many VA's on Noordam, both forward and aft, but only 24 stern facing balconies. The same on Constellation, many CC balconies on three decks, but only 12 stern facing ones, and one is a handicapped cabin. Emerald Princess has 14 stern facing category BB balconies, but many BB's overall. We need concensus on a sailing very shortly after the ships open for booking, or the chances are not as good for stern balconies. I don't think we can take 2 weeks from the time we get the listings. It is not a problem for other good cabins, just for the limited number of aft balconies. Celebrity is scheduled to release the 2009 Caribbean 7 days and longer on Apr 23. Princess has set no date yet. Only their European November sailings are open for sale. HAL Noordam is open and I have pricing and group information The amount of amenities on any sailing for a group varies by itinerary, date and cruiseline. The dates they are promoting will have the most amenities available. I know you prefer SBC if it is offered, and Joey has agreed to take any earned refunded fares and divide it equally among the cabins booked. Stay tuned....

April 7, 2008 Dear Travel Partner: Because of the continued rapid escalation of fuel prices, six of Carnival Corporation & plc¿s brands, including Princess Cruises and Cunard Line, will increase their current fuel supplement from $5 to $7 (USD) per person per day. These brands will also implement a fuel supplement on third and fourth passengers of $2 per person per day. The new fuel supplements will apply to all new bookings effective April 21, 2008. The fuel supplements will not exceed $98 per person per voyage for the first and second passengers, and $28 per person per voyage for the third and fourth passengers in a stateroom. For bookings made from November 7, 2007 to April, 20, 2008, the original fuel supplement of $5 per person per day will apply. We regret having to take this action, but fuel price increases have continued, and we now find it necessary to implement a modest increase in the supplement. Please remember that all of your bookings made on or before April 20, 2008 will not be subject to the supplement increase. Most importantly, we want to thank you for your business and continuing support. Sincerely, Jan Swartz Senior Vice President, Customer Services and Sales (Note from John: Carnival Corp brands include Cunard, Princess, Carnival, Costa, Holland America and Seabourn)

I also enjoyed Conquest. They offered wine tasting in The Point on each of the sea days when I was on there a couple years ago. Thanks for the review and update.

Title :: 03-01-08 Carnival Liberty Author :: JohnG Category :: Carnival Liberty Information :: Our best Carnival cruise to date on a spotless ship with great service and food. Description :: Eastern Caribbean Carnival Liberty Eastern Caribbean March 1-9, 2008 We booked this cruise, our 12th on Carnival, for my wife’s birthday. We couldn’t find a flight getting into Fort Lauderdale early enough to be sure we could get checked in with the new earlier 90 minutes before sailing deadline, so we flew in the evening before the cruise. We stayed in the Candlewood Inn (owned by the same company as the Holiday Inn Express next door to it) on State Route 84 near the airport and not that far from Port Everglades. The room had a full kitchen, and they provided microwave popcorn and soap for dishes. They also had food available for purchase that you could microwave in the room. There is also a Winn Dixie supermarket across the street where we stopped in the morning to purchase 2 bottles of champagne to take aboard ship. The hotel provides a free shuttle from the airport, and a paid shuttle at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30 to Port Everglades for $8 per person. We opted to call a taxi, knowing how close we were, and it was $13 including tip. Check-in through the VIP line for Platinum members was quick and we were aboard by noon. The cabins weren’t opened until 1:30pm, however. We had an 8E balcony on deck 7 and really enjoyed it. General observations about Carnival Liberty, at this time the 2nd newest Carnival ship (until fall 2008). We checked with the maitre de’ as we found we were assigned a larger table and he had no trouble blocking a table for 4 for the 2 of us for the whole cruise. Interestingly, I noted plenty of empty tables for 2 at the 8pm seating. We were in the Silver Olympic Dining Room the after one. Service and variety on the menu was excellent. We had frequent visits by the assistant maitre de’s. Choices include beef wellington, chateaubriand, filet mignon, prime rib, large and tender lobster, seafood newburg, pike perch, mahi mahi, tilapia, and many other, including lamb. Desserts included cherries jubilee, crème brulee, and baked Alaska. The Carnival melting chocolate cake was available every night. The Lido are for breakfast has three buffet areas, 2 of which have eggs to order. Lunch options include grill, deli, fish & chips (with boullabaise, fried oysters, calamari, tuna tartar, and fish and chips), Mexican selections, a Mongolian station, taste of nations buffet, and the regular buffet….all in addition to the dining room service, which we never use for lunch. Pizza and Caesar salad, of course are available 24 hours in the rear pool area. There are many dancing options, including in Harry’s Supper Club. You can dance there to the combo and use the bar even if you aren’t dining in the supper club….a little known secret. There is dancing in the evening to a combo in the lobby bar area, in the Victoria Lounge to a 4 person band, and in the disco in the evening. Wednesday they did have a Mardi Gras night around the pool at 10:30 pm and a Mexican buffet at midnight. On Friday night they had a chocolate buffet at midnight. They held wine tastings twice in the Harry’s Supper Club at 11:30am, with a knowledgeable sommelier who had worked in the Normandy restaurant on Celebrity Summit. The formal nights were on the 2nd and 7 nights of this 8 day cruise. The first was on the 2nd night, my wife’s birthday, and she was thrilled as result. I was able to purchase, and preorder for the second formal, rose corsages for her at the Formalities ship. The Captain’s welcome reception in the Venetian Theatre was held on the first formal night. The past guest reception was held in the on the 5th evening in Victoria Lounge, followed by a 7 pm show by the theatre cast featuring 50’s and 60’s music. The shows included a Rock Down Broadway and It’s a Wonderful World, a tribute to Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr by a make vocalist we had seen on a previous cruise, but is still very good, a comedian, and a tribute to Motown Music Grammy winners. The Carnival singers and dancers were among the best we have seen on Carnival. Itinerary The first day of the 8 day cruise was a sea day with wind and rain in the morning, but cleared in the afternoon. First formal night, Captain’s Welcome and show. Monday: Arrived in San Juan at 5 pm after, again, wind and rain in the morning, but clearing in the afternoon. We were there from 5 to midnight. We walked a bit in old town, but having been there many times, we wound up at Senor Frog’s behind the Sheraton near the pier. Four ship in port, all arriving late in the day. Many people ate aboard early and went into town for the evening. Tuesday: Arrived in St Thomas and docked at Crown Bay, the one outside of town. Ship was there from 7am to 6pm. We took a taxi to Red Hook, now up to $11 per person, and the ferry to St John’s for $5 per person, and a taxi to Trunk Bay for $6 per person. Park admission is $4 per person. I enjoyed the snorkel trail at Trunk Bay park again and we stayed from 11:30 till 2pm. Then another taxi to Cruz Bay to enjoy local drinks near the ferry pier, and the 3pm ferry back to Red Hook, and the taxi back to Crown Bay. We paid $48 per person for 6 ½ hours, and the ship’s excursion to St John is $71 and only 4 hour long. We enjoyed a late room service lunch. After dinner we enjoyed dancing to the lobby band in Harry’s Supper Club instead of the comedy show. Wednesday we were in Antigua from 7am to 6pm. I had arranged in advance for a day pass at Sandals Grande Antigua, and after a $12 taxi (for 2) we enjoyed the newest Sandals resort in the Caribbean, with its new 7 story addition. Food, beverages and service were great. It is right on Dickinson Beach, not 10 minutes from the pier. We returned, after too much sun, about 5pm. Thursday we were in Tortola BVI from 7am to 3:30pm. I booked an excursion to snorkel in the caves at Norman Island for $61 per person. After about a 25 minute boat ride we snorkeled in deep water and into the caves. Not much sea life in there, but there was in the deep water, including a resident large barracuda. After the boat ride back we shopped in Tortola and stopped for medication at Pusser’s Bar for a Painkiller! Friday was a sea day, great weather, wine tasting, 2nd formal night, and a broadway style show after dinner. Saturday we were in Nassau from 1-8pm. Having been to Nassau often, we chose to do an excursion on the party boat Yellowbird to Pirate Island. Open bar rum punch on the ride over, chairs and swimming under a cloudy sky, and then open bar rum punch and dancing on the way back. It was definitely a party boat, and was only $35 per person for the fun afternoon. Of course we stopped at Sr Frogs for a snack on the way back to the ship. Baggage was to be out in the halls by 10:30 pm, and we went to dance a little after that. Sunday they allowed passengers to remain in cabins till 9am, if they chose. We chose wait till the last people called as we had a late flight, and enjoyed the Lido area till 9:45 when we were called. After only a short wait for a taxi we were at the airport and into a long, long line for TSA checks, and a 2pm flight home. My only real complaint was that 2 of the 4 aft elevators were out of commission the entire cruise, and these are the ones to the aft dining room and the aft pool and Lido. One of the midships elevators was also out often. But the service and food and general appearance of the ship were superb. Tommy, the singing bartender at the Paparazi Wine Bar is a gem. This was clearly the best of our 12 Carnival cruises, and great 8 day cruise for my wife’s birthday. View Review

The Pride of America, after being started in the US, was sent to Europe to be finished. It sank at the pier in a German shipyard. That was over 5 years ago. It has sailed successfully in Hawaii ever since, and is the only one of the three NCL ships that were there that is still there. The Pride of Aloha, the other ship started in the US and finished elsewhere, is going to Asia with NCL's parent Star Cruises. The Pride of Hawaii is going to Europe. The Pride of America, which we sailed on in 2006 and had a wonderful cruise, is the only NCL ship left there. The American labor force problems was primarily in 2004 with the Pride of Aloha, and when they took half of them to start Pride of America. By the time we were there in 2006 the Pride of America was fine. We had excellent service, and believe me I was looking for evidence of the reported problems. NCL did much to turn it around. I escorted 13 people from England on that ship and they loved it. So, your experience 4 years ago may not reflect what people have been experiencing since then. Personally we felt 5 days sailing over, four days touring islands, and 5 days sailing back was not what we wanted in a cruise. We loved using the ship as our hotel, not having to pack and unpack every day like on a tour, and two overnights in ports, Kahului Maui and Nawiliwili Kauai.

We just got off the shuttle from the ship in town in Progreso, shopped the craft market in the square outside the library, where they drop you off, and then wandered through town to visit the fish market. Then we walked down to the public beach. We enjoyed the water, there are plenty of vendors with tents and tables to purchase drink. Across the street from the public beach it is lined with restaurants. We found one we liked, ate, and they even had changing rooms to change out of our bathing suits.

The shops in Old San Juan, where the ship docs, will still be open. You can easily walk the area from the piers, or their is a free trolley car that stops across from the piers and you can hop on and off. It goes as far as El Morro Castle and returns through Old San Juan. And, of course, the ship will have plenty of excursions available even when you arrive at 5pm, as I did in February. It was still light till 7pm.

I wouldn't worry about the service. They still need to meet Carnival standards. You'll have a great time. The ship's future was not announced, but it is one of the two oldest Carnival ships (the other being the Holiday sailing from Mobile). They are replacing it in Jacksonville with a larger, Fantasy class ship, the Carnival Fascination starting in September 08. Fascination has had an internal refurbishment, and is scheduled for a complete reworking of the pool area and adding an adults only area aft, probably before September. They are then bringing the Carnival Destiny back from San Juan and replacing the Fascination in Miami, providing the largest ship doing 5 day cruises from Miami.

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Title :: 02-03-08 Celebrity Millennium Author :: JohnG Category :: Millennium Information :: A great experience on a classy ship! Description :: Eastern Caribbean I was contacted in the middle of January and invited to attend a seminar at sea aboard Celebrity Millennium Feb 3-10. As I had booked a group aboard the ship in the past but had never sailed on a Millennium class vessel in our 35 cruises, and since it was visiting two ports I had not visited, Campo de Caso in the Dominican Republic, and Labadee, the RCCL/Celebrity day location in Haiti, I looked forward to attending. I had to travel alone, as my wife did could not get the time off on short notice. Flying into Fort Lauderdale, I purchased the Celebrity airport transfers. We picked up luggage at carousel 4, where there was a Celebrity representative, but we were directed to bring our luggage to the carousel 1 area where they were distributing luggage tags and collecting vouchers. The transfer is quick and check-in was reasonably quick. I had only the Xpress Pass for documentation but that was sufficient. As we boarded the ship they distributed red or blue colored champagne depending on whether you declared to be a New England Patriots or NY Giants fan, as it was Super Bowl Sunday. Staff were available to show you to your cabin, if desired. I boarded about 1:30pm and the cabin was ready. Luggage, however, did not arrive until about 5pm, and hour after sailing. There was a reception for the agents attending the SAS in Michaels Club. Dinner was at assigned tables for the second seating the first night and we “round robin’d the other nights. They did have a Catholic priest aboard, and had mass each day, including the first evening, a Sunday. The entertainment the first night was a Super Bowl Party in the theater with food and beverages, and TV screens in the Casino. Day two was a sea day, and the seminar was held from 9am-4pm in a conference room, and they managed to cover all the material Celebrity and Azamara wanted to cover on both sea days. In addition to the brand information and updates, they brought in ship staff from Captain’s Club, a sommelier, an onboard group coordinator, future cruise sails, spa reps and others as the shipboard schedule permitted to give specific program updates. This was the first formal night, and the evening entertainment was a Broadway-style review at 8:45 and 11pm. 11pm is really too late for a show for those with second dining. I did notice there were ample venues for music and dancing until at least midnight. Day three I had an opportunity to tour the bridge of the ship, something nor normally available anymore. There were only 3 people manning the bridge on this huge ship, and the senior officer, a woman, was a graduate of a Swiss Maritime Academy. All automated, gps superimposed over navigational charts with radar images added. I also attended a wine tasting in the morning, as we were not arriving in San Juan until 1:30pm. As I had been to San Juan many times and I was traveling alone, I chose to stay aboard and enjoy the Solarium Pool area….adults only, warm and quiet with glass roof…special padded wooden lounges, and even a healthy food venue that I had not heard promoted. The thelassotherapy pool is terrific, and there are also hot tubs there. The pool is quite warm, but not as warm as a hot tub. As it was Shrove Tuesday, the last night of Mardi Gras, I did leave to walk 1 block to Senor Frog’s to celebrate Mardi Gras for about 90 minutes before returning for dinner. The entertainment was as singer with shows at 8:45 and 10:50pm On day four we arrived in Tortola, BVI, at 7am and berthed at a pier…one of two ships at a pier out of 4 in port that day. As I had been to Tortola years ago, I did purchase a Celebrity excursion that provided a 25 minute ferry ride to Virgin Gorda, a stop at Savannah Beach there for 45 minutes where I snorkeled and say the largest loggerhead turtle I had ever seen in many years of snorkeling. We then were dropped off at parking area for The Baths….a beach with giant boulders that at one time many years ago were encased in lava. The lava has long ago been weathered away and only the boulders, on land and in the water, remain. The beach is only accessible by going down s sandy and rock path 350 yards down to the beach, and it seems longer on the way back up! The beach does have a bar and restaurant, and bathrooms available. There is also a path through boulders, running water, and pools that many people crawled through. After the ferry ride back they dropped us not by the pier but several blocks away in the downtown area….right across the street from Pusser’s Rum Store. The rum was a staple of the British Navy and the store and bar has been there for years. It looked the same as it did 15 years ago, and their trademark Painkiller drink with Pusser’s rum is still as potent as I remember! This was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and Catholic mass and distribution of ashes was available at 5:15pm. They had a 7pm Broadway-style show for the late diners, which I enjoyed. The singers and dancers were excellent. I had forgotten that Celebrity has an “informal†dress night, with jacket required, and this was the evening, so I wore my white dinner jacket over a floral shirt and fit in fine. They had a Tex/Mex Salsa dancing and late night dancing in one of the venues, where I ran into the Celebrity seminar reps and enjoyed some late night conversation with them. On day five we arrived in Caso de Campo at 9am at a pier. The port authority provides two different bus routes. For $7 they took us to Altos de Chavon, built as a replica of the Italian town the designer was from in Italy. It was filled with restaurants, shops, galleries, and a museum and overlooks the Chavron River gorge. After I returned to the pier, I took the other bus for $5 to Le Marina, a complex of modern shops and restaurants overlooking a marina with very large yachts. There was also a super market where I discovered D. R. ground coffee available for the equivalent of $1 for a half pound. The Caso de Campo area is very isolated from the rank and file Dominican. This area is a huge complex of gated communities, expensive homes, and many golf courses. I really would have liked to go into the town of La Romano by taxi or bus, but traveling alone I chose not to do it this time. Just a cultural note: there were baseball fields all over the more industrial area near the port and they were in use all day long. This was the second formal night, and lobster night, preceded by the Captain’s Club cocktail reception. The show this evening, another stage production, was at 10:50pm On day six we arrived in Labadee, Haiti, at 9am, and tender service was provided in large tenders rather than ship’s boats, so they moved people quickly. I went over to snorkel and enjoy the area from 11:30-3:30pm. The view of the verdant green, forested mountains was beautiful. The western half of the island of Hispaniola is mountainous, and Labadee is flat peninsula in this area on the northwest coast. The eastern half of the island is flatter, and that is where the Dominican Republic is located. The peninsula at Labadee has five different beach areas, one with ocean surf and the others with calm, bay water. There were ample lounge chairs, a trolley to take people from one end to the other, a flea market with Haitian crafts, and a more conventional shopping market. Food is provided in several venues, but only from 11:30 to 2pm. There were few fish evident while snorkeling, but more small conch shells than I have ever encountered. A relaxing day, and I felt that the island was not as cluttered as Princess Cay, and more varied than Half Moon Cay, some of the other “private island†areas. Back on the ship there was a comedian at 7 and 9pm. It was Island night at the pool deck with a fruit dessert buffet late. The last day was a sea day with the usual distribution of baggage tags, customs forms and debarkation instructions. Based on what passengers had indicated on their preregistration or on a form distributed earlier in the week, they distributed a note giving a specific place and time to meet for individual debarkation of the luggage tag color and number, and there are no announcements calling people away. It is done by walkie talkie by the staff, a pleasant change. I attended an excellent wine and food pairing session, and although I am a wine affectionado, I learned quite a bit. They had samples of chicken, pesto chicken, chocolate, olives, various cheese, and a lemon slice to use when tasting and comparing wines. Excellent session. The shows the last night were at 7pm and 8:45 and were an a capella group, other singers, and an adagio duo. Luggage had to be out by 11pm. On arrival in Fort Lauderdale we were asked to be out of cabins by 8am. My debarkation time was 9:25am and was right on time. The luggage, customs, and transfer to the airport went very smoothly. My overall thoughts: In conversation with various passengers, they agreed the ship never seems crowded. There are many venues for evening entertainment, music and dancing. The Solarium is outstanding. The Martini Bar, and the very talented bartender Torgi, was very pleasant, and as entertaining as Tom Cruise was in the movie “Cocktailâ€. Service was excellent, and food was very good, but presentation was not outstanding, just very good. Lobster was large and cooked just right. Omelets and eggs to order are available, as are fresh waffles and pancakes. Pizza by the slice is available 11 hours a day, and they will make a pizza to order with your choice of toppings, which takes about 12 minutes. Ice cream is free throughout the day. The staff was very accommodating. My only complaint was that the buffet area was frequently out of glasses, substituting paper cups, some coffee machines were not working, and the mid-afternoon food choices are limited in the buffet area. There is no evening buffet, but there is a reservations only bistro area set up in the aft end on one side of the buffet area, with linen and glassware and table service. The gratuity is only $2 per person. I’m glad I made the time to check out this ship and the new ports. Updated Sat, Mar 15 2008 4:39 pm View Review

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We took an excursion we booked through Shoretrips but you can find them on the pier. We took a 40 mnute boat ride to the reef, snorkeled and saw fish, manta rays, conch, hermit crabs, etc, and coral. Then they went to shallower water for the stingrays and even threw some bait to attract a large barracuda. Then we stopped for over an hour at Cay Caulker where we bought fish tacos for $3 per person, $3 for Belikan beer, and $3 for a rum punch. Reminded me of what Key West must have been like many years ago. Loved it!

Driving is normal in St Maarten, with left hand drive and US style traffic (driving on the right side of the road). There is really only 1 primary road around the island and I thought the signs were adequate. The usual suspects are at the end of the pier: Dollar, etc. You sign up at the pier and they shuttle you to the office for the car. You can return it to the pier. About $55 for an air conditioned car for the day. We didn't but any additional insurance, but it is available. If you get off the main highways, the roads can be pretty potholed....like near the butterfly farm. Parking is free at Orient Beach. We stop in Marigot and buy some inexpensive french wine, bread and cheese and take it to a picnic on a beach.

Congrats! Legend is one of my favorite ships. The supper club, the Golden Fleece, is beyond outstanding, with a dance floor in the middle and great supper music. Satchmo's for evening dancing and music. We are considering it for our Dec anniversary cruise this year, as the Crown Princess, which we were homing in on, is going into drydock a week earlier in Dec, and cancelled cruising the week we were looking at.

Darn! The Celebrity national account manager for us contacted me and invited me to participate in a seminar at sea aboard the Millie Feb 3 for 7 days. It visits San Juan, Tortola, Caso de Campo and Labadee, with seminars on the at sea days. I haven't been to either Caso or Labadee, despite having been almost everywhere else in the Caribbean several times, so I'm excited I can add personal insight on those ports to my experiences. My DW can't go, as she is taking our HS senior to NC college campuses the second weekend for scholarship interviews and tours, so I'm going solo. Can't wait. When I get back it is only 20 days till my wife and I leave for her birthday cruise on Mar 1. Life is like a box of chocolates!!

We rented a car and drove to Totem Bight park to tour it, drove to Saxman Village and I would agree that it is an easy town to walk and shop. However, it is also the rain capital of the Inside Passage. So be prepared....and we were there in the middle of August.

You can take the el/subway from the stop at the airport to a stop near Faneuil Hall and enjoy the downtown, the festival marketplace etc. http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/tour.html Than you can take the metro/el/subway back. That is what we did.

The Holiday Inn at Bayside will meet your needs. The Bayside Marketplace is accross the street and there are plenty of restaurants and shops there. Holiday Inn Port of Miami Downtown AAA 3 Diamonds Price $150-200/nt http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/h...questid=1065812 340 Biscayne Blvd Miami, FL 33132 Phone: 305-371-4400 Toll Free: 800-972-2604 Great location Offers a sail-away package including continental breakfast for 2, upgrade to Bayview Room, free local calls/baggage storage and a choice of (1) Bayside option: Island Queen "Millionaire's Row" sightseeing cruise for 2 OR 2 drinks at Let's Make a Daiquiri. Check for current availability.

I've read some pretty bad reviews of the Star Princess lately from its South America voyages, written by agents. Don't know about darts, though.

I had to have them when I was in the Navy and stationed in Greece in 1972, and later for middlle east travel. Israel nevers stamped them because if you had an Israeli stamp in your passport you couldn't get a visa to many Arab countries. We got our current ones in 2002 to go to Ireland with the kids. The teens have expired, and I renewed our daughter's as we are cruising in Europe next June for her graduation.