mercedes

piney, have a safe and enjoyable cruise.

criley, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

sueconder, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

Forget Las Vegas. The place to be this fall if you're an Elvis fan is -- once again -- on a Carnival cruise ship. That's right, the King of Rock 'n' Roll (or, at least, a number of people who look remarkably like him) is making another appearance on the high seas this year as Carnival hosts a third "Elvis Cruise" -- a four-day, all-Elvis-all-the-time extravaganza. As with the two earlier Elvis cruises, which were a huge hit, this year's sailing -- on the 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration -- will be hosted by longtime Elvis friend and confidant Jerry Schilling, author of Me and a Guy named Elvis. It begins in Tampa on Nov. 12. As before, musicians who performed with Elvis and have been recognized for continuing his musical legacy -- including the TCB Band, The Imperials and The Sweet Inspirations -- will offer the shipboard entertainment. Also on board will be nearly a dozen Elvis tribute artists including Gino Monopoli, Victor Trevino, Ted Torres and Dwight Icenhower. Joining the cruise for the first time this year are Elvis’ movie co-stars Celeste Yarnall from Live a Little, Love a Little, Cynthia Pepper from Kissin Cousins and Chris Noel from Girl Happy. Another addition is famed Elvis photographer Al Wertheimer. If you're thinking of strapping on some blue suede shoes, checking out of that heartbreak hotel and signing up for the trip, expect to pay $599 per person and up for a cabin. Atlanta-based Sixthman LLC is organizing the voyage, on sale at theelviscruise.com in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., and Carnival. As Elvis would sing, "it's now or never."

hypercafe, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

suehelffrich, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

Yep

They sure can be.

Even the most refined ships on the high seas, it seems, are no refuge from the never-ending political talk that fills America's airwaves. Case in point: The announcement today from luxury line Crystal Cruises that the famously provocative political duo Mary Matalin and James Carville will be holding court -- and squaring off -- this summer on the Crystal Serenity as it sails in the Mediterreanean. Crystal promises the husband-and-wife team -- who despite years of marriage remain stubbornly on the opposite ends of the political spectrum -- will debate the political world's hottest topics while on one of the vessel's late July sailings even as they dish on current newsmakers and analyze the year's political headlines. The 12-day sailing begins on July 28 in Venice and ends in Athens; it includes stops in Corfu, Rhodes and Mykonos, Greece; and Bodrum and Istanbul, Turkey. Fares start at $6,055 per person, double occupancy (book now and get a $1,000 per person shipboard credit). Not a fan of politics? How about fine cuisine? In addition to Matalin and Carville, the guest speaker list for the voyage includes award-winning chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

kittysAuntie, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

tsacchetti, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a shipboard backstage tour, similar to a program Princess Cruises introduced last year. The NCL version is called Behind the Scenes and is available on all NCL ships, with the exception of the Norwegian Majesty. NCL crewmembers take passengers to the galley to see the chefs at work preparing meals; the food storage areas; the theater's backstage, with a stop in the wardrobe room (to see the glittery costumes used in stage productions); the laundry areas; and the highlight - the bridge, for a meet-and-greet with the ship's captain (you also get to meet other officers along the way). Price is $55 for two hours. But wait, there's more: An enhanced seven-hour tour (yes, seven hours), adds a sushi-making demonstration and sake tasting, a photo of the passenger group taken in the bridge, a Lavazza coffee, pre-dinner cocktails in one of the ship's lounges, and dinner with a glass of wine in Cagney's Steakhouse specialty restaurant, all for a price tag of $150. NCL will do the tours once per cruise on a sea day. Guests wishing to book should check with guest reception on the ship.

rosiebud22, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

WilNic, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

flyingfish1949, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

Dolphin, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

ddkins103, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

wanderlust, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

txsnyders, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

stephensfamily5, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

Sosunni, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

beckie, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

janetandalanlea, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

cruisingkate, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.