StanfordsGirl

Here's a fun piece of trivia about Catalina. There are about 100 Bisons that populate the island and they are descendants of extras that were brought in for a 1925 silent movie.

I moved our Catalina and Ensenada info over to the port section. To get there, look at the top of the board and you will see "Forums". Click on that and then scroll down to "Destinations" The Catalina stuff is under U.S. and Hawaii and the Ensenada info is under Caribbean, Mexico, Panama, Central America.

Hi Ziggy and thanks for the link!! Do you know if there is a "User CP" type of thing here on Crazies? I have trouble finding my threads sometimes and that would have it so much easier.

I'll be stopping there on my Paradise cruise in late April and if I find any new info, I'll post it here.

If you are looking for a reputable and clean place to get a massage in Ensenada, this is the place to go. I found out about it from the ship crew members and it is terrific. The prices are VERY reasonable and the girls do a super job. Everytime I am in Ensenada, this is the first place I go. The owner Dean Tinney, is a man who started and continues to fund an orphanage and school for kids who are too poor (because their parents couldn't afford birth certificates) to go to public school. These kids are given an education when they otherwise would not have. He helps fund the school through this business. Here is their website: http://www.ensenada.com/spa/index.html And you can make reservation through their email address: spatherapy @ hotmail dot com

For a fun place to stop for drinks, go to the Descanso Beach Club. It is on Crescent Rd right past the landmark Casino. They have places to sit right on the beach and it is a great place to people watch.

Here's more ideas for tours you can take on Catalina: http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/Tours.php

Since Catalina is such a small island, they limit the numbers of cars that can be on the island. Most people use golf carts to get around. There is a place along the waterfront that you can rent golf carts and they give you a map to follow so you don't miss any of the sites for great picture taking. The prices are as follows: 4 people cart---$40 an hour 6 people cart---$60 an hour Information about renting golf carts: http://www.ecatalina.com/about-golf-cart.html

Just a piece of info those who have never been to Catalina, the casino there is not a real casino. It is a museum about the history of the place and the island. Casino Tour info: Adults: $17.50 Seniors: $15.75 Duration: 50 minutes Tour Time : 2:00 pm (for other times please call 310-510-TOUR (8687) Season: Year-round Advance reservations are recommended. For more information, please call 800-626-5440. http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/tour_casino.php

Congratulations to Princess for leading the cruise industry in medical services!! . While illness or injury is of course unwelcome at any time, the thought of becoming sick while on a cruise vacation may understandably cause some apprehension. But rest assured, at Princess Cruises you are in the safest of hands as our shipboard medical centers hold the unique distinction of being the only medical services in the cruise industry to have achieved accreditation and certification by an internationally recognized health care quality organization. Following a comprehensive health review encompassing Princess' medical facilities, staff and procedures, Princess Cruises has been awarded Caspe HealthCare Knowledge Systems (CHKS) accreditation and ISO 9001:2008 certification for outstanding quality in health care. CHKS is a major UK based organization which works with public and private health care providers worldwide. These awards recognize the excellent standards of medical care provided onboard our vessels. Princess' medical centers are staffed by full time maritime medicine specialists who are available 24 hours a day in case of an emergency. Our facilities are equipped to deal with both minor injuries and most major medical conditions. So, while this may be the one service you don't want to use during your vacation, you can feel secure with Princess Cruises knowing that each ship has a professional, caring, well trained medical staff available to assist you should the need arise.

Yes it is and it is outstanding. It's my favorite dessert when I sail with Carnival. I have made it a few times for dinner guests and they have raved over it.

My pleasure!! I usually make the watermelon soup a lot in the summer because it is so refreshing.

Our group just stayed at that Comfort Inn in Nov and it was great. Clean rooms that had a safe, hair dryer, coffee maker, iron, and an ironing board. The pool was beautiful with lots of loungers and table and chairs. The breakfast was outstanding with hot & cold items and everything was yummy. They also have free internet access.

Hurray...Ruth is here!!! As you can see, I finally figured out how to change my color and size. LOL I added a thread to our group site called "Navigating Our New Board" so if you find any tricks, please post them there.