Jan115

Shon - I am so sorry to hear we won't be blessed with your quick wit and uplifting stories. You are a joy to read, and the site just won't be the same. Favorite stories? Wow - that's a tough one. The piece about the father and son bonding cruise was very touching. Your being mistaken for Eddie Murphy was hilarious. But my most memorable was the heart wrenching memories of your dog, Zoe. I probably wasn't the only one to shed a tear. Hope to see you around the boards, and maybe we'll even cruise together one day. Till then ... boy voyage!

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Galapagos has long been on my bucket list - a dream cruise. Someday, I hope. Have a wonderful cruise, and I hope to hear all about it complete with lots of photos when you return.

Gina - We've been to the ruins in Tulum - twice. I was so impressed with the ruins there that I brought my two youngest girls there later, in 2010, but unfortunately the experience was far different the second time. Crowded, hot, touristy and otherwise far from enjoyable for them - I felt so bad. They love the Mayan history, too, so next time we'll go on a land vacation to see them - to Belize or Costa Maya - where we can immerse ourselves in the culture.

You had every intention of heading directly to the airport after the cruise, but the prime flights were sold out, leaving only the 8:00 pm flight. Or maybe you chose this flight because it was the cheapest. "What on earth will I do for 12 hours?" you ask. Whatever you do, don't waste it sitting around at the airport. There are far better places to people watch. Here are a few ideas for spending those precious final hours of your vacation. Take a ship excursion and tour the port city. Cruise lines know there are people like you with later flights and, therefore, will be more than happy to sell you one of their post-cruise tours. While they can be a bit pricey, these tours are the ultimate in convenience. Simply disembark your ship, climb aboard a motor coach with your fellow cruisers, tour the city and continue on with the group to the airport. No need to worry about your luggage - it will travel with you on your entire journey. Hire a taxi or a local tour guide to show you around. Many guides will pick you and your luggage up at the ship, take you on a tour, and drop you at the airport. While this may or may not be less expensive than the ship tour, you will generally have more flexibility and a more personal experience. Rent a car for the day. This is especially good if you can perhaps share the cost with another couple or have a late night flight. The more time spent with your car, the better, and you will have all the flexibility you need. Book a hotel room for a day. They aren't always easy to find, but there are some hotels which will let you have a room for a few hours at their "day rate" provided they have availability. This is ideal if all you want to do is have a place to relax for a few hours, go for a swim, use their amenities or have a meal. Take advantage of the cruise ship's luggage valet service. Sometimes the simplest and least expensive solution to how to spend your time is to simply walk or take a taxi to a shopping area, a beach or some other favorite local attraction. What you don't want to do is haul all that luggage along with you. Many cruise lines offer a service, for an extra fee, whereby they will send your luggage from the ship directly to the airport. Some airlines offer this service, as well, in select ports (Southwest, for one). Check with the cruise line or airline for details. Visit friends or relatives in town. Perhaps your lucky enough to have friends or relatives in town with a vehicle who would be more than happy to pick you up and spend the day entertaining you. To assure that they remain your friends after the trip, don't forget to reciprocate the kindness next time they come to your town.

From New Kids on the Block to Kid Rock to Weezer, popular musical groups and performers from the past and present are appearing on music-themed cruises, doing concerts for and mingling with fans. Passengers can sing along and dance and otherwise immerse themselves in the music, together with like-minded fellow cruisers. If, that is, they can get onboard — some of these cruises are so popular they sell out fast (though waitlists give you a fighting chance). Here's a sampling of musical stars making appearances onboard cruise ships in coming months. Wynonna, Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins. Promising more than 100 concerts in a week, Country Cruising sails to the Western Caribbean for a week onboard the Norwegian Pearl embarking January 12, 2014, from Miami. It's Wynonna's first appearance at sea. Paul Revere and the Raiders, Mary Wilson, B.J. Thomas, The Cowsills. Get nostalgic on the 21st Annual Where the Action Is cruise on the Caribbean Princess, leaving Houston January 18, 2014, for a week in the Western Caribbean. Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill, Ronnie Milsap. Country Music Cruise 2014 takes fans to the Caribbean aboard Holland America Line's Eurodam cruising from Fort Lauderdale on a one-week sailing embarking January 19, 2014. Delbert McClinton. The three-time Grammy winner hosts his 20th floating blues festival, dubbed the Sandy Beaches Cruise onboard the Norwegian Pearl, January 19-26, 2014, round-trip from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean. Transatlantic. Was there ever a group with a better name for a cruise? The supergroup joins more than 20 other acts for Progressive Nation At Sea onboard the Norwegian Pearl, a four-day Bahamas cruise from Miami, embarking February 8. Weezer. Fans can join the alt-rock band at sea in February as they host a four-day musical extravaganza onboard the Carnival Fascination, sailing from Jacksonville to the Bahamas on February 13, 2014. Oak Ridge Boys. Their second Rally-at-Sea Cruise takes place on the Celebrity Reflection, February 22-March 1, on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Miami. Included: a reunion by the bluegrass group Cherryholmes family. Isley Brothers, The Commodores, Roberta Flack. The popular Soul Train Cruise is on the Eurodam, embarking Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 23 for a week in the Caribbean. Kid Rock. Join the waiting list for what promises to be a rowdy four-day party at sea on Kid Rock's 5th Annual “Chillin’ the Most Cruise”, embarking for the Bahamas on March 3, 2014, onboard the Norwegian Pearl. Paramore. Fans of the rock band can join Parahoy!, a four-day Bahamas cruise onboard the Norwegian Pearl, cruising round-trip from Miami to the Bahamas, March 7-11, 2014. Roger Daltry. The Who front man joins The Moody Blues Cruise on the MSC Divina on a five-day Caribbean itinerary from Miami, April 2-7, 2014. The connection between Daltry and the iconic 1960s band? They played together at the famed Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. New Kids on The Block. The boys and their fans will fill the Carnival Splendor, June 5-9, 2014, cruising round-trip from New York City to Bermuda. The cruise is sold out, but there is a waitlist. The Temptations, Dion, Brenda Lee, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Get nostalgic on the Malt Shop Memories Cruise November 2-9, 2014, onboard the Eurodam. Peter Noone from the Herman's Hermits will also be onboard. Taj Mahal. There's a waitlist for The Blues Cruise in January, or wait for the next one of these popular sailings in October 2014 onboard the Norwegian Sun, cruising the Mexican Riviera. Natalie Cole, David Sanborn. The 2014 cruise is sold out so book now for the seven-night Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2015, embarking Fort Lauderdale on January 11, 2015, onboard the Eurodam. By Fran Golden - USA Today ("The Best Music Cruises At Sea”) For more cruise news & articles go to http://www.cruisecra....com/index.html Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more Photo credit: ProgressiveNationAtSea.com View full article

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Michael & Amy - Have a wonderful cruise full of fun, relaxation and new adventures. Bon Voyage!

Andi - Have a wonderful cruise full of fun, relaxation and new adventures. Bon Voyage!

Have a wonderful cruise full of fun, relaxation and new adventures. Bon Voyage!

Have a wonderful cruise full of fun, relaxation and new adventures. Bon Voyage!

Have a wonderful cruise full of fun, relaxation and new adventures. Bon Voyage!

Karen - sounds like fun! Enjoy and Bon Voyage!

Rose - another floatplane ride will be in order for us on our next visit - this time to Misty Fjords. Enjoyed the ride to see bears - but without any bears, a little of the thrill was gone.

What a great topic ... and a really hard one to answer. We've been on so many great excursions, but I think it would have to be the "Rob Roy" tour in Scotland with Great Scot Tours. Sterling Castle, Loch Lomond and the Highlands were stunning, but nothing beat a surprise whisky stop on a rural hillside to enjoy a wee dram - or 2! Would we do it again? In a heartbeat!

Glad I could help, Tim. I hope you enjoy the ship as much as we did, and look forward to your point of view. Bon Voyage!

Congratulations on your first cruise booking! Part of the excitement is the planning, and we'd love to hear how your plans are coming. If you need help or have any questions, fire away!

Thanks for sharing the link to your beautiful photos of Norwegian Getaway. She looks stunning floating out with her spotlights lighting her way in the darkness.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.

Thanks for joining us here at CruiseCrazies. We hope you'll visit often, ask questions, share your experiences and join in the conversation.