Carniva & Florida Marlins Championship Cruise!!

[Jason]

Press Release from Carnival:

Carnival Cruise Lines, Florida Marlins team up for fun-filled 'Marlins Championship Cruise' in November 2004. Highlights of four-day Imagination voyage include player autograph and photo sessions, appearance by Billy The Marlin, memorabilia auctions and more!

Players, coaches and executives from the defending 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins will participate in the upcoming "Florida Marlins Championship Cruise" aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' 2,052-passenger "Fun Ship" Imagination in November 2004.

The four-day voyage will operate round-trip from Miami Nov. 4-8, 2004. Ports of call include Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico. The cruise can be booked through any travel agent.

In addition to myriad opportunities to interact with Marlins players and coaches throughout the voyage, Carnival's "Florida Marlins Championship Cruise" will feature exclusive autograph and photo sessions, a private cocktail reception, and appearances by the team's mascot, Billy the Marlin, and the Marlins Mermaids.

An auction for baseball memorabilia benefiting various charities will also be offered.

Other invitation-only events include a "Marlins Town Hall Meeting," an interactive Q&A session where fans can ask the organization's top executives questions about the team. A variety of youth baseball-themed events will be also featured.

"Carnival is delighted to team up with the defending 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins to offer this one-of-a-kind cruise vacation experience," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. "The Marlins' dramatic season, including a thrilling playoff run and World Series victory, was truly unforgettable and this cruise offers baseball fans a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the league's rising stars. It will be a 'grand slam' event that baseball fans will never forget!" he added.

During the "Florida Marlins Championship Cruise," participants can also enjoy the Imagination's wide range of on-board amenities, including 12 lounges, bars and nightspots, a 12,000-square-foot health club, full casino gambling, a duty-free shopping mall, and three restaurants - two fine dining rooms and an expansive poolside eatery with breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives and a 24-hour pizzeria. A sushi bar and complimentary 24-hour room service are also available.

Other features include a jogging track, and indoor and outdoor children's play areas, part of the line's top-rated "Camp Carnival" children's program. A diversity of entertainment choices, including Vegas-style entertainment, midnight comedy shows, live bands, and other acts, are also included.

Carnival is currently accepting reservations for the "Florida Marlins Championship Cruise." Prices begin at $499 per person based on double occupancy. Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom are also available making this a great family vacation value.

[BoatrideLover]

We have followed the Florida Marlins since the beginning, and would love to be able to take this cruise. Unfortunately, our son would miss school and since he'll be in 10th grade Honors classes, we don't want him to do that (which is why we don't have any cruise booked right now either ). This sounds like a lot of fun; wish we could go.

[hazelson]

How about liposuction machines - you could just plug it in somewhere and suck out all the fat and look really great in a swim suit. Then another machine would massage all the remaining lumps out and we would all (at least those of the feminine persuasion) look just like Tyra Banks or Cindi Crawford - not fussy which. Ah well - I can dream. Jennifer

[hazelson]

oops obvioulsy misdirected post - I dont want to look like a pro athelete lol - meant it for the what would you want free question lol - Batty as a bed bug my old Granny would say - Jennifer

[GottaCruz]

Jennifer,

Don't give it a second thought. We've all done that . That machine sounds great to me- now if I could find one that would stretch me out another 6 inches in height, I wouldn't need the liposuction.

[DaCruzNut]

Like Boatride Lover, I have been a Marlins fan since 'day one.'

I still have, and treasure, my "Opening Day" t-shirt and "Inaugural Season" baseball cap, plus some addtitional memorabilia which I purchased at their first game.

Having been a lifetime Yankee fan, when I moved here in 1978, I even surprised myself... As a kid, my dad took me to Yankee Stadium to see such players as DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Reese, Berra, Rizzuto, Larsen, and, so many, other greats!

The true test came this season, when I had to root for a team in the World Series.

Would I be sitting in the stands screaming, "Go, Markees?" I had often wondered, in the past, what would happen when 'push came to shove."

When it atually happened, there wasn't a milli-second of hestitation: