A little run down on the pool scene in Las Vegas:
Las Vegas has kicked off the summer season with a variety of pool parties open to the public:
The Encore Beach Club and Surrender Nightclub, located in the former Encore porte cochere, are both set to open Memorial Day weekend. The 60,000-square-foot Encore Beach Club will be a pool complex featuring 26 cabanas, eight, two-story bungalows, a restaurant and poolside blackjack and craps. Connected to the Encore Beach Club will be Surrender Nightclub. The 5,000-square-foot nightclub will open to the outdoors.
Liquid Pool Lounge by The Light Group is an adults-only experience at ARIA. A state-of-the-art sound system and world-class DJs set a lively mood as guests enjoy the exclusivity and seclusion provided by towering palms.
Venus Pool Club at Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace incorporates luxurious cabanas, chaise lounges, and a variety of amenities including a Mojito cart.
Rehab Pool Party, located on three acres at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, celebrates its seventh season, welcoming more than 4,000 partygoers every Sunday. Now in its third season, Rehab has its own reality television series on TruTV.
Palms Pool & Bungalows offers new reasons to be poolside at Palms Casino Resort. In partnership with 9 Group, Palms offers a Nighttime Pool Lounge every Friday and Saturday night, a monthly nighttime event known as Skinny Dip and a party every Sunday afternoon called Sun Dance,. For the fourth year, Ditch Fridays has also returned.
AZURE, the daytime luxury pool experience at The Palazzo Las Vegas, offers live DJs, poolside cabana massages by Canyon Ranch SpaClub, cuisine from Wolfgang Puck including a new poolside Sunday brunch, water mistings, sunscreen application and much more.
At a spacious 53,000 square feet, WET REPUBLIC at MGM Grand combines the best elements of the city's club scene with two saltwater pools and six jetted spas. Elite VIP service and renowned entertainers are standard amenities.
Mandalay Bay's fun Concerts on the Beach series invites music-lovers to bring blankets, slip on their flip-flops and hit The Beach, where they can wade into the surf or rent a relaxing beach bungalow or villa for an unforgettable summertime music experience. Adjacent to the beach, the adults-only Moorea Beach Club features dipping pools, chaise lounges, daybeds and more.
Guests can dare to reveal (almost) all at Bare Pool and Lounge at The Mirage. European-style sun-worshipping allows guests to experience poolside pampering at two luxury dipping pools.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
MSC Poesia- a travel agent's review
MSC Cruise Line is relatively unknown in the US market, although they are a big player in Europe. They are family owned and have started bringing ships into the Caribbean a few years ago. This year, their new ship the MSC Poesia will be sailing from New York City to New England and Canada in September and October before heading down to the Caribbean.
This review was written by a travel agent colleague of mine after her 3 day cruise aboard the Poesia. She posted this on a travel agent site so this I would consider this to be very honest and unbiased.
MSC Poesia Cruise Review
by Jan Shaughnessy
Sailing Date: April 24th, 2010
Itinerary: Bahamas
Occupation: Cruise Professional
Number of Cruises: 70+
INTRO - There has been so much negative written about the Italian style MSC Cruise Lines. So when the opportunity arose for a special three day cruise, I decided to try them out and see for myself.
I flew out the same day as the cruise. I usually try to fly out a day prior to a cruise in the event of delays, which on this day did happen. I was scheduled to leave Nashville at 6:15AM and just as we were to pull away from the gate they announced a "Ground Stop" in the connecting city of Atlanta due to severe thunder storms. We sat on the plane for over two hours waiting for the storm to pass and clearance to take off. Once in the air things went smooth, I connected in Atlanta and arrived in Ft Lauderdale approximately 12:30PM. I found my travel companion Deb, another Travel Agent, reading a book by the taxi stand. We arrived at the pier at 12:50PM and found no lines waiting to check-in. We were greeted by friendly staff who quickly checked our passports, swiped our credit cards, and took our picture for the boarding card. It was a quick procedure. Even the dreaded embarkation picture (which I usually skip), went quickly. MSC uses a scanner gun on your Boarding card for quick embarkation/debarkation instead of the kiosk most cruise ships use. We were stepping on board at 1:00PM and was greeted by a smiling white gloved crew member. He asked our cabin number and pointed us in the right direction. Other crew members were also in the stairwells to offer assistance along the way.
The first order of business was dropping off our carry on luggage and going up to the Lido deck for lunch. In this case the Lido deck is the Foscolo deck. We would check out our balcony cabin later. The Villa Pompeiana Cafeteria was busy, but I noted it was spacious and still had plenty of seating . It was a bit congested as the buffet was one long buffet, instead of separate islands as on some ships. People have a tendency to stop at the first line they see, when in fact the buffet had a second side. The buffet consisted of a grill area with hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, and delicious looking Italian sausage. It continued with a variety of salads,fresh fruit,rolls and bread, carved meat, several pasta choices, and several hot dishes. A separate dessert bar completed the buffet. A self-serve ice cream machine could be found else where on the deck. There were many ice tea/punch/coffee stations around the buffet area. I chose some fresh cut up fruit and a pasta dish and found it tasty. After lunch we explored the ship until the mandatory lifeboat drill at 4:30PM. The drill required you report with your lifejacket at a designated lounge on the ship. The drill only took about 20 minutes. The ship departed for our first port of call Key West, at 9:00PM.
THE SHIP - The MSC Poesia came out in 2008. She is 89,000 ton and 964 feet long(Correction- the tonnage is 93.300.) The Poesia is a beautiful ship with a combination of soothing and very rich colors of turquoise, browns, blues, purples and red. She is very rich looking with lots of marble, brass, windows, and mirrors. The mirrored walls throughout the ship added to an expansive appearance, and could easily and often were mistaken for a walk through area. Most areas are spacious and open and gave the ship an appearance that it went on forever. The ship was sparkling clean. I noted no room service trays laying around in hallways, and no ashtray stands cluttering the elevator areas. Hand sanitizer dispensers could be found throughout the ship and not just at the dining venues.
The ship consists of 16 decks. Entrance to the ship was on deck 5 which also has some passengers cabins, the reception desk, Le Rendez-Vous Bar, and one of the main dining rooms. Decks 6 and 7 were the main entertainment and shopping decks. On these decks you will find the other main dining room, the Teatro Carlo Felice main show lounge, the Casino Royale, internet cafe, a small library with books in several languages, photo shop, duty free shopping, and many different bars and lounges. My favorite lounge was the Zebra Lounge. The decor of this lounge was exactly as it's name indicates; everything Zebra! While it may sound over the top, it was not. The lounge is expansive and mirrored walls make it seem even larger. The black and white decor flowed well. The Teatro Carlo Felice main show lounge also amazed me. The rich deep purple seats were contrasted with wall and ceiling twinkle lights that changed different colors. The casino had all the normal slots and table games. What I noticed most about the casino was the layout. Table games were centered together with slot machines on the outer rims. Short divider walls seemed to help cut down on noise. The casino also had wider aisles for a clean walk through the casino to other areas of the ship. Casinos on some other ships make me feel like I'm running a mine field, zig zagging to walk through.
The MSC Poesia Swimming Pool
Decks 8 through 12 are all passenger cabin decks. The corridors had very good lighting. Deck 13 has the pool, bars, spa, buffet cafeteria, and an ala carte restaurant. A large theater screen was above the pool, but the volume was never on and I only saw MSC Cruises being shown on the screen. Deck 14 has some cabins, a jogging track, disco, and the children's area. On this three day cruise I didn't notice a significant amount of children. MSC does offer children sail free specials on many of their sailings. Some of the children's areas were being worked on during this sailing. Deck 15 has shuffle board and mini golf and Deck 16 has a sport center and Solarium.
Elevators were plentiful and quick on the ship. Some stair wells had sets of four elevators and some had three. There were times the ship could be a little tricky to get around as all elevators didn't go to the top floors. The ship also had a few dead ends where you would have to go up one floor and back down.
ENTERTAINMENT - I found the entertainment in the main show lounge each night to be very good. It was different in that there was no live orchestra, and out of three nights only one song was sang live. The songs for each act were pre recorded music. I wondered if the reason for this was because of the large mixture of nationalities. The acts consisted of a lot of dancing, acrobats, and Cirque du Soleil. The costumes, stage props, and backdrops used in the acts were fabulous and creative. I give a lot of credit to the young entertainers who were very talented. Each show we saw had a theme, they were "Island", "Atlantis", and "Euphoria".
Entertainment in the other bars and lounges varied in music style. Closing times of these places varied with the latest being 1:00AM (depending on attendance). I never saw any of them overly crowded. The casino was popular. Smoking was allowed in the casino but I didn't find it overwhelming as on some ships. In fact, I barely smelled much smoke at all. Smoking was restricted to certain open deck areas, certain lounges, and was forbidden on balconies and discouraged from smoking in your cabins.
Day time activities on this three day cruise were very minimal. I don't know if that's normal for MSC, or if it was due to the fact this was a special cruise with no sea day. We had two port days of Key West and Nassau, where most people went ashore. I saw very little planned activities in the daily program. Not even the ever popular Bingo. Some activities that were scheduled were morning stretching and aerobics, a morning and afternoon dance lesson, and a couple quiz/trivia games. The Balinese Spa ran daily spa specials. Unlike other cruise lines that have European operated spas, this spa had Indonesian's. All of the Spa’s on MSC are owned and operated by Aurea Spas –which originates in Bali. The Spa employee’s are all from Bali.
FOOD - This was the part of the cruise that I was most interested in checking out for myself. I had heard and read so many reports that the food was bad on MSC cruises. I didn't find the food to be bad at all - just different. Different doesn't mean something is bad. Admittedly, everyone's taste is different.
I didn't make it down to the main dining room for Breakfast. The buffet breakfast was typical of most cruise lines. A variety of fruit, pastries, cold meats, cereals, and the normal hot items of eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and french toast. I didn't see anyone making made to order omelets. There were some small pre-made cheese omelets.
The lunch buffet was similar as I described on embarkation day. The grilled items were the same each day, hotdogs, sausage, fries, and hamburgers. The carved meat changed, and the hot dishes changed in the variety of veal, beef, chicken, fish. I think what I noticed most about the lunch hot dishes was they were more like casseroles. Instead of individual pieces of broiled or baked fish,poultry,or meats; most were mixed with vegetables and sauces.
Dinner was where I noticed some differences also. The number of choices of appetizers, salads, and desserts seemed more limited. Main entrees offered Vegetarian, a pasta dish, beef/veal/, fish, and poultry. The first night I ordered a chicken filet dish. It came with a large, thin, lightly breaded piece of chicken with steamed vegetables. It reminded me of the delicious Wienerschnitzel that I had in Vienna. The chicken was moist, and the breading was not heavy. It was very good. For dessert I tried Blueberry Cheesecake. It too had a good flavor and was very good. The second night I ordered Prime Rib medium. This was probably the only item that I was a bit disappointed with. It wasn't tough, but it was overly tender either. It was a bit bland. It lacked the tasty seasoning and flavor I am used too with Prime Rib. The third night I ordered a pork chop dish. It too came lightly breaded. It was thick and moist and very flavorful. I assessed the breading must be more of a European way of cooking since two of my three entrees came breaded. On most cruises I've been on these same items would be baked or broiled. The left side of all of our menu’s offer Chicken, Fish or Steak- prepared as the client wishes…so they can be broiled or baked and served plain.
Bar prices seemed reasonably and on par with other cruise lines.I believe that our Bar drinks are much LESS expensive than other cruise lines…and in fact, they are less expensive than what you would pay for the same drink in a local restaurant in the city where you live. The cost of the Martini’s on our ships are $6.25 and a glass of wine costs $4.00….. that is very reasonable, don’t you think? I did notice they used Pepsi products instead of Coke. The soda and beer cans were also only 11oz versus 120z. Each day they would have a drink of the day and coffee drink of the day at special prices.
Casual dinner buffet was only offered on the last night from 6:15-8:15PM. Pizza was offered each night from 6:00-10:30PM. The second night was formal night and a "Buffet Magnefique" (Gala Buffet) was held from 11:45-12:45. Picture taking was allowed for 15 minutes. The other two nights light sandwiches were served during this midnight hour.
CABIN - I had a balcony cabin forward on deck 10. The cabin location was quiet. The cabin was 152sq ft and the balcony 40 sq ft. The cabin had two twin beds which convert to a queen, two very small three drawer night stands with very shallow drawers which were hard to open, a small round table and one small stuffed chair. There also was a small vanity with two small drawers. The hair dryer took up one drawer. The closet was adequate and had more storage with larger drawers. We never could program the safe to work. The cabin also had a flat screen interactive TV with internet access. The TV could be used to order room service, excursions, and check your on board account. The bathroom seemed slightly larger than most bathrooms I've seen. It had two small corner glass shelves to store bathroom necessities. The shower had shampoo and body gel dispensers and still had a cloth curtain. I was very pleased to always find hot water in the shower. A flyer in our cabin informed us that balconies were hand cleaned every day by the cabin steward. It informed us on Port days a more thorough cleaning was done to remove salt, and to keep our curtains and balcony doors closed. A large oversized floor to ceiling mirror on the wall helped give the cabin a larger appearance. The cabin also had lots of overhead lighting.
ITINERARY - This short three night cruise made two stops. Key West and Nassau. The ship offered several excursions in each port ranging in price and activity level. Prices ranged from $30 for a 1 1/2 hour glass bottom boat ride to $87 for 4 hours of Kayak and Dolphin Watch. Deb and I had both been to Key West before and chose to explore on our own. The ship docked at the Navy base pier know as "The Mole". You must take the complimentary Conch Train from the pier to Mallory Square. You aren't allowed to walk off the base. Once off the Navy base some passengers opted to be dropped off at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. We learned the State Park played an important role during the Civil War and Spanish-American War. It has a beautiful beach for picnicking, swimming, snorkeling and fishing. The beach has a refreshment stand. It is the preferred beach of locals. The park also has a Fort with guided tours. Mallory Square is the meeting point for drop off and pick up of the Conch Train to go back to the ship. Tickets can also be bought for the Conch Train to explore Key West further. A trolley is also available. Key West is an easy walkable town. Duval Street is approximately one mile long. Strolling down this street you will find a variety of shops, bars, and restaurants. Popular places in Key West are the Hog's Breath saloon and Sloppy Joe's; a popular hang out of the famous writer Papa Hemingway. Renting a Motor Scooter or golf cart are other means to explore. Walk along the water front at Mallory Square and you'll find more shopping and restaurants. We enjoyed sitting on the waterfront while sipping on a drink and eating Conch Fritters and Quesadillas. Other activities you might enjoy in Key West are Golfing, Kayaking, Fishing, Museums, and the Butterfly Conservatory.
Our next stop was Nassau, Bahamas. Again, Deb and I had both been there before. We had heard that the famous Straw Market may have changed so we wanted to check it out. We discovered Nassau is building a new Straw Market where the original one had been many years ago before burning down. No specific date was posted for re-opening. For now the present Straw Market is further down Bay Street and is crowded and hot to walk through. Many people like to visit Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island when visiting Nassau. It is a quick taxi ride or water taxi ride from the pier. Nassau has many other activities of snorkeling, glass bottom boat rides, power boats, Pirate's Museum, and Botanical Garden and small zoo that may be of interest to first timers.
SERVICE - Overall service was very good. Crew was friendly and accommodating. On the first day of the cruise we met our cabin steward and asked him to separate our beds. He quickly attended to our request. One thing that was noticeable was the crew were unobtrusive. Waiters weren't pushing drinks by the pool or in the main show lounge. In fact; you probably would have to flag them down if you wanted a drink or go up to the bar yourself. Waiters also left you alone at dinner. They were quick to take your order and clean dishes away, but they didn't come around asking if everything was alright. I didn't attribute this to rudeness or lack of attentiveness. I concluded it was perhaps the European style to not intrude. Absolutely!
OVERALL - I would definitely sail on MSC Cruises again. This was only a short three day cruise in the Caribbean and some things I experienced may be different when they sail on longer European itineraries. One complaint I had often heard about MSC concerned the announcements in so many languages. I didn't find this to be a problem. Announcements were kept to a minimum. They were given in five different languages and English was always first. The other major complaint I had heard before sailing was about the food. I found it different, but definitely not bad. The lack of planned activities also didn't bother me. I found it made for a quieter ambiance, relaxing and refreshing. This may be different on longer cruises. I think if anyone sailing on MSC cruises is briefed on the differences and knows what to expect, then they should have an enjoyable cruise.
I have locked in rates on virtually every sailing from NYC in September and October of 2010. We also have locked in rates on every Baseball theme cruise in November 2010 through Feb 2011. Kids sail free is available on many of the sailings so give me a call to book your cabin.
This review was written by a travel agent colleague of mine after her 3 day cruise aboard the Poesia. She posted this on a travel agent site so this I would consider this to be very honest and unbiased.
MSC Poesia Cruise Review
by Jan Shaughnessy
Sailing Date: April 24th, 2010
Itinerary: Bahamas
Occupation: Cruise Professional
Number of Cruises: 70+
INTRO - There has been so much negative written about the Italian style MSC Cruise Lines. So when the opportunity arose for a special three day cruise, I decided to try them out and see for myself.
I flew out the same day as the cruise. I usually try to fly out a day prior to a cruise in the event of delays, which on this day did happen. I was scheduled to leave Nashville at 6:15AM and just as we were to pull away from the gate they announced a "Ground Stop" in the connecting city of Atlanta due to severe thunder storms. We sat on the plane for over two hours waiting for the storm to pass and clearance to take off. Once in the air things went smooth, I connected in Atlanta and arrived in Ft Lauderdale approximately 12:30PM. I found my travel companion Deb, another Travel Agent, reading a book by the taxi stand. We arrived at the pier at 12:50PM and found no lines waiting to check-in. We were greeted by friendly staff who quickly checked our passports, swiped our credit cards, and took our picture for the boarding card. It was a quick procedure. Even the dreaded embarkation picture (which I usually skip), went quickly. MSC uses a scanner gun on your Boarding card for quick embarkation/debarkation instead of the kiosk most cruise ships use. We were stepping on board at 1:00PM and was greeted by a smiling white gloved crew member. He asked our cabin number and pointed us in the right direction. Other crew members were also in the stairwells to offer assistance along the way.
The first order of business was dropping off our carry on luggage and going up to the Lido deck for lunch. In this case the Lido deck is the Foscolo deck. We would check out our balcony cabin later. The Villa Pompeiana Cafeteria was busy, but I noted it was spacious and still had plenty of seating . It was a bit congested as the buffet was one long buffet, instead of separate islands as on some ships. People have a tendency to stop at the first line they see, when in fact the buffet had a second side. The buffet consisted of a grill area with hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, and delicious looking Italian sausage. It continued with a variety of salads,fresh fruit,rolls and bread, carved meat, several pasta choices, and several hot dishes. A separate dessert bar completed the buffet. A self-serve ice cream machine could be found else where on the deck. There were many ice tea/punch/coffee stations around the buffet area. I chose some fresh cut up fruit and a pasta dish and found it tasty. After lunch we explored the ship until the mandatory lifeboat drill at 4:30PM. The drill required you report with your lifejacket at a designated lounge on the ship. The drill only took about 20 minutes. The ship departed for our first port of call Key West, at 9:00PM.
THE SHIP - The MSC Poesia came out in 2008. She is 89,000 ton and 964 feet long(Correction- the tonnage is 93.300.) The Poesia is a beautiful ship with a combination of soothing and very rich colors of turquoise, browns, blues, purples and red. She is very rich looking with lots of marble, brass, windows, and mirrors. The mirrored walls throughout the ship added to an expansive appearance, and could easily and often were mistaken for a walk through area. Most areas are spacious and open and gave the ship an appearance that it went on forever. The ship was sparkling clean. I noted no room service trays laying around in hallways, and no ashtray stands cluttering the elevator areas. Hand sanitizer dispensers could be found throughout the ship and not just at the dining venues.
The ship consists of 16 decks. Entrance to the ship was on deck 5 which also has some passengers cabins, the reception desk, Le Rendez-Vous Bar, and one of the main dining rooms. Decks 6 and 7 were the main entertainment and shopping decks. On these decks you will find the other main dining room, the Teatro Carlo Felice main show lounge, the Casino Royale, internet cafe, a small library with books in several languages, photo shop, duty free shopping, and many different bars and lounges. My favorite lounge was the Zebra Lounge. The decor of this lounge was exactly as it's name indicates; everything Zebra! While it may sound over the top, it was not. The lounge is expansive and mirrored walls make it seem even larger. The black and white decor flowed well. The Teatro Carlo Felice main show lounge also amazed me. The rich deep purple seats were contrasted with wall and ceiling twinkle lights that changed different colors. The casino had all the normal slots and table games. What I noticed most about the casino was the layout. Table games were centered together with slot machines on the outer rims. Short divider walls seemed to help cut down on noise. The casino also had wider aisles for a clean walk through the casino to other areas of the ship. Casinos on some other ships make me feel like I'm running a mine field, zig zagging to walk through.
The MSC Poesia Swimming Pool
Decks 8 through 12 are all passenger cabin decks. The corridors had very good lighting. Deck 13 has the pool, bars, spa, buffet cafeteria, and an ala carte restaurant. A large theater screen was above the pool, but the volume was never on and I only saw MSC Cruises being shown on the screen. Deck 14 has some cabins, a jogging track, disco, and the children's area. On this three day cruise I didn't notice a significant amount of children. MSC does offer children sail free specials on many of their sailings. Some of the children's areas were being worked on during this sailing. Deck 15 has shuffle board and mini golf and Deck 16 has a sport center and Solarium.
Elevators were plentiful and quick on the ship. Some stair wells had sets of four elevators and some had three. There were times the ship could be a little tricky to get around as all elevators didn't go to the top floors. The ship also had a few dead ends where you would have to go up one floor and back down.
ENTERTAINMENT - I found the entertainment in the main show lounge each night to be very good. It was different in that there was no live orchestra, and out of three nights only one song was sang live. The songs for each act were pre recorded music. I wondered if the reason for this was because of the large mixture of nationalities. The acts consisted of a lot of dancing, acrobats, and Cirque du Soleil. The costumes, stage props, and backdrops used in the acts were fabulous and creative. I give a lot of credit to the young entertainers who were very talented. Each show we saw had a theme, they were "Island", "Atlantis", and "Euphoria".
Entertainment in the other bars and lounges varied in music style. Closing times of these places varied with the latest being 1:00AM (depending on attendance). I never saw any of them overly crowded. The casino was popular. Smoking was allowed in the casino but I didn't find it overwhelming as on some ships. In fact, I barely smelled much smoke at all. Smoking was restricted to certain open deck areas, certain lounges, and was forbidden on balconies and discouraged from smoking in your cabins.
Day time activities on this three day cruise were very minimal. I don't know if that's normal for MSC, or if it was due to the fact this was a special cruise with no sea day. We had two port days of Key West and Nassau, where most people went ashore. I saw very little planned activities in the daily program. Not even the ever popular Bingo. Some activities that were scheduled were morning stretching and aerobics, a morning and afternoon dance lesson, and a couple quiz/trivia games. The Balinese Spa ran daily spa specials. Unlike other cruise lines that have European operated spas, this spa had Indonesian's. All of the Spa’s on MSC are owned and operated by Aurea Spas –which originates in Bali. The Spa employee’s are all from Bali.
FOOD - This was the part of the cruise that I was most interested in checking out for myself. I had heard and read so many reports that the food was bad on MSC cruises. I didn't find the food to be bad at all - just different. Different doesn't mean something is bad. Admittedly, everyone's taste is different.
I didn't make it down to the main dining room for Breakfast. The buffet breakfast was typical of most cruise lines. A variety of fruit, pastries, cold meats, cereals, and the normal hot items of eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and french toast. I didn't see anyone making made to order omelets. There were some small pre-made cheese omelets.
The lunch buffet was similar as I described on embarkation day. The grilled items were the same each day, hotdogs, sausage, fries, and hamburgers. The carved meat changed, and the hot dishes changed in the variety of veal, beef, chicken, fish. I think what I noticed most about the lunch hot dishes was they were more like casseroles. Instead of individual pieces of broiled or baked fish,poultry,or meats; most were mixed with vegetables and sauces.
Dinner was where I noticed some differences also. The number of choices of appetizers, salads, and desserts seemed more limited. Main entrees offered Vegetarian, a pasta dish, beef/veal/, fish, and poultry. The first night I ordered a chicken filet dish. It came with a large, thin, lightly breaded piece of chicken with steamed vegetables. It reminded me of the delicious Wienerschnitzel that I had in Vienna. The chicken was moist, and the breading was not heavy. It was very good. For dessert I tried Blueberry Cheesecake. It too had a good flavor and was very good. The second night I ordered Prime Rib medium. This was probably the only item that I was a bit disappointed with. It wasn't tough, but it was overly tender either. It was a bit bland. It lacked the tasty seasoning and flavor I am used too with Prime Rib. The third night I ordered a pork chop dish. It too came lightly breaded. It was thick and moist and very flavorful. I assessed the breading must be more of a European way of cooking since two of my three entrees came breaded. On most cruises I've been on these same items would be baked or broiled. The left side of all of our menu’s offer Chicken, Fish or Steak- prepared as the client wishes…so they can be broiled or baked and served plain.
Bar prices seemed reasonably and on par with other cruise lines.I believe that our Bar drinks are much LESS expensive than other cruise lines…and in fact, they are less expensive than what you would pay for the same drink in a local restaurant in the city where you live. The cost of the Martini’s on our ships are $6.25 and a glass of wine costs $4.00….. that is very reasonable, don’t you think? I did notice they used Pepsi products instead of Coke. The soda and beer cans were also only 11oz versus 120z. Each day they would have a drink of the day and coffee drink of the day at special prices.
Casual dinner buffet was only offered on the last night from 6:15-8:15PM. Pizza was offered each night from 6:00-10:30PM. The second night was formal night and a "Buffet Magnefique" (Gala Buffet) was held from 11:45-12:45. Picture taking was allowed for 15 minutes. The other two nights light sandwiches were served during this midnight hour.
CABIN - I had a balcony cabin forward on deck 10. The cabin location was quiet. The cabin was 152sq ft and the balcony 40 sq ft. The cabin had two twin beds which convert to a queen, two very small three drawer night stands with very shallow drawers which were hard to open, a small round table and one small stuffed chair. There also was a small vanity with two small drawers. The hair dryer took up one drawer. The closet was adequate and had more storage with larger drawers. We never could program the safe to work. The cabin also had a flat screen interactive TV with internet access. The TV could be used to order room service, excursions, and check your on board account. The bathroom seemed slightly larger than most bathrooms I've seen. It had two small corner glass shelves to store bathroom necessities. The shower had shampoo and body gel dispensers and still had a cloth curtain. I was very pleased to always find hot water in the shower. A flyer in our cabin informed us that balconies were hand cleaned every day by the cabin steward. It informed us on Port days a more thorough cleaning was done to remove salt, and to keep our curtains and balcony doors closed. A large oversized floor to ceiling mirror on the wall helped give the cabin a larger appearance. The cabin also had lots of overhead lighting.
ITINERARY - This short three night cruise made two stops. Key West and Nassau. The ship offered several excursions in each port ranging in price and activity level. Prices ranged from $30 for a 1 1/2 hour glass bottom boat ride to $87 for 4 hours of Kayak and Dolphin Watch. Deb and I had both been to Key West before and chose to explore on our own. The ship docked at the Navy base pier know as "The Mole". You must take the complimentary Conch Train from the pier to Mallory Square. You aren't allowed to walk off the base. Once off the Navy base some passengers opted to be dropped off at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. We learned the State Park played an important role during the Civil War and Spanish-American War. It has a beautiful beach for picnicking, swimming, snorkeling and fishing. The beach has a refreshment stand. It is the preferred beach of locals. The park also has a Fort with guided tours. Mallory Square is the meeting point for drop off and pick up of the Conch Train to go back to the ship. Tickets can also be bought for the Conch Train to explore Key West further. A trolley is also available. Key West is an easy walkable town. Duval Street is approximately one mile long. Strolling down this street you will find a variety of shops, bars, and restaurants. Popular places in Key West are the Hog's Breath saloon and Sloppy Joe's; a popular hang out of the famous writer Papa Hemingway. Renting a Motor Scooter or golf cart are other means to explore. Walk along the water front at Mallory Square and you'll find more shopping and restaurants. We enjoyed sitting on the waterfront while sipping on a drink and eating Conch Fritters and Quesadillas. Other activities you might enjoy in Key West are Golfing, Kayaking, Fishing, Museums, and the Butterfly Conservatory.
Our next stop was Nassau, Bahamas. Again, Deb and I had both been there before. We had heard that the famous Straw Market may have changed so we wanted to check it out. We discovered Nassau is building a new Straw Market where the original one had been many years ago before burning down. No specific date was posted for re-opening. For now the present Straw Market is further down Bay Street and is crowded and hot to walk through. Many people like to visit Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island when visiting Nassau. It is a quick taxi ride or water taxi ride from the pier. Nassau has many other activities of snorkeling, glass bottom boat rides, power boats, Pirate's Museum, and Botanical Garden and small zoo that may be of interest to first timers.
SERVICE - Overall service was very good. Crew was friendly and accommodating. On the first day of the cruise we met our cabin steward and asked him to separate our beds. He quickly attended to our request. One thing that was noticeable was the crew were unobtrusive. Waiters weren't pushing drinks by the pool or in the main show lounge. In fact; you probably would have to flag them down if you wanted a drink or go up to the bar yourself. Waiters also left you alone at dinner. They were quick to take your order and clean dishes away, but they didn't come around asking if everything was alright. I didn't attribute this to rudeness or lack of attentiveness. I concluded it was perhaps the European style to not intrude. Absolutely!
OVERALL - I would definitely sail on MSC Cruises again. This was only a short three day cruise in the Caribbean and some things I experienced may be different when they sail on longer European itineraries. One complaint I had often heard about MSC concerned the announcements in so many languages. I didn't find this to be a problem. Announcements were kept to a minimum. They were given in five different languages and English was always first. The other major complaint I had heard before sailing was about the food. I found it different, but definitely not bad. The lack of planned activities also didn't bother me. I found it made for a quieter ambiance, relaxing and refreshing. This may be different on longer cruises. I think if anyone sailing on MSC cruises is briefed on the differences and knows what to expect, then they should have an enjoyable cruise.
I have locked in rates on virtually every sailing from NYC in September and October of 2010. We also have locked in rates on every Baseball theme cruise in November 2010 through Feb 2011. Kids sail free is available on many of the sailings so give me a call to book your cabin.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Kauai's Starring Role
This was published in one of my online travel magazines and I couldn't agree more. Since our last visit to the Hawaiian Islands, I have to say that Kauai was my favorite. It may not be everyone's favorite but since I started in this business (way back in 1994), most of my clients will say that they wish they had more time to spend in Kauai.
"Kauai's Starring Role
By Mimi Kmet
Published on: May 24, 2010-Travel Pulse
There’s nothing like waking up to a rainbow nearly every day. And on my recent visit to Kauai, Hawaii’s most verdant island, my husband and I saw plenty of these multicolored arcs. At the end of those rainbows, we found plenty of scenic treasures, such as rugged sea cliffs, a vast canyon, and plenty of rainforests, waterfalls and pristine beaches.
Kauai is indeed the quintessential “tropical paradise,” holding the designation of being the most filmed of the Hawaiian Islands. It has played the roles of other tropical paradises in movies like “South Pacific,” “Jurassic Park,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Avatar,” “Tropic Thunder” and two “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, including the upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” But its biggest starring role is that of a top tourist destination -- especially for those of us who seek a respite from urban life.
You won’t find high-rise hotels, hip nightclubs and designer stores here. For those amenities, Waikiki is the 800-pound gorilla in Hawaii. Instead, you’ll discover plenty of opportunities to visit some of the world’s most beautiful and pristine natural sites.
Among the must-sees is the rugged Na Pali Coast on Kauai’s northwestern side. To get there, we went on a catamaran sail with Kauai Sea Tours (www.kauaiseatours.com), one of several local operators, many of which depart out of Port Allen on the South Shore. Along the way, we saw spinner dolphins, sea turtles and, since we went in early April, the last of the migrating whales from Alaska, who breached playfully, as if putting on a show for us.
We also did a bit of snorkeling. The water can get rough as the boat approaches the coast, but the reward is an up-close look at Na Pali’s undulating cliffs and peaks carpeted in green foliage. These cliffs rise up from the Pacific Ocean almost vertically. Some local operators, including Kauai Sea Tours, also offer inflatable raft tours that venture into sea caves, under waterfalls and onto a secluded beach.
To see Kauai’s “inner beauty,” we took a drive through Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” This multicolored state park drops to 3,000 feet in depth and stretches about two-thirds of the length of Kauai from south to north on the western side of the island. The two-lane road that winds through the canyon from the South Shore is 18 miles long and ends up in the adjacent Koke’e State Park on the canyon’s north end.
There are several look-out points and picnic areas (but no drinking water) and plenty of hiking trails to waterfalls and other scenic spots. Near the end of the road is a large rest area with a restaurant, a gift shop, a campground, a small museum that sells trail maps, and plenty of colorful chickens roaming the grounds looking for a handout.
Kauai is the wettest -- and greenest -- of the Hawaiian Islands, thanks largely to Mount Waialeale, located in the center: That peak holds the word record as the wettest spot on Earth, getting 450 inches of precipitation annually. The upshot is acres upon acres of rainforests where you can hike, swim in mountain streams and zipline over the treetops.
And that’s what we did on the North Shore, with Princeville Ranch Adventures (http://adventureskauai.com). Having never ziplined, we discovered that it was perfectly safe. In fact, the only “hazards” we encountered were the meadow muffins in the fields we hiked through to reach the launching areas. While riding the lines, we soared over otherwise hidden parts of the island with topical foliage, babbling brooks and scenic vistas in the distance.
We also took advantage, much as the sugar plantation owners did in the 1800s, of the network of ditches used to irrigate crops as we floated along the shallow waterways and through low tunnels on large, inflatable tubes. The three-hour excursion, provided exclusively by Kauai Backcountry Adventures (www.kauaibackcountry.com), included 45 minutes to an hour of floating, as well as transfers from and to the operator’s headquarters. On the way to the put-in point, we stopped to view Mount Waialeale. And at the end of the float we had a picnic lunch near a waterhole, where those who didn’t get wet enough took a brief swim.
After a morning of adventure, we stopped at the Koloa Rum Tasting Room and Company Store (www.koloarum.com) on the Kiohana Plantation (a sugar plantation-turned tourist attraction) near Lihue. Now I know this is not an activity that highlights Kauai’s natural beauty. But it does highlight the island’s bounty. It’s there where we savored a complimentary taste of rum from Kauai’s first licensed, commercial distillery, which opened just last year.
The rum is produced with locally sourced sugar and island water. The company also makes Mai Tai mix, rum fudge sauce and other products. All of its products are available for purchase at the store, though the rum cannot be shipped legally. Fortunately, Gallo has started to distribute Koloa Rum on the mainland, and we plan to ask our local spirits emporium to stock it. Koloa Rum is also served in select hotels and restaurants throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
The downside to our Kauai visit was that we didn’t have time to experience all of the activities the island has to offer. So I’m making a list for our next trip. Let’s see, we could go flightseeing, horseback riding, ATV touring, kayaking, diving, fishing, bicycling, hang gliding, film location touring and much more. In Kauai, your clients will always find a reason to return."
"Kauai's Starring Role
By Mimi Kmet
Published on: May 24, 2010-Travel Pulse
There’s nothing like waking up to a rainbow nearly every day. And on my recent visit to Kauai, Hawaii’s most verdant island, my husband and I saw plenty of these multicolored arcs. At the end of those rainbows, we found plenty of scenic treasures, such as rugged sea cliffs, a vast canyon, and plenty of rainforests, waterfalls and pristine beaches.
Kauai is indeed the quintessential “tropical paradise,” holding the designation of being the most filmed of the Hawaiian Islands. It has played the roles of other tropical paradises in movies like “South Pacific,” “Jurassic Park,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Avatar,” “Tropic Thunder” and two “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, including the upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” But its biggest starring role is that of a top tourist destination -- especially for those of us who seek a respite from urban life.
You won’t find high-rise hotels, hip nightclubs and designer stores here. For those amenities, Waikiki is the 800-pound gorilla in Hawaii. Instead, you’ll discover plenty of opportunities to visit some of the world’s most beautiful and pristine natural sites.
Among the must-sees is the rugged Na Pali Coast on Kauai’s northwestern side. To get there, we went on a catamaran sail with Kauai Sea Tours (www.kauaiseatours.com), one of several local operators, many of which depart out of Port Allen on the South Shore. Along the way, we saw spinner dolphins, sea turtles and, since we went in early April, the last of the migrating whales from Alaska, who breached playfully, as if putting on a show for us.
We also did a bit of snorkeling. The water can get rough as the boat approaches the coast, but the reward is an up-close look at Na Pali’s undulating cliffs and peaks carpeted in green foliage. These cliffs rise up from the Pacific Ocean almost vertically. Some local operators, including Kauai Sea Tours, also offer inflatable raft tours that venture into sea caves, under waterfalls and onto a secluded beach.
To see Kauai’s “inner beauty,” we took a drive through Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” This multicolored state park drops to 3,000 feet in depth and stretches about two-thirds of the length of Kauai from south to north on the western side of the island. The two-lane road that winds through the canyon from the South Shore is 18 miles long and ends up in the adjacent Koke’e State Park on the canyon’s north end.
There are several look-out points and picnic areas (but no drinking water) and plenty of hiking trails to waterfalls and other scenic spots. Near the end of the road is a large rest area with a restaurant, a gift shop, a campground, a small museum that sells trail maps, and plenty of colorful chickens roaming the grounds looking for a handout.
Kauai is the wettest -- and greenest -- of the Hawaiian Islands, thanks largely to Mount Waialeale, located in the center: That peak holds the word record as the wettest spot on Earth, getting 450 inches of precipitation annually. The upshot is acres upon acres of rainforests where you can hike, swim in mountain streams and zipline over the treetops.
And that’s what we did on the North Shore, with Princeville Ranch Adventures (http://adventureskauai.com). Having never ziplined, we discovered that it was perfectly safe. In fact, the only “hazards” we encountered were the meadow muffins in the fields we hiked through to reach the launching areas. While riding the lines, we soared over otherwise hidden parts of the island with topical foliage, babbling brooks and scenic vistas in the distance.
We also took advantage, much as the sugar plantation owners did in the 1800s, of the network of ditches used to irrigate crops as we floated along the shallow waterways and through low tunnels on large, inflatable tubes. The three-hour excursion, provided exclusively by Kauai Backcountry Adventures (www.kauaibackcountry.com), included 45 minutes to an hour of floating, as well as transfers from and to the operator’s headquarters. On the way to the put-in point, we stopped to view Mount Waialeale. And at the end of the float we had a picnic lunch near a waterhole, where those who didn’t get wet enough took a brief swim.
After a morning of adventure, we stopped at the Koloa Rum Tasting Room and Company Store (www.koloarum.com) on the Kiohana Plantation (a sugar plantation-turned tourist attraction) near Lihue. Now I know this is not an activity that highlights Kauai’s natural beauty. But it does highlight the island’s bounty. It’s there where we savored a complimentary taste of rum from Kauai’s first licensed, commercial distillery, which opened just last year.
The rum is produced with locally sourced sugar and island water. The company also makes Mai Tai mix, rum fudge sauce and other products. All of its products are available for purchase at the store, though the rum cannot be shipped legally. Fortunately, Gallo has started to distribute Koloa Rum on the mainland, and we plan to ask our local spirits emporium to stock it. Koloa Rum is also served in select hotels and restaurants throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
The downside to our Kauai visit was that we didn’t have time to experience all of the activities the island has to offer. So I’m making a list for our next trip. Let’s see, we could go flightseeing, horseback riding, ATV touring, kayaking, diving, fishing, bicycling, hang gliding, film location touring and much more. In Kauai, your clients will always find a reason to return."
Friday, May 21, 2010
Experts advise booking summer travel early
During 2009, booking your vacation a couple of weeks before you wanted to leave was pretty common. In 2010, waiting that long is likely going to prove to be frustrating. You might not get the flights you want, the hotel or room category that you want or the price that you wanted to pay.
Travel Experts Urge Summer Vacationers to Book Early
Published on: May 20, 2010
Americans are hitting the roads and skies, according to leading travel executives from Best Western International, AAA and Airfarewatchdog.com who convened last week to discuss the leisure travel landscape. With the increase in demand, hotel rooms are filling up fast. Dorothy Dowling, Best Western’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, is tracking an increase in advance bookings from May through September as well as an increase in the average length of stay. Dowling says these trends will put greater pressure on demand at hotels and recommends booking travel now in order to secure the best deals.
Capacity cuts and mergers among airlines, along with continued surcharges, are keeping rates high. George Hobica, creator of Airfarewatchdog.com, said that, “fare deals will be few and far between” this summer. “If you see something within your price range, grab it.”
There are many signs that the economy is improving and consumer confidence is growing, which are positive signs for the travel industry, according to Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services. The association is hoping to see a large increase in the number of travelers when its Memorial Day holiday forecast is released later this month. “Travel by automobile is expected to remain the most popular way to travel,” said MacDonell.
Leisure travel expert and editor of OnTheGoWithAmy.com, Amy Graff, said that staycations and one-tank trips are a thing of the past, and that families are looking to book themed travel in 2010. “People are looking to find unique vacation experiences for their families,” Graff said. “Michelle Obama’s ’Get Fit’ campaign is inspiring active vacations, and more parents are looking into educational vacations that teach their kids in a fun way. Agritourism and culinary vacations will continue to grow in popularity.”
Whatever type of vacation you are looking to plan, my advice is to plan as early as possible.
Travel Experts Urge Summer Vacationers to Book Early
Published on: May 20, 2010
Americans are hitting the roads and skies, according to leading travel executives from Best Western International, AAA and Airfarewatchdog.com who convened last week to discuss the leisure travel landscape. With the increase in demand, hotel rooms are filling up fast. Dorothy Dowling, Best Western’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, is tracking an increase in advance bookings from May through September as well as an increase in the average length of stay. Dowling says these trends will put greater pressure on demand at hotels and recommends booking travel now in order to secure the best deals.
Capacity cuts and mergers among airlines, along with continued surcharges, are keeping rates high. George Hobica, creator of Airfarewatchdog.com, said that, “fare deals will be few and far between” this summer. “If you see something within your price range, grab it.”
There are many signs that the economy is improving and consumer confidence is growing, which are positive signs for the travel industry, according to Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services. The association is hoping to see a large increase in the number of travelers when its Memorial Day holiday forecast is released later this month. “Travel by automobile is expected to remain the most popular way to travel,” said MacDonell.
Leisure travel expert and editor of OnTheGoWithAmy.com, Amy Graff, said that staycations and one-tank trips are a thing of the past, and that families are looking to book themed travel in 2010. “People are looking to find unique vacation experiences for their families,” Graff said. “Michelle Obama’s ’Get Fit’ campaign is inspiring active vacations, and more parents are looking into educational vacations that teach their kids in a fun way. Agritourism and culinary vacations will continue to grow in popularity.”
Whatever type of vacation you are looking to plan, my advice is to plan as early as possible.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What do you need to know about airport security?
If you haven't flown in a while, this is a good article to read to prepare for your upcoming flight. Airport security has tightened in the last few years and with the attempt of the "underwear bomber" to blow up a plane bound for Detroit in December, whole body scanners will soon be introduced at many airports world wide.
In the meantime, this article from the Independent Traveler is a good review of what you can and can't bring on a plane. I thought I knew the rules, until in November, when I tried to bring a container of yogurt through security for breakfast. Obviously yogurt and even peanut butter, are on the list of "liquids" that can't be over 3 ounces.
Click here for the whole article.
In the meantime, this article from the Independent Traveler is a good review of what you can and can't bring on a plane. I thought I knew the rules, until in November, when I tried to bring a container of yogurt through security for breakfast. Obviously yogurt and even peanut butter, are on the list of "liquids" that can't be over 3 ounces.
Click here for the whole article.
Monday, May 17, 2010
24 reasons to bring a sarong on your next vacation
Thought I would include something a bit more fun for my blog today.
I saw this a while back on www.Journeywoman.com and thought it might be of interest.
With increasing airline luggage fees, packing light is always a good idea. This is one woman's idea of what to do with a sarong.
1. Drape around the waist for a beach cover-up.
2. Use it as a skirt (sans pants), which is particularly helpful in countries with primitive plumbing.
3. Not only do airlines charge to check bags these days, but they seem to be dropping the cabin temperature too. Pack a sarong to use as a blanket.
4. Dress up an outfit when it substitutes as a shawl.
5. Or drape it fashionably around your neck as a scarf.
6. Dry off in your accommodation when you use it as a bath towel.
7. Shade yourself from the sun when used as a window cover or draped between the branches of a tree.
8. Toss it on a picnic table as a tablecloth.
9. Let it help protect breakables in your luggage.
10. In harsh wind in the desert or Burning Man, use it as a dusk mask.
11. Either fold it up or wrap it around some other clothing items to make a pillow.
12. Perfect for a picnic blanket.
13. Feeling a little exposed? Have a friend hold your sarong as a makeshift wall between you and the world when you need some privacy.
14. When you’re riding on two wheels—or feeling bounced around on public transportation—fold it up and use it as a squishy butt cushion.
15. With a little handy work, you can tie your sarong into a dress.
16. Tie the corners together and you’ve got a makeshift bag for a quick trip to the beach or short jaunt down the street.
17. Cover a questionable hostel mattress with a sheet.
18. Got a little one in tow? Do as the mothers in many countries do and use it as a baby carrier.
19. Lay on it as a beach towel.
20. Tie it up as a bandanna or head scarf.
21. Staying somewhere that lets the flies in? Secure the corners and let it work as a quick fix door or window.
22. In an emergency, it can tied and used for compression or to help stop bleeding.
23. Lengthen your shorts with one of these to gain entrance into holy places (great for both guys and girls).
24. Separate dirty from clean with a laundry pouch that contains all the stink to one corner of your suitcase.
Can you add any to this list?
I saw this a while back on www.Journeywoman.com and thought it might be of interest.
With increasing airline luggage fees, packing light is always a good idea. This is one woman's idea of what to do with a sarong.
1. Drape around the waist for a beach cover-up.
2. Use it as a skirt (sans pants), which is particularly helpful in countries with primitive plumbing.
3. Not only do airlines charge to check bags these days, but they seem to be dropping the cabin temperature too. Pack a sarong to use as a blanket.
4. Dress up an outfit when it substitutes as a shawl.
5. Or drape it fashionably around your neck as a scarf.
6. Dry off in your accommodation when you use it as a bath towel.
7. Shade yourself from the sun when used as a window cover or draped between the branches of a tree.
8. Toss it on a picnic table as a tablecloth.
9. Let it help protect breakables in your luggage.
10. In harsh wind in the desert or Burning Man, use it as a dusk mask.
11. Either fold it up or wrap it around some other clothing items to make a pillow.
12. Perfect for a picnic blanket.
13. Feeling a little exposed? Have a friend hold your sarong as a makeshift wall between you and the world when you need some privacy.
14. When you’re riding on two wheels—or feeling bounced around on public transportation—fold it up and use it as a squishy butt cushion.
15. With a little handy work, you can tie your sarong into a dress.
16. Tie the corners together and you’ve got a makeshift bag for a quick trip to the beach or short jaunt down the street.
17. Cover a questionable hostel mattress with a sheet.
18. Got a little one in tow? Do as the mothers in many countries do and use it as a baby carrier.
19. Lay on it as a beach towel.
20. Tie it up as a bandanna or head scarf.
21. Staying somewhere that lets the flies in? Secure the corners and let it work as a quick fix door or window.
22. In an emergency, it can tied and used for compression or to help stop bleeding.
23. Lengthen your shorts with one of these to gain entrance into holy places (great for both guys and girls).
24. Separate dirty from clean with a laundry pouch that contains all the stink to one corner of your suitcase.
Can you add any to this list?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Using your ATM card abroad
With the peak travel season upon us, this is just another in a series to give you more information about converting money to other currencies while you are traveling.
This article was taken from an Independent Traveler newsletter.
"Whether you need euros, shekels, pesos or pounds, making a withdrawal from an ATM is generally the easiest and cheapest way to get cash abroad. The biggest advantage of exchanging money with your ATM card is that all cash withdrawals, regardless of size, are exchanged based on the wholesale exchange rate, which is usually reserved only for very large interbank exchanges.
This rate is often significantly better than what you can get from exchanging traveler's checks at a local exchange counter. In addition, local banks or money change bureaus will add on transaction fees, which can easily eat up another 2 percent of your money.
That's not to say there aren't any fees associated with international ATM withdrawals -- see below -- but if you need cash, you will still almost always get the best exchange rate at the lowest possible cost by using your ATM card.
Finding an ATM
If your ATM card is linked to the PLUS or Cirrus networks, you have the option of using it to obtain cash virtually anywhere in the U.S. and in hundreds of countries worldwide. Each network has over a million ATM's. The PLUS network is associated with Visa, so your Visa card will usually work at those ATM's. Likewise, the Cirrus network is associated with MasterCard, and Cirrus ATM's usually accept MasterCard for cash advances.
Before you leave home with just your ATM card, however, make sure that the Cirrus or PLUS networks are readily available where you're going. While PLUS and Cirrus ATM's are increasingly common overseas, they are still only available at a limited number of banks in selected countries. Each network has an online ATM locator:
• MasterCard/Cirrus/Maestro ATM Locator
• Visa/PLUS ATM Locator
Cirrus users can also call (800) 424-7787 for a current list of locations worldwide. Results are available on the phone, or you can choose to have them sent to your cell phone as a text message.
Using Your Card AbroadIf you want to use your ATM card overseas, keep in mind that many ATM's abroad, particularly in Europe, do not accept PIN's longer than four digits. If your PIN is longer, contact your bank to have it changed. Also, if your PIN is based on letters rather than numbers, translate the letters into numbers before leaving the country. Many ATM's only have numbers on the keypad. One more thing to keep in mind: Most ATM's abroad will only let you access the primary account on your ATM card.
Sudden changes in your account activity, such as frequent withdrawals in a foreign country using your ATM card, can sometimes trigger a fraud alert and cause your bank to freeze your account. To prevent being stranded overseas without a functioning ATM card, be sure to call your bank before you leave to let them know where and when you will be traveling. During the same phone call, ask for a number that you can call from overseas in case your card is lost or stolen -- often the 800 number listed on the back of your card will only work in the U.S. or Canada.
It's important to have a back-up plan in case your card is lost, stolen or eaten by an ATM machine; this could be in the form of a second ATM card (either your own or a travel companion's), cash, credit cards or traveler's checks.
What Fees to Expect
At the very least you will probably be charged the same transaction fee, if any, that your bank charges you when using another bank's ATM. However, many banks charge higher fees for international ATM withdrawals -- either a flat rate (typically $1 - $5) or a set percentage of your total withdrawal (usually 1 - 2 percent). Check with your bank before each trip abroad, as these fees can change often and without warning. To add insult to injury, you may also be charged a fee by the owner of the foreign ATM.
Because these small fees can add up quickly, you will probably want to withdraw larger amounts than you might normally do at home -- so be sure you have a safe, well-concealed place to keep your cash. (See Money Safety for more.) When deciding how much to withdraw, try to choose an uneven amount (90 euros rather than 100, for instance) so that you don't wind up with huge bills that you'll have trouble breaking.
Editor's Note: If your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance (Bank of America, Scotiabank, BNP Paribas, Barclays, Deutsche Bank 24 and Westpac), you'll be able to access ATM's at other member banks overseas for free."
This article was taken from an Independent Traveler newsletter.
"Whether you need euros, shekels, pesos or pounds, making a withdrawal from an ATM is generally the easiest and cheapest way to get cash abroad. The biggest advantage of exchanging money with your ATM card is that all cash withdrawals, regardless of size, are exchanged based on the wholesale exchange rate, which is usually reserved only for very large interbank exchanges.
This rate is often significantly better than what you can get from exchanging traveler's checks at a local exchange counter. In addition, local banks or money change bureaus will add on transaction fees, which can easily eat up another 2 percent of your money.
That's not to say there aren't any fees associated with international ATM withdrawals -- see below -- but if you need cash, you will still almost always get the best exchange rate at the lowest possible cost by using your ATM card.
Finding an ATM
If your ATM card is linked to the PLUS or Cirrus networks, you have the option of using it to obtain cash virtually anywhere in the U.S. and in hundreds of countries worldwide. Each network has over a million ATM's. The PLUS network is associated with Visa, so your Visa card will usually work at those ATM's. Likewise, the Cirrus network is associated with MasterCard, and Cirrus ATM's usually accept MasterCard for cash advances.
Before you leave home with just your ATM card, however, make sure that the Cirrus or PLUS networks are readily available where you're going. While PLUS and Cirrus ATM's are increasingly common overseas, they are still only available at a limited number of banks in selected countries. Each network has an online ATM locator:
• MasterCard/Cirrus/Maestro ATM Locator
• Visa/PLUS ATM Locator
Cirrus users can also call (800) 424-7787 for a current list of locations worldwide. Results are available on the phone, or you can choose to have them sent to your cell phone as a text message.
Using Your Card AbroadIf you want to use your ATM card overseas, keep in mind that many ATM's abroad, particularly in Europe, do not accept PIN's longer than four digits. If your PIN is longer, contact your bank to have it changed. Also, if your PIN is based on letters rather than numbers, translate the letters into numbers before leaving the country. Many ATM's only have numbers on the keypad. One more thing to keep in mind: Most ATM's abroad will only let you access the primary account on your ATM card.
Sudden changes in your account activity, such as frequent withdrawals in a foreign country using your ATM card, can sometimes trigger a fraud alert and cause your bank to freeze your account. To prevent being stranded overseas without a functioning ATM card, be sure to call your bank before you leave to let them know where and when you will be traveling. During the same phone call, ask for a number that you can call from overseas in case your card is lost or stolen -- often the 800 number listed on the back of your card will only work in the U.S. or Canada.
It's important to have a back-up plan in case your card is lost, stolen or eaten by an ATM machine; this could be in the form of a second ATM card (either your own or a travel companion's), cash, credit cards or traveler's checks.
What Fees to Expect
At the very least you will probably be charged the same transaction fee, if any, that your bank charges you when using another bank's ATM. However, many banks charge higher fees for international ATM withdrawals -- either a flat rate (typically $1 - $5) or a set percentage of your total withdrawal (usually 1 - 2 percent). Check with your bank before each trip abroad, as these fees can change often and without warning. To add insult to injury, you may also be charged a fee by the owner of the foreign ATM.
Because these small fees can add up quickly, you will probably want to withdraw larger amounts than you might normally do at home -- so be sure you have a safe, well-concealed place to keep your cash. (See Money Safety for more.) When deciding how much to withdraw, try to choose an uneven amount (90 euros rather than 100, for instance) so that you don't wind up with huge bills that you'll have trouble breaking.
Editor's Note: If your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance (Bank of America, Scotiabank, BNP Paribas, Barclays, Deutsche Bank 24 and Westpac), you'll be able to access ATM's at other member banks overseas for free."
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Turks and Caicos- what to see and do
If you thought that sitting by the beach and working on your tan was the only activity to do in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), think again. The TCI is the ultimate water sports and outdoors destination. Sure, the turquoise waters will entice you to snorkle, dive, jet ski, sail and more but with their extensive natural park system, you will have a plethora of outdoor activities and eco attractions to keep you busy.
Take a look at all there is to see and do in the TCI.
Take a look at all there is to see and do in the TCI.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Wine and Culinary Delights in Hawaii
If you didn’t think you could get fine food and wines in Hawaii, think again. The islands are fast becoming a mecca for top chefs and wines.
If you are going to be in Maui at the end of June, don’t miss the Summer Soiree from June 24-27. Mingle all weekend with renowned winemakers, chefs and master sommeliers. Sample hundreds of excusive and rare wines while dining on epicurean delights and award winning cuisine. For more info, click here
How about an elegant bargain in Waikiki?
Every Wednesday, you can sample an assortment of wine at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort during the Spa’s new evening wine walk. The Wednesday Wine Walk begins at 4:30pm with a wine tasting at the hotels Na-Ho’ola Spa, followed by sampling at restaurants like the Elegant Dive, The Colony Lounge and Ciao Mein, complete with pupu at most locations. The price is $20 per person and is limited to the first 10 participants so call in advance for reservations- 808-923-1234.
There are so many fine dining venues in the islands that I will have to address that in a future blog. Aloha!
If you are going to be in Maui at the end of June, don’t miss the Summer Soiree from June 24-27. Mingle all weekend with renowned winemakers, chefs and master sommeliers. Sample hundreds of excusive and rare wines while dining on epicurean delights and award winning cuisine. For more info, click here
How about an elegant bargain in Waikiki?
Every Wednesday, you can sample an assortment of wine at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort during the Spa’s new evening wine walk. The Wednesday Wine Walk begins at 4:30pm with a wine tasting at the hotels Na-Ho’ola Spa, followed by sampling at restaurants like the Elegant Dive, The Colony Lounge and Ciao Mein, complete with pupu at most locations. The price is $20 per person and is limited to the first 10 participants so call in advance for reservations- 808-923-1234.
There are so many fine dining venues in the islands that I will have to address that in a future blog. Aloha!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Review of Serenade of the Seas
Last week, I had the pleasure of sailing aboard the Serenade of the Seas on a travel agent seminar at sea. I have posted a review of the ship on my Feature of the Month.
Click here to read the review
Click here to read the review
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Fuel Surcharges are back
On Monday, I announced that fuel surcharges were likely to be reinstated on cruise ships due to current market conditions and the fuel spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
On Tuesday, Cunard announced that it was reinstating the fuel surcharges for new bookings made from May 10, 2010 on sailing after November 1, 2010.
Here is the email I received:
"Because of the continued rapid escalation of fuel prices, Cunard Line and P&O (UK) will introduce a fuel supplement of $3.85 (USD) per person per day. These brands will also implement this fuel supplement on third and fourth passengers.
The new fuel supplements will apply to all new bookings effective May 10, 2010 and will apply to all departures from November 1, 2010. The fuel supplements will not exceed $154.00 per person per voyage.
For bookings made prior to May 10, 2010, no fuel supplement 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 supplement.
Please remember that all of your bookings made on or before May 9, 2010 will not be subject to the new fuel supplement."
Since Cunard is a member of the Carnival family of cruise lines, I can virtually guarantee that the other members of the Carnival family (Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa and more) will follow suit.
I'll keep you posted but if you were getting ready to book a cruise, I would do it NOW.
On Tuesday, Cunard announced that it was reinstating the fuel surcharges for new bookings made from May 10, 2010 on sailing after November 1, 2010.
Here is the email I received:
"Because of the continued rapid escalation of fuel prices, Cunard Line and P&O (UK) will introduce a fuel supplement of $3.85 (USD) per person per day. These brands will also implement this fuel supplement on third and fourth passengers.
The new fuel supplements will apply to all new bookings effective May 10, 2010 and will apply to all departures from November 1, 2010. The fuel supplements will not exceed $154.00 per person per voyage.
For bookings made prior to May 10, 2010, no fuel supplement 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 supplement.
Please remember that all of your bookings made on or before May 9, 2010 will not be subject to the new fuel supplement."
Since Cunard is a member of the Carnival family of cruise lines, I can virtually guarantee that the other members of the Carnival family (Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Costa and more) will follow suit.
I'll keep you posted but if you were getting ready to book a cruise, I would do it NOW.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Fuel Surcharges- will they be back?
A couple of years ago, when oil prices skyrocketed, all of the cruise lines instituted fuel surcharges ranging from $5-$15 per person per day in addition to the cruise fare. During 2009, when our economy was at its lowest, the cruise lines held off on re-instating the surcharges, even though each would list it on their confirmations that they could be re-instated if the cost of crude oil hit or exceeded $65-70 per barrel.
Oil prices are rising and now a major spill in the Gulf of Mexico might likely increase the cost of gasoline and crude oil again. Rumor has it that the fuel surcharges might be re-instated over the summer if oil continues to rise in price.
Please note that even if you pre-pay your final balance, the cruise lines may come after you for the fuel surcharge.
I'll keep my clients posted on any changes as soon as I know about them. I hope the cruise lines decide not to re-instate the fuel surcharges. There are many other ways to raise revenue aboard the cruise ships to make up the difference but, unfortunately, it is not up to me.
Oil prices are rising and now a major spill in the Gulf of Mexico might likely increase the cost of gasoline and crude oil again. Rumor has it that the fuel surcharges might be re-instated over the summer if oil continues to rise in price.
Please note that even if you pre-pay your final balance, the cruise lines may come after you for the fuel surcharge.
I'll keep my clients posted on any changes as soon as I know about them. I hope the cruise lines decide not to re-instate the fuel surcharges. There are many other ways to raise revenue aboard the cruise ships to make up the difference but, unfortunately, it is not up to me.
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