Engaged Couples - Visit Me on July 21 at Jacques Caterers, Plan It Expo Bridal Show

I will be displaying at Plan It Expo's Bridal Show on Wednesday, July 21st, at Jacques' Caterers, from 6-9 pm.
Please come by and say hi!

Address:
500 Palmer Ave
North Middletown, NJ
732-787-2830

 

Why You Need to Take a Vacation

I read an article by Brian Tracy entitled "Four Essentials For Happiness".  His four steps are:

1. "The key to happiness" in which you desire to have happy relationships in your life.
2. "Enjoy your work".  You spend a major portion of your life working, so your job should be something you look forward to, that challenges you. 
3. "Become financially independent".  Money is often the biggest worry in someone's life.  By managing your money, you will be able to enjoy the niceties of life and free yourself from worry.
4. "Enjoy excellent health".  Without your health, the other three become unimportant.  Take care of yourself; don't take it for granted.

Brian Tracy has suggestions as to how to achieve each of the above "four essentials".  His first suggestion is to take stock of what would make you really happy in each of the four areas and to think about this on a regular basis, because some things may change over time.

Secondly, he says to set specific, measurable goals for improvement in each of the four areas.

And lastly, and I think most important of all, he says to "resolve to do something every day to increase the quality of some area of your life - and then keep your resolution."  This last one can apply to your need to take time off and relax.  Take a vacation - you deserve it.  How many people have vacation time accrued but are afraid to take it because they don't want to take the time off from work.  They feel there is too much to do, things won't get done while they are away.  Or maybe a person is self-employed.  I can relate to that.  In this case, it may be that if you don't work, you don't get paid.  You don't want to take that time off because of that.  But think of the last time you did take a vacation.  How did it feel when you went back to work?  In most cases, the answer would be that the person is rejuvenated, ready to get back to work, and feeling good to do so.

Many Americans are workaholics and America itself is known for burnt out workers.  In an article written by Eve Tahmincioglu, of msnbc.com, it is stated that "Companies are beginning to realize the benefits of vacations for their weary workers — fewer sick days, smaller health care bills and a more motivated workforce. Unfortunately, not all employers get this, and sometimes it’s the workers themselves that don’t get this, either. They have a perverted view that not taking time off and keeping their nose to the grindstone will advance their career, or keep their jobs from ending up on the chopping block.
But in fact, it could lead to burnout, emotional and physical illness, and end up jeopardizing their careers, their lives.  So take vacation, people!"

“Taking a vacation is not a luxury — it’s a necessity,” says Kathleen Hall, founder of The Stress Institute in Atlanta. “If you don’t have the opportunity to relax and reflect you get stressed, and chronic stress is the driver of most diseases — heart disease, obesity, insomnia.”

"It is important for people to take their vacations — meaning vacations of a week or two long. Taking a day or two doesn't do as much good," explains Wallace Huffman, economics professor at Iowa State University. "Productivity could increase by up to 60 percent for employees in the month or two following a good vacation."

And don't think that you can take a vacation and keep up with work at the same time.  You are doing yourself (and your family) a disservice and you are allowing your job to rule your life.  Disconnect your cell phone, your IPad, your Kindle, your Blackberry.  Have someone cover for you at work.  Leave the laptop at home.  Your vacation is a time to relax, not just work from a different locale.  

“In order to have a successful long-term career, you need to manage your career, plan to take time off regularly to allow your body to regenerate so not to suffer from burnout, exhaustion, depression,” Huffman advises. “This becomes even more important as people live longer.”

Workplace legal expert Robin Bond offered these vacation tips:

• Inform others in advance. Let co-workers and clients know of your vacation time as soon as you plan it, and send a reminder of your absence as the dates approach. Advise clients whom they can contact when you are away.
• Have a buddy system in place. Get projects to a good stopping place before you leave, and ask a trusted colleague to serve as a backup in case any urgent problems arise in your absence. Be sure to return the favor.
• Schedule around busy business cycles.
• And relax!

After all, why are you working in the first place?  Hopefully, as in essential # 2, because you enjoy it.  You are also trying to accomplish #3, which is financial stability, and along with that, set up a savings plan as you would for anything else, and put the money aside for your yearly (or more often) vacation where you can relax, recharge, rejuvenate, and stay healthy (#4 above).

And when you are at your destination, close your eyes, take a deep breath in, blow it out, and congratulate yourself!  You did it, you let go!

Who Will Help You When You Encounter a Problem?

Another reason to contact a travel consultant for your vacation planning - who will  help you if you book online at one of the large internet sites?  What happens if you need to change your plans?  What if you want suggestions for places to visit, restaurants, things for the kids to do, etc?  Some people (perhaps many) believe they will save money by booking their vacations on their own.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  It is good to do some research on your own but why would you invest thousands of your hard-earned dollars in an online booking site, without being able to have a dedicated travel consultant in whom you can trust? 

Your consultant can help you choose the right destination based on your wishes and needs.  Let's face it.  Everyone wants to save some money.  But when it comes to your vacation which you have waited sometimes an entire year to come, make sure you treat yourself nicely.  Would you rather come home and say, "I saved $600 by booking the cheapest room at the resort, but when I saw some of the other rooms, I wish I had spent the money on that" or would you want to come home and say, "I am so glad we went with the oceanfront room with the concierge services.  We had such a great time and we deserved it!"

Your travel consultant has contacts with the various suppliers, whether cruise, resort, city packages, and can guide you to making the perfect choice for your trip. 

Do you think you will get this help from an online agency?  Have you ever called with a question?  And what happens when you call again?  Do you get the same person?  Probably not.  Do yourself a favor and call your travel consultant.  

Tips for Taking Great Vacation Photos

Taking pictures while on vacation is a great way to keep the memories alive.  Taking GREAT pictures while on vacation is something many of us strive to do, but often fail.  Here is an article I found on taking vacation photos.  It has a lot of useful information and maybe next time your vacation photos will have that WOW factor.

Disney Dining Plan Extended Through December 21, 2010

Combine Disney hotel and theme park tickets and get Disney Dining Plan Free 

Requirements:

• 5-night stay at a Disney Value or Moderate Resort
• Value Resort guests receive the Quick Service Dining Plan
• Moderate Resort guests receive the standard dining plan
• 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket is required

Booking and Travel Window:

• Booking Window: May 3 – Aug. 14, 2010
• Travel Window: Valid for stays most nights Aug. 15 – Oct. 7, 2010, Oct. 22 – Oct. 28, 2010, Nov. 12 - Nov. 18, 2010, Nov. 27 – Dec. 2, 2010 and Dec. 10 – Dec. 21, 2010

Sample Pricing:

• $1,843 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Moderate Resort. That’s like paying $77 per person, per day!
• $1,440 for a family of four*, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. That’s like paying $60 per person, per day!

Restrictions apply and this offer is subject to availability at the time of booking.  Please call 732-747-8187 for details.

Norwegian Epic Inaugural

We are back home from the two-night Inaugural of the Norwegian Epic.  Thank you to NCL for the invitation and for your hospitality.  We had a wonderful time on the ship and the Epic is absolutely beautiful.
To view my photos, click here.

There is so much to do while on the ship.  For sports fun there is the Aqua Park, the Epic Plunge, bowling, bungee jumping, ice skating, rock climbing and rappelling, climbing in the Spider Web, volleyball, batting cage, squash court, basketball, hockey, soccer, and dodge ball on the multi-use sports deck.  The Pulse fitness center is large and has yoga, stretch classes, total body conditioning, Gravity Blast, seminars, TRX (stretching with bands), and spinning.  There are 18 bikes in the spin room and they are set up with Activio Heart Rate monitors.  Each person chooses how hard they want their workout to be and the monitor will calculate their target heart rate.  Each individual's heart rate will show up on the screen at the front of the room but it is shown as a percentage so only the student knows what their training level is.

For entertainment, don't miss the Blue Man Group, Second City, Cirque Dinner Show, Legends in Concert, Howl at the Moon (dueling pianos), and Slam Allen's Blues Band (playing at Fat Cats), and the Murder Mystery Lunch.  For shows that require reserved tickets, make sure to get there about a half hour prior to get a good seat.  Because they were setting up for NBC's coverage of the Macy's fireworks, we didn't get to go to Spice H2O's nightclub but that is where the Spice H2O beach club is by day and at night the pool is covered with a dance floor.  Sounds like lots of fun!  We did go to the Bliss Lounge late at night where they had a great DJ and lots of dancing. 

The Spa is 34, 000 square feet with 24 treatment rooms.   There are even Spa Suites available which gives quick access to the spa area along with other perks.

You could compare the entertainment onboard to Vegas, but the value is much better on the ship.  In Vegas, you would pay $100 per person for the Blue Man Group; $68 per person for Cirque Dreams; $35 per person to go to a water park.  You get all this on the ship and pay as low as $49.90 per person  per day for your trip.  That  includes your food, accommodations, and fun!  And don't forget, NCL offers union, military, teacher, and veteran discounts.

There is also the first Ice Bar at sea where you will put on a lined and hooded parka and gloves (provided by NCL) and go inside the ice bar for a maximum of 20 minutes.  You will be provided with two drinks (more like shots than full size drinks).

There are twenty dining options onboard, including 24 hour room service. Many of these options are included at no charge while others do have a cover.  Three are private for Villa occupants only.  We ate at O'Sheehan's, which has an Irish pub atmosphere, at Taste, which is one of the main dining rooms, and at Moderno, which is a Brazilian steakhouse.  If you have never eaten at a Brazilian steakhouse, don't miss this one!  We loved the look of La Cucina, an Italian restaurant that looked like it was set outdoors in a courtyard.  There is even "pizza anywhere" where you can order pizza from wherever you are and it will be delivered to you.
 
The casino is nice and roomy (I only hope that one day all cruise ships will go smoke free, at least indoors!), and the Garden Cafe, which is their indoor buffet, is also nicely set up where the stations are set apart and there are no long lines with which to contend.  There are plenty of intimate lounges where you can sit and relax and listen to someone entertain you.

The kids program is great, with the breakdown as follows:  ages 2-5, ages 6-9, ages 10-12, and ages 13-17.  The programs are complimentary.  Kids can get a backpack and soda package for $39.50.  In the backpack are a T-shirt, baseball cap, sunglasses, and a wristband for the soda package.  The Youth Counselors are well trained and your children will be in good hands.  The ship has Nickelodeon at Sea, which is exclusive to NCL.  The Aqua Park has lots of slides (too scary for me!) and the kids that were on the ship had a lot of fun there.

The villas are beautiful and come with special benefits.  Courtyard villa occupants receive butler and concierge service; 24 hr room service from a special menu; access to a private Courtyard area complete with pool, sundeck, hot tub and their own fitness area; breakfast and lunch at a specialty restaurant; champagne, hors d'oeuvres, bottled water and soda; in room espresso/cappuccino machine; priority embarkation and disembarkation.  In addition to all these, Garden Villa occupants also receive six bottles of liquor of choice and limo service from the pier to the airport.

We stayed in cabin 10171, which is a deluxe balcony.  I liked the way the room was set up - the beds are rounded at the edges and there really are no straight lines in the room.  The toilet has its own sliding door (opaque glass which some people commented that they didn't like, but it was fine with me) and the shower also had a sliding door with opaque glass.  The shower was nice and strong, there was plenty of room, but I do wish they had a little place to put your foot when shaving your legs.  The only amenities provided are shower gel and shampoo so bring your own conditioner, lotions, and shower cap if needed.  One thing to note:  if you are on the 8th deck the balconies do not have a cover over them, so we could look down on those balconies.  You wouldn't be able to sit out on the balcony if it were raining or if you wanted privacy.

The whole look of the ship was elegant and open.  There were beautiful paintings on the walls, mostly with a flower motif.  The interior of the ship was not dark, but cheerful and very welcoming.  The crew was wonderful.  We met many of the team from Miami and the one thing we noticed among all of them was how happy they were with their jobs and how much they admired Kevin Sheehan, the CEO of NCL.  Trivia - Kevin Sheehan was once a NYC cab driver.

We had a wonderful time on the ship, wished it could have been for a week.  The food was great, the crew friendly, the cabin comfortable, the entertainment outstanding, and the decorations pretty.  There are some promotions going on now, not just for the Epic, but for all of NCL's ships, such as their "Hello Balcony" promo where if you book an oceanview cabin you will be upgraded to a balcony.  In the case of the Epic where there are no "oceanview" cabins, you would be upgraded from a balcony to a deluxe balcony.  There is also a promotion for reduced air plus an onboard credit.  These promos won't last long, so act now to avoid being disappointed.

Get Your Passport Now

The U.S. State Dept has announced new fees for passports and consular services effective July 13, 2010.  The new fees are shown below. Currently the fee for an adult passport is $75.

There are also reputable companies you can use to expedite a passport and visa.  A Briggs is one of them and if you need a passport in a hurry, they are quite helpful. 

Please check the State Department site for more information regarding passports and visa.

 

State Department Fees (July 13, 2010)	Execution	State	Expedite	State Dept
	Fee	Dept	Fee	Totals
Lost/Stolen Passport Book	$                25	$              110	$                60	$              195
Mutilated/Damaged Passport Book	$                25	$              110	$                60	$              195
New Passport Book (16+ years)	$                25	$              110	$                60	$              195
New Passport Book (Under 16 years)	$                25	$                80	$                60	$              165
Name Change (1+ year since issuance)	$                 -	$              110	$                60	$              170
Renewal Passport Book	$                 -	$              110	$                60	$              170
Secondary Passport Book	$                 -	$              110	$                60	$              170
Add Visa Pages to existing Passport Book	$                 -	$                82	$                60	$              142
Name Change (less than 1 year since issuance)	$                 -	$                 -	$                60	$                60

  

New York City: 3 harbor-area experiences

Fun ways to spend a day or afternoon in the city

New York City: 3 harbor-area experiences

More Hawaii Specials

Here are more specials for Hawaii but act fast.  This is a 48 hour sale, good for bookings made only tomorrow and Wednesday (6/29 & 6/30/2010). Click to learn more: http://tinyurl.com/2fhc9ba

Great pricing for Maui vacations

Maui for less than $2000 per person, double occupancy

Valid for Monday-Thursday departures in United T Class of Service 8/21 - 11/17/10; travel must be completed within time period listed. Airline baggage fees are not included and payable directly to airline. Subject to availability at time of booking. Conditions, restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Subject to change without notice.

http://www.allabouthawaii.com/aat-h.br?gid=21176&t=specials&m=land&l=http://www.allabouthawaii.com/specials/10oggkaa/oggkaa.htm

Spa Etiquette

Whether it is your first time at a spa, or 100th, it is sometimes good to go over the rules of spa etiquette.

• If you have a particular date and time in mind, make the appointment early so as not to be disappointed.  This is especially true when  you are on vacation.  Many resorts and cruise lines allow their clients to book the spa treatments prior to arrival. If this is so, great.  If not, go and book as soon as your check in.  While on a cruise, the sea days are, of course, more popular.  But the days while you are in port there are usually discounts being offered for the spa treatments.  Either way, book early to be on the safe side.
• Arrive about 30 minutes early.  There is usually paperwork to complete before you meet your massage therapist.  Many times you are offered use of the steam room, etc, prior to the treatment.  Take advantage of that!
• While drinking water is good for you, don't overdo it before your treatment.  You wouldn't want to have to interrupt your treatment because you have to use the bathroom.
• Be comfortable in your skin.  If this is your first spa treatment, you may not want to be completely nude under the sheet.  You can keep on your underwear if this is the case.  Once you get used to massages, you will probably give up those inhibitions.  However, even if you are nude, your body is almost completely covered at any given time, except for the specific area being treated. 
• Don't be embarrassed if you fall asleep and snore!  It happens all the time and the therapists are used to it.  It is actually a compliment that you were able to totally relax!
• Ask if the tip is included in the cost.  You don't want to shortchange the therapist, but on the other hand, if the tip is already included, you don't want to pay more than you have to.

  And remember, most of all, relax, enjoy, and drink that water after the massage, not before!

The smartest decision I made for my vacation… A review from PK, a client who traveled to Costa Rica and Jamaica

The smartest decision I made for my vacation…

Mary did an absolutely superb job coordinating my travel plans between Costa Rica and Jamaica. From the minor logistical difficulties of traveling from the NYC area to Costa Rica, to arranging for meetings with surf professionals, to guiding me to Jamaica with all the proper paperwork, she made it incredibly easy. 

The resort receptionists I met once I arrived in said countries provided first-class treatment once they saw the thoroughness and authority of her itinerary. These resorts treated me with white glove service, to the point of providing upgrades and amenities not generally offered to the typical traveler.

Mary covered every base, met with me to discuss my plans before I left, and delivered a packet of documents containing every detail necessary to make my vacation a true luxury. (The Costa Ricans even invited me back, they were so happy to have me.)

Mary is that rare professional who can roll out the red carpet when you want it.  Whether I’m going to Central America again, or to visit relatives on the West Coast, Mary will arrange my trips.

PK

(Red Bank, NJ)

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Apprentice Trips

Fairmont Hotels (a favorite of mine) has put together several "Apprentice Trips" where guests can acquire or enhance a particular skill.  Here is just one package being offered by Fairmont:

Samuel Adams Behind the Scene Boston Brewery Package
Included in the package:
Overnight accommodations at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston
Private behind the scenes Samuel Adams brewery tour
Private tasting of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and limited edition brews, including Utopias, and other experimental beer varieties in the brewery’s barrel room
Three-course beer pairing dinner (at the hotel)prepared by Chef Stefan Jarausch in the hotel’s celebrated Oak Room with a Samuel Adams beer expert
In-room Samuel Adams “Bucket of Cheer” amenity including a collection of Samuel Adams Boston Lager Pint Glasses and apparel
Good for bookings September-December, rates start at $429 per night.

Other destinations include:
FAIRMONT MAYAKOBA (Riviera Maya, Mexico) - Green Adventure Package
FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE and THE FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS - Tees to Greens
FAIRMONT LE CHÂTEAU FRONTENAC - “Parlez-vous français?” French Immersion Package
THE FAIRMONT MONTE CARLO - Magic of Aromachology package
THE FAIRMONT WASHINGTON, D.C. - How to Pass a Bill In Washington Package
THE FAIRMONT MONTE CARLO - Magic of Aromachology package
THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE - Mountain Adventure package
FAIRMONT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH - Surf’s Up Montreal
THE FAIRMONT KEA LANI, MAUI - Eco-Learning Package
THE FAIRMONT SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA - Sommelier Experiential Package
FAIRMONT TURNBERRY ISLE - Gal Pal Experience
THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER - Higher Learning
All Apprentice Trips by Fairmont packages are subject to availability, priced per room, per night, exclude taxes and are based on double occupancy unless noted otherwise.

Women's Travel Safety

It can't be said enough...ladies, be careful while on vacation. It is a shame what has happened in Peru with Joran van der Sloot and the young woman, Stephany Flores, he killed. The only good thing that hopefully will come from this is he will be convicted of killing her and spend time in jail. After what happened with Natalie Holloway, this will hopefully give her family a little peace of mind, but only if he is convicted of 1st degree murder. If 2nd degree, the time spent in jail will not be long enough.

This article, Joran van der Sloot confesses: 10 critical tips for women for travel safety is well written and has important tips for women who are traveling, although many can be applied to everyday life. Read all the way down to the comments, because some additional points were made by readers. You can never be too careful and being overly cautious is better than the result of what happened to two unfortunate young women who trusted Joran van der Sloot.

Monday's Travel Specials from Newark

New! Save up to $100 at Catalonia Hotels in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic...Book by 6/19/10 for travel between 6/13/10 - 9/30/10

New! Save up to 50% on a stay at Couples Resorts in Jamaica...Book by 6/30/10 for travel between 6/8/10 - 12/25/10

New! El Cid Resorts savings of up to $100 in Cozumel, Mazatlán, and Riviera Maya, Mexico...Book by 6/19/10 for travel between 6/13/10 - 9/30/10

New! Save up to $250 at Venetian and Palazzo Resorts in Las Vegas...Book by 7/10/10 for travel between 6/13/10 - 10/31/10

Kids get complimentary tours in Jamaica and stay at no cost at Riu Ocho Rios and Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Resorts...Book by 6/30/10 for travel between 6/8/10 - 9/30/10

Save up to $200 to Jamaica, plus receive resort and spa credits, complimentary greens fees, and more...Book by 6/30/10 for travel through 11/30/10

Save $75 to Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica...Book by 6/19/10 for travel through 9/30/10

Security Tips for Travelers

Security Tips for Travelers

Ondrej Krehel, information security officer at Identity Theft 911, recommends that travel agents remind their clients of the following tips:

[1] Scan important travel documents and store them in your e-mail account — This allows you to easily access your passport, passport photos, visa, airline tickets, itinerary, etc., securely via e-mail.

[2] Pack only one or two credit cards — Decide on one or two credit cards that are accepted worldwide and leave all other cards at
home. Call the credit-card vendors and let them know which countries you will be going to and also the timeframe of your travel.

[3] Don’t pack your Social Security card or bank checkbook — A Social Security number (SSN)and address are the only information needed to steal an identity, and a stolen check is a gateway to a banking account. Leave behind any other cards or documents you may routinely carry that contain your SSN.

[4] Store valuables in the hotel safe — Valuables include your cash, credit cards and, especially, your passport. After all, what could be more valuable than your ability to return home?

[5] Avoid free wireless networks — Do not check your financial information, such as online banking activities, from street cafe computers or free wireless networks. There could be malicious software installed, and your account could be compromised.

[6] Safeguard documents not traveling with you — Leave the following documents in a safe deposit box or in a fireproof safe at home: Social Security card, birth certificate, copy of your passport, checkbook and deposit slips, bills and statements, medical cards, extra credit and ATM/debit cards and any other financial or identifiable documents.

Explorer of the Seas Tips

Just a few tips for making the most of your cruise ~

Entertainment

Ice Show
Please make sure you don’t miss the ice show on the ship! You will be amazed that they can put on such a show at sea. Tickets are free but must be picked up in order to attend. You can pick up the tickets on your first day aboard the ship (there is usually a table set up in the Promenade where you can get your tickets) or tickets are available at set times throughout the cruise. There were 4 sessions but you need tickets in advance. Check the cruise compass for the times that the tickets are distributed. I suggest arriving at least a half hour prior to the showtime so you can have your choice of seats. As long as you are not sitting behind a pole, the view is pretty good from all seats.

Parades
There are 3 parades. Try to get a seat in front of the bars for the best views. They were a lot of fun.

Other things to do are bingo, Trivia contests, napkin folding, towel folding, cooking classes, arts & crafts and more. There were so many that we couldn’t do everything.

SPA and Fitness Center
Remember, make your spa appointments as soon as you board the ship! There is a really nice and large indoor Jacuzzi in the fitness center.

Pool deck
In addition to the main pool, there is a lovely adults-only solarium. It is near the spa and has really comfortable lounges. Although it is not covered, it was partially enclosed so was not as cold as the main pool area.

Promenade
This is a great people or gathering place. In addition to 2 bars and the café, there are the usual stores. During the week, there will be sales on watches, jewelry, pocket books and jewelry. This is also the location of the parades and the cooking demonstrations. For those who haven’t sailed on this class of ship before, the promenade is a great place to just hang out. One of the nice features was that the captain had his party in the promenade. The captain’s staff was introduced and they all stood on one of the bridges that over looked the promenade. It was a nice touch.

Entertainment Staff

Our cruise director, Allan, was great. The guy could have done stand-up comedy. He had us rolling at the newlywed game and the quest game. I didn’t see him around the ship much but on a ship this size, you rarely expect to see the cruise director.

His staff was good, mostly young, energetic people from all over the world. Bingo Spice, from London, handled Bingo and the napkin folding. She has an adorable British accent and had guests trying to mimic her throughout the napkin folding class. Trivia was handled by a number of the entertainment staff members. The entertainment staff had a lot of energy and it showed in everything they did.

Food

Café Promenade on deck 5. This is a great choice for fast bites and snacks. At the front of the Café, there is a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream stand (for an extra fee). They also offer Seattle’s Best Coffee. There was no fee for coffee and snacks unless you ordered specialty drinks. Please check before ordering.

The Café is open until the wee hours of the morning for those late owls. In the AM, there are pastries and such for breakfast. For lunch and later, there are small sandwiches (changes daily), pizza, cookies and pastries. The chocolate chip cookies are great. Coffee, tea and iced water are always available, as is fruit such as bananas, kiwi and oranges. The café is great for snacks when coming back from excursions.

Johnnie Rockets- on deck 12 is lots of FUN.
It is very small and there is a $3.95 cover charge to get in. This was implemented as part of crowd control so that the kids and teens don’t make this their hangout. Crown and Anchor members get 1 free admission per person with the coupon book that is in the cabin upon arrival.

Upon entering, you get a grand HELLO from the staff and fellow diners and are promptly given a plate of onion rings and a ranch dressing, and fries with a plate of ketchup designed in a smiley face. The menu consists of malts (extra fee for those but great), burgers and sandwiches as well as desserts. The staff would dance and sing at set intervals and it was a blast. It is a must do on the cruise!

Portofinos
This is well worth the $20 pp surcharge. The food was spectacular and so was the service.

General Comments

Although this ship was full, it didn’t really seems crowded. The sports deck was fully utilized for a staff vs. guest dodge ball contest and there were lots of people doing inline skating and watching the rock climbers. The promenade was bustling but there really wasn’t much in terms of crowded areas.

Being such a large ship, there were plenty of space for guests to find for themselves. Since part of the cruise was heading into cold weather, the indoor activities were very heavily attended. We found that we needed to arrive at each activity at least ½ hour before it started in order to get seats. Normally, guests would be spread out all over the ship but due to the cold weather, everyone was indoors and getting seats at the activities was difficult.

There are shows each night, whether a song/dance act, comedian, ventriloquist, etc.

The best of the entertainment was the newlywed game and Quest, a scavenger type game held in Studio B. Don’t miss either- since they are both hysterical.

You can keep track of your onboard bill on the interactive TV.

Trip to Tahiti

Tahiti, French Polynesia

I had the opportunity to visit Tahiti and many of the other islands of French Polynesia. I traveled with a group of travel agents and the trip was arranged by Tahiti Legends.  We visited 15 resorts on the islands of Tahiti, Tikehau, Moorea, Taha'a, and Bora Bora. The islands are so authentically beautiful, not at all overbuilt and touristy, and the people of French Polynesia are so friendly.

French Polynesia comprises over two million square miles of the South Pacific Ocean and is comprised of 118 islands spread over five great archipelagos.  Tahiti is the largest of the islands and is the island where you will arrive on your international flight.

 
Tahiti's Faa'a Airport is under 8 hours by air from Los Angeles airport. South of the equator, Tahiti is halfway between California and Australia, on the same side of the International Date Line as North America, and in the same time zone as Hawaii - (only three hours behind California April-October and two hours behind California November-March).

The island of Tahiti is located in the Society Islands, which includes the high-rising islands of Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, and Bora Bora.

For U.S. citizens a valid passport and a roundtrip or return ticket are required for all visitors entering Tahiti. Visas are not required for North American citizens for stays of less than one month. 

Tahiti is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations and is also a wonderful destination for any romantic escape. 

I will break down the resorts I visited by island, starting with Tahiti. 

TAHITI ~ We arrived on the island of Tahiti in the evening, having flown non stop from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui.  The service on this airline was extraordinary.  We were offered wine, beer, and champagne and had a hot meal for lunch and dinner.  Always available are soup, coffee, and water.   Our flight attendants brought us candy, pillows, blankets, eye covers, ear plugs, etc.  We had a variety of movies and games available on our individual tv screens.

We stayed overnight at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort which is just a few minutes from the airport.   We had arrived late because of a storm delay so we missed our dinner and show which we were supposed to see.  However, the manager had put cold plates of fruit, cheese, and cold cuts in our rooms for us.  The hotel was fine for the night, a bit dated but clean, comfortable, and welcoming.

We also visited the Manava Suite Resort which I loved.  Only about a 10 minute ride from the airport, this is a modern resort with an Asian influence.  This is a  four-star resort made up of five separate buildings, with the first building being composed of the reception area, restaurant, meetings rooms and 12 guest rooms, and the additional four housing 109 guest rooms between two floors. All rooms are suites and are very roomy and all but the superior rooms have a kitchen and terrace. The furniture has beautiful inlaid pearl and abalone. 

The bar and restaurant are open until midnight.  There is another bar by the pool, which is the largest infinity pool on Tahiti island, and the pool faces Moorea Island.  I highly recommend this resort.

Tikehau

Tikehau

TIKEHAU ~ We took a 55 minute flight from Tahiti to the island of Tikehau with its pink sand beaches and we transferred by water taxi to the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort and Spa. Tikehau is part of the Tuamotu Islands. This resort is perfect for someone looking for something a bit rustic and remote. There is only one restaurant and bar on site. It is very quiet and secluded. Our overwater bungalow was very spacious. Only some of the rooms have air conditioning, others just have ceiling fans. Our room needed some work, especially since we were in one that did not have A/C and our ceiling fan was broken. We were given a standing floor fan which worked just fine. This resort has 8 Beach Bungalows, 6 Premium Beach Bungalows, 8 Overwater Bungalows, 8 Premium Overwater Bungalows and 8 Overwater Suites. Diving is the main attraction of the island. Of all the islands and resorts we visited, Tikehau had the most fish to be seen in the water.

 

Taha'a

Taha'a ~ The leeward island of Taha'a is known as Tahiti's Vanilla Island for its plantations. It now produces more vanilla than anywhere else in Polynesia -there is the scent of vanilla in the air! We flew from Moorea back to Tahiti, then took another flight to Raiatea. Once on Raiatea, we took a boat ride to the private Le Taha'a Island Resort and Spa, which opened in 2002. It is 5 minutes by boat from main island of Taha'a and 35 min by boat from Raiatea Island . Private helicopter service is also available. The resort offers 48 overwater suites & 12 beach suites more than a hundred square meters in size. The 12 Beach Villas have a private swimming pool, tropical gardens, and are surrounded by rock walls, offering complete privacy. There is a king size bed (or twins), TV and living room with sofa and a large terrace opening onto private pool and fare pote (dining table & chairs with ceiling fan).

The public areas are built in the trees, making the resort that much more beautiful. The resort faces the island of Taha'a on the lagoon side and Bora Bora island on the ocean side. Activities include Jet skis, water ski, 1lighted tennis court, Bacci ball, volleyball court, beach, and Jacuzzi. There is a full range of excursions to discover the wonders of the island of Taha'a by sea or by land which includes a vanilla plantation and the black pearl farms. There are two different boutiques: one which offers every day conveniences as well as a large sample of local handicrafts, and the other one features the natural jewels of the Pacific lagoons, the world famous black pearls. Also available are helicopter tours from Taha’a and Bora Bora, daily shuttle service (am/pm) and islands discovery excursions. There is a new gym, new library/lounge area and a new dive center near the beach.

We stayed in an overwater bungalow with a sunset view. The water was beautiful and there was very little coral in the swim area by the bungalows. All garden bungalows have a plunge pool and are supplied with snorkel equipment. They sleep 2 adults and 2 children, or 3 adults and one child.

There are three restaurants, two bars, freshwater swimming pool, tennis court, spa and an on-site dive center on the property. La Plage restaurant is located by the pool and beachside; Vanille (main restaurant) & Ohiri (fine dining) restaurants are located in the heart of the resort among the trees.  After dinner, we saws a Polynesian show (see picture to right).

***Taha'a ~ This resort the picture of luxury and my favorite of all the resorts we visited.

Moorea

Moorea

MOOREA ~ Moorea is often thought to be the subject of James Michener's "Bali Hai". It is just a quick 7 minute flight from Tahiti. It can also be accessed by a 35 minute ferry.

We stayed two nights at the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort. This resort has a beautiful view of the island of Tahiti. There are 49 Deluxe garden bungalows, 8 Superior beach bungalows, 15 Deluxe beach bungalows, 20 Overwater bungalows and 19 Deluxe overwater bungalows. Each bungalow is air-conditioned, has a plasma TV, safe, minibar, rain-shower bathroom, separate toilets and an extremely comfortable Sofitel ‘MyBed’. We stayed in overwater bungalow #111 which was a beautiful room.

Activities include tennis and volleyball, safari tours, swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Quest Park, deep sea fishing, ray and fish feeding excursions, island tours, an outdoor freshwater pool, sea kayaking, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, pedal boats, catamaran, Tahitian canoe picnic excursions, outriggers, petanque and 4 themed evenings per week followed by Polynesian shows. Le Spa is also on site so you can enjoy all that the spa has to offer.

The resort offers various meal plans and there is a specialty restaurant called "K" which is an open air, sand floor restaurant overlooking the lagoon. If you are on the meal plan this restaurant is not included, but it you only pay an extra surcharge to dine here.

I highly recommend this resort.

We also visited the Moorea Pearl Resort, the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, and Legends Resort Moorea.

Moorea Pearl Resort ~ There are 28 overwater bungalows, 9 beach bungalows, 28 garden bungalows and 30 garden rooms & family rooms. All rooms except the overwater bungalows are air-conditioned. Overwater bungalows have ceiling fans and gentle sea breezes and have bathtubs rather than showers. The garden bungalows have plunge pools, some with a low and deep end. Activities include snorkeling and diving, jeep safaris, helicopter rides, motu picnics, island tours by canoe with shark and ray feeding, and more. All non-motorized water sports are free of charge.

There are two restaurants, one located poolside. Wednesday evenings there is a traditional Polynesian show and fire dances and on Saturdays there is also a Polynesian show. The resort is lovely. The spa was wonderful as well.

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa ~ We had a wonderful cocktail party followed by dinner at the water's edge here at the Hilton Moorea. They couldn't have been more hospitable!

There is a 4 star Michelin rated restaurant on site, called Arii Vahine. The Rotui Bar and Grill is by the pool and beach and along the pontoon leading to the overwater bungalows there is Toata Bar which offers happy hour each afternoon. They also make fresh crepes for the guests. At the end of the pontoon are seats where guests can relax and enjoy the view. The Eimeo Bar serves cocktails, wines and champagnes nightly from 5:30 until 11:30.

The resort offers 24-hour room service and a boutique. The Mandara Spa provides spa treatments unique to Polynesia. You can schedule a sunset massage in your own bungalow, or a moonlight massage in the lagoon. Spa staff uses indigenous ingredients like monoï oil, grapefruit, vanilla, sea salt, coconut and plumeria to create a beautiful and healthful experience. There is a pretty Koi pond on site as well.

The Hilton has 57 overwater and 49 garden and beachfront air-conditioned bungalows. The location of the resort allows for both sunrise and sunset views. The garden bungalows have plunge pools with a privacy screen. There are some that have been connected which makes it nice for families traveling together. There are one bedroom garden suites available. Suites have butler service. Disabled access rooms are available in the Garden and Beachfront categories. Room service is offered, including canoe breakfasts for overwater bungalow guests.

The water was the cleanest of all that we saw because the resort is located between two lagoons. The beach is very clean and large, probably the nicest beach area in Moorea. Free activities include snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boats, tennis & volleyball. A wide range of island activities can be organized through the activities desk.


***Hilton Moorea ~ Best beach in Moorea


Legends Resort Moorea ~ We had a nice lunch at Legends Resort, a member of Preferred Hotels, which opened in December 2008. After our lunch, we were offered to go for a swim in the infinity pool. What a welcome relief to the heat!

Although not located directly on the beach, this resort has the most beautiful view because it is set up in the mountainside. There are 46 private 2 or 3 bedroom villas featuring a spacious deck with spa tub, fully equipped kitchen, living room with satellite TV and DVD player, air conditioned bedrooms, fully-equipped laundry facilities, and WiFi internet access. The 2 bedroom villa sleeps 4 and the 3 bedroom villa, which has a washer/dryer, sleeps 6. Although only the bedrooms are air conditioned, the design of the villas is such that there is a perfect flow of air throughout the villa. If you call ahead, they will stock your kitchen with food that you request. Guests have the feeling of being right at home. The resort has an International deli food & wine market, catering services, a pool restaurant, a boutique,and in-villa spa services.

There is an infinity pool suspended above the lagoon. The resort provides a complimentary shuttle to the beach throughout the day. It is just a 6 minute private boat ride to the resort's private beach, located on a Motu (islet). Hiking is available with a private guide up the mountainside. Bring your trail shoes! This is not an easy climb. The on-site restaurant, La Villa Des Sens, serves a gourmet fusion with an extensive selection of wines in the wine cellar; room service is also available. Complimentary activities also include a tennis court and a fitness center. The Moorea Dolphin Center is nearby and the center offers a variety of dolphin interaction programs including special honeymoon packages and family programs.

This was a lovely resort and the manager, Jean Pierre, was most accommodating.

***Legends ~ Best view of any resort