Walt Disney From An Adult's View

As everyone knows Walt Disney is for kids right. Well in our small little group we were all adults. I decided to do an independent Fam so I could try saving a little money. I guess it would be better to say so I would have more money to spend. We decided to fly instead of driving so we could enjoy ourselves more. We stayed at the Sheraton Four Points which is moderate property. The room had the standard amenities along with a half size refrigerator. For the small amount of time we actually spent in the room it adequately met are needs. The hotel did provide a free shuttle to the parks, but we decided to use a rental car so we would have more freedom over our schedule.

We bought 5 day hopper passes before we left. Hopper passes allow you to hop between the 4 parks unlimited. Unused days don’t expire remember to get a hand stamp when leaving a park though. With your Iatan card you can get your pass for half price. We went at a really great time of year where nothing was too crowded except on the weekends. When we went was also great because that’s when everyone starts there Christmas Programs. On many of the attractions you can do a fast pass, there is a limit you can only have 1 in 2 hour period or until your current fast pass is over. What is a fast pass? You take your park admission ticket and put in to a fast pass machine which gives you a voucher to come back to the ride in an hour or so. This is good because you don’t have to stand in line and the wait is minimal. You can be enjoying something else until it is your designated return time.

Of the 4 parks Magic Kingdom was our least favorite. There are a few things I did enjoy Splash Mountain was great. It’s not just a typical wet ride it has some cute characters and surprises. Tomorrowland was interesting as well. MGM was ok there is so much more they could do. The ride at MGM that lives up to its name is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This is not your typical drop ride. You go up and down in and out of darkness in an elevator. Put it this way the kid in front of us with his dad said his prayers before going in. At Christmastime MGM also has the Osbourne Family lights. It is only lit at dusk and quite a sight.

Walt Disney’s newest park is Animal Kingdom and it is right up there next to Epcot for me. Bug’s life is a 3d movie adventure that helps you understand a Bug’s life it has a few surprises. There is a river raft ride that will soak you but the blowers will dry you off. You also can go a safari ride through Africa. Plenty of opportunities to see wild animals in close simulations of their environment. They have guides all over the park to give you information about the animals and the environment.

Epcot of course is my favorite and it has the 2 parks in one. To me Epcot is more geared towards the adult kid than to just the kids. The attractions are there for you to actually learn something. In the world showcase you of course have the opportunity to learn about the different cultures. You can sample authentic cuisine and the staff are from that country to add to authenticity. I recommend Norway, Mexico and China their exhibits and attractions are very nice. Japan however is a big disappointment don’t expect to see kimono’s.

In addition Walt Disney World we also went to Sea World. The park was open limited hours and the luau took place after the park closed. There are only 2 rides at Sea World we decided not to go on either. The shows are great but be prepared to walk great distance back and forth due to show times. There is also a possibility to get wet at times. Dolphin Stadium was closed when we were there but Dolphin Cove was open. Dolphin Cove gives you the opportunity to feed and pet the Dolphins. Since I love dolphins and collect anything with dolphins this was the best part of my trip. The Luau was very nice and the entertainment was terrific they kept the crowd involved.

One night we also went to Capon’s dinner show. This was based on the time of Al Capone all of the staff was involved in this production. To get in you had to knock and give a password and then have your mugshot taken. It was a full show and everyone in the audience was part of it. Normally the price is $40 but you can get half price coupons anywhere.

Shopping can be found in Old Towne. Souvenirs and collectibles at great prices. They probably have anything you can imagine buying when in Orlando. It also has a county fair atmosphere with haunted houses, games and rides.

All in all we had a great time but we were ready to come home and get some rest.

Walt Disney World

I have recently returned from a
Walt Disney World vacation.

I stayed in the new All-Star Movies Resort which is one of the three value priced resorts on property (the others are Music and Sports). The All-Star resorts offer a large food court, two swimming pools, playgrounds, and arcades at each resort. They cost approximately the
same as the Comfort Inn and the Grovesnor Resort, but they are part of the Disney property. There are two other All-Stars in the planing stages of being built-Comedy and Theater. Each property is decorated with larger than life images representing each theme.

For the first day I went to Animal Kingdom. This is a park where it is best to go in the morning. It does open at 8:00am which is the earliest of any of the parks. Upon arrival you notice the Tree of Life. This remarkable tree is in the center of the park, inlaid with carved animals, and the home to the show "Its Tough To Be A Bug." The park is devoted to conservation. Each of the rides or attractions is intended to educate. For example, the safari which takes you through the arces of land with free roaming animals also tells the story of the poachers in Africa. Countdown to Extinction is the only "roller coaster" in the park. The River Rapids ride is sure to get you wet, but is very short. The park also offers "archaeological" sites for kids to dig up "dinosaur bones." The Festival of the Lion King is a must see show of songs and acrobatics. Unless you have children who want to play in all of the playgrounds, you can see and do everything in the Animal Kingdom in a few hours (8am-2pm) if you go in the morning to avoid the longer
lines of the afternoon.

After Animal Kingdom I headed over to MGM-Studios Theme Park. Because of the great transporation system you can get from any one park to another by buses. MGM is home to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. In true Twilight Zone fashion, this is the scariest ride in WDW.
Originally, the Tower was an elevator that went to the top and the dropped for a free fall. It now goes to the top, opens to ghosts beckoning you to join them. And these ghosts are not the same as the 999 happy spirits in the haunted mansion; these could have come from "The Shining." The elevator then drops, stops, and rises again. This is done several times with windows opening so you can look over all of MGM at some of the stops. In the end, I don't know how many time you drop because I could not always tell when I was going up or down. I was told that the next time I go, to put a quarter on my knee and watch it. If anyone goes and tries it, let me know.
MGM is scheduled to open the Rock 'N' Roller Coaster this summer, but it was still being tested while I was there. It is going to be the first coaster in WDW to flip you upside-down. The other rides include Star Tours, which is a simulated ride, the Studio Backlot Tour, and the Great Movie Ride.

The first makes you feel as if you were moving, but in reality you have just been bounced around. The other two are like moving shows about the movie business. There are some really good shows such as the Indiana Jones Stunt Show and Muppet Vision 3D. One of the best things though was dinner. It is best to make a reservation early since waits can get up to 2hrs long. I ate at the 50's Prime-Time Cafe. Each table is decorated like a fifties kitchen, television show the Mickey Mouse Club and Dennis the Mennis, and the waiters are all your aunt, uncle, brother, or sister, and treat you as such. And you better keep your elbows off the table, or they make you stand in a corner. The absolute best part of MGM is the laser-light show Fantasmic Based on Fantasia, this show is about Mickey vs. The Disney Villians. Movie clips and laser displays shown on sprays of water are accompanied by live characters and puppets. I would suggest arriving at the amphitheater about 90 minutes early for the first show for the best seats (center midway up).

The next day was devoted to the Magic Kingdom. My group decided to go on a day that the park opened early to on property guests. The day started with a character breakfast in the Crystal Palace. There are several different choices for character meals, but this one involved Winnie the Pooh and friends (my roommate is obsessed). During the breakfast, characters come up to your table for autographs and pictures. And yes, I got autographs.

The good reason for going early is to avoid lines in places such as Space Mountain. During the rest of the day the line can be an hour or so long, but at that time not many people are there. Also only part of the park opens early and you can go ahead and get those rides out of the way. New to Tommorrowland is the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. In this ride you spin your craft to different targets and try to score points by shooting a laser beam. Or you can just spin around and shoot people in front or behind you. Fantasyland also has a new ride, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This takes the place of Mister Toads Wild Ride. Little kids really like this ride. The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square is always a favorite. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a great coaster especially if you are not a fan of the darkness of Space Mountain. The only line that was horribly long was the 90 minute wait for Splash Mountain, but it is a great ride and worth the wait. A great way to shorten the lines is to miss the parades.
There are three parades right now at the Magic Kingdom. In the afternoon there is a parade of the classic Disney Characters. In the evening they have two showings of the Main Steet Electric Light Parade (the original from Disneyland).

The last day I went to EPCOT. Normally, I really like EPCOT, but right now half of the park is closed for preparations for the Centorium celebration, this includes Journey Into Imagination, Horizons, and areas blocked off by construction. But a great addition has opened, Test Track. This coaster takes you through different car tests including the reason for anti-lock brakes, heat and cold, suspension, and turns. The World Showcase has so far been left untouched by the construction, though they are planning the addition of new countries. You definitely can not get a better choice of dinning than in the countries. Depending on how much is open, EPCOT can be a half day to a more than full day, but make sure you are there for dinner.

The other part of WDW I visited was Downtown Disney. This area is full of restuarants, shops, and nightclubs. Downtown Disney is split into three parts: West Side, Marketplace, and Pleasure Island. The first two are free, but Pleasure Island cost $20.00 to be in after 7pm. Luckily if you get the one day complimentary travel agent park hopper pass, it includes one night in Pleasure Island free. The area offers nightclubs for everyone; there is a techno dance club, seventies club, rock n roll club, hip-hop music club, country music club, big-band club, and a comedy club.
There is also live music on the street for their "New Years Eve Party" everynight. While the rest of WDW closes by midnight, Pleasure Island is open until 2am.

There are a few things one needs to remember about Walt Disney World. One is that it is in Florida. That means is you go during the summer you will get rain on almost every afternoon. The showers don't always last long, but they do happen most days. Disney is ready for this and people selling ponchos are about as common as the people selling drinks and icecream to cool you down from the 90+degree days. Also, there are lines everywhere. My roommates and I were excited when we saw line signs that said the wait was 30 minutes. Another thing is not everyone will want to do the same things, don't make them. I saw several groups who kept in touch be cell phone or walkie-talkie and they seemed much happier than those fighting about what to do next.

But most important, Walt Disney World was designed for kids, so act like one.

VIKING RIVER FAM TRIP / CHINA by Veronica

On April 4th we flew to San Francisco to connect to a United Airlines flight to Shanghai, China for a fam trip sponsored by Viking River Cruises. The flight on the 747 between San Francisco and Shanghai was a total of 12 hours and the economy class we were booked in was very cramped. I discovered later that there was a slightly more spacious premium class, located between the economy and business class sections, which a few fortunate people had been upgraded to and we were upgraded to on the return flight.

At 6pm we arrived in the very modern Pudong International airport which was completed in 1999. Everything was extremely well organized and our luggage arrived promptly in the terminal where our tour guides were waiting for us.

Our tour guide Yang spoke excellent English and was extremely personable. He directed us to a bus which transported us into the city and our hotel, a 45 minute drive.
We spent the night at the Westin Hotel which is luxurious, comfortable and conveniently located close to Nanjing Road with its fashionable shops as well as the famed Bund. While some people could not wait to do their first shopping in China, we strolled on the Bund along the river which was alive with crowds of people and vendors selling everything from $10 ’Rolex’ watches to kites etc.

On our second day in China, after a very nice breakfast at the Westin, we were joined by a local guide who accompanied our bus as we toured Shanghai and stopped at the Bund.

Shanghai is a very modern city with a lot of impressive new buildings and has changed a lot since our first visit 20 years ago.

We were taken to a restaurant for Dim Sum prior to being transported to the smaller airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao airport, for our 1 1/2 hour flight on Shanghai Airlines to Yichan, en route to where our ship was docked.

During our flight to Yichan, the landscape below was interesting and it appeared as if every visible piece of land was cultivated and very lush. Meanwhile, on the plane our gracious Chinese stewardesses served us refreshments, both familiar and unfamiliar; The least popular among our group being a little package of dried fish.(sweet and salty taste)
In Yichan once again a local guide joined us and narrated during the hour plus ride to the ’Viking Sky’ which was docked close to the Three Gorges Dam project.

We had to descend steps to get to the ship and plow through a crowd of vendors who were pretty aggressive sales people. In the meantime all of the luggage was carried to the ship hanging from poles slung across the shoulders of the Chinese ground personnel, sometimes with other suitcases in hand.

The Viking Sky is an elegant ship and has nicely appointed cabins with small verandahs. The crew is almost entirely Chinese, the only exception being the Maitre D’ and one of the Chefs. The Chinese personnel were given unusual English names such as ’Apple’, ‘Chocolate’ etc. and were very charming and overly polite.

The ship remained docked overnight and passengers amused themselves the first afternoon by either going out to mingle and buy items from the vendors or visit a small temple opposite the dock. Other passengers enjoyed watching local women launder clothes and wash greens in the murky river.

The next day we spent several hours on a tour to the dam and viewed the locks we were to navigate through later in the day. After lunch on board, we departed for our upstream cruise commencing with the 3 hour navigation of the locks followed by 3 days scenic cruising through the gorges and ending in Chongqing.

On our third day of the cruise we boarded a smaller vessel in Wushan where we cruised through the scenic lesser 3 gorges. Apart from the lush scenery of the mist enshrouded mountains, we also saw monkeys and ancient coffins which were suspended on ledges high up on the mountain sides. A picnic luncheon was organized on the river bank (more aptly described as mountainside) where tables were set up under a marquis. It was more elaborate than a picnic and was well organized by the Viking Sky kitchen staff. There was also a shop beside the picnic location selling interesting handcrafts.

The final day of the cruise we stopped to visit the Shibaozhai temple which is a 12 story structure built into a sheer cliff during the Qing dynasty in 1650. A busy market place flourished at the base of the temple and our group enjoyed shopping for a variety of souvenirs there.

The final night on the ship we were served a farewell dinner that was strictly Chinese. It was good as most of the meals had been, although meals were not generally exceptional.

At the end of our cruise we awoke in the port city of Chongqing and from there we flew to Beijing, a 2 hour flight.
Immediately upon arrival in Beijing we were taken to a location where rickshaws waited to take us on a tour of the winding streets of an old Beijing neighborhood (Hutong). Most of these neighborhoods have been demolished in favor of modern apartments. In the Hutongs people live in a quadrangle close to their neighbors and share a common bathroom. We were invited into the house of one resident who told us about her life, past and present.

Our final day in Beijing was spent visiting the Forbidden City and Great Wall. Unfortunately since our visit to the Forbidden city two decades ago, things had changed, so that many buildings we had walked into, now could only be viewed from the outside through windows and doors. Also, many buildings were under renovation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Impressions of our cruise experience: The ship was very nice and elegant.. The cruise director who had a wonderful command of English had provided interesting lectures onboard and ongoing information about the areas we were cruising through.

Entertainment on the ship consisted of a trio who played traditional Chinese instruments and a couple of entertainers performing other musical entertainment.. One of most popular evening’s entertainment was a Chinese dance performance provided by the ship’s crew..
Food was somewhat hit and miss at dinner time but breakfast was good and lunch was fairly good. The crew was friendly and extraordinarily polite and welcoming.
Passengers with limited mobility were challenged on the excursions due to steps and inclines.
Our luggage was always taken care of along with all other details of the trip (domestic flight and entrance tickets for sightseeing) and it gave me an understanding of why older clients, in particular, prefer escorted tours.

SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS

When Sovereign of Seas was launched by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1988 it was the largest and most elaborate ship on the seas. Today it is roughly half the size of Royal Caribbean's new Voyager class of ships. The Sovereign sails three and four day cruises from Port Canaveral. Because of the shorter cruises, the rates are quite good and with Port Canaveral being drivable from Greenville, we sell this cruise often. Having never sailed on Royal Caribbean, I made it my goal for 2005 to cruise on RCCL. I knew that this was their oldest ship and went with no expectations at all. I was pleasantly surprised with the Sovereign. The Sovereign of the Seas was dry docked for 23 days last fall and millions of dollars were put into giving the ship a major face lift. Most of the public spaces were updated and 62 of its cabins were turned into Junior Suites with balconies.

Sovereign of the Seas has two main dining rooms: the Mirage on Deck 4 and Illusions on Deck 3. Traditional cruise style dining is offered with early and late seatings as well as a buffet on the top of the ship for more casual dining. When the refurbishment was done they also added a Johnny Rockets hamburger grill and a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop. Both of these are available for a small surcharge. I did not eat at either of these places but they did seem to be quite popular. I found the food in the main dining rooms to be quite good and the service was probably the best I have ever had on a cruise ship. I ate in the buffet area for breakfast and lunch and thought the variety and taste to also be very good. Room service is offered 24 hours a day and there were
two mid-night buffets on the four night cruise including one elaborate chocolate buffet.

The public areas of the ship included many lounges, a casino and shops. The Viking Crown lounge on the very top of the ship was a favorite of mine. If offered 360 degree views of the ocean and was rarely very crowded. I loved watching sunsets from here. Another favorite was the new Bolero's lounge which featured latin music and my favorite drink, Mojito. The Follies Theatre was beautiful and the shows were quite entertaining. There were two places to access the internet and rates were quite reasonable. There are two pools on this ship and the areas around the pools were usually pretty crowded but you could always find a lounge chair somewhere on the top two decks.

The cabins are quite small as you would expect for an older ship. I had an ocean view cabin on deck 7. It was clean but very compact. Some of the bathroom tiles were coming up but for the price of this cruise and this category it is still a good value. This ship had no balcony cabins until the renovation and while the ship was full and I did not get a formal tour of these cabins, I did peek in when they were cleaning and they looked very nice and much larger than the other cabins.

There is a large fitness center with up to date machines and a nice spa on the ship as well as a salon for hair and nail treatments. There is a basketball court and rock climbing wall on the top of the ship.

I really think this is a good cruise for first time cruisers as well as anyone wanting a short getaway. While it is not one of the big mega ships, for the price that this cruise sells for, it is hard to beat and if the service on the Sovereign is an indication of the service on Royal Caribbean fleet wide, RCCL has other lines beat in that department.

Toronto

Toronto is a great destination if you love the endless variety of activities that big cities supply. With the cultural mix, there really is something for everyone. Little Italy, Chinatown...with over 100 different distinct communities, the choices are endless.

Getting to Toronto is getting easier all the time. Flying in from Atlanta only took an hour and forty-five minutes on a non-stop flight. Getting around the city is easy due to a public transportation system that includes subways, buses and streetcars.

To get a better sense of the city, I would suggest staying above ground. For first time visitors, consider using the tourist buses that resemble trollys that make a circuit through the city. A day pass will give you 24 hours to hop on and off at different places downtown and the narration from the driver will help you figure out the background of the major tourist attractions and some of the best places to stop. If you don't want to go outside, stick to The Path--almost 7 miles of underground shops, restaurants, movie theaters and more that stretches from the waterfront through downtown. It's a great alternative if you're traveling during the winter. On a clear day, make sure you make a stop at the CN Tower, the world's tallest building. The view from the skybox will allow you to see for miles in any direction. If you're afraid of heights, make sure you skip the glass floored section on this one. Being able to look straight down from such a height
can be disconcerting--especially when those around you feel compelled to jump up and down to test the strength of the glass. Take a trip down to Front Street to visit the tower, the Skydome (home of the Blue Jays), Planet Hollywood (with so many things being filmed in Canada, there are some great additions to their walls here if you're a tv/movie buff) as well as the Hockey Hall of Fame nearby. Hit Yonge or Bloor for lots of great shopping. The city does have distinct areas for different things, so if you're looking for shopping for clothing, for example, you can hit the fashion district. However, one of the great things about wandering around downtown is the mix you can find on a single street, so you'll find clothing stores next to toy stores, which are next to restaurants, which are next to...it could be next to anything.

Toronto is a great destination if you're a theater lover. The third largest English speaking theater district in the world is right there. Tourism in the city dropped off with the closing of 'Phantom of the Opera' last year, but with the opening of 'Lion King: The Musical' in April, Toronto expect that to change. If you're having trouble getting tickets to this show in New York, definitely consider going to Toronto instead. If The Lion King isn't your thing, there are well over 100 other theater groups in the area, so take your pick. With over 5,000 restaurants in Toronto, the toughest thing about an evening out on the town is choosing where you want to go.

I stayed at the Delta Chelsea Inn, Canada's largest hotel, just off Yonge Street downtown (though if you've been to Las Vegas recently, it seems small in comparison with 'only' about 1500 rooms). Rated four diamonds by AAA, the Chelsea was a very nice property with enough amenities so that you would never have to leave if you didn't want to. Their 27th floor features a lounge, indoor heated pool, fitness center and more that are 'adults only' which is a nice relaxing place to visit with a great view. For families, the 2nd floor offers yet another heated indoor pool as well as a game room for kids. Most major hotel chains have at least one property in Toronto, so you have your choice of where to stay downtown.

With the exchange rate being approximately $1.50US to $1CAD, it's a great value. A weekend really won't give you enough time to see and do everything in Toronto, but it will give you a great start. You'll have a list of things you want to go back and do. Next time I'm aiming for a harbor cruise, an evening at Second City, a day trip out to Niagra...

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Vacation Express trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic begins in Atlanta on a UPS charter flight. The UPS charter flight was a completely pleasurable experience. The flight attendants were extremely courteous and we were given hot towels followed by a hot meal. The leg room was generous and the flight only a little over three hours.

When we arrived in Punta Cana the first thing we saw was the thatched roof airport amid beautiful coconut palms and lush vegetation. A Dominican band was playing as we entered the airport and we immediately identified our Vacation Express Rep who was holding up a sign identifying herself as such.

The ride to our Resort ( Barcello Bavaro Beach) was a short one. The Barcello Bavaro Beach Lobby was beautiful and open air. We toured all of the hotels offered by Vacation Express and
all were quite lovely. All of the hotels are all-inclusive and on the beach. They all offer several restaurants both ala carte and buffet. The food is quite good with a lot of fish and fresh fruits. The alcohol is mostly domestic but Heineken is offered at some of the bars for an extra charge.The local beer is Presidente and is quite good. You will not find any American beers. All of the hotels have “animation” teams comprised of young people who work all day and night keeping guests entertained. They do everything from meringue lessons to elaborate Vegas style shows. Almost all of the resorts have a spa and a children’s program.

The beaches in Punta Cana are absolutely gorgeous. They are quite expansive with coconut palms growing all the way down to the water, sand that is a pinkish white and turquoise water. The grounds of all the resorts are very lush and tropical.

There are excursions outside of the resorts including jeep safaris and snorkeling trips, but other than these, there is not much to do outside the resorts. And you would certainly not want to rent a car as there are no street signs and they seem to make up the traffic rules as they go.

The resort’s staffs are mostly Spanish speaking, but the managers and concierges speak some English. Also, the Vacation Express reps are available by phone as well as having a few assigned times at the tour desk of each hotel when they are available for booking excursions and answering questions.

The guests are largely European (topless sunbathing), but we were told that many Americans are discovering Punta Cana as a great vacation destination and to book trips there.

Punta Cana is a Caribbean paradise only a three hour flight from Atlanta and a tremendous value!

Norwegian Majesty Fam Trip

Four-day Western Caribbean out of Miami
NCL is set to begin 7-day Western Caribbean sailings out of Charleston on 08 NOV 2003 and will depart every Saturday thru 10 APR 2004. The itinerary will include Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Key West. I wanted to take this particular sailing to familiarize myself with the cruise line, the ship, and the ports-of-call. This was to be my first experience with NCL ( and the Majesty ) and felt that first-hand knowledge of the two would be valuable selling tools.

EMBARKATION

Quick, convenient, easy, and organized. One of the best check-in processes I have encountered. Cruise line and port personnel were everywhere and check-in was a breeze. Within a matter of minutes we were through security and on-board the ship. Lunch is served during the boarding time at the Piazza San Marco ( hamburgers and hot dogs ) and the Café Royal ( two separate buffet lines ) both located on the Sports Deck. There is limited indoor seating at the Café Royale but most is outdoors on the deck ( not quite sure how this will work in Charleston in January and February ). By the time the ship was ready to sail the Sports Deck & the Sky Deck were pretty full.

CABINS

The Majesty offers Interior, Superior Interior, Oceanview, and Superior Oceanview cabins & Suites. There are no Balcony cabins on this ship. The pricing and placement of categories on the ship are random at best…a higher deck is neither more expensive or a better cabin ( as is the general rule with most ships ). Most Oceanview cabins that are located on the higher decks have obstructed views. Cabins that sleep only two passengers are the smallest while cabins that sleep third and/or fourth passengers are the largest ( these are rated as the Superiors ). The only category that may buck that trend is II on Majesty Deck. So…..if you have two people sailing that want the most square footage then book them into a triple/quad occupancy cabin.

The cabins themselves are well maintained and decorated with light neutral tones and light wood furniture. Beds are actual mattresses and quite comfortable. Cabins are furnished with a closet ( with safe ), lighted vanity desk with chair ( and the neatest built-in ironing board ), dresser(s), individual climate control, tv with numerous satellite channels, two channels of music, and refrigerator ( not all cabins ).

The bathrooms are a masterful use of minimum space. They are compact but functional and provide adequate maneuvering space. Included are a hairdryer, hand soap and lotion, and shower gel & shampoo dispensers in the shower ( the shower is separate and roomy ). Towels are large and thick and wash cloths & hand towels are kept stocked.

Cabin stewards are outstanding and regularly check on you to see if there is anything you need.

MOBILITY

Majesty has six elevators in three banks of two ( these are located at the main stairwells ). They are small and not very fast……depend on the stairs and leave the elevators for those who actually need them. The stairs are well placed and very wide……this ships medium size makes it a breeze to navigate. The Promenade deck is a wonderful treat but for some reason the majority of passengers tended to congregate on the Sports and Sky Decks……this made the Promenade all the more enjoyable. Cabin hallways were wide enough for two people to pass and ship maps and diagrams were well placed for guidance.

PLUBLIC SPACES

Majesty does not have an Atrium but does have Crossroads….a sort of Rotunda in the middle of the ship where you will find the Purser, Information, Excursions, and Credit desks. It is located on Atlantic Deck and this is also where most public areas are located. Royal Fireworks is the “second” showroom located at the front of the ship. Seating is limited and tends to fill early. Then there is Rendezvous and house of Lords……the largest lounges/bars on the ship. Here you will find two big-screen tv’s and snacks that are served at varying times of the day. Next are the shops ( jewlry, logo souvenirs, clothing, alcohol, and cigarettes ). These were well stocked and very well priced….many bargains to be found. Also on this deck are the Internet Café, Library, and Video Arcade.

On Majesty Deck are the Polo Club ( lounge/bar) and the photo gallery. There is the Monte Carlo Casino and the main showroom Palace Theatre. The Palace Theatre is one level and the sightlines are not the best in the world. Seating was generally available at most shows but in the very back rows. Entertainment was top-notch and worth making an effort to go see. On Promenade Deck you will find the Mandara Spa, Gym, and the Frames 52 Disco.

Overall décor and furnishings are tasteful and in good repair…..one was given a sense of quality and solidness…..broad appeal and virtually no glitz.

DINING FREESTYLE

Here is where NCL pulls way ahead of the pack…..Freestyle is the way to go. There are 5 restaurants that are included in the cruise fare….Seven Seas, Four Seasons, Café Royale, Piazza San Marco, and Royal Observatory. Then there is Le Bistro ( fine dining ) that requires additional tariff ( 12.50 to 20.00 per person ). Advance reservations are required at Le Bistro and the Royal Observatory ( Italian cuisine – no additional tariff charged ). Café Royale offers buffet service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Piazza San Marco offers 24 hour hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and salads. The two main restaurants Seven Seas and Four Seasons offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner seatings. Your preference for seating was always accommodated and in a timely manner. Service and food were beyond expectations and would rival any fine dining establishment. One note…..in the Seven Seas Dining there is noticeable engine noise and vibration when seated in the far rear ( near the windows ) some passengers may find this annoying.

Freestyle allows you to decide when, where, and with whom you wish to dine. This one feature removes any stress that may have been involved with the traditional two-seating rush for the dining room that still exists on some ships even today. The inclusion of gratuities ( 10.00 per person per day ) allows for more personnel and improved service.

Menus were expansive and there was something to suit the taste of everyone on-board. If you could not find it in yourself to leave the cabin then room service was only a phone call away.

DISEMBARKATION

A repeat of embarkation…..orderly, efficient, and quick.

SPECIAL NOTES

Majesty is not the newest or the largest ship sailing but in combination with NCL’s Freestyle Cruising concept, she is one of the best. The ship, service, crew, and dining were near perfection. She was completely sold out on this sailing but you would never have known it…….service was flawless. The sailings that will be operating out of Charleston are one of the best values going. The Majesty ( and NCL ) can be sold without any qualms whatsoever. I was also impressed with the ship’s smoothness while sailing….much better than some others I have been on.

ELDORADO RESORT & SPA MAYAN RIVIERA

I chose this hotel because it was in-between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. The hotel is situated on several acres of mostly jungle, opening to a sandy beach. The rooms are well appointed and large. Each room has a balcony or patio with chairs and a hammock. The furnishings are typically Mexican, but each room has a large Jacuzzi tub in a separate area, an armoire with TV and 2 writing tables with chairs. The bathroom is very large also and completely tiles from floor to ceiling. Silk bath robes are brought each day along with an abundance of large fluffy towels.

One of the negatives were very poor lighting and no door on the shower. The whole ambiance of the resort is of peace and tranquillity, a great place for a honeymoon. The grounds were beautifully landscaped and the beach area well kept. There were swimming pools within a few steps of each group of buildings along with a large pool with swim up bar.

The food in the two main restaurants was excellent as was the service. In the general open air restaurant the food was adequate and the service good, but the food was never very warm.. There was ongoing maintenance and new building while I was there but it was all done very inconspicuously and there was never any noise or disturbance. For a new hotel there were several things needing attendance in the room, but it was promptly taken care of by 3 non English speaking workmen. No matter how large or small the problem there were always 3.

The staff were extremely courteous and helpful. If you want to stay at the resort there was plenty to do as far as water sports and daily activities. The Spa programs were very expensive. To do anything outside the resort was a little difficult and you could not do anything spontaneously everything has to be planned by 7:00 PM the previous day, because of the transportation problem.

Taxis were expensive, car rental was $45.00 day for s stripped VW bug with no radio. And tours were also high priced.

The main attraction is this area for me, and the purpose for choosing this location , was the close proximity of many sights and tour opportunities. From Mayan Ruins to shopping to horse back riding, four wheeling and Ecological parks. If you are planning on spending the day at a park, Excarets the very best place to go. The tours to Tulum only give you 2 hours, so if you want more time you need to find your own transportation, or use the city bus, (which I was never able to discover). All in all it was a place I’d recommend for various types of travelers, but a few pointers from someone who has been there would certainly help first time visitors. Although most people only stay 3 - 4 nights there is definitely enough to do on a 7 night stay.

Mainland Alaska

I. The South Central – Kenai Peninsula, Homer, Seward, Kodiak Island
II. The Interior – Wassila, Talkeetna, Denali N.P., Fairbanks
III. Prince William Sound & Valdez

Alaska is 4 hours behind Eastern time. Summer daylight is virtually 24 hours, Winter gets about 18 hours of darkness. Temperatures in the Summer average 60-90 degrees during the day …. Winter can be –50 degrees.

Anchorage
Ø Cook Inlet is the main destination for travelers touring mainland Alaska.
Ø Large city with population in the hundreds of thousands
Ø Used for a quick “in and out” stay, mainly due to airline schedules. It does however, offer travelers a lot to see and do.
Ø Downtown: loaded with shops selling native Indian handicrafts, and usual souvenirs. In the summertime, shops are open until midnight. Good for your final night stay and last minute shopping.
Ø Nearby the city is Potter’s Marsh, a wetland area where you can view waterfowl and salmon from long boardwalks. This is a city park --- free and very interesting.
Ø Alyeska Ski Resort is an hour away, as is Portage Glacier, a landlocked glacier that is part of the State Park System. Here you can see a glacier close up, take a boat ride on the lake in front of it (full of floating icebergs), and learn more from a fabulous exhibit center complete with park rangers, multimedia presentation, gift shop, and lunchroom. Many creeks flow into the Turnagain Arm, a part of the Cook Inlet. Here salmon fishermen practice “combat fishing”. There are so many fish and fishermen in one place…it’s considered a warzone getting the fish. The Turnagain Arm is famous for its “boretides”.

The Kenai Peninsula
Ø Famous for salmon fishing and Prince William Sound.
Ø Seward, a small fishing village, 3 hours from Anchorage, a major cruise port, and a jump-off spot for tourist vessels on day trips to see glaciers, marine mammals, and birdlife. Ø Homer is another town at the end of the peninsula, a day’s drive from Anchorage. Good fishing and wildlife viewing. From here you can take the ferry to Kodiak Island. Kodiak is for those who really want to get away from it all. Most of the lodges are “fly-in”, and offer unique wilderness experiences. They are quite expensive, averaging $400-$600 per night stay, with excursions, comfortable lodging, and some with private facilities.

The Interior – Wassila, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks
Ø North of Anchorage
Ø The town of Wassila is a highlight….the home of the Iditarod. Also has a great museum. The Iditarod is held each March.Ø Talkeetna, base camp for Denali climbing expeditions. This historic, quirky town is full of bush pilots, climbing companies and small bunk houses for climbers. It comes alive in the Spring when climbers from all over the world ascend on Alaska to challenge Denali (“the great one”), formerly Mt. McKinley. You can fly by bush plane onto Denali at 7,000 feet to see the base camp, with dozens of tents and climbers, making ready for their ascent of the mountain. Flights to the base camp are only allowed in late Spring or early June as the glaciers become too unstable to land. During the Summer, you can flightsee and fly the summit of the mountain. Denali National Park is another few hours drive further North through high flatlands and wilderness. Just past the entrance is a strip of motels, food joints, outfitters and lots of congestion and people. Just inside the park, the scenery changes to 14 miles of paved road that anyone can ride for free. Then, a gravel road takes you for hours into the wilderness. The only way to pass mile-marker 14 is with a national park bus (old schoolbus). You must reserve for one of these months in advance. The price is about $6 per day. If on a tour, you would have a boxed lunch provided. No guide is on the bus, just a driver who will stop if wildlife is spotted. Makes for a truly interesting and eventful day.
Ø Fairbanks – a small town with a riverboat, and an Alaska theme park. It also offers fishing, hunting and the University of Alaska.

Valdez & Prince William Sound
Ø Valdez is famous for its name, and the famous oil spill that marked Exxon forever. They launched a monumental effort to clean the entire area. This included every rock on every beach in every cove. Today, years later and smarter, tanker ships visit daily, under new regulations set up to prevent another spill from devastating the Sound again. Valdez is a small town, once totally destroyed by the 1964 earthquake and rebuilt on a site further down the road.
Ø Valdez is a fishing village which is home to the Ayeska Pipeline Company, and terminus of the Alaska bald eagles….also home to the Columbia Glacier. Day trips to the Sound on chartered tourist boats take you to see these wonderful sites.Ø Alaska requires months of advance bookings for hotels, car rentals and outfitters (fishing, wildlife viewing, etc.). The ferry system is also booked heavily during the summer months. It is suggested to book at least 6-8 months in advance, especially for national park services…some are on a lottery system because space is so limited. The Alaska Department of Tourism and the Anchorage CVB are both good sources of free information.

Las Vegas

I am waiting for my flight to take me back home. I have just spent the last four days in Egypt, Paris, New York, Venice and Monte Carlo. No, I haven’t been globetrotting, I’ve been in Las Vegas! Having never visited Las Vegas before, I cannot compare it to the Vegas of twenty or thirty years ago, but as I’ve heard it said, “This isn’t the Vegas your grandmothers visited”. Most of the old “rat pack” hotels are no longer around. They have been replaced by enormous, (11 of the 12 largest hotels in the world are in Las Vegas) mostly “theme” hotels.

The Paris Hotel has a half scale Eiffel Tower as well as a replica of the Arc de Triomphe. All of the restaurants and shops have French themes and are located on Parisian “streets” that meander through the hotel.

The New York-New York from the outside is a scaled down version of the New York skyline with a Statue of Liberty, Empire State building,Chrysler building, even the Brooklyn Bridge. Inside the “streets” are named after famous streets in New York with the restaurants and shops carrying through with the theme as well. There are even manholes emitting steam.

The Venetian is one of the newest of the theme hotels to open and houses a large shopping area complete with “St. Marks Plaza” and a quarter mile long “Grand Canal” with gondolas and singing gondoliers.

We stayed in the Egyptian themed Luxor, shaped like a huge glass pyramid. You enter the hotel through a ten story high Sphinx. There are replicas of Egyptian artifacts and statues, Ramses, hieroglyphics, scarabs and cobras on the walls. The rooms in the pyramid section have to be entered by riding a 39 degree inclinator. There are two newer tower sections with rooms which is where we stayed. The rooms were quite spacious and tastefully decorated with an Egyptian theme without being tacky. The rooms had all the usual amenities except coffeemakers.(You have to go through the casino to get coffee. In fact, you have to go through the casinos to get anything and to go anywhere. I wonder why that is??????????)

Most of the hotels we visited were on the strip with the exception of the Hard Rock Hotel which was about a mile and a half back from thestrip, and the Golden Nugget which was downtown. The “strip” is the Las Vegas Boulevard hotel zone and is about four miles long from the Mandalay Bay hotel on the south end to the Stratosphere on the north end. Prepare to do a lot of walking if you plan on venturing out of your hotel and visiting the others on the strip. You can take a cab and the city buses run up and down the strip twenty four hours a day, but the best way to get a real feel for Las Vegas is to walk the strip, especially at night when the neon comes.

There is plenty to do in Las Vegas even if you are not a gambler. If you are, you will think you have gone to heaven. There are always great shows playing with long running ones such as Siegfried and Roy as well as newer ones such as Cirque Du Soliel and The Blue Man Group. There are different headliners every week. There are tours to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Damn, Laughlin and many others and most hotels have a show and tour desk to assist you with tickets. Some fun and free things to catch are the light and fountain show in front of the Bellagio, the erupting volcano in front of the Mirage, the pirate battle in front of Treasure Island, and the Fremont Street Experience which is an overhead light and music show in downtown Las Vegas. It is also worth the walk or cab ride to the Stratosphere on the north end of the strip to go up in the tower(for a small fee). The Stratosphere tower is the tallest freestanding tower in the country and you get a great view of Las Vegas and the mountains that surround the city.

There are thousands of restaurants to choose from and a lot of the better known chefs have opened up chic restaurants in Vegas. We had a fabulous dinner at Lupo, a Wolfgang Puck Restaurant in Mandalay Bay. Every strip hotel had a buffet serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at very reasonable prices. We had the lunch buffet at the Mirage and it was quite impressive but the dinner buffet at the Luxor was a big disappointment. The strip hotels also all have a twenty four hour coffee shop.

I find it hard to remember exactly what my preconceived impression was of Las Vegas before I visited it, but I was pleasantly surprised with it. If you haven’t been to Las Vegas lately or if you have never been, you should definitely plan on going!

Jamaica

We traveled to Jamaica on Thursday May 20th from Atlanta at 9:00pm arriving in Mo Bay at 11:30pm.

On Friday morning, we took a trip to a local river, one of about 120 rivers in Jamaica, to take a rafting trip. Unfortunately once we arrived, the river with running to "fast" for the group to enjoy the experience. We then toured the Botanical Garden which was very dangerous. I know - How can a Botanical Garden be dangerous? The steps that lead to the river were so slippery that several people fell. Yes, I was one of them. Yes I was wearing tennis shoes, but the moisture of the river created moss on everything and it was VERY SLIPPERY EVERYWHERE.

Friday evening, a two minute drive from our host hotel, Sandals Royal Jamaica hosted our welcome dinner and party fit for Kings and Queens. I would rate this property Superior/First Class. The Sandals Royal Jamaica Resort, had their entire staff catering to our needs for the evening. When we arrived, we boarded ferries over to Coco Cay, a small island just off the beaches of the Royal Jamaica Sandals Resort. The presentation and service was without a doubt, exceptional--endless food, music, entertainment and drinks. On hand was Butch Stewart - Chairman of all Sandals Resorts.

On Saturday, we went to Negril and visited the Grand Lido Resort. We had lunch, toured the property and took lessons on playing the "Steel Drum". Yes I played. Ted did a dancing game and Jill watched in all. I would rate this resort First Class/Superior. Jill and Ted visited Hedonism II, while I joined a group of other agents and took a boat tour up the Negril beach coast. It was an experience seeing all the properties in Negril and how they were laid out. Yes, I saw lots of nude bodies at Hedonism II on the beach.

That evening we had a dinner, show and tour of Rose Hall, a historic site in Montego Bay. Local dancers and singers performed for us and it was excellent. Rose Hall is a great, old house and plantation. There is a great deal of history and a must see and do if you visit Jamaica.

On Sunday morning we had a visit to Half Moon Bay Resort for a trade show on all the properties, attractions and suppliers that sell Jamaica. This was an annual event call JAPEX, where all suppliers and hoteliers are on hand to promote their product/property to travel agents. The Director of Tourism, Marketing Director and several other prominent government officials were on hand to give presentations and a video on Jamaica to us.

Half Moon Bay Resort is located right next door to the Holiday Inn Sunspree and is rated without a doubt-Luxury.
They market the property heavily to the Asian market. It was mentioned that the average stay is 10 to 14 days at a rate of $350 minimum per night. The hotel totally self sufficient: Golf Courses, Shopping Center, Equestrian Stables, Bikes or Golf Carts to get you around the property (yes it's that large), several restaurants, Convention Center, Beaches, Pools EVERYTHING! The ultimate in all-inclusive.

The final dinner was hosted by the Holiday Inn Sunspree and there was excellent entertainment and great food.

We departed Mo Bay at 3:50AM and arrive back in Atlanta at 7:30.

Italy, Austria and Germany by Lisa

Milan was the starting point of our two week vacation that encompassed Dachua Germany to visit the World War II concentration camp and Vienna Austria to see the capital in all its glory.
In Milan we found that most people in Italy speak a little English. We had some problems finding our hotel, Best Western City Center, but the people were very friendly. The hotel was in a great location, convenient to shopping and major attractions. It was also one block from a subway station. The staff spoke English and had a city map that came into use. The Piazza del Duomo, with its great cathedral, was our first stop. As elaborate as a wedding cake, the edifice is decorated with 2,245 marble statues and 135 marble spires. The 16th-century stained glass windows illuminate the five great aisles and huge pillars of the church. The refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie has Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper on display.

We traveled to Dachua Germany and had a very moving experience at the concentration camp. The words “Work Brings Freedom” are still above the gate that the prisoners would see as they entered the camp. Two of the original 20 barracks were rebuilt with the wooden beds stacked on top of one another. The one bathroom with 20 toilets and no privacy are there to allow you feel some of their pain. There are signs in 4 languages that explain the camp and daily routines.

As we left Germany we traveled to Link and then on to Vienna via a small road that followed the Danube River. It was a most pleasant drive. We saw the one of the most beautiful Baroque abbeys on the right bank and the the ruined castle where Richard the Loinhearted was imprisoned in 1193. All the chief buildings in Vienna have little shields attached to their facades. Get a booklet from the Tourist Board called “Vienna from A to Z”, that lists all the numbered shields with a history of each building. Be sure while you are there to visit Stephen’s Cathedral, the main landmark in Vienna. Other important sites are the Hofburg, historic central palace of the Austrian Empire, with the imperial apartments of Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth., and tour of the Treasury and see the Crown Jewels. Be sure to see Schonbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, and stroll the gardens.

We drove on to Mestre Italy which is a small town 20 miles east of Venice. We stayed at the Bologna, located across the street from the train station, because we didn’t want to have to wonder the streets of Venice carrying our luggage. We got a r/t ticket for 5 lira and walked down the station steps right to the Grand Canal. Be sure to get a map of Venice for you will surly need one. A gondola ride to San Marco station will take you on a leisurely two-mile tour of Venice’s main street, the S-shaped Grand Canal. Explore the Piazza San Marco, a regal square with the great Basilica of St. Mark, one of the world’s most magnificent churches. Be sure to take the stairway to the museum in the basilica’s galley, where the stunning originals of four magnificent horses of gilded copper are now installed. These horses once adorned the Hippodrome of Constantinople and in 1207 were placed on the terrace of San Marco, where some copies now stand. Also visit the Palazzo Ducale, the Doges’ Palace, next to the basilica. As you tour the Palace see the “stairway of gold” and then follow the arrows across the Bridge of Sighs, linking the Doges Palace with the Palazzo delle Prigioni. Eat dinner by candlelight at a table sitting next to one of the many canals and listen to the Gondoliers singing as they go by.

Next we toured Florence. In the Galleria Dell’Accademia we turned a corner and there was the most marvelous site, David, Michelangelo’s colossal statue. Also take time to tour the Uffizi Palace which houses an important collection of paintings, the Piazza del Duomo, Giotto’s 14th century Campanile called the most beautiful bell tower in the world,. Best Western Hotel and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, with the East Door, a work that took 27 years to complete in bronze.

We left Florence to travel to Pisa and saw the Piazza del Duomo-the 900 year old cathedral and the Leaning Tower. The tower is still closed to tourists as it was in danger of toppling over. There is construction going on now to save the tower so you must be satisfied to just look at it. We left Pisa and traveled back roads to the medieval city of Volterra. It sits on a hill overlooking magnificent countryside. When you enter the gates of the city the streets are very narrow and winding. Volterra is known for its alabaster and its many shops carry all kinds of items made from it. From Volterra we drove on to Sienna which had the look and spirit of the Middle Ages. We visited the Il Duomo. This sienese cathedral dates from the 12 century. The zebralike interior of black and white strips is stunning. Be sure to see the Donatello work in bronze of John the Baptist. We spent the night in Perusia, another medieval walled city. You must climb steps to enter the city and the view from the overlook on a clear day stretches to Assisi, which was our first stop the next day. In Assisi we toured the Basilica Di San Francesco. This church consists of both an upper church and a lower church. As you tour the lower church you see the entrance to the crypt of St. Frances, which is below this church. It is a very spiritual place.

Our final stop was Rome. We had 3 days to sample the wonders of this city. We started with the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. We walked from the Arch of Titus to the Arch of Septimius Severus. We tossed a coin in the famous Trevi Fountain and climbed the Spanish Steps. We visited the Castel Sant’ Angelo built by Emperor Hadrian in 135 and then the Pantheon, rebuilt by Hadrian as a pagan temple. We visited San Pietro in Vincoli and saw Michelangelo’s famous statue of Moses and the huge white Victor Emmanuel Monument where the unknown soldier is buried. Be sure to see Michelangelo’s stairs that lead you to the Campidoglio, Rome’s city hall and the Capitoline Museums.

On Tuesday, November 7th, we arrived at the Vatican to find areas roped off and guards scanning people before allowing them inside. We walked in the Holy Door and saw Michelangelo’s, Pieta in the first chapel behind bullet proof glass. As we walked on we were directed to the left of the main aisle. There was a hush as the Pope came out. He was on a small rolling stand with handrails and he waved and blessed babies as he proceeded to the Confessional Altar, marking the burial place of St. Peter. This was the highlight of our trip. When the service was complete we walked to the back of the church to view the baldacchino by Bernini, resting over the papal altar and entered the crypt of St. Peter. We later climbed the steps to view Michelangelo’s dome and a breathtaking view of the interior. As we exited the church we strolled around to the entrance to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. The museums are a series of palaces and galleries built over centuries. The treasures here are many, but pale in comparison when you enter the Sistine Chapel. Michaelanglo painted 9 panels on the ceiling taken from Genesis and it took him 4 years to complete. He was in his 60’s when he painted the Last Judgment on the altar wall.

Italy was a wonderful experience for me. I found it to be both educational and inspirational. If you are interested in history and love art, then you will be in heaven.

Hawaiian Fam Trip

Blues Sky Hawaii and Maui Visitors Bureau offered a 6 night familiarization trip to Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i. I had been to Maui twice before but not to the other two islands. I had heard about them and felt that this would be a great opportunity for me to become an Island Specialist on these three islands.

We arrived in Maui and were met at the airport by Jerry Carter and Brian Pringle, from Blue Sky Hawaii and taken by Speedi Shuttle to our hotel for the first two nights. On arrival at the Sheraton Maui we were shown to our rooms and later that evening met for a welcome reception presentation with Chris Kai’aokamalie, Director of Sales and Leisure with Maui Visitors Bureau. Here we were given our schedule for the coming week and were introduced to Hawaiian music and dance by a wonderful group of young Hawaiians.

Our group of 20 met Wednesday morning for an Aloha Welcome Breakfast and then followed the property inspection, hosted by Peggy Odenback. Director of Leisure Sales. The inspection concluded with a video feature of Hawaii and a Maui workshop that gave us incite into Maui’s rich culture and Aloha Spirit.

We departed the Sheraton by bus with Roberts Hawaii who took us on a tour of West Maui that included Kapalua Resort, Napili, Kahana and Honokowai. Our lunch was hosted by Napili Kai Beach Resort and a site inspection followed. This hotel is perfect for families with its beautiful beach and excellent rates.

We were taken to Lahaina Town, a National Historic District that included visits with
Friends of Moku’ula and free time to shop and explore Front Street. There are two nice museums, the Heritage Museum and the Baldwiin Home Museum if you have the time. We were picked up by Roberts Hawaii and taken to Ka’anapali Beach Hotel for a site inspection and checked in for the Kupanaha Show and Dinner. If you are into magic, you will love the show.

On Thursday we departed the Sheraton early with Roberts Hawaii and taken to Lahaina Harbor to get on the Maui Princess Ferry for our journey to Moloka’i. The trip takes about and hour and a half. I rode up on top in the open air and the ride was very refreshing. The waves got considerably larger and sprayed over the ferry as you got out into the channel.

On arrival at Kaunakakai Harbor, on Moloka’i, we were transported by shuttle to our continental breakfast and site inspection at the Hotel Moloka’i, hosted by Gregg Fraser, General Manager. This older hotel is located right on the water and is in the process of being renovated. For families that want to get away from everything this hotel would be a great choice.

Moloka’i is the fifth largest Hawaiian island. Its western tip is a mere 22 miles from O’ahu and is about 38 miles long and 10 miles wide and has over 88 miles of coastline. Nowhere on the island are you more that 5 miles from the ocean. On this island you can find ancient Hawaiian fish ponds, rain forests, and nestled at the east end are St. Josephs and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, two churches designed and built by Father Damien who worked with exiled lepers in the late 1800’s. You can whale watch, scuba dive or snorkel off Hawaii’s only 28-mile pristine, barrier reef, or hike trials that few have traveled. Camp on a beach, explore the highest sea cliffs in the world, or just enjoy the unhurried, non commercial life style, with no traffic lights or buildings taller than the palm trees.

This evening we checked in at The Lodge with a site inspection that followed. This
property is situated in the middle of Moloka’i Ranch . The two- story Lodge in the town of Maunaloa is rustic and comfortable with an infinity pool. We were staying at the Beach Village which is located about 10 miles from the Lodge, down a dirt and gravel road that ends at the beach. Here we found Hale accommodations that are tents, wooden structures with canvas wrap, that are on raised wooden platforms and are 350 to 500 square feet. These environmentally friendly tents include solar-powered lights, ceiling fans, queen beds and spacious lanais. Private bathrooms are in each hale but there are no TV’s or radios in the tents. There is a pavilion where you can eat, drink and socialize.

After breakfast at Kaupoa Beach Village, we were picked up by The Lodge shuttle and taken to Moloka’I airport for our Island Air flight to the island of Lana’i. Lana’i is 98% owned by Castle and Cooke, Inc. and they have developed the island as an enticing resort destination. There are two very exclusive, five star resorts on this island. It is the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands that is open to visitors.

Lana’i, Moloka’i and Maui have ocean currents moving through a protected channel between them with fresh water streams that flow into it that make it a favorite destination for the humpback whales, who migrate to Hawaii each year from December through April. These three islands make up Maui Nui county, and since it is the only county with more than one island open to visitors, it is the only one with regular boat traffic between its islands.

Upon arrival we were taken to Lana’i Pine Sporting Clays/Lana’i Pine Archery Here we had our delicious box lunch and a presentation to learn Lana’i’s secrets and charms. The rustic 14-station clay course is situated on the northwest section of the island. The course allows shooters to tackle a variety of target angles, and the 12-target range offers the excitement and challenge of archery at its best. I found that skeet shooting can be great fun.

We took a leisurely tour of Lana’i city and then arrived at our destination for that evening, the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay. After the site inspection we had free time to swim in Hulopo’e Bay, or lay on its famous white sandy beach. I chose to explore the tidal pools of Hulopo’e Bay. Dinner this evening was at the Ocean Grill and was hosted by Lana’i Visitors Bureau.

The Four Seasons Resort is a stunning tropical resort with panoramic views of the Pacific and nearly white-sand beach voted one of the most beautiful tropical beaches in the world. This resort has everything from intimate courtyards, exotic gardens, and precious Oriental antiques to massive hand-painted murals.
Saturday morning each of us was given a complimentary choice of a spa treatment, tennis lesson or 18 holes of golf. I chose the massage and I wasn’t disappointed. The spa has recently been renovated and offers a full menu of spa activities, fitness equipment and sauna and steam rooms. There are body and facial treatments, hairstyling, manicures, yoga and acupuncture.

We took the ferry that afternoon over to Maui and was picked up by Roberts Hawaii and taken to the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. Located on the pristine shores of Mokapu Beach, this 15 acre resort rests at the foot of Mt. Haleakala. We had a site inspection that ended at the oceanfront gardens for the Wailea Sunset Luau. This show features a traditional Hawaiian hula and a Samoan fire knife dance finale. The menu included tropical fruit, island salads, Huli Huli Chicken, Lomi Lomi Salmon and Kalua roasted Pig, grilled fresh fish and of course Poi.

Sunday we took a sightseeing tour of Iao Valley that included the Iao Needle, a lavender farm with over 200 different lavender plants where we had lavender scones with lavender tea, and then on to the Tedeschi Winery, Maui’s only vineyard and one of two in the state. This evening we had a farewell dinner hosted by the hotel and the Maui Visitor’s center. The evening was a little sad because the hotel staff found out that day that it would be closed around the middle of January.

Monday morning we walked down to the Grand Wailea Resort for breakfast and a site inspection at this wondrous resort. This 40 acre resort has spacious guest rooms, award-winning cuisine, the spectacular Spa Grande and a huge activity pool, the Wailea Canyons, featuring valleys, waterslides, caves and the world’s only water elevator.

WE had the afternoon free to enjoy the beach and pools or shopping at the Renaissance before our flight home hat evening. This was a great fam trip that I thoroughly enjoyed. Blue Sky Tours and the Maui Visitor’s Center went the extra mile to help us realize the inter beauty of the islands.

France - Spain from a customer

Balmes in Barcelona was located pretty well, and was a solid B on the European scale It had a small room, but it was pretty nice.

Hotel Tryp Cibeles in Madrid was outstanding and rated an A+ (on the European scale). Almost as nice as an American hotel, located exceptionally well and a great view. It is a very good choice for anyone travelling to Madrid. Easy walking distance to Plaza Mayor, the Palace and the Pullmantour center. Even the Prado if you are a walker. I can't say enough good about it.

Castiglione is a C hotel. It did the job, but was extremely small and overall, just average. Expensive for what it was, in my opinion. The good thing about it over the Sheraton was location though. It really was right at the Louvre which was good for us, and also within easy walking distance to the CityRama tour office and Champs Elysees. I would think a better
hotel could be found for that $ though.

Some other tips. Spain was not at ALL concerned with shorts or sleeveless shirts in the Cathedrals. I'd advise people going there to pack for HOT weather (we saw 110F some days, but as they say, "it was a dry heat, so it wasn't terrible") and pack shorts. Something I'd consider if you are REALLY worried about not getting into a cathedral is those tear-away pants where you can unzip the bottom of the leg and turn them into shorts, then zip on the legs if you needed long pants for anything.

As for the cities. Barcelona is REALLY neat. The Panoramic tour we took
was nice, and the Pueblo Village was neat. Good way to learn your way
around a little. You must see Sagrada Familia and the Cathedral there.
Also one we stumbled on because it looked interesting in the guidebook was
Park Guell. AMAZING. We were so astonished when we got there. Cab rides
were dirt cheap in Spain. Take cabs. Our most expensive cab ride across
the whole city was something like $4. Average fare was under 500 pesetas or
about $3. Cokes were cheap there too - unlike Italy and France where they
rape you for tourist drinks. Coke was maybe 75 cents to a dollar in Spain,
where it was $3+ in Paris!

Another spot worth seeing is the Casa Mila. It is a house built by Gaudi
(he designed the Sagrada Familia and the Park Guell, he is Spain's version
of Michaelangelo I suppose - really a genius). We got there and saw they
were working on the outside and thought, "well, that is a bummer." Turns
out, you can tour the inside and roof of the house and it is very neat. We
were glad we did it. I recommend asking lots of questions and being nosy and persistent. We discovered a lot of things that way. We got to go on the
roof of the Cathedral in Barcelona by asking what a door was opening to, and
turned out for a couple of bucks you could go on the roof. Pretty neat.

Another thing the tour books do NOT give justice is the St Pau Hospital. We
literally stumbled on it while walking near the Sagrada and it is beautiful.
It was designed with the idea that patients heal better surrounded by
beauty. It is awesome. And you can wander it freely and take pictures, at
least we did!

A note of warning, the moron chick at the train station in Barcelona very
nearly convinced me to pay for the train tickets again (I showed her we had
paid $67 each for them, but she wouldn't listen) and she was telling us the
8:30am was full and we would have to leave at 10:30. At the last moment,
she looked at the LAST page in the ticket book, and saw whatever she needed
to see and then everything was all right.

Might want to make sure that travellers know to show the last page, and not
just the two ticket-like stubs with the prices on them to the person at the train gate, at least in Spain. It was really her fault though, she works
there every day and sees a million tickets, she should know what to do. We
just got a dumb one I guess.

Train ride was ok, boring but uneventful and pretty to see the countryside.
No complaints.

Madrid is beautiful, but I found it immensely frustrating that in the
Palace, in most of Toledo and in the Prado, they were NAZI-LIKE about not
wanting you to take pictures with a flash. That sounds reasonable, because
they say it hurts the painting, but when you get to the LOUVRE, the most
awesome museum in the world with some of the most awesome paintings in the
world, they let you flash away. I think the spainiards are morons in that
respect.

My suggestion to anyone wanting good shots of Madrid/Toledo and museums
there, is to bring one of those digital video cameras and use it instead,
then make pics of your stills. That would be my only real complaint about
Spain. Overall, I loved it. It was beautiful and interesting, particularly
the Gaudi stuff in Barcelona.

Also, we spent an afternoon wandering from Cathedral to Cathedral. We did
encounter some that were closed in August. We saw that sort of thing
occasionally, but not enough to matter in my opinion. One thing to advise
anyone going there, is to see the San Miguel Cathedral. It is NOT on any of
my tourist info and it is very close to Plaza Mayor and BEAUTIFUL. Not as
big as some, but very pretty. We just came upon it and were astonished when
we walked in.

Toledo is skippable if you ask me. It was beautiful, but much like Pompeii
from Rome, not worth the travel and hassle factor. Also, I wouldn't bother
with transfers FROM the airport TO the hotel on my next trip. You're not on
a time limit, so why bother? But we really liked the transfers TO the
Airports and train stations. It took the worry out of getting to a time
sensitive place out of the equation.

Paris was Paris. You can't go wrong visiting it. I think I already told
you, but the Eiffel Tower dinner/Seine River Cruise/Moulin Rouge tour by
CityRama was excellent. Highly recommended. At dinner they put you at tables with people who speak your language, so we were around an Aussie
chick, some Americans and some British doctors (husband and wife) and it was
lots of fun to be able to talk to someone else in English again. Plus we
all got tanked and we have some really HORRIBLE pictures of a blurry Eiffel
tower at night and the blurry Seine river tour because we and our english
speaking friends were so tanked! But we had fun!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country that offers much to travelers. Natural adventure is the name of the game here. If you are interested in volcanos, rain and cloud
forest, jungle rivers, sports fishing, whitewater rafting adn wildlife viewing, Costa Rica offers all of this. In contrast, it does not offer fine cultural and
historic cities, very good snorkeling or diving or even very good beaches (nothing like the Caribbean). Most locals do not speak English.

The Caribbean coast is not very well developed and is very poor. There is little for tourists here. Much of the coast is polluted from run off from the
banana plantations. For adventurers there is Cahuita NP.

The Pacific coast is the popular place for tourists and charters. Here in Purntarenas and the Guanacaste area are major tourist hotels and some resorts.
If you expect the same as in the Caribbean, you will be disappointed.

The best itinerary for travelers is a variety of options. Costa Rica offers some of the best whitewater rafting in the world close to San Jose. It offers
fabulous bio-diversity in its national parks and reserves, and an up close view of nature for those wanting to experience its stunning scenery and exciting
outdoor options. There ar enine active volcanoes, dozens of national parks, an aerial tramway through the rainforest, seasonal arribatas of thousands of
sea turtles laying eggs on the beaches on both coasts, and a population of very friendly "Ticos," the Costa Rican people.

Moon Palace in Cancun Fam Trip

This was an independent fam, so there were not tours or hotel inspections. I was very pleased with Allegro airlines. Check-in in Atlanta was smooth and efficient. The flight departed on time so we actually arrived in Cancun nearly ½ hour early. Mexican immigrations was an exercise in patience. But we made it through to the tour bus within an hour. Although our trip was offered by Vacation Express, the local operator in Cancun is Royale Tours. All Royale Tours representatives we encountered spoke good English and were very courteous and helpful. We were transported by bus to the Moon Palace, arriving before 10AM.

Checking into the Moon Palace was a frustrating experience in spite of the champagne provided. Since we had arrived early, I fully expected that our room would not be ready. I was pleasantly surprised when told to check back in ½ hour as the room was being cleaned and was nearly ready. I asked if the room had 2 beds as I was traveling w/a female friend. After checking with another clerk, I was assured the room did indeed have 2 beds. Wonderful! My friend and I wandered around the hotel, which is indeed beautiful. Marble floors throughout the main building and gorgeous stained glass ceilings in the lobby area. The property stretches forever and the grounds are immaculate. Approximately 45 minutes later I again attempted to check in. Again I was told “come back in ½ hour”. Nearly an hour later when I returned to check in, same ol’ story. We did not actually get to our room until nearly 3:15pm, only to discover we had 1 king bed. I returned to the lobby and spoke to the Front Desk Manager. Our room was promptly changed to one with 2 beds. However, I did not receive any apology for the check in inconvenience.

I would have preferred being told from the beginning that check in was not available until 3pm. We would have located our luggage, changed into swimsuits and been quite happy at the pool.

The food at the Moon Palace is plentiful and tasty. They offered a great variety of Mexican, European and American foods and the selections varied each day.

There are several restaurants on the property, each with it’s own style and ambiance. Within the hotel are a gym, beauty salon, gift shop, travel agency and hospitality desks for each tour operator. Also on property you may sign up for scuba and/or snorkeling lessons, parasailing, wave runner rental or off-site tours.

Although the Moon Palace is at least 20 minutes from Cancun’s “hotel row”, complimentary shuttle service is offered to other Palace hotels. However, you must reserve space at least 1 day prior to travel. Once at the other Palace resorts, you may take a local bus nearly anywhere in Cancun for $.50 USD per person each way.

In spite of the check in problems I encountered, I would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to get away from it all and still have all the luxuries of civilization.

Cancun - Moon Palace by Mike

I have just returned from a stay at the Moon Palace in Cancun. I highly recommend this all-inclusive resort. Prior to my trip, I probably would not have recommended an all-inclusive in Cancun, but this resort changed my tune.

All of the rooms (suites) have oceanviews, marbled floors, huge bathrooms, balconies with hammocks, refrigerator and a 2-person jacuzzi. The service is fantastic, no lines, and people waiting to serve you at every turn. There are about 10 restaraunts, countless bars and 2 huge, and I mean huge, pools.

This property is for 3 types of customers -- meeting and incentive groups, couples, and families. The resort is about 7 miles south of the Cancun airport and is secluded. You can't really walk to anything, because it is so far removed. It is ideal for honeymooner's or couples wanting to get away and relax. Although there are 2 discos on property, I wouldn't suggest it for singles or people looking to party all-night long. It's about a $11 cab ride to downtown or to the heart of the Zona Hotela. Because it belongs to the Palace group, you can visit the other palace properties and use their facilities at no additional charge. There is even limited free-transportation to the other properties.

The only down-side is the water at the beach. Because of heavy see-weed growth, the beach is not great for swimming, nor is the water as dramatic as it is in at other beaches in the Yucatan. The beach itself is certainly nice enough with sand so fine it sticks to you like flour. I think this is a small trade-off in the grand scheme of the property, but something you need to notify your clients about, so they will be prepared.

All in all, it's great, one of the best resorts I've stayed at in all the world -- and certainly the best in Cancun. I highly recommend it! This property, even though priced higher than most, represents a great value.

Bermuda

I arrived in Bermuda with the weather in the mid 80’s and a light breeze. Bermuda is an easy place to navigate since tourists are unable to rent cars. Taxis are readily available at the airport and private transfers are very popular. While on the island, moped rentals (for 1 or 2 persons) are available for rent at most of the hotels. Driving is a bit tricky with the winding streets and driving on the left side of the road.

My stay at the Hamilton Princess was enjoyable. It’s a great place to stay if you want easy access to town…just a few minutes walk and a good view of the Harbor. The rooms range from very basic ROH (avoid these) to 1 bedroom suites overlooking the harbor with a private sitting area and balcony. While in the hotel, the Colony Pub is a good place to sample the signature dish of Bermuda…fish chowder with black rum and sherry peppers. I admit, it sounds a bit strange, but is addictive. The two other restaurants at the property are the Tiara Room, with a great water view and good view, but a bit stuffy and Harley’s, a fun casual Italian restaurant.

Other good restaurant choices are the Waterloo House (part of a Relais and Chateaux) and Little Venice for a wild, chaotic evening with good food and ambience. There are many small, locally owned restaurants in town that are worth a visit…Monty’s, Tuscany, Fresco’s and the Pickled Onion to name a few.

While in town, shopping is the main attraction with wonderful china and linen shops, along with clothing and jewelry. Cigar and Rum shops are extremely popular with tourists loading up for their trip home. Town is bustling, especially when the cruise ships are in dock. During my stay, the Norwegian Crown, Nordic Empress and Celebrity Zenith were in port generating a lot of activity. This might be a good time to get out of town and do a bit of sightseeing…. the lighthouses, Perfumery and Gardens, historical houses and museums. Water sports are a big draw...snorkeling and sailing are the most popular…Ferries run between Hamilton, St. George’s and Southampton.

A couple of other hotel suggestions are The Southampton Princess, Elbow Beach (totally renovated with spectacular beach and sunset views, and The Reefs nestled in the hillside.

I highly recommend Bermuda for vacation and business. It’s a very clean, low poverty, tourist-oriented island. You almost feel like you are in HEAVEN.