Norwegian Bliss Review
Published Saturday, June 16th 2018
Review from the inaugural sailing on the Norwegian Bliss in May 2018.
Cruises
Why use a travel agent?
Published Saturday, June 25th 2016
Many people ask what is the point of a travel agent when people can easily book online.
Personalized Services
I offer a personalized service that you will not get online. I listen to your wants and needs and build the perfect travel experience around that. Online will not give you that personalized attention.
Value-added Benefits and AmenitiesAs an American Express Travel Representative and Cruise Planners franchise owner I have access to many value added services such a pay with points, mariner clubs, discounts, OBC on some cruises.
Peace of Mind
I am here for you. I always look for the best prices and value for your money. When traveling I am "on call' and there for you if any issues arise so you can still enjoy your trip. I also offer very reasonable travel insurance that could be used for cancellations or medical issues that could disrupt your trip.
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Like a personal shopper, I can provide one-stop travel shopping for you. I cut out all the clutter of the internet and narrow options down to realistic choices.
Experience, Education, Certification and Specialization
I have been trained extensively on all types of travel and certified by many cruise lines and land vendors. Also, I have traveled much of the world and have first hand experience on many ships, hotels, AIs, and land destinations.
So, please consider me when planning your next travel vacation and allow me to show you my worth. I do not up charge for my services, so the price you would pay direct is the same as with me.
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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES SUMMER/FALL 2015 LINEUP FOR CARNIVAL LIVE CONCERT SERIES
Published Tuesday, April 14th 2015
One-of-a-Kind Entertainment Program Offers Best of Live Music at Sea with Shipboard Concerts by The Band Perry, BOSTON, Lionel Richie and Heart.
MIAMI (April 14, 2015) – Crank it up to 11, music fans! Today, Carnival Cruise Line unveiled the roster of artists for its upcoming Carnival LIVE concert series, adding The Band Perry, BOSTON, Lionel Richie and Heart to the diverse and talented lineup of musical acts set to perform on board the “Fun Ships” this summer and fall.
The shows complement the highly anticipated spring series which kicked off last month and includes performances by Journey, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Smokey Robinson and Styx.
Bringing the best of musical entertainment to the seas, Carnival LIVE is a one-of-a-kind entertainment option that provides guests an opportunity to experience captivating concerts by major musical artists at a tremendous value. Concerts are held in the ships’ intimate main theaters – ranging in guest capacity from 900 to 1,300 – meaning there’s never a bad seat in the house.
Carnival LIVE concerts are performed on Carnival vessels while they are docked in one of three ports of call: Cozumel, Nassau and St. Thomas.
“We’re thrilled to build upon the tremendous success of Carnival LIVE with concerts this summer and fall by The Band Perry, BOSTON, Lionel Richie and Heart – four incredibly talented acts that will provide our guests with an extraordinary entertainment experience,” said Bernie Dillon, director of Carnival LIVE.
The Band Perry will perform July 28-29-30 on Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination and Carnival Magic, respectively, while those ships are docked in Nassau. During these shows, guests can enjoy up-close-and-personal performances by this award-winning trio who recently won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for Gentle on My Mind at the 57th Grammy Awards.
Fans will get “more than a feeling” as they can enjoy four shows this summer by rock superstars BOSTON which has sold more than 31 million records worldwide, including 17 million copies of their self-titled debut. BOSTON brings their high-energy performances to four Carnival ships in Nassau – Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy – Aug. 19-22.
Multiple Grammy and Oscar award-winning singer Lionel Richie will have audiences “dancing on the ceiling” on Carnival Freedom Oct. 14 and Carnival Pride Oct. 15 while those ships are docked in Nassau.
One of the most popular recording artists of all time, Richie has sold 100 million albums worldwide and is only one of two songwriters in history to have a number one record for nine consecutive years.
Rounding out the series is Heart, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and have sold more than 35 million records during their accomplished musical career that spans more than 35 years. Guests can enjoy three shipboard performances in Cozumel by these rock legends: Oct. 20 aboard Carnival Paradise, Oct. 21 aboard Carnival Ecstasy and Oct. 22 aboard Carnival Breeze.
Carnival LIVE tickets for 2015 range from $35 to $75 for general admission, significantly less than land-based venues. VIP tickets are available for $125 to $250 and offer seating in the first four rows, a photo opportunity with the artist and a commemorative concert pass.
Contact Anna Conway at 941-870-0691 www.cruise-scouter.com for full listing of the 2015 Carnival LIVE concert series
Carnival Victory Review - February March 2015 - Meow Meow Cruise
Published Tuesday, March 3rd 2015
Cabin
We had a balcony cabin on the 6th floor port aft. The TV is dated and there is no refrigerator. The desk area had two plugs. There is a safe in the ample closer space and many drawers. The room had a couch, chair and table. We split the beds and used the table as a nightstand between the two. The bathroom needed some work, but was a good size. Just watch the water temperature as both of us burned ourselves. There was a hair dryer, but was not very powerful. The balcony was a good size and had a little table and two chairs. It is nice to sit out there and relax and watch the ocean go by in the day and then at night look up at the stars in the sky with the cool ocean breeze.
Service
As always the service is exceptional. They really make an extra effort and say hello whenever you see them. We went to the main dining room the first three nights and the wait staff was amazing. They were very attentive and personable and really got to know us. We also did the chef’s table the service was kicked up a few more notches and was a 5-star service. Our cabin steward was a different story. He did not introduce himself to us, which usually is the case. He cleaned the room to our standards, but we did make some requests that were not met and the last night we were not given any of the disembarkation information, tags and forms.
Food
The food was very good. They had more common fare on the lido with burgers, hotdogs, Chinese, sandwiches and other themed foods. The pizza was good, but I think I preferred it more on the Paradise. The main dining room had more upscale dining and was always very good. However, the chef’s table took it up to top notch level. We were taken for a galley tour and there had a bunch of appetizers with champagne. Then were taken to the library where we had a private table set up and prepared for our next 7 courses, including special bread and non-stop wine service. The chef went over each entry and they were delicious!
Casino
The casino is a little smoky and some tables very crowded. I wish they had a few extra roulette tables because they tended to be very crowded and at times you had to wait about 20-40 minutes for a seat. The dealers were personable and fun! I had a really good time at the casino.
Entertainment and Activities
They always have a lot going on during the day and evening. We especially loved the trivia and comedy club. The two comedians were rotated and were very funny. You were required to leave the comedy show area after each performance so that seats could not be saved. I peeked in on karaoke and they seemed to be very good singers, yet one night it was located in the smoking lounge, which some people were not too thrilled about. The shows looked pretty good, but I did not stay for long for them either.
Port Days
Key West was the first stop and we got off and walked the streets and visited the Hemingway house to see the cats. This was the Meow Meow Cruise so it was a much needed visit. We just walked from the ship and paid cash ($12PP) for entrance and then after we crossed to Duval and walked back towards the ship. I have to say Key West is getting more commercialized every year. Cozumel was the next day and we got to the port around 2pm and left at 10pm. We decided not to get off the ship and just relax all day even though there is tons do in that area, but sometimes it is nice just to have an empty ship. Later it was fun watching some of the more “happier” people returning to the ship a little late.
Meow Meow Cruise
This was our first annual Meow Meow Cruise and even though the turn out was small we still were able to have a great time. We had t-shirts and met many people with the same love for our furry friends.
Conclusion
Overall is a really nice cruise. The people tend to be more of a party type crowd, and given that it is leaving from Miami that is no surprise. We had a great time and met a bunch of fun people that were nice to hang around with. They also loved cats, which is always a plus. Also, it was very relaxing and a nice getaway for a long weekend!
Carnival Miracle Spring 2015 Refurbishment
Published Wednesday, January 7th 2015
Carnival Miracle will undergo an extensive refurbishment this spring that will add an array of new and exciting on-board innovations, from unique bar concepts like RedFrog Pub and Alchemy Bar to fun entertainment choices such as Playlist Productions and Hasbro, The Game Show, and the family-friendly Seuss at Sea program! The new features - part of our ongoing Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative - will be added during a two-week-long dry dock that will take place March 7-21, 2015.
The exciting new enhancements include:
- Red Frog Pub - our Caribbean-inspired watering hole featuring the region's best rums and beers - including Carnival's own ThirstyFrog Red - enjoyed in a distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West atmosphere
- Alchemy Bar - at this vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy," mixologists "prescribe" concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients with creative names like "Forty is the New Twenty" and "Restorative Basil Drop"
- Playlist Productions - these four spectacular shows - 88 Keys, 80's Pop To the Max, Getaway Island and Heart Of Soul - combine captivating live performances of recognizable pop and rock songs with dazzling special effects to create unforgettable evenings of entertainment
- Seuss At Sea - part an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Seuss at Sea brings the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to life with fun activities like the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends, Seuss-a-Palooza Story Time, and more
- Hasbro, The Game Show - this audience-participation favorite features larger-than-life adaptations of the company's iconic and popular games with titles like Connect4 Basketball, Sorry Sliders, and Yahtzee Bowling
- Cherry On Top - this "candy and more store" celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more
- New SPORTS Bar - at this sports lovers' paradise, guests can catch live sporting events and check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker
- Spin U - developed in partnership with legendary DJ IRIE - Carnival's official DJ who has entertained crowds from South Beach to Las Vegas - this fun DJ academy provides aspiring spin-masters ages 15-17 all they need to know to "hit the decks" and rock the club!
These innovations complement a wide range of existing onboard features such as the Punchliner Comedy Club presented by George Lopez, a Serenity adults-only retreat with magnificent ocean vistas, a classic American-style steakhouse serving prime cuts of beef and other gourmet cuisine, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness center, and The Taste Bar offering bite-size samples from popular Fun Ship 2.0 dining venues.
Carnival Miracle Itineraries
Carnival Miracle operates year-round departures from Long Beach, California, featuring three different week-long Mexican Riviera cruise options: a three-port itinerary featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas; a two-port option that includes a stop in Cabo San Lucas, along with a two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta; and a third choice featuring a day-long visit to Puerto Vallarta, along with a two-day call at Cabo San Lucas.
Carnival Miracle will also offer 15-day Hawaii cruises round-trip from Long Beach departing Oct. 17 and Nov. 28, 2015, and Jan. 16, 2016, along with a special one-time 13-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Jan. 31, 2016.
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