When you prepare for your cruise the amount of clothing you pack will depend on:

(1) The area you will be visiting and the season.

(2) The length of your cruise.

The correct clothing and accessories are important. When you pack for your cruise you must be prepared for every occasion. Be prepared to eat, eat and eat some more. Be prepared to dance and be entertained nightly. There are bus tours when your ship is docked for a day of sightseeing.

There is one evening dinner when the ships captain will join you. When you enter the dining room a photographer will take your picture along side the captain. On this evening it is a formal affair. Anything goes from a suit to a cocktail dress to an evening gown. It all depends upon you as a person and what kind of clothing you are comfortable in wearing.

THE CLOTHING YOU WILL NEED:

(1) A few shorts, jeans, slacks and the appropriate tops to go along with your selection.

(2) Comfortable walking shoes and dressy shoes for evening.

(3) Small purse or appropriate size.

(5) Jewelry/accessories.

(6) Jacket or sweater.

(7) Underwear.

(8) Robe, pajamas or nightgown.

(9) Swimsuit and swim cap.

(10) Passport

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES:

(1) Toothbrush/toothpaste

(2) Medicine

(3) Hairbrush/comb

(4) Makeup

(5) What ever personal items you may need.

When you pack your clothes choose wisely. Not only do you have to carry your suitcases but you have to unpack and store your clothes inside your room. The cruise ship has a store on board where you can purchase needed items. These items are charged to your charge card. You can always send your clothing out to be cleaned or you can hand wash your clothes in the sink.

Have a pleasant trip.

Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read my other numerous articles on various subjects.

Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2007

Linda is the author of her first published book, Ghost Kids Trilogy. “Christy, 12 and her Brother Brad, 16 moves into an old house on top of a mountain and meet two Ghost Kids.

Then we have a mysterious, magical Blue Vase where Uncle Charlie the villain is trapped. He wants out of the Blue Vase and exchange he will tell Christy and Brad where Pirates Treasure is Hidden.

Take a walk with Christy and Brad down a dark hall hunting for Pirates Treasure. You will think were you there right there with them.

Love, Family Values and Charity burst off the pages. http://www.lmeckler.com

Check out my new 4 E books Titled:

How To Appeal Medical Bills

Appeal and Collections Letters for Medical Providers

Boost Your Self Esteem and Blossom

Computers Cause Pain on my website http://www.lmeckler.com/store

Check out my website http://www.lmeckler.com

Author: Linda Meckler
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The role of the skipper.The skipper’s responsibility includes all aspects of running the yacht, the boats safety and the well being of the crew. He or she should be capable and comfortable with all aspects of sailing and navigation skills, and must have the ability to inspire confidence in the crew, regardless of circumstances, being an excellent communicator. He or she should be able to manage and delegate appropriately all his duties, give the tasks that are relevant and appropriate to the crew to develop there ability and experience, and grow. They should ideally be neither under worked nor overburdened. Most importantly, he or she should be patient with inexperienced crew members and be able to run the yacht with a light touch while retaining respect and authority.

The Crews Role. Good crew are worth their weight in gold. The most important qualities are a positive attitude, a sense of humour, and the ability to get on with others in the confined space of a yacht. If the crew also have good sailing or navigation skills, the skipper can consider himself fortunate. The crew should be fully involved in the boat’s management and route planning, and the skipper should always listen to their opinions. The crew must remember, however, that a vessel at sea might appear to be a democratic environment but ultimately the skipper is in charge and must make the final decisions. This can be very difficult to the inexperienced skipper. Skippers therefore vary tremendously in their approach to running a yacht. Good ones demonstrate calm professionalism, while those unsure of their own abilities are often loud and tense. As a member of the crew you may encounter very different styles of boat management and you will need to assess how you approach the idiosyncrasies of your skipper. No two skippers are alike in the way they operate a boat, and if you crew for a succession of skippers, you may even find that their ways of doing things are contradictory. If you still aspire to become a skipper, then you will have hopefully learned from the best skippers you have sailed with. You will also need to know and demonstrate all aspects of sailing.

Be a skipper. It is fairly easy to define the technical, sailing and navigation skills required to be a skipper. You can learn these I skills and obtain certificates at sailing schools. The ability to manage people aboard a small yacht and develop your crew is considerably different and difficult to define and more difficult to acquire. If you have business management skills these will help you but you will need to modify your approach significantly as running a boat is not like running an office. Crew members are not paid employees, unless you are a commercial skipper. Sailing for most skippers and crew is for experience and for fun, so they must be handled with consideration and understanding. Very often they are family or close friends and your relationships can be seriously harmed by stressful experiences afloat. Your crew will feel more relaxed and confident if you exhibit these qualities, so try not to let your own nerves show or affect your behaviour. Try to avoid high stress situations by only attempting things that are in you comfort zone, where possible. I know this is not always possible, in fact that is what sailing is all about, to teach and push you and your crew further. The technical and theoretical sailing and navigation skills you acquired at sailing school are crucial and must be honed by regular practice, getting as much experience as possible. Experience managing the crew mainly comes with practice and experience only, and you can never have too much of that, as you will always lack something. Pre-plan, plan and visualize each passage carefully and, if you feel at all unsure at all, ask a more experienced sailor to check your plans and confirm your interpretation of wind and tides, and route. In doubt, never be afraid to call off a cruise. If you are concerned about maneuvering your boat in tight spaces seek advice from other skippers. This may not be possible, so you must be forced to carry it out regardless, just remember maneuvering is not a race, and so pace yourself accordingly. You may in advance, practice maneuvering with different boats in your own marina or harbour. If you have problems handling the boat in a crowded marina, a well stationed crew, with roving fenders will often help your avoid or soften a collision.

Remember to perform berthing manoeuvres slowly; this way if you do have a collision it will be relatively mild, and again, only your pride may be damaged. Manoeuvring is only one small aspect of sailing, but the same logical, common sensible approach should be your goal for other aspects of sailing. If you need a hand or advice, then ask for it. This is a sign of a good skipper. Never be afraid to seek advice, it is not a form of weakness but of strength. The consequences could be fatal, where only your pride could be hurt. Do not undertake passages that are well beyond your level of experience. Sailing is as much about the planning, the organizing, the journey, the enjoyment, and the challenges, as it does about the arrival. Successful day trips can therefore provide just as much, or even more pleasure for both the skipper and crew as for the more ambitious. (The more ambitious can always seek adventure on other boats, but you as a skipper must seek challenge in safely managing the boat). Short trips also involve more close-quarters boat handling with which to improve skills. Although ultimate responsibility lies with the skipper, his job will be much easier if some of the crew have offshore passage-making experience. Passage making with an inexperienced crew puts great demands on a skipper, who may feel under immense pressure. It therefore makes sense that if you cannot find a practiced sailor in your crew, to adjust your strategy to suit the crew’s level of familiarity.

Become a better Skipper.Try to always learn from the second you spend afloat, slowly building knowledge of the sea, weather and your boat. Everybody gets disheartened or discouraged if something does not go according to plan; but develop from these bad experiences, learn from them, that is what will make you more competent.

You will then learn, very quickly and develop the skills and confidence necessary to undertake longer cruises lasting several days or more. Although it is important to develop your technical skills, concentrate on improving your interpersonal and crew management skills. Greenhorn crew can be anxious about the route ahead, while others may be brash and want to push too hard. A good skipper therefore takes personal awareness in everyone on board and pays special consideration to novice or nervous crew members. As an improving skipper therefore, concentrate on ensuring that everyone on board has a safe and enjoyable experience.

Crew Morale.If at the end of the passage, the crew is healthy and happy, and can enjoy a chat reminiscing about the passage, then the skipper has done a good job.

About the Author. Gordon McCulloch is a professional engineer and teacher. He has worked and sailed in boats all his life. He was brought up near the coast, served with the Merchant Marine, and now occupies himself with all forms of water sports, in which he has developed his skill as a webmaster. Feel free to visit and comment on his website site at [http://www.keelbilge.com] .

Please feel free to use this article in any way you wish. It appears on my website at www.keelbilge.com [http://www.keelbilge.com] , where I have included some photos to give the article a flavour. All I ask is that you include my website URL address. I would also be happy to answer any questions you may have by contacting me at GCCMCCULLOCH@aol.com

Author: Gordon Mcculloch
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The role of the skipper.The skipper’s responsibility includes all aspects of running the yacht, the boats safety and the well being of the crew. He or she should be capable and comfortable with all aspects of sailing and navigation skills, and must have the ability to inspire confidence in the crew, regardless of circumstances, being an excellent communicator. He or she should be able to manage and delegate appropriately all his duties, give the tasks that are relevant and appropriate to the crew to develop there ability and experience, and grow. They should ideally be neither under worked nor overburdened. Most importantly, he or she should be patient with inexperienced crew members and be able to run the yacht with a light touch while retaining respect and authority.

The Crews Role. Good crew are worth their weight in gold. The most important qualities are a positive attitude, a sense of humour, and the ability to get on with others in the confined space of a yacht. If the crew also have good sailing or navigation skills, the skipper can consider himself fortunate. The crew should be fully involved in the boat’s management and route planning, and the skipper should always listen to their opinions. The crew must remember, however, that a vessel at sea might appear to be a democratic environment but ultimately the skipper is in charge and must make the final decisions. This can be very difficult to the inexperienced skipper. Skippers therefore vary tremendously in their approach to running a yacht. Good ones demonstrate calm professionalism, while those unsure of their own abilities are often loud and tense. As a member of the crew you may encounter very different styles of boat management and you will need to assess how you approach the idiosyncrasies of your skipper. No two skippers are alike in the way they operate a boat, and if you crew for a succession of skippers, you may even find that their ways of doing things are contradictory. If you still aspire to become a skipper, then you will have hopefully learned from the best skippers you have sailed with. You will also need to know and demonstrate all aspects of sailing.

Be a skipper. It is fairly easy to define the technical, sailing and navigation skills required to be a skipper. You can learn these I skills and obtain certificates at sailing schools. The ability to manage people aboard a small yacht and develop your crew is considerably different and difficult to define and more difficult to acquire. If you have business management skills these will help you but you will need to modify your approach significantly as running a boat is not like running an office. Crew members are not paid employees, unless you are a commercial skipper. Sailing for most skippers and crew is for experience and for fun, so they must be handled with consideration and understanding. Very often they are family or close friends and your relationships can be seriously harmed by stressful experiences afloat. Your crew will feel more relaxed and confident if you exhibit these qualities, so try not to let your own nerves show or affect your behaviour. Try to avoid high stress situations by only attempting things that are in you comfort zone, where possible. I know this is not always possible, in fact that is what sailing is all about, to teach and push you and your crew further. The technical and theoretical sailing and navigation skills you acquired at sailing school are crucial and must be honed by regular practice, getting as much experience as possible. Experience managing the crew mainly comes with practice and experience only, and you can never have too much of that, as you will always lack something. Pre-plan, plan and visualize each passage carefully and, if you feel at all unsure at all, ask a more experienced sailor to check your plans and confirm your interpretation of wind and tides, and route. In doubt, never be afraid to call off a cruise. If you are concerned about maneuvering your boat in tight spaces seek advice from other skippers. This may not be possible, so you must be forced to carry it out regardless, just remember maneuvering is not a race, and so pace yourself accordingly. You may in advance, practice maneuvering with different boats in your own marina or harbour. If you have problems handling the boat in a crowded marina, a well stationed crew, with roving fenders will often help your avoid or soften a collision.

Remember to perform berthing manoeuvres slowly; this way if you do have a collision it will be relatively mild, and again, only your pride may be damaged. Manoeuvring is only one small aspect of sailing, but the same logical, common sensible approach should be your goal for other aspects of sailing. If you need a hand or advice, then ask for it. This is a sign of a good skipper. Never be afraid to seek advice, it is not a form of weakness but of strength. The consequences could be fatal, where only your pride could be hurt. Do not undertake passages that are well beyond your level of experience. Sailing is as much about the planning, the organizing, the journey, the enjoyment, and the challenges, as it does about the arrival. Successful day trips can therefore provide just as much, or even more pleasure for both the skipper and crew as for the more ambitious. (The more ambitious can always seek adventure on other boats, but you as a skipper must seek challenge in safely managing the boat). Short trips also involve more close-quarters boat handling with which to improve skills. Although ultimate responsibility lies with the skipper, his job will be much easier if some of the crew have offshore passage-making experience. Passage making with an inexperienced crew puts great demands on a skipper, who may feel under immense pressure. It therefore makes sense that if you cannot find a practiced sailor in your crew, to adjust your strategy to suit the crew’s level of familiarity.

Become a better Skipper.Try to always learn from the second you spend afloat, slowly building knowledge of the sea, weather and your boat. Everybody gets disheartened or discouraged if something does not go according to plan; but develop from these bad experiences, learn from them, that is what will make you more competent.

You will then learn, very quickly and develop the skills and confidence necessary to undertake longer cruises lasting several days or more. Although it is important to develop your technical skills, concentrate on improving your interpersonal and crew management skills. Greenhorn crew can be anxious about the route ahead, while others may be brash and want to push too hard. A good skipper therefore takes personal awareness in everyone on board and pays special consideration to novice or nervous crew members. As an improving skipper therefore, concentrate on ensuring that everyone on board has a safe and enjoyable experience.

Crew Morale.If at the end of the passage, the crew is healthy and happy, and can enjoy a chat reminiscing about the passage, then the skipper has done a good job.

About the Author. Gordon McCulloch is a professional engineer and teacher. He has worked and sailed in boats all his life. He was brought up near the coast, served with the Merchant Marine, and now occupies himself with all forms of water sports, in which he has developed his skill as a webmaster. Feel free to visit and comment on his website site at [http://www.keelbilge.com] .

Please feel free to use this article in any way you wish. It appears on my website at www.keelbilge.com [http://www.keelbilge.com] , where I have included some photos to give the article a flavour. All I ask is that you include my website URL address. I would also be happy to answer any questions you may have by contacting me at GCCMCCULLOCH@aol.com

Author: Gordon Mcculloch
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Panasonic Lumix G2

What is Ailsa Craig? Ailsa Craig is a very well known landmark in Scotland and is a renowned bird sanctuary. The island is home to one of the largest gannet colonies on the world, with more than 70,000 birds, and is designated as a European Special Protection Area.

Ailsa Craig, in the Firth of Clyde, is an Island rising abruptly from the sea to an elevation of 1,110 feet. It is a volcanic plug which lies in the firth of Clyde, being active about 500 million years ago.

Who owns Ailsa Craig? Ailsa Craig is owned by the Kennedy family, whose title was taken from Marques of Ailsa. Ailsa Craig had been part of the lands of Crossraguel Abbey; the dispute of ownership of these lands had formed the background to the notorious “Roasting of the Abbot” in the 16th century. The Kennedy family were also the owners of Culzean Castle, who is now owned by the National Trust.

Where is Ailsa Craig? The distinctive dome-shaped island-rock lies approximately 8 miles from Girvan, and approximately 12 miles from Maidens on the coast of South Ayrshire. It rises sharply from the Firth of Clyde to a height of 340m (1114 feet). Its position is: Latitude 55° 15.1′N, Longitude 5° 06.4′W

It has a conical summit and is very precipitous except on the North East Side where it slopes more gently and is accessible. It can be seen from Girvan for miles in either direction along the Ayrshire coast. The shape appears to change as you move along the coast, viewing it from different angles.

The Background of Ailsa Craig. Ailsa Craig comes from the Gaelic for ‘Fairy Rock’, is 1200m (1300 yards) long and 800m (900 yards) wide, with an area of 100 Ha (245 acres). It is also known as Paddy’s Milestone owing to its position as a landmark en route from Ireland.

What is Ailsa Craig made from? The island was the heart of an ancient volcano, its rock exhibiting fine columnar structure and was renowned as the source of a superior micro-granite used to fashion curling stones.

Indeed, most curling stones still in use today were made from Ailsa Craig granite. It was here that the curling stones used by the Scottish Women’s Curling Team, winter 2002 Olympic Gold medal winners, were made.

The Living History of Ailsa Craig. By the late 19th Century the island had a population of 29 people, working in the quarries or the lighthouse. In 1881, petitions were received by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses from Lloyds and the Scottish Shipmasters Association requesting the erection of two fog signals and a lighthouse on Ailsa Craig. The Board of Trade and Trinity House both agreed to the proposal and work commenced the following year. The construction was supervised in 1883-6 by Thomas and his nephew David Stevenson, Engineers to the Board. (Thomas was the father of Robert Louis Stevenson). The light was first exhibited on the night of 15 June 1886, an oil burning light which remained in use until 24 January 1911, when it was converted to incandescent.

Siren fog signals were erected on the North and South ends of Ailsa Craig and were powered by gas engines until 1911, when they were replaced by oil driven engines.

These fog signals were permanently discontinued in November 1966, and replaced by a Tyfon fog signal, which had a character of 3 blasts, each of three seconds duration every 45 seconds. It was sounded from a position close to the South East of the Lighthouse tower and not at either of the previous siren signals sites.

This fog signal was discontinued in 1987. Until wireless telephone communications were established on Ailsa Craig in 1935, the light keepers and employees of Ailsa Craig Granites Ltd used to depend on pigeons for the conveyance of messages.

A pigeon house was established at Girvan Green, where the town council established a parking place for cars and buses in 1935.

The Upgraded Light House on Ailsa Craig. The lighthouse was automated in 1990 and is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board’s offices in Edinburgh. In 2001 as part of the refurbishment and de-gassing programme Alisa Craig Lighthouse was converted to solar-electric power.

Local sayings. “When Ailsa Craig has on its coat, The Weather will be very hot, (hoat). When Ailsa Craig has on its hat, You can be sure it will be wet, (wat). When Ailsa Craig has on its tie, That’s a sign its going to be dry” The ‘coat’, ‘hat’ and ‘tie’ are the clouds or mist often seen at Ailsa Craig.

There is only one harbour to Ailsa Craig. It is adequate to land, but only just. The water here gets deep very quickly.

At one time, you were discouraged from landing on Ailsa Craig, but now the freedom of the country side act, allows you full access, as long as you act responsibly.

Please feel free to use this article in any way you wish. It appears on my website at www.keelbilge.com [http://www.keelbilge.com], where I have included many photos to give a flavour of the island. All I ask is that you include my website URL address, preferably attributing it to myself, Gordon McCulloch.

I would also be happy to answer any questions you may have by contacting me at GCCMCCULLOCH@aol.com.

About the Author. Gordon McCulloch is a professional engineer and teacher. He has worked and sailed in boats all his life. He was brought up near the coast, served with the Merchant Marine, and now occupies himself with all forms of water sports, in which he has developed his skill as a webmaster. Feel free to visit and comment on his website site at [http://www.keelbilge.com]

Author: Gordon Mcculloch
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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On top of it I am married to a Workaholic (We took the Workaholics Test where if you answer yes to 3 of 20 questions then you may be a Workaholic and he answered yes to all 20. He’s a freaking Workaholic, now if only I can convince him.) Since he is also very good at his job most of the time has had to work while we were on vacations. When we drove from Portland, Oregon to Orlando, Florida one year, his company even went so far as providing him with a Skypager and laptop that they never took back because they found it very convenient for him to have it, to take with us. In a way I could see why, we were gone for a month. But he did have to work a little each day. I do need to clarify here that we took a month vacation because he had to take the time or lose it. At the end of the month he still had three weeks of vacation time sitting there for him to take within the next year. This was back when we still had to use dial-up connections, so as you can imagine, now with high speed connections it has only gotten worse.

Camping is not even a way to make him get away from it all because we either rough it camp (really not much fun for mom) or we go to a developed camp ground were most of the time there is an internet connection available. Not that he now needs it because of the cell phone he has, it also doubles as a modem.

So now to my main point… Why I Love Cruises!!! It is a great way to force your Workaholic to get away from work. And, I get a true vacation myself. True you can still get an internet connection on most ships, but it is sporadic, expensive and unless you bring your own computer you cannot use the ships computers for much. True, if you are like my Workaholic, your phone can connect for you. But if you are out at sea the cell phone either does not work or the ships cell phone service charges are higher than can be justified unless it is an emergency. If you are in port then chances are you are in an area that is considered International by your carrier, so then again the charges are fairly high.

If you are lucky enough that money is not a problem, then the next deterrent for your Workaholic is workspace. Yes, most laptops now have really good batteries but your Workaholic is not going to want to take the chance that it will run out of power while they are working and they would have to stop in the middle of something. So that means they go in search of a power outlet that uses the right type of plug (unless you were smart enough to buy an international power conversion set), most of which are already in use by someone else’s Workaholic. In the cruises we have been on there were very few public power outlets. So that then leaves your Workaholic working in your cabin. True, if your Workaholic is like mine he or she will not really notice you as you go in and out of the cabin but let’s face it, everyone who has ever cruised knows that the cabins are a little small to spend too much time in.

What you need to do at this point is start pointing out that there is a show in the theater, the pool and sun are calling the both of you, there is a class on something they are interested in, the art auction is about to start, the casino is open, they are doing a game show in the lounge, the chocolate buffet is start, or any of the multitude to things to do on a ship. Eventually they will come out of their shell and join you in enjoying at least a part of the vacation.

So the point in the end is for the spouse of a Workaholic, cruises are great. You don’t have to cook and clean, your husband or wife starts to remember there is more to life then the perfect program and work problems really can wait for a few days most of the time. So get out there and enjoy life.

So, to prove that he is a Workaholic he has edited and helped me flesh this out, and he still says he is not a Workaholic, after all he plays poker (Isn’t that a thinking and calculating game, ummm work…)

Karla Truxton lives in Portland, Oregon is the mother of 4 and with her husband operates a home-based travel business at http://www.TimeEnoughTravel.com creating escapes for parents, families, and people of Large Size.

Author: Karla Truxton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Our first cruises were on the Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas and the Carnival Paradise. Both of these ships did cruises out of Los Angeles (Long Beach) to Catalina and Ensenada. Both are smaller ships of their respective lines and are the basis of any comparisons that I made when looking at this cruise. Of course that could be like comparing a SUV to a VW Bug, albeit in the case of the Monarch a classy Bug and in the case of the Paradise a Party Bug!
When we booked this cruise our expectations were a little lower then if we were booking a regular itinerary for a ship because it was a repositioning cruise. It turns out that we should not have had lowered our expectations that much, the cruise ship had its full crew and the entertainment scheduled was for a 7 night cruise while we were on a 5 night cruise, this gave us more entertainment choices not that we needed entertaining since we found ways to entertain ourselves, boy that “Do Not Disturb” sign came in handy.

We arrived for check-in around noon (we wanted to get to the room early, we had not seen each other in a week), which appeared to be a good time as we were able to walk right up to the check-in desk and were promptly handled by one of the agents. A few minutes of verifying paperwork, viewing passports, taking blood (not really) and swiping a credit card (They wanted to keep it but I wouldn’t let them) and we were directed to board the ship. We learned something new on this cruise that we suspected earlier. Arriving early for check-in works to our favor and gets us aboard quickly. Score!

We boarded the ship and headed to the Windjammer Restaurant for the lunch buffet. This was the first of a few disappointments for the cruise. The food for the boarding lunch was dry and bland, kind of like the foods the kids cook at home when it is their turn to cook; compared to the Monarch we were greatly disappointed and hoped that it was not the norm for this Windjammer. Unfortunately this did prove to be the norm for the Windjammer on this cruise but a glass of lemonade improved things some and gave it a tangy taste. Every time we ate in the Windjammer we found the food to be dry and relatively bland, I looked around the restaurant and peeked into the kitchen but I didn’t see my kids working, there were a few dishes that broke the pattern but not many.

When the staterooms were available we visited our stateroom and while we had an interior cabin the layout of the room made it feel larger then our previous visits to the Monarch (They say that shaving makes things appear bigger). Our stateroom was set up with the beds together in the queen configuration, which pleased us since we did not need to request it. Additionally our Crown and Anchor books and the Terry Robes that were part of our reservation bonus were in the room waiting for us. One disappointment here was that we did not see our stateroom attendant until the 3rd day of the cruise, it could have been because of the “Do Not Disturb” sign, but we were careful to not have that out during the bulk of the times that they are supposed to be attending to the rooms. While he was taking care of our cabin he really did not seem interested in addressing any personal cares we may have had. Fortunately we didn’t have any. The only other time we saw our attendant was when he gave us the customer satisfaction survey and pointed out his section. I will give him credit, he did take care of the room, but there was no personal touch and it felt like he had his hand out.

We loved the layout of the ship and how easy it was to get from one area to another. We were in the Centrum quite a bit and enjoyed the music that was often played in that area. We also enjoyed playing tag and hide and seek in the ship. Problem was we hid together and no one came seeking us, so we got a little preoccupied at times. It was on one of these trips that we met a delightful young woman named Sandie who was enjoying her first Solo cruise. What a sweetheart, she was delightful and always had a few wolves following around her. She always had a drink in her hands due to the diligence of the wait staff. Proof that a single person can enjoy a cruise without having a wingman. I would just hate to see her bill at the end.

The mandatory muster drill went rather quickly and our muster leader had a great attitude and did what he could to make the whole muster drill more enjoyable then it could have been. It may have been a bit much for him to be doing the shuffle and the twist and the dive but it was interesting to watch him enjoying himself. He also did a fair imitation of the cruise director and the captain. I think I saw him floating off the side of the ship at one point, but that may have been a trick of my eyes.

Dinner in the Aquarius Dining Room was fantastic; we were not disappointed once by the quality of the food or the service that we received there. We ate dinner in the Aquarius every night, breakfast every morning but one, and lunch twice. Our waiter and assistant waiter were very attentive, after the first night (Well, second night, Sandie was a bad influence on Karla, got her drunk and she couldn’t find her way to the dining room with me trying to guide her. She kept insisting that it was out the aft door of the ship, which would have led us into the wake behind the ship. Karla doesn’t drink much and in that one night she drank more then she had in months, Sandie still drank her under the table and I suspect that Sandie might have drank a platoon of Marines under the table.) the waiters called us by name as we were arriving, had our preferred drinks waiting for us and made us feel at home (Unlike our kids who make us feel like we shouldn’t be home.) Where the Windjammer disappointed the Aquarius made up for.

The shows put on in the main theater were enjoyable, however once again we were disappointed by the shortsightedness of some of the staff. There was a large group on the cruise that needed use of the main theatre and the staff changed the show time for the second night’s second show without notifying the guests. From what I understand when the curtain raised there were around 25 people in the audience because most of the audience showed up 15-30 minutes after the show started because they expected the show at 10:45 and it started at 10:15. This portion of the show was supposed to have been incredible with man-eating tigers (It actually ate a man) and an act where the dancers all melded into one writhing pile, that would have been a sight. *wink*

On the last night of the cruise the main entertainment was a pair of comedian jugglers, as far as comedian jugglers go they were good. But the highlight of the show was not the jugglers themselves but their “victim” for one of their acts. The jugglers looked for a kid to join them on stage and had him lay on the stage, they were going to juggle bowling balls over him. As part of the comedy of the act the juggler dropped one of the bowling balls. The boy they picked up sat up, looked at the jugglers, got up, and promptly walked off stage back to his parents. They apparently did not expect this response because they then proceeded to try and convince the boy to rejoin them on stage. This cruise did not have a lot of kids on it and this boy was the only kid in the audience, so they proceeded to bribe him to return to stage. They finally bought him with a bribe of $10. He rejoined them on stage and they had him lay down again and the second juggler told him he would lay down with him. When he laid down he was on the other side of the boy from the other juggler. As soon as he got settled the boy sat up again, they started asking him not to leave, but the boy apparently was not leaving without his money, he got up and laid back down on the other side of the juggler that laid down, putting him next to the juggler with the bowling balls. This caught the jugglers off guard again because they both started laughing and the act couldn’t continue for a good 30 seconds while they got control of themselves. They then performed the juggling bit. When they gave the boy his money they were short a dollar, and the kid had counted it, out loud, then turned to the jugglers and demanded the rest of his money. We know (or at least strongly suspect) that this was not staged because the boy in question ate dinner at the table next to us each night and so at dinner we asked them about it and they were all excited about what had happened and his brother was asked to go to the late show and recreate the performance.

I took advantage of snacks in the Solarium diner a few times and was greatly disappointed by the quality of the food and the attitude of the staff, I think my kids were hiding in the back room again and coaching the staff here. When I asked for something from the Solarium Staff I was made to feel as if my request was an imposition or annoyance, they much preferred to continue chatting with their crew mates rather than serve the guests, just like my kids.

The wait staff & bartender in the Schooner Lounge was attentive of us as guests and we were impressed with how much they seemed to care about our trip. The best bartenders on the ship are Rommel, Dordi, Diego, Orlando, Nestor, Tishar, and Karl. They did a real good job of helping Sandie corrupt my bride of 23 years. The bartenders, waiters, and waitresses live on tips and this group was earning every additional tip they got, some of the other departments on the ship could take lessons from there folk.

The Casino table game staff did not seem to know what they were doing, it seemed as if I constantly had to remind them that they did not pay a bet, did not remove a lost bet, paid my winnings to another player, or they just did not seem to understand their games themselves. My biggest disappointment in the Casino came from the Texas Hold-Em table, which was only opened once during the cruise, was dealt by a dealer that did not seem to understand the game, and had an outrageous rake of 10% to $10 per hand, most poker rooms, including the poker table on Carnival Paradise, only rake $3-$4 per hand and lower that rake when they don’t have a full game this casino seemed to figure that they could take the players for all they could.

Internet Access, both on the ship terminals and wireless was sporadic at best. I often had 5 bars when I was wireless and could not even connect to the ships server to sign in. When using the ships terminals I rarely was able to get past the login screen and was signed out several times when I attempted to go to Gmail or the other forums. This could be viewed as a positive as it limited my time online and I didn’t get to go to any girlies sites. *wink*

Our stop in San Francisco, CA was great. We crossed under the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:15 in the morning and the lighting was great. We have been on that bridge before and it seemed small, but crossing under it is magnificent and a view that many people don’t get. We docked at pier 35, which is one of the older cruise terminals on the west coast. Unfortunately this terminal is more of a warehouse then a processing facility but it did serve sufficiently as a gateway to the city for us. We did not take any excursions but we did disembark and wander along the waterfront to Fisherman’s Wharf and then over to Ghirardelli’s Chocolate Factory (A must-do stop in San Francisco). We then paid for a Metro Day Pass and took the cable car over to Chinatown, which proved to be an interesting walk. We then took the cable car back to Fisherman’s Wharf and the Streetcar back to the ship.

Disembarking the ship in Victoria, BC was a chaotic mess, on previous trips the elevators to the gangway were disabled for the gangway deck so that guests could line up from the upper deck and not be dropped by the elevator in the beginning of the crowd allowing late comers to move in front of other guests that had been waiting patiently for the gangway to be placed and opened for disembarking. Instead guests that did not feel the need to wait in line were allowed to move in front of other guests and were being directed into place by the activities director, this really hit a sore spot for me.

When we arrived at our final port in Vancouver, BC things moved extremely well. While we had to wait for out group to be called we waited in one of the lounges and enjoyed some Seattle’s Best Coffee served by a delightful young lady who gave me the news that the Vision of the Seas will be taking over the 3-Night/4-Night Baja Itineraries that the Monarch of the Seas currently handles in the next year or so, this means I will get several more visits to the Vision as L.A. makes the best spot for a weekend getaway right now.

While I identified a lot of negatives in this review overall we did enjoy ourselves, but we can see several areas where the crew of the Vision of the Seas could improve if this is reflective of their normal attitude. Hopefully we can schedule a trip on the Vision when it is on a regular itinerary and we can see what a trip then would be like.

Our adventure for this vacation continues with a one night cruise on the Norwegian Star and a trip home on Amtrak’s Cascades, so watch for reviews of these trips.

Tom Truxton lives in Portland, Oregon, is the father of 4, a website developer and with his wife also operates a home-based travel agency and website at http://www.timeenoughtravel.com

Author: Tom Truxton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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That leads to crowding in the biggest ports of call, and also to some backlash, with local critics decrying excessive pedestrian traffic on their city streets, heavy bus traffic on outlying roads, and environmental damage to the air and seas.

Some towns, particularly Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway, really can get overwhelmed by cruise passengers at the height of high season, with a potential for more than 6,000 people floating in daily.

The delicate balancing act between the resulting congestion and the plain fact that tourism provides the state’s second largest pool of jobs has led to debate in recent years over imposing head taxes on cruise passengers, with the proceeds going to infrastructure support, conservation efforts, and other initiatives.

The latest effort, which would have slapped a $46 tax on every passenger sailing state waters, was defeated in the Alaska legislature in May 2005, but don’t expect debate to end.

On the environmental front, several well-publicized cases of illegal dumping over the past decade have led the cruise industry to institute in-house and industry-wide compliance and monitoring – after all, they can’t sell cruises to pristine Alaska if they’re perceived as making it less pristine.

State and local governments also have a hand in minimizing cruise ships’ impact in some of Alaska’s most famous wild places. Glacier Bay, for example, has a strict permit system that allows in only two large cruise ships and several smaller vessels on any given day.

Find the best information and tips for your trip at Alaska Cruise Ships.

Author: Joqtan Anicama
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Your dream has led you to locating your boat and you want to sail it now. To do that most people must find financing. You really want to find the best deal in financing to make your dreams come true.

Financing for sail boats has a lot in common with financing for a new home. You can go to the traditional walk-in broker’s offices or you can get an eLoan. It pays to shop around just as you would for financing on a home; rates, terms and service vary. All loans are not created equal.

Sail Boat Insurance is something else to consider when you make your new purchase. Some lenders may also provide insurance. But once again compare rates and coverage with several companies before you commit.

Sail Boat Loans usually range from ten thousand to ten million. Ideally you would like a loan with no points, no pre-payment penalty (if you pay off your loan early) and a simple interest fixed rate. Then ask what your payments would be for different terms, like 10 years, 15 years or 20 years. You may find that the payment for a 15 year loan is not that much more than one for a 20 year loan and it would get paid off 5 years sooner. Some lenders will also assist you with Coast Guard Documentation if needed and may offer some discounts along these lines that will save you money.

In general you can expect to need at least a 10% down payment. If your credit is not that strong you can expect that you would need a larger down payment. Just as in purchasing a home, you can get a better interest rate if you can put 20% down. Some lenders have a minimum loan amount. This is usually in the range of $10,000 to $15,000.

There will also be closing cost involved with obtaining your sail boat financing. While you are shopping for rates, be sure to compare each lender’s closing cost fees as well. There can be lender’s fees and value added service fees, such as Coast Guard Documentation if required, fees associated with titling and registration. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples when it comes to closing cost expenses.

If you already own a sail boat and have equity in that boat and need cash for improving the vessel you can also do a “cash out” refinance with a boat lender.

Cool Boating offers a wealth of information on all aspects of Boating. For more information and articles please visit: Sail Boat Financing.

Author: Jackie Beem
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Vacation cruise Terms and conditions

These usually imply that the cruise cannot be held responsible for any losses incurred by you during the journey and is not liable to compensate for any damaged or lost items. You would be asked to sign this waiver before the onset of your cruise journey. The sole responsibility is yours, so you must be cautious.

Why you would not risk anything to be stolen

It is laborious and legally hassling to investigate the theft and pursue the culprit. The red-tapeism involves three complicated and totally different legal procedures for any action to be taken. Most people would not even bother to try. Plus, you may never identify the thief who happens to carry your stolen goods in his suitcase. Hence you must be careful and take the needed precautions that includes:

Make a list of all the items you would carry in your suitcase. Leave that list behind. Carrying it onboard would only assist in making the job easier for the thief.

Your credit card and bank account numbers must be noted and kept separately. Also ensure that you carry all the phone numbers of your banks or other financial organizations to report any loss or theft of a credit card and get it blocked to prevent any misuse.

Cruise ship safety

While on board you must take certain necessary precautions:

It is always wise to keep your money and valuables in a safe rather then in your cabin. There is a provision of a safe in all cruise ship. Your cabin is likely to be insecure as unlike the hotels there is a lesser frequency of changing the locks of your room on the ship.

If at all you carry wallets then never keep them in your back pockets as they can be easily stolen. Instead it is safer to keep your money in a waist pouch and wear it like a belt under your clothes. This would solve the twin hassle of your money being snatched or you leaving it on the ship somewhere that you cannot recall.

Be inconspicuous when handling money. Do not attract unnecessary attraction regarding the amount of cash you are carrying.

Select a modest looking suitcase while taking a cruise. Expensive leather will be like a green signal for a professional thief.

Travel tour

Keeping these precautionary measures in mind will make your travelling comfortable and safe. Whether your vacation is on a cruise or a land excursion, these guidelines are simple to follow and will assure a pleasant holiday. However, you must start planning your tour well in advance to avoid last minute hassles.

Being very excited about Torrevieja and Alicante, Vince Paxton has been authoring a large number of web pages in the area. You can have a look at his publications on Murcia at http://www.alicante-spain.com

Author: Vince K. Paxton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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First, I recommend checking out some crew agency websites. They list the positions available on yachts, typical salaries and what to expect. You can register with the agencies for free, interview with them in person or over the phone, and they will look to place you on a yacht. The usual ways people start on yachts is by working as either a deckhand, stewardess or chef or combo of all three! These are some agencies to register with They are all located in Ft. Lauderdale.

http://www.crewunlimited.com

http://www.carolemanto.com

http://www.luxyachts.com

September to December is a good time to start looking for work for the Caribbean season when all the yachts will looking to crew up to head to St. Martin, St. Barts, Antigua and the USVI. Some yachts will fly you out of where ever you are or you can go to Ft. Lauderdale. You can day work there while looking for a full time job and pulling in anywhere between $10-15/hr. And if you need a place to stay there are crew houses where all the yacht crew go while looking for work. They are great for networking, meeting people from all over the world and so much fun! Basically, they’re hostels for travelers and people seeking yacht employment.

http://www.maryscrewhouse.com

Around April the yachts leave the Caribbean and head to the Mediterranean to places such as Antibes, France, and Palma de Mallorca for the Summer season. You can catch a ride across the Atlantic with one of these boats from either Ft. Lauderdale, St. Martin or Antigua. Often you can find a yacht looking for crew to do a crossing just by walking to docks and speaking to crew. Make sure you always have a CV or resume to hand out. Some people can be hired on the spot.

So, this is how to get started working on luxury yachts. Remember working on yachts is really hard work, but the payoffs and rewards are so worth it!

Jerri grew up on a small ranch in West Texas where there is only one language spoken: Texan. Jerris first trip abroad was to Oxford, England as a junior attending Abilene Christian University. After graduating with a BBA in Management and Marketing, Jerri, moved to St. Martin, Dutch West Indies, to work as an Office Manager at a beach hotel. After getting island fever, Jerri moved to Ft. Lauderdale where she got started working on yachts and traveling around the world on the open seas. Jerri has been to every continent except Antarctica and her favorite place in the world is Coffee Bay, South Africa. For more on her travels check out her blog and podcast at http://jerristephenson.blogspot.com

Author: Jerri Stephenson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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