So call me a Negative Nelly or whatever they call someone who sees the negative in things, but I cannot ignore the negatives, and to be fair, I shouldn’t. So Let me state up front that this review will have some negative points in it, but let me also state that we did enjoy our cruise and would do it again.

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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The 49th state is one of the top cruise destinations in the world, with about 750,000 people cruising there annually. That may not sound like much in the abstract – after all, Alaska’s a huge state, right? But two facts make it actually a pretty big figure: (1) Even though Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined, cruise ships sail in only about 20 percent of that area (and really concentrate on about half that); and (2) the cruise season is incredibly short, only lasting from late May to mid-September.

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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So, you have a dream of owning a beautiful Sail Boat and spending all of your free time quietly enjoying the peace of the intercoastal waters. You can feel your hand on the tiller and sniffing the shift of wind. You want to be the master of your vessel.

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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Common sense will sail you through even in a fairy-tale cruise. Be it your honeymoon or a holiday you must remember certain things to safeguard both your valuables and you.

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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So you are looking for an adventure? Well, how does traveling around the world working on a private mega yacht sound? You can travel to some of the most remote and beautiful places in the world on someone else’s dime. And you can get paid to do it. Want to sign up?

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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