Travel Blog
Celebrity Solstice
11/22/20082:35:45 AM Link | | Add comment
What a great ship! I just returned from a two-night cruise on the brand new Celebrity Solstice. It was great.On the top deck there is a glassblowing studio complete with three kilns. We watched as the master glassblower created a pitcher right before our eyes. And we were right next to the lawn--yes, a real lawn where you can play croquet or just relax. These are just two of the unique features of this new ship.
The entertainment was great, too! We were treated to a wonderful 'Cirque du Soleil' show the first night and the same performers put on a great Broadway medley show. While they had a few of the standards like West Side Story, they also featured songs from more recent shows like Wicked and Rent.
Then there was an acappella group of four young men who always attracted a crowd with their upbeat and fun songs.
We enjoyed the comedy of Steve Schaeffer--he was hilarious!
The dining is spectacular with the specialty restaurants: Blu, Tuscan Grill, Silk Harvest and Murano. Then there's Bistro on 5 which serves crepes and paninis. Not to mention the beautiful two story Grand Epernay restaurant. The food was beautifully presented and very pleasing to the palate.
The decor was fantastic--beautiful fabrics adorn the windows and furniture along with a lot of beautiful leather. And the artwork...the entrance to one area includes custom painted walls and ceiling in black with flowers and cute little bugs are painted into the floor.
The shopping area truly resembles a high class mall with several shops with great window displays.
And then there's the rooms--most have balconies. The bathroom has a vessel sink and a shower with clear doors instead of those inconvenient curtains that usually stick to you. The flat screen TV offers internet, pay-per-view and on-demand movies and music. There is an extensive list of movies that you can watch whenever you want and even fast-forward, rewind and pause. With that many choices, I wouldn't hesitate to take a transatlantic cruise with several days at sea.
I almost forgot the disco named Quasar and the fantastic AquaSpa with its own pool and of course, the casino.
There are just too many great things about the Celebrity Solstice to mention...contact us for more info.
China tour
2/4/20081:51:16 AM Link | | Add comment
China, 2008 Join me for a trip of a lifetime!
Viking River Cruises is one of the best companies offering a tour package to the main cities in China. We'll depart San Francisco on June 8th and return on June 20th. Two nights in Shanghai, 5 night Yangtze River cruise, 1 night Xian and 3 nights Beijing.
DAY
DESTINATION
ACTIVITIES
1
Shanghai
Transfer from the Shanghai airport to hotel; free time
2
Shanghai
Old Shanghai/Bund tour; Silk Carpet Workshop tour; Shanghai Museum & free time; Chinese acrobatic performance
3
Shanghai
WuhanFree time. Fly to Wuhan
Wuhan museum tour; board your ship4
Yueyang
Three GorgesViking River Cruises School visit
Xiling Gorge5
Three Gorges Dam
Three Dam lock transit & tour
6
Three Gorges
Lesser Three GorgesWu & Qutang Gorges
Lesser Three Gorges excursion7
Shibaozhai
Shibaozhai Temple tour
8
Chongging
XianDisembark. Fly to Xian
Hotel check-in & free time; Tang Dynasty dinner show9
Xian
BeijingTerra Cotta Army. Fly to Beijing
Hotel check-in10
Beijing
Great Wall & Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs
11
Beijing
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City; Summer
Palace; Peking Duck Dinner & Peking Opera12
Beijing
Beijing Transfer from your hotel to the Beijing airport.
The river boat was built in 2005, holds only 306 passengers. Rates include 5 star hotel accommodations, balcony cabin on river boat, all flights within China, all meals, sightseeing, port charges and taxes.
All for only $3,184 per person!!
That's a special rate for our group. If that date doesn't work for you, choose another date and bring together 9 friends and either you go for free or you can share the value with your friends and everyone benefits.
Air from San Francisco: only $320 including taxes and transfers if you pay in full by February 14, 2008! Or use your frequent flyer miles, especially United Airlines, but hurry, seats are very limited! Call today for more information or to reserve your spot.
(510) 582-0540 or (925) 938-8600
Canada/New England cruise
1/31/20084:01:17 PM Link | | Add comment
In October, I cruised to Canada/New England on Crystal Cruises' Symphony. It is a very nice ship and the itinerary was great.
We started in
Our first port of call was
Then we had an overnight in
Our third port was
We finally made it to Canada, stopping at St. John, New Brunswick. It's a nice town and we walked from the pier to the Reversing Falls. The Bay of Fundy tides rise 28.5 feet!
Next stop: Halifax, Nova Scotia. We visited the Maritime Museum and learned all about the explosion and fire of 1917. Two ships collided in the harbor, one of them carrying munitions. It was the greatest known man-made explosion until the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945.
Another favorite stop was Quebec City. It is so charming with all the shops and restaurants, and the famous hotel which sits very regally on a hill above the harbor with its wonderful architecture: Chateau Frontenac.
And our final destination was Montreal. My favorite site is Notre Dame Basilica (where Celine Dion was married). I had been there before and forgot how magnificent it was.
And we were so lucky, the weather was perfect! Not too hot and the sun was out everyday. We had one day of rain while at sea and it drizzled all day in Montreal.
So...you've cruised to the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska...I highly recommend this itinerary. And almost all of the cruise lines offer this or a similar itinerary. Call for more information or to plan your next vacation.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Oct 8 Wed New York City, New York, USA 9 pm Oct 9 Thu Newport, Rhode Island, USA 8 am 5 pm Oct 10 Fri Boston, Massachusetts, USA(overnight) 9 am Oct 11 Sat Boston, Massachusetts, USA 5 pm Oct 12 Sun Bar Harbor, Maine, USA 8 am 5 pm Oct 13 Mon Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada 8 am 5 pm Oct 14 Tue Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 9 am 6 pm Oct 15 Wed Cruising the Atlantic Ocean Oct 16 Thu Cruising the Gulf of St. Lawrence Oct 17 Fri Québec City, P.Q., Canada 7 am 6 pm Oct 18 Sat Montréal, P.Q., Canada(overnight) 8 am Oct 19 Sun Montréal, P.Q., Canada Disembark am 
New passport rules
6/10/200711:53:19 AM Link | | Add comment
They changed it again. But for those of you that already applied for a passport, it's good news. See http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html for more information.
