Cruising Notes from the Boats

The right price………………………………………….………………………$639 December 19, 2010: 7-day Christmas cruise on the MSC Poesia Departure: Fort Lauderdale round-trip to Western Caribbean Ports: Key West, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel Bonuses: 3-category upgrade; 2nd cabin price $324 Contact: MSC * * * In light of the fire on the Carnival Splendor this week,the knee-jerk reaction is that… Continue reading Cruising Notes from the Boats

One Big Ship, One Big Celebration

FORT LAUDERDALE — Probably only somebody who’s into cruising would appreciate what we witnessed here on Thursday. There was a parade. A parade of one. It was a ship, a special ship, Allure of the Seas. People came and they watched, like it was an historic event, and in a sense it was. The Allure… Continue reading One Big Ship, One Big Celebration

The Place All the Hellion Tourists Go

GEORGETOWN, Grand Cayman — Heaven may have its doves of peace and birds of paradise, but did you know that Hell has birds, too? We saw them, one white and two black, flitting from the jagged tops of the blackened limestone that everybody visiting Grand Cayman is told: “This is Hell.” And it is. In… Continue reading The Place All the Hellion Tourists Go

What a Welcome to South Florida

We’ve always found the congestion in south Florida to be problematic, but never moreso than after we landed here from Houston, to embark of a 5-day cruise aboard the Navigator of the Seas. Our flight landed in Miami. That was the first issue. Royal Caribbean’s pier is in Fort Lauderdale. That’s about 28 miles —… Continue reading What a Welcome to South Florida

Ciao! Ecstasy Bridge Visit the Best

It began with a simple request. Would it be possible for two intrepid reporters to spend a few minutes with the captain of the Carnival Ecstasy? The answer, from Guest Relations Manager Enrique Acupinpin, was non-committal. When it was committal, it came with an invitation to meet the captain on the bridge. This would not… Continue reading Ciao! Ecstasy Bridge Visit the Best