Announcing National Plan a Cruise Month

October is National 
Plan a Cruise Month

Explore the World of Cruise Vacationing
October 1 - 31, 2016
 

If you've ever thought about going on your first cruise, October is the time to begin that journey.



Fall is the Perfect Time for Vacationers to Plan a Trip at Sea  


We're joining with member travel agencies from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) across the US and Canada to host National Plan a Cruise Month. Through a multi-dimensional campaign, the cruise industry has come together to help everyone fall in love with cruising by featuring unprecedented cruise vacation offers – from chances to win dream cruise vacations each day of the month and discovering new cruises and destinations to receiving the best cruise deals and promotions.

Cruising is all about you. You can find adventure, culture and education or, relax the day away. Dine on fine cuisine. Indulge at the spa. Reconnect with family. Share romantic moments. All this, in the destination of your choice, for a few days, a week or more, on a cruise that's right for you.

#CruiseSmile #Sweepstakes – A Cruise-A-Day Giveaway

To celebrate National Plan a Cruise Month, CLIA created #CruiseSmile, a daily chance to win a cruise from October 1 through October 31, 2016. Each day, #CruiseSmile will feature and giveaway a different cruise vacation - a total of 31 cruise vacations for two - showcasing there truly is a cruise for every travel style and budget.

Announcing the giveaway, CLIA said that together with their partner cruise lines they "are excited to give travelers a chance to see the world while discovering the variety of travel experiences the cruise industry has to offer. We know that once a traveler takes a cruise for the first time, they fall in love with the cruise vacation experience. We want to spread the love of cruising through the #CruiseSmile campaign giving everyone a simple way to enter to win a variety of cruise vacations.”

How to Enter #CruiseSmile 

The campaign will offer a chance for consumers to win a different cruise vacation for two each day during the month of October (for a total of 31 cruise vacation giveaways). Every day in October you can upload a photo of a great smile and be entered to win a cruise for two from a variety of CLIA member cruise lines. Participants can also enter by uploading a photo directly to Twitter or Instagram, using hashtags #CruiseSmile #Sweepstakes and can tag a friend for additional chances to win.

Contest entries do not roll over from day to day and entrants must upload a new photo each day to be eligible for that day’s prize. The sweepstakes is open to entrants 13 years of age or older. If a minor is selected, a guardian must accept that day’s prize on their behalf. Winners will be selected at random each day in October. Some blackout dates apply and are to be determined by the cruise lines. Visit CLIA Plan a Cruise Month for additional details.

Cruise Planning Resources

We have a special page with Cruise Line Videos for you to explore. Just click the cruise ship of your choice and watch the video for behind the scenes tours.  We'll also be featuring articles about cruising all month long in addition to our normal blog posts, so be sure to come back often to explore.

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

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Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet

#FriFotos Photography 

Twitter Forum

This #Friday 16th September the #FriFotos theme is #Tomorrow. Join in - just share your pics with the hashtags #FriFotos and #Tomorrow. 

As we looked through our photo archives for inspiration for tomorrow's theme of #Tomorrow, we found an album of ours from the summer of 2007.  We thought you might enjoy some of these photos.  For a better #Tomorrow ...

Cool Globes Exhibit 

Navy Pier Chicago 

A nonprofit corporation, "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" sponsored a Chicago public art exhibit of 125 5-foot-diameter (1.5 m) globes decorated with solutions to global warming, placed in Grant Park near the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and along the lakefront bike path during the summer of 2007.

Click images to enlarge

  
View Album: 
Navy Pier Cool Globes
 
If you like Travel & Photography join us each Friday!

Follow #FriFotos on Twitter and Facebook

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc

Remembering 15 Years Later

President Proclaims Patriot Day, Day of Remembrance  
By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day,” and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized “National Day of Service and Remembrance”. President Obama officially proclaimed September 11, 2015, as Patriot Day.

In his remarks, the President said "Fifteen years ago, nearly 3,000 innocent lives men, women, and children who had been going about their normal routines were taken from us, depriving families and loved ones of a lifetime of precious moments. But the acts of terror of September 11, 2001, sought to do more than hurt our people and bring down buildings: They sought to break our spirit and destroy the enduring values that unite us as Americans. In the years that followed, our capacity to love and to hope has guided us forward as we worked to rebuild, more sound and resilient than ever before. With the hearts of those we lost held faithfully in our memories, we reaffirm the unwavering optimism and everlasting strength that brought us together in our darkest hour, and we resolve to give of ourselves in service to others in that same spirit."

He continued, "The pain inflicted on our Nation on September 11 was felt by people of every race, background, and faith. Though many young Americans have grown up without knowing firsthand the horrors of that day, their lives have been shaped by it. They hear of the many acts of service that occurred coworkers who led others to safety, passengers who stormed a cockpit, and first responders who charged directly into the fire. Many Americans did everything they could to help survivors, from volunteering their time to donating food, clothing, and blood. And many signed up to don our Nation's uniform to prove to the world that no act of terror could eclipse the strength or character of our country. ”

View our WTC Memorial Album on Shutterfly

During our pre-conference stay in New York in 2013, we decided to revisit the site of the World Trade Center.  The site was quite different from the last time we were there.   Rebuilding of the towers was moving along nicely.  The 9/11 Memorial fountains had been completed.  Click on the link above to view the album.

click on images to enlarge

Remembering 9/11/2001

Each year we recall where we were when learning about the terrorist attacks.   We were on the inaugural voyage of Norwegian Sun, thousands of miles from home in Paris, France.   Our tour bus was filled with our fellow passengers, the majority of whom lived in New York.  The transatlantic cruise, we were on, was originally scheduled to conclude in New York but ended in Boston instead.

What was to have been a celebration of our 25th Anniversary, quickly became a very unique experience as we observed the hospitality and caring from so many people across the globe as our journey home continued.  Today as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary, we once again reflect on the moment we learned about the events unfolding thousands of miles away from where we were. 

See our article from 2011, FDNY May We Never Forget, on the 10th anniversary, as we recalled our journey back to New York to visit the site of the World Trade Center attacks.  Should your cruise vacation plans include New York, we recommend spending some time at the WTC Memorial and other historic sites in the city.

Meet Us at Streamwood ChamberFest 2016

Streamwood ChamberFest

& Car Show

What comes to mind when you put "Cruise" and "Cars" in the same sentence?

Normally you'd think about a "cruise night" when owners show off their cars and all the work that they have put into them.

We are taking our "cruise" and vacation show on the road this Saturday as we participate  in the Streamwood Chamber of Commerce (SCC) ChamberFest and Car Show at Hoosier Grove Barn in Streamwood, IL.

It is our pleasure to be part of this annual event supporting the work of SCC, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting, enhancing and supporting the prosperity of its members while also supporting the future of our community through their Scholarship Programs.

There will be several of the local classic car owners in attendance along with several racing cars.  One of the favorites of the children is the D.A.R.E truck from the Streamwood Police Department.  Visitors can get a closeup look at the cars and then vote on their favorites.   Trophies are presented to the winners at the end of the event.

Fun for all, Families, Neighbors and Kids. Come see the Classic Cars, Fire Truck Demonstration, Bouncy House, Clown, Face Painting, Popcorn and more.

Spin To Win

Sign up for our eNewsletter at the Chamberfest and spin our lucky wheel for some prizes.   You could win some logo items or credits towards your vacation.

We will have a selection of cruise and resort vacation dream books on site for you to browse or take with you for planning your next dream vacation.

We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.   Come see us this Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM at Hoosier Grove Barn in Streamwood.   More details ... 

Hermine Aims for Florida and East Coast

TS Hermine    Courtesy NHC                Interactive

Latest News from National Hurricane Center:

• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane GASTON and TS HERMINE
• CPHC issuing advisories for the Central Pacific on MADELINE and LESTER
• NHC director Rick Knabb will provide a live update on Hermine at 2:30pm EDT. Watch it live here or on Twitter.

Tropical Storm HERMINE

We are now within the "season with hurricane season".  During this eight week period, we typically see the most activity of the entire hurricane season.   It looks like this year will not be an exception to the norm.   See NOAA: The peak of the hurricane season – why now? for more insight into why.

According to Hurricane Hunter reports, the extent of tropical-storm-force winds has increased significantly in the eastern semicircle.  This has prompted extended tropical storm warnings for Florida and the east coast of the United States.

One of the largest threats from tropical cyclones is Storm Surge.  During Hurricane Preparedness Week, we wrote about this and all threats in our mini series.  2016 Hurricane Preparedness - Storm Surge

The NHC has issued the following interactive graphic for HERMINE

Prototype Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic*

As of this initial posting, the cruise lines have not made any itinerary changes, but they will undoubtedly be keeping a watchful eye on the storm as it develops.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Full coverage of this, and all tropical storms, can be found on our Hurricane Zone page.   There are RSS feeds from the National Hurricane Center posted there giving you up to the minute information.   For storms that impact cruises, we will bring you information on those details as well.  Please bookmark that page for further reference during the Hurricane Season which runs now through November 30th.

Tropical Storm HERMINE	1200 PM CDT THU SEP 01 2016 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING EXTENDED SOUTHWARD ALONG  FLORIDA GULF AND ATLANTIC COASTS... ...LIFE-THREATENING SURGE AND FLOODING RAINS EXPECTED...
WIND:	NEAR 70 mph (110 km/h)... WITH HIGHER GUSTS
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT... A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Suwannee River to Mexico Beach A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Anclote River to Suwannee River * West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County line A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Englewood to Suwannee River * West of Mexico Beach to the Walton/Bay County line * Flagler/Volusia County line to Surf City A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * North of Surf City to Oregon Inlet, including Pamlico Sound
SHIP IMPACT:	No Cruise Ship Impact Reported

     
Storm Archive       Graphics Archive

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN
THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 TO 36
HOURS.

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND 

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast
within the warning area beginning tonight.  Winds are expected to
first reach tropical storm strength by this afternoon, making
outside preparations difficult or dangerous.  Preparations to
protect life and property should be rushed to completion.  Tropical
storm conditions are expected to begin within the warning area along
the Atlantic coast on Friday, and spread northward through Friday
evening.  Tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical
storm watch area by Friday night and Saturday.

STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  There is a danger
of life-threatening inundation within the next 12 to 24 hours along
the Gulf coast of Florida from Indian Pass to Longboat Key.  For a
depiction of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National
Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic.  Persons located
within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life
and property from rising water.  Promptly follow any instructions,
including evacuation orders, from local officials.

The water could reach the following heights above ground if the
peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Destin to Indian Pass...1 to 3 feet
Indian Pass to Ochlockonee River...4 to 7 feet
Ochlockonee River to Keaton Beach...5 to 8 feet
Keaton Beach to Chassahowitzka...4 to 7 feet
Chassahowitzka to Longboat Key...including Tampa Bay...2 to 4 feet
Longboat Key to Bonita Beach...1 to 3 feet
Florida-Georgia line to Cape Fear...1 to 3 feet

The Prototype National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning
Graphic is a depiction of areas that would qualify for inclusion
under a storm surge watch or warning currently under development by
the National Weather Service and planned for operational use in
2017.  This prototype graphic is available at
www.hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?wsurge

RAINFALL:  Hermine is expected to produce storm total rainfall
accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over portions of northwest Florida
and southern Georgia through Friday, with possible isolated maximum
amounts of 20 inches.  On Friday and Saturday, Hermine is expected
to produce totals of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of
10 inches possible across portions of eastern Georgia, South
Carolina, and eastern North Carolina through Saturday.  These rains
may cause life-threatening flash flooding.

TORNADOES:  A few tornadoes are possible this afternoon into Friday
morning over north Florida and southeast Georgia.  The tornado risk
will continue across the eastern Carolinas from Friday morning into
Friday night.

Historical Notes:

500 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016

...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS IN THE FLORIDA STRAITS...
...EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO...

500 PM EDT MON AUG 29 2016

...DEPRESSION EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM BY TUESDAY... 

1000 AM CDT TUE AUG 30 2016

...TORRENTIAL RAINS CONTINUE OVER WESTERN CUBA...
...TROPICAL STORM WATCH LIKELY TO BE ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF THE
FLORIDA GULF COAST LATER TODAY... 

400 PM CDT TUE AUG 30 2016

...HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WATCHES ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF
FLORIDA GULF COAST... 

400 AM CDT WED AUG 31 2016

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF THE FLORIDA GULF
COAST... 

100 PM CDT WED AUG 31 2016

...NOAA HURRICANE HUNTERS FIND THAT THE DEPRESSION HAS
STRENGTHENED INTO A TROPICAL STORM...

700 PM CDT WED AUG 31 2016

...HERMINE STRENGTHENS SOME WHILE IT HEADS TOWARD THE FLORIDA GULF
COAST... 

1000 AM CDT THU SEP 01 2016

...HERMINE HEADING FOR THE NORTH FLORIDA GULF COAST...
...LIFE-THREATENING SURGE AND FLOODING RAINS EXPECTED...