Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts

Sunday, April 1, 2012

King's Wharf Bermuda

Bermuda Images of King's Wharf


Time to turn the pages on your 2012 Extraordinary Vacations calendar...

This month we feature King's Wharf, Bermuda.  Sail from New York or Boston to this lovely island, whose pink-sand beaches are unlike any others in the Caribbean.  Norwegian Cruise Line offers several cruises to Bermuda.   We loved Bermuda, especially the friendly people.  We invite you to read more about Bermuda and consider that destination for your next Caribbean adventure.

Your NCL cruise will dock at King's Wharf, where you can explore beaches, golf courses, restaurants, shops and historic monuments at your leisure.  Or try out one of the many water sports offered in and around this gorgeous harbor.

After your day of exploring the island, return to your ship for a massage, dinner, relaxing by the pool, or enjoy the evening's entertainment.  Whether you want to dance the night away or simply relax, there's something for you to do either onboard or back onshore.   Your ship is your floating hotel for the week.

Swim With the Fishes

Our favorite excursion was Hartley's Helmet Dive.  The Hartley family invites you to join them on their famous "Undersea Walk".   Here you will don a helmet and and walk among the fishes as they swim up to greet you.   In fact, they might even do some tricks for you.

Read more about this underwater adventure in our blog post: 
NCL Dawn Bermuda - Hartley's Helmet Dive

There's lots of adventure that is reachable from your ship's berth in King's Wharf.  We sailed on Norwegian Dawn when we last visited Bermuda.   Here are some articles detailing our visit.
Dining and Entertainment on your NCL Ship
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Friday, August 26, 2011

Bracing for Major Hurricane Irene

High above the Earth from aboard the International Space Station,
astronaut Ron Garan snapped this image of Hurricane Irene
as it passed over the Caribbean on Aug. 22, 2011.                  Credit: NASA
Major Hurricane Irene
Continues to Impact
Cruise Schedules


East Coast Bracing 
for Landfall

For the second weekend in a row, Irene, now a Major Hurricane, is dominating the weather and causing local governments and the entire travel industry to scramble to revise schedules to keep property and people safe from harm.
200 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011

...CENTER OF IRENE MOVING OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...
Warnings Issued for Hurricane Irene -- See this post for current warnings, location, hazards, and other updates

      CURRENT WARNINGS       TRAVEL ADVISORIES        StormScape LIVE    
 
Despite Hurricane Irene's weakening to a Category One status, it is still packing quite a punch and has local governments scrambling to keep property and residents safe.   The NHC is warning that all of the tropical cyclone Hazards:  Wind, heavy Rainfall, Storm Surge, Surf, and Tornadoes are forecast.

Hurricane of the Century


The GOES-13 satellite saw Hurricane Irene
on August 27, 2011 at 10:10 a.m. EDT
after it made landfall at 8 a.m. in Cape Lookout, NC.
Irene's outer bands had already extended into New England.
(Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project)
Click image for more dramatic images of Hurricane Irene
Many are referring to Hurricane Irene as the storm of the century.   Mandatory evacuations have begun for parts of the eastern seaboard of the United States.  The picture above, courtesy of NASA, shows why there is this great concern.   The hurricane is massive!  As we write this article, Irene is a Category Three Hurricane with winds in excess of 115 MPH.   Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles.

Ten States Declare Emergencies - Mandatory Evacuations Across the Region
Transportation Systems Shut Down

Irene will move northwest and approach the North Carolina Coast this weekend before continuing its journey north, skimming the Mid-Atlantic coast with possible landfall in New England.

Fifty-five million people are potentially in Hurricane Irene's path, from the Carolinas to Cape Cod on the U.S. East Coast, and tens of thousands are evacuating as cities including New York brace for the powerful storm to hit.

NYC Unprecedented Evacuation / Transit Shutdown

As powerful Hurricane Irene makes it way up the East Coast of the United States, New York City ordered nearly 300,000 people to evacuate flood-prone areas and subways.  The New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun a full system shutdown.  Philadelphia and New Jersey will also shut down on Saturday.

It was the first time the nation's largest city was evacuated. Never before has the entire mass transit system been shuttered because of a storm.  New York city has not seen a storm of this magnitude in decades.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he was confident people would get out of the storm's way.
"Waiting until the last minute is not a smart thing to do," Bloomberg said. "This is life-threatening."

President Obama spoke with reporters from the farm where he is vacationing on an island off the Boston coast.  He will be leaving the area on Saturday well ahead of the storm.

"All indications point to this being a historic hurricane," 
"I cannot stress this highly enough. If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don't wait. Don't delay," Obama said.


Cruise Ship Travel Alerts

This past week, many cruises had their itineraries altered to outrun the storm.   In most cases, port orders were changed or in some cases, Bahamas ports were swapped for Western Caribbean ports.

As the weekend approaches and the hurricane bears down on many of the homeports along the east coast, ships are racing to arrive ahead of the storm.  Several itineraries have been modified to cut the current cruise short, arriving in the homeport as much as a day early.  Some ships will delay arrivals until Monday. Departures for weekend cruises vary by port with some scheduled on time while others departing a day or more late. 

Ports impacted:  Baltimore, Bayonne New Jersey, Boston, New York, 

Travel Advisory Links:




Airline Travel Advisories

Major airlines -- including US Airways, American, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and AirTran -- have dropped ticket change fees for passengers scheduled to fly to or from many cities along the East Coast this weekend. 

Airlines canceled more than 9,000 flights for the weekend and another 250 on Monday, according to the online flight tracking service Flightaware.com.

Check directly with your airline carrier for latest cancellation information



Additional Travel Woes
Transit systems in New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey   shut down on Saturday.

Greyhound has canceled or delayed a number of routes because of the storm.

Hurricane Preparedness

Each year NHC, FEMA, and other government agencies host several events to raise awareness about the dangers of tropical storms and hurricanes.  See our Hurricane Zone for links to articles we published in conjunction with this year's Hurricane Preparedness Week as well as those from past years.  For those planning to sail this weekend, be sure to read Hurricane Preparedness for Cruisers

We will continue to monitor this major hurricane and post updates.  Hurricane Zone will point to the latest information.   We have provided several links which provide up to the minute news, forecasts, advisories.

Disaster Prevention should include:


"How To" guides for protecting your property from flooding & high winds. (FEMA)
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Warnings Issued for Hurricane Irene



Ninth Named Storm in Atlantic Basin

First Advisory Includes Tropical Storm Warnings



Irene Becomes 1st Hurricane
of 2011 Atlantic Season
Became a Major Hurricane 
Made Landfall on U.S. 
1100 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
...IRENE BECOMES POST-TROPICAL NEAR THE U.S./CANADIAN BORDER... 

...MAJOR RIVER FLOODING OCCURRING IN PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST...

Tracking Storm since Saturday, August 20th 


The GOES-13 satellite saw
Hurricane Irene entering the Bahamas 
on August 24, 2011 at 1302 UTC (9:02 a.m. EDT).
Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
Our coverage of Hurricane Irene began when it became a tropical storm Saturday, August 20th.  It formed East of the Lesser Antilles and took a path South of Puerto Rico continuing in a northwestward direction.  As predicted Irene strengthened into a hurricane before interacting with Hispaniola.  Due to the potential to interact with land, it was difficult to predict further strength and movements beyond the first few days.


Several hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings were posted as the storm moved through the islands on its way towards the Bahamas. The Hurricane is expected to make landfall on the East Coast of the United States this weekend. It could become a Category Four hurricane before hitting land.  This was a very dangerous  Hurricane and evacuations were ordered all along the eastern seaboard of the United States.   Consult our Hurricane Preparedness links on Hurricane Zone if you are in the path of the hurricane.  Several cruise itineraries have been modified to stay clear of the storm.

August 28th 11 PM EDT - Irene loses tropical characteristics, but not until she was done ravaging the East Coast of the United States as well as several Caribbean ports of call.   Bahamas had extensive damage with many of the private islands, that cruise lines call on, needing to be repaired.   

Saturday and Sunday were very long days for residents in NC all the way up the East Coast.  The winds weren't the main problem, but rather the storm surge and inland flooding caused the most destruction.  The danger isn't over from the raging waters.   At first light on Monday, some areas will get their first look at just how bad things are (and it's not over).


GALE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT COASTAL AREAS FROM EASTERN
LONG ISLAND TO MAINE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY.
THE CENTER OF IRENE WILL MOVE OVER EASTERN CANADA TONIGHT
AND ON MONDAY.
 
Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here
Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking


Cruise Itinerary Changes

Several ships are in the vicinity of Irene and their itineraries were modified:




Latest Travel Advisories: (Updated 8 PM EDT Saturday, August 27).  
Links provided for changes between our updates.






CARNIVAL PRIDE – 8/28/11: Port Canaveral (Tuesday, instead of Wednesday) and Freeport (Wednesday), after which the line will determine the remainder of the itinerary based on Irene's projected path.  USCG has directed the Pride's captain to arrive early and proceed to a secure location to ride out the hurricane.  Embarkation for the 8/28 cruise is scheduled for Monday, August 29th from 10am to 2 PM at the Baltimore cruise terminal.  


The ship is now scheduled to call on..


Day     Port of Call                                                Arrive           Depart
Mon    Baltimore, MD                                        10:00 AM     2:00 PM
Tue     Fun Day @ Sea
Wed   Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL                   10:00 AM     7:00 PM
Thu    Nassau, The Bahamas 1                             1:00 AM   10:00 PM
Fri      Freeport, The Bahamas                             7:00 AM     2:00 PM
Sat     Fun Day @ Sea
Sun    Baltimore, MD                                          9:00 AM

Should any guests be delayed due to flight cancellations, if you purchased your air with Carnival, please contact us so we can make alternate arrangements for you. 

Guests who purchased independent air, are kindly requested to make independent arrangements to catch up with the ship at the first port of call.

Regrettably, the island of CocoCay, Bahamas, was impacted by the storm, and we feel our guest's experience ashore would be disrupted. Because of this, we have cancelled Majesty of the Seas'call to CocoCay for today, August 27, Monarch of the Seas' call to CocoCay on Sunday, August 28, and Freedom of the Seas' call to CocoCay on Monday, August 29.

Monarch of the Seas will now stay overnight in Nassau, Bahamas, departing at 11:00 a.m. today, August 28.

Freedom of the Seas will call on Nassau, Bahamas, on Monday, August 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Majesty of the Seas will also stay overnight in Nassau, Bahamas, arriving at 12:00 p.m. today and departing at 5:00 pm. on Sunday, August 28.



Veendam - current sailing: Bermuda (depart 5 PM Thursday instead of Friday), Arrive New York Saturday (one day early).  Passengers can disembark on Saturday or overnight until Sunday.

Veendam 8/28 Sailing: The ship will remain in New York overnight on Sunday, August 28, and will now depart Monday, August 29, at 2:00 pm. Guests will be able to embark as scheduled on Sunday provided there is access to the cruise terminal. Due to the government declared evacuation of some areas of the city and impending transit challenges, access to the cruise terminal may be limited or closed on Sunday.
Embarkation on Monday, August 29 will begin at 8:00 am and continue until 1:00 pm, at which time all passengers should be on board the ship.

The revised itinerary is below:  ms Veendam August 28, 7-day Bermuda Cruise


DATE LOCATION ARRIVE DEPART
Sunday, Aug 28 New York
overnight
Monday, Aug 29 New York
2 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 At Sea

Wednesday, Aug 31 Hamilton, Bermuda 9 am overnight
Thursday, Sept 1 Hamilton, Bermuda
overnight
Friday, Sept 2 Hamilton, Bermuda
2 pm
Saturday, Sept 3 At Sea

Sunday, Sept 4 New York 7am

For guests considering embarkation on Sunday, Holland America Line encourages guests to check local New York City transit and government websites (www.NYC.gov or www.mta.info). If you are in the local area, you can also call our special information line at 732-698-1222 for the latest information on access to the pier.


ms Maasdam August 27, 7-day Canada/New England Cruise (Boston to Montreal, Quebec)
Guests embarked in Boston on Saturday, August 27, as planned and the ship sailed at 5:00pm prior to the storms arrival. Due to very high winds and rough seas expected near the first two port calls of Bar Harbor, Maine, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, these calls have been cancelled and the itinerary modified, adding the ports of Gaspe and Saguenay, Quebec later in the week.


DATE LOCATION ARRIVE DEPART
Saturday, Aug 27 Boston
5:00 pm
Sunday, Aug 28 At Sea

Monday, Aug 29 Sydney, Nova Scotia 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 Charlottetown, PEI 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 Gaspe, Quebec 7:00 am 1:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 1 Saguenay, Quebec 12:00 noon 8:00 pm
Friday, Sept 2 Quebec 7:00 am 5:00 pm
Saturday, Sept 3 Montreal 7:00 am

Updates will also be posted at 10:00 am and 10:00 pm PDT


Summit: will remain in Bermuda until 5:00 p.m. today, Friday, August 26. We now anticipate that the ship will arrive in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Monday, August 29. 

Next sailing will now depart on Monday, August 29. Guests scheduled to sail on the Sunday, August 28, sailing of Celebrity Summit should now arrive at Cape Liberty on Monday between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. 




Norwegian Jewel will return to New York early on Saturday, August 27 and guests currently on board will disembark beginning at 6 am. Embarkation for the August 27 cruise will commence earlier beginning at 10 am. The ship will depart three hours earlier than scheduled at 1 pm. All guests are advised to arrive at the pier between 10 am and noon. Once the ship is underway, there may be a change to the scheduled Bahamas & Florida itinerary.
Norwegian Gem will remain at sea, keeping a safe distance from the storm, on Sunday, August 28 instead of returning to New York as scheduled. The ship will arrive in New York at 8 am on Monday, August 29. All guests for the August 28 cruise are asked to arrive at the pier on Monday, August 29 beginning at noon. The ship is scheduled to depart New York at 4 pm on Monday en route to Bermuda.
Both Norwegian Dawn sailing from Boston and Norwegian Sky sailing from Miami today will depart as scheduled.






Caribbean Princess will arrive in New York on Saturday, August 27, one hour early at 6 a.m. In addition, check-in for the next cruise will begin at 10 a.m. instead of 1 p.m. in anticipation of an early departure.  Itinerary has been altered slightly; Monday, a sea day will replace a call at Halifax but the ship will visit there Tuesday. The planned Tuesday call at St. John is canceled. 




Disney Cruise Line



Disney Dream did not stop at the line's private island of Castaway Cay on Saturday, August 27, due to the storm's impact. Instead, the ship spent an additional day in Nassau.                                                    
See Historical Data below for changes earlier in the week

MONITOR LINKS FOR LAST MINUTE CHANGES FOR WEEKEND CRUISES
 
IRENE IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED BY ALL CRUISE LINES AND ADDITIONAL CHANGES MAY BE NECESSARY.  GUESTS WILL BE NOTIFIED ON BOARD .
CLOSELY MONITOR DEPARTURE TIMES AS THEY ARE CHANGING


While we will do our best to keep this post updated, this unprecedented storm  is prompting last minute changes.  Be sure to keep in close contact with your travel agent / cruise line.

SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...45.3N 71.3W
ABOUT 50 MI...80 KM N OF BERLIN NEW HAMPSHIRE
ABOUT 105 MI...165 KM S OF QUEBEC CITY QUEBEC
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 26 MPH...43 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...980 MB...28.94 INCHES


CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...
 
THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES
HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
 
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...
 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SOUTH COAST OF NEW BRUNSWICK FROM THE UNITED STATES/CANADA BORDER
NORTHEASTWARD TO FORT LAWRENCE INCLUDING GRAND MANAN
* SOUTH COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA FROM FORT LAWRENCE TO PORTERS LAKE
 
THE TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR CANADA WILL LIKELY BE
DISCONTINUED EARLY MONDAY.

















A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.  A WARNING IS TYPICALLY ISSUED
36 HOURS BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF
TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE
PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. 





 








A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.  A WATCH IS TYPICALLY ISSUED 48 HOURS
BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE
WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR
DANGEROUS. 





 





A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS. 





 



A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.  




MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS...MAINLY OVER OR NEAR THE WATER WELL TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF
THE CENTER.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT
48 HOURS.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND 


STORM SURGE...ELEVATED WATER LEVELS WILL PERSIST IN AREAS OF ONSHORE
WINDS ALONG THE COAST FROM CONNECTICUT THROUGH MAINE.  THE HIGHEST
STORM SURGE...ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND
WILL SUBSIDE OVERNIGHT AND ON MONDAY.  USERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES FOR
LOCATION-SPECIFIC STORM TIDE AND SURGE INFORMATION.
 
RAINFALL...HEAVY RAINS ARE DIMINISHING OVER NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND.
ANY ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD AMOUNT TO LESS THAN ONE INCH.
 
WIND...WINDS OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE...ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS...COULD
STILL OCCUR ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN NEW ENGLAND...NEW
BRUNSWICK...AND NOVA SCOTIA OVERNIGHT.  SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WIND
SPEEDS ARE LIKELY OVER AREAS OF ELEVATED TERRAIN IN NORTHERN NEW
ENGLAND AND EASTERN CANADA.
  




Tropical Storm Resources (click links below)


HURRICANE IRENENational Hurricane Center


Atlantic Tropical Weather OutlookNational Weather Service


Atlantic Tropical Weather DiscussionHurricane Preparedness


Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (ATL) Real-Time Hurricane Information


Active Storms  NOAA Satellites & Information


NASA: Latest Storm ImagesWMO Severe Weather Information Centre


Real-time Monitoring (Atlantic)The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale 


Real-time Weather SitesReal-Time Cruise Ship Tracking



 



 






Historical Data:         Storm Archive            Graphics Archive                           







THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM.  FUTURE INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM...
INCLUDING TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM IRENE...CAN BE FOUND IN
PUBLIC ADVISORIES ISSUED BY THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION
CENTER...UNDER AWIPS HEADER TCPAT4 AND WMO HEADER WTNT34 KWNH...
BEGINNING AT 5 AM EDT.


 


 


1100 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
...IRENE BECOMES POST-TROPICAL NEAR THE U.S./CANADIAN BORDER...


  


900 AM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011
...CENTER OF IRENE MOVES OVER NEW YORK CITY...


  


700 PM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011
...IRENE RE-EMERGES OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN...WATER LEVELS RISING 
IN THE VIRGINIA TIDEWATER REGION...


 


800 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011
...CENTER OF IRENE MAKES LANDFALL NEAR CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH
CAROLINA... 


 


800 AM EDT WED AUG 24 2011
...IRENE BECOMES A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE....EYE HEADED FOR THE
CROOKED AND ACKLINS ISLANDS...
 


500 AM AST MON AUG 22 2011
...IRENE STRENGTHENS OVER PUERTO RICO...BECOMING THE FIRST HURRICANE
OF THE 2011 ATLANTIC SEASON...




700 PM AST SAT AUG 20 2011
...TROPICAL STORM FORMS EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...


TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ISSUED...





******************************************************************************



Earlier this week:



******************************************************************************



Carnival Glory 8/27 - Reversing order of ports: Halifax (Monday 8:00 AM - 4 PM), Saint John (Tuesday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)




In anticipation of Hurricane Irene’s arrival Sunday
 night, New York City is taking pre-cautionary measures that may affect 
your ability to arrive at the terminal on a timely basis.  We encourage 
all guests sailing on the Carnival Glory to make plans to arrive at Pier
 88 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.  Please bear with us as 
the debarkation process from the previous sailing will be ongoing, but 
we will do all possible to make you comfortable.  Sailing time remains 
at 3:00 PM, however we may sail earlier.  



Passengers were notified via email for both of these cruises.

   

CARNIVAL SENSATION - 8/25/11

 Day          Port of Call                    Arrive             Depart     

Thu          Port Canaveral, FL                            4:00 PM 

Fri            Key West                     12:00PM      overnight

Sat           Key West                     overnight      12:00PM                          

Sun          Port Canaveral, FL                            7:00 AM




CARNIVAL FASCINATION - 8/25/11

Day          Port of Call                           Arrive           Depart     

Thu          Jacksonville, FL                                    10:30 PM 

Fri            Fun Day @ Sea                     

Sat           Key West                             7:00 AM        4:00 PM                          

Sun          Freeport, The Bahamas  7:00 AM        2:00 PM

Mon          Jacksonville, FL




CARNIVAL IMAGINATION - 8/26/11 

Day          Port of Call                   Arrive           Depart     
Fri            Miami, FL                                         4:00 PM 
Sat           Fun Day @ Sea         
Sun          Nassau                        7:00 AM      6:00 PM                          
Mon          Miami, FL                                         8:00 AM



Carnival Cruise Line has modified additional cruises - mainly swapping Western Caribbean ports for the original Bahamas stops.  







Carnival Triumph:  Key West (Tuesday, as planned), instead of Bahamas ports: Cozumel  (Wednesday), Progreso (Thursday). 







Carnival Destiny: Key West (Tuesday), Cozumel (Wednesday), Costa Maya (Thursday) instead of



Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau 







Carnival Conquest: Costa Maya (Wednesday), Cozumel (Thursday), Progreso (Friday) in Western Caribbean instead of Florida and Bahamas 







Carnival Victory:  Canceled St. Thomas (Monday), enroute to Barbados (Wednesday), remainder of cruise under evaluation







Carnival Liberty: Grand Turk instead of Sea Day (Monday), rest of schedule TBD



  



Carnival Miracle: 
Grand Turk (Monday) and Half Moon Cay (Tuesday) instead of San Juan and St. Thomas











Norwegian Cruise Line has made modifications:







Norwegian Gem: Kings Wharf, Bermuda (Wednesday - Thursday), Departs for New York (6 PM Thursday - one day early), Returns to New York (Sunday)



Norwegian Jewel:  Great Stirrup
 Cay (Tuesday), At Sea instead of Nassau (Wednesday), Heading north
 to return to New York (Saturday) 




Norwegian Sky: Nassau, Bahamas (Tuesday), At Sea instead of 
Great Stirrup Cay, 
Bahamas (Wednesday),  Depending on the path of the 
storm, the ship may also have to cancel its call to Freeport, Bahamas on
 Thursday, August 25.




Guests on board the vessels will be kept
 up to date by the ship’s Captain. It is also important to note that NCL 
will continue to closely monitor the storm and if the path changes, may need to modify these itineraries.



  



Royal Caribbean modified port orders as follows:






Explorer of the Seas will depart Cape Liberty,
 Bayonne, New Jersey, today, Saturday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. – one hour
 earlier than originally scheduled. We ask that all guests arrive at the
 pier no later than 3:00 p.m. today.



Monarch of the Seas: Nassau, Bahamas instead of CocoCay (Tuesday), At Sea (Wednesday, Thursday), Return to Port Canaveral (Friday) 







Majesty of the Seas: Key West instead of  CocoCay ( 4 PM Wednesday - 6 PM Thursday), Return to Miami (Friday) 







Allure of the Seas: Nassau, Bahamas(Saturday), St. Thomas (Wednesday) and St. Maarten (Thursday)   







Oasis of the Seas: Cozumel (Monday), Falmouth, Jamaica (Wednesday), Labadee(Thursday) 







Freedom of the Seas: Cozumel (Tuesday), Grand Cayman (Wednesday), Falmouth, Jamaica (Thursday), Labadee (Friday)



  



Serenade of the Seas: Aruba (Tuesday), Curacao (Wednesday), St. Kitts (Friday),St. Thomas (Saturday)







Remaining days will be Sea Days with the ships returning to their normal embarkation port as scheduled












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Friday, September 11, 2009


          

        







Reflections on 9/11











 May We Never Forget
September 11, 2001 is a day that we will never forget.   It was our 25th wedding anniversary.   We were on Norwegian Sun's maiden voyage which started the day before in Southampton, England for a Path of the Vikings Transatlantic voyage.   The Sun was docked in Le Harve, France and we had taken a shore excursion to Paris.   What could be more romantic than spending your anniversary in Paris, France?
We had a lovely lunch on a river cruise.   We had done some shopping and toured the sites of Paris.   It was now time to board our motor coach for the trip back to Le Harve to rejoin our vessel.  While in one of the local shops, we'd heard some buzzing as the news of the days events had started to trickle in.   
One of the passengers asked our French-speaking bus driver to turn on the radio.    What happened next, I'll never forget.   He started to make dive-bombing motions with his hands, trying to tell us about a plane crash.    Even though we couldn't understand his speach, we started to understand that something tragic had taken place.
He changed the radio station and found one that was broadcasting in English.   A pall fell over the bus as we heard the news.   Most of the passengers were from the New York area since the cruise was to end in New York.   
Back onboard the Sun, security was tightened and CNN was on all television sets throughout the ship.   The mood went from festive (celebrating the new ship) to very somber.
The captain was one of the best we've had.   He directed the staff to open the phone lines and internet for 48 hours so that every passenger could call home to check on loved ones.   It was a very organized process that was implemented without any prior planning.  Later in the week we learned that our disembarkation port was changed from New York to Boston and once again everyone was allowed to call home to inform family and friends of the change.
There were festivities planned for all our ports of call.  In most cases, those still took place, but the opening remarks were concerning the attack.    Every country we visited had their flags at half-staff in memory.   All of the tour guides began their introductions by expressing condolences.
We had ports of call in New Foundland and Halifax, Canada.   There we met folks that had taken stranded air passengers into their homes and fed them when the planes were grounded.  Clearly the world had united in response to the events of 9/11.
Eight years have passed since that terrible day, but the memories are fresh as yesterday.   We sailed out of New York on a couple recent cruises.    We visited the site of the World Trade Center and saw the rebuilding and the various memorials.   Reflecting on the past with a hope for a new rebuilding is perhaps the best way to remember.
When we pulled into Boston harbor at the conclusion of our maiden voyage, we were greeted by U.S. Coast Guard gun boats which escorted us safely into the harbor.    It was good to be home but it was strange to have the military presence.    The escorts continue to this day as the cruise lines and the government attempt to keep us safe from harm.  It is everyone's duty to be watchful so that the events of 9/11 don't occur again.
Each of our cruises are memorable in some way.   It seems that some cruises are remembered more than others.  The maiden voyage of Norwegian Sun will remain one with very vivid memories.   
 









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Wednesday, August 12, 2009


          

        







Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol. 2











Bermuda

Yes folks, our second destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is Bermuda. For those on the East Coast of the U.S., you have a destination where you can truly escape from it all without having to venture too far. 

Each of the Celebrity Bermuda itineraries offers at least one overnight in King's Wharf, providing you an ample opportunity to experience a phenomenon found in few other places – beaches with pink sand. 

This is Celebrity's Bermuda – so close to home yet so different from any other place. Choose from 6 to 8-night cruise vacations to Bermuda from New Jersey or San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 
Celebrity Summit ®

Sailing from Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda
4/25; 5/9, 5/23, 5/30; 6/6, 6/13, 6/27; 7/11, 7/25; 8/8, 8/22; 9/5/2010

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight 2 nights); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ

7-Night Bermuda & New England
5/2 & 6/20/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda & New England
05/16/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

6-Night Bermuda & Caribbean
10/24/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

8-Night Bermuda & Caribbean 
4/17/10

San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

Form a Group Sailing to Bermuda - 
We have Special Pricing thru August 31st


Call me or email me requesting more details about these cruises. 










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Wednesday, March 25, 2009


          

        







Why Not Northeast 2010











Close your eyes and think about your 2010 cruise vacation

What images do you see?

Perhaps you see unusual famed pink sand beaches and vibrant pastel homes or nature trails, kayaks and white water rafting or lighthouses and lobsters or people swimming with dolphins, parasailing and relaxing on the beach.

Where might you be? Do you give up? The answer is on a Royal Caribbean cruise somewhere in the Northeast. The 2010 Northeast Deployment schedule was announced today and cruises are available for booking.

Royal Caribbean will have three ships, the Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and the Jewel of the Seas deployed in the Northeast for the 2010 season. The destinations include Bermuda, Bahamas, Canada, New England, and the Eastern Caribbean.

The ships will sail from Baltimore; Boston; Norfolk, VA; and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ, on 84 cruises. You'll be able to select from five to nine-night cruises. Recognizing that many people want to avoid flying and instead depart from close-to-home ports, Royal Caribbean has launched the first year-round deployment in the Baltimore, Maryland port on the Enchantment of the Seas.

For more information about the Northeast destinations or the itineraries, consult my website or give me a call. I'd be happy to help plan your 2010 cruise vacation to one of these destinations.








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