2009

Ship Shape Shopping

Delivering the very best in overall guest experiences is the central motivator behind the design of Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. When she debuts in December 2009, the most cutting-edge amenities and activities ever seen at sea will be complemented with a variety of retail venues – 13 stores, including open-air shopping that cover more than 10,000 square feet. With many products exclusive to Oasis, the shopping experience will be one of a kind in terms of both the items offered and the setting on the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. Guests of all ages and styles will find their retail therapy of choice in outlets that range from children and teen-favored shops to jewelry and duty-free stores for adults.

            Not only will Oasis of the Seas provide the broadest selection of boutiques and shops industry wide, but several international brands also will be making their debut. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited store onboard will be Coach. Located in the Central Park neighborhood, the iconic maker of luxury leather goods will unveil its first dedicated store at sea. Custom built to the brand’s standards, the Coach store will showcase the signature line of beautifully crafted designer handbags, leather goods, sunglasses and scarves. Among the recognizable jewelry and clothing designers establishing a presence at sea for the first time are Breitling, watches that are instruments for professionals, and Italian jewelry designer Pianegonda, as well as apparel companies including Lucky Brand, Eileen Fisher, DC Apparel and Forest & Fauna, makers of 100% organic t-shirts and garments. Oasis of the Seas also will carry a number of brands never before seen in the Royal Caribbean fleet, including elegant jewelry from Roberto Coin, Charriol and Yvel, as well as offer long-time favorites, such as cosmetics by iconic brands Chanel and Christian Dior, among many others.

            The next generation of cruise enthusiasts will have their choice of stores throughout the Boardwalk neighborhood to satisfy anything from clothing and gadget needs to a sugar fix. Star Pier will be an interactive, hybrid shop touting an electronics wall adorned in the latest technology, tween and teen apparel by Roxy, Quiksilver and DC Apparel, as well as a DJ station and Nintendo Wii game area making it a truly innovative shopping experience. Younger cruisers will be drawn to Pinwheels featuring everything from clothes and toys by kid-favored brands, such as Crayola, to impromptu playtime in the store’s dedicated area equipped with LEGO stations and a number of other popular games.  Candy Beach will be the ultimate boardwalk candy store, offering more than 72 varieties to mix and match into a customized candy grab bag, as well as vintage candy treats from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

With 38 different stateroom categories you will definitely need the assistance of a Cruise Planners agent to help you decide what is the best value for your family. Please call Jessica Dempsey at 631-780-6195.

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I recently had the opportunity to do a ship inspection of Royal Caribbean's "Liberty of the Seas" The ship is so beautiful! The staterooms were large and quite comfortable. I inspected a few staterooms including a Junior Suite, an Owners Suite and the Presidential Suite. Wow that is the way to travel, 4 bedrooms, a living room/dining room, a large balcony with lounge chairs and a private hot tub. The most vibrant area on the ship is definitly the Royal Promenade, it has an atrium that is 4 decks high and is 445 feet in length through the center of the ship. There are many restaurants, bars, a coffee shop, a Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream shop and other gift stores. The outdoor areas include the "FlowRider" a surf simulator, kids pools and water park and there is also a private adults only pool as well. I had the opportunity to eat lunch in the main dining room which was a beautiful 2 story restaurant. The food was very good too. The range of activites onboard are endless and include a boxing ring, ice skating rink, a rock climbing wall, a spa and a very well equipped physical fitness center. Combine all the onboard options with beautiful ports of call on a rotating Eastern/Western Caribbean itinerary and there is something for everyone to enjoy. This ship sails from the easily accessible Port of Miami. I recommend you book early for preferred staterooms and dates. Please contact me directly at jessica@jdtravelplanning.com

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Voyages for Veterans was developed by Cruise Planners in partnership with Royal Caribbean International to raise funds on behalf of Fisher House. Fisher House Foundation builds multiple bedroom homes on the grounds of VA Medical Centers around the country that provide free housing to the families of veterans who are undergoing extended medical treatment. Besides owning my own independent Cruise Planners franchise, I am a VA Nurse and understand the need for these types of programs. I am very proud to be a member of the Cruise Planners family!

Click here for more information on how to get involved with this fundraising event. Please inform all of your friends and family on how they too can get involved and give back to those who gave the most.

 Update: As of 11/09 Cruise Planners has raised over $8500 so far!

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A cruise vacation is much different then a land based vacation, if you have not taken a cruise yet, please read on and check out what you are missing. Call Cruise Planners at 631-780-6195 right away to reserve your stateroom!

 If you’ve vacationed with your children you know the look - a couple of bleary-eyed, bedraggled parents returning back to the hotel at 6 p.m. In tow, are 2 hyper-active offspring wearing mouse hats or whale t-shirts sporting cotton candy hair extensions.  Next it’s the big choice:  wash them up and suffer through another dinner or collapse in the hotel room with another room service or take-out pizza meal.  And today’s receipts for all this fun?  Well, let’s just say it cost more than your first car did?

 If this is how you define vacation in your household, maybe it’s time for something different.  How about an experience where EVERYONE actually gets a vacation?  The answer is quite simple and does not end with the words “Park”, “World” or “Land”. But it does end with the word “Happy”.  On a cruise it is possible to make everyone happy with their vacation.

 Contemporary cruise lines figured out quite a while ago that if you can keep the kids happy and occupied, then the parents follow right along.  Over the years, children’s programs on board ships have blossomed from having one children’s counselor on board over the holidays to full blown year round programs and separate facilities for the different age groups.  Every year from 6 months to 16 years is covered and child care is offered at various levels.

 Cruise lines are now savvy enough to plan nighttime activities for the children so their parents can enjoy the facilities of the ship in a relaxed style simply unavailable at most land-based resorts.  Cruises are an exceptionally good idea for single parents as they have a controlled environment and child care on the ship, but have the freedom and time to make new friends around the ship.  Extended families also love ships because cousins and friends can hang together on the ship while the adults reconnect. 

 Before you plan your next road trip, let a cruise expert fill you in on the many choices and the “secret” affordability of family cruising.  Oh, did we forget to mention that all meals, snacks, entertainment, accommodations and transportation are included in one upfront price?  This year take a cruise and leave the mouse hats, maps, and (cotton candy remover) shampoo at home.

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Celebrity Cruises Toasts Guests With Wine Harvest Celebration

Celebrity Cruises is toasting guests on every sailing with a seasonal expansion of the brand's new Celebrity Life "Savor" series of onboard food and beverage programming. From now through December 15, guests on every Celebrity ship can enjoy the line's Wine Harvest Celebration, a "full-bodied" program celebrating the global harvest of the grape through rich wine appreciation courses and tastings, aromatic food and wine pairings, "smoky" silent auctions, and "crisp" presentations by noted authorities on select sailings.

"Celebrity continues to offer one of the broadest and best wine selections in the industry, inspired by the high percentage of our guests who are wine enthusiasts," said Celebrity's Vice President of Culinary Operations, Chef Jacques Van Staden, who sh aped the Savor series of Celebrity Life. "Our Wine Harvest Celebration presents a series of activities celebrating the Fall harvest and our guests' passion for wine."

Among the highlights of Celebrity's Wine Harvest Celebration will be an industry-first unveiling of Beaujolais Nouveau simultaneously across the fleet on November 19. Hosted by a guest speaker and one of Celebrity's own certified cellarmasters, the event will offer guests the opportunity to sip the eagerly-anticipated light wine from oak casks and commemorative bottles, while enjoying live music and dancing, canapes, a cheese carving station and a roast carving station.

Guests with a passion for cool music and rich chocolate are likely to be "seduced" by Celebrity's "Jazz, Port and Chocolate Tasting Seduction," with a complimentary glass of port wine and a deluxe chocolate buffet and fountain, all set against a backdrop of light jazz music.

At the "Grand Cru Dinner," following a sparkling wine reception, Celebrity's cellarmaster, guest speaker and chef will prepare a top-tier dinner comprised of food and wine reflective of the region in which each ship is sailing. Up to 40 guests can participate in each distinctive dinner in Celebrity's intimate specialty restaurants.

Through "Sabering at Sea," guests will observe the delicate, age-old art of sabering - uncorking a bottle with saber or knife - while participating in tastings and discussion of sparkling wines including Champagne, Cremants, Spumantes and California Methode Traditional wines.

Throughout the course of the celebration, a "Celebrity Wine Harvest Exposition" will be open to all guests on embarkation day. Hosted by Celebrity's certified cellarmasters and a variety of noted wine authorities from around the world, the event features a complimentary glass of house wine, canapes and hors d'oeuvres, and an overview of the varied wine experiences and packages available for guests, paired with the opportunity to make reservations for limited-capacity events.
Additionally, among the wine-focused experiences offered year-round through the Celebrity Life "Savor" series are:

-- "Wine Appreciation 101" presents tastings of six different varietals and wine appreciation tips offered by Celebrity's certified cellarmasters. -- "The Art of Food and Wine Pairing" explores how certain flavor components, such as acids in food, can impact the flavor of wines. -- "Celebrity's World Wine Tasting and Silent Auction" allows guests to taste wines from each of the regions represented in Celebrity's global wine program, in cluding Africa, France, Germany/Austria, Italy, Spain, the U.S. and South America. The tastings are paired with canapes, fruits and cheeses, and highlighted by a silent auction of premium wines packaged at special prices. -- "The Riedel Comparative Wine and Crystal Workshop" is a one-hour seminar Celebrity has offered since becoming the first cruise line endorsed by Riedel to offer it in 2007. Participants learn and experience how dramatically the shape of a wine glass can affect the outcome of flavors on the palate, and hear the interesting tale of how the Riedel family has influenced the crystal industry.

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The Oasis of the Seas is an excellent choice for meeting planners and incentive travel! There are 26 meeting rooms available with dedicated conference facilities and a lounge that accommodates more than 1350 people. The activities, dining choices and entertainment options are endless. There are seven themed neighborhoods onboard including Central Park and Boardwalk with the first ever carousel at sea, there are 2 surf simulators known as the FlowRiders, there is an outdoor aquatheater where dazzling performances will be shown, and if you are daring enough you can zipline across 9 decks. All meals. accommodations and select onboard entertainment is  included. You will have a meeting and event planner onboard to help make all arrangements. The Oasis of the Seas is the largest cruise ship at sea, you will want to get onboard and be part of all the excitement. See for yourself at www.oasisoftheseas.com

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