January 2011

Celebrity Eclipse - Trendy and high tech cruising at its best!

Published Wednesday, January 12th 2011

I recently read an article in Vacation Agent about the new Celebrity Eclipse. The article talks about this ships modern trendy design and its high tech touches. The Celebrity Eclipse is the 3rd to debut of 4 ships in the very popular Solstice Class. This trendy high tech ship is quite large at 122,000 tons carrying 2850 passengers and 1250 crew members with a total of 1426 staterooms. The ship offers iPad art tours, the menu at Qsine is presented on an iPad and there is the Celebrity iLounge where there are more than 20 MacBook Pros for guests to use. The trendy iLounge also offers Apple products for sale and classes on Apple products. The contemporary decor on this ship make it attractive for many different cruisers, especially those looking for great food (in the 10 dining venues), fabulous entertainment and the amazing Elemis Spa.

I had the pleasure of sailing on board the Celebrity Eclipse in a Deluxe Ocean-View Stateroom with a Veranda. The room was quite large and I was very impressed with the modern granite counter tops, white leather furniture and the top-of-the line bathroom. The shower was large with glass doors and a foot rest to use while shaving(you ladies will appreciate this).Around every corner was something trendy and high tech, I loved the iLounge and found the Apple trained staff to be very helpful. The artwork on display was amazing, the Martini Bar with its frosted top and the Molecular Bar with drinks cooled by nitrogen were very popular gathering spots. I enjoyed walking on the half acre of grass at the Lawn Club. Another interesting spot was the glass blowing studio at the Corning Museum of Glass. The Celebrity Eclipse is very well appointed and I know the Solstice Class will continue to be very popular. The 4th ship the Celebrity Silhouette will debut in July 2011 and will be sailing from our nearby port in Bayonne, NJ.









Read More

Friday, January 14, 2011Positano and the Amalfi Coast

Published Friday, January 14th 2011

Friday, January 14, 2011
I read a colleagues blog today that really inspired me. One of the places I have always wanted to travel to is Positano and the Amalfi Coast in Italy. I always imagined it would be a glorious inspiring experience and guess what? I was right. Beth goes into nice detail about her experiences while visiting Positano, including the warm friendly people of the region,  the amazing  scenery and the wonderful food. This is a place for romance and for the food lover in you. This area has a lot of history to offer as well with day trips to Pompeii,  Naples, and the Isle of Capri. I hope you will think about adding Positano and the Amalfi Coast to your bucket list.

Until next time,

Jessica Dempsey
Cruise Planners

Creating memorable vacations everyday, let yours be next.....

Read More

Monday, January 17, 2011Entertainment onboard the Norwegian EPIC

Published Monday, January 17th 2011

One of the many things I love while on a cruise ship is the onboard entertainment. The nightlife and entertainment onboard the Norwegian EPIC is amazing! From Cirque Dreams in the Spiegel Tent where you will see marvelous talent combined with acrobatics and Broadway extravaganza! Next you will not want to miss the amazing sights and sounds of Blue Man Group. Another highlight of entertainment onboard the Norwegian EPIC is Legends, the tribute show with celebrity impersonators such as Elvis, Madonna, Tina Turner and more. No sailing would be complete without a night out at Spice H20 the adults only beach club and Svedka IceBar where you will wear faux fur while sipping frosty drinks in the only ice bar at sea.

This is an awesome ship for adult entertainment and I highly recommend this ship to all my couples traveling whether they are Honeymooners or just celebrating romance. I also will recommend the fabulous NCL Suites & Villas, there are no waiting lines here, the concierge will wisk you into all shows and seat you in preferred seating. You will dine in the private EPIC Club where everyone will know your name and preferences. You will relax in the Courtyard, a private area featuring a pool, spa and gym reserved only for Suite & Villa guests.   Imagine not having to get up early to reserve your lounge chair at the pool, this perk alone is worth it to me. Prepare to be pampered by Butlers and the Concierge service,  they will cater to your every whim. This is an experience to truly  be savored. Would you like to experience the service and luxury of a Suite & Villa guest? I thought so....

Until next time,

Jessica Dempsey
Cruise Planners

Creating memorable vacations everyday, let yours be next....

Read More

Caribbean Group Cruises

Published Thursday, January 20th 2011

Wednesday, January 19, 2011
As a travel agent some my favorite trips to plan are group cruises, I follow the news and trends in this niche closely. I know with all of the new ships sailing there is a  perfect cruise ship for every group.  I often get requests from clients who are overwhelmed with the whole process of organizing a group vacation whether it's family, friends or even a wedding group. I  let them know that I will make this a stress-free vacation for them. First we start with a few questions to decide what ship and  itinerary would be best for them, I secure the staterooms and make all the reservations, take care of all payments, due dates and I handle all the paperwork.  I let my clients know all they need to do is refer the group members to me and I take care of everything. Another amenity my clients love is that  I am able to set up a website page that is only accessible to those in the group and they can register online. This is usually when I hear "thank you, I really didn't know where to begin."  Luckily I know where to begin!!

Group cruising has increased over the past few years. There are so many multi-generational groups traveling together and cruises are the perfect fit. There is something for everyone on a ship, whether you are into spa treatments, workouts in well equipped fitness centers, shopping, dance lessons, language lessons or you can learn how to use your iPad. The dining choices are endless with some ships offering up to 20 dining venues. The kids will all be happy in well organized kids clubs with fun age appropriate activities and the adults can spend time in adult-only areas. Talk about something for everyone.  Are you considering a group cruise this year? The best rates and stateroom availability are available now.

Until next time,

Jessica Dempsey
Cruise Planners

Creating memorable vacations everyday, let yours be next....

Read More

Wednesday, January 26, 2011Liberty of the Seas Review, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Liberty of the Seas

Published Wednesday, January 26th 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Liberty of the Seas Review, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Liberty of the Seas




The Liberty of the Seas is an amazing ship with a fun exciting vibe onboard! This is the second ship in the Freedom Class along with the Freedom of the Seas and the Independence of the Seas. She began sailing in 2007 with 1817 staterooms and over 1300 crew members. The ship has an an incredible 15 decks. This ship features an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, the incredible FlowRider(surf simulator) and 2 hot tubs that jut out over the sides of the ship. There are 2 main pools and the fun H2O zone with a kids only pool. The staterooms onboard are modern and comfortable ranging in size from 150sq ft to the Presidential Family Suite at 1215sq ft. There are plenty of dining options onboard as well, starting with the main dining room which is 3 levels high and beautiful, Johnny Rockets, Portofinos, Chops Steakhouse, the Windjammer Cafe(think big buffet) and of course room service is available. The Promenade is the spot to be seen with shops lining both sides of the promenade. Here is where the parades take place and the music is always inviting! You will find Vintages Wine Bar, Hoof and Claw British Pub, a coffee shop, the Barber shop, and plenty of duty free alcohol and jewelry shopping.

This ship is recommended for families, friends, romantics and is great for groups because of all the amazing activities onboard. There are always plenty of honeymooners onboard as well.  The vibe is exciting onboard the Liberty of the Seas and everyone is always having a great time. This ship is sure to please everyone in your group. The Liberty of the Seas is now sailing from Miami and will be repositioning over to Barcelona in the Spring to sail the Mediterranean. Beginning in the fall 2011 the Liberty of the Seas will begin sailing 4 to 6 night cruises from Fort Lauderdale. Rates begin at $359 per person  for a 4 night cruise. Call for more dates/rates and itineraries.
Until next time,
Jessica Dempsey

Creating memorable vacations everyday, let your be next....

Read More

Displaying 1 – 5 of 5      Page 1 of 1