The Great Lakes

 Late yesterday afternoon, I received a last minute invitation to dinner.  Lucky enough I was able to accept and even though it was an hour drive, I was more than happy to go.  The location was at the Catawba Island Club which sets right on Lake Erie.  Our table for the evening was outside on the patio.  As you can see from the picture, my view, especially of the sunset was spectacular.  Being born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio the view of the Lake has always amazed me no matter time of year or type of weather.

I had an opportunity one time to ask a vice president of one of the major cruise lines, "why are there not any cruises available on the Great Lakes?"  The answer was, "how many people would want to visit Cleveland?"  I thought, to myself, you're a vice president and that is the best answer you can come up with. 

Well, I am happy to announce that there is a new cruise line, Pearl Seas Cruises that is going to have a luxury ship on the Great Lakes.  Starting in June 2014 they have several different cruises scheduled from Chicago to Montreal.  There winter schedule will take them to the Caribbean.

While they do not have Cleveland listed in any of their itineraries, there are some fantastic ports of call.  After all, the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Baltic have nothing over on the Great Lakes.  There is something for everyone such as; history, culture, scenery, etc.  I wish Pearl Seas Cruises the best of luck and looking forward to taking a cruise with them myself.

Mother Nature

I love this video!  If you watch it closely it takes you around the world to different habitats.  Some of these are exotic places such as the Galapagos Islands.  Which is on my bucket list of place to see.  Another area is Australia.  I have been to Australia and New Zealand and both are highly recommended travel sites.  The beauty of both islands, along with Mother Nature is quite spectacular!

This locations can be travel to by either land or sea.  In my case to the South Pacific, we flew to New Zealand.  Stayed a week on land to tour around the interior locations.  We then boarded the Celebrity Century for a 12 day cruise to Sydney.  Then a week on land in the Sydney area.  Of course, the habitat along the coast lines is much different than the interior of the islands.  But, in either case, Mother Nature is at her best!!

Too Cold in December?

So, I was reading one of my colleagues posting on Facebook and she stated that her client was looking for a warm place to vacation in December.  Apparently, they went to Dominican Republic last December and it was too cold and windy for them.  HMMMM, in December? Oh well! 

However, the posting did remind me of my very first cruise.  It was February 2002.  Winters in Ohio can be very cold and a lot of snow but, most of the time it is gray, overcast, damp, dreary, sloppy and etc.   To get out of Ohio in February is wish most Ohioans have. 

Off to Fort Lauderdale I go with my traveling companion.  We get there and its 90 degrees.  I'm sitting on the back of this huge ship drinking my beverage of choice at the time, Bud Light.  When about a half hour before we where to sail, the captain announced that the departure was going to be delayed because of a mechanical problem.  However, we where not to fret and all the bars where open for free until we departed.  While the delay lasted only 2 hours, I decided right then and there that "This is the Life!" and sailed every year for the next six years in February!  Was it always 90 degrees in Fort Lauderdale in February?  Of course not but, who cares.  I was out of Ohio and even if it was only 65 degrees, the sun was out and it was beautiful!!

First Time Cruisers

The June Wedding bug has been in force.  I have had several calls for booking a cruise with the intent of having a wedding on board the ship.  What was also interesting about these calls  is that most of the brides and grooms have never sailed before.  They are in for a double treat!!  Being married and first time cruisers on the same trip will definitely be a memorable occasion.

With that in mind, I would briefly like to share with you 7 tips for first-time cruisers.
1. Use a Travel Agent
2.  Research Ports in Advance
3.  Pack Only What You Need
4. Configure Cell Phone for International Travel
5.  Calculate Your Finances
6.  Make the most of Shore Excursions
7.  Purchase Travel Insurance

Bon Voyage Everyone!!

 

Do you need a Travel Agent?

This past Saturday June 22, I attended my niece, Andrea's wedding.  The wedding was held in countryside church in Bellevue, OH with the reception in Sandusky.  While the affair was only an hour away, it does make for a long afternoon.  Therefore, an overnight stay in Sandusky was warranted.

So, those of you who are in the wedding planning stage, one more item for consideration is for overnight accommodations for out of town guest.  While Andrea and Aaron are both from the area of venue one would assume that most of the guest, if not all, where also from the area.  One may think an hour drive is not far.  The arrival yes, the return not so much, especially for the older generation.  With all the planning needed to do for a wedding, do you really want to add more to it?  No! and you don't have to.  With all the people in the planning such as, photographer, caterer, florist, minister, dress maker, cake decorator, etc, a travel agent is just as important.  Even if its not a designation wedding per se, the guest would appreciate the idea of having an opportunity to reserve a room at a group price.

The best part of having a travel agent is, unlike the other professionals, you do not have to pay for their services.  With a little bit of information, a good travel agent will arrange what is need for any overnight guest.  Plus, lets not forget the honeymoon!!  More on that later!

Thank you Andrea and Aaron for allowing me to be part of your very special day!  It was beautiful!!

Sail Away to Your Destination Wedding

Last week I talked about a wedding on board a cruise ship before the ship sailed.  There are two other options available.  Again, the wedding is held on board the ship but the wedding party and guest are all taken the cruise and the wedding is normally held on one of the days that the ship is at sea for the day.  This destination wedding normally is enjoyed by an older couple that may or may not be a second marriage.

The third wedding involving a cruise ship is where the wedding is actually held on an island.  The wedding party and guest may or may not be on the cruise.  If they are not on the cruise, then they would be flying to the island for the wedding.  The selection of islands or exotic ports of the world are available and left only to the bride and grooms imagination.

The greatest part of these destination weddings is, it is easy and stress free.  The cruise lines have a wedding coordinator and handles everything from the beginning to the end.  Basically, the bride and groom have three decisions.  One, which one of the three cruise ship weddings they prefer.  Two, where they want to spend their honeymoon. Three, what are the colors of the wedding.  If you or someone you know is in the wedding planning stage, I would high recommend looking into a destination wedding with one of the cruise ship lines.

Distination Weddings - On a Cruise Ship

      So, it's still June and I just received my third wedding invitation.  Although the furthest I need to go is only an hour away by car.  But, once again, it also reminds me of a time I had attended a ship inspection in Miami.  While going through the ship's various areas, we learned that there was going to be 3 different weddings on board before sailing.

     This is just one way of having a distination wedding involving a cruise ship.  The bride, groom, wedding party and a few family and friends board the ship for the ceremony.  After the officient has preform his/her duty (sometimes the ship's captain) there is a reception.  Here the group will enjoy congratulating the bride and groom while sharing food, drinks and of course Wedding Cake.  Afterwards, most if not all the guest will disembark the ship and the Bride and Groom stay on to enjoy a fabulous Honeymoon!