Penny's Cruise Blog

MSC Orchestra Cruise to Bermuda

2009-06-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Well we returned from our cruise aboard the MSC Orchestra on May 2nd and I will say it was a very nice trip. Bermuda was absolutly beautiful !! Much nicer than some of the caribbean islands I have been to over the years and very very clean with beautiful golf courses and great beaches and friendly people. We bought a bus/ferry voucher for only $12.00 and it was good for 24 hours and it got us all around the island. Our clients seemed to enjoy Bermuda but that was actually the highlight of the trip. The Orchestra was a beautiful ship with a lot of public areas to sit and a lot of lounges to enjoy music. Cabins were a little small but comfortable. Dining rooms were very cramped. It seems that they crammed too many tables and chairs in there and it was very hard to move around them especially if you were at the back of the dining room. The wait staff was mostly Indonesian and they were very friendly and attentive. Food for the most part was very good, they had the best chilled soups I have ever had. The only bad meal that was served was the Lobster other than that everything was great. I found the entertainment to be different but very good ( It was not your typical Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Princess etc etc ) with a very international flair. They had a terrific magic show with Jorgo the greek magician, some great acrobatic guys from Zimbabwe, Circ de sole type act and even a Riverdance type show. The cruise staff was so so and they did their best to try and keep the passengers happy for the week, considering the average age of this sailing was 75 plus they did ok. They were not as friendly as a cruise staff that you would find on your typical Carnival or Royal Caribbean ships but it may have been the language barrier problem as MSC is an Italian line and caters mostly to Europeans. The cruise director was older than most that you would see on a ship but he also spoke 5 or 6 different languages. All in all I think for the most part our group had a pretty good time. Would I sail on MSC again??? I dont know. Bon Voyage for now!

Alaska's 50th Anniversary of statehood

2009-01-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

Alaska what a fantastic destination! I have been there twice already and could go back every year if I had the chance. From the scenery to the magnificent wildlife, there is so much to see in Alaska. This year Alaska is celebrating their 50 years of statehood and with that the cruise lines are offering many specials to this spectacular destination. Princess cruises has added a few new tours to their itineraries out of Seattle this year. Prices as low as $1099.00 per person which includes a 7 day roundtrip Seattle cruise as well as a 4 night land tour with rail. Give me a call today to go over all the various options I have for you to discover Alaska and all it has to offer!!

Grandeur of the Seas

2008-03-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Price for a gallon of gas $3.25, Resort vacation $800.00, cruising with my girlfriends on Royal Caribbean

..........PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well we are back from our cruise aboard "Grandeur of the Seas". This was my first annual "Pennys girls getaway" cruise and I can say that I think everyone had a great time!! This is a great ship for a short cruise and the convenience of sailing out of Tampa was wonderful. Service on the ship was great as always on a Royal Caribbean ship. What a great way for friends to get together for a long weekend with great food, entertainment, activities and lots of laughs. I am sure everyone came away with memories that will last a lifetime. Sure we have lots of pictures to prove it!! There was a total of 31 of us. I hope to do this again next year and who knows maybe we will raise our group count. If anyone out there would like to put a group together please let me know and I will arrange it for you. Whether it be a girls weekend, guys weekend, couples getaway, family reunion, social club, sports group or any type of group you have I will help you plan it. Just contact me today!!

Is Cruising right for me????

2007-10-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

Well of course it is!! Cruises offer something for just about everyone. Some people cruise just for the sheer joy of being at sea. It's a magical feeling of relaxation, elation and freedom from the stress of everyday life. Or some cruise to experience the convenience of visiting up to six different ports of call in one week, all without having to worry about packing and unpacking, making hotel reservations or catching flights. The ship is your floating hotel and magically transports you from one exotic destination to the next.
What do people find so appealing about a cruise? Cruises offer excellent value as they include your accommodations for the length of the cruise, meals and entertainment. On board the latest generation of cruise ships you'll find multiple dining options ranging from formal sit-down restaurants, to pizza, a grill serving hot dogs and hamburgers, casual buffets and informal bistros. You'll also find a myriad of entertainment options with lavish Broadway and Las Vegas style revues, live rock and country-western bands, cabaret, jazz, piano bars, discos and casinos. You'll also be able to keep up your workout regimen with the state of the art fitness facilities and spas, not to mention jogging tracks and swimming pools. On some ships you will even find ice-skating rinks and rock climbing walls!! Today's modern ships also follow and feature many of the popular trends found in world-class resorts and major cities such as Martini, Champagne and Caviar Bars, Cigar Clubs, cozy bistros, Coffee Bars and Internet Cafes.
The myriad of on board activities can range from napkin folding and vegetable carving to sports competitions, lectures on the fine arts, politics and world famous authors. Then there is the simple, yet hedonistic allure of simply relaxing in a deck chair with a view of the sea and being waited on hand and foot by your ship's onboard staff.
So, as you can see, life on board ship is not so different than vacationing at a large resort or in a large city. You can have and do it all or do nothing at all.
So call me to plan your next cruise!!

Penny Girls Getaway Cruise

2007-05-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

For years my best girlfriends and I always planned a ladies weekend getaway. We would usually stay at the beach for 2 or 3 nights. We would try and do this at least once a year. We always seemed to have such a great time enjoying each others company and also enjoying good food, good drinks and great laughs. ( lots and lots of laughs).

Being in the travel business for so long and selling cruises for a living I thought why not take the ladies weekend to the high seas. Hey why not?? This way we don't have to worry about where or what to eat?? Who's going to prepare the food or who's going to make the Margaritas. What we are going to do for the night.

Taking all this into consideration I thought what a perfect way for all the girls to get together for 4 days. We can do as much as we want or as little as we want and still have a great "ladies weekend".

So why don't you all join me on February 28th 2008 as we set sail from the Port of Tampa on Royal Caribbean's ship "Grandeur of the Seas" . We will be sailing 4 nights with a stop in Key West and a stop in Cozumel Mexico. The deposit is only $100.00 per person to reserve your spot on my cruise.

What a great way to get reacquainted with old friends and meet some new friends!!
Get your girlfriends and come along!!!

See you on board!!

Lets go cruising on Liberty of the Seas

2007-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Ahoy Mates!!!! Well we have officially launched our annual company cruise for this year. We are going to be sailing on Royal Caribbeans newest ship "Liberty of the Seas". We set sail from Miami on September 29th 2007. Our stops will include San Juan, St. Maarten and Labadee.

There will be so much to do on this ship. You can actually go surfing on the Flo Rider (surf simulator) try your hand at miniature golf, see a fantastic Ice show or go Ice skating yourself.

We will be hosting a cocktail party and will also have some nice gifts for you, our valued clients. Last years cruise aboard "Mariner of the Seas" was a huge success!!

Won't you join us this year?? Inside rates are starting at $748.00 per person. Balconies are only $987.00 per person. Taxes included.

Please join us on this fabulous ship!!! You will be glad you did. Please call me or email me today with your deposit. Its only 250.00 per person.
Remember that the early bird catches the worm!!!

Happy New Year

2007-01-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Well the holidays have come and gone and we have come upon a new year. Now is the time to start planning your 2007 vacation if you havent already. We have some great deals out there.
If you are interested in planning your next Princess cruise we will be having a Princess sale from January 15 thru January 19. Book your next Princess cruise during this week and receive the benefit of a reduced deposit of only $200.00 per cabin. You will also receive a coupon booklet with over $120.00 in added values. We have lots of great ships and itineraries to choose from.
Call me or email me today and lets get started on planning your next vacation.

How about an escorted tour?

2006-12-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

Clients are always saying to me "Oh I thought you only booked cruise vacations". I am here to tell you we also book land vacations. How about a motorcoach tour? Globus tours has motorcoach vacations all over the world.
They are a wonderful company!! They are the leaders in escorted travel with over 75 years experience. One of the greatest advantages of traveling with Globus is the person who tells the story. They make sure that your tour directors, cruise directors, local hosts and local guides are experts and they will ensure you see the sights like a local.

How about a 12 day European Sampler visiting England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and France? Or how about a grand tour of Egypt with a visit to the Pyramids. What about Russia and Northern Europe? Then theres always a visit to the Holy land, South America, Africa and Asia. They also do wonderful tours thru the United States, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico.

Globus uses quality hotels in great locations in every city. I have booked many Globus tours for my clients over the past 20 years of being in the business and I can say that my clients have returned very very pleased with their tours.

For the person that likes independent travel we can do that with Globus on their Monogram programs. Its 100% independent travel.

So if you want to try an escorted tour for your next vacation please give me a call. You will be glad you did!!

Cruising the South Pacific

2006-12-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

I have heard this over and over from my some of my clients saying they are tired of cruising the Caribbean and are looking for something different. What about the South Pacific? A warm evening trade wind rustling island palms as the Southern Cross appears in a starry sky. How about swimming in pristine waters among reefs teeming with rainbow fish? Whatever details match your particular vision, whether you see yourself relaxing with a mai tai on a perfect Tahitian beach, or hiking to a waterfall on a primitive Polynesian island or doing a little of both there is an escape to match. And nothing can compare to sailing these southern seas on a voyage with Princess.

A century ago Paul Gauguin came here to escape the modern world. He found a lush utopia of pristine islands populated by gracious people, which he painted in vivid colors that conveyed a sense of joy, beauty and freedom.

Having been there a few years ago I can say it is a fantastic destination. A few of us from our office had the opportunity of sailing with Renaisance cruises back in 2001. What a great cruise it was. Snorkling in Bora Bora was my most favorite of all.
The colors of the fish and the corals were unbelievable!!! Sipping Mai Tais at the world famous "Bloody Marys" was also fun. In Moorea we went to a beach party and I actually had a stingray sit on my lap for a picture. A little intimidating but I am glad I had that experience. (For someone who would never visit Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman I think I got over my fear). In Raiatea we went on a 4 wheel drive adventure up in the lush mountain side.

The ship we sailed on is now the Tahitian Princess and definatly the best ship to sail the South Pacific with 200 balcony staterooms. This is small and intimate ship,
a great choice for your next trip. We have some great prices in January starting at 1099.00 for a 10 night cruise sailing roundtrip Papeete. Call me or email me tommorow to book your next trip to the South Pacific. You will be glad you did!!!

Love is all you need

2006-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

How about a romantic getaway for 2? Imagine paying one price for your vacation and having everything included from airfare to luxury accomodations plus all your meals and unlimited premium spirits. Thats right how about a Sandals vacation?? Sandals is a diverse collection of 10 of the most idyllic resorts on earth, created exclusively for couples in love. Beautiful resorts located on the islands of Jamaica,the Bahamas, Antigua and St Lucia. Everything from standard rooms to luxury suites at Sandals they have it all. This includes such features as beer, wine, alcoholic beverages and tipping. Not to mention such sports as waterskiing, scuba diving and golf. Even government taxes, airport transfers and port charges. These among others, when not budgeted for, can double the cost of your so-called "all inclusive" vacation. At Sandals, there are no compromises and no suprises. The best of everything is included in one up-front price. So have the time of your life with the love of your life. At the Caribbean's # 1 resorts. Sandals, voted The World's Best, year after year. Call me tommorow to plan your honeymoon, anniversary getaway or just that romantic vacation for 2. And what about an all inclusive family vacation?? How about their sister company "Beaches"?? With properties in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Beaches offers 5 star luxury and service for couples and families. Call me to book before Dec 22nd. Book 2 rooms at either a Sandals property or Beaches property and I will give you a $50.00 discount per person. 5 night minimum stay is required. Travel anytime between Jan 1, 2007 thru Dec 17, 2007. To take advantage of this offer you must call me or email me by Dec 22, 2006.

Our annual company cruise

2006-11-15T05:56:00.000-08:00

Here we are on our annual company cruise. Mariner of the Seas this past October. Escorting a group is a tough job but someone has to do it. Just kidding!! It was a great cruise!! Our clients had a wonderful time as well. Can't wait until next year. Not sure which ship and itinerary we are doing as we are in the process of choosing the right one. Stay tuned!!!

Mariner of the Seas

2006-11-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

10/22/06
Penny - Marina - Laurie - Sherry
Can you believe they are away without a chaperone?

2006-11-08T14:21:00.001-08:00

Wow hard to believe the holidays are just around the corner. I haven't even started my Christmas shopping yet. Gift certificates are always the best gift to give someone that has everything. From restaurants to department stores to concert and sporting events. How about giving the gift of Travel?? What a great idea!!! Give that special someone a gift to remember.
Thats right we do sell gift certificates!! With that gift certificate they can purchase the vacation of their dreams. So get some of your Holiday shopping done right here at Clearwater Cruises.
Give me a call today.

This is a Picture from the Latest Cruise!

2006-11-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

<-- Me and Marina on the cruise!