Blogging to Aruba

AVIS Aruba "Deals"- If It Sounds Too Good To Be True..."

Link: AVIS Aruba "Deals"- If It Sounds Too Good To Be True..."

Photos of Cunard Queen Mary 2

My photos of the Queen Mary 2.

A Day at the Beach In Aruba

For easy access to watersports and a day on the beach you would want Palm Beach.

Where on Palm Beach? There is MoomBa Beach between the Holiday Inn and Marriott Surf Club.

Another suggestion...

A Day At Palm Beach Aruba

Here is a breakdown for our extended family of 10 for a day at Palm Beach.

2 big umbrellas $20 x 2 = $40
6 chaise lounge rentals $8 x 6= $48 (if the kids want to sit they can use their towels)
4 floats to pass the day away $5 x 4 = $20
Banana boat or tube ride for 4 kids $20 x 4= $80
Lunch (hamburger & soda $22.88 pp at the Radisson) for 10 people = $228.80
One hour rental of a Hobie Cat sailboat = $75
2 taxis for 10 people (2 x $20) roundtrip = $40
$531.80 for ten people= $53.80 per person for the entire day
(sandwich at Bugaloe instead of the Radisson with a pina cola $166.80) = $46.98 per person

Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 is a huge and beautiful ocean liner!!! The public rooms were the most comfortable I've experienced on any ship. My personal favorites were the Chart Room and the Champagne Bar next door. The Commodore Club was also a nice out of the way getaway. Overall I took about 2300 photos so there will plenty of photos of the ship and her interior. Christmas decorations were very nice, more plentiful than other ships we have sailed in the past and tastefully done.  By far the most gorgeous of other ships we have sailed. There were a lot of poinsettias. I saw some photos recently of the Caribbean Princess Christmas sailing and there was not a single poinsettia. Reggae Christmas music played through Christmas day on the P.A. 
 
Overall the cruise was like all the other "mass market" cruise lines.  Were we disappointed by that aspect, yes, a little. At one time the line may have been considered luxury, but unless you are a passenger staying in a suite, this was like any other cruise. From what I could figure out and in speaking with other passengers, if you are traveling in Princess or Queens Grill accommodations, you will have a more "upscale" experience, otherwise...it was like Celebrity and Princess EXCEPT it is BRITISH. American bacon or English or Canadian bacon? English sausage or American sausage. Baked beans, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms etc. as a side at breakfast, no problem. I love the tomatoes and always look forward to them at the breakfast buffet when we go to Aruba during the summer. The resort where we stay has a pretty big influx of visitors from the UK.

My Complete Review of the Queen Mary 2 holiday sailing.

Travel Gift Ideas & Stocking Stuffers

We have had a travel scale for years and just upgraded to the digital. You only have to rearrange your open suitcases on the floor of the airport at check-in to realize how much you need one of these scales. They make great stocking stuffers and Dh and I have also bought them as Christmas gifts for other family members who are frequent fliers.

http://www.magellans.com/store/Luggage_Scales___Locks___Luggage_Scales?Args=

Now that oil prices are down, why aren't airfares?

Link: Now that oil prices are down, why aren't airfares?

Caribbean Celebration

What's up next? Christmas and New Year's vacation aboard the Queen Mary 2. It has always been my grandmother's dream to sail aboard Cunard, so she is going to make the dream come true and take us along.

December 2008
  19  Fri Fort Lauderdale, Florida  Depart 5:00 pm
  20  Sat Cruising the Caribbean Sea
  21  Sun Cruising the Caribbean Sea
  22  Mon Cristobal (for the Panama Canal), Panama  8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  23  Tue Cruising the Caribbean Sea
  24  Wed Kralendijk, Bonaire  8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  25  Thu Cruising the Caribbean Sea
  26  Fri St. George's, Grenada  8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  27  Sat Bridgetown, Barbados  8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  28  Sun Castries, St. Lucia  8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  29  Mon Roseau, Dominica  8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  30  Tue Basseterre, St. Kitts  8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  31  Wed Road Town, Tortola  7:00 am - 4:00 pm
January 2009
  1  Thu Charlotte Amalie, St.Thomas  8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  2  Fri Cruising the Great Bahama Bank  7:00 am - 5:00 pm
  3  Sat Fort Lauderdale, Florida  Disembark 

TSA: New Security Simplifying Laptop Bag Procedures

Link: TSA: New Security Simplifying Laptop Bag Procedures.

More Delta SkyMiles® Changes

I received an email today from Delta. No great surprise really. I truly do understand. The part I do question though is their claim that they "hope" it is only temporary.

"Escalating fuel prices continue to impact our world economy, everyday life and the airline industry. Due to continued, unprecedented fuel costs, we will add the following fuel surcharge to Award Tickets originating from the U.S. and Canada, effective August 15, 2008:

$25 for Award Travel between the 50 states and Canada
$50 for Award Travel between the 50 states/Canada and all international destinations

This was a difficult but essential decision to ensure we are doing everything possible to offset the cost of fuel which has nearly doubled in the last year. This fuel surcharge will not impact any existing ticketed Award itineraries or any future Award Tickets issued prior to August 15, 2008, regardless of the date of travel. We hope this is temporary, and should fuel prices subside from current levels, we will reevaluate this surcharge.Thank you for your continued loyalty and support of Delta and the SkyMiles Program—now and always.