NCL Making some much needed improvements December 20, 2007

In the news today - after acquiring some new investment money NCL is announcing a plan to upgrade their ships, food, rooms, and just generally their experience.  Here’s the scoop:

New Freestyle 2.0 dining highlights include an increased investment in food of $50 million, equating to a 20 percent increased investment in food per passenger per day plus major fleet-wide capital investments; “Lobster Galore,” which includes lobster in the main restaurant on multiple days and in one restaurant every night of the cruise; a signature specialty dish in every restaurant, such as a 48-ounce Porterhouse in Cagney’s Steakhouse; and a chocolate fondue tower in the action station buffet restaurant; tablecloths, muted lighting and enhanced service in the action station restaurant; lunch on sea days in one or two alternative restaurants; a new and expanded room service menu; a welcome aboard glass of sparkling wine; samplings from the specialty restaurants on embarkation day; major hardware investment on all buffets in the Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Pearl action station restaurant; and a back-of-house investment to refine the reservations process and system.

In staterooms, improvements include upgraded bedding, sheets, pillows, duvets, towels and bathrobes; upgraded amenities including coffee maker and expanded TV offerings; and the addition of sofa beds to suite categories. Balcony and mini-suites will get a colored key card for shipwide recognition; an “at-your-service” hotline; a separate check-in for balcony and mini-suite guests; a personal escort to accommodations; and priority disembarkation. Suites and Villas will get concierge and butler service; welcome champagne; upgraded canapés everyday; private breakfast/lunch in Cagney’s Restaurant; an exclusive concierge lounge; priority disembarkation and restaurant reservations; and butler presence and private breakfast/lunch in the Courtyard.

Onboard activity enhancements include additional educational, entertainment and lifestyle programs called “NCL ‘U’,” new classes such as Improv, organic cooking, bartending, sommelier, etc.; an enhanced health and wellness program; an enhanced pool deck experience; drink flags to call for service on all deck chairs; and Evian spritz, cold towels and quiet times by the pool. The Latitudes program will soon include various tiers rewarding spend and frequency; a new range of benefits; and a staffed concierge lounge for Latitudes members. Freestyle 2.0 enhancements will begin rolling out immediately and will be largely implemented by summer 2008.

The flags should be fun!! 

Spring Break Plans December 1, 2007

Wondering  when to plan spring break?  Depends what you want to do?

Visit nearby relatives – Sunday before

Do things around town – Morning of, unless requires getting tickets in advance

Hawaii – start a year ahead, or earlier. Most airlines will allow you to book your airfare up to 330 days in advance.

Cruise – if you want mid-ship or a room that holds more than 3, start at least a year ahead.  You only pay a deposit and can cancel up to 90-75 before trip, before you pay the balance.

Don’t care, just out of town- then you can search the last minute deals on the internet a week before trip and catch a deal to….????

I’m thinking about becoming a Canopy Connoisseur December 1, 2007

I got back recently from a cruise to the Mexican Riviera.  Favorite experience was in Puerto Vallarta on a Canopy Tour.  Our entire group did this – all 18 of us.  Even those that said they were really afraid of heights went, and had a great time.

This is my first time doing this.  I was supposed to go on one in Costa Rica right after 9/11 but the trip got cancelled…

It was such a rush – I loved it. I’m not sure if all canopy tours would be as great as the one we did.  This one had 10 lines and most went over a canyon where you are 550 ft. above a flowing rocky river.  Think 25 story building high… it was a little scary looking down.  For some reason when I saw that there were three ways you were secured to the line and with my weight and gravity working, I lost all fear about it.  I’ve had repeated dreams of flying and this was pretty close to that feeling.

There are 5 such tours to choose from in Puerto Vallarta. The one we went on claims to be the “highest, fastest and longest.”    The lines added up to almost 2 miles.  One of the lines named “human bullet” can be done at speeds of 55 mph at peak conditions.  Not that you have to go that fast, there is a way to slow yourself down.  You don’t see any houses, just jungle, clouds and that river below you.  It’s gorgeous!!

Here is my recommendation – go with Sierra Madre Canopy River.  The guides were great, funny, strong, adorable, and did a show for us each time they zipped the lines.  They learned our names amazingly fast, even creating nicknames for us.

Here is the tour operator that books for them (and others)  

http://www.puertovallartatours.net/rio-cuale-canopy-tour.htm

A few tips:

Dress cool, it’s hot in Mexico.  You will be in a harness the entire time so wear some shorts that won’t be tight in your crotch or it won’t be comfortable.  I did sit down wrong, with the harness pinching my tush once and I screamed on that one, not from fear, but from pain.  So when you take a seat, make sure you are okay, before they push you off. 

There is a little bit of hiking so wear good shoes, that won’t fall off.  I would put some insect repellent on before you get there.  They don’t like you to spray or put lotion on there, as it’s not good for the equipment, but if it was dry on your skin already, it wouldn’t be a problem.  I didn’t see insects, but I did get three annoying bites. 

They have water at a couple of the lines, which was nice, as I was really hot.  I drank it and did not get sick.  I also poured it over my head. 

You will wear a helmet, when I do this again, I will bring a visor to wear under the helmet.  They don’t want you to wear sunglasses, as they want to see if you are looking at them when they signal you.  Maybe they want to see if you have fear in your eyes too.  When you brake, some dark dust comes off the line and with my contacts in, I was concerned that I would get some in my eye, and not have a way to fix the problem.  A visor would fix that.  If you have long hair, be ready to secure it, as you don’t want your hair getting involved with the line.  That would hurt.

They take some pictures and have them available for purchase when you get back.  Our group took a lot of pictures with our own cameras.  The video that was shot was the most fun though – be ready to replace some memory cards and do more of that. 

They have lockers to put things in, but I just wouldn’t bring much.  The ride up was in an open, meaning no way to close a window, bus.  It was dusty – I kept my sunglasses on to keep dust out of my eyes.  Think of it as part of the adventure.

Can’t wait to do it again.  This is what vacations are for – doing something different than your regular routine.  Re-create yourself- now I’m brave.  Conquering fears is a great thing and nothing like an adrenaline rush to get some much needed endorphins.