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| << December13, 2004 - 7 Seas Cruise News |
January03, 2005 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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Greetings, Cruise Fans, Welcome to the final 2004 edition of the 7 Seas Cruise News. It is amazing that this year has slipped by already. So many clients and friends have sailed to some spectacular places this year. And there are more great places waiting to be explored in 2005. Our family and friends cruise last week was a success. We enjoyed perfect weather and had a great time. I'll get into more detail later in this newsletter, especially about the ports and the ship, the Norwegian Star. In the meantime, let me remind you that Pat is back at work and ready to help you plan your next cruise getaway! He's available almost all the time at 1-866-424-1090 toll-free or by writing cruiseplanners7seascruises@msn.com Visit the website, www.7seascruises.com for inspiration, but remember, Pat's prices are almost always better than what you see posted there! This week's cruise news??¦ The 13,300-square-foot Spa Carnival health and fitness facility aboard the new 110,000-ton Carnival Valor will feature a wide variety of treatments and services, ranging from relaxing " European-style" spa treatments and soothing facials to the latest exercise equipment and fitness classes. A new youth spa program, "Y Spa Program" ( for Generation Y), offering treatments created specifically for teens, will also be available. More than 1.5 million guests will use the health and spa facilities aboard the line's 20 ships in 2005. Among the offerings available with the new "Y Spa Program" are the Fabulous Fruity Facial, a deep- cleansing, "tasty" facial that uses an organic mixture of fresh fruits to moisturize and nourish the skin; and Surfers Scrub, an invigorating and refreshing sea salt scrub that uses Devils Apron Seaweed with refreshing mint. Other new services include a new daily poolside braiding service, where a specialist will be on deck to braid hair using colored beads or wraps, and Gentle Touch Tooth Whitening, a tooth whitening system that uses an FDA-approved non-toxic gel and laser therapy that gently but efficiently lifts away stains from coffee, nicotine, red wine and other strong food colorants. Carnival Valor's spa will also offer a variety of popular "European-style" treatments, including "aroma stone therapy," which is based on an ancient ritual that combines heated and scented oils with a full body massage using warm basalt stones, creating a relaxing and rejuvenating sensation, and La Therapie Facial, a treatment that penetrates the deeper layers of the skin with active ingredients of organic gels and creams using high-frequency galvanic stimuli. Located on Spa Deck 11, Carnival Valor's spa will also feature large picture windows providing panoramic views of the sea, along with complete locker room facilities, as well as steam rooms and saunas with ocean views. A boutique offering a variety of spa products for sale, along with a full-service beauty salon featuring hair services and two dedicated areas for manicures and pedicures, will also be available. The workout area will feature Keiser equipment, such as rowing and stair-climbing machines, treadmills and exercise bikes, and free weights, as well as an aerobics studio offering a range of instructor-led fitness classes, including low- and high-impact aerobics, yoga, kickboxing and spinning. Carnival Valor's Lincoln and Washington dining rooms will feature Spa Carnival Fare, dishes lower in fat, calories, sodium and cholesterol, as well as a selection of vegetarian and low-carb dishes. Rosie's restaurant, the expansive two-level poolside eatery, will also include an extensive salad bar and a 24-hour frozen yogurt station. Carnival Valor, which made its U.S. debut in Miami today, is the first cruise ship to offer "100 percent bow to stern" wireless Internet access, providing guests unparalleled opportunities to surf the Web, check e-mail, and obtain stock quotes and news updates from anywhere aboard the massive 2,974- passenger SuperLiner. Unlike other cruise ships that have designated Wi-Fi hotspot areas, Carnival Valor will feature ship-wide wireless Internet capability, enabling guests to use laptop computers to access the Internet from every public area, including all lounges, bars and pool decks, as well as any of the ship's 1,487 staterooms. The new system works with any Wi-Fi-enabled laptop. Laptops and Wi-Fi cards are also available for rent on board for a nominal fee; charges apply for Wi-Fi connectivity. Carnival Valor's new "bow to stern" Wi-Fi system is part of a pilot program that may be expanded to other Carnival ships, all of which currently feature Internet cafes and wireless Internet access in select areas. The new system, which was installed during construction by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, was designed by Carnival's in-house network engineers and San Jose, Calif.- based Cisco Systems Inc. About the Norwegian Star??¦ It had been awhile since Pat and I sailed on NCL. I have also liked the line, especially because of its innovative itineraries. This 8-day Mexican Riviera itinerary is no exception. Sailing from L.A. at 4 p. m.on day 1, the first stop is at 11 a.m. on day 4 when we docked in Acapulco. The once-trendy Acapulco looks tired. It is a big city and although the "old town" is a relatively easy walk from the port, there's not much reason to go. It is shabby and crowded. The traffic and resulting smog prompted son-in-law #1 to remark, "Hmmm. Smells just like 1970." It's true. Burning leaded fuels is not doing the air quality any favors. What is very fun in town is Fort San Diego, located literally just across the street from the pier. The fort is fascinating! Climb up and have a look around. A $3 entrance fee takes you back in time to the early days of Acapulco, introduces you to the connection between the Philippines and Mexico and shows you 300 years of fashion in an exhibit underwritten by Sears. Since the ship stays in port until 2 a.m. on day 5, there are several evening options. We elected to go back to the fort for a fascinating multi-media show projected on the side of the fort and on a wall of water. After the excellent show, we were taken to the hotel sight of the famous Acapulco cliff divers. It's a good show, but sitting above the cliffs made the dives seem less dramatic than they are. The hotel has a wall of photos and autographs of all the big names in Hollywood from the '30s, '40s and '50s. It's all very nostalgic, especially for old movie buffs. On Day 5, we sailed to Ixtapa and Zihutenajo. While Ixtapa is a modern, computer-designed resort town, its' sister city, Zihuatenajo is still a charming, fishing village. Beaches are nice, uncrowded and not swarming with people trying to sell you something. A nice change! Pat went deep sea fishing and enjoyed it, although not catching anything was a disappointment. Day 6 took us to Puerto Vallarta-a nice port with an attractive downtown and a lovely walkway around the downtown harbor. If you go, see the fish chairs- one of the most unusual urban sculpture displays I' ve ever seen. Lots of imagination! It's a great place for pictures. Our Lady of Guadeloupe is worth a visit. For the more adventurous, the zip-line canopy adventure is a great way to spend a day. Expect to do some climbing then hang on as you zip, platform to platform, above the jungle. Excellent reviews for this experience-from kids as young as 10 and grownups, too. Day 7 brought us to Cabo San Lucas. Something about this lovely place makes me want to sit in a bar all day and watch the world go by. I must not be alone in this, since the harbor is lined with places to do just that. The town is far more developed than Pat and I recalled from our visit there just two years ago. Ocean kayaking is fun there. A number of people from our group tried it and most thought it was great. A leaking kayak that filled with water and overturned twice provided more adventure than one father and son team counted on. Day 8 was a sea day as we made our way back up the coast to LA. The Norwegian Star is a lovely ship with much to recommend it. The theater sight lines are the best. The shows were great. The musical entertainment was good. The spa was marvelous with unusual offerings including a massage class for two! The fitness center was well equipped and offered spinning classes and both pilates and yoga. Cabins were very well equipped, but relatively small. Our balcony cabin was adequate, with a small sitting area and compact but comfortable balcony. The clever bathroom had separate areas for shower and toilet-nice and private. I liked the warm, wooden walls and striped draperies. There was a magnifying mirror built in the bathroom and a real hair dryer that could actually dry long hair! Downside, however, was the lack of a decent reading light. I tried to read in bed one night and it was impossible. I ended up watching "I Love Lucy" on the old sitcom channel instead. And what is a cruise without food? When NCL does it right, no one is better. When they miss, they miss by a mile! The steak at Cagney's ($20 cover charge per person) was perhaps the best I have ever eaten. The chocolate fire cake, on the other hand, was dreadful. Everything else was in between. Overall, I'd give the food a B-. Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas was a C. Holland America's Oosterdam was a B+. There was a sameness to the breakfast buffets - and the lunch buffets, too. Not bad. Just same day-in and day-out. NCL's free ice cream continues to make many friends and the 24-hour Blue Lagoon diner was a nice change of pace, with a great bowl of tomato soup, cheeseburger and other selections including great buffalo wings all day and all night. The most dangerous place on board is the genuine Colombian Emeralds store! Gorgeous, glittering gems and a week to pour over them! It is too tempting! Overall, the shipboard service was excellent! Our room stewards, Donovan and Nipriadi were superb! Waiters and casino and front desk staff were also terrific. The vessel's captain was personable and seemed more approachable than most people in his position. He even announced the presence of whales from the bridge when a pod of killer whales was spotted on our starboard side as we headed back to California and they headed to warm Mexican waters for the winter. So, what's wrong with NCL? Not much. Except for freestyle cruising, which I just don't like. I enjoy the relationship between guest and waiter that can develop over a week. I like knowing where I am going to sit and with whom. Freestyle might work for a couple or a group of four, but for a large group of 20, it is impossible! On two nights, we were able to enjoy a huge table for the whole group. The rest of the time, we were divided wherever they could squeeze us in. It was not the ideal arrangement for a group that wanted to stay together. I would recommend the trip for those who like beaches and warm, sunny weather. I would suggest it for families, but not for large groups. It would make a good romantic getaway or honeymoon. For those who like Texas Hold 'em, there is a new poker room. For other gamblers, the tables were kind to Pat and the slot machines actually paid off! There were plenty of nickel slots and some that could be played for a penny! The pool has two slides and four hot tubs. There is a separate kiddie pool with slide and nice facilities for children. Since we've been home, Pat has begun the process of selecting the next family and friends cruise. Keep Thanksgiving week in mind and we'll have all the details in the next week or two! Time to plan your winter, spring and summer getaways! Until next week, a joyous new year to you all- Teri |
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| << December13, 2004 - 7 Seas Cruise News |
January03, 2005 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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