We’re Not In Walley World Anymore, Clark!

Remember National Lampoon’s Vacation? The movie about the Griswold family’s ill-fated cross-country trip to Walley World? The mishaps that happened along the way were hilarious to watch, but enough to make the most resolute traveler faint of heart. As much as I love to travel, I admit to not loving a long car ride. The preparation for days on the road, the car sickness, the boredom, the antsyness, the whining and arguing (and that’s not even the kids!) just takes away from the enjoyment and relaxation of my vacation. I know I’m not the only one that feels that way! While road trips throughout the contiguous United States still seem to be a popular choice, there are more options than ever for families today.

Here are just a few to choose from…

How about exploring the Last Frontier? Alaska cruises are becoming more and more popular for family travel. Our family and another traveled together on the Carnival Spirit last summer (see the link for my Alaska online photo album to view the beautiful scenery.)
What an adventure! When I think about how my husband had wanted to see Alaska for years (he wanted to go 15 years ago for our honeymoon, but it was too expensive back then) and that at the ages of 9 and 12, our children were able to have this experience, I’m simply amazed. The bar has been raised on the family vacation and this is just one example.

Aloha Hawaii! One may think of Hawaii for a warm weather break during the winter or spring, but with Hawaii’s near perfect climate year around, it’s a great summer vacation choice. Whether you choose to do a land or cruise vacation in Hawaii, there are so many things to see and do. For the most bang for your buck, you may want to consider one of NCL’s inter-island hopping itineraries. 4 islands in 7 days is a great way to get a taste of the Hawaiian Islands.

Adventures by Disney. For those fans that prefer Disney’s impeccable service and attention to detail, but are ready to move on to something different. With itineraries in North America, Europe and Latin America that are specially designed to bring families together, Adventures by Disney is sure to be a magical experience.

For more information about these or other options for the ol’ family summer vacation, contact Amy at A Room With A View!

RCCL’s Liberty of the Seas Arrives in U.S.

Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas Arrives in U.S.
Published on: May 4, 2007

Royal Caribbean International welcomed its 21st ship, the 160,000-ton Liberty of the Seas, to the U.S. on Thursday. Sharing the title of world’s largest cruise ship with the Freedom of the Seas, Liberty will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to roll out enhanced onboard programming in wellness, weddings, and family and teen activities. The new programming includes the Vitality wellness program; Explorer Weddings, for couples looking to tie the knot in extreme style; and new family programming introducing Adventure Theater, DJ classes, Chefs on Deck, and the Crown & Anchor Society Youth Program.

With a capacity of 3,634 guests double occupancy, Liberty features the FlowRider surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, the H2O Zone water park and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard. The Presidential Family Suite sleeps up to 14 people. The ship has more than 20 restaurants and lounges aboard Liberty. Godmother Donnalea Madeley, a travel agent, will officially name the ship on May 18, and Liberty will sail its maiden voyage May 19 from its homeport of Miami. Liberty will depart on Saturdays and alternate between seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Haiti. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls at San Juan, St. Maarten and Labadee. A third Freedom-class ship, the Independence of the Seas, is scheduled to debut in Europe in May 2008. Sailing from the U.K., it will be the largest ship to be homeported in Europe.

Get Out There and call A Room With A View to book your cruise on the Liberty of the Seas!

Mexico’s Grand Velas Resorts Sets Golf Package

Mexico’s Grand Velas Resorts Sets Golf Package
Published on: May 3, 2007

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, is offering the Family Golf package including one tee time per person, per night at the Jack Nicklaus or Tom Weiskopf 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, one free golf round for kids under 17 years of age accompanied by an adult and accommodations in an ocean-view Master or Parlor Suite. Valid May 1 through Dec. 21, 2007, the package also includes a daily Grand Velas Spa Ritual for each adult and all of Grand Velas luxe services and amenities including a la carte dining at five restaurants, premium liquor brands, around-the-clock room service, mini bar snacks, beverages, daily activities and more. The rate is $534 per adult, per night and $75 per child, per night for kids between the ages 2 and 12 years of age. Taxes and service charges are included in the package. Additional golf rounds costs $174 per person.

Contact Amy at A Room With A View to make your reservation.

Walt Disney World to Ban Smoking in Onsite Hotels

Walt Disney World to Ban Smoking in Onsite Hotels
Published on: May 3, 2007

Walt Disney World reportedly will ban smoking effective June 1 in 20 onsite properties, including all guest rooms, indoor public areas, balconies and other locations at all company-owned and -operated hotels. It will also ban smoking at all Disney Vacation Club resorts at Disney World. Smoking will be allowed in designated, outdoor smoking areas only. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts banned smoking at Disneyland’s three hotels in California last year but allowed smoking to continue at Disney World hotels. During the last five years, guest demand for smoking rooms at the Walt Disney World Resort reportedly has been declining steadily. Currently, less than 3.5 percent of Walt Disney World’s 24,000 resort rooms are smoking optional.

Carnival Schedules Cruise for Bloggers

Carnival Schedules Cruise for Bloggers
Published on: May 3, 2007

Carnival Cruise Lines Senior Cruise Director John Heald, who now writes a successful weblog, will host the company’s first-ever “Bloggers Cruise” aboard the Carnival Freedom in January 2008. Heald’s blog was launched last month and has so far attracted nearly 200,000 visitors. The seven-day Western Caribbean cruise will operate roundtrip from Miami, Jan. 19-26, 2008, and will visit three of Heald’s favorite ports of call: Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. Heald’s blog, originally part of the micro-site created for the launch of the Carnival Freedom, can be viewed at www.carnival.com/freedom. The blog gives Heald a platform to present anecdotes from the Carnival Freedom’s inaugural season in Europe, as well as his 20-plus years at sea. One of the more popular features is a Q&A section in which Heald fields readers’ inquiries on a wide variety of topics.

“Who would have thought that in less than two months, nearly 200,000 readers have visited this blog,” Heald said. “To celebrate, I invite all of our readers to sail on this special ‘Bloggers Cruise’ which, in addition to some fun activities, offers a great chance for us to meet and have an incredible time. I hope this cruise will be the first of many.” During the “Bloggers Cruise,” Heald will host a number of special events, including a Welcome Aboard Reception, trivia contests, and question-and-answer sessions. There will be photo opportunities with Heald as well. A goody bag containing various giveaways and logo items will be provided to all “Bloggers Cruise” participants, and Heald will submit entries to his blog throughout the voyage. As senior cruise director, Heald will also perform his regular duties throughout the voyage, including hosting shipboard orientation sessions and port briefings. He will also host his daily “Morning Show” that broadcasts on Carnival Freedom’s 270-square-foot LED screen. Prices for the seven-day “Bloggers Cruise” start at $599 per person, double occupancy.

To make your reservation, contact Amy at A Room With A View

Coconut Amnesia

NCL’s Norwegian Sun Receives Environment Award

NCL’s Norwegian Sun Receives Environment Award
Published on: May 2, 2007

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced that the Norwegian Sun received the Port of San Francisco’s Cruise Ship Environmental Award. The port’s program annually recognizes cruise ships whose onboard environmental systems help decrease air and water pollution. The three categories evaluated are air emission reduction, wastewater treatment and recycling and disposal programs for solid waste. “With our clean fuel strategy using low-sulfur fuels while in port, along with reducing air emissions, advanced wastewater treatment and recycling and disposal of solid waste, we have demonstrated our commitment to maintaining the highest level of environmental protection standards,” said Bill Hamlin, NCL’s executive vice president of fleet operations. “The Port of San Francisco commends NCL for its dedication to sustaining a clean environment,” said Peter Dailey, maritime director for the Port of San Francisco.

Carnival Extends Discounts to Military Personnel

Carnival Extends Discounts to Military Personnel
Published on: May 2, 2007

Carnival Cruise Lines, in honor of Memorial Day, is launching a promotion throughout May that allows active and retired military personnel to book up to three staterooms for themselves and their friends and family members at special discounted rates. Reservations must be made between May 1 and May 31, 2007, to qualify for this promotion, which is available in conjunction with a variety of three- to eight-day cruises departing May 1 through March 31, 2008, from six North American homeports. Rates start at $199 per person for three-day cruises from Miami and Port Canaveral, and four-day cruises from Long Beach, Calif.; $249 for five-day cruises from Mobile, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla.; $379 for six-day voyages from Fort Lauderdale; $399 for seven-day cruises from Miami; and $499 for eight-day cruises from Fort Lauderdale. The promotion is valid for individual bookings only, is capacity controlled and not applicable with any other discount offer. Military personnel must provide proof of service.

Contact Amy at A Room With A View to make your reservation.

Great Wolf Resorts Launches Scooops Kid Spa

Great Wolf Resorts Launches Scooops Kid Spa
Published on: May 2, 2007

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc has created Scooops Kid Spa. The new Scooops Kid Spas are open to the public at six Great Wolf Lodge properties nationwide, including Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; and Mason, Ohio; and Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, Wis. ME! Bath’s exclusive ice cream-themed products begin with an ice cream bath fizz, shower sherbet scrub, sundae topping foot mask and moisturizing body icing. Kids can choose their own ice cream bath fizz of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, with toppings of caramel, marshmallow and hot fudge for the foot mask, and final touch of nail polish. The Scooops Kid Spa experience ranges from $35 to $45 and includes a voucher for ice cream at the resort’s confectionary café. Scooops Kid Spa has a room of its own in each of Great Wolf Resorts’ spas. The furnishings for the kid-friendly spa have the look of a modern ice cream parlor, with chocolate-colored walls, retro swivel stools and a pedicure sofa that looks like an oversized ice cream sundae.

Delta Emerges From Bankruptcy Protection

Delta Emerges From Bankruptcy Protection
Published on: May 1, 2007

Delta Air Lines emerged from bankruptcy yesterday and unveiled its new brand, a red widget icon flying across a blue background designed to symbolize the new Delta. The airline is now seeking to position itself as a customer-focused airline. In emerging from bankruptcy, Delta pointed out that it had completed a comprehensive transformation plan one year ahead of schedule, delivering $3 billion in annual financial improvements and reported four consecutive quarters of operating profits, with $155 million in operating profit in the first quarter of 2007. To conclude the exit process, Delta closed on a $2.5 billion exit financing facility that will be used to repay the company’s $2.1 billion debtor-in-possession credit facilities led by GE Capital and American Express, to make other payments required upon exit from bankruptcy, and to increase its already strong liquidity position. The exit facility was co-led by 10 financial institutions – JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, UBS, Barclays Capital, Royal Bank of Scotland, CIT, Credit Suisse and Calyon — and consists of an industry leading $1 billion first-lien revolving credit facility, a $600 million first-lien synthetic revolving facility, and a $900 million second-lien Term Loan B.