Travel Show in San Diego

Come join Carefree Vacations on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Town & Country Resort Grand Ballroom in Mission Valley, San Diego for our annual Travel Show. There will be over 40 travel, cruise and tour companies plus meet travel experts who will help you plan your next dream vacation to worldwide destinations. Pre-register to be eligible to win prizes at our website www.carefreevacations.com. Call 1-800-CONFIRM for more information.

My Experience on the Oasis of the Seas

by Tim Smith
President of Carefree Vacations

Day 1: Arriving in Ft. Lauderdale

Tomorrow morning I’ll be boarding the masterpiece Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s fleet, the Oasis of the Seas. The Oasis may be one of the most anticipated ships ever built. Perhaps more than anything, the ship is distinguished by it’s size. It literally dwarfs the Titanic and every other large ship. The Oasis is the largest passenger vessel ever to sail the seven seas. A walk around the deck represents approximately 1.25 miles and takes the average walker 15 minutes to circle the ship. The focus on the size of the Oasis may unintentionally take away from what goes on inside this magnificent ship. It’s what goes on inside the ship that can literally take your breath away.

Long ago, Royal Caribbean distinguished themselves as innovators in the cruise industry, bringing such innovations as on-board surfing, rock climbing, ice skating and, now, zip lining. The Oasis even sports a Carousel, a kids pool area which is large and elaborate. I’d be remiss in not elaborating on the two Flo Rider pools, pushing artificial waves strong enough to support surfers and belly boarders. The novices have a tendency to wipe out but even after a handful of rides the face plant technique is replaced by some quality hot dogging.

My boys are excited to be here. This is a Nirvana of sort for kids 18 and under. My youngest (8) is beside himself. This Oasis experience will be the ultimate adventure in his young lifetime, not to mention his potential elevation to hero status among his fellow 2nd graders. I’ll report more in the morning when we arrive at the Port.

Day 2: Boarding the Oasis of the Seas

This morning, as we clearing the initial security at the port, the ship roared into view, dwarfing other ships docked in harbor. It was immense. In order to get a picture of the entire ship, you needed to start snapping pictures moments after clearing Port security. A moments hesitation resulted in only partial shots. It was big and beautiful and far more than my camera lense could manage.

The litmus test for me in evaluating a cruise line is frequently about the embarkation and debarkation process. I have sailed on plenty of ships and it’s not unusual to have congestion during embarkation. That was certainly the case with my family. However, contrary to what I would have assumed, the process was, without question, the most efficient process I had ever experienced. My ‘line’ had a single person in front of me. It seemed hard to believe, but from the moment the taxi dropped us off in front of the terminal, it literally took us 10 minutes from the sidewalk to being on the ship in the Royal Promenade. The manner in which they set up the embarkation process was singularly impressive. This is the right way to to start a cruise vacation; stress free and I just stepped on board.

We spent the first three or four hours exploring; just getting to know the ship. In spite of its size, the Oasis had a number a intimate spaces where you could simply get away. But, there was also the hustle and bustle of the Royal Promenade and Central Park and no shortage of bars, restaurants, Espresso bars and even an elegant float bar that floats between two floors.

Here are some stats worth considering:

• Oasis is 225,00 feet long



• 2,700 staterooms



• Aqua Theater pool is 17.9 feet deep; the largest pool at seas



• Oasis if 75 feet longer than the Freedom-class ships



• Central Park neighborhood will be the first ever living park at sea with 12,175 plants, 62 vine plants, 56 trees and bamboo, some over 24’ tall



• 968,751 square feet of carpet



• 86,111 square feet of windows



• 7,000 works of specially commissioned art.

My first day at port and sea was really overwhelming. This ship seems to have something for everyone; in fact it seems to have lots of somethings for everyone. The ship is a destination in itself. I suppose the Ports of Call will just be icing on this very large cake.

More tomorrow as I start of experience the ship first hand.

For more information about booking the Oasis of the Seas contact

Carefree Vacations 1-800-CONFIRM

www.carefreevacations.com

Tahiti Star Clipper Cruises

by Barbara Bagnall
Vacation Travel Specialist, Carefree Vacations, Sorrento Mesa Branch

I recently went on a 7 night Star Clippers trip in the Society Islands. This is considered to be the most alluring destination on Earth. My friend and I flew into Papeete at 5:00 AM and checked into the Intercontinental Hotel in Moorea. The hotel was really nice, with two infinity pools, and a private beach. In the evening, we met up with an old friend and went out for an authentic Tahitian dinner.

The next day, we boarded the Star Flyer, ready for our new adventure aboard this amazing ship.

We settled into our cabin, complete with a porthole, and then went to check out the food options for the trip. Dining was open seating, beginning from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Breakfast and lunch were buffet-style. Overall, we thought the food was excellent, with very good choices.

The first day we tendered in Cooks Bay, and my friend and I went to a luncheon at the Hilton Moorea. We walked around the property, and were able to use the facilities. Of course, we brought our snorkel gear. The snorkeling at the hotel beach was wonderful, as was lunch. This property in Moorea could definitely be considered a luxury resort.


The next day we arrived in Huahine. We checked out the Te Tiare Beach Resort, where we were met at the dock by private boat and taken to the resort, the only way to get there. Huahine is a very small island and has a small village. The resort was very nice, and would be the perfect place to get away for a few days. There were lots of water sports and two nice restaurants.


Raiatea and Tahaa were our next stops. We stopped in at the Raiatea Hawaiki Nui Hotel and snorkeled off their docks. The snorkeling was amazing! We anchored off of a Motu in Tahaa and ship provided a beach picnic. They set up a lunch and bar for us and we just spend the day doing water sports. We also did some drift snorkeling here, as there was a current. Later, they put on a Polynesian show for us with Tahitian dancers.

Next was Bora Bora where I took a look at two hotels. The St. Regis boat came and picked us up and took us to their luxury property. Afterwards, they took us by boat to the Bora Bora Nui where we had lunch with the General Manager.



The last day we went to Moorea again and tendered in Opunohu Bay, which was close to the Intercontinental Moorea, where we spent a couple of hours. The ship provided a happy hour every day from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM with hors d’oeuvres and snacks. In the evening they offered activities and different themes that made it fun for everyone.


The staff on Star Clippers are from all over the world. Most are very gracious and polite. They also have a musician who is very talented and can play many different instruments. They have people that work the dive programs and anything to do with water sports. All the equipment is complimentary, but you do have to pay extra for the dives.



The weather was really nice and I saw no signs of seasickness. The sail ship experience is unique as the ships can get into places that larger ships cannot go, and also you get to meet more people as it is more intimate. I cannot wait to go on another sailing adventure!

For more information, prices and availability, contact Barbara at:

bbagnall@carefreevacations.com
1-800-683-4074
Barbara's direct line: 1-858-551-4489

My Day on Oceania's Regatta Cruise Ship

by Linda Rigg

A couple weeks ago I had the good fortune of spending a day at the Port of Los Angeles on Oceania's Regatta Cruise Ship which was docked in port.

This ship is absolutely exquisite.











It is a mid size ship with less than 700 passengers and 400 staff members to cater to all of your needs. The ambiance is that of a private country club atmosphere, it's casual, but elegant.

You can leave your tuxedos and ball gowns at home, the evenings are yours to explore the many dining experiences on board.


Your Dining experiences include the Grand Dining Room, equivalent to a 5-star restaurant.








Then there's the Polo Grill, decked in dark woods and elegant furnishings, it is a classic steakhouse and views of the ocean.











The Terrance offers breakfast and lunch buffets. In the evening it transforms into a Tapas bar.

Toscana is an intimate Italian restaurant. And Waves serves mouth-watering seafood, BBQ, sandwiches and salads.

The library is understated elegance with it's dark woods. It has an unprecedented choice of books, Cd's, DVD's, movies to enjoy at your leisure.















And the staterooms are spacious and beautifully appointed.
















the decor is especially nice.














There is no shortage of things to do. You can go to a stimulating lecture, do wine tasting or visit the Spa on your at sea days.



But one thing is for sure - you will have a spectacular time on this relaxing, elegant yet casual ship.










Oceania has truly great offers available right now: 2 for 1 Cruise options, free airfare, shipboard credits, prepaid gratuities are available on many of their sailings - but you must book and place a refundable deposit down no later than March 31, 2009 in order to take advantage of these savings. Give me a Call at (760) 479-002 or (800) 683-1556, or email me LRigg@sdtg.com to find out more about these special offers today.

You can check out my video of the Regatta on our Carefree Vacations You Tube Page, right here Also visit our carefreevacationsblog.com site for more information about Oceania Cruises and more about me.

Luxury at Sea

by Nancy Kivlen

I just returned from the most amazing cruise aboard the Crystal Serenity. We boarded the ship in Miami and disembarked in Caldera, Costa Rica. It was Luxury at it's best.

The Serenity is a medium sized ship, perfect if you don't want to keep running into the same people or get lost in a maze of decks.

What made our trip especially nice was the upgrade to a Penthouse with a Verandah! This generously sized room (for a cruise) came with a separate jacuzzi bathtub, walk-in closet, make up area, sitting area and a nice sized verandah to enjoy the beautiful sunsets.

But the best part of the room was our Butler, Daniel!!! He was wonderful and available 24 hours with a quick phone call! Every afternoon at about 4pm, he had mouth-watering hor dourves that consisted of fresh shrimp or caviar. Our bar was always stocked and he surprised us with "treats", like buttered popcorn when he heard we were staying in our room for the night watching a movie.

I had the best meal of my life at Silk Roads. Their cod seafood specialty and rock shrimp is to die for, not to mention the chocolate souffle. We also enjoyed eating in the main dining room. Our table mates were from Canada and Ireland, each night we enjoyed a vigorous conversation of travel, politics, food and our daily excursions.

The highlight of the culinary feasts was the "Grand Gala Buffet" - this lavish array of food is put together by all the chefs on board and displayed in the grand court. There are sculptures made of ice, chocolate, cheese, gingerbread and a host of other tasty treats.

But the highlight for me was not the food, it was the ports, the people we met and the ambiance of the ship.

Our first stop was Turks & Caicos.












The beaches are magnificent, the color of the water is picture postcard clear.

We snorkeled and swam with the sting rays,

and even let them kiss us!!






There is nothing to do here but swim and snorkle.





If you're stressed out from work life in general, hanging out on a turquoise colored bay is a great way to relax.

Next, the shipped docked in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The day started out wet and rainy as we swam with the Dolphins.





But it ended up glorious and sunny as so often happens in the Caribbean.



Having a Dolphin "jet" you across a small lake is a memorable experience for sure!

We met a nice taxi driver, Ed and his wife Georgia - they took us to a beautiful beach called Brewer's Bay. There was not another another person anywhere to be seen. A truly memorable day.

Our next stop was the trendy, hip island of St. Bart's. What more could you ask for from a small Caribbean island?

It's French, so needless to say the food and wine were great, the yachts were abundant, the town - adorable, and the atmosphere chic. We went for a 3 hour catamaran sail exploring the island and enjoying the scenery.

After this we went to Aruba. I've been to Aruba before, but always enjoy coming back. What Aruba lacks in tropical vegetation, it gains in beautiful white-sand beaches dotted with cactus and great snorkeling spots.



Particularly the north part of the island where the lighthouse is located. There is a great shipwreck off the coast which provides awesome snorkeling.










We took a tour of the Hyatt Hotel in Aruba, this is very nice, I was already calculating where my next trip might be!!

Of course the town of Oranjestad is very quaint and very Dutch.

Our days at sea were anything but boring. After a couple trips to the Spa, Computer room and Library to rent movies, we had a great time listening to some of Crystal's guest speakers. Their talks ranged from CSI/Espionage to Wine Tasting and Cooking tips. Then there was the Casino and for the non-gamblers like myself bingo and Trivial Pursuit. In the evening we enjoyed the wonderful musical shows that Crystal put on, or the comedy acts. And we had fun at the Pulse Lounge listening to karaoke.

Heading through the Panama Canal was the highlight of the whole trip. This took a full 8 hours as we were "dropped" several feet in each of the locks along the way (there are 3). The locks lower you from the Caribbean to the Pacific ocean (or raise you if your are heading in the other direction).

The canal is hot and humid, because the ship travels at such a slow speed, you can enjoy the surroundings: rain forests, birds, listen to the monkeys in the trees. I also enjoyed the movie and information that Crystal put together about how the Canal was built. Here's a look at what it was like, check out my video by clicking on this picture.












My favorite place on the Serenity is The Bistro. Each morning and afternoon, I would stop by for a double espresso mocha or cappuccino. This is a great place to sit and watch the Panama Canal go by.

On our last day before we docked in Caldera, Costa Rica - I sat in the Bistro reflecting on this great trip and wondered what more could anyone ask for? I could have done without the 5 extra lbs I put on, but the Service, the Ports, the Spa, the Room, the Butler and Yes, The Food on Crystal! were all PERFECT!

Ahhhhh - Nothing like a full moon from our Verandah and a nice glass of Chardonnay to finish off this wonderful trip. A Beautiful finish to a Beautiful Cruise.






The next day we landed in Costa Rica & A Whole New Adventure began. But I'll save that for a different Blog!

If you want more information about the Cruise I took aboard the Crystal Serenity, read about it here. Visit our website at http://www.carefreevacations.com/ or Call 1-800-CONFIRM.

We have many Crystal Cruise Specialists at Carefree Vacations: Linda Rigg, Bob Pavon, Yen Flynn, Pam Paterson, Kim Rosen, Trudy Klein, and Cathy Hale.

Just click on any of their names and send them an email! Tell them you read this blog and want more information about Crystal Cruises. Ask about special upgrades and shipboard credit. And don't forget to ask about the Penthouse with a Verandah!!