Fuel Surcharges May Be Reinstated

Cruise Line Fuel Surcharges Coming Next?  That's My Prediction.

With the price of fuel rising (again) and cruise fares expected to remain low this winter, I would not be at all surprised to see the cruise lines reinstate fuel surcharges.  All of them have retained the right to do so, and have a disclaimer to that effect on existing reservations.  I'm not a financial genius (if I were I wouldn't be selling cruises), but I'm just waiting for the ball to drop.

$100-per-barrel oil could renew airline surcharges

Crude oil is nearing $100 a barrel, which could force major airlines to impose fuel surcharges or raise fares. "Every dollar that fuel rises erodes their earnings," said Jim Corridore, an equity analyst at Standard & Poor's. "It's not good news to see fuel prices back up. Once we start approaching $100 a barrel, you'll start to see fuel surcharges come back." Bloomberg (12/22) 

The Elf Keeps Going

Last night he gift wrapped the kid's bedroom doors, and then got a little tangled up in the paper and ribbon and left a mess in the living room.  Note: he's been drinking - see the beer bottle.

The Elf on the Shelf

My sister's kids have an Elf on the Shelf.  For those of you who are not well versed in Elves, the Elf on the Shelf shows up awhile before Christmas; an ambassador for Santa, if you will.  He keeps an eye on the girls and boys and reports directly back to Santa each day.  Every morning he is found in a different place in the house (because he needs to watch the kids from all around) and they have to find him.

Well, we're not sure what got into the Elf this year (maybe he ate some bad fairy dust), but he's turned quite mischievous.   No longer a quiet observer, he's taken Christmas into his own hands. So far he has

Held a snowball fight in the family room with the Grinch

 

Eaten my sister's Milano cookies (something no sane person would attempt)

Led all the animals on safari

 Ziplined across the living room (he saw pictures of Dorothy doing this on the Allure of the Seas and wanted to try it himself)

 

Used my sister for target practice  (really bad elf)

And done a little cross-dressing (an elf of questionable taste), stealing clothes from my niece's doll and make-up from my sister:

Fortunately, when he decided to go fishing it was only for pretzel gold-fish.

The elf needs an attitude adjustment, but there's not much time before Christmas.  I've suggested he be handcuffed and returned to Santa (express mail), but he's a wily one and hasn't yet been caught. 

Am thinking he needs a one way cruise to the North Pole.  Wonder what he'll do tonight?

Anybody have any ideas what to do with this reprobate?  I should think my sister would be afraid to go to sleep at night.  What could be worse than an elf gone over to the dark side?

Too Many Ships? Bah Humbug!

Too many ships in Florida bringing down pricing?  Bring it on!!!

From an article in Travel Mole (www.travelmole.com)

South Florida: too many ships?

More and more cruise ships sailing out of Port Everglades may create a problem, at least for owners but certainly not for travelers. “The abundance of berths will mean more choices aboard top-rated ships -- and often at surprisingly low prices,” concludes The Miami Herald. Three more new ships -- from Holland America, Celebrity and Seabourn – are arriving in South Florida. This winter, there could be as many as three dozen ships carrying 90,000 passengers at any given time. That’s driven prices down for cruisers. Even on upscale lines, prices sometimes fall below US$100 per person per day, double occupancy. Accidents such as an engine fire that disabled the Carnival Splendor are not expected to impact prices, say cruise officials who think most would-be cruisers think such problems are rare. By David Wilkening

Royal Caribbean More Than Fair to Brilliance Passengers

From a report this morning in Travel Pulse - an online newsletter for the travel industry: "Royal Caribbean International will refund cruise fares to passengers onboard Brilliance of the Seas, which listed during a severe storm Dec. 12 as it approached Alexandria, Egypt. The company is also giving them an onboard credit of $200 per stateroom and $400 per suite." 

Now I think that's more than fair.  When was the last time you saw an airline offer to refund passengers for an unpleasant incident, much less offer them credit (so they could pay for pillows and blankets?) on a future trip.  I think they've done the right thing.  I've never heard of Amtrak giving credits for future trips.  Does Greyhound do that? 

As for the captain putting the passengers, crew and ship in danger ... I just don't believe that.  According to the reports the rough seas lasted for 10 minutes (TEN minutes).  I'm not a certified cruise ship captain, but I've been out in a few boats and I know squalls can develop.  I know you have to expect the unexpected at sea.  I know that the sea is very big and my ship (whatever ship I'm on, even the Allure of the Seas) is very small.  I respect that.   I was on a huge cruise ship coming out of port in Amsterdam when the ship took a roll and every bottle in the bar fell and smashed.  It gave us all a jolt, but at no point were we in danger.  Let's not exaggerate.  "The ship laid over on its side"? I don't think so, but I'm willing to believe a 15 degree tilt.  Many people voluntarily take a 15 degree tilt (or further) on cruise ships after a couple of hours at the bar. 

It's not that I don't have sympathy for the two passengers with broken bones, but when a sudden jolt hits, people can fall and people are breakable.  Even on vacation.

So what's with all the fuss lately about ships in storms, ships losing power, ships rocking and rolling?  "The wave of bad news for the cruise lines is due to a combination of factors, experts say -- poor winter weather, simple coincidence and the increased availability of cell phone cameras and laptops that spread dramatic pictures quickly. "(ABC News) "People ran to their computers to report this," said John Deiner, managing editor of CruiseCritic.com. "They didn't wait until they got into port, they wanted people to know right away."  Of course headlines like ABC's "Horror on the High Seas" don't help. 

And I think that's largely the case.  Whether the news bureaus decide to focus on the cruise lines also depends on what else is going on in the world.  Today poor weather is a highlight and this event increases the  thrill factor.  That's what sells newspapers - if anything sells newspapers these days, I hear subscriptions are down substantially. There's a headline for you "Newspaper Subscription Take Headlong Slide" or how about "Newspapers Facing Their Final Demise"?

I heard also that there was a pile-up on I-40 due to the storm conditions in the mid-west.  But I don't see anybody selling their cars or canceling their Christmas trips over the river and through the woods.  Anybody turning in their season tickets for their favorite football team because the Metrodome roof caved in?

For centuries men (and women) have gone down to the sea in ships.  That's why there are shipwrecks.  There wouldn't be car wrecks without cars.  No train wrecks without trains.  There hasn't been a shipwreck of disastrous proportions that I can think of offhand since the Windjammer ship "Fantome" sank off of Belize in 1998. That's a whole 'nother story, give me a call and we can go through it.

The news media nearly destroyed tourism to Miami in the 1980's - to the point that some hotels blocked news broadcasts from the more sensationalist networks.  We live in an era where everything is supposed to be padded, protected, coddled and preserved.  Don't ride your bicycle without a helmet, send your child to school with a peanut butter sandwich or drink hot coffee from McDonalds.

Yes the ocean can be a dangerous place, it's also fascinating, alluring, mysterious, beautiful, soothing, timeless, tempting and exciting.  Save me a cabin - I'll go!

The above is an opinion, feel free to disagree; opinions are like belly buttons - everyone has one.

Stupid Passenger Tricks - The First in an Intermittent Series

I've decided to write a series on dumb passenger tricks.  The series will appear intermittently as these episodes are reported .  Most stupid events that occur on ships are directly related to quantities of alcohol consumed. The following was inspired by the report I read this morning on Travel Weekly Daily Bulletin, which I am quoting verbatim:

Drunk passenger drops anchor

(Cruise)

A drunk passenger aboard Holland America Line’s Ryndam released the vessel’s stern anchor as the cruise ship was returning to Tampa from Costa Maya, Mexico, on a weeklong western Caribbean itinerary last weekend.

Although deploying the anchor could have caused significant damage, the Ryndam was unharmed.
The FBI has charged Rick Ehlert, 44, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., with attempting to "damage, destroy, disable or wreck a vessel." That’s a felony charge.

The ship was in motion with about 1,950 passengers and crew onboard at the time of the incident.
A subsequent review of the ship’s surveillance video showed Ehlert entering a restricted work area, donning work gloves and releasing the anchor at 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 27 while still dressed in his formal attire from the previous evening. Ehlert was traveling with his girlfriend.

Once the ship docked in Tampa, he was met by agents of the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and admitted to being drunk, throwing a life buoy overboard and disabling the anchor.
He claimed to own a 50-foot boat that had a similar anchor system.

Holland America confirmed that the details in the FBI affidavit "accurately reflect what happened, to the best of our knowledge."

Wonder what Ehlert’s bar tab was for that night?

— Gay Nagle Myers

And was it worth being carted off by the FBI and having your actions made public for all the world to see?

There's Nothing to Do (nothing at all) Part II

I forgot about miniature golf.  If all else fails you can scare up a rousing game of miniature golf.   Par 3 course.  Pictured is the additional putting green.

Sculptures of Beaded Dresses seen from aft elevators

Glass Birds in Central Park

Not feeling like Arnold Palmer?  So take a few lessons in the casino, do a little karaoke, or just a sing along with others.  Participate in a trivia contest, or have a slice of Sorrento's pizza and a cup of coffee from Starbucks while you people watch on the Promenade.  Buy yourself a little real or faux jewelry, grab that new Coach purse or wallet you've had your eye on, and then relax in a bar that travels up and down three stories while you drink.  (No matter how much you drink, you are not imagining that the bar is rising and falling.  It really is.) 

Get the kids together and do a little hula hooping, bean bag tossing, coloring and playground climbing on the Boardwalk.(After you ride the carousel.)  You might also stop for an airbrushed tattoo and then build a stuffed animal to call your very own. 

Britto Sculpture by Pool

Don't forget to ooh and aah at all the sculptures and other art work around the ship.  And we haven't even gotten to the wine tastings and the magicians.

I also forgot to mention that this village-in-a-ship stops with surprising frequency at various Caribbean Islands.  (Who woulda thunk it?) So if you're that bored you can always get off the ship for a few hours.   Maybe you can find a museum, rum factory or old sugar plantation to tour.  A dolphin or two to swim with. A horse to ride through the surf, or a submarine to ride underneath it.  Perhaps some windsurfing, snorkeling, hiking, para sailing, or whatever it is you do on gorgeous tropical islands.  If you can't think of anything, give me a call.

Nope, nothing to do, nothing at all.

And the Fun Just Keeps On Going

 There's Nothing to Do on Allure of the Seas  
(nope, nothing at all)

This is for every potential passenger who has ever told me they don't like cruising because it's "boring".  Here's what I've done in two days:

• zip lined across the ship
• watched a parade
• had one of the best meals ever (and a couple of other meals as well)
• shopped
• was mesmerized by an ice skating show
• saw a 3D first-release movie
• learned to surf
• had a "chair massage"
• strolled through Central Park
• watched a superb theater production "Blue Planet"
• took in a live comedy act
• made a donation in the casino
• explored the sauna
• tried to climb the rock wall
• perused the library
• did a little Wii bowling
• danced some 70's era disco
• enjoyed one helluva parade
• oohed and aahed over a diving exhibition
• saw a fountain show (fountains synchronized to music, light and video
• listened to a little live Calypso music
• walked miles and miles - top to bottom and end to end of one BIG ship
• took a salsa lesson
• attended a lecture by noted artist Peter Max
• shot some hoops
• watched a second ice skating show
• took a yoga class
• got a Coney Island hot dog
• rode a merry-go-round
• had some ice cream

I think I slept a couple of hours and toured a few cabins as well.  Now if there's not something there to amuse just about everyone (did I mention the kids zone, water park and teen disco, not to mention video games and in room movies?) - well you just need to build your own amusement park. 

How could you not have fun on this ship?  They have fairy princesses, dragons and knights in shining armor. Not to mention penguins, pandas, lions, and animals I haven't watched enough cartoon movies to name.

They have manicures, pedicures, saunas, teeth whitening and acupuncture (I'm thinking of having all my medical and dental work done on cruise ships in the future).You can select from 106 flavors of Coca-Cola products from one vending machine or choose either chocolate or vanilla ice cream from another.  Zoltar the Magnificent can tell your fortune. 

So if you can't think of anything thing to do, you're all wet, and I'll meet you at the water park to prove it.

 

Till then ...cowabunga dude, I'm going to learn to hang ten.  Have fun or go home!

All Out Amazing, Allure of the Seas!!

 Now THIS is a Ship!!

Twin Smokestacks of the Allure of the Seas

Although its sister ship, the Oasis of the Seas, has been in service for over a year now, I don’t think any journalist has yet to adequately describe the brilliance of the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.  It’s preposterous to think that I could, not having ever published anything more than a newsletter, but somewhere, somehow, somebody should try (harder). Maybe it’s like so many other major destinations (Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, Great Wall of China – know what I’m talking about?); despite seeing lots of pictures, going to seminars, reading lots and lots of articles – you just haven’t seen it until you’ve seen it with all your senses.  I could not have imagined these ships.  They are immense in size, spectacular in organization and masterful in ingenuity.  All day I’ve been trying to figure out what I could say about the Allure of the Seas, and perhaps at the core of it I have to say that I was wrong.  Huh? Who me?

When Royal Caribbean first announced these ships, I was dead set against them.  The concept horrified me.  Too big, too ostentatious, severely overtaxing to the islands they visit … you get the picture.  About three years ago Royal Caribbean held a naming contest for the first ship in this class (which became “Oasis”); at the time my submissions ran towards “Monstrosity of the Seas”, “Behemoth of the Seas” or possibly even “Disaster of the Seas”.  None of these submissions won, as you can see. 

Other Ships at Port Everglades Suffer Big Ship Envy

This ship should have it’s own spot on the map.  It is Coney Island at Sea, with a little Las Vegas and Orlando mixed in.  But that’s too simple a recipe - add a dash of Asia, a little Latin America and a good cup of Caribbean too.   It’s a wonderland of sights, activities, foods and entertainment.  I don’t think you can do it all in a week, but you’ll get a lot of exercise trying.  Let's talk size (again): one circuit of the running track is about ½ a mile.  Lay out all 17 decks side by side and that's got to put it somewhere around 4 square miles (I think - feel free to correct my math), not all decks being equal.  Whatever. In short, I think this ship may be larger than the island on which I live ... or maybe it just seems like it ... but make no mistake about it, this is one BIG ship.

Wine-by-the-Glass Vending Machine

And with more to do.  My town doesn’t have a 1,380-seat  theater, jazz club, ice skating rink, comedy club, rock climbing wall, zip line, cupcake shop, or casino.  I don’t think my grocery store carries 106 flavors of Coca-Cola products (there is a 106 flavor Coca-Cola dispenser on board) and I know they don’t have wine-by-the-glass vending machines. They do have a carousel, but so does the ship.  Let’s see, what else: a daily paper, chapel, library, conference center, television studio, surfing, water park, miniature golf course, art gallery, spa, fitness center, acupuncturist, medical spa (Botox, Restylane, Perlane) and teeth whitening. 

Did I mention Dreamworks Studios and Shrek?

Mercedes Benz on the Promenade

Posing With the Passenger

The first thing to catch my eye was the classic Mercedes Benz parked on the “Boardwalk” and carrying two teddy bear passengers – they hooked me right there.  Actually, the first thing that hooked me, now that I think about it, is that embarkation took less than 10 minutes – and eight of them were due to having my bag searched - I forgot to remove my nail scissors. 

Bottom line for tonight … new wonders around every corner, an adrenaline jolt just watching the ship pull out of port, passengers who know more about cruising than I think I’ll ever know.  But hey, this sailing is 90% travel agents and 10% media and cruise industry, so that may not be remarkable.  Nonetheless, I’m impressed.  Okay, the cabin is small; in fact I’m glad I’ve lost a few pounds, because every pound counts in these cabins.  I’m glad I’m traveling with a skinny friend.  But I don’t intend to spend much time in this cabin.  I’ve got a lot of ground to cover in the next 24 hours!!!

Still on the Trip

Well, long time no blog, huh?  I do have a couple of semi-valid reasons.  They’re may not convince you, but they worked for me:

1.     There’s just so much to see!  I don’t ever want to go inside and work on the computer.  I want to look at mountains, search for bears and elk and big horned sheep.  (And shop.)

2.     The internet availability has been truly lousy almost everywhere we’ve gone.  I have no idea how many potential sales I’ve lost, but that was a risk I was willing to take in exchange for the opportunity to go across Canada and down the California coast with my Mom.

3.     I’ve had raging tendinitis in my right arm and hand – typing or writing is uncomfortable.  If anyone remembers my blog last year, I had brought along about 200 Christmas cards to write, and I wound up writing about 120 of them.  This year I did the same and haven’t tried to write even one.  Have put ice on my arm and taken aspirin instead.

So, to get on with it…

When we left Chateau Lake Louise it had started to snow.  It’s been about 10 years or more since either of us had seen the white, powdery stuff – or the dirty, slushy stuff for that matter.  Pretty neat.  Within an hour after we left the hotel and were back on the Icefields Parkway it was coming down faster than dandruff in a Head & Shoulders’ commercial.  I was driving, thus not taking pictures, will have to wait for Mom’s photos to be developed to add them to the blog. 

Mom still has a film camera, she doesn’t believe in digital.  She’ll also never get a decent candid shot, since in order to take a photo she has to

1.     Reach down and find her tote bag

2.     Unzip her tote bag

3.     Fish the bag holding her camera out of the tote bag

4.     Unzip the bag the camera is in

5.     Fish out the camera

6.     Turn it on

7.     Focus

8.     Shoot

Hair turns gray before she gets the shot, but God Bless her, she tries!  Here she is in some Godforsaken outpost called Hornepayne.  When you go to sleep in payne, you wake up in payne.   Best to get back on the train.

So we did get back on the train from Jasper to Vancouver for one more night.  The cabin is just as tiny as I remembered it, but it was only one more night.  This time we combined stuff we’d need just for the night in one suitcase (brilliant) and put the other suitcase in baggage.  We’re learning.  Gave us about another square foot of breathing space.  

Here's a shot of the cabin, on the left are the berths, on the right is the door to the toilet.  Somehow Mom got the bottom bunk again.  Don’t know how she keeps winning that coin flip.

Did I mention the food?  Food on board the train is surprisingly good.  I have no idea how they put out such tasty meals in a tiny little kitchen like that, but I promise you that it’s very good.  We’ve had waffles with fresh berries, French toast, turkey and all the trimmings (during Canadian Thanksgiving), lamb chops, roast beef … they even had little blue potatoes, something I’d never seen before (no gourmet here), and guess what?  They tasted just like potatoes. 

The Vancouver Hotel is more of a business hotel than the others we’ve stayed at to date.  That makes sense, it being in the heart of one of Canada’s major cities.  True to form however, it has a magnificent lobby, rooms are not cookie cutter, there is outstanding service and lots of history and elegance.   The hotel is conveniently located across the street from Tiffany’s and very close to Coach, Luis Vuitton, Burberry’s, and other stores that contribute to the natural beauty of the setting.  

We hate to say goodbye to Canada - the wide open spaces, the glorious mountains and the fresh, clean air have been intoxicating. 

Always Looking for New Business

We interrupt this blog for a commercial message.  I've found out about a new service that promotes localbusinesses called Thumbtack.com  They claim that they can help move me higher in Google search engines as a cruise travel specialist, so in a fit of selfless promotion I'm giving it a whirl.   We've all got to make a living don't we? 

Since I'm becoming computer challenged with all these new marketing options I hope I've inserted their link correctly.  Why couldn't I find some little angel (kind of like a guardian angel, only this would be an IT angel, to sit weightlessly on my left shoulder, with IT manual in hand (which she's memorized anyway) and say "Oh Dorothy, you need to load this program (but watch out for that other one, it's a Trojan horse), then set these parameters, and discontinue this tool, uncheck this box in your options menu, then reset your modem, turn around three times, click your heels and you'll be home in Kansas. Just a short plane trip away from Miami.

Any IT angels please fell free to apply. (305) 361-6772.

And along these lines... does anyone actually read this blog?  Are my talents better used elsewhere?  Should I go buy a new navy blue suit and start pounding the pavement?  If you follow my blog please make a comment or sign up as a follower.  It's a little demoralizing thinking you're doing all this extra stuff and nobody is appreciating it!   Sign up as a follower, leave a comment , e-mail me, pass me a note in a stuffy Village Council meeting.  Give me a hug in the grocery store.  Provide feedback - even if it's to say you didn't like the outfit I had on yesterday in the grocery store. (I probably didn't either).

And that's all for our commercial message.

The Icefields Parkway and Lake Louise

wow. Wow. WOW. WOW!!!!  With every kilometer this road just got prettier and prettier!  No billboards cluttering up the scenery, and lots of beautiful overlooks.  Nearly no traffic at all because we're visiting off season (but the weather is sunny and gorgeous).  If we stopped at even one fifth of the spectacular viewing spots we never would have made it to Lake Louise.  This is amazing.  Here are just a few samples of the scenery:

Mom and I are in awe.  Haven't seen any big horn sheep or bears, but we've seen scenery that just makes you want to cry - it's that magnificent.  Snow capped mountains, waterfalls, crystal blue skies, and evergreens as far as the eye can see.  If I weren't such a big fan of the ocean ...

And then we get to Lake Louise ... it takes your breath away.  Here's a photo taken through the window in our room  (as you can see from my reflection in it)

And one without my reflection ...

The lake is spectacular (have I already used that word too much?) and I could stare at it for a month.  Our room is great, the old Canadian Pacific Railroad hotels have all been purchased by Fairmont Hotels.  They include the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, Empress in Victoria, Chateau Lake Louise, Banff Springs and Vancouver hotels among others.  The thing about these hotels is the glamor of them.  In the 1920's guests would check in at the Banff Springs hotel with letters of credit for $50,000 for a three to four month stay (it wasn't easy to get to, but once you did you never wanted to leave).

The lobbies are enormous and opulent -- they make you feel tiny.  The detailing in the banisters, the friezes, the tapestries, and in the carved archways, the intricately designed inlaid floors - everywhere there is something to be seen and there are lots of stories about the railroad, the British Royal Family (Louise was Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, for those of you not up on your monarchy) and the glamorous movie stars who have stayed here.  These buildings are works of art in themselves.  There are photos of Marilyn Monroe arriving with Gregory Peck, tales of the first cabin built on this spot, of the original hotel (both the Banff Springs and Lake Louise hotels burned down in the late '20's), and of the royally appointed governor of the province.  The place is full of Lord this and Lady that interspersed with pioneers, explorers, woodsmen and indians.  Just walking around the hotels is like being in a museum. 

There's a trade off in that the rooms in these hotels tend not to be as big as modern hotel rooms, but I'll take it.   






With no other plans in mind, we went off to see the Banff Springs Hotel on Thursday.  Even more spectacularer (not a spelling mistake) than the Chateau Lake Louise in terms of the building itself, and the scenery, again, is gorgeous.  But I'm glad we decided to stay at Lake Louise and not Banff.   Especially since one of my life's goals is to dip my toes in every major body of water in the world - cross off Lake Louise!

Made It To The Mountains!

And boy oh boy was it worth the trip.  Jasper, Alberta is a lovely little town, with a picture postcard train station.  Its main industry is tourism, and everyone is exceptionally nice and friendly.  Great restaurants and bakeries, one of them had a write up in O! magazine.  (Terrific croissants.)  There's only one ski mountain, but tons and tons of hiking and riding trails as well as lakes, ponds, streams and rivers.  Mom and I are not going hiking, riding, fishing, swimming, skiing, canoeing or spelunking.   Mom left her cane in Florida and we've been looking for a "souvenir of Canada" one in every store we've seen.  Meanwhile I am her cane.

Got the rental car, figured out which pedal was the accelerator and off we went.

Stayed the first night in the mountains at the Fairmont Jasper Lodge, which is not one of the old Canadian Pacific Railroad hotels.  This didn't get off to a great start, they claimed my reservation was canceled on Sept. 24th, did not have an easily accessible room for Mom, and put us in a cabin out in the back of beyond.  Little on the shabby side for a Fairmont Resort, was not impressed with the broken concrete entrance to our cabin or the frayed cushions:

Nope, that wasn't making a big impression on me at all.  

BUT ... what did make an impression, and I'm sorry I don't have a photo of it, is the GINORMOUS elk that we saw when we came back from dinner!  It was waiting for us to go by in the car, and we were waiting for it to cross.  I've been reading the signs around Jasper that say you should not get between a buck and a female during mating season, not even in a car.   And there were three females on the other side of the road.  So we waited.  He waited.  We waited.  Eventually he strolled across the drive, head held high, all the time in the world. WOW!!!  He must have had 20 points - we could have almost touched him we were so close.  I thought about going back out and getting a photo but was afraid I would scare him with the flash and I didn't want to spook a very large wild animal, with hooves and horns (many, many horns - probably teeth too, but he wasn't smiling so I don't know for sure) in a dark, unfamiliar setting.  Especially since I'm not much of a runner these days. 

I checked at the front desk the next day.  They told me that the elk are easily spooked and that I did the right thing.  But what a picture that would have been - I'd have been a shoe-in for the next opening at National Geographic!! 

Then we were off for Lake Louise ... oh, wait until I tell you about the Icefield Parkway ...

 

Day Two – On the Train

Rockin’ & rollin’ night – and stopping and going and chugga, chugga, followed by nothing followed by more chugga, chugga.  Turns out most people find it hard to sleep the first night on the train, the second night they’re all exhausted and sleep really well, no matter how much noise or motion.  Mom asks questions that I don’t know the answer to, which (I think) she does so that I’ll find out and tell her, instead of her having to ask the question directly.  I noticed this pattern over in Italy many years ago; after traveling with her for two weeks back then I asked “Why do I have to ask ALL the questions?”  To which she replied “Because you speak Spanish”.  Pointing out that we were in Italy at the time made no difference.  Sometimes you need to know when to give up.  

Now I keep hearing things like “Why does it make all that noise on the straight parts and it’s quieter on the turns?  Why is that light red and the others are green but they don’t have yellow?  What does it mean when there are two green lights and one red light?  What do they call those yellow trees?  I now have all the answers to the above questions.  I also know that freight trains have priority over passenger trains, that there appear to be more cows than people in Saskatchewan, that the porters sleep wherever there is available room on the train, and that there is only one cabin on the train that accommodates three people.  I know why it’s called a drawing room, I know the names of all of our waiters and porters.  I know that Saskatchewan had the rainiest summer ever and the ground is so soggy in low lying areas of farms that the big heavy harvesters were sinking into the mud.   As a result there is a lot of unharvested wheat which may result in higher bread prices.   I know there’s a couple on board who are traveling around North America by train in 30 days.

 

Let’s get back to this cabin. Out of curiosity on Sunday I did a rough measurement of it.   Don’t worry, this didn’t take long.  The cabin is about 8’ long by 5 1/2’ wide.  About 44 sq. ft.   I think prison cells are larger, but I don’t know that from personal experience (yet).   The top bunk cranks up into the ceiling during the day and has a net of woven straps that’s hooked up at night so that the person in it won’t fall out.  There are also about five hooks that you can pop out from the wall, and would work well if you hang up a bunch of your stuff with wire hangers, but we don’t have any wire hangers.  I’ve found out that those who just buy a sleeper seat get a curtain that shuts them off from the companionway, but not a door.  Cabin F on each car has about one and half more feet than the others, which may not sound like much to you, but it will after three nights … I promise.

Winnipeg, Manitoba – it was Canadian Thanksgiving so not much was open, but just to stretch our legs and get off the train, we took a three hour tour of the city.  Winnipeg is nicknamed Windypeg, I’ll let you figure out why.  Largest French-speaking population outside of Quebec.  Gorgeous legislative building.  These pictures prove I was there.

Have not even set foot in a souvenir shop, so no weird souvenirs (yet).  I keep hoping.

The Trip Across Canada Begins!

We were off like a herd of turtles in a storm of thunder … well, not really.  This trip is unlike any other I’ve ever taken, and not only because I’m traveling with my mom, who at 89 (and ¾) years old is a little less spry than she was at 30).  Frankly I was never that interested in a long train ride, having spent my share of time on the Long Island Railroad, and with a second class student rail pass in Europe.  But if Mom wanted to go, I’d go.  As it turns out, it’s incredible!

We arrived in Toronto with a number of hours to spare, hoping to take a ½ day tour of the city.  Well that didn’t exactly work out, but we did have quite a long and scenic tour of the airport in trying to find a tour desk to book said city tour.  We did eventually find that you can take an express bus into Toronto, right to Union Station, for about $26 – very comfortable and a good savings from the cost of a taxi (about $50).   At the station we checked our bags in with a porter – and there’s no receipt.  You just give your bags to the porter and in a blind leap of faith believe that they will be delivered to your cabin.  I was skeptical.  The porter said “trust me, I promise you they’ll be there”.  Trust him?  I’ve never met this kid, I’ll probably never see him again, and I’m supposed to TRUST him?  We’d just seen three men about his age enter the airport in cuff links and under armed guard – being deported.  Why should I believe this guy?  What if I never see my brand new knee socks again?

It came down to either belief in a complete stranger or rolling two large suitcases behind me, and my mother in a wheelchair in front of me, while carrying a laptop and an overnight bag on my shoulder.  Try this yourself, you will either lose your suitcase or your mother, a tough decision to make.

                                                                            

The Royal York hotel, right across from the station is a lovely place to stay if you want to come in a day early. We went and had a light lunch of carrot-ginger soup.  The Royal York grows all its own vegetables on the roof!  I couldn’t believe it – but there’s even a tour of the rooftop gardens.  We missed it, but if they give a tour then I guess they’re not lying.  How do they do that in winter?  Greenhouses?

The “Canadian” (name of the train across Canada) passengers have a comfortable lounge in which they can wait for the train.  Coffee, tea, juices, water and sodas are free.  They have wi-fi, there are newspapers and a television (mostly hockey – this IS Canada). 

To my utter relief the suitcases were in our cabin,  but it wasn’t easy to get around them.  I don’t recommend this for larger (girth wise) people.  The cabin has a little sink and a separate toilet, shared shower is down the hall.  There’s about 14” of space between the beds and the afore mentioned sink.  The “closet” is about 8” wide.  No drawers.  A little storage shelf up top.  I flipped mom for the bottom bunk and I guess I lost because I’ve got the top one. I think that was going to happen anyway. 

Maneuvering is tricky, but we’re managing.  I recommend packing light for anyone planning to do this trip – there’s really not much room for any luggage.  It’s easier if only one person tries to get changed at a time instead of sharing the space.   But it’s cozy – and certainly friendly.

Let’s go back to the trust issue – you can’t lock the door when you leave your cabin.  The hall porter’s explanation was that they didn’t have enough keys.  That sounds a little lame but it was the best we were going to get.  No high-tech programmed key cards here. 

Weird souvenir of the day:  I’m going to have to disappoint you here.  No souvenir, but there is a grown man on the train traveling with his doll.  No joke.  It sits across from him at meals.  About a 3’ rag doll.  I was going to get a picture today but I saw him getting off the train – carrying the doll in a blanket.  I did not make this up.  

The best (or worst) thing so far … there’s no internet on the train.  I have clients trying to reach me to book, I have clients who want to re-fare their booking.  There’s just nothing I can do.  No cell phone coverage, no internet.  Nothin’. 

Was planning to send this in Winnipeg, but turns out we didn't have wi-fi available on the train, only in the station, so had to wait until Jasper.  Stay tuned.  More to come. .

Choo choo … chugga chugga, … choo choo!!

We're Battening Down the Hatches!!!

Village of Key Biscayne

STORM ALERT: Miami-Dade Under Tropical Storm Warning Until Further Notice Key Biscayne and the rest of Miami-Dade County are under a Tropical Storm Warning as of 11:00 am Tuesday, September 28, 2010 and until further notice. The weather will begin to deteriorate later today with the worst conditions expected on Wednesday, September 29. Be aware that localized flooding may occur on the Key in low-lying areas on Wednesday. The confluence of a high tide at 1:26 pm and a full moon will cause the storm drainage system to work more slowly. (Terrific.) (The wind began to switch, the house to twitch, and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch ...) Precautionary measures are being taken in public areas to prepare for expected heavy rain/localized flooding and strong winds. The Police and Fire Rescue Departments are fully staffed. The Public Works Department has checked drainage system pumps in flood-prone areas so they will be ready to handle heavy rains. Building, Zoning and Planning Department personnel will sweep the Village this afternoon to notify contractors that construction site materials should be secured. Village generators are ready to be deployed, if necessary. Now is the time to secure any outdoor items (furniture, umbrellas, potted plants, etc.) that may become airborne in high winds. Please be advised that emergency vehicles, school buses and other high-profile vehicles cannot safely cross the Powell Bridge in winds of 45 mph or higher.  If the power goes out I can't work.  Is that good or bad?

Great Deals in the Caribbean!

This just out from USA today ... given the long cold winter just ahead - now may be the time to book! 

Looking for a deal on a winter cruise? Here's the good news: Fares for Caribbean voyages are down from where they were a year ago.
The bad news? Fares for winter sailings in just about every other region of the world are up notably.
That's the word this week from Howard Frank, vice chairman of industry giant Carnival Corp., the parent company of more than half a dozen lines including Carnival, Princess, Holland America and The Yachts of Seabourn.
"With the exception of Caribbean itineraries, pricing for North American brand bookings during (the upcoming) 13 week period is significantly higher than a year ago," Frank told Wall Street analysts Tuesday during a conference call to discuss third quarter earnings.
Frank says fares for winter cruises in the Caribbean are lower largely as a result of significant increases in capacity in the region, which has seen the arrival of a number of major new ships including Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic. Industrywide capacity in the Caribbean for the first quarter of 2011 will be 15% ahead of a year ago, he notes.

Just When You Thought Airline Travel Couldn't Get Any Worse

Warning: the SkyRider may be coming.

According to industry sources this new seat is set at an angle with no more than 23 inches between a passenger’s seat and the one in front.

The new airplane seat would give passengers an experience akin to riding horseback and is being touted as “A design that could appeal to low-cost airlines that have floated the idea of offering passengers standing-room tickets on short flights,” said USA Today.

Thankfully (long sigh) the SkyRider isn't headed for an airplane cabin immediately.  But be warned,  its designer, Aviointeriors, an aircraft seat design firm based in Italy, says several airlines - even a few in the US -  have expressed interest.

"We feel extremely confident that this concept will ... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes," Dominique Menoud, director general of Aviointeriors Group, told the newspaper.  "For flights anywhere from one to possibly even up to three hours ... this would be comfortable seating," he said.  "The seat ... is like a saddle. Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle."

I am sooooo looking forward to high speed rail transportation in the US! 

Hurricanes

Lots of clients ask me about cruising during hurricane season.  Isn't it dangerous? 

Contrary to popular thought, hurricane season is a GOOD time to go cruising in the Caribbean.  Think of it this way: if you're in a Caribbean resort - say St. Thomas for example - and a hurricane comes bearing down on Charlotte Amalie you've got two options: evacuate or dig in.  If you evacuate, it's "vacation over" you're going home.  If you dig in, you'll very likely wind up in a nice resort with no electricity (thus no a/c, movies or frosty blender drinks) and possibly no plumbing.  No fancy meals, no using the pool, no soaking in the Jacuzzi. Having fun yet?

Now lets look at a cruise sailing to St. Thomas when a hurricane starts driving its way toward the island.  Only one thing happens - the ship changes course.  If you're sailing in the Eastern Caribbean your ship may head toward the Western Caribbean or vice versa.  Maybe you'll lose a port call and spend another day at sea - worst case scenario.  I know I would rather spend another day at sea enjoying a massage in the Spa, watching a movie under the stars, testing out the casino or seeing a show than a day (or days) hanging out in a torn up resort. Or frantically trying to get the next flight out, standing in long lines at the airport, fighting the crowds and using your suitcase for a pillow. And partly because of the misconception that cruising during hurricane season is dangerous, prices tend to be at some of the lowest points of the year! 'Nuff said.

For those who want to keep track of the latest storm(s) here's one of my favorite storm tracking sites.

Stay dry!

River Cruises Are Hot

And the word is catching on as more travelers realize that this is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore Europe! For those who have cruised the Mediterranean, river cruising brings you to countries that you can't reach on ocean-going vessels - like Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Hungary. They allow you to explore the heart of countries whose shores you've visited, such as France, Germany, Belgium or The Netherlands.  There's so much more to see!

Those who are far more learned in geography than I can tell you that most European capitals are not on the coast, but located on the banks of the great European rivers which, for centuries, provided the main source of transportation throughout the region. When the ship docks you're right in the midst of the city, and tours are included in the cruise fares! You can also enjoy time in well known regions outside the great cities; like Provence, the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains, or the Mosel River Valley.  Many river cruise lines also offer land extensions a little further inland to Munich, Prague or even Transylvania.  I wanna go, I wanna go!

I'm determined to do my first river cruise within the next year.  It's a goal.  I'd love to cruise the entire Danube from Luxembourg all the way to Bucharest; but I don't think my boss will give me 21 days out of the office. (She doesn't even give me Saturdays and Sundays off at the moment.) So my next best choice would be a Christmas Markets cruise that visits the magical cities of Vienna, Linz, Nuremberg and Budapest when they're all lit up with holiday decorations, maybe dusted with snow (yes, even though I'm a Florida girl) and the streets are filled with carolers.  Anybody want to join me?

Two days ago I received a flyer with some wonderful rates on AMA Waterways for sailings that still have space for 2010. A 12 day land & river tour of the Danube with pricing starting from $1499 on Nov. 11 or 20th.  A 7-night sailing from Amsterdam to Basel with 2 nights in Lucerne and 2 nights in Zurich from $1599.  There are several more, but I'm not trying to made this an advertisement. 

Wish I could do them all, but then I wouldn't be in the office to answer calls (guess I could get a satellite phone, couldn't I?).  Well, like I said, I doubt my boss would let me.

Roger and out.


www.topsailjourneys.com