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

It's All Going to the Dogs!

As a dog lover, and Foster Mother to three dogs here on Key Biscayne, I like this idea:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Pluto never had it so good: The next major attraction to open at Walt Disney World won't be for the kids - it will be for the dogs.

Best Friends Pet Resort, scheduled to open Aug. 27, will offer not just boarding, but also bedtime stories and a water park for dogs.

The luxury facility will accommodate way more than 101 Dalmatians. With more than 50,000 square feet of space, half of it outdoors, it has room for 270 dogs, 30 cats and assorted other animals, including birds, potbellied pigs and small mammals like hamsters and guinea pigs. (Sorry, no turtles, snakes or lizards.)

Standard indoor boarding for dogs runs $37 nightly. For additional fees, you can get services like doggy play group or bedtime stories for pooches accustomed to snuggling up with children while a parent reads aloud. (On the Best Friends reading list: "The Poky Little Puppy.")

Upgrades for dogs include vacation villas with outdoor patios and flat-screen TVs for watching videos like "Homeward Bound" ($59), or 226-square-foot luxury suites ($76) with private outdoor play yards and personal pet concierges.

Cats can choose between two- and four-story condos.

In addition to the water park, Best Friends offers play groups, outdoor runs, walking trails and areas for playing ball or Frisbee.

Pets can be left for the day without overnight boarding, and owners can drop by to visit or play on their way from hotels to the park.

"We know that people who bring their pets with them to Disney want to see their pets," said Deb Bennetts, spokeswoman for Best Friends, which operates more than 40 pet-boarding facilities around the U.S. "If they were simply going to board their pet, they would board their pet at home. They want to see and interact with their pet while at the resort, so we've made it easy for them to do that with all of this wonderful outdoor space."

The Best Friends resort will replace five existing kennels at Disney World and will be located on Bonnet Creek Parkway within the Disney complex directly across from the Port Orleans resort.

Cabin for One?

A giant is finally awakening in the cruise business.  The single passenger market, which I have firmly believed is a sleeping giant,  is beginning to be recognized!  According to some statistics, over 50% of US households are headed by single women - a market that has been discriminated against by forcing single passengers to pay a 100% surcharge to cruise.  For years I've been telling passengers that it all began with Noah and his ark, where the animals came on two by two by two.  (You have to wonder at the wisdom of Noah in inviting two termites aboard a wooden ship, but I digress).

I've mentioned in previous blogs that Norwegian Cruise Lines is setting the trend with single occupancy cabins ... now Silversea, a trés luxury line, has announced it is reducing its single supplement -- to just 10 percent of the base fare for a range of cabins on four upcoming voyages, and to 25% on nine additional voyages.  Earlier this year I saw a similar effort by Avalon Waterways.

Over 50% of US households ... I'll take that kind of market share any day.  Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America & Princess -- are you listening?  Build it and they will come!

Get Ready Texas!

Texans, spread the word!  Carnivals NEWEST ship, the Carnival Magic is coming to Galveston!  The Carnival Magic will debut in Europe in May 2011, offering seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona May 1 to October 16, 2011; followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Galveston departing October 28, 2011.

After October, guests can choose from two different week-long itineraries from Galveston, including seven-day western Caribbean voyages to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and week-long eastern Caribbean cruises to Nassau, Freeport, and Key West.Starting Nov. 14th 2011,

The Carnival Magic will debut in Europe in May 2011, offering seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona May 1 to October 16, 2011; followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Galveston departing October 28, 2011.  How many of my Texas clients have been looking for a transatlantic sailing that terminates in Galveston?  A whole stampede of them!

So my dear Texans, trade in your Stetsons for a swimsuit and come on aboard!  Fun for all and all for fun!

Horrors! Miami Losing Cruise Capital of the World Title

Travel Weekly claims that Miami may be losing its "Cruise Capital of the World" title - as soon as 2012.  Well, isn't 2012 when the world is supposed to end anyway? 

Regardless, this has to be the last straw.  I'm moving.  Anybody want to buy a condo in Key Biscayne?