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GoGoTraveler

31 Blog Entries
31 Trips
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Trips:

Bahama Spirit
Enchantment of the Seas
For Openers
What a wonderful cruise can do to you.
Mexican Extravaganza
Radisson Surprise
Crystal Gazing
What to do next
Birthday Time on RCI
Ladies Room
The Conqeust of the Century
Adventures to Conquer
A Victory for All
A princess not to miss
A Golden Palace
Magic is a Second away
Vacation Club
The Caribbean is a Magical Place
Wonder of the world
Yet again
Adored
Time of a Century
Celebrity Again
In the South
How much time? Infinity
A new Millennium
Groundhogs Trip
The Beatiful Summit
Alot of Cruises
40th Birthday
A Victory

Shorthand link:

http://blogabond.com/GoGoTraveler




Disney

Nassau, The Bahamas

I sailed with my family for a seven night cruise aboard the Disney Magic in August 2002. I must admit I was a bit reluctant to return to a Disney cruise after being very disappointed by a four night cruise in 1998. The first cruise was boring with very dull ports of call, but, as we are members of the Disney Vacation Club, we thought we would try out the new seven night cruise. I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements not only in the selection of ports of call, but also in service and food quality. The ship itself is a stunner – beautiful, sleek lines reminiscent of the golden age of cross-Atlantic cruises. A white top structure and yellow lifeboats complement a dark blue hull. A real beauty! Inside, the décor is subtle but elegant. Rooms are certainly not spacious, but comfortable. We had a Category 6 room – which includes a verandah. This was a great place to go to get some fresh air, and a little elbow room. Food at all of the meals was excellent – for breakfast and lunch you have the option of buffet or table service; dinners are rotated among three dining rooms with different themes each night. Both our server and assistant server were wonderful. The entertainment fell into two general categories- very good and embarrassingly bad. OK, it’s Disney, so I’m not expecting Vegas style entertainment – but “Morty the Magnificent” was horrible – a script that was so bad I found myself cringing, and songs that wouldn’t have made the cut into a Saturday morning cartoon. On the flip side – “Hercules” was excellent with a terrific cast and great topical humor – Hades stole the show. This show, with some additions, could follow “The Lion King” to Broadway. The lounge entertainers were quite good – particularly as they are limited by Disney language and subject restrictions. The ports of call this time around were much more interesting – Key West, Cozumel and the Cayman Islands, as well as the mandatory stop at Castaway Cay in The Bahamas. I have only one major complaint about Disney cruise ships– for God’s sake, add a casino! The ESPN sports bar on the top deck was deserted for the entire cruise; convert it into a small casino. I understand Disney’s desire to present a wholesome family image, but c’mon, it’s 2002 – gambling isn’t exactly a sin anymore. On a final note, Disney has the best service in the hospitality industry. No request is unreasonable, everyone is ready to help at any time. They really do make a traveler feel as though he was the only one on board. I have to go to www.SmartCruiser.com to book my next cruise and get Free Trip Insurance again.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on August 3, 2002 from Nassau, The Bahamas
from the travel blog: Vacation Club
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French all the way

Papeete, French Polynesia

Our family, grandmother, grandfather (me), daughter, son-in-law, grand son (age 20) and grand daughter (age 18) were all booked in minimum guarantee cabins, category F, but we were all moved (three cabins) to category C which is outside with a balcony. Beautiful facilities but even the category F with portholes are much better than most lines. They all have full baths with tub and shower, VCR's, fully stocked refrigerators, queen-sized beds, etc. Everything you would expect in a six star ship. My wife and I flew from Boston to Los Angeles on United using senior coupons plus mileage plus coupons to up-grade to first class. We spent the night in Los Angeles and then took the ship line's package on Air Tahiti for the eight hour coach flight to Tahiti. Our kids and grandchildren flew from Cleveland to Los Angeles, spent the night there and joined us on the Air Tahiti flight. The ship is as deluxe as they come but really understated. Most everyone would be comfortable with the surroundings and the service was outstanding. The food was a little too gourmet for our plebian taste but we could always rough it with nightly choices of filet mignon, pasta, chicken, etc. Wine is served with lunch and dinner without charge and there were enough free cocktail parties, open bars, etc. to keep most of the passengers in a fine mood. Gratuities are included and we didn't have trouble using up the $200 on-board credit that we had received.The ship provides snorkel equipment, water skiing, kayaking, wind surfing, all without charge. Our kids and grandchildren took advantage of several tours including night scuba, petting sharks, etc. We were content to rent a car in Moorea and enjoy the island parties provided by the ship. All arrangements on the ship were handled with professional skill and we were always treated as honored guests by a highly skilled staff. We Hope to take further cruises with Radisson (this was our second) but we felt that we had seen the islands, which are beautiful, but would like to explore other areas before returning to Tahiti.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on May 22, 2002 from Papeete, French Polynesia
from the travel blog: Radisson Surprise
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Princess

Acapulco, Mexico

As most know, this ship is HUGE! What impressed us the most was that you never felt "crowded" at any times. They designed the ship and passenger flow very well. I have sailed on Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Holland America and I was very satisfied with the Princess experience. While each line has their respective strength and weaknesses, I would offer that none of the differences would impact our satisfaction with our vacation in any way. In short, unless you are a very critical person, I think you'll enjoy Princess very much. One thought, however, was that I noticed the staff throughout were not as "customer oriented" as other lines. Specifically, we would walk down the stateroom hallways and cleaning staff would not move out of the way for us as on other lines, but would expect us to move around them. Lido deck staff were not aggressive in offering drinks, service, etc. This didn't affect our satisfaction, however, it was noticed. The ship, although new, was spotless. The drinks along with their prices were quite tasty, and the food was well-varied, fresh and was not recycled in any fashion...even the next day on the Lido Deck. They didn't pressure you to buy drinks or shore excursions and the TV programming was good. This is an excellent ship, line, and a good cruise for all ages and family. I went to www.SmartCruiser.com and found a great deal which included free trip insurance. They also had much other great deals and specials. If your looking to go on a cruise anytime soon you should go there. You won't regret it.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on March 23, 2002 from Acapulco, Mexico
from the travel blog: Mexican Extravaganza
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Highly Recommended

Barcelona, Spain

Based on our experience, we would cruise with Celebrity again. The embarkation process was flawless, and took about 5 minutes. This is in sharp contrast to the hours it took on our first cruise. Our room (outside, 9th deck) was spacious and well laid out. The food was excellent---the highlight was that there were always options. Breakfast--the formal dining room, buffet, an omelet bar and a waffle bar. Each evening there was a sushi bar that was not well-attended, but was very, very good! For dinner, there was always pizza and pasta available, informal dining in the sky bar as well as the Grand dining room. Also, room service was available 24 hours, and items on the dining room menu could be included in room service. On 2 nights there was a midnight buffet, which we couldn't even consider----who could be hungry after eating all day! The size of the ship suited us well--big enough. I don't know that we would want it any bigger or we would forever be making long walks to and from places. We enjoyed the activities on board and took part in as many as we could. The staff was consistently courteous and did an excellent job. For those who complained about not enough on TV---who goes on a cruise to watch TV? It was so nice to turn it off for a week. There were so many other things to do, that we didn't miss TV at all. Overall, I highly recommend Celebrity--they do a great job of meeting the interests of everyone. We went to www.SmartCruiser.com and found a deal that included $500 Shipboard credits and Free trip insurance as a packaged special. It was very useful.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on February 15, 2002 from Barcelona, Spain
from the travel blog: Celebrity Again
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Dramatic Symphany

Barcelona, Spain

This "Wine and Romance" 12 day cruise had stops in Cannes, France; Cadiz, Spain; Gibraltar, U.K.; Lisbon, Portugal; Le Verdon, France; Bordeaux, France;. It is truly difficult to describe any negative aspect of this cruiseship, its staff or the administration of procedures. >From embarkation to the end, we were treated incredibly well and we were called by our names by much of the staff. The design allowed for easy walking from bow to stern and port to starboard. The ship was spotless and kept that way from start to finish. A spacious 8th deck room with verandah had a double sink bathroom with tub and shower; plenty of closet & cabinet space; stocked fruit basket and refrigerator with free refills of water, perrier and sodas. The bed had rounded corners and selection of linens. Room service was prompt and the food delicious. Food: great taste, great variety in the main dining room, lido buffet deck, specialty restaurants, and grill-BBQ & ice cream stand on the pool deck. The shows and music were plentiful and full of energy. The talent was Las Vegas quality or better. The cruise director was great. Also, a 50's-60's theme night was a big hit with all passengers and crew. Excursions -- reasonably priced and a good selection. Also, Crystal supplied free transportation to city centers in ports where docks were distant. They also always had a representative on tours and they provided water. Staff -- sincere and happy employees that went out of their way to insure that we were happy. There were no loud announcements, no pushy bar staff or photographers. Overall -- Crystal both earned and deserved their "six-star" rating on this cruise. If you are seeking a semi-personalized and relaxed atmosphere with great food, people and amenities, we can recommend Crystal. We found a great special at www.SmartCruiser.com with Free Trip Insurance included.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on February 5, 2002 from Barcelona, Spain
from the travel blog: Crystal Gazing
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Something Cruises Twice

George Town, Cayman Islands

My wife and I have sailed on 19 different cruise ships. Never the same ship twice although we have sailed with a Cruise Line more than once. We had previously sailed on the Celebrity Century and Mercury. We just completed a cruise on the new Norwegian Sun last October. Now we believe that Celebrity is our favorite cruise line and the Summit is our favorite ship. She is beautiful outside and in. We were at anchor in Grand Cayman with 5 other large ships and the Summit was easily the most beautiful. The food was excellent. The service in every area of the ship was perfect. The crew and staff are friendly, attentive and professional. There are some extras like robes in the room, very nice towels for the beach shore excursions. My wife is a dancer/choreographer and she has choreographed over 45 shows over the years. We always like the Production Shows. Until the Summit we thought the Jean Ann Ryan company on the Norwegian Sun was the best. Until we saw the Celebrity Singers and Dancers on the Summit. Exceptional in every way. Every member was exceptionally talented. The Dancers were mostly from the UK and obviously well trained. The music arrangements were superb. We have been on 4 ships with the Jeff Hughes Orchestra and we think that his is the best. Our itinerary was not the greatest and we thought that the shore excursions were overpriced so we only took 2. The beach in Aruba and snorkeling in Grand Cayman. We will definitely choose Celebrity again on one of their Millennium class ships. My wife has already booked our next cruise on www.SmartCruiser.com with Free trip insurance. She booked the cruise on the Infinity to United States in September.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on January 12, 2002 from George Town, Cayman Islands
from the travel blog: Alot of Cruises
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Fun Fun Fun

Bridgetown, Barbados

Great Cruise All the way around! Great islands! We highly recommend getting a Balcony Suite! You won't regret it! The views are great coming and leaving port! This was our 2nd cruise on this same ship. We went last year for our Honeymoon and this year for a "Family Cruise"! Food was good! Entertainment was the same as last year! It was nice going on the same ship because we knew our way around and didn't lose a day or 2 trying to figure out where everything was like the 1st time! Carnival is the best all around cruise line from the price, to itinerary, food, entertainment and FUN FUN FUN! We recommend to also get the complete package deal with you flight and cruise together! Allot less worries! And don't forget to buy insurance just in case! Embarkation and Debarkation aren't much Fun but it's for our own safety and security! Also Snorkel, Snorkel and Snorkel some more! This itinerary offers some of the best snorkeling in the world! Barbados-Sea Turtle and Ship wreck Snorkel, Aruba-DePalm Island Snorkeling, Dominica-Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling, St Thomas-Just Snorkel! Can't wait to go on our next Carnival cruise! When we do book our next cruise with carnival we are going to go through www.SmartCruiser.com because they have really good prices and they come with great extras like free trip insurance.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on April 30, 2001 from Bridgetown, Barbados
from the travel blog: Adventures to Conquer
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Seasons Change

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

This was our fourth and best cruise with Celebrity. Millennium is a big and beautiful ship. The artwork is stunning and everyday we found new pieces to enjoy. We were particularly pleased to see so many faces of crew from previous cruises. Our bus boy from two years ago even remembered our names, it was a real pleasure and made us believe Celebrity is good to its employees. The gas turbine engines on the ship are amazing, there is no vibration or rumbling, even when pulling into port or on lower decks. Engine noise is virtually non-existent. I didn't think I would notice such a thing but it truly is incredible. The ship is beautiful to look at, immaculately clean (which is should be given its age) and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The addition of the Emilio Robba floral designs throughout the ship was particularly impressive. Other vessels in port pale in comparison.As this was our fourth Celebrity cruise, we've become quite accustomed to the food. I must admit it's becoming somewhat repetitive and we could almost predict what each night's featured entrée would be. The Olympic restaurant is a true delight and I highly recommend it even though there is a $25 per person gratuity added on. The waiters are amazing, food is prepared tableside and each dessert is prepared from scratch after you order it. We were very impressed with the wine selections and knowledgeable wine steward. These are the best of the best of the wait staff - specially trained alongside Michel Roux at his restaurant. The décor is also stunning. It's a special experience, well worth it. Tip: Make reservations early or stop by the restaurant the day you want to eat and they can probably get you in. Ports were fine, we tend to not be port intensive cruisers. Opting mostly to use the opportunity to get on dry land and stretch our legs, do some shopping and then get back on the ship. We did, however, participate in a tour of Ft. Lauderdale when we disembarked to kill time before our plane left and it was great. We didn't expect it to be so enjoyable. We've already booked on the Summit for next winter on www.SmartCruiser.com and are counting the days. When we did book our cruise, we got Free trip insurance and $150 Onboard credits to use on anything on the ship including booking excursions on the ship. If you plan to cruise Celebrity more than once, we highly recommend joining the Captain's Club. Only $35 and worth every penny!

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on February 4, 2001 from Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
from the travel blog: Groundhogs Trip
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Time goes buy but Magic stays forever

Nassau, The Bahamas

Move down all other cruise lines....Disney has done their homework and makes the 3-day cruise a classy, fun and exciting time! From the moment we met the airport personnel to the time we got back on the bus to go home, Disney was a 4 star example of what the other cruise lines should be! We have taken many cruises on the other lines but none have compared to the service and entertainment that we received on board the Disney Magic. The 4 of us (two kids, ages 14 and 10 and my wife)enjoyed a spacious indoor cabin that came with bunk beds for the kids AND a queen bed for my wife and I. The room was huge compared to the smaller rooms on the other cruise lines. Every night you ate in a different restaurant (Animator's palate-where the room changed from black in white to full color pictures of Disney animated characters; Lumiere's-a classy and elegant dining experience; and Parrot Cay, a tropical garden with pirate parrots). Characters were available at different times for photos and autographs, which was nice (no the same ones all the time). There were pools for the family, alduts only or just for kids. Every night was a Broadway-type musical (thank you for not having another dated Las Vegas show!). The teen center (Common Grounds) was teens only (I was met at the door and an employee went and got my teen; no adults allowed). My youngest was always up in the kids center and made Flubber, helped in other science projects and we always knew when to find him. We only walked around Nasau for about an hour (we've been there before) and then hurried back to the ship for more fun. It rained and thundered when we docked on Disney's island the next day, but the sun came out and we played in the water until the storm came. The barbecue was a feast and we sampled a little of everything. Snorkeling was fun and the man-made reefs attracted a lot of fish. The sunken ship (Seaworthy Sue) was great, including the Mickey figurehead (you'll need an underwater camera). The two hour wait to disembark the ship....forget it! Once we cleared immigration, you could get off at your leisure. Looking for your suitcases....Disney lines them up so you can find them quickly. We were off the ship and on the bus in 15 minutes. Other cruise lines, take note! We're already talking about taking the 7-day cruise that starts in August 2000. Thank you, Thank You Disney for making this the best cruise ever!!!!! P.S. If we do go on another , we book our cruises on www.SmartCruiser.com. they have the best deals. I got Free Trip Insurance with my purchase.

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on June 14, 2000 from Nassau, The Bahamas
from the travel blog: Magic is a Second away
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Trans Royal

Cornwell, United Kingdom

This, our 28th cruise, was a really pleasant surprise. I balked at going on a Royal Caribbean ship as I recalled the miniscule cabins on the Nordic Prince and the Song of Norway. However, although we had an inside cabin, it was quite adequate. Plenty of storage space and very good bathroom. The shower was comfortable and the fixtures were all state of the art and quite efficient. The ship is magnificent. Beautifully decorated (not glitzy) and the atrium is a sight to behold with waterfalls, etc. The dining room is two tiered and really lovely as you can see out on all sides. The waiters and assistants were cheerful and helpful and the maitre d' was so charming and attentive that I must admit it is the first time I felt the necessity to tip him. The shows on this ship were exceptionally good. I had seen two of the acts years before but they were great. Benny something an his wife Shirley Harmer - he is a very funny comedian and she sings well. Also an Italian tenor (Renato) who we saw years ago but very entertaining. The WAVE REVIEW of singers and dancers in production numbers were absolutely sensational. Also, several other good acts. The food was adequate, but although presented nicely and of course the descriptions on the menu made you expect better - it was not 4 star by any means. The beef was good - and they served l/2 rack of lamb (a little tough) and we had lobster one night but you could have seconds. They have a nice cafeteria style room (Windjammer) open all the time for ice-cream and snacks. The pools are nice. One has a retractable roof and was warm but although the weather was lovely, it was quite windy - so much so in fact that the captain announced it was holding us back and we were late arriving in the Canaries. There is an excellent library on board too. Now we are home and exhausted from the jetlag. Delta is to be commended for on time flights and they have more legroom and fed us all the time. I would deffinitly go on the ship again. The price was also incredible at www.SmartCuiser.com. I got Free Trip insurance and an Auqa Spa Experience Free also. It was great!

permalink written by  GoGoTraveler on May 15, 2000 from Cornwell, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: What to do next
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