Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Why PRE-PAID GRATUITY you ask?

Check your Email In Box...a message was sent to you requesting your action as follows:

This is a request to have you contact Alex at Innovative Travel either through phone or by email for approval to charge $80.00 per person for pre-paid gratuity on your credit card.

After much contemplation and thought. We believe that this will be the best course of action for our group. Unfortunately this pre-paid gratuity is an all or nothing group participation decision. And we wanted to let you know why we have made this decision.

1. In order to provide the opportunity to mix and mingle among our tables for our group at our late night dining, we would have to pre-pay our gratuity. Cruise ship policy! Yes, we wanna play musical chairs throughout our cruise dining and pre-paying our gratuities will allow this opportunity.

2. We have chosen this option because we did not want to, play God and have to make the decision to assign who had to sit at who’s table. Hey were honest aren’t we?

3. Paying ahead as such will be one less thing you have to worry about till of course you get your credit card bill….but you knew that!

4. On those select day or days you choose to participate in the Specialty Restaurant reservations or maybe not want to dress-up and head to the buffet or worse yet too hung over from the partying in port to show up for dinner and settled for room service? Well having you gone won’t impact the one or two lonely individuals at your table who managed to dress-up, show-up and stayed sober! They can now join another table for company --- get the idea now?

So, need your help as the time has come to make the dining arrangements. Give Alex a call or email her to charge your credit card and we will be on our way! This is a PRIORITY ACTION ---please! You don’t want us nagging you and especially me (ask Roger he’ll verify that!).

Thanks for your immediate response,
Diana & Roger Davis
Naomi Carter


Photo from Carnival Cruise

Friday, January 23, 2009

What's the best parking option for the cruise?

Roger and I just made a day trip to San Diego the other day and wanted to update you with our findings. We have decided to spend the night in San Diego on March 3rd (pre-cruise)and have booked our reservation at the Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites on Shelter Island.


We chose a Snooze 'n Cruise option that was $139 (Tropical Pool & Garden View) which also included our overnight accommodation as well as a complimentary parking for our car during our cruise. Additionally, complimentary shuttle transport between the hotel and cruise terminal was also included. The hotel also has a Snooze 'n Cruise for $119 (same category) for those flying in to San Diego Airport and not driving. Be sure you get the Snooze 'n Cruise rate as this is a lower promotional price. See our Snooze 'n Cruise blog article. I suggest you book directly through the hotel if this is of interest. The phone number is 619/224-3411 or 800/345-9995.


The other option for those not wanting to spend the night is, we found parking rates to be
between $12-18 per day pending on location of your parking lot and whether you care if your car
is under a parking structure or out in the open.



There are a number of parking options off of the 5 freeway when you exit on to
Sassafras / Kettner Blvd as you head towards the airport. We specifically stopped to get prices for the Cruise Terminal Parking (5 Star Parking) on Harbor and Broadway. This was directly across from the Cruise Terminal. It was $15.00 a day with no parking structure so your car will be out in the open.



In talking to my girlfriend Karen, she brought up a discount coupon you can get on-line for parking lot structure on the corner of Sassasfras and Laurel. Not sure if they have a shuttle service between the parking structure and the cruise ternimal. Perhaps Karen can add her two cents if she finds this info with her comment to this article?


Some of our other local friends shared their interest about taking the train to San Diego from Orange County. You can walk from the train terminal to the cruise terminal via Broadway. But, don't plan to have multiple luggage as the road way maybe bumpy and I'm not certain that there was a sidewalk from the train to the cruise terminal on Broadway. Still thinking train ride....You can always take a cab to haul you to the cruise terminal?


And finally, the current information I have is that our Hawaii friends have chosen to get into the Mexican spirit by selecting Comfort Inn at Old Town as their pre and post cruise accommodations. Ole'! My personal recommendation is to checkout the OLD TOWN MEXICAN CAFE. Best Corn Tortilla I've had this side of the border and their Pork Pozole Soup is delicious!

Photo provided by Flickr SD Dirk, view from Shelter Island to the San Diego Skyline.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

NICE DAY IN PORT



To keep in touch with what the day will be like in port, I advise checking the Weather Report. I generally use the msn.com on the computer but watch the weather channel on the television. Either source would be a helpful tool to get an idea for what to expect. Here’s what I found out for the MONTH OF MARCH, the average of our four ports from the msn.com website:

City/Port •Average Low •Average High •Average Precipitation
San Diego • 50 Degree F (Low) • 68 Degree F (High) • 2.07 inches
Acapulco • 71 Degree F (Low) • 89 Degree F (High) • 0 inches
Zihuantanejo • 71 Degree F (Low) • 89 Degree F (High) • 0 inches
Manzanillo • 68 Degree F (Low) • 83 Degree F (High) • 0.02 inches




Photo provided by Flickr:Sarchi

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

SNOOZE & CRUISE with PARKING?

Came across some great information on Cruise-Friendly Hotels in San Diego through the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau. I have highlighted below some of the hotels that were on this website for those who will be having a vehicle to park during our cruise. Might want to consider checking it out as perhaps staying one night before the cruise may very well cover the cost of parking as this is a premium issue in San Diego.

Best Western Seven Seas
•Located in Mission Valley
•Complimentary shuttle service to the airport and Cruise Ship Terminal
•Parking through the duration of the cruise

Comfort Inn at the Harbor
•Located across harbor & 1 mile north of San Diego Airport
•One night hotel stay
•Parking during the cruise
•Round trip transportation to the Cruise Ship terminal
•Complimentary deluxe breakfast for two

The Dana on Mission Bay
•Located in Mission Bay
•One night of accommodations
•Ten days of complimentary parking
•Complimentary transportation to and from the Cruise Ship Terminal

Days Hotel – Hotel Circle – SeaWorld
•Located near SeaWorld & the beaches
•One-night hotel accommodations
•10 days of complimentary parking
•Transportation to and from the cruise ship terminal.

Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside
•Located across from the scenic San Diego Bay, 1 mile from the Airport & 3 miles to the Cruise Ship Terminal
•Overnight accommodations
•Up to 10 days of complimentary parking
•Complimentary transportation to and from the airport and the cruise ship terminal.

Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn
•Located on Shelter Island along the San Diego Bay
•One night stay
•Ten days of complimentary parking
•Complimentary transportation to and from the airport and Cruise Ship Terminal

Marriott Gaslamp
•Located downtown Gaslamp Quarter
•Offers two “Snooze ‘n’ Cruise” packages
•1st Snooze ‘n Cruise Package: for guests who drive into San Diego & includes a one-night stay, breakfast for 2 in Soleil @K, transportation to and from the Cruise Terminal and complimentary valet parking in secure garage for up to 10 days
•2nd Snooze ‘n Cruise Package: is for guests who fly into San Diego and includes a one night stay, breakfast for two in Soleil @ K and transportation to and from the Cruise Terminal

Photo Provided by Parking Lot Flickr. David Hilowitz

Friday, January 9, 2009

UPDATE ...Who's Cruising with Us?


Today's Update...are you on the A List?

From Alex our travel agent, here it is the latest participation list for our group, to date.

Alex can still assist you & your friend in signing up on this group cruise---its' not to late to be on this "Fun Ship"with us.


WELCOME ABOARD...
• Roger & Diana Davis
• Naomi Carter & Carol Sakai
• Joyce Chinen & Maxeen Shea
• Walt & Charmille Abe
• Thomas & Florence Alford
• Michael & Darlene Aoki
• Steven Blancarte
• Willy Ching & Wayne Sasaki
• Jean Gillman & Joan Cliffe
• Sean Hagerty & Andrea Babby
• Linda Hilleboe & Clara Triana
• Janice Wagner & Sharon Larner
• Reagan Miyasaki & Fumiko Miyasaki
• Kenneth & Sandra Mohr
• Jean Myers & Sheila Wensel
• Richard & Euphemia Nagashima
• Robert & Jeanette Sylva-Pereira
• Ted Rodriguez & Alex Kuncio
• Julie, Jeff & Benjamin Schatz
• Michael Tiffany
• Buzz & Karen Vaughn
• Joan Yamanaka & Joyce Spoehr