San Diego Here We Come! … By Karen

Our Mexican Riviera Cruise will be here sooner than we think…and how exciting!! Since we depart from San Diego, some of you may want to come into town a day or so early to assure you don’t miss the ship or to just visit the area.

As you probably know, San Diego is a real tourist town with lots to do and see. The Cruise Terminal, Airport and Train Station are all within a mile of each other, so it’s a bustling place. There are many hotels in this vicinity and plenty of restaurants. Shops of all sorts from a big mall like Horton Plaza to quaint theme areas like Seaport Village & the Gas Lamp District are all within a good walk of the cruise terminal. But, there’s more.

If you have a couple of days to spend, you might want to visit the San Diego
Zoo, Balboa Park or take a tour of the general area. Did you know the USS Midway is a museum here? The famous Del Coronado Hotel can be reached by tour bus or the Old Town Trolly and Old Town San Diego has shops and restaurants not far away as well.

To give you an idea of what’s available, here are a few additional websites you might want to check out: Trolley Tours, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, San Diego Grayline. If you aren’t staying on a pre or post cruise package with Carnival, you can also refer to Diana’s article on San Diego Where Do I Stay? You will have an endless option for motels & hotels with various price ranges. Enjoy the planning!!!

Read All About It!

Astounding, intrigue, brilliance, superb, dramatic, informative, descriptive… whatever your choice in words one cannot create a more relaxing world than that of a best-selling novel, an informative resource book or a comprehensive short story collection to curl up with.

I recently visited some book websites such as Barnes & Nobles, Amazon and Borders. There is this incredible black hole resource that seems to continue forever. As I surf the web I found novels, travel books, reference guides and even maps just to mention a few. Defintely worth a peek!

As we prepare for our cruise, you will see that half the journey is the anticipation of the trip. To help you get into the mood check out some of the books that are available at your local bookstore or simply go on line as I have. I've listed a few of my findings below. You might want to check the reviews at one of the book websites to see if this is of interest to you:

• "Mexico" by James A. Michener
• "Sisterchicks in Sombreros" by Robin Jones Gunn
• "Mexico,A Love Story: Women Write About the Mexican Experience" by Camille Cusumano
• "Mexican Days: Journeys into the Heart of Mexico" by Tony Cohan
• "On Mexican Time: A New Life in San Miguel" by Tony Cohan
• "What Time Is the Midnight Buffet?: Tales from the Cruise Adventure of a Lifetime" by Chesterh
• "My Several Journeys-Book Two" by Elizabeth Mulford
• "The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World" by Eric Weiner
• "Make the Most of Your Time on Earth" by Rough Guides
• "The Smart Traveler's Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers" by Erik Torkells
• "Acapulco, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo" by Lynne Bairstow, Juan Cristiano
• "Cruising the Mexican Riviera and Baja :A Guide to the Ships and the Ports of Call by Larry H. Ludmer
• "Eyewitness Travel Guide: Mexico" by DK Publishing
• "Moon Acapulco, Ixtapa, and Zihuatanejo" by Bruce Whipperman
• "Destination Mexico : Planning a Cruise to Mexico" by Carolyn Mehaffy/Bob Mehaffy
• Frommer's Portable "Acapulco. Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo

Now it's your turn to share...know a good book? Write a comment and let us know...

Cruise Planner Timeline...Who's the Lead?

There is a couple of things that makes me wonder if I am just neurotic about details or if it’s a good thing that I like the comfort of being organized as it at least makes me feel like my life is perhaps a wee bit easier? And still yet another, a-ha thought that came to my mind the other day was that my husband Roger was perhaps the smarter one. He for one had the good sense to get me to marry him and then he simply arrives with all the details and plans set up for his approval or better yet already handled. Why was I not the smart one?

Fortunately we’re all not alike. However, someone should take the lead on planning the details before one’s sailing date. Whether it is your significant other or perhaps a fellow traveler or even your cabin mate? Someone needs to be the organizer as you really don't want to miss the boat or necessary details you need to complete before crossing the gang plank. The Honolulu Friends of Parks & Recreation meet monthly but there is still generally a lead person for the trip. My suggestion is you start by checking out this link to one of my favorite resource Cruise Diva. This article will get you started on making your own Personal Cruise Planner Timeline.

Also check out the Carnival Cruise website at the bottom of the home page, Embarkation Information to get you thinking what you need to do before your sail date. Lastly, start reading and surfing the interenet, visit the book store, read the details of your cruise brochure and get a notebook, binder, file folder or a box and just gather the information and start organizing yourself with your interests. Before you know it, we will be waving Bon Voyage off the upper deck of the Carnival Spirit!

Photo provided by Flickr, Co-Photoguy

SAN DIEGO HOTELS...Where Do I Stay?

As one of the fast growing cruise port on the West Coast, San Diego is a fabulous City to explore and visit before or after your Mexican Riviera Cruise. But, where do I stay? Your first task is to decide what you would like to do in San Diego. Is it just get a good night sleep before the cruise embarkation? You want to be close to the cruise terminal? You would like to be in the middle of the downtown and the nightlife? Or you want to be centrally located near the Zoo, Sea World or Wild Animal Park? Perhaps you just want a luxury hotel with a high thread sheet count and chocolate on your pillow? Then you have to decided on what you are you willing to pay per night?

A favorite for our Hawaii Friends is the Best Western Bay Side Inn hotel on Ash Street. The closest hotel to the Cruise Terminal is the Holiday Inn on the Bay on North Harbor Drive....it's across the street! There are other hotels located on the islands of Harbor (Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina)and Shelter (Humphrey's half Moon Inn & Suites) Islands that have an incredible view of the San Diego skyline at night. Or you may opt for a number of small luxury boutique hotels in the Gaslamp District such as Hotel Solamar or Bristol Hotel for the dining and nightlife.

If shopping is an important factor for you staying near downtown Horton Plaza is probably be a good option. So check out the hotels of Westgate Hotel, US Grant Hotel, Westin Hotel to start.

Seaport Village also offers other shopping and dining opportunity so consider staying at San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Omni Hotel San Diego.

For CHEAPER hotels...but I give you no guarantees as to their cleanliness or quality. These two I believe are the closest to the cruise terminal as well...check out Days Inn Harbor View and Pacific Inn Hotel & Suites on Pacific Coast Highway. You can also get cheaper costing hotels that are in the Town and Country/Mission Valley/Old Town area of San Diego. There are defintely more to choose from and here are a couple more links you can check out for hotel descriptions and options: San Diego Convention & Visitors Buereau is a favorite link of mine also try InfoSanDiego.com . Happy Exploring!

Photo Provided by Flickr/photographer: lolowar

Do I Need a Stinkin' Passport?

With the new USA regulations to implement Passports as travel identification, I'm sure if you're anything like me you can easily get confused. As a cautionary measure I say you have plenty of time and just apply for a passport if you don't have one. And if you DO have a passport,DOUBLE CHECK your expiration date, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the last day of travel. For information about obtaining a passport for the first time, or about renewing a passport, "click" here to visit the U.S. Department of State's Web site.

Last year, I had to assist my girlfriend’s college daughter in getting a new passport because her passport did not have the valid 6 month window for her travel period. The waiting period was unrealistic for our needs (long wait) and the last minute ordeal & stress was truly not a way to start off a trip. There are agencies that can expedite your passport process. But, it will COST YOU. So my suggestion is GET IT NOW and save your dollars for that fabulous souvenir or shore excursion you wanna take. Our friends Buzz & Karen recently applied for their renewal and the turnaround time was surprisingly quick. But understand one never knows how this truly works. So my recommendation is Don't Delay!

Additionally, I just received a travel newsletter, May 13, 2008 from Vacation To Go and they had an extensive write up by Chairman and CEO, R. Alan Fox, hope it helps you, check it out:

In March, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security issued a final (we hope) ruling on the implementation date for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). First announced in 2005 and repeatedly modified since that time, the WHTI is designed to enhance border security and requires people traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Panama, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda to have a passport to enter or re-enter the United States.Since January 23, 2007, passports have been required for anyone who enters or re-enters the U.S. by air from the destinations mentioned above.Beginning June 1, 2009, the passport requirement will be extended to include all land border crossings and sea travel to or from the above-mentioned destinations.There are a few notable exceptions pertaining to land and sea border crossings:
U.S. citizens on cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port and travel to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda will be able to re-enter the U.S. with proof of citizenship other than a passport or passport card, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Passports will be required for cruises that begin in one U.S. port and end in another.
A new, lower-cost alternative to the passport, called a passport card, will be acceptable for entries into the U.S. by land or sea. Compared to passports, which cost $100 for first-time applicants ($85 for children), passport cards cost just $45 ($35 for children). The passport card will not be acceptable for air travel.
For more information about passport cards, click here to visit the passport card section of the U.S. Department of State's Web site.
Children under the age of 16 who are citizens of the U.S. or Canada will be exempt from the passport requirement for land and sea border crossings when the rule goes into effect. In lieu of a passport, children will be able to continue to use a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for entry into the U.S. by land or by sea. Children entering or re-entering the U.S. by air are still required to have a valid passport.
Cruise lines that sail roundtrip from U.S. ports to any of the destinations mentioned above say they will continue to accept a certified birth certificate and government-issued I.D. (such as a driver's license), in lieu of a passport for U.S. citizens. However, many cruise lines strongly suggest that guests obtain a passport anyway, and here's why.Guests who cruise and need to fly to or from the United States unexpectedly will likely experience significant delays and complications related to booking airline tickets and entering the United States if they do not have a valid U.S. passport with them. For example, a passenger missing a cruise departure due to a late inbound flight to Miami would need a passport to fly to meet the ship at the next port.Similarly, guests needing to fly home to the U.S. or Canada (via the U.S.) before their cruise ends, because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ship's departure from a port of call, or a mechanical problem of some sort with the ship, would need a passport.Of course, situations like these are extremely rare, but they can happen, which is why I also recommend passports for cruises.

Excerpts for Passport Information provided by VacationToGo.com Newsletter May 2008

Photo provided by Flickr.com -youngmei

First Time Cruisers....Nervous? Don't Be...It's the Fun Ship!

I’m here for you my dear friends… Naomi will no doubt NOT be the only first time cruisers! The Carnival Spirit can hold 2,124 passengers. Trust me you won't be the only first-timer. However I do sympathize that this can be a weary and yet exciting time for the first time cruiser, which is why joining the Friends and Fun Cruise Group is a perfect opportunity to experience cruising with support and reassurance. You have an instant network of friends.

On the right side bar is a list of links that you can reference to help you begin to explore the basic and requirement for this cruise trip. I also suggest you check out the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on the following specific sites such as Carnival, Cruise Critic, and Cruise Diva.

About.com has some interesting cruise planning and lastly to get a feel of the first step…read up on the article by Cruise Diva, What to Expect on Day One. This will ease your mind as it gives you a good feel of what you might expect for the first day.

Don't like to surf the web? Head to the local Barnes & Nobles...they actually have a book called "Cruise Vacation for Dummies". Don't laugh, I have that book, it's my starter book to cruising. The on-line Barnes & Noble has the best selection, but you can ask a sales clerk to assist you and they can look it up for you as well.

Still overwhelmed? I started this article with I'm here for you, so... Simply email me and let’s see if we can ease you into a fun time on the fun ship! Have fun exploring the incredible amounts of information. You'll be an expert in no time at all.

Inside, Outside, Balcony …Oh My???

Okay the decision is done…”Yes, I’m going on this cruise”…but wait I’ve never done this before, How do I know what kind of a room do I pick? No problem, I’ll ask my roommate - inside, outside, balcony, suite, oh my!

Checkout a couple of my favorite websites to help you decide, the Carnival Cruise Spirit Stateroom will give you a sample idea of what they look like. Try also the website for Cruise Diva and About.com these two links will help you to understand what cabin selection is about.

And if you're still frustrated or have special needs like you're worried about stability onboard or perhaps need a handrail and an extra room for a wheelchair. I recommend you call our travel agent Alex and she'll assist you with your particular
concerns.