Wave Season 2014

Hard to believe that it's 2014 and already the first month of the year is nearly behind us! Wow! But you know what that means, don't you? Yeah, that's right, IT'S WAVE SEASON!!  If you haven't already begun to think about your travel plans for this year and next, NOW is a great time to put some plans in place. And if you have been thinking about it, where to go, what to do, well NOW is the time to make those plans or dreams into reality.  To help make things easier, many cruise lines and land-based suppliers are offering great deals and incentives to help you get that family vacation, girls trip, romantic getaway, reunion or other vacation on your calendar! This is the best time to take a look at your bucket list and see what you can do this year to check a destination or adventure off that list.

Here's just a few of the promotions that I think are really fantastic!

NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering The Free Upgrade Wave: 

• Free balcony upgrades 
• Up to $1,000 in air credits 
• E-coupons worth over $300
• Up to $250 off base fare for AARP members 
• Discounts for Latitudes Rewards members 
• Military discounts, if applicable

Booking Dates: 12/10/2013-4/4/2014

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is offering a 3 for Free Sales Event, The Next Wave is back with three new offers on Alaska, Europe and 7-day Caribbean (May thru August) cruise vacations:

• FREE Shore Excursion Spending Money: up to $200 FREE shore excursion onboard credit per stateroom† 
• FREE 8” x 10” Framed Keepsake Photo: (a $50 value) ‡ 
• FREE Bottle of Wine: picked by the onboard Sommelier (a $30 value) ††

You will receive ALL 3 offers for FREE with only a $100.00** reduced deposit. 3 for Free is combinable with Cruise Sales, Group amenities and counts towards TCs. Up to $280 in FREE benefits.

Booking Dates: 12/27/2013-2/28/2014

Royal Caribbean International

Offer: Royal Caribbean International is offering another WOW Sale during Wave Season for 6-night or longer sailings departing March – December 2014:

Onboard credit of up to $300 depending on type of stateroom booked

BONUS! Book a Europe sailing and add $100 onboard credit 

Viking River Cruises

2-For-1 Cruises
PLUS up to 2-For-1 Airfare

2014 Romantic Danube aboard an award-winning, Viking Longship
Riverview, Standard (CAT F)
Dates available throughout 2014
2-For-1 cruise fare from $1,756 per person

Ports of call: Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; Melk, Austria; Passau Germany; Regensburg, Germany; Nuremberg, Germany

2014 Grand European Tour aboard an award-winning, Viking Longship

Riverview, Standard (CAT F)
Dates available throughout 2014
2-For-1 cruise fare from $3,662 per person

Ports of call: Amsterdam, Holland; Kinderdijk, Holland; Cologne, Germany; Koblenz, Germany; Miltenberg, Germany; Würzburg, Germany; Bamberg, Germany; Nuremberg, Germany; Regensburg, Germany; Passau, Germany; Melk, Austria; Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary

Globus 

SAVE up to $200 per couple on airfare

Plus enjoy an EXCLUSIVE promotional offer on select 2014 Globus or Monograms European Vacations**

Italian Vista

8 days - Rome, Orvieto, Assisi, Florence, Padua, Venice, Verona, Milan, Italy

Vacations include:

• Breakfast daily

• Accommodations in first class hotels

• Guided sightseeing

Call for details on specific dates and prices.

Sensational Spain

12 days - Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Cordoba and Torremolinos, Spain

 
Vacations include:

• Breakfast daily
• Accommodations in first class hotels
• Guided sightseeing

Call for details on specific dates and prices.

Beautiful France

16 days - Paris, Burgundy, Chamonix, Chambery, Cannes, Nice, Avignon, Nimes, Carcassonne, Periguex, France 

Vacations include:

• Breakfast daily
• Accommodations in first class hotels
• Guided sightseeing

Call for details on specific dates and prices.

Contact Us to get started on your 2014 Vacation Planning and take advantage of some of these fantastic offers!

I am so deeply saddened at the passing of Nelson Mandela, an amazing man and great leader, whose impact on South Africa and the world compares to no other. To me personally, he's a great hero of our time and someone I've always looked up to. His book 'Long Walk to Freedom' is probably the best book I've ever read. In learning about him and his struggles and determination, I learned more about myself and my own personal strength.
“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” 
Rest in Peace Madiba 

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(Winter is coming, wouldn't you rather be here?)

Great Last minute deals on Royal Caribbean - Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas  3/3/12 7nt Western Caribbean  $799 - Interior, Cat Z $999 - Balcony, Cat X - that's less than cat L for an interior  $1899 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W 3/17/12 7nt Western Caribbean  $849 - Interior, Cat Z $1199 - Balcony, Cat X 3/24/12 7nt Eastern Caribbean  $899 - Ocean View, Cat Y  $1149 - Balcony, Cat X - that's less than cat H for an ocean view $1949 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W 3/31/12 7nt Western Caribbean  $899 - Interior, Cat Z $949 - Ocean View, Cat Y  $1199 - Balcony, Cat X - that's less than Cat M for an interior  $1999 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W 4/7/12 7nt Eastern Caribbean  $1199 - Ocean View, Cat Y  $1299 - Balcony, Cat X  $2299 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W Allure of the Seas  3/4/12 7nt Eastern Caribbean  $1199 - Ocean View, Cat Y  $1399 - Balcony, Cat X - that's less than Cat F for an ocean view $2249 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W 3/11/12 7nt Western Caribbean  $979 - Interior, Cat Z $1149 - Ocean View, Cat Y  $1399 - Balcony, Cat X  $2249 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W 3/18/12 7nt Eastern Caribbean  $1099 - Interior, Cat Z $1299 - Ocean View, Cat Y  $1399 - Balcony, Cat X  $2749 - Deluxe Balcony, Cat W 3/25/12 7nt Western Caribbean  $1049 - Ocean View, Cat Y   These rates are cruise-only pricing, per person in US dollars including NCCF, and are based on double occupancy. Governmental taxes and fees are additional. Rates are capacity controlled and are subject to change without notice. Ships Registered in the Bahamas. Updated 2/13/12.

©2012 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registered in the Bahamas. *Brilliance of the Seas® is operated by RCL (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. • 11025426

I took the "Plummet".... maybe I AM crazy!

Before I start I should just premise this post with the fact that I lived. I loved. I even did it twice! So even though I may be crazy, I had fun so that's really all that matters, right?


I didn't actually know what I was getting into.  I don't really consider myself a 'risk-taker' or daredevil, but I do like to do things that are different, mostly just for the you-only-live-once factor.  And not that the Plummet is risky or dangerous, but when I saw it, I just knew it was the kind of adventure that was right up my alley!


So, this Plummet I speak of is the Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach Water Park at Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, FL.  This massive water slide is one of the longest, tallest, fastest water slides in the world!! It is 120 feet (i.e., 12 stories) high and you reach speeds of 55-60 mph when going down the slide! SERIOUSLY?!?! I could obviously tell it was TALL, but perhaps if I had known all these useful little facts beforehand I may not have tried it. So there may be something to that whole what-you-don't-know-won't-hurt-you thing and basically I'm really glad I did it!


Blizzard Beach overall is so fun, and such a Cool concept, being a Ski Resort theme and all. The center point is Mount Gushmore, and many slides start from the top of this mountain. Like all good ski resorts, there is a chair lift that takes you to the top of the mountain. Once at the top, there is a super fun family raft slide, tube slides, and other body slides you can get to. The park was not crowded at all on the day we were there, and the weather was just perfect!

So the pictures give some idea of how tall the Summit Plummet is and you can kind of get a sense of the steep drop.  I'm actually afraid of heights so I wasn't sure how I was gonna do once I got up there, but I tried not to think about it too much. Mind over matter. Don't let your fear get in the way of what you want to do. I'm trying to convince myself this as I'm riding the chair lift to the top. It was only the height thing that bothered me, but the slide itself looked fun and I wanted to try it. I was a little apprehensive as I climbed the stairs to the very top, but I had on my 1-piece swimsuit, I felt prepared... I wasn't gonna be scared. My husband and daughter were waiting at the bottom to watch me, and call paramedics if needed. ;-)

There wasn't a line so I really didn't have much time to think about what I was about to do...probably a good thing! I got to the top; the person in front of me was just about to go down and the ride attendant was talking to him and saying how it wasn't so bad, and that the height is one story below Tower of Terror. So if you can do Tower of Terror, you can do this. And I thought to myself, 'Okay... that's cool. I've done T of T. I can do this too.' The guy ahead of me made it down alive and seemed to be Ok, so how bad could it be. So I laid down, the arm thing went up, and down I went. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Like 3 seconds later I was at the bottom and let me tell you it was SO much FUN!!! I had my eyes closed and I think I screamed the whole way down, but it was awesome!! It felt like I went really really fast, but certainly not 50 or 60 mph~ Whoa! I felt speed and water spraying, (and a major wedgie), but that's about it. I didn't get that weird nauseous stomach feeling; I just felt exhilaration and FUN! After I got to the bottom, I immediately jumped up and wanted to do it again. Unfortunately I don't have actual documentation of me doing this, so you'll have to take my word for it. I wouldn't lie to you! It was definitely DEFINITELY fun! So I highly recommend doing this slide, if you're in FL, and you go to Disney, and go to a water park, go to Blizzard Beach and do this slide! 


I did get my daughter to try the Slush Gusher, which is another exciting water slide, but it has 2 humps rather than 1 plunge and isn't quite as tall as the SP. The Slush Gusher is also fun and my daughter did like it, but we both agreed that the only downside was that it hurt your back a little when you slide over where the seams are (where the slide pieces are put together). Other than that it was a really fun slide, but for an adventure slide, I preferred the Summit Plummet for sure. We had a great day, and were so lucky that it wasn't crowded. 


So that's the Summit Plummet. Try it. You may be really glad you did!


Love this quote:
"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do."  - Georgia O'Keeffe

Viva Las Vegas! The 'Vintage' Vegas

Las Vegas has got to be one of the most interesting places to me. It's a city that is a complete anomaly from everyday 'normal' life. The glitz, the glam, the lights, the clothes (omg the clothing!).... Vegas is an Experience like no other.  I went last month as part of the IMEX America conference and had a really great time.

We stayed at the Palazzo which is an extension of the Venetian Hotel on the north end of the strip. Holy cow it was SO nice and I absolutely love love LOVE this hotel!!!!!! (Is that enough !!! to express how much I liked it?!) The Palazzo is absolutely beautiful. Now, we've stayed in the Venetian side as well (in the Venezia tower), but I really liked the Palazzo side better, at least for me. The rooms really are pretty much the same on both, but I just loved the layout of the hotel on the Palazzo side.  I plan to do another post just on the hotel, so I'll leave my hotel comments for that post.  So stay tuned.  But you can take my word for it that both the Venetian and the Palazzo are beautiful and I don't think you could go wrong with a room at either. And I'll be back in Vegas in a couple weeks (staying at Mandalay Bay this time though) but I plan to visit the Venetian for their Winter in Venice Holiday celebration. I've got to do the ice skating and try one of those eggnog cupcakes. Yum.

So one thing that I wanted to point out is that Vegas is more than just the strip. Yes, the strip is amazing and for sure what people think of or imagine when they think of Las Vegas. Besides Elvis. The strip definitely has a vibe all it's own, one that is quintessential Vegas. It's definitely changed from the days I remember some 25 years ago when I went as a kid and stayed at the old Sahara. Ick! In fact, the strip that we think of today didn't even exist back then. But you can still get a taste of that old Vintage Vegas if you visit the Fremont Street Experience in the downtown area, just a couple miles north of the main strip.

This place is really cool! Totally weird and different and the first time I went I was like "Whaaaa??? It's all enclosed?" Ok. So it took a little getting used to (again remember I was here as a kid, cruising the 'old strip' with my parents, consisting of the Golden Nugget, Binion's, the Pioneer Cowboy etc... Remember those places?). So if you remember the old days then it may seem a little strange to see it all enclosed, but if not then I guess it will just seem cool! ;) So it's really awesome and by comparison to the 'new' strip, it's a complete blast to the past of the old Vegas. Why, you ask? Well, here's just a few reasons --

 For one thing it's way casual and super laid back. No dressing up in heels and fancy clothes if you don't want to. Of course you can, but sometimes you just wanna be casual and if so you will have no dress code worries here. Another plus is that things are CHEAPER! Table games are cheaper (we played $10 blackjack at Binions... we couldn't find any $5 tables anywhere), you'll find more penny or nickel slots, and food is cheaper. Drinks aren't really an issue because you don't pay for those, you just tip your waitress.

But even the waitresses are more laid back here too (jeans and t-shirts vs the skimpy outfits for the waitresses on the strip). Parking is also cheap if you need to park, like 25 cents/ hour. Seriously?? And another on the plus side is that everything is so close by. Once you're in the dome, it's just a short walk to anywhere you want to get to. Unlike the New Strip where you have to literally walk miles from one hotel/ casino to the next, on Fremont St everything is close by and a short walk away. There's also tons of excitement from live music, street performers, dancers;  there's even a short zipline you can do right under the dome! And I almost forgot! Duh! One of the main attractions is the laser light show (Viva Vision) that is shown on the dome ceiling.


And it's also fun to go to the some of the Vintage spots like Binion's or Golden Nugget for the casino or buffets.

And yes, there is even transportation from the New Strip to the Downtown/ Fremont St area so you can get there fairly easily. Just take the Deuce on the Strip bus and it will take you right there! So simple :) May take a bit longer, but cheaper than a cab.

So the next time you're in Vegas, consider visiting the Fremont St Experience for something old, new, and different! You can stay on the strip and head up to Fremont St for the night, or stay in the downtown area and venture to the New Strip for an evening. It's great that there is so much to do and so many options for your next trip to Vegas. If you need any help or suggestions, I am happy to help.

ALSO, Big News >>>>> Starting next month I will have Vegas Advantage Cards available for sale. Cheaper than what you can find online. More details on that coming soon.

Welcome South Sudan!

Today marks a very momentous day as the new nation of South Sudan becomes official!  You may have heard about the struggles and issues facing Sudan... Wars, genocide, and serious civil unrest and major political and religious conflicts between the north and south.   For more than 50 years there has been fighting and conflict. As a result many Sudanese boys were forced to leave their homes and families to avoid being forced into fighting a war that they did not believe in.  So they walked thousands of miles in search of safe food, water, shelter, and safety.  They became known as the 'Lost Boys of Sudan' and they did eventually reach safety at refuge camps in Kenya and other neighboring countries.  Through a US program, many Lost Boys were brought to the US to help them receive medical care, education, and a new life without the threat of war.  I have been fortunate enough to know and mentor a Lost Boy here in Chicago, Mr Deng Magai.  He's a wonderful young man and has made a very successful life for himself here in Chicago.  He has gone to school and earned a college degree, and also works full time.  He has faced many challenges even here in the US, but he has managed to stay positive and strong.  He has not seen his family back in Sudan in more than 10 years which to me is so sad, and I really could not even imagine how hard that would be. I'm heading downtown in just a little bit to attend the rally and celebration for South Sudan!  I'm excited and look forward to participating in this amazing moment in history!

If you are in Chicago and want to learn more about Lost Boys in Chicago, you can click here: http://www.lostboyschicago.com/

Or if you'd like to find out more ways to help or donate, click here: http://www.allianceforthelostboys.com/home.html