Beaches Resorts will be honoring the military and their families with several programs this fall that offer great savings.

Fall Military Friends & Family: When a military family books a minimum three-night stay at any Beaches Resort location by October 25, 2011 for the time period of August 23,2011 and October 31, 2011, they will receive an extra 15% savings in addition to all existing promotional rates this fall. Military families may also invite their military and non-military friends and families to travel along with them to take advantage of the same savings up to three rooms.

Armed Services Weeks: In addition to the special fall savings, military families who book a minimum three night stay for travel over September 5-30, 2011 will be treated to a weekly meet and greet reception for military families and also receive 10% savings offer from Island Routes Tours.

I often wonder what is the most favored spot on the ship.

At different times of the course, I favor different spots.  Such as, when the ship is first leaving the port, my favorite spot is always up front.  Get a great view as the ship is leaving.

As the cruise gets underway, my favorite spot is always at the back of the ship, with a drink of course.  I love when I find a quiet spot, with no one around. (except my boyfriend of course)  It’s amazing that being onboard a ship there are so many spots where you can be alone.  It’s a time when I can relax and just enjoy being on the ship.  Of course the fact that I can do absolutely “nothing” is always a bonus.

Today, Thursday March 10 is National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.   This year I ran across a great blog that focuses on education and awareness of HIV/AIDS for women and girls, “The Red Pump Project”.   This is a great blog that brings women and girls together to communicate and educate about HIV/AIDS and how this disease affects us all. 

The reality of HIV/AIDS affecting women and girls is staggering and alarming, here are a few statistics. 

Every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.

HIV is the 5th leading cause of death in women in the United States, ages 25-44. 

There are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S & almost 280,000 are women.

High-risk heterosexual contact is the source of 80% of these newly diagnosed infections in women.

We have to continue to educate ourselves and our daughters to this very real disease.  

These statistics were from The Center for Disease Control’s website and the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Fact Sheets (which cited the CDC). You can get more information about the effect of the epidemic from these sites

I received a call the other day from someone planning cruise.  We had a pleasant conversation.  We were both driving in rush hour traffic and it was a little hectic.  During our conversation I was asked “Why would I choose you to book a cruise instead of calling the cruise line myself”?   To me, using a travel agent is a no brainer.  Why would you stress out about researching and planning a cruise vacation, when I will gladly do that for you? 

Here are a few of the reasons that I gave to her.

1.  I am YOUR personnal travel agent.  You are able to reach me when you need me.  I treat your vacation as I would planning my own vacation. 

2.  I do the research for you.  We all have so much to do and never have time to stop and research a vacation and the details.  Save you time for the much needed vacation. 

3.  Travel Agents can give you the information that you may not know about cruising.  When to get the best prices, cruise lines that will best suit you and your family, the busiest times to avoid.

4.  Travel Agents have relationships with all the vendors that are needed to make your vacation great.  We wait on hold. 

5.  Travel Agents can advise what  to wear and what not to wear.

6.  Travel Agents are constantly researching destinations.  Can give you important information on your new favorite destination. 

7.  Advise what travel documents are needed for your destination.

8.  Agents advise what you should pack for your cruise.

9.  When planning cruises for my clients, I love to have a gift sent to their room for them. 

10.  This is no charge for my travel planning services.

11.  Take the stress of planning off of YOU. 

The next time your are thinking about planning that cruise vacation.  Give a travel agent a call.  Let us do the work and you keep thinking about that wonderful time you will have. 

I love planning cruise vacations and researching the destinations.  The feeling of helping someone to plan a cruise vacation as a surprise for someone they love is such a great feeling.  I get excited about clients going on their cruise. 

Happy Cruising!
Donna

I am having to move because of my “regular”  job.   I currently get to work for them from home but everyone is moving to the corporate office, so that includes me also.    I really like this job also so I decided to make the move. 

Like everyone else, I HATE to move.  Nothing about it is appealing.  I actually thought of leaving my old stuff and buying new stuff.    I hate all the packing at the old place and unpacking at the new place.  Although,on the bright side I’m getting to clean out closets and dressers and donate alot of clothing and such.    The garbage man was probably not happy with me today when he saw all the junk that  threw away.   

I’m also getting to live with my boyfriend, Michael, now, he lives near where I’ll be working.  We have been seeing each other for a while and this will give us more time to spend together instead of seeing each other on weekends or long holidays.    I’m am embrancing this move as a new season in my life.  It’s a very good change and new adventures await me. 

The kids aren’t happy that I’ve waken them up early though.  They think since they are on summer vacation, they shouldn’t have to do ANYTHING.  Surprise!! not true. 

I will still be booking cruises from my new address.  Am actually taking another one in January 2011 from Port Canaveral, 3 nights to Nassau, Bahamas.  I’ve named this one “Cruisin’ Couples”.  I wanted to get some couples together to cruise with Michael and I.  Michael has never been.  I’ve told him that he will fall in love with cruising.  If you’re interesting in going with us, let me know. 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for stopping by to check on me. 

Happy Cruising,

Donna

It’s days like this when I dream of a getaway.  My Bahamas Cruise……

Long days at work, kids fighting constantly, dogs barking at everything, you burn dinner and think “what else can happen”.  Everything seems so stressful.  That’s when I have to take a moment and think of cruising and let that all drift away. 

I’m trying to talk my sister into going with me on January 6, so far no luck.    She is spending the week with me this week and I’m enjoying every minute of it.  I will hate to see her go on Sunday.  I’m hoping she can come back soon. 

My son and his sister are fighting constantly.  Now I know why my mother always said “I can’t wait for school to start”.    I think it’s time for a nice, long hot bubble bath and be done for the day.

viagra

I have booked my cruise for May 16 for the Bahamas.  I’m very excited.  At first my daughter and I were going alone but now one of my best girlfriends will be going with us.  I always get excited once I book the cruise and have my room number.  Don’t have too much longer to wait.  The excitment will only grow from here on out.

If you have suggestions of great places to visit in Freeport or Nassau, please feel free to leave a comment.  I would love to check out some of you favorite spots.

I have decided to take a cruise vacation with my 13 year old daughter, Elizabeth.  At first I was having servious doubts about traveling alone with her.  Let’s face it, a 13 year old doesn’t want to hang out with their mom.     She’ll maybe have dinner with me but that’s about it.  She’ll be in the teenage hang outs.  Then I’ll be forced to be by myself, do things alone.  This can be a little intimidating. Like everyone else, I like staying in my comfort zone, Thank you very much!    Why is it so easy for the younger ones to make new friends or venture out on their own?  They love the adventure of it all.

Then I read an article in Cruise Magazine’s Port Hole. The article was entitled “Table for One” by Janet Groene.  The article is about how going on a cruise alone is an adventure in self discovery.  Getting to really enjoy you trip, learning and discovering your destinations without having to consult others, learning about yourself and the things you love about traveling.  I thought “maybe that’s just what I need”.  I can relax and enjoying just being alive.  Think of it as an adventure, not… (dum dum dum) I’m traveling alone.

Dinner each evening will be a great time to meet new and interesting people that are also on the cruise.  Should always sit next to someone new each night so you get to know different people.  You never know who you will have something in common.

I want to do alot of journaling and taking pictures of the destintions that we’ll be seeing.  Take in some shows alone…THAT is really stepping outside my comfort zone for sure.    I want to see what makes others love these destinations and discover what I love about the destinations.  Most of all I want to relax and enjoy being with my daughter, even if it is just at dinner, and come away with an even closer relationship.

What a great view from the Hard Rock Hotel.  Had meetings there for two days.  Was so beautiful.

We’ve had a great start to the week and the remainer will be just as great.  Thursday it’s off to Washington DC.   I’m just hoping it’s not too cold.

Have spent the evening relaxing with my daughter watching tv and playing with our new Shih Tzu puppies.  They are so unbelievably cute.  Since my oldest daughter moved out, it’s almost too quiet.    Never thought I’d say that.   She has moved to live with her dad and seems to be doing well.

Of course while I’m sitting here watching tv a cruise commerical comes on.    I want to cruise right now.  Unfortunately, I have to wait until May and then again in October.  I can’t wait.