Edinburgh Military Tattoo

I found this picture of last year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on Pinterest. I have since experienced the Tattoo myself and it was magnificent! This year was the 62nd anniversary for the Miltary Tattoo, which is an international bagpipe and drum corps competition, and received the "royal" designation in 2010. Held on the esplanade of the Edinburg castle, we saw fantastic light shows projected onto the castle walls and lots of pageantry, music of many genre, and fireworks, followed by the lone piper at the close of the evening. One simply cannot travel to Scotland and ignore the iconic sound of the pipes. Of course, some haggis and at least a wee dram of whisky is in order, as well!

Great Britain's Great Summer

This year is a banner year for Great Britain tourism, and we want you to be a part of it. Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee will be June 2-5, and Prince William's 30th birthday is June 21. The Summer Olympics are taking place between July 27 and August 8, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will take place between August 3-25, International Beatles Week is happening at The Cavern in Liverpool which is celebrating 50 years of the Beatles between August 22-29. We are currently booking 8- and 9-day tours called The Best of Britain, which include London, Windsor, Oxford, York, Edinburgh, Tintern Abbey, Roman Baths, Stonehenge, several castles, Gretna Green, the Lakes District and Liverpool (along with the Beatles experience). We'll also visit Alnwich Castle(for Harry Potter fans), several gardens, museums, and much more. Starting at $1,968 land only, this great price includes local guides, luxury coach transportation, superior hotels, most meals and more amenities. Call now before this awesome tour is sold out!
  

Disney's Aulani Resort, Ko 'Olina, Oahu, Hawai'i

Here's a first-hand account of the Aulani resort....Calvin and I were delighted to be able to check it out in December. An Aulani vacation starts with the words, "Welcome home" and includes a lei greeting with a cold drink and personal escort from the port cochere to the reception desk along with a tour of the historically- and architecturally-rich lobby. We found it to be Disney magical, squeeky clean, Ohana-friendly, and, of course, tropical. No roller coasters and flying elephants here. The only Disney characters are Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Stitch who only show up at breakfast and special events like the twice-weekly Starlit Hui. Instead of the typical Disneyana, you will find a beautiful Hawaiian-mythology themed resort with gorgeous architecture, infinity edge spas, pools, waterfalls, a double waterslide that starts from the inside of a Disney Imagineers-designed 'volcano' and a lazy river for floating the day away. There is a safe lagoon for keiki (kids) to snorkel in and a pool where they can feed the rays. All that, before you even get to the beautiful beach on the semi-private lagoon where you can snorkel with wild sea turtles (when they feel like showing up - we found them in the next lagoon over) and paddle-board.

For entertainment, the daily "Ewa" paper lists all the activities for kids and adults, including Hawaiian crafts, dance lessons, star gazing, art tours and the Menehune Adventure Tour. Menehune are mythical (or actual but extinct) little people who populate the resort. We heard there were about 350 of them hiding in the foliage, elevators, under bridges, etc. just waiting to be discovered. The little tricksters can dump water on unsuspecting swimmers, and sometimes you might hear them giggle but you won't be able to see them.   The Menehune Adventure Tour is billed for kids, but we recommend that adults go to Auntie's Beach House and request to play even if you aren't accompanying any keiki. You will be loaned a special iPhone to call Auntie for clues and watch videos as she sends you on 'errands' around the resort. Many of the resorts fun secrets are revealed only by Auntie when you accomplish the task. She sometimes allows you to activate a secret control on the iPhone to create your own Menehune-like trick.

The food is excellent. When we made reservations, we were asked about food allergies. Because my food allergies were noted on our resort hotel reservation, the info showed up on our restaurant reservations. The chef at the Makahiki buffet came out to our table, greeted me, and gave me a tour of the entire buffet to point out the ingredients used in all of the menu items. He told me exactly what was safe to eat, and which items I might be allergic to. This level of service from the Disney Cast Members is what makes any Disney resort special. At 'Ama 'Ama, we had an open-air table right by the 'window' to the sunset. Again, the food and service was excellent, outdone only by the awesome view (you can see the view and our food selections below).

Do you know someone who would love to travel but stays home because of mobility issues? There is a solution: Special Needs Group allows me to arrange scooter, wheelchair and beach wheelchairs to our clients. For a cruise, they deliver the scooter or other equipment directly to your stateroom prior to embarkation, and you simply leave it behind when your cruise is over. It is very simple. Prices are based on the port of departure and length of cruise. For instance, scooter rental for a two week cruise from LA to Hawaii is only $218. The scooter is allowed on board and makes it very easy for our mobility-impaired friends to get all around the ship, from stateroom to dining room to theater.

Vancouver!

In September, I spent a week totally ensconced in the excitement and pure natural beauty of British Columbia. I took a jet plane to Seattle, and a prop plane to Victoria where we bussed into Butchart Gardens and speed boated out to watch whales. After three nights in the luxurious Inn at Laurel Point, we took a ferry over to Vancouver where other modes of transportation included: a paddle-wheel dinner cruise boat, a water taxi across False Creek, a bicycle around Stanley Park, a cable tram up to the summit of Grouse Mountain, an elevator to the Vancouver Lookout and another elevator inside the Eye of the Wind (a giant white wind turbine with glass observation deck on top) above Grouse Mountain, a high speed Zodiac sea safari, the hop-on-hop-off bus around the city, a zipline, and finally, walking across the suspension bridges and the new cantilevered Cliffwalk at Capilano. Oh, and I'll never forget the thrilling take-off and landing of our sea plane, or the beautiful smile of Tiga, the baby beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium. Poor Tiga died a week later, but he is forever in my heart. 

TourismVancouver hosted a small group of VSP VIPS (graduates of the Vancouver Specialist Program) for the week and thoroughly impressed us with their beautiful city. We toured many of the best hotels, sampled lots of local fresh cuisine, both at Granville Island Public Market and at several trendy restaurants, and learned so much about the special events, venues, and activities available in the Vancouver area. I came home with a suitcase full of local chocolates....heaven!!!! Now I have new travel agent friends from Germany, England, Australia, Canada and the US and we all agree that Vancouver is one place that we should send all of our clients - there is something for everyone.

Princess West Coast Sailings

10/11/2011

Princess Cruises Offers Diverse West Coast Sailing Schedule in 2012-13
Line to Offer More Pacific Coastal Cruises Than Ever Before, Plus Varied Sailings from Los Angeles or San Francisco

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 11, 2011) -- Cruisers who want to sample the Pacific Coast or sail from a West Coast port have a variety of options with Princess Cruises in 2012-13. The line will feature more Pacific coast cruises than ever before, including an enhanced seven-day California Coastal itinerary to the best of the Golden State.
The line's schedule of fall and spring season coastal voyages ranges from quick overnight cruises to week-long journeys, all designed to provide passengers with a convenient way to sample the Princess cruise experience as they explore the Pacific coastline.
New this season is a round-trip California Coastal itinerary with an added visit to Catalina and an overnight in San Francisco. Other coastal itinerary options include a wine country cruise with themed onboard presentations, plus four- and five-day samplers of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and shorter sailings of one to three nights. Additionally, cruisers can set sail for further-flung destinations from the West Coast ports of Los Angeles or San Francisco, heading for Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal or across the ocean to explore the South Pacific.
"Coastal cruises have become increasingly popular with our passengers, so much so that we're featuring more of our new California Coast itinerary than ever before," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "And the California ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco are great bases from which to enjoy a variety of destinations and experiences."
Princess' Coastal voyages in the 2012-13 season include:
California Coastals: Roundtrip Los Angeles -- Sapphire Princess will sail on new departures of a seven-day California Coastal itinerary cruising roundtrip from Los Angeles. Passengers can enjoy an overnight in San Francisco, plus calls in Santa Barbara, Catalina, San Diego, and Ensenada. Sailings depart on October 8 and October 13, 2012; March 30, April 6, April 13, April 27 and May 4, 2013.
Wine Country Coastal: Los Angeles to Vancouver -- A special seven-day sailing offered with wine lovers in mind, this sailing will offer the chance to explore the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and San Francisco -- as well as visit the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. Themed excursions will be available in many ports to enhance the local wine focus. In addition, guest experts will showcase the world of food and wine with special presentations. The cruise aboard Sapphire Princess will depart from Los Angeles on May 11, 2013, sailing to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.
British Columbia and West Coast Coastal -- This week-long voyage explores the west coast from the fall foliage of British Columbia to the shores of Southern California. The Vancouver to Los Angeles cruise calls at Nanaimo, Victoria, San Francisco and San Diego. Sapphire Princess sets sail on September 29, 2012.
Pacific Coastal: Los Angeles/Vancouver -- Passengers can choose to travel between Vancouver and Los Angeles in five or three days with two coastal itinerary options. The five-day journey between "the City of Angels" and Vancouver features calls in San Francisco and Victoria, departing on May 9, 2012 aboard Coral Princess. The three-day option features two leisurely days of cruising the Pacific Coast with a variety of sailing dates aboard Golden Princess, Coral Princess, Island Princess and Star Princess.
Pacific Coastal: San Francisco/Vancouver -- Two ships will travel between San Francisco's legendary Golden Gate and picturesque Vancouver on a two-day cruise. Island Princess departs on September 26, 2012 and Star Princess sets sail on May 13 and September 24, 2012. Pacific Coastal: Vancouver/Seattle -- For a quick getaway, overnight sailings between Vancouver and Seattle offer the perfect opportunity for a taste of Princess hospitality. Golden Princess will sail September 22, 2012 and May 11, 2013; while Star Princess sails on September 23, 2012 and May 11, 2013.
In addition to sailing along the Pacific Coast, passengers can also choose to visit a variety of destinations from the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
From Los Angeles:
Mexico -- Sapphire Princess will sail "south of the border" to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas on six sailings between November 17, 2012 and April 20, 2013.
Hawaii -- Golden Princess and Sapphire Princess offer 14-day cruises, departing on Wednesdays and Saturdays, respectively, to the volcanic wonder of the Big Island (Hilo), the capital city of Honolulu on Oahu, the beautiful beaches of Maui (Lahaina) and the lush Garden Isle of Kauai (Nawiliwili). The season runs between September 26, 2012 and April 24, 2013.
Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa -- For those looking for a longer tropical vacation, this 28-day itinerary offers the opportunity to sail not only to Hawaii, but also visit the South Pacific islands of Pago Pago, Apia, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. These cruises sail round-trip from Los Angeles, aboard Sapphire Princess on October 20, 2012 and on Star Princess on March 26, 2013.
Panama Canal -- Coral Princess and Island Princess offer a variety of Panama Canal transit itineraries that begin or end in Los Angeles. These sailings include a full transit of one of the world's wonders of engineering plus Princess' signature 2-day experience in Panama for extra time to explore the country. Cruises also include visits to a variety of sunny Caribbean ports as well as calls in Mexico and Central America. Sailings run between September 20, 2011 and May 4, 2013.
From San Francisco:
Mexico -- Grand Princess and Star Princess each offer a sailing roundtrip from San Francisco with calls at Catalina, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and San Diego. Star Princess sails on Sept 26, 2012 and Grand Princess departs March 31, 2013.
Hawaii -- Star Princess and Grand Princess will begin offering 15-day itinerary round-trip voyages from San Francisco, also calling at all four main islands. The ships will offer 10 departures between March 19, 2012 and April 25, 2013.
Alaska Inside Passage -- Sea Princess will once again sail roundtrip from the City by the Bay to the wonders of the 49th state, with calls at Juneau, Skagway (or Haines), Ketchikan and Victoria, plus scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm Fjord. Sailings depart between May 13 to August 31, 2012.
Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific -- Sea Princess sails from San Francisco to Sydney on a 27-day voyage across the Pacific with calls at Honolulu, Maui (Lahaina), Bora Bora, Tahiti, Pago Pago, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with scenic cruising through Fiordland National Park. The sailing departs on September 20, 2012.
Panama Canal -- Island Princess will sail on a Panama Canal voyage from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale, featuring a full Canal transit, plus visits to Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), a 2-day canal experience in Panama (a day in port in Fuerte Amador plus the transit through the canal locks), and stops in Cartagena and Aruba. The sailing departs on September 28, 2012.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent  http://www.princess.com/news/

South America Cruise Photobook

Princess Cruise Line has been voted the best for romance and the best for weddings and honeymoons. We chose an itinerary around South America for our own wedding and honeymoon and thought you'd like to see what kind of activities and sights you might see if you chose the same itinerary. This was a back-to-back cruise, which means it was two two-week cruises put together. The first was Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile, and the next was Santiago to Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Click here to see Our Cruise Around South America .