TreeTop Crazy Rider rollercoaster zip lines! 1km and 330m: near Sydney, ...

A Treasure Hidden Behind the Iron Curtain.

This little village with a castle is called "Cesky Krumlov" and is in the Czech Republic. It used to be behind the Iron Curtain, but was so far back in the woods, it was never attacked or destroyed in any war. A visit to Krumlov is like stepping back in time.

Aussie Specialist

If you've ever thought you might like to go on walkabout Downunder, I'm your mate to plan your special holiday. Having spent an entire month getting to know Australia, from its Red Centre to the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Melbourne to Tasmania and exciting points in between, I can truly attest to what a wonderful time you will have there. From koalas, kangaroos, platypi, camels, and wallabies to dingoes and Tasmanian devils....the animal life is as fascinating as the landscapes from sea to desert to mountain. There is so much to do, see, and taste in the land of Oz. 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Specialist

Now booking luxury river cruises with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2012, Opening Parade.

Best of Britain Tour, Part II

The previous "Best of Britain" post gave an overview of the luxury coach tour, and I'd like to continue with some highlights from the C.I.E. Best of Britain tour. 

Having arrived at Heathrow Airport midday, C.I.E.'s driver picked us up and loaded our luggage into the shiny black car that took us to our hotel, the Hart and Garter, right across the street from Windsor Castle. Portage was included throughout the trip, so we didn't have to haul our suitcases up a couple of flights of carpeted stairs to our room. We met our tour guide, David, who gave us vouchers to head across the street and visit the castle before dinner. We changed out of our traveling gear and headed out to explore. After dinner with the tour group, we had time for more exploring before nightfall.  We found Windsor to be easily walkable on a warm summer evening.

The next morning, our squeaky clean and comfortable coach awaited after a yummy British breakfast which included the ubiquitous beans and broiled tomato that we would see every morning throughout our trip, no matter the city, along with eggs, juice, pastries and sausage. Our first stop was Cambridge, then on to York. Since my grandmother's surname was York, I asked a young clerk in a shop in the Shambles if there were any residents of York with that name. She looked a bit surprised at the question and her answer was 'no.' Slightly disappointed, I went off to Betty's and bought a handmade Cru Sauvage Dark Chocolate bar and a couple of tins of shortbread biscuits to bring home as gifts. The tins were decorated to commemorate the Queen's diamond jubilee. Full disclosure: I ate the chocolate bar and it was delish!

Onward north on the following day. Next stop: Alnwick (pronounced "Ann-ick") Castle and Gardens. Although it was one of the sites used in the filming of broom-flying lessons of Harry Potter, I was more intriqued with the Poison Garden. Surrounded by a substantial locked gate with large skull-and-crossbone signs reading, "These plants can kill," the Poison Garden can only be toured in small groups with a docent in attendance. Our guarding-guide pointed out the medicinal or evil uses of many different plants  and some gruesome stories to illustrate her point. Horror stories aside, the plants and flowers were beautiful. The grounds also featured a bamboo maze, a sod house for the poison chemist, a rose garden, a trellis garden, a allee' of shade plants, and a mammoth central waterfall-fountain with dancing water. With a wonderful gift shop, cafe, and castle to explore, we also took time to have lunch in a local pub down the lane outside the castle gate.    

In Edinburgh, (pronounced "Edd-in-burr-uh") we picked up a local guide to assist David with the hundreds of years of historical references. We had two days in Edinburgh, so plenty of time to explore on our own and with the guides. Our hotel was situated only 1/2 block off the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was in full swing.

A tour dinner was included the first night at a Scottish pub featuring kilted pipers, singers, and dancers. It was a little touristy, but when you're only in the city for a short time, it is still a fun and easy way to see some of the local traditions on display. After dinner and before dessert, the haggis was piped in and addressed with a traditional Robbie Burns poem, "Ode to a Haggis." Served with 'neeps & tatties (a turnips-and-potato mash), the haggis was quite peppery, but I managed to clean my plate.

On the second day, we spent a lovely time at Edinburgh Castle (you must have tea in Mary, Queen of Scots' tea room - order the scrumptious toffee caramel biscuit!) and shopped along the Royal Mile. We found a kilt weaving establishment and toured the massive looms. Afterward, we were dressed in the plaid textiles, handed an assortment of props from bagpipes to swords, and had our portrait made.

One of my long time goals was to see the monument to Greyfriar's Bobby on Candlemakers Row, which was just a short walk from our lodging. We found the monuments to the famous and adorable little dog, and a pub of the same name with excellent shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and beer. Alas, we could not find the geocache hidden in Greyfriar's kirkyard.  Excitement was building, though, because the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was coming right up.

We walked up the Royal Mile onto the castle esplanade with our special reserve tickets in hand. The evening was definitely a highlight of the "Best of Britain" tour. Although a summer rain threatened, the skies cleared enough for a thrilling night of music, dance, light shows, drumming, piping, pageantry and fireworks. Highland dancers told the story of whisky, whilst the Scottish massed bands passed through medieval Scotland, its agricultural age and mechanical era with music, fire, and dance. Among the many different performances were local children dressed in period costume acting to music written for the Disney-Pixar movie, Brave. From great kilts to modern uniforms, several countries were represented by their marching or performance bands in a variety of musical styles. Our hands-down favorite was Switzerland's Top Secret Drum Corps, whose precision drumming lit their drums in a technical light show of unbelievable thrills. Throughout the night, scenes were projected on the side of the castle to illustrate the theme of each particular performance, and at the end of the evening, the lone piper appeared on the castle ramparts to close the tattoo. It was such a wonderful evening, we pre-ordered the DVD that would be available at the end of the two-week run of the Tattoo.

Tattoo? The story from 1594 goes that it is a derivation of the curfew statement "doe den tap toe" which Dutch for "turn off the tap."  In the Thirty Years War, Scottish, English, German and Swiss mercenary soldiers were commanded by the Dutch States Army. Drummers would be sent out of the garrison into the towns to inform soldiers it was time to return to barracks at 9:30 each evening. Drummers would continue to play until 10:00 p.m. "Tattoo" was earlier called tap-too, with the same meaning as the Dutch "tap toe."

Our last stop in Scotland was Gretna Green where young couples have eloped to be married over the blacksmith's anvil since 1754. There was actually a wedding in progress when we stopped in, and the young lady who sold us our kilt portrait back in Edinburgh told me she was also married there. On site is a cafe, clean restrooms, a souvenir shop serving sample shots of various whiskies, and lots of sheep in the surrounding pastures. All that and a wee bit of history in the old blacksmith's stone shop that serves as a wedding chapel. 

Wedding Planning

Because brides and grooms love to travel on their honeymoons, and many couples prefer to plan destination weddings, there are lots of reasons they should be consulting a good travel consultant/agent. Our purpose is to suggest the best itinerary to match the couple's preferred getaway style, take care of the details for transportation (including flights, cruises, airport transfers, etc.), hotel or resort accommodations, special excursions or entertainment packages, and make sure that they receive the most value for their planned budget. We take the stress out of planning the travel related to guests coming from afar, a wedding at sea or on shore, and/or that very romantic honeymoon.

In the same way a good wedding planner reduces the stress of planning the big day, from designing save-the-date cards to addressing thank you cards and everything in between your Suite Romance Travel travel agent will work side by side to ensure that everything comes together beautifully for that wonderful romantic event of a lifetime. If booking a cruise wedding, many of the last minute details are handled on board by cruise line personnel. Your travel agent makes sure they have taken into account all of your personal wishes for your special day.

The Best of Britain Tour - Part I

If you are like many Americans, you have ancestors who came from England, Scotland, or Wales, and their history is our history. Having just come back from the Best of Britain tour from C.I.E. International, I can say that walking around on that ancient land is a thrill for those of us who are history buffs or genealogists. From the streets of London to the Salisbury Plain where Stonehenge stands, from the Shambles in York to Edinburgh Castle, there so many places to see, do, participate in and absorb on this excellent guided coach tour. The C.I.E. coaches are brand new with the most comfortable seating and giant windows that are cleaned before each new day's destination.  Seating was rotated each day so that everyone would get a chance to sit up front, but there was enough room on our 52-passenger bus that all 25 of us could claim the seats we wanted. 

Rest stops are remarkable in that they feature photo ops, good food, and excellent restroom facilities. Our guides were highly educated professionals who are also personable and responsible for our comfort and welfare. David stayed with us for the entire tour, and had a very good grasp of British history, including the Roman and Viking times, as well as geographic and botanic features of the land. Specialist guides Sheila and Sylvia came on board for extra details on Edinburgh and Beatles/Liverpool. At most venues, our group was able to bypass regular queues for entrance to castles and other attractions. Our tour came with an extra day in London with vouchers for the hop-on/hop-off bus, Tower of London (where you'll see the Crown Jewels for the whole of Britain's history) and a boat cruise on the River Thames. For those interested in more current events, there are tours of the Beatles' Cavern Club in Liverpool and Abbey Road in London, as well as the annual Festival Fringe (in August) with street performers, theaters featuring plays and musicals to rival Broadway (we took in an awesome performance of Wicked), the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, and much much more. Our hotel in London was located in Kensington, just a block from High Street, a tube station, 3-story Whole Foods store and Hyde Park. We could walk to Notting Hill where an annual festival was taking place, or to the Princess Diana Memorial Park. We also walked to Royal Albert Hall, found a geocache there, and walked on to the Globe Theater where the Bard's plays were in progress. Our Hotel in Windsor, the Hart and Garter,

was one narrow lane across from Windsor Castle which we toured on our first afternoon in England. After dinner, we walked past Eton College to a meadow and found another geocache at dusk, and said a few words to the Queen's swans paddling on the Thames. After a morning in Oxford, where some of our group toured Christchurch (where some of Harry Potter's Hogwarts scenes were filmed) after a visit to the University at Oxford, we went on to York. What an adorable little village with a massive York Minster! Swinegate is the street where the olde pork butchers worked and you can find bas relief pigs of all sorts hidden in the clay bricks of the buildings on the narrow streets. The Shambles, composed of Tudor-style half-timber buildings that hang over the narrow lanes are these days full of quaint shops selling hats, candies, jewels, and such.

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 .

Scrapbooking Traveler

Many years ago, I fell in love with the business end of a camera. As a child, I set up a dark room in my parents' kitchen and was lucky enough to attend a high school that offered photography and yearbook classes as electives, along with a workstudy program in offset printing. I learned how to put the science together with the art of composing photos and layouts that are both compelling and pleasing to the human eye.

Then my children came along and like any good parent, I created baby books and photo albums. Not content to just add photos to those old magnetic-page albums, I scouted magazines and old books and ephemera to cut out little embellishments for the pages. With a tiny pair of scissors, I practiced scherenschnitte to create my own little stickers and borders for the pages. Fast forward 25 years and the scrapbooking industry is in full swing with hundreds of thousands of embellishments, cutting and embossing systems, inks and stamps, fibers and brads, all available for purchase by the leisure crafter. Like quilting bees of old, ladies now get together at "crops" to share stories as they cut and paste beautiful albums of their favorite photos. While the younger women are busy creating memory books of their childrens' first day at school, soccer games and sleepovers, many of us are also documenting our travels.

This week, I just finished an album that displays all the fun, romance and nature we encountered on our Star Flyer cruise from this past December. We have photos of our land tours of the Espiritu Santo Coffee Plantation where Calvin got to strap on a harvet basket and actually pick ripe coffee "cherries." We enjoyed petite cups of the plantations best freshly-brewed organic coffee, so I took pictures of the little coffee cups. We toured the plantation owers' residence (a rustic two-room shack with cast iron stove and no plumbing), the weighing and sorting equipment, painted oxcarts, and terraced rows of coffee plants under a canopy of shade trees. Everywhere we looked, there were opportunities to make beautiful photographs, and that was just our first tour of the day. A wooden bead and basket factory tour followed, including the water wheel that powered the saw mill. On to Sarchi where we saw the largest painted oxcart in the world, as verified by Guiness Book. Marvelous! Centuries-old churches, a handcrafted nativity scene in the village's central park, and local Ticos (Costa Ricans) all provided many opportunities to make pictures. Traveling to new worlds is an opportunity to see how other people live, and photographs help you remember when you return home.

Sailing on the clipper ship is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lives. Especially on relatively calm seas in a tropical climate, sailing is easy when strong young men in striped sailor shirts take care of all the work of raising the sails and tying them off. For a photographer, the 21 sails, ships wheel and nautical compass make excellent subject matter. For a traveler, there is nothing more relaxing that watching the moon and the stars glide by as the sails gently sigh and clap. Day or night, passengers can relax with a boat drink and a good book, visit with fellow travelers, eat fabulous meals and plan the shore excursion at the next port of call. With a digital camera, you can spend a whole afternoon making detailed photos of ropes and sails, nautical equipment and beautiful scenery of the beaches and hills over the rail as your ship rolls by.

On this Costa Rican cruise, each time we went ashore, there was a "wet landing." This means we took a zodiac raft to the beach and jumped out into water about two feet deep. Fun! We were prepared with an underwater case for our camera that kept it from drowning. We used it while snorkeling, and also out of the water for photos of interesting rocks and shells that we wanted to remember but not cart home. A waterproof case also floats, so if you happen to drop it off your kayak while getting video of two fighting iguanas, you don't have to jump into the river with the crocodiles to retrieve it. Bonus!

Here are my recommendations:
1. Travel.
2. Enjoy.
3. Take plenty of photos.
4. Come home and re-live your trip as you scrapbook your adventures.

The Commodore Certificate

When the mail arrived at the Suite Romance Travel office today, it contained this certificate. I had been waiting for it for several weeks and it finally arrived with my matching lapel pin. I wish the envelope and the certificate inside hadn't been wrinkled, but it doesn't diminish the knowledge I gained while studying with the Princess Academy. I intend to take advantage of the Academy's new courses as they are developed or updated, so I will have the latest information for all of my Princess clients. 

Local Travel Agent Earns Prestigious Top Rank in Princess Cruise Academy

Vacaville, CA (January 11, 2011) – A Vacaville travel agent has achieved prestigious Commodore status in Princess Cruises’ Academy training program, certifying her as an expert cruise professional. As a Commodore, Staci Kendrick-Jones of Suite Romance Travel joins an exclusive group of travel agents who are now recognized by Princess at the Academy's highest level for their unique qualifications and knowledge as a cruise planning professional. Staci earned this distinction after completing the minimum 25 courses necessary to graduate from the program.

“We at Princess are very proud of Staci’s dedication, as she put in extra effort to offer clients exceptional knowledge regarding our cruise vacation product as well as our worldwide destinations,” said Jan Swartz, Senior Vice President of Customer Service and Sales at Princess. “Travel agents who reach this top level in our Academy program have completed hours of course work to become a cruising expert, which will prove invaluable to providing clients with a great vacation.”

Princess Academy is the cruise industry’s most comprehensive online training program available to travel agents in the U.S. and Canada. Agents who complete the extensive coursework become experts on a wide range of topics, offering travelers full knowledge of important details about a Princess vacation such as the different passenger amenities on the line’s 17 ships, the company’s worldwide destinations and the many special programs available onboard.

“I'm thrilled to be a Princess Commodore. Along with my personal cruising experiences, the knowledge I've gained from the Academy makes me a more valuable resource for my clients, and enables me to recommend the very best vacation to match all of their needs,” said Staci Kendrick-Jones.

To become a Commodore, travel agents must fulfill 25 required and elective classes and exams, representing course work covering worldwide destinations, onboard programs, and customer service skills. As they complete courses, agents receive their “stripes” through four levels: First Officer, Staff Captain, Captain and finally Commodore. Agents can continue to take elective courses to expand their knowledge and keep their Commodore status current. Also, as a member of the Cruise Lines International Association, Inc (CLIA), Staci has also successfully completed all of the coursework required to become a CLIA Accredited Cruise Counsellor.

Suite Romance Travel is a local agency owned and operated by Staci and her husband, Calvin Jones, and can be contacted at www.suiteromancetravel.com. With travel consortia partners like Princess and Vacation.com offering the best in competitive rates, Staci offers personalized service to her clients not available through internet shopping. The agency offers a full line of travel services including hotel and resort accommodations, transportation, and family fun parks. Suite Romance Travel specializes in cruising and the romantic opportunities that cruises offer for weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, family reunions and other special occasions.

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Update on the Amazing Race

Last night, Calvin and I sat down to watch the last two episodes of this season's Amazing Race. We were off on our own A.R. to Central America when the episodes originally aired, so we recorded them on our DVR. I think this is the first time since we've been watching that the team I was rooting for actually won. The female doctors, Nat and Kat, worked really well together and never complained or acted out against other competitors. Being a reality show, there is always some drama created for ratings, but we prefer to watch nice people succeed.

Next season, A.R. will feature past non-winner contestants including the cowboys, Jet and Cord, and the mom and her deaf son (sorry I don't remember their names). These contestants also had integrity in the face of adversity, which I admire. The next season starts in February and I am looking forward to it.

While most of the activities set up by Phil Keoghan and his crew are extreme and not likely to be encountered by regular travelers, they do show us places around the globe that we might not otherwise think of traveling. It is a peek into other cultures, and methods of trasportation. From shacks to castles, modern airports to ox-driven carts, we get to see how other people live. Isn't that one of the reasons why most of us travel? Traveling always reminds me how blessed we are to live in the United States.

Amazing Race Inspires Travelers

The 17th season of The Amazing Race has begun on CBS. Airing on Sunday nights, it seems to enjoy 'reality show' status without all the usual backbiting, secret alliances and voting people off. I missed the first 14 seasons, somehow, but got hooked when I found out that the contestants were traveling all over the world and engaging in outrageous adventures. Last year, we were rooting for 'the cowboys' and will forever remember one of the brothers (was it Jet or Cord?) who always said, "Oh, my gravy!"

The aerial shots of beautiful scenery and city skylines as the contestants travel around the world are awesome.  Some of the travel challenges are funny, and some are frustrating, but the destinations are always inspiring to those of us who love to travel. It is too early in the season for me to pick out a favorite team of two contestants to win the million dollars, but I was sorry to see the first team lose their chance after getting lost looking for Stonehenge. While one contestant had never heard of "stone hedge" and was surprised to find out it was just a "pile of rocks" I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it someday soon. 

I recommend reading Phil Keoghan's book, No Opportunity Wasted: 8 Ways to Create a List for the Life You Want Now. I picked up a copy late in 2008 and it (along with the very cute Pixar movie, Up! ) inspired me to take a journey around South America and how my life has changed since then! While I don't recommend Phil's Amazing Race strategy of racing through your travel until you are exhausted, I do embrace the excitement, challenges, and adventure of traveling abroad and meeting people of all cultures.