Who says "Bigger is Better"?

Bigger is not always Better!

Americans tend to want everything BIG! Big houses, big cars, big sandwiches....(Okay, get your mind out of the gutter!) ...and big cruise ships. But is "Bigger really Better?" I think when people put an emphasis on wanting something "Bigger", they loose sight of the special qualities that make "smaller" things amazing. For example:

Expedition vs Porsche

Mansion vs Small Cottage by the sea

Boeing 747 vs Brazillian Jet

Big Mac vs Sliders

Hot Dog w/the Works vs the Cocktail Weenie

Get my point? Small things are just as special (if not MORE) than Bigger things...it just depends on what you want to get out of it. Cruise Ships are the same. Sure, GINORMOUS Cruise Ships such as Royal Caribbean's "Oasis of the Seas", Celebrity's Solstice or NCL's "Epic" do offer amazing options. The size of the ship is enticing, and they really are incredible.

I have often said to friends that "If someone goes on a Super Size Cruise Ship and doesn't have a good time, they must be a drag... because there is something to please everyone". Entertainment, dining, sports, shopping, gambling, spa & more! So easy to have fun, relax and do whatever you want. The Newest, Biggest Cruise Ships are definitely awesome. But what about the smaller ships?

At one time, THEY were the Biggest & Best. Now considered "Small" and "Older", do they stand up to the task of impressing guests? (Again, Keep that mind out of the gutter!) I say "Absolutely!" Smaller ships offer the same activities that Bigger ships offer & many attributes that larger ships don't. In fact, smaller ships actually go overboard (no pun intended) to impress guests. One big plus - Service tends to be a bit more intimate (bartenders & waiters know your name & your favorites!) and special. And Cruise Lines do pamper the "Old Girls" with facelifts to keep them young and fresh, while retaining the classic style we know and love. Some of my favorites - "The Celebrity Century", Royal Caribbean's "Majesty of the Seas" & "Grandeur of the Seas" & The "Sun Princess". I have sailed on these ships many times before and each time more impressive then the last!

So, don't be fooled by the size of the ship, after all, Small Ships stand right up to the Big Ships, offering a slightly different, but equally impressive vacation experience!

Want to compare ships? Click HERE!

The Angry Steward & the Carry-on Luggage

"I've Had Enough of Carry-on Luggage!"

In case you are one of the 10 people in America that hasn't heard of the Flight Attendant who just "Had Enough", let me update...

Steven Slater, a 38 year old Jet Blue flight attendant, decided "enough is enough" after his flight landed at JFK Airport on Monday. Slater cursed the passenger (dropping the "F bomb" 3 times) over the intercom, grabbed beers from the galley, deployed the emergency slide and walked away from the plane!

Although stories about exactly what happened change by the minute ( 2 women fought over storage bins space resulting in Slater getting hit on the head & a woman passenger who was forced to check her bag was enraged upon landing that her bag was not immediately available and proceeded to curse him)... I can just imagine what happened, because I have seen it hundreds of times! It all comes down to CARRY-ON LUGGAGE!

Air travel has changed. Years ago everyone checked their bags and overhead space was used for blankets and pillows (luxuries long forgotten on planes) and the occasional SMALL carry-on bag used by the consummate business traveler. I believe that passengers began carrying on ALL of their luggage in an effort to shorten travel experience (not having to wait for the baggage handlers to deliver the baggage in typical union style "snail delivery").

The amount of luggage brought aboard planes has created many issues, along with a lot of stress. Ridiculously long boarding times add to the frustration. (I would rather wait at the baggage terminal then have to board a plane and sit for an extra 45 minutes!)

I have sat on planes as many flights board and watched how passengers behave as they heave luggage and squeeze the bags into the overhead bins. One thing I have noticed is that passengers in the rear often store their luggage in the bins in the front of the plane (for ease when they exit). Common sense will tell you that this will inevitably cause an issue when the passengers who are sitting in the front actually board last and there is no room for their carry-on and they are forced to check their bag.

I have often mentioned it to the flight attendants, who could easily solve the issue by making sure that everyone stores bags above their own seat. But I have never had a flight attendant actually make that effort. So, I watch and wait for the inevitable angry passenger.

Let's face it, we are not all friends on that plane. Each passenger is only interested in making their own life easier. Like a bunch of children in a classroom. But kids have rules in class. They cannot just drop their backpacks anywhere, they cannot just skip the line, they cannot speak rudely to the teacher and they have to be respectful of each other. Like teachers, flight attendants should be there to make sure that the rules are followed that best benefit the whole group. I know it is more work for them, but in the end would make everything much more pleasant if we KNEW the rules and HAD to follow them.

I understand Slaters frustration. I have met those obnoxious, angry passengers. I have often wanted to stand up and drop the "F bomb" at them and I would have loved to actually hear a flight attendant do it over the intercom! (I actually applaud Slater for not opening the emergency slide and pushing the woman down it!)

But in the end, the Carry-on Luggage is the culprit, the stressor. If the attendants don't make the rules and enforce them rigidly, there will always be stressful situations. I say, either enforce the rules or ban carry-on luggage. It is that simple.

Oh...and by the way, next time passengers are held captive on the tarmac for hours & are enduring extreme frustration...maybe WE should grab a beer and slide off the plane!

Good Health requires Good Friendships!

Good Friendships = Good Health

It is Official! According to studies done by Brigham Young University and May Clinic, friendships are good for your health! In fact, having friends is just as important as stopping smoking and more harmful than not exercising!

Of course, I have always know that. Through some tough times, it has been good friends that have been my rock, my "sounding board", my safety net & my comfort circle.

Good friends are important for your health, even offering a 50% chance of a longer life!

BENEFITS of FRIENDSHIP

• Increase your sense of belonging and purpose. (Feeling needed when a friend is going through a tough time)
• Boost your Happiness (When I share stories with friends, I learn to laugh at my troubles!)
• Reduce Stress (It is no fun to go out for a Martini alone! )
• Improve your self -worth (Feeling loved and needed)
• Decrease your risk of serious mental illness (When I need to rant, I can pick up the phone! They understand.)
• Help you weather traumas such as Divorce, illness, job loss or death of a loved one. (When my first husband died, I relied on God, family & FRIENDS!)
• Encourage you to change unhealthy lifestyle habits (WHAT! No martinis! well, that depends on the friends!)
• Shares in good times (New baby, new house, new job, new hubby! Celebrate & laugh together!)

Just knowing that friends are there to lean on through the good times, celebrate with through the happy times and LAUGH THROUGH BOTH is a comforting and reassuring. Sometimes I just need to hear that "opposing" opinion to challenge my thoughts and make me think. That is why I personally think it is good to surround yourself with friends that are diverse - different back rounds, political opinions, styles, desires. One thing that is a MUST is that we share the same social values. That is the basis of trusting in their thoughts.

Surround yourself with good friends and live a happy healthy life!

So ask yourself a few questions...

Do you have a BFF?

Is your group of friends diverse?

Am I friends with people who help my mental state or hurt it?

Do I nurture my friendships?

And the biggy.....

AM I A GOOD FRIEND?!

More stuff on that later!

Everyone deserves to be pampered...

I Might Never Leave This Hotel...

Does "Squatters Rights" apply?

Beautiful summer day in Manhattan. Hubby asks me to drive in to meet him and spend the night (long business hours...) at the Ritz Carlton on Central Park. "I WILL BE THERE IN 45 MINUTES!" I say quietly.....but screaming in my brain! The chance to experience The Ritz, Central Park NYC...I can't get there fast enough. I have read about so many celebrities, dignitaries and politicians staying at the Ritz, so why not me!

So here I am, after being escorted to the lobby "suite" by the kindest Gentleman (Front Desk Receptionist) to await my suite. Okay...I am already pampered and I haven't even entered the room. Actually, if I left right now, I would have great things to say about this hotel...but there is not a chance I am leaving until I experience that room, not after the last half hour of being in the lobby! I almost don't want to go up to the room yet (even though it is ready), similar in the way that I wait to open a gift...anticipation is half the thrill.

But now I am ready..

By the way, I have stayed at the Four Seasons in NYC many times, so when I say this is impressive....I know what I am comparing it to. SO far, the service is "wildy over and above". Is that an appropriate description? It would be if you were sitting here.

Finally made the decision to head up to the room..I MEAN SUITE! After the silent glide up the elevator, and the "OMG! I could live here" reaction to the suite, I am now settled into the comfort of this classic, beige, comfy poofy room. As I sit here, among the traditional decor, I always wonder "Is Buckingham Palace this comfortable? Because, the traditional decor of Buckingham Palace is so NOT comfortable looking! But this is.

Of course, the bathroom was my first stop (I AM a girl) and I think it has the most amazing marble I have ever seen. It looks like soft, swirly, caramel ice cream. Beautiful. Bathroom amenities...Yes, I have everything I need and more AND top notch!

Comparable to the Four Seasons...Different. Service is definitely better (which makes EVERYTHING BETTER!). Room is comparable but styled differently. Bathroom is absolutely awesome in both.

Well, I have been here for 2 hours. I have a huge smile on my face. About to climb in the shower to get ready for dinner at Scotto's. Life is good at the Ritz Carlton.

The Ritz Carlton got me at "Welcome to the Ritz". Click here to see more and reserve your stay!

Walking for a Cure on the Girls Cruise

I have been running these “Girls Getaways” for may years. I have met many women with many different back rounds and history. But I can tell you that there is one thing they all have in common..and that is that someone they love has been touched with cancer (if not themselves)!

I personally have 2 girl friends with breast cancer & one with ovarian cancer. It definitely touches close to home. I have heard such great stories of “courage and hope” not only from my friends but from so many of the Girls on my GIrls Getaways.

On our last Girls Getaway, I was so excited and moved to hear that Carnival does a “Walk for the Cure” on each sailing, every week throughout their fleet! But it doesn’t stop there! Every ship in the Carnival Cruise line Corp. also hosts a fundraising “Walk for the Cure”! I say Kudos to them!

This is how it works...every walker pays $ 10 on their shipboard account. That money goes directly to the Susan G Komen Foundation. Each participant receives a t-shirt (although they could have been cuter!) and is eligible to walk at a designated time. That might not sound like the most fun to you..but it actually is alot of fun. It is such a great feeling to meet so may others that are also walking, but it is such a good feeling to be “giving” when you are so blessed to be fortunate enough to be on a cruise vacation.

Carnival Cruises raises about $ 1000 average per ship. With 40b ships sailing sper week (among many Cruise Lines) that is approx. $ 40,000 per week! It is a great feeling to be part of that! I am so glad that Carnival offers the opportunity to “be part” of that. I might not be one to walk 5 miles..but I certainly can contribute for 30 minutes on a cruise vacation!

I think the concept is generous and brilliant! I think Carnival Cruises should be applauded! Check it out! http://bit.ly/ondeckfrcure

Girls Getaway Cruise 2009

This summers Girls Getaway Cruise started with extreme apprehension!

For days before the cruise, the whole North East watched Hurricane Bill’s every move. Many worried that this storm would ruin their weekend summer vacation plans. Rented beach houses, amusement park plans, camping or hiking for the weekend. Hurricane Bill had the power to destroy everyones plans. Including ours!

My phone was ringing every 5 minutes! I was constantly reassuring my Girls “No need to worry...the Captain would never take a chance with a Hurricane. Carnival would make sure to keep the Triumph, its crew and passengers safe.” I do believe that 100%...but I will admit that I said a little prayer everytime I got off the phone! Yes, I was watching the Weather Station VERY CLOSELY!

Everyone decided to stick with our plans and boarded the Carnival Triumph. As we sailed away from Manhattan in the gorgeous evening sky, I found myself confidently reassuring my Girls once again. We were starting our Cruise Getaway and not even Bill could put the brakes on our fun!

*On our Girls Getaways, everyone has thier own agenda...

*Some are coming on with friends to feel stress free for the weekend.

*Some women come on in the hopes of meeting other like minded women and relaxing.

*Mothers come on with daughters who have been away at college, so they can reconnect and spend quality time together.

*Some Girls are celebrating important birthdays or even upcoming weddings!

No matter what you came for, they all have one thing in common... they came to laugh!

Even though some Girls choose to stay in small sets, is a nice feeling to seeing familiar faces while on your Getaway. Our first evenings cocktail party is designed to introduce and get comfortable. We started this Girls Getaway Cruise with “The Gossip Girl Game”. The objective to win - Meet the most Girls and find out the Best Gossip! And let’s not forget that the Girl who gave the BEST Gossip also wins!! It is a fantastic way to tell fun, unexpected information about yourself and learn the same about others! It was a room full of laughter and absurdities! FUN!

Our first day at sea was relaxing. It was actually nice ot get out of the oppresive heat as we sailed up north toward Canada. Perfect sun, calm seas and great weather for sunbathing. Others spend the day in the Spa. We had quite a few winners in the Casino! And one lucky Girl treated herself to quite the diamond necklace! I watched from the top deck as a group of our Girls danced the reggae beat around the pool and laughed hysterically at the “Hairiest Chest” contest. That’s the best thing about our Girls Getaway Cruises..Everyone does exactly what THEY want to do! So many choices. So much fun!

We were informed by the captain in the late afternoon that we wouldn’t be making it to our Port of Call (St John, NB) due to Bill. He had planned to head south and avoid meeting Hurricane Bill at sea. Sounded good to us! 2000 people onboard and not one complaint! No one was interested in coming face to face with Bill.

I could go on and on telling you about the perfect weather we had as we sailed for the whole 4 nights and days. I could tell you all the exciting details about our Midnight Martini Party, Project Runway Show, TV Trivia games and dancing till all hours....but you will have to join us on one of our Getaways to find out all the details!

Girls Getaways is not just about a vacation. It’s about bonding: sleepovers at your best friend’s house, staying up all ight giggling about cute boys at school, mother/daughter lunches that last longer than the time it takes to eat a chicken caesar salad (dressing on the side). On Girls Getaways we’re not about the details. We’re about the memories and the emotions. It’s all about you!

Join us on our Girls Getaway to Bermuda - May 2010! CLick here for details!

WIN A ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE!

GirlsonaCruise.com

I am getting into the FUN PLANNING stages of our Girls Getaway Cruise! Very exciting! I love surprises. But I love surprising others even more! We have approximately 50 Girls and counting. My job is to make sure they are all surprised and happy. I can't think of a better job!

This years summer Getaway is very interesting, because it is the first time that I haven't previously been to our port of call

St John, Canada. It looks very interesting. SO much to do and explore. From the amazing High and Low tides ( 48 foot tide change 2 times a day!) to the Greenwich village feeling of the old town to the home of Moosehead Beer! Sounds like fun to me!

Let's not forget the ship itself. 2 full days at sea aboard the Carnival Triumph. I am really looking forward to that! Lounging by the pool. Relaxing in the Spa. Art auctions, make up demonstrations. The options are endless! All day looking forward to the pre dinner cocktail parties, fine dining, show and dancing! FUN FUN FUN!

Check out the Triumph by clicking here!

Visit our website Today!

Then call or email to book your Girls Getaway!

See you on the ship!

Caribbean Nations Take Swine Flu Precautions

Although there have been no reported cases of swine flu in the Caribbean, individual destinations have stepped up measures to help ensure that infected visitors do not enter the country.

In Jamaica, the island’s ports of entry are on alert to screen travelers arriving from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada where cases of swine flu have been confirmed, according to Health Minister Rudyard Spencer.

In the Bahamas, the Ministry of Health and related agencies activated their preparedness plans to limit the spread of the influenza strain if any cases are identified, according to Health Minister Hubert Minnis.

The ministry is stocking antiviral medications and will implement quarantines if necessary, Minnis said.

Surveillance measures in the Bahamas’ ports of entry are monitoring the health of arriving individuals. Immigration and customs officers can contact 24-hour, on-call health officials if there are concerns about a traveler.

Belize, which shares a northern border with Mexico, issued a travel advisory discouraging travel to Mexico, according to Health Minister Pablo Marin. Local authorities have stepped up surveillance across Belize to detect cases of swine flu but none has been found.

St. Kitts and Nevis increased surveillance at official points of entry and mobilized its Rapid Response Team and stockpiles of medical supplies, according to Chief Medical Officer Patrick Martin.

Saint John, NB Canada FUN!

Think you have to go South to have fun?

Try Saint John, NB Canada

Think you can’t have fun unless you head south? WRONG! Harbor towns along the East coast from Canada to Key West all have the same element of coziness, beauty and FUN!

But first, don’t forget the indescribable views when you leave the Port of NYC and cruise alongside Manhattan! An amazing collage of skyscrapers, boats and bridges. Be sure to bring your cameras!

Once you arrive in St John, the photo ops just get better! You will be bowled over by the beauty of the Bay of Fundy. And the endless array of options to spend the day “your way”!

“Got Beer”? Celebrate a passion for beer and culture Sample Moosehead beers with Live Entertainment. Visit the Moosehead brewery or do a Pub tour.

“Golf your Game?” Enjoy 18 holes in the beautiful 2,200 acre Rockwood Park.

“Chocolate!!!!” Visit the home of Gannong Chocolate and get your taste buds tingling!

“Outdoor Adventurer?” Paddle by Kayak along the coast and enjoy a lobster bake.

“LOVE Lobster?” For those of you who love lobster, imaginge cracking fresh lobster on the shores with a cold Moosehead Lager! Perfect lunch.

Can’t decide? Do your own thing or join in on our “GirlsonaCruise Scavenger Hunt” Sure to help you find amazing places and fun!

Miami South Beach

Miami South Beach

Okay, so this time it was a “business” trip, but as usual, it somehow turns out to be “pleasure”! We attempted to find the perfect Luxury Hotel to stay at while meeting someone for Business, and decided on the Ritz Carlton. We wanted to try something different from the others we have stayed at (Hotel Victor, Tides, Delano, Loews) and the Ritz had its’ Ups & Downs.

First Impression -

Lobby - Very warmly modern, with a splash of Art Deco.

Staff - Very pleasant, welcoming and accommodating.

Location - Excellent! Walk 2 blocks west and you are on Lincoln Road. Walking distance to all the action on the Ocean Ave Strip.

Rooms - Well...we were not happy (at first!) But let me tell the story...........

Our initial room (# 831) was a bomb. Not the interior. Ritz is very consistent with the interior design and comfort of the rooms. Decor (with the nautical flair) was simply Ritz. Nautical blues, whites, beiges. Expected and satisfactory. Just enough luxury without being over the top. The Ritz luxury items that are expected and make us smile...including the very plush towels and Bulgari toilettries. If we had come in the middle of the night, we probably wouldn’t have noticed the lack of Balcony and the horrible view!

Truth be told, Room # 831 was very confining...and maybe the worst view in all of South Beach! I have had better views in Detroit! Frank was not a happy camper!

We phoned the Guest services and were informed that there were “Lanai Rooms” available. Only $50 extra. Didn’t take to long to discuss that! Talk about $50 well spent! The room was exactly the same in the traditional Ritz decor, yet spaciousness, mood and view were amazingly different. NOW we had arrived in South Beach!

Welcome to room #382. Walking into the room we were immediately drawn to the wall of windows and the Balcony beyond. Wonderfully sized balcony with ample space for 2 lounge chairs and table, that overlooked the very “South Beach” pool area. Standing on the balcony, pulsing to the beat of the “Beautiful People” music eminating from the gardens, the hotel wrapped around the pool area. Very cozy. Also intriguing. The rooms surrounding the pool area were encased in Black Glass that appeared like dark reflective sunglasses. Interesting. Made me wonder what was going on behind those lenses. People “staring back”? “Making Love”?

“Dancing naked”? What was going on with the drapes open

that I COULDN’T see?! Mystery. Intrigue.

The landscaping was well manicured. Perfect. White on White with the black glass and the signature Ritz Blue enhanced the pool . Cool and serene. The crisp blue surface of the pool rippling in the breeze. Yes, I am in South Beach.

And then...the disruption. Imagine sitting on the lawn, in front of an ampitheatre on a starlit night, listening to Andrea Boccelli. Romantic, mood perfect, beautiful music. And then static starts blaring through the speaker system. An annoying static, like AM radio in a car! That is what it was like at the pool, at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach! look, I love kids. Raised 5 ! I know what it is like to take kids on vacation. I also know that kids will be kids. And it is tough to take them to a small boutique-ish hotel. The Loews would have been a great idea! When kids and floats consume the pools surface and turn it into a camp pool, that adults can’t wander into safely...it becomes a problem.

When the sunbeds that couples pay $250 to use for the day are next to 14 un-ruley kids fighting on the next bed...it becomes a problem. The Ritz Carlton should have rules about that. It was a spectacle all day, and the sunbeds on either side were vacated.

Parents need to take responsibility and if they don’t, the hotel staff needs to nicely correct the situation. There were families that had control of their children. Kudos to them!

Every day, from early morning till late, kids took over the hot tub. COME ON! Yes, they do have a right to go in. But what thinking adult would go in after 17 kids have been in and out all day! WE KNOW what warm water does to little kids!!! Maybe the Ritz Carlton should post a sign that the hot tub is for “Adults only”.

We should have done more research. Next time we go to South Beach for relaxation during a spring break...we would choose a more adult hotel. Guess that was ultimately our fault!

Notables that were definitely “Ritz Carlton”:

Staff - Wonderful, attentive and polite. From general service to water and juice being served Butler Style around the pool. Service was great.

$250 Charge for Sunbeds - Very fair. Large, plush towel covered beds that include 2 large bottles of H2O, 2 bottles of Champagne and a very attractive Fruit Plate. Nice way to spend the day in the sun.

Clientele - Very “Connecticut Style” wealth. A bit stuffy. An older crowd then hotels like the Delano or Hotel Victor. It is almost as though everyone staying at the hotel could be family! It is almost like a private club.

Lunch at the restaurant was a treat. If you are under the watchful, caring eye of Julian (the supervisor) and have the good fortune of Liz waiting on you...life (and lunch) is good! Service is the most important aspect to a great dining experience. The Ritz Carlton should be proud of thier staff. They did a great job.

As I return to my luxuriously padded lounge chair, I can’t help but notice the “Ritz Calrton Secret Service” patrolling the grounds. Suddenly opening umbrellas for fear of a sun shower...or is there someone famous in the midst? or is it ME?! I think it is me! That is how the Ritz makes you feel!

Lounging in the sun, in this atmosphere, it is hard to not have a glass of sparkling water and a glass of chilled wine at my side. Just another elegant touch. Once again, I feel blessed to be here. After all, it is the first day of spring (and it snowed in NYC this morning)!

Extra mentionables:

Hotel Mondrain - We went to dinner at the Mondrains’ Asia de Cuba. Very impressive...if you like Alice in Wonderland! I felt like we were in a fairytale. Everything was oversized. Strangely elegant and very white!!! Asia de Cuba was very over priced and the service was horrible. Would not return.

Settai - Heaven. Simply gorgeous. The pool area was comprised of 3 long sleek pools, surrounded by luxury sunbeds, Some of the sunbeds were encased in tall hedges. Absolutely stunning. Will definitely return! (con - Vodka and Orange juice $20!!!)

Miami South Beach...We will return!!!

Girlfriend Getaways set a Trend

Vacations where women travel and leave the men at home are booming!

The phenomenon might have started decades ago with bachelorette parties and trips to Cancun for college girls, but the trend has exploded! SInce 1993 there has been a 230% increase in the number of women-only travel companies.

With so many women in the working world, the need to get away from it all has become a reason to vacation! A prescription for “de-stressing”. And getting to together with other women is just what the doctor ordered.

Whether you are married, single or divorced... research shows that women love to travel with friends, family and BFFS in an effort to “Getaway” from it all! It is no surprise that womens’ presence in the business world has afforded them the opportunity to travel much more often and on their terms. Women are seeking out Adventure travel, theme travel, spa getaways and choose to travel with other women. It is a great way to bond and reconnect with your mom, sister, daughter or BFF! Women often choose to travel single, and traveling in a group with other women offers them the chance to feel safe, network and meet new friends!

SO join the biggest trend in travel! GETAWAY WITH THE GIRLS!!!

Cruise Assurance

CruiseOne, CruiseAssurance!

Consumers might be concerned about losing their jobs, but they no longer need to worry about a pink slip ruining their vacation plans. CruiseOne unveiled the first-ever comprehensive job loss travel insurance policy covering travel on all cruise lines. The new “CruiseAssurance” initiative is an exclusive benefit to consumers booking through CruiseOne, even if they have to cancel their trip at the last minute because of an unexpected layoff.

The best part? CruiseOne is picking up the tab for “CruiseAssurance” for consumers purchasing their basic travel insurance. Combined with lower-than-ever prices, cruising is now the most affordable and worry-free vacation option.

“In today’s environment, it is crucial for businesses to step up to the plate showing we understand consumer challenges, and a handful of companies have recently done this with their versions of job loss protection,” said Dwain Wall, General Manager of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Our ‘CruiseAssurance’ policy takes the concept of job loss insurance to a new level, easing the concerns of consumers at no charge and on any cruise line of their choice.”

Under the “CruiseAssurance” policy, travelers booking a cruise with CruiseOne can cancel their trip up to the day of departure, or even during the vacation. The only requirements are that travelers purchase an entry-level travel insurance plan from their CruiseOne agent – administered by Travel Guard – and present their termination letter. One year of employment is required. “CruiseAssurance” applies to bookings made March 1 through May 2, 2009 and is offered in addition to an already comprehensive travel protection policy.*

“We have our finger on the pulse of what is happening with consumers and travel, and we are passionate about finding innovative ways to problem-solve, making cruise travel accessible and affordable for everyone,” said Wall.

Top Ten Reasons to Go on a Girls Getaway!

Top 10 Reasons to Getaway with the Girls!

1. Laugh, Laugh, Laugh...
2. Reconnect
3. Explore New Adventures
4. Cheaper than Therapy
5. Shops, Salon & Spa
6. Be treated "Royally" By Royal Caribbean
7. Much better than "Lunch once a month"
8. Every Night is "Girls night out"!
9. Relax...no kids...no work...no pressure
10. YOU DESERVE IT!