Savoring Chile & Argentina's Cuisine, Wines & Culture

We are delighted to announce a new fully escorted small group tour to Latin America. With international food and wine expert Liz Caskey as your host, travel and taste throughout some of Chile and Argentina's famous wine regions with Cox & King's. From wine makers to farmstead cheese makers, connect with the people who make it happen.

Savoring Chile & Argentina's Cuisine, Wines & CultureSpecial departure: September 23-30, 2010

Highlights:

• Explore vibrant markets in Santiago, winding through the stands of our favorite vendors.

• Taste your way through notable wineries of Chile's Colchagua Valley, from unassuming "garage" bodegas to chic and innovative wine superstars.

• Meet local farmers and beekeepers, as well as artisanal producers of cheeses, premium olive oils, and herbal liquors.

• Enjoy delicious meals prepared with the best of seasonal produce in rustic haciendas, renovated wine cellars, turn-of-the-century villas, and al fresco.

• Tour Mendoza's main wine regions, including Luján de Cuyo, Maipu, and Uco Valley, with the dramatic Andes as a backdrop.
• Learn to prepare regional classics during a cooking class at Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza.

Trip Costs and Booking:

The cost for this 8-day, 7-night journey is $4995 based on double occupancy ($685 single supplement). Includes all accommodations with most meals, sightseeing, transfers, baggage handling, and taxes. Meals not stated on the itinerary, gratuities and personal expenses, are an additional cost. Internal airfare is an additional $325 per person in economy class. International airfare is not included. Tour starts and ends in Santiago, Chile.

If you're passionate about food and wine, and exploring how they are intrinsically tied to the local culture, we invite you to travel with us, Savoring Chile & Argentina's Cuisine, Wines & Culture.

Ship Tour - Silver Shadow (Silversea Cruises)

January and February of each year, some of the world’s finest cruise ships travel through the ports of Los Angeles and San Diego as they begin their World Cruise Programs. These cruises range from 119 days to as much as 163 days, visiting exotic ports of call, carrying internationally known lecturers and experts of all kinds and circumnavigate the globe, ending in London, New York, Miami or Los Angeles. When these amazing ships and their worldly guests come through Los Angeles we try to get out and see them, as they are not on the West Coast of the US often.
This last Superbowl Sunday (2010), while the Saints and the Colts where gearing up for battle in Miami, I was queued up in San Pedro, in the rain with about 30 other travel professionals for an exclusive and rare invitation to tour the Ultra-Luxury cruise ship, the Silver Shadow, part of the 6 ship fleet of Silversea Cruises.

First of all, Silversea defies comparison to the rest of the mainstream cruise companies and ships. What I found in my afternoon on the Silver Shadow was a truly unique, luxury travel experience, and I will expand on that more shortly. Many of our clients are used to asking us about this ship and that ship and how they compare. We have used comparisons to hotels, such as ship A compared to ship B, would be similar to the difference between a city hotel like the Trump International in Chicago and the La Quinta Resort in the California desert and what all that means to the client. We have compared them like cars, this ship is for people that prefer a Mercedes, with a driver over a zippy BMW sportster. These comparisons help us get across the style, the “feel” of a ship and the level or service or care expected on a certain vessel.

Silversea transcends this type of comparison in that it is not a floating resort or hotel at sea, it is a true luxury lifestyle experience. I found the ship extremely understated, but very elegant at the same time. The artwork is impressive and rare, but also simple and subtle. The dining venues are immaculate, well designed, beautiful, but again understated and comfortable. I walked away with the feeling that Silversea is for Travelers and Voyagers, not simply a vacation.

Silversea is also an international company with approximately 50% of their guests coming from homes outside of North America. This makes for a very different and enriching travel experience. One afternoon you may be sitting by the pool with the winemaker from a vineyard in Argentina, then dining with a doctor from Ireland. This international mix adds to the overall travel experience, but also has Silversea offering more to their guests than found on other ships to accommodate the international crowd.

Launched in 2000, the Silver Shadow only carries 382 guests in six-star personalised service, and all of them in ocean-view suites. I found the suites to be exceptionally well laid out and spacious, regardless of the room type. My favorites were the mid-range Silver and Medallion Suites ranging from 521 - 701 square feet plus a Veranda. Both of these had a nice sitting area, gorgeous italian marble bathrooms and a Glass wall enclosed bedroom area. These suites are designed for comfort and relaxation and I found them to be that, and so much more.

View a full ship tour here: Silver Shadow Ship Tour

Silversea is one of the only All-Inclusive cruise ships, that is really All-Inclusive! All Silversea Guests receive complimentary beverages throughout the ship and the cruise, including fine wine, spirits, bottled water and anything else you could desire. They also stock your in-suite mini-bar with your personal preferences prior to your boarding the ship. Silversea aims to make the experience seamless, with transfers into town included at most ports around the world, complimentary in-suite dining if you choose, an exclusive and complimentary shoreside event on most cruises and a butler at your service to help unpack, pack, assist with dining arrangements and anything you could ask for.

I’ve posted pictures on our Legendary World Facebook Page - so become a FAN and check them out! If you have any questions about Silversea or Luxury Cruising, you know how to get ahold of us!

Please post any comments or share your experiences on Silversea by clicking on the “Comments” button below.

Ship Tour - Oceania Regatta

I recently had the pleasure to tour the m/s Regatta, and enjoy lunch aboard in the Grand Dining Room with Adele and some other Travel Industry Professionals.
When launched in 2002, Oceania Cruises, founded by industry veterans Joe Watters and Frank Del Rio, created a new category in cruising - and called it Deluxe cruising. The idea was to fill a missing niche between Premium (Holland America, Celebrity, etc.) and Luxury (Crystal Cruises, Regent, etc.).

From all accounts they have mastered this category, and after touring the ship, I can’t wait to sail with Oceania in the near future!

The differences are noticeable even from the pier as we walked towards the gangway and our entrance to our Deluxe ship, the m/s Regatta. Docked next to us in San Pedro was the Norwegian Star with a capacity of 2200 guests! Our ship looked like a beautiful private yacht in comparison, welcoming us on a very special voyage. As we boarded, the decor, furnishings and finishings immediately soothed the soul, relaxed our minds and made us all slow down and take it in. The lobby was reminiscent of a boutique hotel and the staff and crew were there to greet us and direct us to a welcome cocktail reception in Horizons, the top deck, forward lounge.

Adele and I grabbed a glass of Wine (when in Rome, as they say!), located a spot with some friends and proceeded to take some pictures of this incredible lounge. This area of the ship, and many to follow, are very much like being at the Country Club or Golf Course Lounge back home. Oceania tries in its decor to be welcoming and make you feel at home, and they have succeeded in this endeavor. It feels very comfortable, but not at all sloppy or too casual. It is elegant and sophisticated, without being snobby. The dress on Oceania is “Country Club Casual”, so for those of us that do not care to wear Tuxedos and Suits in the evening, Oceania is a great escape!

Next we headed off to tour the Staterooms and Suites of the m/s Regatta. It was actually rather comical at first, as 350 Travel Professionals all left the Lounge and headed in the same direction to visit the 12 staterooms they had reserved for us! Adele and I quickly found a parallel passageway and shot to the front of the group, and ahead of the crowd as most of them struggled to peep their heads in the doors, as 30 came out of the staterooms. Hey - it’s why our clients look to us for “creative” solutions and ideas!

The Staterooms on the ship are beautifully decorated and very well designed. All have flat screen TV’s, which really add a lot of space to the staterooms compared to the boxy TV’s of old. The inside Staterooms and the lowest level oceanview with portholes and picture windows are 160 and 165 square feet respectively, but felt rather spacious overall. This is probably due to the fact that the bathrooms are VERY small in these categories. They are functional, and for the value of these staterooms is OK, but they are very small. The Balcony Staterooms measure 216 square feet with a 45 square foot balcony. Personally I love the balcony Staterooms regardless of the ship. even if I do not spend any time outside, I love having the floor to ceiling glass as it makes the room feel so much bigger. I also love to have the door open during the day to enjoy the fresh air, and depending upon the destination, have been known to leave the doors open all night. Just don’t tell my cabin steward!

Of course my favorite on this ship are the Owner’s Suites, ranging in size from 786 to 962 square feet, located on the very front or very back, with large wrap-around verandahs, Jacuzzi bathtubs, Butlers, Wedgewood furnishings and all the little extras you would expect in a Suite on Oceania.

Canyon Ranch, right here in Tucson, has recently partnered with Oceania Cruises to add a Canyon Ranch SpaClub on all of the vessels. It is not just a Spa at sea with a fitness center, but a true Canyon Ranch experience, with exceptional facilities and staff to create a complete Health and Wellness program on the Regatta. If you are a Spa nut - then Oceania Cruises is for you!

One of the differentiating features for Oceania is the dining. First of all there are four, open seating restaurants throughout the ship that are available to all guests and without the surcharges that we find on the Premium ships. There is the Grand Dining Room where we were treated to a magnificent five-course lunch and spectacular wines. There is the Polo Grill serving the best steaks not only on the high seas, but in the world. And served in a style reminiscent of the old Hollywood haunts we have all seen and dreamed about in the movies. There is Toscana hailed for its simplicity and keenly balanced flavors, firmly rooted in family traditions. Many of the recipes have been handed down for generations, coming from many of the Italian culinary staff of Oceania itself. Then there is Tapas on the Terrace, each evening this area becomes an alfresco dining experience under the stars! Enjoy specialty cocktails, authentic tapas, paellas and flavorful regional specialties from Spain.

In addition, there is a spectacular 24 hour complimentary room service menu that is second to none that I have seen in my 20 years of cruising. Order coffee, fresh fruit and pastries as your wake up call or a full five course dinner experience served in your stateroom.

We also took some time and toured the pool and deck area of the ship, and the casual, upscale style holds true here as well. The deck chairs and loungers are made of a beautiful Teak and covered with soft white (and thick!) padding for lazy days out by the pool enjoying a good novel or lively conversation. Next to the pool is Waves Grill, the casual lunch spot where you can grab a burger, salad or sandwich while enjoying the pool or as a quick stop between tours and other activities onboard when you do not feel like going to one of the restaurants.

I hope you enjoyed this quick review of the Oceania Regatta and I would love to have you add any comments below if you have sailed or visited this vessel or one of it’s sister ships! If you have any specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me at Scott@LegendaryWorld.com

Carnival Splendor - Mexican Riviera

Carnival Splendor - January 3-10, 2010

I am sailing this week on the Carnival Splendor, one of Carnival's newest ships and a new class of ships for Carnival Cruise Line. we are sailing from Long Beach, California to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. The Mexican Riviera is a great, easy, fun week long getaway for those of us that live on the West Coast. Most of our group drove to the port, boarded and we were off - very easy!

I've been wanting to sail on this new ship since it first arrived in California in early 2009. Many of our clients and staff have already been aboard and have come back with raving reviews.

When you first hear there are over 3000 passengers on board, many time my first thought is "YUCK"! Who wants to be on be ship with so many other travelers? But one onboard, it becomes apparent what a great job the ship designers are doing these days with these large ships. There are MANY small lounges, spaces, restaurants, pools, walkways and other facilities, that you rarely see lines or large crowds of people.

The boarding process in Long Beach only took about 15 minutes from the time we parked until we were on the ship. All of the check in lines were open, and with the online pre-registration completed, all we had to do was show our passports and credit card, and we were given our keys to our stateroom and directed to board the ship - easy!

Upon boarding we all decided to met up at the Lido Deck, poolside for a cocktail and a chance to relax and get into the "Cruise Spirit"! The pool area of the Splendor was an incredible three decks high with an amazing 50 foot television screen that was used to show all kinds of programming. Music Videos during the day while hanging out at the pool, CNN in the

morning for the early birds who were out for coffee and some fresh air, Movies under the Stars with popcorn and cocktails for "kids" off all ages, and we even watched a few of the Bowl Games so far! The lowest level had the pool, lounge chairs, bars, stage for live music and all the amenities you would expect on a cruise ship. The next level up was a great getaway from the sun, but still a part of all the action around the pool since it was covered by the top deck. The third deck up from the pool was all sun deck - out in the open with lounge chairs and lots of people on the sunny days we had all week. From here you can still hear all the music and all the excitement, but you are far above all the ruckus and people running around. Serene, but

sunny and energetic!

A new feature on this ship and spreading to the other ships in the Carnival fleet, is the Serenity Deck or Serenity area. This is an Adults-only relaxation area! As good a job as the ships do with activities for the kids, it was great to have an area that was completely off limits to kids! This area is outside on the upper sun deck, with quiet music playing, upgraded decking and lounge furniture, a private bar and staff to pamper you. It was a great place to sun, read a book (I've finished two novels already, and it's only day three!), meet friends for a drink or just sit an enjoy the sea.

The Serenity Deck is just another component that continues to make cruising one of the

best vacation option. In the past I used to say that cruising was for everyone and for every type of vacationer. But now it is even better, in the fact that you can have "your" type of vacation on just about any cruise ship. There are so many options, cabin types, activities that you can design your favorite way to vacation by just enjoying the areas of the ship that appeal to you. No more are you limited to meals at set times in set dining rooms, no more do you have to endure the steel drum band and belly flop contests by the pool to enjoy the sun, no more do you have to go the the showroom if you want entertainment in the evening. And for those that want all of that - they are still there too! It is all about choices in todays cruising! Well, my battery is running low and I'm off to the gym for an hour or so - and the rest of the group is of to play golf in Puerto Vallarta! Have a great day!

Chicago, Chi-Town, The Windy City!

My latest adventure took me to one of my favorite cities AND my new favorite Hotel!

When The Trump International Hotel and Towers was announced as the location for the meeting I was attending, I felt like a kid in a candy store! Not only am I junkie for great hotels, but I was really excited to see what "The Donald" was up to in the hotel industry!

I had heard that Chicagoans were originally not in favor of The Donald building on their landmark, famous riverfront, but eventually the barriers came down and a Magnificent new addition to Chicago was born. Not only is the hotel not what one would expect of the brash, gold-plated billionaire, it is a beautiful architectural masterpiece on the outside, and a chic, subtle, exciting, relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable experience on the inside!

Usually heading to a newer hotel with this kind of anticipation and high level of expectation can lead to disappointment, but The Trump truly "trumps" the other luxury hotels I have visited in the United States.

Upon entering the intimate lobby, the idea that there would be grand expressions of excessiveness and "over the top" decor where immediately wiped away by the beautiful, subtle furnishings, fresh flowers and small spaces. The staff was not in the way, tripping over themselves in a obtrusive manner, but were right there when you needed, to get checked in and get your bags whisked away to the room.

The rooms are impressive, but again not gaudy in any way, shape or form! One of the great features of the guest rooms at The Trump are the "Urban Kitchenettes" in all of the rooms, except the Spa Rooms. These allow for a private, romantic dinner in your suite, prepared by the Hotel Chef, as well as the small luxury of being able to make something for yourself if you choose to stay in or simply want to have a nice cup of coffee and relax with a newspaper.

~~~

NOTE: If your dreaming of experiencing this hotel!

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is part of our Signature Hotel and Resort Program of over 600 of the finest hotels, resorts, boutique inns and adventure lodges in the World!

For all of our Guests at The Trump, we are pleased to be able to offer the following, exclusive amenities:

• Continental Breakfast for two Daily, also Available through Room Service
• Welcome Chocolates in Room Amenity
• $50 Spa Credit per Room, per Stay

The following amenities are subject to availability at the time of check-in:

• Upgrade

~~~

OK - back to the Trump! I was originally to be at the hotel for two days of gruelling meetings, if you can call hanging out with some of the brightest minds in the travel industry - and at The Trump Hotel anything close to gruelling. :)

The meeting space and the staff were incredible! Our meeting room looked out over the city and was a fantastic space to share ideas and reports on what we are up to in our travel businesses. We were hosted to a reception by the executives of the The Trump Chicago and The Trump Hotel Collection in the Skyline Room, a luxurious, intimate space overlooking the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, just as the sun was setting. It was a great way to complete our meetings, socialize with friends and get to know our partners at Trump a little better!

For me it was the beginning of a busy weekend of sightseeing, sports, dining, and hanging out with my favorite niece for the weekend!

Thanks to the entire crew at The Trump that made our meetings and
my trip so enjoyable! We all really appreciate it!

Here is a fun little video I put together showing off The Trump and our Fun, Crazy, Chicago Weekend!

Click the image above or HERE to view video! Enjoy!

The Thousand Fan, Thousand Follower CHALLENGE!

Well, we have finally taken the plunge!!  

We have created a Facebook Fan Page (Click here to become a

 FAN!), we have set up a Twitter Account and will start tweeting on July 1st (Click here to Follow us!) and have taken Legendary World Radio to the Internet as a Podcast (Stay Tuned for details - we are awaiting the proper links from our web developers!

But in true Legendary World style - we did not just want to start having Fans, Followers and Listeners - we want to have FUN with it and do some good.  And, if you are going to have fun and raise money for charity - 

DO IT BIG!

So today we are launching The Thousand Fan, Thousand Follower CHALLENGE for our existing Fans, Followers and Friends - and many new Fans, Followers and Friends.  And I promise I will not use those "F" words again in this post!

Today we start with One Fan, One Follower - and that is OK!

We have partnered with our favorite Cruise Lines, Holland America, Carnival and Princess, yet again for an exciting, fun and interesting experiment to see how fast we can get to 1000 Fans on our Facebook page and 1000 Followers on Twitter!  

Many of you remember that in 2008 it was our 20th Anniversary and we gave away TWELVE CRUISES over Twelve Months!  I think we had as much fun as our clients!  Many of the winners are still in the planning stages.

We have put together a special CHALLENGE for all of you to help us recruit these Fans and Friends - and once we get to 1000 Fans in Facebook, we will do a drawing and award a seven day Mexican Riviera or seven day Caribbean Cruise to one luck Fan!  The same for Twitter - 1000 Followers and a Cruise will be awarded!  In addition, we will donate $1000.00 to charity at each Milestone - AND let the Fans and Followers decide who to donate it to - through an online poll!

Once BOTH have 1000 - a THIRD Cruise will be awarded!  No we are not CRAZY - we just like to interact with you and have some fun while we are at it.

So...

• Tell your friends in Facebook to become a FAN - and have them tell their friends...
  
• Sign up to follow our Tweets and RT (Retweet) them to your followers...
  
• And e-mail anyone you think would enjoy this Blog and this experiment to come along for the ride!
  

Ireland! This weeks eNewsletter Topic

Click Here to Read this weeks eNewsletter - featuring Ireland!

To have the weekly eNewsletter, specials and deals sent right to your inbox weekly - click here and sign up on our e-mail list - AND enter to win an incredible vacation!

Se’ San Diego – A Feast for the Senses!

I recently decided it was time for a weekend getaway to San Diego, to visit friends, favorite restaurants and see what “America’s Finest City” was up to! My regular readers know this is one of my favorite getaways – and they are always different!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Julie Chavarria, Director of Leisure Sales for Se’ San Diego, while she was traveling though Arizona promoting her amazing new hotel. During our lunch, I was invited to come see the hotel the next time I was in town. Never being one to miss out on a new hotel, new experiences and always wanting to see what new innovations and programs are being launched, I decided to call Julie and see if she had availability for the first night of my adventure in San Diego. Luckily she did!

One of the first things that impressed me about Se’, was the call I received from the Chef Concierge, Chuck Huller, about 5 days prior to my stay to introduce himself and offer to help me make Tee Times, Dinner Reservations or anything else that would make my stay more enjoyable! WOW! I’ve stayed at some of the best hotels in the World, and this was the first time I actually received a phone call, in advance, to see how my experience could be made more enjoyable. It was perfectly timed as I wanted to take some of my friends to dinner at the onsite restaurant Suite & Tender, by James Beard award winning executive chef Christopher Lee. Chuck took care of all the arrangements and sent me an e-mail to confirm the reservations and offered me is direct phone line in case I needed anything else. We are off to a great start with Se’!

So, on a beautiful Friday morning in Tucson, I boarded my favorite Southwest Flight to Lindbergh Field in San Diego. I fly Southwest about 40 flights per year. I am not sure why, but just getting aboard, getting settled with my iPhone, coffee and a magazine is like coming home! The flights are usually on time, the crew is ALWAYS accommodating and happy, and the trips are just so easy.

Anyway – back to the trip at hand! When I arrived in San Diego it was overcast, cold and dreary, and after leaving a warm, beautiful day in Arizona, I was wondering if I made a mistake. But that is what travel and exploring are all about, so I headed to Hertz to get my car and then to a few business appointments I made while in town. It is great when you can mix business with pleasure on these trips!

I arrived at Hertz and went to the car, and was surprised and excited that is was a new Altima Hybrid! I’d been dying to try a hybrid, but had not had the chance – until today. The first thing I noticed was no key, just a switch. Now that part was not all that surprising as I had gotten used o my moms Mercedes not having a key. The strange part was that when I pushed the button a little light came on and simply said “ON”, but there was absolutely no engine starting or noise of any kind. I assumed it was not working, turned it off, made sure the car was in Park, and hit it again, still NOTHING! I got out of the car, made sure the electronic locks where off, reentered the car and tried it again. Still nothing! I went ahead and put the car in drive, no noise, but as I eased off the brake – IT MOVED FORWARD! For those of you that have a hybrid, you probably think this is a little weird – but I was so amazed by the lack of noise while the car was in electric vehicle mode. Once I got out of the parking spot, the engine roared to life and all was good in the world. It took me awhile to get used to the car engine stopping every time I got to a stop sign or intersection, and being completely silent – but I sure got used to it over the weekend, and climbing back in my Expedition at the end of my trip sure had me thinking about a better way to get around.

OK, I’ve finished my work and headed to Se’ San Diego to settle in and see the hotel before meeting my friends for dinner. When I first arrived at the hotel, I was escorted into the lobby though this amazing, huge wooden door that was absolutely beautiful and pivoted in the middle to allow it to open enough to “sneak” in, like you were entering some kind of super secret clubhouse or private enclave. Once inside you are struck by the simple design, but soaring ceiling, floating staircase and multitude of textures! There is not the traditional desk, where you wait in line to check in, but comfortable seating where you are offered Se’s Signature Cocktail, the Zen Royal, made of organic vodka infused with cucumber and rosemary, and topped with sparkling wine. It was perfect! It is very light and refreshing with a taste of vodka, but not overwhelming. Within just the first 10 minutes of my visit the entire experience was perfectly crafted to relax, take away any pressure of the day and prepare you for an incredible stay.



Next the hostess brought my room keys right to me, asked if I had any questions or special requests, then politely took my credit card and went off to get me checked in while I enjoyed my drink and took a closer look at the lobby and thought about my plans for the evening. Once I arrived in the room, I was again awed by the beautiful one bedroom suite (Thanks Julie!), sweeping views of the city, and again all of the textures and exotic materials used in the décor, it was stunning!




We had reservations for dinner at 7:00 PM, so my friend Whitney and I met in the lounge at 6:00 PM for a drink and to catch up on life! The lounge was again awash in textures, from Stingray leather covering the bar, to exotic wood furnishings, a “Flame” wall, live plants covering another wall – it was simply amazing and relaxing at the same time. In the evenings on the Weekend - the rooftop Lounge "Siren" has a series of incredible performers that do a Cirque-type of show and presentation while perched over the hotels pool - it was impressive to say the least!

I have to wrap this up, so I will tell you that the dinner in Suite and Tender was another “Feast for the Senses” with simple, small portions, but combining many different and unique flavors and combinations – you’ll have to check it out to get all the details!

Away We Go Again! Celebrity Solstice, Eastern Caribbean!

This week I am off to the Eastern Caribbean with about 60 friends and associates from the Travel Industry for our Annual Horizon Club Cruise, consisting of the top travel professionals from Signature Travel Network.

It is a great week to learn more about the particular cruise line we are sailing, and this year our cruise is on the new Celebrity Solstice!  It is also a fun event to gather with OLD friends (Paul - I'm referring to you!), make new friends, and relax.   The Solstice is one of the newest and most innovative ships afloat.  Watch this blog over the next week and I will update you on all the Cool, Exciting and Fun additions to this ship!

We have recently added Celebrity Cruise Line as one of our Partners in our Food and Wine At Sea program and will soon announce our newest cruises and chefs for 2010!  Stay Tuned!  For current details visit us at www.LegendaryFoodAndWine.com.

We are in Fort Lauderdale today and it is perfect!  It is currently 73 degrees, high clouds and a great, cool, but balmy breeze blowing in from the sea.  I have been "volunteered" by the guys to take the girls out in search of Champagne this morning - so we are off to Totally Wine -  conveniently located near the hotel!  :)    Joyce has to have her Veuve Clicquot!!  And she has got me hooked as well!  The cruise lines allow each person now to carry on one bottle of wine or Champagne per person - and of course we would NEVER sneak on any additional!  :)

Richard Fox - forget you ever read this!

Tomorrow we are "At Sea" - so I will update with details of our "Sail-Away" party (Blended Drinks and Little Umbrellas are involved!) and some of the great new innovations on this ship!

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Mariner of the Seas!

I have just returned from a two day Inaugural Cruise on the Mariner of the Seas! Click Here for a Ship Tour. It has been years since I was on a Voyager Class ship, and I forgot how INCREDIBLE these ships are!

For me cruising has always been about choice - but Mariner offers choices not found on other ships! From an Ice Skating Rink, to the signature Rock Climbing Wall (no - not this trip!), to In-Line Skating, to Amazing Dining Choices, the list goes on and on.

Our entire staff was able to attend, with spouses and companions - so it was a great getaway for the team, a time to see a new entrant into the Mexican Riviera and just hang out. I was lucky enough to get a Junior Suite, and my niece Brittany flew in from Philadelphia to join me on the cruise and visit for a few days - that is always a blast!

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the service in the multiple dining venues and options. We had dinner in the main dining room both nights - and everything was exceptional! We had breakfast in the Windjammer and it was very good, lots of choices and lots of stations where items where made to order.

The Casino was GREAT! :) Brittany and I play craps, so the first night we played for a few hours and lost only $10.00 or so - but the next night we played and got on a roll and won $300.00 for the night! Brittany and I happily split the winnings and went off to the Irish Pub for a celebration and sing along! Both nights found our group out until after 1:00 AM!

Then on Sunday we had a very busy day visiting some cousins in Los Angeles and then driving to El Centro to stay with friends on the way back to Tucson.

I'm now back in sunny Tucson and loving it! It has been in the 90's the last few days and I am headed out to the Accenture Match Play Tournament this weekend - should be amazing! Its a great week to be in Tucson, as in addition to the Golf - it is also RODEO WEEKEND in Tucson! The schools have been closed since Wednesday and everyone gets into the activities!

I'm home for a few weeks - then off to the Caribbean for a week on the new Celebrity Solstice with about 50 friends from around the country!

Until next time!

Working in the "Windy City!"

This week I am attending an industry conference in Chicago, and every time I land here I get excited about the City, the Food, the Architecture, the River, the Food, the Sports....

What a great city! For me, it's one of those cities that I always love to spend time in, but one of those that is immediately "off the radar" as soon as I leave. I'm not sure why, but as I thought about it, a lot of cities are that way for me - great to visit - but never really somewhere that I say I can't wait to re-visit or move too.


Luckily, I get to the "Windy City" once a year for one conference or another. I did learn today that the nickname - Windy City - is NOT due to the wind or weather coming of the lake - but a backhanded remark by a New York Sun editor, referring to all the boasting the city did about their hosting of the World's Fair in 1893!

Last night we had an opportunity to attend a reception and dinner at the new Trump International Hotel & Tower - and WOW! - is all I can say! The hotel is part of our Signature Hotels and Resorts program, and a few of our clients have actually stayed in the hotel already - even though the tower is still under construction above the hotel!

The reception was held on the 16th floor and the views were AMAZING! I've attached a couple pictures I took with the trusty iPhone. There were 200 of us - and the Trump Organization pulled out all the stops - a great time was had by all!

OK back to Work! :)

Legendary World Radio - Launched 09/06/08!

HELLO! What a weekend! We launched a new Radio Show this weekend called Legendary World Radio. Not just ANOTHER travel show - but a complete lifestyle show - featuring Travel, Food, Wine, Adventure, Stories, Friends and much more.

This is the show where we ask...

"When was the LAST time you did something for the FIRST time?"

It's all about discovery and experiencing this Legendary World we all reside in.

Our first show had a "Green Theme" and our in studio guest was my friend and fellow wanderer, Gina Murphy-Darling aka Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green has a highly acclaimed Radio Show called Mrs. Green Goes Mainstream - where she is moving the "Green" needle, one convert at a time - and makes it FUN! I can attest to this approach as I have started to change some of the practices within our office and in my personal life too!

On the show Mrs. Green announced her new cruise project, called "Mrs. Green Goes to Sea!" A very special cruise about "Going Green". She has some great presenters, programs and goodies planned for all participants! Check it out!

We were also honored to be joined by Tina Stotz, Manager of Sustainability, Auditing and Environmental Initiatives at Holland America Cruise Line. We had a GREAT conversation with her about all the impressive technologies and procedures put in place by today cruise industry to continue to improve their performance in the protection of the environment that is so important to all of us.

Check out our Radio Show website and sign up for our eNewsletter - you might win a cruise!

Alaska Cruise w/Sam The Cooking Guy!

WOW!  What a cruise!   I have just returned from a week in Alaska with a group of clients (now friends!) and Sam Zien.  Sam is better know in San Diego as "Sam The Cooking Guy" due to his highly rated television show of the same name.

You can view the pictures from my trip in the slideshow above or simply click on the picture and it will take you to the complete album to review quicker. I'll get back here and post some information on the trip, sights and other stuff as soon as possible.

Business!... and Pleasure!

Whoever said you can't mix business with pleasure - was an IDIOT!  :)

I recently had to make a quick one night trip to San Diego to meet with some executives of Clear Channel Radio and the Dr. Laura Syndicated Radio Show to discuss our upcoming Dr. Laura Cruise.

It was a last minute meeting, set for the next morning.  I jumped on my trusty Southwest Airlines flight for the one hour trip to the shore - still not sure where I would spend the night.  As the flight dropped towards the San Diego Airport, I saw out the window an old friend - The timeless Hotel Del Coronado!  

Upon arrival in the baggage claim area I called a friend in the Sales Department to see if she could get me a room - within minutes I was in my rental car, heading across the Coronado Bridge to my FAVORITE Island Hangout - THE BRIGANTINE!

I lived in Coronado for over 8 years, and as anyone who has ever lived there - it becomes part of you.  And as soon as you cross that bridge - it is home once again!  With so little land to develop, it seems like it never changes.  The "Del", Glorietta Bay, Miguel's, The Brigantine and The Lambs Players are always there like old friends!

My first stop was my personal favorite - for a Brig Brew and a San Diego favorite - the Fish Taco!  YUM - I'm getting hungry just writing this!  KB and Brian were behind the bar - and of course, said hello, as if I had been in the night before - even though it has been a year since my last visit to the Island!

Now it was time to head over to the Del - right

 across the street and check in, and check out the latest happenings at one of my favorite hotels.  I checked in - and to my surprise - found that my friends in the sales department had upgraded me to an AWESOME oceanview suite!  THANKS AGAIN!  If you ever want to stay at the Del - give me a call and we will make sure you are treated like Royalty.  

The entire staff of the Del and all the KSL Resorts are an incredible group.  We have worked with them over the years and have enjoyed a wonderful business relationship.  It actually started in La Quinta, California when I was on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce with the current President of KSL Resorts - but that is another story.

The view from the suite was incredible - I was tempted to settle on the balcony, open a book and relax, but wanted to see the recent additions to the resort - the Beach Village at The Del.

Beach Village, an exclusive enclave within the iconic setting of the oceanfront resort, offers an ultra-luxe contemporary vacation experience. Located on Coronado’s award-winning beach and inspired by the original hotel’s coastal architectural style, the guestrooms and suites at Beach Village offer dining and living spaces with fully-equipped kitchens and gourmet-quality appliances, cozy fireplaces, plush 400 thread-count bedding, spa-style baths with soaking tubs and spacious ocean-view balconies and private terraces. Guests of Beach Village enjoy private pools and hot tubs, private access to the beach and personalized concierge service to tend to your every need.

It is my goal for this summer to find a way to reserve one of the One and Two Bedroom Villas for a little escape this summer from the Tucson heat!

After my sightseeing and walk on the beach, it was back to the Suite where I ordered Room Service and enjoyed a relaxing dinner on the patio and an early night - this was after all a BUSINESS TRIP!  :)

SLAMMED is the Word!

We have been SWAMPED here at the office for the last month!


I'm not complaining, but I have not been able to put up a day by day account of my trip to The Galapagos! And my friends have not let me forget it! :)


So I have decided to at least get a link up here to my pictures! The are not captioned or explained, but at least there are there.



I'll try to get back here and add some commentary soon... But future trips are looming on the Horizon - so we will see.

Off to Ecuador and The Galapagos!

Well, it's FINALLY here!

We are off to South America!  I am traveling this week with 34 other Travel Professionals from the Southwest United States for an exciting and educational trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands!  The agents are all members of "The Association of Travel Agents of America" (ATAA), of which I am the current President, and get the pleasure of co-hosting this trip with fellow board member Bruce Iacobelli.  Hey - tough job, but SOMEBODY has to do it!  :)

Today we are flying all flying to Quito, Ecuador for two nights before heading off to the Islands and our Adventure!

Quito is at approximately 9500 feet, and one of the highest airports in the World.  It is also very near the Equator (Lat. 0 00'00" S) - and one of the highlights of our tour tomorrow morning!

Upon my return from the trip I will upload pictures, commentary, etc. right here - so stay tuned!  We have a Travel Show in Tucson the weekend of my return, so it may take until the following week to get everything uploaded and ready for you - but I promise I will get it done!

Fiesta Bowl 2008!

Hello Everyone - sorry for the few month absence, but I'm back!  And have just gotten home from an AMAZING couple of days in Glendale Arizona and the FIESA BOWL!

It all started with a phone call from my mom, asking if I was interested in going, as she has some good friends from West Virginia that were going to the game and had access to tickets!  My mom, always the adventurer (now you know where I get it) immediately said yes and called to see if I wanted to meet her and the group for the game.  Of course, I too said "YES!" and set out to find some rooms and learn about the teams.

Mountaineers?  Sooners?  I was not familiar with either team, but does it really matter!  It's the FIESTA BOWL - and in the new Glendale Stadium to boot - home of the upcoming Superbowl XLII!

We decided to stay at the Wigwam Resort, as that is where Mom's friends were staying (Doug, Susan, their daughter Lindsay and husband TJ) - and it is very close to the Stadium.  We arrived on New Years Day around 2PM - just in time to take in the Florida vs. Michigan Game by the pool and meet everyone.  After Michigan beats Florida, we were off to Scottsdale for the W.V. Mountaineers Founders reception and party!  The ballroom was filed with fans from not only West Virginia, but all over the country - here in Arizona to cheer their team to victory!  By now, mom and I were honorary "Mounties", with our Blue and Gold on and as excited about the game as everyone else!

After the party we headed back across town (Even with the 101 loop done - the Scottsdale to Glendale drive is about an hour!) and decided to make a stop at the new Margaritaville that opened up right next door to the stadium.  As you can imagine - this was my idea - and mom got to learn about Parrotheads, Phun and all kinds of new things.  

Well - on game day the resort erupted in a sea of Blue and Gold - and Red and White, with the Sooners Fans outnumbering us 10 to 1.  We had to listen to the news of the Mounties impending doom, how they did not have a chance as the coach had quit, and how Sooners were due a win - yada, yada, yada...   We headed out to the stadium about 1:00 PM after Mexican food and some killer Prickly Pear Margaritas near our hotel - recommended by Lindsay!  Great Call!

We got to the stadium and started to meet up with friends of Doug and Susan's from WV.  Many of them had their motorhomes and tailgate parties where in full gear already!  We hung out here for awhile and met some people who had extra tickets - so they swapped with us and our tickets went from the endzone to the 20 yard line!  SWEET!  We bought some WV "gear" enjoyed all the excitement, the rivalry, the energy and headed into the stadium around 5PM for the 6PM game.  The stadium is beautiful and very well laid out.  If you are lucky enough to get to go to the Super Bowl (I'll be there if my SD Chargers are!) or to a Cardinals Game - you will see what I mean.  The concourse and concessions are set up perfectly, lines were minimal and it was very easy to get in and out of the stadium parking - even for a sold out game!

The Mounties came out strong, and never looked back!  It was a beating like no one imagined!  The WV Mountaineers looked awesome and beat the Sooners by 20 points!  It was a great game and I can't wait to visit WV in the future and try to take in a game!

I'm off to the Galapagos in a week - and will have LOTS of great pictures when I return!  Speak to you then!

Whirlwind Tour!

Well it was quite a "long weekend" for Scott!

The Cruise Place and Legendary World are part of an organization called Signature Travel Network, a co-operative of about 200 agencies from around the country that collectively do over $3 Billion in Travel Sales - yes that is Billion with a "B"!

Many of the technology tools, marketing programs and training programs my company uses are developed and managed by Signature. Signature is Owned by the member agencies and we get together once a year to elect a Board of Directors, learn about new programs and to network. Well, our Annual Meeting was held last weekend at the Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas and WOW!

Lake Las Vegas is about 30 minutes East of Las Vegas Airport - but a World Apart! The entire area surrounds a man-made lake that whisks you away from all the hoopla of "Vegas" and transports you to the Italian Alps. It feels like you are in a tranquil Italian Villa, with all the amenities of a Ritz - it was incredible!

I spent two days at the meetings, then had to shoot off for Cabo San Lucas to meet up with my staff and one of our groups! This was the Inaugural Sailing of our "Music and Margaritas" Theme Cruise, sponsored by KPRI Radio in San Diego and the Phoenix and Tucson Parrot Head Clubs! What is a Parrot Head Club you ask? Parrot Heads are members of the 200 or so Jimmy Buffett Fan Clubs spread across the USA to support Jimmy Buffett and his laid back lifestyle - and benefit great local causes at the same time! "Party with a Purpose" is their mantra!

I flew to Cabo on Saturday (But the group departed San Diego on Thursday!) and met up with many members of the group at The Giggling Marlin in Downtown Cabo - just across the street from the Cruiseship Tender Pier. The "Marlin" is famous for hanging patrons up by their ankles and taking a picture of you with a giggling Marlin painted on the wall in reference to all those fishing shots we have seen with fisherman and their catches! We had a few laughs, a few tacos and a few beers while everyone filled me in on the parts I had missed - sounds like a good time was had by all!

We headed back to the Carnival Elation to dance to the Trop Rock sounds of "Stars on the Water", the awesome San Diego band we brought on board for our private parties and concerts! We danced by the pool for two hours, as we sailed out of Cabo!

Mini Vacation - San Diego!

This last weekend I decided to take a quick trip to San Diego to escape the Tucson heat (yes - it's STILL hot here...) and take in the San Diego Chargers home opener vs. the Chicago Bears!

I decided a quick full day adventure was in order! I invited my niece Brittany to join me - and away we went! It all started with a 6:45 AM flight to San Diego on good old Southwest Airlines - always on-time, always fun and a great way to start an "Adventure"! Upon arrival in San Diego we took the Hertz Bus to pick up a convertible and head to the beach, for some fun before the 1:00 PM Kick-off of what many of think should have been the teams in last years Super Bowl! :)

First stop - the WaveHouse! My favorite beach spot in San Diego - and Voted the Best Breakfast in San Diego in 2006! We decided it was a little too early for Bloody Mary's and settled for an awesome breakfast, while I caught up on all the things going on in Brit's active life, work and new house - some things I did not need to know!

Then it was off for some roller-bladeing and watching as the beach and the neighborhood came to life! Mornings are by far my favorite times and I love wandering in different cities as the locals start their day and smells start to fill the streets as coffee, pastries and other goodies are being prepared.

OK - Time to head to Qualcomm Stadium (still Jack Murphy Stadium for us long time Charger Fans) and see if we can find a tail-gate party to crash! I decided we should take the trolley to avoid the long lines to get in - as this game has been sold out for months! We left the car in Old Town and jumped on the Trolley and were surprised to see as many Chicago Orange Jerseys as there were Charger Blue! One of the great things about games in San Diego is that rival fans LOVE to travel to San Diego - not only is it a beautiful city - but the Charger Fans are some of the most hospitable and friendly in the league! Everyone was laughing, having a good time, wishing the other team good luck and just ready for a great game - with two great teams!

I decided to call my "Charger Girlfriend" (story another time) and see if her and her husband are at the game and set up yet. DUH! was the answer I got, so we headed over to H2 parking section to see my good friends Cathy and Steve and join their party. Since we were traveling light today we had nothing with us but our clothes - and Cathy and company pulled us right in and we partied with them until time to head into the game. Rod Laver, a famous Tennis Player from years past was even part of the group! We had a ball! Thanks Again Cathy! :)

Time to head to our seats! Brittany did not know it yet - but my favorite seats in the stadium, and where I always sit are in the Club Seats. They are halfway up the stadium, giving PERFECT views of the field from all angles, there are 4 private lounges with TV's for when you need a break from the heat AND they serve you in the seats - Stadium Heaven as far as I am concerned! The pre-game show was just getting started as we arrived, checked in with the neighbors - who luckily ran about 75% Charger Fans and 25% Bears Fans - and were surprised and amazed as 4 F-18's screamed across the sky just above the stadium as everyone erupted from their seats and the game began!

I won't go through a play by play, but suffice it to say it was a defensive battle in the beginning with the Bears leading 3-0 at half time - but then the Charger Offense, lead by P. Rivers and LT ratcheted up the intensity in the second half with 14 points and the defense holding the Bears to ZERO - giving the Chargers a Season Opener winning score of 14-3! Go Chargers!

We hung out in the private lounge for a beer after the game to let the crowds dwindle and to mingle with the Charger Fans and soak up all the excitement of the WIN! Our flight home was not until 8:50 PM, so we decided to go back to the WaveHouse, watch the surfers on the Patio Wave Pool and watch the sunset - before heading back to Tucson and the realities of home. (I was actually so wiped out - I took most of Monday off!)

Back at the WaveHouse! The WaveHouse is right on the Beach in Mission Beach, home of Belmont Park and one of the Oldest Wooden Roller Coasters in the US, originally built in 1925. While living in San Diego we always would bring visitors and friends here for a run on "Giant Dipper"! We got a great seat at the Bar and proceeded to watch the guys and gals as they surfed Bruticas Maximus - a 10 foot wall of water and one of the most incredible wave machines in the country! There were hundreds of people on the patio, in the restaurant and just standing around watching all the activity - it was a great way to end a great day!

But all good things must come to an end - and I could see Brittany was starting to crash. :) Time to head for the airport, return the rental car and get our boarding passes. As usual, the flight was on-time and smooth as silk. We landed in Tucson, retrieved our cars and headed home for a good nights sleep! Great Day - thanks Brit! See you next time! GO CHARGERS - it's off to New England for my Chargers and a very tough game this Sunday.

*Images Taken with my iPhone! :)