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! :)

Fly-Fishing - Greer, AZ!

I know - I have been AWOL for a few months! OK, LOTS of months! :) But, I'm back!

I've just returned from a spontaneous trip to Greer, AZ - in the White Mountains of Arizona! You might say, "so what!", but this is a great, hidden treasure in Arizona, near the New Mexico border. Many folks in Phoenix and Tucson have never even been here - I was shocked to hear that so many locals are not aware of this Jewel in our own backyard!

Greer, Eagar, Springerville, Nutrioso, Alpine....

Never heard of them? You are not alone! These are great, small towns (click here for map) along State Route 260 and US Highway 180 in the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona. These towns are not far from the better known Show Low, Payson or Pinetop - but a world apart in character, local hospitality and country laid-back lifestyle!

Wednesday morning last week I awoke with a wild idea to head to the mountains and do something different, get away from the "city", the heat and the same ole', same ole'. So I decided to call a very good client, and now friend; well known and highly regarded fly-fishing guide, Chip Chipman. Chip and his wife Penny are clients of The Cruise Place and I had heard great stories about guiding, and the beauty of the White Mountains. So I shot Chip an e-mail and he happened to have time to give me some lessons on Saturday and a guided fishing trip on Sunday - PERFECT!


Chip directed me to the Greer Lodge and Cabins - and I booked myself a cabin - not really sure what I was getting, but just glad to get a place this close in. The Greer Lodge is one of the best lodges in the area and almost always booked well in advance. One of the "Lodges" is called the Red Setter Inn and is actually a B&B within the resort grounds. It was named one of the Top 10 B&B's in the WORLD by Fodor's! (click here for the article). I knew I was in for a GREAT weekend!

I arrived Friday afternoon around 5:00 PM, after an incredible 4 hour drive from Tucson, via Oracle, Globe and Show Low. The drive was a perfect way to leave the hassles of the work week behind, put on some Jimmy Buffett CD's and enjoy the scenery! And its was AWESOME! The terrain quickly changed from desert scrub brush and cacti to pine trees, meadows and green, green, green. The monsoons have made the mountains as lush as the deserts I love. The big difference - it was now 71 degrees vs. the 105 degrees I left behind a few hours ago.

I checked into my cabin, unpacked all my new "Fly-Fishing" attire and headed to the 373 Grill on the Lodge grounds - and only a few steps from my cabin. Ah, how convenient! :)

The 373 Grill, named after the highway that takes you the last 5 miles from the main road 260, is a perfect spot to sit back, relax after a long drive or a day of fishing, hiking, horseback riding or any of the other activities in the area, and have a cold beer or glass of wine and take in the scenery! The Grill has indoor seating or a patio with fresh air and grand vistas.

I decided to head back to the cabin, watch a DVD I brought and start a new book I've been wanting to read - a perfect ending to the first day of my Fly-Fishing Adventure!

SATURDAY MORNING!
When I checked in the previous day - everyone working in the office said that I MUST get up early, and walk the property, as the monsoons have brought out the local Wildflowers as well as the Wildlife! So here we are, 6AM, hot coffee in hand and 59 degrees out - YES! :) The grounds of the Greer Lodge are incredible. I enjoyed about an hour hike, sighting deer, trout in the streams and yes - lots of wildflowers - it was one of those perfect mornings - and I was only an hour away from meeting Chip and my first Fly-Fishing lesson.

Greer Lodge has stocked ponds that are used for guests to practice either on their own, or with a professional Guide. I looked around at all the frustrated fathers with their kids, and husbands with their wives (enough said) and was glad I had decided to call Chip! We spent two hours going over all the basics, the Roll Cast, The Overhead Cast, The False Cast, as well as reading the water and refining the techniques. Chip was a great teacher and made it all come together. At first I felt like we were flailing around and it was not working, but within a few minutes of coaching it all started to feel right and I was getting in the groove. Now I was still not very good at it - but I was having fun and starting to get the fundamentals!

We finished the lesson and I headed back to my cabin around noon. I was planning on going back to the ponds and practice this afternoon and take in some horseback riding, but the monsoons came in with a fury around 1:00 PM and did not let up until after 7:00 PM - so my activities where out - but the show was great - and I settled in for the afternoon to read my book - also by Jimmy Buffett, "A Pirate Looks at Fifty!" Talk about escapism - it was a unique afternoon of reading, watching and listening to the storm and dreaming of all the adventures and far away places in the novel. It was early to bed - as tomorrow Chip and I are hitting the streams near his home.

SUNDAY MORNING!
Time to pack, check out, grab some coffee and head the 45 minutes East to Nutrioso to do some Fly-Fishing! The morning was cool, crisp, overcast and smelled of pine! Chip and I met at the post office in town and headed to his home where I would leave my car. We got in his truck and headed to the East Fork of the Black River - where Chip knew all the "hot" spots! The water was high from the storms and Chip said these where going to be tough conditions, but we decided to try one of his favorite spots anyway. I forgot everything from yesterday, so at first I was all over the place - fly in the bushes, fly in the trees, everywhere but where Chip was directing me at in the stream! It came back pretty quick and we kept working on getting the fly out to the right spot and then the stripping technique was worked on. After about 15 minutes we had our first fish! It was an Apache Trout and about 8 inches long - what a rush to catch the first one - and I knew if we caught no more - at least when I got home and my mom (an avid fly fishing fan) called, I could say we caught one!

The "big" one! About 10 minutes later we had another hit and this guy was a fighter (but what did I know - this was my first time!) and I had a great time reeling this one in. Chip seemed a little shocked at the size, but I'm not sure if he was just making the trip more fun. I reeled in a 14 inch or so Brown Trout and it was bright, colorful and feisty! This trip was just catch and release, so we let him go and went back to looking for the next one. In the first 2 hours we caught another Brown Trout at 16 inches and another Apache Trout at about 7 inches - WOW - what a morning! We decided to try some other spots down the road, but did not have any luck in those areas, so we decided to take our last 20 minutes and go back to our original part of the stream for one last try. We had a few hits, but no more fish. It was a great day of fishing and learning about fly-fishing from a pro like Chip. I highly recommend taking a few lessons if you want to enjoy this (or any new activity) to it fullest!

Princess iExcel 2006

Here is my second attempt at You Tube! This is a second trip we took to Alaska this summer by land. enjoy!

Centurion Cruise 2006 HD

Here is a fun little video I compiled tonight on my Holland America Cruise! Enjoy - the music is fun!

Ketchikan and the Misty Fjords!

Today we arrived in the early morning and had a great view of the town as we arrived from our balcony. There is nothing better on an Alaska Cruise than a balcony cabin! Almost every morning we order coffee and croissants from room service and just sit an enjoy the scenery as we awaken and prepare for the day. Many cruises is is not as big a deal, but for Alaska you are almost always close to land and the spectacular scenery.

Today we have booked a floatplane tour to the Misty Fjords National Monument! We are a little nervous as we join or group for the transfer to the marina - the weather is beautiful, but full of clouds and far off drizzle! The trip is about 2 hours long, flying out of the marina and over a few islands to reach the Park, then we tour around some of the volcanic mountains, drop into the canyons for a close up view and then actually land on one of the hundreds of lakes we cross for a close up look! IT WAS AWESOME! We had a great pilot who has been in Ketchikan for over 30 years and was really good! I got to sit in the front seat as the co-pilot and had a ball! On the return flight we flew really low through the canyons and just kissing the mountain tops as we flew below the clouds back to the harbor. Upon our return we got a great view of the four cruise ships in the harbor, and landed right next to the Serenade of the Seas - right next to it!

Today we leave early from town, so it was off for shopping and then boarding by 1:00 PM. Tonight we are having dinner in the Pinnacle Grill with some friends. The Pinnacle Grill is Holland America's upscale alternate dining experience. It is a small restaurant on the ship that only seats 60 - 80 guests at a time. All the meals onboard Holland America are exceptional, but we hear the Pinnacle is just superb - and we can hardly wait!

Sitka!

Today we decided to get a little more active and have booked a Kayak Excursion that takes us around the inlets to the fresh water estuaries so we could see the Salmon running and we are not disappointed - WOW is all I can say, the Salmon where incredible, and we where also treated to an up close and personal visit with two Bald Eagles! Both were perched only about 30 - 50 feet from us, above in a tree as we paddled up and watched them for about 10 minutes and then watched them swoop down towards the water and fly swiftly towards the sky. We were told they where hunting Salmon and are there most of the mid-summer period for kayakers to see and enjoy. We also saw some huge Jellyfish and Starfish during our paddle! After our trip, we wandered through town enjoying all the Russian Handicrafts and artwork before grabbing a bite to eat and heading back to the ship to watch us as we sailed back out into the open seas and the Inside Passage on our way to Ketchikan.

Juneau - Whale Watching

This evening we are invited on a private shore excursion with the rest of the Centurion Group to go Whale Watching and see what else we can find! Our group of over 20 people are bussed to the local Allin Marina and loaded into three beautiful high speed catamarans for our Quest! The catamaran is three decks high, with very comfortable seats, binoculars and maps in each seats for us to use. We also have been presented with a full buffet of Salmon, Reindeer Sausage and all kinds of other local delicacies - and a full open bar - of course! :)

Just as soon as we leave the harbor we spot our first Humpbackwhale and are able to sit back and watch as it breaches the surface, spouts and dives back down with its spectacular tail rising into the air! We watch a few more times then head off to look for more. This time it takes us about 45 minutes to find another whale - but this time we spot a whole pod of them and watch for another hour as they swim, dive, jump, spout and generally feed and protect their young! On the way back to the marina - the captain brings Priscilla to the front of the cabin so we can all sing Hapy Birthday! Priscilla's face was a red as her hair! A great day was had by all!

Juneau, Alaska!

Juneau - Capital of Alaska!

We arrived today in Juneau for Priscilla's Birthday! This morning we have booked an EARLY river rafting excursion down the Mendenhall River which flows directly off the Mendenhall Glacier - which means the water is Ice Cold - actually it is 35 degrees where we put the rafts into the water. We meet our group at 7:30 AM for the trip to the Glacier and our next adventure. When we arrive we are issued a paid of rubber boots to keep our feet from numbing, along with full length rain coats and pants to help keep us warm. We are warned NOT to fall in if possible - no problem there!

We are loaded into the rafts with a family of five and begin our journey down the valley to the inlet below. Our trip is approx. one hour long and travels 7 miles down the Mendenhall Valley. The rapids are very small, al class one and one class two rapid - easy for any one of any physical ability to accomplish. We have a great trip, with a great group and just rafting along the base of the Glacier makes our day! We are now off to town to have a cold beer with some friends at the Famous Red Dog Saloon in the center of town - to warm up of course!

Glacer Bay II

We met some friends in the Crow's Nest and decided to go to their suite so we could enjoy some Champagne and watch the Glaciers from the vantage of the balcony. The Captain has positioned the ship parallel to the Glacier so that we can wait and watch for an calving activity - we are not disappointed! We sat for about 45 minutes and were treated to four or more active shows of ice falling - HUGE cracking sounds - icebergs being created - it was very cool! We decided to visit the Jacuzzis on the aft of the ship and watch as we depart Glacier Bay - the cold air and the hot water where invigorating - and we got to see a pod of Orca jumping and swimming by as we departed the Bay! What a day! Tomorrow we are in Juneau for Priscilla's Birthday - Red Dog Saloon - here we come!

GLACIER BAY!!

Today we entered Glacier Bay at approx. 11:00 AM and first picked up our local "Pilot" who will guide the ship and it's crew through the channels, inlets and bays to give us up front and personal views of these amazing glaciers. We also picked up a pair of naturalists from the National Parks service who will provide commentary, stories and answer questions during our 8 hours in Glacier Bay. The whole of what is now Glacier Bay used to be a massive Glacier itself and has been receding for hundreds of years, creating the 65 mile long Glacier Bay and the many Glaciers that feed it.

Today the temperature is in the 50's and it is overcast and misty! Wonderful if you have been in Arizona for the last few months as I have! We have decided to bundle up and join a few intrepid adventurers on the bow for what we hear is the best viewing and picture taking on the ship. we also hear they are serving hot toddy's so we are sold! We find only about 20 other people braving the cold - but the view is AWESOME! We hang out for about 60 minutes and decide to retreat to the comfort of the Crow's Nest lounge on the top of the ship - where it is packed with passengers and where the naturalists are giving their presentations. The massive Glaciers are incredible to view from here too. As we are relaxing, another Holland America ship passes by, with the Captain's both blowing their horns! Everyone was cheering and waving - very fun!

Day One - Sea Day!

We are approx. 200 Miles North of Seattle on our way to Glacier Bay - our destination for Tomorrow! Holland America boasts the largest number of cruises to visit Glacier Bay each season, as one of the original cruise lines to open up the Alaska Cruise market to passengers and tourists. The picture you see here is the Seattle Skyline as we sailed from port yesterday afternoon - it was spectacular!

Last night we spent the time getting to know the ship and familiarizing ourselves the the "lay of the and" if you will! First of all the ship is BEAUTIFUL! See my previous post for a link to a simple ship tour and you will see what I mean! There are some fabulous new enhancements to this ship and the entire Holland America fleet - collectively called their Signature of Excellence program. One of my favorites is a complete "Culinary Arts Center" designed in conjunction with Food & Wine Magazine. Over 60 chefs will travel on Holland America in 2007 offering once in a lifetime experiences to passengers that enjoy food and wine programs and hands-on learning.

We are lucky enough to have a suite for this trip - and the new enhancements in the cabins and baths are incredible! First of all are the Elemis Amenities and the separate shower and bathtub, with jacuzzi jets! The beds have been upgraded to Euro-Top Mattresses, beautiful bedding and linens - and even a PILLOW MENU! To make sure get exactly what you want or need!

Today we are in meetings with the other Centurion Agency owners and Holland America executives to see what is coming in 2007 - so stay tuned! For now I need to get back into our meetings so I will sign off for now! By the way - the internet here is great, with complete internet cafe AND 6 Wi-Fi Hotspots throughout the ship!

But before I go - I want to give away a $200.00 Ship Board Credit (SBC) to one of our clients or other followers of the blog!

To enter, simple send me an e-mail to:

SBC@TheCruisePlace.com if you are a client of The Cruise Place in Arizona, or
SBC@LegendaryWorld.com if you are a client of Legendary World in California.

I promise some GREAT pictures, and info as we really get into the heart of Alaska!