Though many airlines have been working on this technology for sometime, AirTran Airways will be the first US Carrier to implement a full Wi-Fi service on it’s entire fleet for their passengers. Virgin America has Wi-Fi, but they are an affiliate of the British Virgin Airline brand, So AirTran is the first US carrier.

AirTran Airways has partnered with Aircell to equip its planes with the wireless broadband access. The cost will be $9.95 for flights less than 3 hours and $12.95 for flights longer than 3 hours. There is also a special rate for Blackberry and iPhone owners of $7.95.

Here where most other airlines are cutting back on services, this is a valueable service being added for passengers, to help pass the time while traveling on a plane.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Way High Will You Find Wi-Fi

Traditional dining is when a set time and table are assigned to cruise passengers for their evening meals in the main dining room. Specialty dining is a program where cruisers can choose a specialty restaurant, such as a steak house but must pay a small cover charge per person. The specialty dining restaurants require reservations and they are a smaller, more intimate dining experience.

The ‘My Time Dining’ enables passengers to eat in the main dining room any time they like during the evenings maining dining times. Along with the ‘My Time Dining’ Royal Caribbean is also introducing a similar program for family’s cruising together with children. This new program is called ‘My Family Time Dining’. All these programs enhance the dining experience on board of all Royal Caribbeans ships to meet every cruisers needs and wants. Since dining is such a big part of a cruise experience for passengers, Royal Caribbean is just rolling out the red carpet for everyone!

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Dining Like Royalty On Your Own Time

Amtrak calls us ‘trainiacs’, that seems appropriate. The sway of the train, the clackty clack of the rails underneath and the view from the large windows can’t be matched by the tiny 8 X 12 inch windows on any airplane!

If you travel by train often for business or pleasure, you’ll be happy to hear that Amtrak is offering double to quadruple points for all of their Amtrak Guest Rewards program participants.

The offer runs from March 15th till May 8th, 2009 on all Amtrak travel. The more times you travel, the higher your point rewards will be from Amtrak. If you travel 1-4 times you’ll receive double points , on all your trains travels after wards you’ll receive triple points. If you travel on Amtrak on National Train Day you’ll receive quadruple Guest Reward points from Amtrak. Make sure you register yourself at AmtrakGuestRewards.com using registration code 31609.

Amtrak will also be hosting major events in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington DC in celebration of National Train Day on May 9th, so come out and celebrate. For more information and the locations on all of Amtrak ‘s National Train Day events go to nationaltrainday.com.

So come out and celebrate …ALL ABOARD!

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Celebrate For Being Loco For Train Travel

For their 2nd event they are doing two cruises. Go ahead take a double take – yes, that was Sponge Bob Square Pants and Patrick lounging on the Lido deck and they will be back again this summer on Royal Caribbeans Mariner of the Seas on July 26th, 2009 from Los Angles and Freedom of the Seas on August 9th, 2009 from Port Canaveral.

Come play with Dora and Diego this year – I’ll give you tips on how not to get slimed!.  

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Nickelodeon Family Cruise II

Alaska Cruise Traffic Jam

Recently many cruise lines, such a Holland America, Princess and Carnival have announced that they will be restructuring their schedules and reducing their sailings plus the number of ships that they have cruising for the 2010 and 2011 Alaska season. The cruise lines site several reasons, one being the new Alaska tax being charged by the State of Alaska on cruise passengers, environmental groups raising awareness to the possible harm that the total number of ships could be causing the wildlife issues in their own habitat plus the cost of travel to get to and from Alaska has increased greatly adding on a significant amount to the overall cost to the people wishing to cruise Alaska.

With fewer ships will also renew the allure of cruising through Alaska as someplace special, not just another destination. Cruisers were aware that an Alaska cruise was always more costly that a Mexican or Caribbean Cruise. There had been a limited inventory when combined with it’s short cruising season, people would often have to plan a year in advance to cruise Alaska. Over the past several years there was an increase in ships to the region, sailing from Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia so the cruise passengers had more options, more sailing dates and lower prices. That also then meant that with 2-3 ships (many carrying over 2000 passengers) in a single port in one day, there would be 5000 to 6000 people arriving at one time, so the Alaska cruise ports were overwhelmed with visitors. With cruise companies building bigger ships meant more people in these ports as well. Many of these ports are really small rural cities that have depended on the cruise tourist but have also been overwhelmed by the mere volumes of tourist.

For business, this is not a bad thing but for the environment and having such large numbers of people descend on small areas does have its own impact on the wildlife and the surrounding areas. People go to Alaska because it is so open and underpopulated but with the influx of such large numbers of tourists, growth and expansion had to happen. Hence the tug of war to see Alaska as an unspoiled beautiful, natural habitat but accommodating vast numbers of people. Somewhere, somehow, something had to give.

I think personally, it is a wise decision to have less ships, to protect the environment and for to better take care of the people who live in Alaska and it’s natural environment after the cruise season is over and all the tourist go home. This will also make cruising to and through Alaska again a special opportunity to experience what grandeur there is to be seen there.

So keep your plans to cruise to Alaska, just make sure you plan ahead and enjoy it to it’s fullest once you get there! So you see less is more…

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

2010 Alaska Cruise Season Will Have Less Choices

As a child growing up traveling the world, one thing my father instilled in my was to be able to let people know that when I needed help in some way that I don’t speak their language. It used to be that we would get a language translation book for one language and try to pull it out when we needed it. With today’s technology all of that information that used to be found by carrying around books, can now be found in one hand held mobile translator.

The Nyrius Entourage 7 Global Translator literally speaks to you and for you in 7 languages. The seven languages are English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese.

The translator is set up by category for easy use, such as you need directions to your hotel – the Nyrius Entourage 7 finds the information in the language you need and the translator can do the rest for you with it’s built in speaker. How cool is that? Now even if you had the words you need to say you won’t botch up the enunciation of the language you need to speak in.

The Entourage 7 has other features as well like being able to provide you with key phrases like ‘Please’ and Thank you’. It will also display actual time is 24 cities around the world (in case you need to phone home).  I think this will be a great asset to any traveler and even in our own country so we may speak to more people in their own languages.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Can You Say Help or Thank You? In How Many Languages?

American’s love Disney and American Idol, so this new Disney venture is a match made in Hollywood heaven. The brand new American Idol attraction opened officially on February 14, 2009 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl.

This new attraction was designed to immerse the audiences in what will feel like the real live television show. Each show takes place in a 1000 seat theater that is a replica of the American Idol set in California. The audience the gets to audition guests as they take the spotlight on stage. Fellow Walt Disney World guest then get to cheer on their favorite guest and vote instantly for their favorite singer.

Disney's American Idol Attraction

The American Idol experience begins with singers age 14 years and older who get to audition at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Audition spots are limited so arrive early! These guest then get to perform live in front of a Disney’s Hollywood Studio casting director for the chance to be chosen to perform live in one of the theme park shows that very same day. The guest that have shown ‘STAR’ quality are then treated to a vocal coach, hair and make-up ….then it is showtime!

The singers perform life in front of other theme park guest plus a panel of three expert judges, just like the real American Idol show.  The audience via instant voting chooses who will return to the grand finale show that same evening. After all the votes are tallied then the days top singer is choose and a blizzard of confetti is released to celebrate the singers win.

Besides to being chosen as a Disney American Idol Theme Park winner, the top vote winner will also receive an American Idol Experience Dream Ticket, which allows the ticket holder to schedule a front-of-the-line audition to a future regional audition for the real American Idol television show.

Since I personally can’t carry a tune in a bucket this sound like it could be a really fun show to watch and see who could be on the show for the next season. Good luck to all of you American Idol hopefuls for the real television show or for the Disney Hollywood Studio’s attraction….

You’re going to Hollywood Baby! Well Disney Hollywood Studios, at least!

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

The Stage Curtain Rises on Disney’s New American Idol Attraction

If you know a secret, share it with me and I’ll post it and give you credit for it.

Meanwhile, shhhhh…….don’t tell anyone about this new category because it’s a secret!

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Secrets of Cruising

People have traveled by car, plane, subway and by foot to be a part of history today. As all of us who did watch in person, via television or by radio, we are all now traveling toward a new future.

May we all travel in peace and with future prosperity.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Welcome To Our Future

For starters they will be introducing a really chic glassblowing show. This is a Edu-tainment merged with art. They will also be highlighting new show productions developed by Poet Theatricals. These shows will highlight vocals, acrobatics, comedy and other performers with varying acts.

So entertainment is reaching a new level on board Celebrity’s Soltice….a new star is being launched!

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Solstice’s Shows Eclipses Other Cruise Lines Performances

10. Relax in a steamy hot tub while cruising through Glacier Bay in Alaska and seeing the wildlife.

9. Walk several miles while in the middle of an ocean (even raise funds for breast cancer too).

8. Try a spinning or pilates class for no charge to see if you want to continue these when you get home.

7. Enjoy a gourmet four course meal without having to pay the bill or do the dishes.

6. Take enrichment classes like learning a language or building a website with out having to pay for the class

5. Learn to scuba dive or snorkel.

4. Meet people from around the world and become friends forever.

3. Enjoy a couples aroma therapy stone massage …ahhhhhhhh.

2. Get married or renew your vows as the sun sets with a cool ocean breeze gently blowing.

1. Play a round of gold while on the ship.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

10 fun things you can do on a cruise

If you are visiting Boston, make sure you see the harbor. You will delight in the tall ships that moor there, then stroll along the piers and visit the famed Charlestown Naval Shipyard and enjoy a tour of the USS Constitution. Make your way over to the Boston Tea Party Museum and learn about our countries struggles against the British and all that led up to our independence.

For some shopping and dining a stop at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market is a must. This to me is hard to describe because of all that it has to offer. It has the feel of an open air market with the food and flower vendors, then add all the boutique shops, antique stores to find treasures and the wonderful varied restaurants. Plan on a few hours here because there is so much to see and do.

If you want to walk in the path of forefather take a walk on the Freedom Trail. This is a 2.5 walking trail with many historical sites to stop and visit along the way. There are Freedom Trail players who will act as tour guides and act out historical scenes along the way. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes for this tour but be ready to delighted to have history leap off the pages of your old school books and come alive.

There are 12 National Parks within a 30 mile radius of downtown Boston and are great for all ages. I could write pages and pages of all the things that can be done in and around Boston. For more information visit www.bostonusa.com , www.Boston.com or www.cityofboston.gov .

If you choose to visit Boston either before or after your cruise you are sure to enjoy all this historic city has to offer. The Boston Cruise terminal, also known as the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, is just a few miles away from Boston’s Logan Airport. Driving either from the north or the south to the Boston Cruise terminal is fairly straight forward. Exact directions can be found on the Massport website at www.massport.com . Parking fees at the cruise terminal is approximately $15.00 per day in a secure parking area.

There are 15 cruise lines that offer some sort of cruise out of the Boston Cruise Terminal. There are small ships for day long excursions along the eastern seaboard or several larger cruises lines that offer travelers their choice of destinations for their cruise vacation. The larger cruise lines typically have a season to cruise from Boston due to the Atlantic seas often get too rough during the winter months. The typical cruise season for Boston runs from April to November of each year.

Below is a sample of what is available on the larger cruise lines to enjoy a cruise vacation departing from Boston. These cruises typically are 5, 7 to 10 day cruises and run continually during the cruise season.

Holland America: Canada and New England

Norwegian Cruise Line: Bermuda and the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International: Canada and New England; the Caribbean

Other cruise lines that have cruises during the year but not on a regular schedule are Celebrity, Carnival, Crystal, Cunard, Princess and Seabourn. These cruise lines offer a mix of destinations from Canada & New England, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Europe.

So all of you cruisers in New England, you can still cruise to many destinations and depart from your own backyard, with just a few hours of driving and a single tank of gas.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Travel on a Tankful – Cruise from your own Backyard- Boston

MSC Cruise lines is a white glove Italian Cruise lines that offers cruisers a very unique, pleasurable European styled cruise experience.

Space is Limited for these two cruises so book your reservations today to enjoy either one of these two exciting Big Band Themed Cruises.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

Keep in the Swing of things with a Big Band Cruise on MSC

With a full dance hall and a night club Crystal Cruise Lines is one of a small handful of cruise lines that still offer male dance escorts. Love to dance but don’t have a partner, then enjoy dancing with a trained male dance escort who will twirl you around the dance floor with easy grace.

The Crystal Enrichment Series offers edutainment for all guest. Their classes offer eclectic offerings from languages, Yamaha music classes, computer university to Tai Chi. Their enrichment classes are available for anyone at any level and change regularly so all can enjoy a variety of subjects. All of the cruises offer PGA golf instructors for extra tips and paddle tennis courts.

Now I hope you can see why it is crystal clear the abundance of enjoyable entertainment on Crystal Cruise Lines! Ask me how you can get a free crystal gift when you book a Crystal Cruise with me.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

That’s Entertainment – Crystal Cruises

Besides for the varied amount of entertainment in their smaller venues and lounges, music can always be heard around their ships by small ensembles and bands.  If shows, music, comedy or movies aren’t what you are in the mood for you could be sailing on one of NCL ships that host bowling alleys.

So enjoy all of the entertainment NC L’s Free styling has to offer and take home memories that will last a lifetime.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

That’s Entertainment! Norweigian Freestyle

This five star experience on Celebrity’s Century will be enhanced by all the wonderful smooth jazz music being performed – basically we are providing you a backstage pass to sail with allot of todays top smooth jazz performers.

Early booking discounts are available NOW, so visit my website to learn more about the cruise, the performers and hear a sampling of the wonderful music to be enjoyed on this Ultimate Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Visit this link.

Oh….and for all you football fans don’t dispare the Super Bowl will be played live on board the ship for all to enjoy.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

The Ultimate Smooth Jazz Cruise

Toys coming to life when nobody is around. I always thought that was true as a child, so it still captures my heart of make believe as an adult. Now when someone cruises on the Disney Wonder, they can enjoy the same high quality of technical entertainment that was first introduced in the movie ‘Toy Story’. Combining the great performances of the actors, singers plus dancers and the magic of the high tech special effects this production turns out to be just pure entertainment.

Can you imagine the fun and adventure Buzz Lightyear and Woody can get themselves into while soliciting the help of their other toy friends? This Broadway style show captures all of the humor and discontent of these two toys first meeting. Rivals becoming friends plays out with larger than life scenery that makes the audience feel as if they are actually in the room with all the toys. Mixed with music and songs from the original movie makes the show a delight to watch all the action that happens in Andy’s room when his toys come to life.

Over the years Disney has been known to delight their audience through their shows at their theme parks, their Broadway productions, their movies so it is expected to have great entertainment on board their cruise ships. Besides their main show each night there is a kaleidescope of entertainment available night and day all over their ships from movies, musics and small theatrical performances. There are many choices that will thrill cruisers of all ages.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

That’s Entertainment – Disney Cruise Lines

On a cruise, the cost of your trip will include the accommodation’s, your meals, the destinations each ships bring you to plus all the entertainment that is on board for passengers of ALL ages! Think in comparison to a 4-5 star resort… they provide you with your room, one location, pools, spas, food, drinks and limited entertainment.

Looking at the entertainment factor alone, cruise lines offer children several options day & night then the adults have options during the day and at night plus then there is family entertainment which can be enjoyed by all. The entertainment runs from simple piped in music by the pool to small live bands located throughout the ship. There are the small venues to enjoy jazz, piano or easy listening music, or laugh with a comedian or a comic troupe. Of course every night there is the live show in the main theater.

These main theater productions are becoming more sophisticated, high tech and offer a myriad of options for all passengers. Each cruise line offers headline shows that vary and have talented, hardworking professionals who aim to do one thing and that is to Entertain!

Each cruise line has created a theme or special venue for it’s ships that equate to what will not only entertain but surprise passengers. Cruise lines know and understand that not all people will enjoy one type of entertainment and so they have really expanded what they offer passengers now a days with a variety of entertainment on each sailing to really try to meet different likes and dislikes.

Many cruise lines and ships also offer special sailings with theme cruises, such as Carnival’s “Whodunit” cruises. Professional Entertainment companies like the Second City Comedy Troupe are actually on many Norwegian Cruise Lines ships. Many sailings have professional singers like John Legend, bands such as the Guess Who on them to provide an even more attractive entertainment package for passengers.

I will be highlighting the different types of stylized entertainment many of the cruise lines offer on all their upcoming sailings.

Travel Lady Cruises, always providing you with TLC!

That’s Entertainment! Cruise Ship Style