Cruising with Brad and Yvonne

A LITLE BIT OF LUXURY THAT WON’T BREAK YOUR BUDGET

2010-12-23T11:58:00.001-07:00

When many of us dream of the perfect cruise, we imagine an incredible fantasy in a large suite, on board one of the major luxury lines with butler service, champagne flowing and all of the amenities. Our dream comes to an abrupt end when we take a long look at the price tag. O.K. so do we need to give up our dreams until we hit the Powerball? We don’t think so. There are some alternatives that

ALLURE OF THE SEAS IS HERE!

2010-11-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Allure of the Seas entering Miami harbor. Hiya cruising enthusiasts. You may have seen the arrival of the Allure of the Seas on TV or in the newspaper today. Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee Gifford will broadcast live from Allure tomorrow (11/19/2010) morning. How cool is that? We’ll be aboard Allure for pre-inaugural and inaugural cruises from November 29 through December 5th. Watch our blog here or

WHERE WE ARE

2010-10-28T16:55:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends and fellow cruisers. This is just a very quick note to let you know that we are now on Facebook and Twitter. Check us out, we're TWEETIN' @cruzinjamiesons, drop us a Tweet or, better yet follow us there. Look also at our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/CruiseOne-Yvonne-and-Brad-Jamieson/171607622849805 love to hear from you..

BULLETIN RE: CRUISEONE/CRUISESINC

2010-10-22T14:08:00.006-07:00

During the CruiseOne/Cruises Inc. annual conference being held aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line Epic. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Senior Vice President, Vicki Freed and World Travel Holdings Senior Vice President and CruiseOne/Cruises Inc. general manager Dwain Wall announced that next year's annual conference will be held aboard the newest member of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line fleet, Allure

NORTH TO ALASKA

2010-09-29T14:28:00.031-07:00

DENALI NATIONAL PARKToday is the day we have been looking forward to for many years, our planned visit to Denali National Park. This is the main reason we decided to do a land tour/cruise in Alaska. Can you say Excitement?Fairbanks to Denali National ParkWe started our day aboard our motorcoach from the Wedgewood Resort in Fairbanks bound for a day aboard the Wilderness express. If that sounds

NORTH TO ALASKA

2010-09-09T16:40:00.019-07:00

Fairbanks, Alaska – Day 2 (Part 2)After lunch we re-boarded our motorcoach and headed for the El Dorado Goldmine where we learned, first hand, how gold was mined and panned for during Alaska's gold rush era. Gold Mining was one of the major attractions that brought people to Alaska. There was the metal Gold and many years later, black gold. This was a fascinating excursion and a lot more

NORTH TO ALSAKA

2010-08-29T17:33:00.015-07:00

Fairbanks, Alaska - Days 1 and 2 (Part 1) On Sunday, August 1, 2010 we left Phoenix’ Sky Harbor International Airport for Seattle, Washington where we changed planes and flew to Fairbanks, Alaska and landed at 9:30 PM. During our flight we met Joe and Veronica from Ireland on plane. This was the first of many wonderful encounters with them. We were met at the airport by a representative from

LA COPA MUNDIAL

2010-07-11T17:29:00.004-07:00

Today Sunday, July 12, 2010, Spain clinched the 2010 World Cup! Viva Espana! This was a momentous occassion. It went right down to the wire.With a total of 14, there were far too many yellow cards, a new tournament record.But do you know when the first Copa Mundial was played?Do you know where it was played?Do you know who won the first World Cup?Well, here's the facts:The first World Cup Futbol

IN PORT DINING – (St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands) STT

2010-06-21T13:14:00.013-07:00

When we are cruising into the various ports around the world we love to try the local foods. But, when we are on St. Thomas in the beautiful United States Virgin Islands, where Yvonne was born and spent her formative years, we don’t need to “TRY” the local foods. We know what they’re all about. We always stop at the Petite Pump Room. Here we know the quality of the food and the service. It is

Antarctica – The Last Frontier Part 7

2010-06-09T13:55:00.008-07:00

Unfortunately, this will be the last installment of Antarctica – The Last Frontier. Peter and Alice have done a fantastic job in putting the text and photos together for this article. This has been a wonderful journey and I have enjoyed putting it on the internet for you, our clients and potential clients. During this edition, we will experience their post trip adventures in Buenos Aires,

Antarctica – The Last Frontier Part 6

2010-06-03T14:48:00.035-07:00

Sooner or later all great cruisess must approach their final stages. This part of Alice and Peter’s adventure takes them into their penultimate port, Montevideo Uruguay. As you will see, Uruguay is a very interesting country rich in history.Montevideo, UruguayUruguay is the second smallest country in South America. With an area of 68,000 square miles, it is slightly smaller than the state of

Antarctica – The Last Frontier Part 5

2010-05-26T10:50:00.019-07:00

During this part of our Antarctic journey with Peter and Alice we visit Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Located in a wide bay on the southern coast of the island of Tierra del Fuego, the city is bounded on the north by the Martial mountain range and on the south by the Beagle Channel.Ushuaia (Isla Grande - Tierra del Fuego), ArgentinaPronunced - ooo-shoo-AYE-ah, the capital city's

Antarctica – The Last Frontier Part 4

2010-05-17T15:09:00.029-07:00

Moving right along with our Antarctic exploration dream, we follow our authors and photographers, Alice and Peter leisurely cruising through straits, islands, archipelagos and peninsulas.Cruising the Antarctica Peninsula - February 9, 2010During the night our ship continued southwest through the Bransfield Strait headed toward Anvers Island. Early in the morning we entered one of the main

Antarctica – The Last Frontier (Part 3)

2010-05-09T17:34:00.028-07:00

In this third episode we continue on with the dream of visiting Antarctica just to see what it was really like? Let’s follow the article’s authors and photographers, Peter and Alice through the excitement of cruising to, in and through Antarctica. We thank Peter and Alice for their friendship, their encouragement and their preparation of this series. Cruising the Antarctica PeninsulaOn February 7

ANTARCTICA - THE LAST FRONTIER (Part 2)

2010-05-04T12:42:00.011-07:00

Continuing with the dream of visiting Antarctica just to see what it was really like? We now look at the second installment of our series about the excitement of cruising to, in and through Antarctica. The article was written and photographed by our good friends, Peter and Alice who have favored us with their cruise business. We thank Peter and Alice for their

ANTARCTICA - THE LAST FRONTIER

2010-04-23T18:38:00.012-07:00

Have you ever dreamed of going to Antarctica just to see what it was really like? We sure have. This is the first installment of a series about the excitement of cruising to, in and through Antarctica. The article was written and photographed by our good friends, Peter and Alice who have favored us with their cruise business. We thank Peter and Alice for their friendship, their business as well

ROYAL CARIBBEAN OASIS OF THE SEAS

2010-01-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Since we are among those who enjoy the smaller ships, R-ship types, we were both amazed at how much we absolutely loved Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. WHY NOT??? Oasis is a ship that seemed to have something for everyone. She is not a ship that takes you from one destination to another, she is the DESTINATION! She is fantastic for the very active cruiser who wants to spend the day on the

UPDATE ON A DOZEN QUICK REMINDERS FOR STRESS FREE TRAVEL

2009-07-20T10:46:00.012-07:00

This is an update on a blog originally published on April 9, 2008. There have been significant changes.PLEASE, Please, please purchase Travel Protection Insurance. If you have children or elderly parents, whether they are traveling with you or not, please think twice abut passing up the opportunity to have peace of mind as you pay for all your travel arrangements. We have witnessed too many

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PASSENGERS

2009-07-20T10:30:00.003-07:00

Effective June 1, 2009, all US citizens and residents including children, must have a valid US passport to board their ship and re-enter the country. To ensure speedy embarkation, please be sure to bring a valid US passport for each passenger as well as any cruise line issued documentation, including any documents printed online, with you to the pier.Because of the US Government requirement for

ONLINE SERVICES WHILE OVERSEAS

2009-07-13T15:49:00.005-07:00

Back in November 2007, I wrote about CELL PHONES ON THE HIGH SEAS, this article talked of the universality of using cellular telephones around the world and, specifically, while on board a ship and warned of the roaming charges to be expected when doing so.In addition to using cell phones to reach out and touch someone, the global communications trend is rapidly moving toward social networking

WHAT'S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

2009-01-30T14:43:00.008-07:00

OK, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to book a cruise!Everyone needs some time away to rejuvenate with that special someone or with the entire family. Maybe it’s only for 3 or 4 days or maybe you have the time for a longer experience. All of the cruise lines are offering fantastic pricing for cruises in 2009 and even into 2010.Yes, we know that the economy is still not back where it

TURN BLACK FRIDAY INTO AN OCEAN BLUE DAY!

2008-11-26T15:39:00.004-07:00

Instead of thinking about fighting the crowds in the Malls on Black Friday, why not think of an Ocean Blue Day that extends well into early December? Never heard of an Ocean Blue Day?? Think of the Turquoise Blue waters of the Caribbean or Blue Hawaii or the Mediterranean. You really are in for a treat! You can do your Christmas, Chanukah and other Holiday Shopping from the comfort of your home,

IS THE ECONOMY GETTING YOU DOWN?

2008-11-15T11:06:00.018-07:00

Is the economy getting you down? Want to Get Away from it all? We have the solution.Take a Cruise!! With the price of fuel dropping and bookings being a bit sluggish at this time of year, many of the cruise lines have really stepped up to the plate by lowering fares, eliminating fuel surcharges, adding shipboard credits, adding free air or providing other incentives other amenities that were

GOT THE HOLIDAY BLUES? GET OVER IT!

2008-10-24T10:31:00.013-07:00

YIKES!! THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST HERE. WITH THANKSGIVING, CHANUKAH, CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR FAST APPROACHING, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT GIFTS AND FAMILY?With that thought, most of us are probably saying to ourselves, “Please don’t remind me, it’s the worst possible time to think of buying gifts. With the economy down, I’ve got the ‘I can’t bear to look at my 401k Blues’, and I can’t bear listening to

Alaska - 2009 (Part One)

2008-10-19T17:55:00.033-07:00

We recently had the privilege to join top travel industry executives on an 8-night sail from Vancouver to Alaska as part of the 13th annual CruiseOne National Conference. Celebrity Cruises hosted us with more than 300 other travel agents aboard the Celebrity Mercury for this unforgettable experience.The Celebrity Mercury sailed September 14, 2008 for Ketchikan, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Hubbard

MEET OUR FRIEND - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

2008-09-02T14:41:00.018-07:00

We have cruised with another couple for the past four years. Two years ago, while on a Baltic/Scandinavia/Russia cruise, we stopped in Copenhagen, Denmark where we met our travel companion’s brother Richard Karpen. Richie took us on a walking tour of Copenhagen where we saw, among other things, the classic sculpture of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid. Although we knew that Richard was a

Slightly Off the Beaten Track (Part 2 of 5)

2008-05-06T12:50:00.031-07:00

Have you cruised to all of the usual ports of call? Are you tired of the same old islands? Would you like to do something just a little different? Say a cruise to some place that is slightly off the beaten track. Well, this series of blog postings will give you a few ideas.Would you consider cruising the Panama Canal? What about the San Blas Islands? I had the privilege of working in Panama for a

Slightly Off the Beaten Track (Part 1 of 5)

2008-04-24T16:50:00.014-07:00

Have you cruised to all of the usual ports of call? Are you tired of the same old islands? Would you like to do something just a little different? Say a cruise to some place that is slightly off the beaten track. Well, this series of blog postings will give you a few ideas.How about the Sea of Cortez for openers? You say, where in the world is the Sea of Cortez? It may be closer than you think.

ALASKA - CRUISES AND CRUISE TOURS

2008-04-14T11:01:00.015-07:00

Have you visited our 49th State? If you haven’t, what in the world are you waiting for? Think about a family vacation to Alaska.The season ranges from May through most of September, with mid-June through mid-August being the prime time to travel. Though you may experience some overcast skies or even a few raindrops during this time, we have always found an abundance of clear skies and beautiful

A DOZEN QUICK REMINDERS FOR STRESS FREE TRAVEL!!!

2008-04-09T15:16:00.010-07:00

Arrive at the airport early. This will help in a number of ways – you won’t be panicking in long lines as your flight time approaches and you still need to get through another long line in security. And, if you want to change your seat to the emergency exit row or the bulkhead, you at least stand a fighting chance.Please get a passport. If you don’t need one now, you soon will and this is the

CRUISING FAMILY REUNIONS – MAKING MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME!!!

2008-03-31T11:53:00.008-07:00

When is the last time you spent a week, or even 3 or 4 full days, to relax with your family – stop to smell the flowers as they say? Other than for a wedding or a funeral, when is the last time you took the time to visit great Aunt Milly or your cousin Jason – you were so close when you were kids. Do your children really know their cousins in Michigan or Aunt Sue who moved to California many

PASSPORT RULES FOR U.S. LAND AND SEA BORDERS

2008-03-31T11:24:00.006-07:00

On March 27, 2008, the Departments of Homeland Security and of State issued the final rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and is considered FINAL. This information is posted here to help ensure that you have the proper

OVERSEAS SPENDING - EURO VERSUS DOLLAR

2008-03-18T08:15:00.010-07:00

Okay, so you want to go to Europe – been dreaming about it all of your life and this is your big chance. Then, the bottom drops out of the dollar and the conversion of Dollar to Euro is scaring you into thinking about putting your dreams on hold. But… you really want to go to see Paris, the City of lights or Rome, the Eternal City or eat Paella and stroll Las Ramblas in Barcelona or ride a

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PASSENGERS

2008-02-25T16:40:00.004-07:00

Currently, US adult citizens and residents must have a valid US passport or birth certificate and photo id to board the ship. This will soon change to passport only. Children must have a valid US passport or birth certificate to board. To ensure speedy embarkation, please be sure to bring all identification and cruise line issued documentation, including any documents printed online, with you to

HEY YOU FOODIES – TRY A CULINARY CRUISE

2008-02-23T17:15:00.004-07:00

Do you like to cook? I mean, do you really like to cook! As in, I watch the Food Channel everyday and I say BAM when I add seasoning to my food. Do you kick it up a notch when preparing your specialty? Do you love to cook with butter and/or sugar? If you understand what I’m talking about then you need to take a culinary cruise. Learn to cook exotic things and enjoy it while you’re visiting

DANUBE RIVER CRUISE REVIEW

2008-02-16T09:50:00.020-07:00

RIVER CRUISE REVIEW – Passau, Germany to Budapest, HungaryUniworld River Empress 8/31/2007 – 9/7/2007I was awestruck as we cruised into Budapest on the Uniworld River Empress early on the Morning of September 7th, 2007. Though it was somewhat overcast, the view that appeared through the very early morning light rivaled the first time we cruised into Venice many years ago – a memory that has

HEY YOU FOODIES - TRY A SPECIALTY RESTAURANT

2008-02-11T18:22:00.003-07:00

Did you know that the major cruise lines all have highly recognized, well known executive chefs? We recently sailed on the Oceania Regatta when their executive chef, Jacques Pepin and his associate and friend, Jean Claude, were onboard. They did cooking demos, gave autographs and fielded questions from those in attendance. We also sailed on Celebrity’s Mercury when their then executive chef,

CHILDREN ABOARD CRUISE SHIPS

2008-02-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Going on a CRUISE? Thinking about going on a cruise? Wanna take the kids along? Here are a few tips.Many cruise lines encourage passengers to bring their children along while others remain neutral and some understandably discourage children. Before you take the youngsters along, consider where you're going and the cruise line you'll be travelling on. Think about the child friendly facilities on

A BIT OF LUXURY WITHOUT THE COST

2008-01-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

When many of us dream of the perfect cruise, we imagine an incredible fantasy in a large suite, on board one of the major luxury lines with butler service, champagne flowing and all of the amenities. Our dream comes to an abrupt end when we take a long look at the price tag. O.K. so do we need to give up our dreams until we hit the Powerball or Mega-Million? We don’t think so. There are some

The InterNET at Sea is not for Fishing

2008-01-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

In this time of being ever busy, some find it difficult to allocate time for rest and relaxation. Rest and Relaxation are the primary reasons for taking a cruise. Now you can have time at sea and even do a little work while you’re there. That of course is only if you really feel that you must.In addition to being able to use your cell phone on many ships you can also have access to the World Wide

GET ME TO THE SHIP ON TIME

2008-01-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

At present, if you are scheduled to sail at 5:00 pm, all passengers must be checked in and on board by 4:00 pm. At that point, with few exceptions, check-in closes.Beginning February 19, 2008, US Customs and Border Protection will require that all cruise lines submit an electronic transmission of their passenger and crew manifests no later than 60 minutes prior to departure. NCL and Royal

No Smoking Please

2008-01-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

As anyone who has traveled in Europe knows, Europeans are heavy smokers. Emphasis here is on heavy. Nothing ruins the enjoyment of a great meal like the strong odor of tobaco smoke. Several years ago we were actually forced to leave an incredibly wonderful meal in a Paris restaurant as the smoke from one chain-smoking patron was so overwhelming that we could barely breathe and actually lost

Uncorked: Fine Wine at Sea

2008-01-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Wine is the drink of choice these days amongst many beverage aficionados. It’s not just the big, bold delectable taste that has people coming back for more; it’s also the social aspect that wine often brings to the table that has people raising their glasses. From wine tastings to wine dinners to wine tours and wine cruises, this tasty grapey goodness is today’s latest craze. We recently hosted a

CELL PHONES ON THE HIGH SEAS

2007-11-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

It is almost impossible to go anywhere without being able to reach out and touch someone. Cellular telephone communication is just one of today's modern communication methodologies. It is not at all unusual to see people driving and talking on their cell phone. The most unusual cell conversations we've seen were a youngster on a skateboard talking on his cellphone and a young lady riding on horse

Travel Insurance

2007-11-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

When your personal cruise specialist or travel agent asks you if you would like to buy travel protection insurance, think at least twice before you say “Oh they’re just trying to make more money on something I don’t really need." They are doing you a great service in making that offer.What is Travel Protection Insurance?Very simply, travel protection insurance protects you against loss of your

Special Occasion Gifts

2007-11-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ok Folks, for those of you who have family that do not live close to you (and many of us Senior Pearls are in that situation), have you started your Christmas, Chanukah or other Holiday Shopping?I’m going to tell you that many of us are tired of trying to guess what size to get for the grandkids, what toy or gadget they don’t already have 3 of, figuring out the latest style so they will wear

Passports and Travel Regulations

2007-10-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Per US Governement State Department regulations,a valid passport is the required document for proof of identity and citzenship. However,due to the high volume for new and renewal passports, the date for full implementation of this law, particularly as relates to travel in the Western Hemishpere, has been delayed several times. THE FACT IS, THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE ENFORCED, most likely before the

Folks You Meet While Cruising

2007-10-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of cruising is not only meeting the people of the various ports of call but also meeting and getting to know and understand the crewmembers on the ships. These people, who originate from many nations, do all they can to make your cruising experience unique and satisfying. Each of them has a wonderful story to tell. Have them share their story with you.