Kids Sail Free On Disney's Alaska Cruise!

Book a Verandah or Oceanview stateroom and kids ages 17 and under, traveling with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom, SAIL FREE* on select 7-night Alaskan cruises departing between May 3 to June 7, 2011. As part of the Alaska itinerary, guests will experience breathtaking scenery, an abundance of wildlife and the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture. Combined with unparalleled Disney quality and service, one-of-a-kind entertainment, immersive experiences plus favorite Disney Characters, it’s a vacation experience that every member of the family will feel was created especially for them.

Get it while the kids are free! Hurry! The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited. Contact me today before they sell out.

Five things on the new Disney Dream that could drive you nutty

USA TODAY's Gene Sloan just returned from a preview cruise on the new Disney Dream? Question about the Disney Dream? Click Here.

Let me first say that the Disney Cruise Line's much-ballyhooed new ship, the Disney Dream, is a wondrous vessel. One of the most spectacular ever built (see our new comprehensive photo tour for a glimpse at its many marvels). But one person's dream ship, of course, can be another's nightmare.

To wit, as a "fair warning" to those thinking of booking, we hereby offer the Cruise Log's list of Five Things on the Disney Dream that Could Drive you Nutty (lest you think we're USA TODAY's version of that little-known dwarf from Snow White, Snarky, rest assured we'll be back later this week with a less irreverent companion list: Five Things on the Dream that will Leave you Dreamy):

1. Disney show tunes playing around-the-clock in hallways. True die-hard Disney fans will love this, but for the small remainder of us, it just might be a wee bit over-the-top. Three days after debarking the vessel, A Whole New World from the movie Aladdin remains on Continuous Loop in my head (please, make it stop!).

2. Disney-dominated cabin TVs. Yes, Disney, we know you own ABC, ESPN and The Disney Channel, but can we get a little diversity here? And I don't mean the two extra channels that play Disney animated classics and animated features. Given the hallway situation mentioned in item No. 1, it'd be nice to fall asleep to something without a Disney song attached to it.

3. (Disney-hopped) kids. I love kids. I have three of them myself (ages 11 to 15). But with a stunning 1,500 extra pull-out bunks for children in a vessel with just 1,250 cabins, this is one ship that is going to be jam packed with the little ones. Even on last week's far-from-full preview cruise, my head was spinning.

4. (Disney-hopped) kids high on soda. Kudos to Disney for not nickel-and-diming passengers with extra charges for soda and other drinks. It's a great touch. But (free) soda machines on the pool deck? That's all we need: The 1,500 kids mentioned in item No. 3 running around pumped full of sugar.

5. The omnipresent Mickey. We'll get letters on this, for sure, but put me down in the camp that says the "hidden Mickey" phenomenon is just completely out of control. Do I really need mini-Mickey heads stamped into the plastic water cups at the buffet and woven into the carpets?

Cruise Loggers, am I a Disney-dumping spoilsport? Tell us what you do -- and don't -- want to see on a Disney ship.

Who wins the cruise ship entertainment smackdown?

TV talent show judges love to poke fun at cruise ship entertainment, but we're guessing they haven't been on the latest crop of vessels. From top-tier Broadway musicals to big-ticket Las Vegas shows, the new generation of mega-ships is dazzling passengers with a quality and quantity of acts never before seen at sea. Here, USA TODAY's Gene Sloan compares the three new entertainment titans of the waves: Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic and Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream. Which ships deserves the title of cruise ship entertainment king? Read on

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Adventure Vacations for Kids

Adventures await the Ritz Kids by Carla Hunt... read full article.

Your kids will enjoy their vacations so much more when you add a learning experience. These experiences provide the kids an opportunity to learn first hand, by touching, seeing, or doing it themselves.

Ritz-Carlton offers environmental programs for your children at several of its properties. While staying near Central Park, the kids have the opportunity to feed the horses parked along the streets. Or in South Beach the girls are invited to a 5 hour Charm Camp. The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman offer a whole roster of Eco-tour adventures under a program called “7 Wonders on 7 Mile Beach”. Clouseau's concept introduces kids, families and adults a wonderful opportunity to learn while having an amazing amount of new found fun! Snorkel, kayak, study the coral reef, study whales, or the Native American way.

When looking for a little something special for your next family vacation, be sure to look at Ritz-Carlton.

What to hear more? Read Carla Hunt's article in the September issue of Recommend. Click here ... Adventures await the Ritz Kids by Carla Hunt.

Alice Restaurant and the Pacific Coast

Another great day with great riders.

Where do I get a Passport?

For Residents of the United States: Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website .

To do it in person check your local U.S.Post Office or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number 877-487-2778 for automated information.

Port Canaveral just got easier

Since March, its been even easier that ever with U.S. Airways adding 3 daily flights into Melbourne International Airport (MLB), the Port's closest airport, only 26 miles south. This is in addition to the 3 international airports surronding Port Canaveral.

To make arrival by car even easier, Port Canaveral just completed the parking garage at Terminal 8 (Disney Cruise Line's Terminal). Both parking structures offer secured and fully lit covered parking 24/7, keeping you out of the elemenets and close to the ship.

With beautiful new cruise ships plus the convenience of getting there, Port Canaveral offers the most pleasuable, no-hassle cruise experience around!

Masada National Park

You may have seen the mini-series with Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss telling the story of the last rebel stronghold in Judea, and the Romans' siege of that last Jewish fortress, Masada.

At the Eastern fringe of the Judea Desert near the shores of the Dead Sea, it's remote location and its natural defenses were the advantages that transformed it into a fortress during the Second Temple period. The last of the rebels fled to Masada after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and joined the rebel community already at the mountain fortress under the command of Eleazar ben Yair.

After a siege that lasted a few months, surrounded by 8,000 Roman troops, the hope of the rebels dwindled. Eleazar ben Yair gave two speeches in which he convinced the leaders of the 960 members of the community that it would be better to take their own lives and the lives of their families than to let their wives be abused and their children turned into slaves. That day, the people of Masada gave up their own lives.

The Roman troops were denied the pleasure of taking over the people and their city. Only two women and 5 children survived. Hiding in the cisterns on the mountaintop, they lived to tell the story of what had happen that night on the first day of Passover.

The tragic events of those last days of the rebels at Masada transformed this impressive plateau mountain into a Jewish cultural icon as well as a symbol of continuous struggle for freedom from oppression. It stands today as the most complete surviving ancient Roman siege system in the world. Many of the walls still stands giving visitors today a true sense of what it was like living in that time.

From the green hills to the desert, there is always something to see riding the roads of Israel. Take in the desert's vast soft sand mountains that change regularly by flash floods. You will see the caves in the side of the mountains where the dead sea scrolls where found. You'll see wild mountain goats, camels, new excavations, along with the Bedouin communities, a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group (previously nomadic, currently mostly settled) found throughout most of the desert belt.

The Dead Sea may not be much to look at until you realize there is only one like it in the world, and also the lowest point of the earth at 1500 feet below sea level. Walk into the water and your skin can feel the healing minerals. Walk past where your feet touch and keep on walking never to sink. Sit back as if in a chair, and yes you will float high.

Enjoy my slide show below.

Jaffa Israel

I loved visiting Jaffa, one of the oldest towns in Israel, believed to have been founded by Japheth, son of Noah. The city of Jaffa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, served as the ancient Israelite port during King Solomon's time. Jonah embarked for Tarshish from Jaffa. Peter stayed in the home of Simon the Tanner, where he received the vision of the pure and impure animals and were he brought Tabitha back from the dead.

The ancient city of Jaffa has been partially restored with many buildings and historical sites from the Canaanite and Medieval periods. The front entrance gate to the original city still stands however it looks a bit different with the shops at its entrance. The stones you walk on are smooth from time, so be sure to wear good gripping soles. Walking the narrow alleys truly give you a feeling of what it was like living here so many years ago.

You can visit St. Peter's Church or the House of Simon the Tanner. Today Jaffa is an artist's colony and entertainment center. Also famous for its flea market and excellent restaurants. The restaurants are charming as you can see in my pictures below.

Sheraton TelAviv Hotel & Towers

I had the opportunity to stay at the Sheraton TelAviv Hotel & Towers in TelAviv. I am pleased to say it was a very pleasant experience all around. From the time I witnessed a young security person greet two people by name while riding in the elevator together, and experiencing the kindness of each and every staff person who were very friendly and willing to help. In fact, they really came through for me when I sprained my ankle by having someone run out and get an ace bandage for it. That was beyond normal service, in my opinion.

 

The room had enough space for a very comfortable king size bed, a couch, a desk and plenty of closet space. It had a nice flat screened TV, overall lighting was good, and the self controlled room temperature was very comfortable. My room was on the sixth floor overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The view was absolutely beautiful and fun to experience. To my right was the marina, and an active beach and promenade runs as far as the eye can see. People were regularly up early and out late jogging, riding bikes, and walking their dogs.

 

The bathroom is modest and small but stocked with lots of towels, bathrobes and plenty of toiletries and extras. It had a nice sink and a wide shower head with good water pressure. It had a nice deep tub with hand rails for easier lifting. It was a tight squeeze with the door right at the toilet's foot, however it was fine for one person at a time.

The Sheraton TelAviv Hotel & Towers is by far one of the nicest hotels to stay at while visiting Israel.