Even if you live in paradise (Maui) you can still enjoy cruising.
Dick and Marleen, AA retired,
Celebrity Cruises is their favorite line.
8/26/2008
These photos are from Romaine and Adele...from their recent Alaska Cruise Tour aboard Holland America Line. Photos are of the part entrance. If you've been to Denali National Park before you'll remember these scenes...
8/22/2008
I read almost all your letters, well after all that , i think you are busier than i expected, which is a good thing. Not a bad word about you, but i knew that, you are very special. Thanks again for all your good service.. looking forward to the Carnival ship splendor in the spring .thanks again Barb and Mike. UA/retired
8/19/2008
Princess Cruises, Sapphire Princess, 6/29/2008, CruiseTour 6B
Homeport Crusies Co - Group Name: The Hounds!
This is the group to Alaska.
Top Left to right: Bob Parker, Waiter, Asst. Waiter, Bruce Scamman
Bottom Left to right: Barbara Scamman, Betty Bouchard, Bob & Lynn Bouchard
Alaska, Denali National Park. Park Road Toklat Grizzly...
2/8/2008
Grand Princess - 2/8/2008, Western Caribbean: The Hounds Group
This is from the Western Caribbean trip Top L to R Head waiter, Bruce Scamman Eddie Ruel,Bill McCarthy, Bob Parker, Asst.
Bottom L to R Betty Bouchard, Brenda Ruel, Barbara Scamman
8/11/2008
--Mike, Thank you so much for everything you did to make our cruise a good trip. It was a wonderful start...Cathy Cowan
8/8/2008
Hi Mike
Just a quick note to tell you and your clients that Carnival Splendor was really splendid. A beautiful ship, great food, excellent service and the production shows (singers & dancers) were fabulous! Even better than some I've seen in Las Vegas.The ports we docked at in Northern Europe and Russia were full of history and fun places to visit. However, our dollar is in the dump! Only Russia would take the green back. All others wanted either their own currency or euros.
Ciao for now... Phil Maita
7/22/2008
Hey Mike - Just got back TODAY from our Prinsendam cruise (stayed an extra 4 days in London and got to Amsterdam 3 days early before cruise). As you can imagine, with our shrinking dollar, it was an expensive trip and we're waiting for the credit card bills to start rolling in !! BUT - we are still VERY interested in the Ryndam cruise. I'm going to take a risk, that the price may drop further - and we will have more disposable income in a couple months. Please keep us posted. As to the Prinsendam - we loved it ! Although our room was small, we loved the location. Food was wonderful, cruise stops were phenomenal, crew just the best. But with only 3 sea days, it was a whirlwind of activity. And I got my 100 day medallion - photo ceremony and all ! And I'm not even in a walker yet ! lol Thanks, again, Mike - Nancy K/AA retired
7/16/2008
Mike,
The cruise, land & sea (Princess Cruises) was GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not one negative comment, way beyond expection, especially the week of enterior Alaska. Got within 12 feet of a Grizzly, beautiful.
Bob P/Vermont
6/17/2008
Mike, for all the wonderful amenities you afforded us. I was absolutely blown away, as I thought they were coming from Royal Caribbean. You were very generous, and I cannot thank you enough. Our Suite was great, and since my mother wasn't able to leave that much, it was wonderful to have family members accommodated comfortably, as we had plenty of seating available. Everyone had a great time, and are looking forward to doing it again. I cannot thank you enough for all of your fantastic care, and understanding, as we did have some bumps in the road. You are so totally professional and efficient, you are the BEST. Thanks again.
Regards,
Betty
6/4/2008 - NWA Employee Group, Celebrity Cruises Greek Isles
5/30/2008
We got back this morning from our AK cruise on Holland America's Amsterdam. Mike the whole experience was wonderful - and that is not a good enough word to describe it. The services was outstanding in every respect. The weather was incredible. I have traveled to SE Alaska for business many times and never seen it quite like that. The room accommodations were perfect. The outside cabins you arranged could not have been better as was there location. You did some magic. We will cruise again and we will work with you.
Thx again. Dave K - UA retired
Here is a picture in Glacier Bay last Monday.
PS it is a plus living in SEA for a cruise like this. We drove to the cruise terminal parked our car and got on the ship. We were home forty five minutes after we walked off the ship
5/22/2008
Hello Mike !
Just to let you know how we enjoyed our cruise on the Golden Princess, despite that we got a terrible cold, we had a good time.
Anyhow, thank you very much for taking care of everything !!
Until next time...........best regards,
Werner R
P.S. I will be watching for offers on the Celebrity for Apr. 27-2009 until May 11-2009 to Alaska on the Mercury, LA r/t
5/14/2008
Hi Mike:
Our cruise aboard the Celebrity Constellation: Eloise and I loved our cruise. Inside cabin wasn't bad but I did hate not knowing if the sun was shining when I woke up! Nancy K/AA retired
5/13/2008
Hello Mike,
Thank you very much ..... Also we enjoyed the Holland America Ship. The crew was great and we experienced great Customer Service from everyone. Thanks again always for your help.
Jo Ann/WN
4/25/2008
Mike:
In case we haven't told you lately, we really appreciate the work you do for us. I have been reading horror stories on some forums and realize how lucky we are to have someone who knows how best to help us and takes the time to do so. Sharon J/USAirways
3/28/2008
Sadie joins Homeport Cruises Co. staff as mascot...
3/27/2008
Hi Mike,
We had a fabulous time on our recent Cruise on the Caribbean Princess on March 16th. It was so much better than our RCCL cruise on the Mariner in October of 2006. RCCL has changed too much...too many differences to go into....but, we loved everything about Princess and we want to cruise again on her. We know that the new ship the Ruby will be sailing starting in Nov. this year. We are interested in a mini suite...let us know if you see any "deals" come up.
Thanks again for all your help and your great customer service.
Loretta P
3/17/2008
Thanks, The Azamara Quest cruise was great. The stateroom was very convenient. Thanks for picking it for us. Service was superb and so was the food & entertainment. Hope to do another one soon.
Aloha, Jennie Reynolds
3/10/2008
Hi, Mike. Got back a few days ago from the Princess cruise from AKL to SYD.
Pleasant trip, BIG boat, LOTS of people. Probably a notch above Royal Carib. Thought you'd like to know. Seas can get pretty rough (force 9 gale winds, seas to 27' one day), enough to cancel 3 shows, but the boat stays pretty stable in spite of it, probably because it's so big (115,000+tons) and has decent stabilizers.
Might try a smaller boat next time, like Crystal,Alohas - Mike
2/27/2008
Hello Mike !
Thank you for the papers, which arrived yesterday.
We are looking forward to another wonderful cruise.......thanks to your good service !
Best regards, Werner
2/4/2008
Mike,
I just wanted to send you a note and let you know the cruise you set up for Carl and I, Kathy and John Raymond, Peggy and John Papadia, and Candy and Frank Vainisi was wonderful. The ship was fabulous, the food was delicious, our rooms were in a great location and a balcony was the only way to go. Unfortunately, it is all now just a fond memory!
I just wanted to say thank you for setting all of this up for us. Warm Regards, Norine Riggio
2/4/2008
Hello Mike,
Everyone sends a BIG ‘THANK YOU’... That ship (RCCL Liberty of the Seas) was the best ship I have ever been on. The décor was unbelievable! I’m trying to get another group together for a 3 day again and will be calling you sometime this month. Again thank you!
You are the best!!
Elise
Dear Mike,
I want to thank you for the great cruise we had over Christmas with Royal Caribbean that you and our daughter, Sharon M, arranged. Also, thank you very much ... Barbara and I would like to take another cruise, but at a different time of the year and to a different area. We think a smaller ship would be fun and with a destination other than Mexico. We would like to depart from San Francisco to avoid the airline thing. I guess that leaves Alaska or Canada? As you can tell I don't have a definite idea, but maybe you can help us with your thoughts. Something you think would be fun and is a good deal.
We are looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks again. Sincerely yours, Richard H
1/10/2008
Mike-Happy New Year to you! Thank you for your assistance on our family group cruise over Christmas. We did get a little acknowledgement from Royal Caribbean-one day we all had fruit baskets, another day platters of cookies & milk. We also all got "white tags" so that our bags were 1st off the ship and we could depart at out leisure. It was very nice. Our weather was good too. Again, thanks for always thinking of us.
Sharon M
1/8/2008
Happy New Year, Mike! We’re back from our first cruise. This was the greatest vacation we’ve ever been on. What a ship!!! Thank you so much for putting this all together for us; and for encouraging me not to cancel the trip due to Jennifer’s passport challenges. Also, thank you ... What a pleasant surprise. Short of US Air losing our luggage on our return trip and not calling us the next day when our luggage finally did arrive, everything went without a hitch---perfect. We learned a lot this trip. We’re looking forward to when we can do this again. Thanks again Mike!
Jeff & Ginny
1/8/2008
Mike...Thanks for letting me know you got the fax and that our tickets have been mailed. I'll be watching
the mail for the tickets. Betsy Votour said you got her and Ted in the cabin next to ours. Thanks so much
for getting our group all together. Appreciate all your hard work.
Jerri UA
1/8/2008
Dear Mike:
Re: Carnival Pride 12/30/07 7N LA/LB
Thank you very much .... Everyone loved the cruise and we had nothing negative to say about it. Thank you again for all your help. I probably will be contacting you shortly about a 12 Night Greece & Eastern Med. Cruise for my husband and I for our 40th Wedding Anniversary. Thanks again.
Jo Ann/WN
12/28/2007
Hi Mike - Our 23 day HAL (Ryndam) was fabulous. Our best cruise yet. Met lots of wonderful people and loved the open dining option. Actually, on the very first day of open dining we eight strangers liked each other so much, we dined together every night. I'm keeping my eye out for a February or March cruise. We really like the LONG cruises best. I'm sure we'll be talking soon. Hope you are having a great Holiday Season.
Nancy AA/retired.
11/30/2007
Mike:
You are a doll!!! Thank you so much. I really appreciate all your efforts. You know you are what makes a difference of one company to another. Can I write a letter to your boss and let them know what a SUPER job you are doing? I know when I was in res. I would get letters, and I know how much they meant to me. Yes, please go ahead and charge my cc for the full amount. Again, Mike, thank you.
Sincerely, Beth Michitsch
11/27/2007
Re: Princess Cruises 'Island Princess" 10/9/2007 LAX-FLL
We may be in the minority, but I must say we really enjoyed the "exotic" Panama Canal cruise on the Island Princess. I know there really wasn't much "to see" in Central America, but it was all interesting (Lake Antilan and the Mud Pots). We really enjoyed the ship -- it is very nicely decorated -- and especially enjoyed the Martini Bar where one of the attached pictures was taken (obviously). The other is of Dave on one of the three hanging bridges we had to cross on our rain forest walk in Costa Rica (no it did not rain). We had previously taken a gondola ride through various levels of the rain forest, but it poured buckets that time.
Maridee and David/NWA MSP
11/12/2007
11/3/2007
Cruise Travel Agents needs vacations too!
Mike & Jo....
10/29/2007
Mike,
We had a super cruise..fishing was supberb!! We caught 2 barracuda and 4 king macrel……loved it. Ok, hubby was impressed with the cruise and would like to plan the next one. We are thinking about doing the land/sea crusie to Alaska either in 2008 or 2009, but we can’t find prices so that we can see if it is even feasible. We don’t know what month would be good either. Can you help???
Oh, and thanks ...! Carol
10/29/2007
Hi Mike: Just wanted you to know that we had an AMAZING cruise! Our mouths dropped open when we opened the door to our Junior Suite – trust me, no more inside cabins for us!! I wanted to thank you ...
This was the biggest ship we’ve been on. For the most part, it was terrific – but we were a little disappointed in the entertainment onboard. The ice show was Olympic quality, but the nightly shows were better on the smaller ships we’ve cruised in the past. The Voyager (Voyager of the Seas, RCCL) had a juggler and illusionist that were perfect for a 10-year olds birthday party; everyone at our dinner table agreed that the entertainment was lacking a lot. And Portofino’s – WOW! Amazing food, service and presentation – definitely worth the extra dollars!
Susan H
9/28/2007
Mike: Once again thanks for your great service, you're the only interline agent I recommend to everyone at United due to your outstanding customer sevice.
Brian, UA MCO
9/20/2007
Dear Mike, Thanks for your message!!! I can't believe we are almost on our way. I did receive my VISA and passport replacement. Please keep me informed of any terrific bargains like this trip - I am always ready to travel and can find friends ..... to join me.
I have enjoyed our telephone chats and your efficient execution of our reservation and arrangements -- I am very impressed with your service. That comment from a seasoned traveler is most complimentary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!
Most sincerely, Donna
9/1/2007
Thanks, Mike. By the way, we loved our cruise aboard the Azamara journey!!!! Beautiful stateroom, healthy food, great mineral pool, nice weather, etc. etc. AND non-revving was a breeze. NK P.S. We're keeping our eyes out for a LONG cruise in January or February. Maybe even a "back-to-back". Cheap, too, of course. I'll be looking - but if you see something wonderful, let me know. Oh - I gave your card to a couple people. We met lots of airline folks - forget last names but Jay and Diane, Jim and Gemme, and Marsha and... All from Florida. Hope they get in touch. One couple has "had it" with the interline agency up North.
8/30/2007
Hi Mike:
This is just a note to thank you for the fabulous way you found and arranged for us our Celebrity cruise to Alaska and the land tour which accompanied it!
Lynn and I had a great time. The Summit is a good ship with fine food and activities. The weather was perfect more times than you should expect in Alaska, and we had what was reported as the Summit's closest ever approach to the Hubbard Glacier. The visit to Husky Homestead at Denali, with the chance to hold those puppies, was a real highlight for dog lovers such as we.
Your arrangements and communications were the best we have ever had for a trip. All we had to do was follow the paperwork you gave us, and we avoided any glitches in our arrival, boarding and cruising. Also, I probably would not have thought to be in the Captain's Club had you not noted our pervious Celebrity clruising and put us there. We did enjoy the perks.
Thanks again! Henry Curtis
8/21/2007
Mike:
Diane and I got back home late Saturday from our Azamara cruise to Bermuda.
Before we departed for the cruise, you had asked me to give you some
comments when we returned.
Diane and I were somewhat apprehensive about this Celebrity "spin-off" when
we left home. However, from the minute we stepped on board, we were just
delighted with the ship, the cabin, and the crew. The ship was built in
2000 for Renaissance Cruise line, and was refurbished for Azamara. The
ship's decor reminded me of several remodeled old hotels that we have stayed
in - lots of dark wood paneling, beautiful carpeting and staircases. I have
included a couple of pictures. The cabins are very similar in layout and
furnishings of balcony cabins on other Celebrity ships - very comfortable,
with flowers and fresh fruit as add on's. The room TV's are all flat-screen
and wall mounted.
The advertised "butler" service seems to be a bit of a stretch, as it
appears to be very similar to the "stateroom attendant" service on other
Celebrity ships, and it is definitely not the same as the butler service we
had several years ago, in a suite on the Infinity. The service was
outstanding, and I have no complaints, but I just wanted to mention this
because the term "butler" needs to be clarified.
As far as the other ship facilities, they are very similar to other
Celebrity ships - pool area, theater, main restaurant, two specialty
restaurants, library, casino, a couple of shops, aqua-spa and exercise
rooms, and very nice "buffet-like" cafe. However, each of these facilities
is not as large as on other Celebrity ships, but with only 750 passengers,
this is not a problem. The food was excellent - up to Celebrity standards
and then some, particularly in the number of food selections available. The
"open-seating" dinner in the main dinning room has pros and cons. The pros,
you can go to eat when you want; the cons, you do not get to "know" your
waiter, since you may not have the same table each night. Though, I must
say that the staff tried to seat you with the same waiter's each night, and
we did get to know two or three of the wait staff very well. An added
feature is the "casual" dress code. It was really nice, not to have to
bring dress clothes. Interestingly, many people did dress "formally" for
some dinners.
Passengers and Staff: With only 750 passengers on board, there were no
lines or crowding at any time during the cruise. The only "waiting" took
place a couple of times in the cafe at breakfast and lunch (waiting for
omelets or special lunches). The ship never felt crowded, and as a whole
the passengers seemed a lot more polite and courteous than on the larger
ships. This may have been due to the small number of passengers or because
of the age group on board (primarily 40's plus). There were very few
children or teens. The ship's staff was the most courteous and friendly
that we have ever encountered. This may be due to the low number of
passengers, and the resulting lower stress levels on the crew. Everyone of
the staff we talked to, from the Captain (we had dinner with the captain one
night) on down remarked to us that this was the best "Celebrity" ship that
they had ever been on, and that attitude showed in their service.
To summarize, this was the most pleasant cruise ship that we have ever been
on - relaxed, comfortable, uncrowded, beautiful decor, outstanding food, and
a very friendly staff that went out of their way to serve the passengers.
Intrusive ship announcements were kept to an absolute minimum. Mike, if you
have customers that want a relaxed, low key, and elegant cruise, they will
not be disappointed with cruising on this ship.
Regards, Carl Knable
8/7/2007
Hi Mike:
Many thanks for....our cabin. It was a great cruise on the HAL Prinsendam, being small, was wonderful, service, food excellent. Even had a walk-in closet in the cabin! We saw a lot with so many port calls - often taking tours - we've taken 5. Best Regards. The Debruyns'
6/4/2007
Hi Mike: We are just back from our 2 week AK cruise and just wanted to thank you for all you did to make it an affordable and very nice vacation! We had a great time and all went well!
Thanks again,
Mike and Diane
5/16/2007
We just got back from our journey...We had an inside room, no up-grade, but the thought was wonderful, and we did appreciate it. We had a wonderful time. I don't think the Sapphire Princess is as good as the Diamond Princess but the trip was great. Thanks again. I'll probably be talking to you soon. Beth and Dave Michitsch - USAirways
5/16/2007
Thanks, Mike... very nice. We had a great cruise although Kawai was cancelled "due to techical difficulties" and Maui was extended an extra day.
Nancy (and Hugh) King
4/20/2007
Your Name: Marcella (Trudy) Borucki
Cruise Line: Celebrity
Ship Name: Constellation
Date You Sailed: March 23, 2007
Cruise Destination - Caribbean
Cabin Type - Outside Cabin
My Ship Review! Everything was spotless. They were very diligent about cleanliness. This gave us peace of mind. The news media always shows the negative side of cruising. The food and service were Great. The shows were very diversified and enjoyable. The shows could have been just a little longer. We had a wonderful trip...
Trudy/AA
5/14/2007
Mike - I just got off of Radiance of the Seas 4/28/2007 14 day hawaii that you booked for us, WAS FABULOUS!!! Best cruise ever!! I wanted to make sure that you received notification on the cruise that Jim and I and my parents booked onboard for April next year on the Explorer of the seas. Lori M.
5/4/2007
Hi Mike:
Once again we had a wonderfull cruise. Thank you for everything. Our cabins were very nice and it's always a pleasure doing business with you. We are already looking at any good offer mid to end October with a minimum of 12 nights and our friends Fang & Gutierrez are looking forward for another cruise. We need two more points to become Diamond members. Let me know if there is any cruise out of Aruba, I would like to take my Mom but this has to be from either Aruba or San Juan, August or September would be ideal. Thank you,
Jeannette USAirways
5/3/2007
Hi Mike!
Thank you so much for all your help on our recent cruise. We have returned from the Panama Canal cruise and would like to thank you, as we had a great time! Thank you again for all your help & diligence!
Rae & Vernon
5/3/2007
Dear Mike, Jack & I just arrived home yesterday from our transatlantic cruise on Royal Caribbean (we also stayed a week in England-sooo expensive right down with the dollar at a record low, don't go anywher near the place!) Thank you so much ...Our room was LARGE. At 211 sq. ft. it was 24 feet larger than all the balcony rooms on our deck. We are busy planning our next cruise & will let you know when we have narrowed our choices! Thanks again.
Sharon Machold
4/21/2007
Hi Mike, We are currently in Sidney BC getting some last minute wiring done. Expect to leave for Alaska on June 1st. Enclosed is a picture of the boat at the dock and being loaded on Dockwise Transport out of Auckland. Teddi and I are planning a cruise sometime in November or December. Best Regards, John H/NW retired
1/24/2007
Mike,
First, congratulations on your new award...it's about time everyone else
recognized what we already knew!!!
Sharon B. Johnston
USAirways flight attendant
1/24/2007
Mike...I can't thank you enough for getting the better rate for Dennis and Marcia's cruise. I truly appreciate your going the extra mile to check this out for me, and the outstanding results you got for me. I called Marcia and let her know, and of course, she was thrilled. You're the best Mike! Thank you again...
Jerri
1/24/2007
Mike,
Great news, thanks a bunch. I appreciate all your help and I'll make sure to recommend you to all the military folks here.
Joe
1/23/2007
Your Name: Nancy Beth Michitsch
Subject (Testimonial): Mike Gresh
Write Your Testimonial: I just booked a cruise with Mike, and I must say, he\'s one of the most helpful, and professional agents I\'ve ever worked with. I was a res. agent for 16 years, and I know what I\'m talking about. Don\'t hesitate to call and ask for Mike. He\'s super.
1/22/2007
Thanks for your patience. I appreciate your getting
Marcia and Dennis a good cabin.They were very pleased when they saw where it was. They were a little
worried not knowing where it would be. Thought they might be down in the boiler room, ha,ha! As always,
you've done an outstanding job accommodating us. Thank you so much...Jerri
1/17/2007
CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE!!!!!! You are and always have been the BEST OF THE BEST! Our 40th wedding anniversary is coming up in May and we will be looking for something to book then. Again, congratulations, Mike. I remember way back when I met you at United (1992) and was so impressed with you at that time. You have built your business on integrity and excellent service and I would recommend anybody looking for a "Cruise Counselor" to call you!!
Hugs, Matalynn UAL retired
1/17/2007
MIKE:
THANKS SO MUCH. YOU ARE THE BEST AND WILL HAVE OUR BUSINEES FROM NOW ON.
BARB
10/9/2006
Hi Mike:
Just to let you know that we have received the brochures, booking info, cruise ticket, baggage tags for Jewel of the Seas- and also the booking info you sent on Norwegian Pearl. My parents were excited to get the brochure you mailed them. That was really nice of you. Thanks for your (as always) reliable, prompt info.
Kaye
10/9/2006
Dear Mike, Once again you are so thoughtful. Al and I certainly enjoyed
our veranda champagne breakfast in Tallin. We arrived in the harbor to a
lovely, calm and sunny morning with ample time to relax and enjoy before our
walking tour. The server arrived at our suite door with white tablecloth
and serving cart filled with a delicious feast.
Our entire cruise was pefect thanks to your efficient preparation. The sun
shined on us from blue skies every day. The Princess experience was perfect
in every way but we were particularly impressed with the organization of
tours - prompt and well organized. We felt RCI could learn something from
Princess (re tour organization only), based on last years experience with
them.
Thank you very much for EVERYTHING.
Charlene and Al Drake
10/2/2006
Mike,
Just a note to let you know that we have returned home from our 17-day, 3-cruise adventure aboard the Coral Princess. Thank you for the veggie platter you sent to us...it was great. We were able to meet up with Mom and Dad in Skagway...even got permission from our Captain for them to come on board for lunch! It pays to get to know the crew. I also want to tell you that we REALLY appreciate your work in getting us the same cabin for all 3 cruises. We met some other folks who did the same itinerary as us and had to move all 3 times. They were "elite" and were very jealous...E524 was a great home. I'll get back to you soon about our next cruise...hopefully, sooner than you think!
Thanks again
Sharon Johnston
9/13/2006
Mike,
I wanted to thank you for all your help with the information you provided to me when deciding on a cruise. The Royal Caribbean cruise you suggested and reserved for us was a GREAT experience. We had the best time on and off the ship, Enchantment of the Seas.
Because of hurricane Ernesto the itinerary was changed so we did not make it to Key West. But Cozumel and CocoCay were both fun experiences. We enjoyed the shows aboard the cruise ship and all the extras.
You were right, we had a great time and my wife is already wanting to plan our next vacation. We will contact you when that time comes.
Again ,thank you very much for your help, information and professionalism.
You will be recommended to others.
David & Sherry Baley
9/2/2006
Mike - What great news!!! Thanks for getting us the same cabin for all 3
sailings...sure will make our vacation lots easier. We are nearly ready to
go...one more week. We are already making tentative plans for several
cruises next year...bidding vacation time so I'll be off at the right time.
Thanks for all of your help and hard work. It is very much appreciated.
I'll get back to you about next year.
Sharon J
8/11/2006
Mike, Our packet arrived today. Thanks again for your efficiency and
helpful attitude, making you a pleasure to do business with. Al and I are
anxiously awaiting our departure!
Rgds - Charlene
8/7/2006
GUESS WHO WE MET ON OUR CRUISE?
Barb and Dennis Miller with new found friends Marshall University retired coach Bobby Pruitt and spouse Elsie aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas....
8/7/2006
Dear Mike,
Thank you so much for putting together the Cruise for us. We had an absolute ball and for our first cruise, it was "exceptional". I have been told that we were "spoiled" by the fact that our first cruise was on the "Brilliance of the Seas", but we cannot wait to go on another one.
Thank you again for making our 35th Wedding Anniversary one we will NEVER forget. The White Wine was waiting for us as we entered our room. Thank you for your kindness.
Sincerely,
Barbara and Dennis Miller
8/7/2006
The Shamey Family Group onboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas 7/22/2006.
Mike,
I wanted to let you know that our Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise was the best experience and a lifetime memory for us! We had such an awesome time! All your hard work and personal touches were so appreciated. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We definitely will be booking another family adventure with you again. Barbara Miller will be forwarding pictures to you soon. Thanks again, Mike. You are the greatest!
Pam Shamey and family
7/19/2006
Royal Caribbean, Vision of the Seas, 6/30/2006 - 7 Night Alaska
Hello Mike:
Ray and I just wanted to say "thanks" to you for making our first cruise really special ...... The weather was perfect the whole week and the ship - it was gorgeous! The people working on the ship were from various countries and had many tales to tell.. They all seemed very nice and helpful.. We are debating our next cruise but not sure where to go yet.. When we decide we'll be in touch.. Thanks again,, Ray and Sherry Bryant
7/6/2006
Your Name: Luella Arrigo
Subject (Testimonial) Service
Write Your Testimonial: The service that we received from Michael at Homeport cruises has been the best we have ever received. We have worked with other agency\'s and found they are not as detail oriented nor do they have that personal touch that is needed when going on a \"sometimes confusing\" vacation. Homeport cruises took excellent care of us and our much needed large elderly family for our cruise. We needed 5 cabins, and none of our elderly family had e-mail or even a computer! In this day and age you would think there is no way to effectively communicate, but not with Homeport, they made sure everyone was in the loop with all that was happening. So, Thank you from all us. We look forward to our cruise and spreading the word of the great service of Homeport cruises.
-------------------------------
7/6/2006
Just wanted to let you know our cruise was great! The Grand Princess was beautiful, the room was nice, food good and the weather was perfect. We enjoyed the ports even though they were a little hectic. The few days we stayed in Barcelona and Venice were wonderful.
Sharon & Shelly
-------------------------------
6/26/2006
The service that we received from Michael at Homeport cruises has been the best we have ever received. We have worked with other agency\'s and found they are not as detail oriented nor do they have that personal touch that is needed when going on a \"sometimes confusing\" vacation. Homeport cruises took excellent care of us and our much needed large elderly family for our cruise. We needed 5 cabins, and none of our elderly family had e-mail or even a computer! In this day and age you would think there is no way to effectively communicate, but not with Homeport, they made sure everyone was in the loop with all that was happening. So, Thank you from all us. We look forward to our cruise and spreading the word of the great service of Homeport cruises.
Luella/WN – Sailing 11/10/2006 aboard Celebrity’s “Millennium”
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6/29/2006
Dr. Lauren Miller and her husband Ryan during their cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's
Brilliance of the Seas 6/4/2006 sailing from Barcelona, Spain (booked through Homeport Cruises Co.) Lauren just graduated Magna Cum Laude and top female in her class at Ohio State Medical School. She also received another award for research she did...all in all...about four special awards at her graduation. Ryan played football at OSU, won the Rose Bowl in 1997, and worked for 10TV as a Reporter/Sportscaster where he won 3 Emmys for his work. He now has his own marketing firm. Lauren will be doing one year of residency at OSU, but then they will move to NC where she will spend five years at Duke.
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6/3/2006
....We had a wonderful time... Ross' parents were surprised and delighted. We sincerely appreciate all of your efforts: your skill, efficiency and professionalism are the best. Suzette, Ross, May Jean & Delbert.
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6/2/2006
Pictures from our last cruise....Mary Ann, Barb & Julianne
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6/1/2006
Dear Mike:
Just wanted to thank you for all of your help on our Alaska cruise this past week on the Sea Princess. It was absolutely wonderful. Weather was sunny and the glaciers were as magnificent as you said in Juneau. The dogsled ride was something I could not even describe. The entire trip priceless. Thanks again. Judy Z.
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Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, I have attached the photo for you to see our formal family portrait,
from left to right on the vertical are the O'Brien's, the Morris's, the Zinn's and the Coyne's. The four 'McLeod' daughters are those across the middle. Thanks again for all your help, hopefully we can do it again in the next four years - the little ones are already planning!! Cheers, Malcolm
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May parents arrived home from their cruise on Royal Caribbean on Sunday, and
had a wonderful time. They said is was a great cruise and enjoyed
themselves. My Dad is 70 years old and said he stayed up until 1:30 in the
morning the last night to hear the piano player and band play.
Thanks for your help and coordination. Anne
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Hi Mike,
...Our recent cruise to Bermuda on the Zenith in June ...can't say enough about the cruise, it was great! Loved the ship, food, drink, staff on board, activities, casino was very good to me too! Weather perfect in Bermuda, just wished it all could have lasted longer! Again, thanks so much for all your help in making our vacation a dream come true! Hope to use your services in the future.
Mary
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Hi Mike,
Just wanted to thank you for booking our cruise vacation. Everything went well ... from the airport transfers to and from the port, to the actual processing of paperwork before embarkation, to the great and attentive services on board, to all the organized activities, to our stop in Nassau, and especially to the the disembarkation process on the last day. The weather was good, 70's and very windy. We weren't able to stop at CoCo Cay due to high waves, but the cruise director was quick to come up with a revised entertainment and activities' schedule for the day. It was a fun day at sea.
All in all, we had a great time .... will definitely cruise again. Thanks for your help.
Mansie & Joe
P.S. Your choice of our stateroom location was outstanding ...
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Kevin and I wanted to say thank you so much for helping us with our
Honeymoon cruise March 17th! It was beyond my expectations! We have already
been planning our next trip. Celebrity is fabulous! Like a floating
Ritz-Carlton! You were right, the food was to die for. We have heard from
several other people on the ship that they only cruise with Celebrity now and
that we were spoiled off the bat. Anyway, keep the updates coming...
Sincerely, Sheri
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Our trip is PERFECT... room is WONDERFUL...and of course ship is BEAUTIFUL....
Thanks for you help in making it so GREAT....Jackie
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Attention: Michael H. Gresh
We had a wonderful 21 day cruise through the Panama Canal and were sorry to see it end. Holland America is sure to see repeat business from us. Looking forward to working with you again. Carol
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My mom, aunt, cousin and I all thank you sooooo much for helping us put together our cruise on the Celebrity "Millenium." (Departed FLL on April 29) It was as good as it gets; 12 days of laughs and the best weather ever - not to mention the picture postcard view from our balcony....
We'll be back for another cruise and have decided to save our pennies and get a couple of suites! I'll be on the lookout and wouldn't think of using any other interline source. Thank you once again Mike for a most memorable trip!
Valerie
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Our recent trip to Alaska was fabulous. The weather in Seattle,Vancouver and on the ship was great, sunny when it should be. Very few cloudy days. The food was outstanding. Our cabin on deck 7 was great. We got to know one another a little better. Our l3 yr. old son had the time of his life. We all want to go again next year...Thanks for all your hard work in helping me plan this. Everything was perfect.
Regards, Linda
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Just a little quick note to let you know that we had a fantastic time on our cruise. It was more than what we could have imagined. I would highly recommend Royal Carribean. Very good service. We also want to thank you very much for all of the help in getting it together for us. It was a time to remember for many years to come. Keep up the good work. We will be in touch in the future for our next cruise. Thanks again, Ken and Nancy - retired AA
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Thank you Homeport !!!!!!
Thanks again for all of your help. We will always recommend you and your
Company to our airline employee friends.
Joseph
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Thank you Mike, you are just too wonderful. Think we could erase Ronny's name and put YOU in instead!!
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Carl and I got back from our Hawaiian cruise Friday morning and we wanted to
tell you that we really enjoyed ourselves and are already looking into where
we will go next. Carl and Diane
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Just wanted to drop a note to let you know that Gary and I had a fabulous
cruise the week of December 1-8 on the Celebrity Horizon. We'd never been to
Key West before and the highlight of that port for us what Hemingway's home.
The other ports were ok for some shopping but mostly we enjoyed the peace and
quiet on the ship when everyone else was gone. As before, you made the
booking procedure easy and everything went smoothly. Thanks, once again, for
helping us have another very memorable vacation. We'll be in touch for
another cruise soon. Barb
P. S. No illness on our cruise, except my one day of seasickness!
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I wanted to send you a quick thank you for all of your assistance in
planning a wonderful holiday vacation for me and my family. We really
appreciate all of your hard work. The kids and I, as well as the rest of my family had a great time
and hope to do it again soon!
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Our cruise on the Amsterdam was absolutely great, we had a wonderful time with our friends. Thanks again,
Mario and Diane
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Mike: We cannot thank you enough for the attention you've given us. This is the second cruise we've booked with you, and you are "OUR" agent from now on. You have gone out of your way to clear waitlists, move cabins, etc....you are great!
Charlene and Brian
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I received the R/C brochure and confirmation you sent next day mail - thanks. With that, my travel docs and the E.Docs you sent I should be set to go! I will pass the good word around about you and your firm. Thanks again - Sincerely, John
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Jerry and I had a wonderful cruise aboard the Golden Princess last week. It just couldn't have been nicer. The stateroom with a balcony was just superb. Thank you.
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Thank you again, Mike, for arranging such a wonderful cruise for us. Oh, wanted to mention, we took the Shore Trips on St. Marteen which you recommended and it was far superior to the tour on St. Thomas offered through Princess. I will definitely use them in the future.
Marilyn and Jerry Fields
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Hi Mike-I just wanted to thank you so much for all your efforts and assistance in arranging our Mexico Cruise with Princess. You secured a wonderful cabin for us. The balcony was delightful and once you've had one, I can't imagine otherwise. The food, entertainment, and service was excellent and everything very well organized. We absolutely loved swimming with the dolphins and found a great lighthouse to hike to in Mazatlan. Please keep us in mind if the relocation cruise to Alaska comes up on this ship. Thanks so much for making our 10 year anniversary trip special. Happy Spring. Regards, Suzette
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I want to Thank You for booking our Cruise on Holland American. We had a great time, except we didn't get to see "Half Moon Cay." The Waves were too high to put the Tender in the water. (Not your fault)
Also, I wanted to pass on an FYI.
On our return, we stayed at the "Quality Inn - Airport" in Orlando. While there I found out that they have a Shuttle to Port Canaveral for $25.00 per person for their Guests.
George
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Dear Mike,
I want to thank you for everything.
Your profession approach to the customer's needs, your prompt replies and your great deals you find for us.
What a great cruise we had! I love Royal Caribbean. They know how to do it just right. Good service and clean ships. We had a wonderful time. We love Coco Cay. I wish we could have spent all 3 days there.
Our voyage was a smooooooth sail.
Thank you for everything. Respectfully, Janice
P.S. Wow am I peeling
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Thank you so much for your help in booking our Alaskan cruise. Yes, we finally got to go. My mom had a fabulous time and is ready to go again. I have gotten her hooked on champagne. Our dinner table was at the back of the ship and right on the water. On our last night, there were about 30 porpoise jumping out of the water and following us. It was beautiful.
Thanks again, and we will be contacting you again soon! Rui
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We are back from our Boston-Rotterdam cruise, everything was great, especially the Prince Christian sound in Greenland. We saw at least one hundred huge icebergs, glaciers, many waterfalls whales etc. The cabin was very nice and the cruise was just wonderful. Thanks again for the fine arrangements you made.
Mario
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I just wanted to let you know how much we LOVED Windstar cruises. The rooms were very spacious with lots of storage space, the food was very good, the service was very attentive, the ambiance was romantic with the sails flying and private yacht feel, and the passengers were very friendly. We must have met about 50-60 people out of the 300 people, and will stay in touch with a few of the couples we met! We can hardly wait to book another Windstar cruise!
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Thank you for the meteoric response to my e-mail. we have never had this kind of service from a travel agent. thanks again.
Bob
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Thanks for handeling that buddy! Now I know why you make the big bucks in the travel agency business because you get things done. :) Take care, Steve
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Thanks Mike.......you're great to deal with!!!!
Fred
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Just returned thursday from 51 days. Overall trip was good, a few
of the stops could have been better. If you have anyone requesting an inside
room on Prinsendam do all possible to discourage it. Smallest inside room we have
ever had. Ron
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Mike
I appreciate all your help over the years. Each time I give your name to a friend I always tell them you are the kind of person I would have wanted working with me side by side behind the podium. Even though we've never met in person the following letter also applies to you....Phil
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Received the boarding packet and your msg re the upgraded cabin
assignment. You're taking awfully good care of us and we appreciate it.
John and Audrey
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Thank you so much for arranging this cruise for Karen and I. We are so excited we can't stand each other. We really appreciate the effort your put forth for us. We wish you continued success.
Sincerely, Kathy
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Well we are back whether we like it or not. While it is good to be back after a week of absence from our daughter, I must say that part of me wanted to stay back. While waiting for our flight at the dungy Miami airport yesterday, I kept thinking about those lucky folks who are boarding the Explorer of the Seas for their cruise. We had a great time! It was better than staying at the best of the best 5-star hotels. Our horseback riding tour in San Juan was cancelled due to the turtle eggs hatching on the beach. So we ended up going on our own in San Juan. We did meet my cousin in St Maarten with some time for shopping an the Orient Bay beach. We were amazed at the clarity of the water in the Caribbean (not San Juan though). We did go snorkeling in Nassau. Snorkeling was fantastic!!!
I really appreciate your help in answering our questions. I am glad we booked this cruise with you rather than going with some online service!
Once again, thank you very much!! Hemant & Shilpa
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Sorry it has taken so long for me to get in touch - busy now that we are
back to work. I really wanted to tell you that the cruise was FANTASTIC! We
enjoyed every minute of it. The upgrade of room was great, much bigger than
I expected. We had an extra stop at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Everyone
was delighted. Crew were great and interacted alot with the passengers. I
suppose they need to having 21 days with them. We even crossed the Antarctic
Circle. Scenery was amazing and we were very lucky with the weather.
Info for future customers - Hot sunshine for the first 4/5 days only.
Once you leave B. Aires no more need for the beach gear you need to wrap up
it gets windy and much colder. The Antarctic weather we had was blue skies,
sunshine and approx 30 degrees but with very cold wind at times. Nothing
unbearable just need the ski jacket, hat, scarf and gloves (regular shoes).
It did not get much warmer along the coast of Chile. For packing purposes we
had only 4 formal nights, 6 or 8 informal (semi formal) and the remainder
were casual. Of course by day all casual. Essential to have with you are the sunglasses, camera ,binoculars and video equipment.
On board we had four experts that gave lectures during the days at sea, very
informative, no requirement to read up in advance.
Ship, food, entertainment, service all to the usual excellent HAL
standard. We would highly recommend this trip.
Fiachra will include a few of the scenery pictures. Many thanks for all the
assistance with the last minute booking, it really was a super holiday.
Regards Louise
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The cruise was wonderful ... it was the ship's maiden voyage! We had a
great trip, and to make it even better, we rode first class on United both
ways!
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Doe was happy she took the insurance, as she had to see the ship's doctor!
Thanks again for your continued great advice!
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I had to deal with a medical emergency back home while on board in Russia
and had the help of a wonderful employee. I'd like to write to the
President of Royal Caribbean to compliment her service. Marie
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You are awesome! Thanks much, The Gambino Family ( The nice ones!)
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We appreciate the excellent service you have provided us over the past years.
We really enjoy cruising and working through you.
Thanks again for all of your efforts. Carl and Diane
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Thank you very much for your courtesies regarding our cruise. Your thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated. That goes likewise for my in laws. Everything went well. We enjoyed all the islands, weather was great, etc., we are already looking forward to our next one. Don't forget if you come out this please let us know.
Thanks again. Fred
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Thanks Mike. It's was a pleasure dealing with you. Very efficient and helpful.
Ron
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Just got home from the brillance of the seas... miami to barcelona
let me tell you about it.
a grand suite was vacant on this sailing and we played a bingo game for the complimentary upgrade.
WE WON
ten nights in the grand suite which included the concierge club.
we are now so completely spoiled.
Just wanted to say hello and let you know about our adventure.
thanks for your superior service.
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Mike Gresh, just wanted to let you know that we have received the email
booking summary, letter and attachments from your office, Homeport cruises,
and today, May 13, 2005 we received the Princess cruise tickets. We are on
our way!!!
Thank you so much for your assistance and the promptness of all
correspondence and notices. We appreciate all that you have done for us to
make our cruise memorable.
Johnney & Elizabeth
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Thanks for the info.
I just wanted to mention that the cabins you booked for us on the Miracle 6184, 6186, 6188 were fantastic. Even though we were right next to the elevator (very, very convenient) we never heard hallway noise, etc. Because we had passenger decks above and below us, we also didn’t get any overhead or engine noise. We were also right off the midship elevators, so we were never “at the wrong end of the ship”. Furthermore, our cabin (6184) was the first balcony in the row, so we had a great view looking forward. We had the dividers opened up so we had a balcony that ran the length of three cabins. Can’t thank you enough for picking out the good ones for us!
Shelly
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Many Thanks for your help in getting this up-grade. As always we sincerely appreciate your fine service.
I continue to wear my T-Shirt with great pride.
Have a great day. Herb
1/18/2007
Your Name: Kenneth Forte
Subject (Testimonial) R/C Legend of the Seas/Royal Caribbean Cruise Line...Service
Write Your Testimonial: R/C Legend of the seas Service is second to none.... extensive cruises says \"Legends\" has no equal for service. Our Waiter at dinner nightly, on a 7 night Dec 06 cruise was world class... his name was [believe it or not] Cappuccino. Have eaten in some of the best restaurants in the US and Europe, and he was the best waiter we have ever had....and we had him for 7 nights straight ! WOW.
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It's Time To Get Onboard!
Aboard the QM2 Canada/New England Cruise - Oct 12, 2006
Ralph & Olga
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Your Name: Patricia Austin
Cruise Line: Celebrity
Ship Name: Infinity
Date You Sailed: 9/03/06
Cruise Destination: - Alaska
Cabin Type: Balcony
The ship was wonderful/immaculately clean. The crew was absolutely accomodating in every way. The Infinity is such a nice ship - it was so easy to find our way around, we knew the whole outline of the ship by the end of the first day. The food was delicious and every meal was served with such professionalism and grace. We loved our cruise to Alaska on Infinity. We want to go again -- soon!!!!
We have been on cruises before, but never on a ship like the Infinity. She is beautiful and the sailing was so pleasant and smooth aboard the Infinity. We felt safe, secure and pampered while we were on our cruise to Alaska. We had a simply delightful time and can hardly wait to book another cruise with Celebrity. My husband is 79 and uses a walker to get around. He had no problem whatsoever manipulating on the ship and the crew was so helpful when he went aboard at the ports. Our adventure was wonderful from start to finish.
_________________________________________________________________
9/15/2006
Your
Name: Mike Fujimori
Testimonial: Cruise on WindStar
Write
Your Testimonial: We were onboard the WindStar from Athens to
Istanbul couple of years ago and it was a wonderful
experience. We have never sailed on mega ships since. It is
so relaxing, not having to wait in line for anything and
doing to usual formal functions during the Cruise. Casual
elegance is the theme of the cruise, no formal wear required.
We cruised for a week on one carry-on bags each. The cabins
are small, but well organized, comfortable and functional.
The food was amazing and well-recognized chef put the menu
together. Their bread pudding was to die for. You can dine
anytime during the set period, alone or with other people and
not scheduled sitting. Turkey was so interesting we would
love to return. We arrived in Kussadasi one morning next to
one of those mega ships. There must have been 30 buses to
take them on the tour of ancient city of Ephasus. I don\'t
know how long it took them to get the people off the ship,
but we had one bus and 30 people out of 128 who decided to
take this excursion. It took us 15 minutes to load and ahead
of this mob and had a wonderful visit to this truly
historical sight. The staff is wonderful and no tipping
necessary, unless off course if you decide on your own to
reward exceptional service. We are taking a cruise on
SeaDream from Rio to Buenos Aires in November and we will see
how they compare. We understand this cruise line is also
amazing. But we can't wait to return to another WindStar
experience. They were not offering Interline rate for a
while, so if you get a chance don't miss it! Puerto Caldera
would be my choice.
Happy Cruising.
_________________________________________________________________
8/21/2006
Your Name: Sheila L.
Cruise Line: NCL
Ship Name: Pride of America
Date You Sailed: July 1, 2006
Cruise Destination: Hawaiian Islands
Cabin Type: Balcony
My Ship Review! On a scale of 1 to 6, I would rate the NCL
cruise on the Pride of America a 4.5. My initial impression
upon our arrival in Honolulu was how organized everything
was. There were a lot of representatives available to show us
our way to the bus that took us to the pier near the Aloha
Tower.
The flights that NCL booked for us were the best times that
we could have hoped for. We left LAX at 9am on Saturday and
arrived in Honolulu before noon. We were booked on United and
I was thrilled that they were using the 767s because the
configuration is 2-3-2. Our return flight left Honolulu at
1pm and arrived a little ahead of schedule at 920pm. The
transfer service was exceptional both ways and the buses were
very comfortable and clean.
Our stateroom was very nicely laid out. There were two twin
beds and a small couch near the balcony. There was a lot of
storage in both the closets and the desk area. We used the
safe daily and it was free of charge. The balcony was great
to have for private viewing and taking phone calls. The
bathroom was small but very functional and had a lot of
storage. We liked having the coffeemaker in the room. It was
also great to have a hair dryer in the bathroom. We stored
our suitcases under the bed to save room elsewhere. The
mirrors in the room made it appear a lot bigger and were
great to have when both of us were getting ready to go out.
I should tell you that I am 50 years old and was traveling
with my mother who was celebrating her 80th birthday later in
the month. This was the first time that either one of us had
cruised with NCL. We thought that the website made the ship
look somewhat gaudy when it fact it was absolutely beautiful
throughout. There was a great mix of patriotic themes as well
as Hawaiian themes. Our housekeeper was exceptional and
responded immediately to any special requests that we had.
_________________________________________________________________
August
2006
Subject: Tampa Transfers
Hello Fellow Interliners:
We just this year (April 2006) took a cruise out of TPA. We
have departed there before but always went at least one day
early and stayed with friends who also drove us to the Dock.
If you are planning a Cruise out of Tampa (TPA) this is a
great way to get to the boat on time and trouble free.
Now
to get to the alternate way as our friends had already
returned to Chicago. First the cab ride to the dock from TPA
airport is about $25-30 and takes 15 to 20 minutes, about the
same from any airport Hotel. So I searched the web and ASU
travel guide with no luck on really good deals. The low end
is about $59 to $300. Well knowing the area a little I choose
the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore located in Tampa's popular
Westshore business district, next to the renowned
International Plaza. It is very nice and has free airport
pickup. I was able to book direct to Hilton reservations for
$115 (no special airline rates, they seem to have dried up?)
for the Friday night before we left. I planned to take a cab
to the dock for $25-$30 the next day so as to arrive a little
early (12:30 PM) to see if we could get on early as many
times they will let you if they are ready.
Now for the
better part, on the ride from the airport we meet a fellow
who asked if we where taking a cruise? It seem he was the
person that sets up the hotels van service to transport
guests to the dock and at a nominal fee of $5 each. He said
they used to do it for free until the lobby filled with
non-guests and others that had heard of this service. We
where very happy to get a ride for less money but more
important he knew where to go and we got extra good quick
service from the porters at the dock. To the front of the
line and off loaded in record time with a comfortable feeling
our bags would get on board OK!
With all this taken care of we only had to find a place to
eat dinner. The same fellow and the van driver recommended a
couple of very nice restaurants outside of the International
Plaza (an upscale shopping center). They said it was a little
difficult to walk to (no sidewalk) but they would run us over
and pick up after dinner with just a call and at NO charge.
For what it is worth this is one sailing that was off to a
very good start. We have been on many cruises that where
delayed for late incoming aircraft and also have left a good
number that did not make the departure time! We plan to
do more sailing out of Tampa in the future. Hope this will
make you
_________________________________________________________________
7/10/2006
The trip of a lifetime, at least mine!
I have
always been interested in the BIG ships crossing the Atlantic
as a child. Now after 25 cruises I finally had a chance to
take The Queen Mary 2 from New York to Southampton England.
Many thanks to folks at HomeportCruises.com for making it
possible for me as they have so many times in the past.
To start with the departure from New York from the pier next
to the aircraft carrier Intrepid and the Concorde was very
memorable to
me and my wife Brenda as we had flown on the Concorde a few
years back from London the JFK. Now we where about to cross
the Atlantic as many had before us years ago.
After a nice lunch and a quick look around the ship we set
sail for England passing on the west side of lower Manhattan
with a great view of the skyline of New York City as the Sun
set behind us. Then passing by Ellis island and the Statue of
Liberty as it began to get dark we passed under the lighted
Verrazano Narrows Bridge and out into the Black Atlantic
ocean for a GREAT 6 day crossing. I guess by now you can tell
this was a great trip for me as I enjoy lots of Sea time on
our previous cruises.
Well after that departure we finally had time (lots of time,
6 whole days without a stop or even sight of land, I love
it!) to settle in to checking out the ship and what a ship it
is! There is a feeling of space everywhere with the very high
ceilings (10 to 12 feet) and the extra wide isles. The public
areas all have ample space to move around even with many
people out and about. The theater is very nice and BIG with
good viewing from all locations.
They have a one of a kind Planetarium show in another
dedicated
theater shown on a curved screen over your head that can be
retracted to use the Theater as a show room. They have four
different programs to play during the week and multiple
showings during the day.
The computer area is all the way up front and the largest I
have seen on any ship. They also have classes for beginners
and experienced PC users. Peeking of Computers and the Web
this ship has a very nice feature no one else has yet and
that is you can send a receive e-mail in your room on the TV
with a wireless keyboard. This allows you to compose your
e-mail before you have to pay to send it, saving lots of time
and money. The system also saves the mail so you can read it
at a later time.
For dancers the dance floor in the Queens room is Huge and
the band is Great. To the rear of the Queens room is the
Disco very well placed with no noise beyond the area. The
Lido (called Kings Court) area takes up almost an entire deck
with many different type food stations spread forward and
aft. The eating area is spacious along the sides with Bay
window type spaces that project out into the Promenade deck
where you can see the deck and the Seas while you eat. Up
forward of the Lido is the Winter Garden where you can get a
drink or specialty coffee or just relax and read a book among
the Palm trees and plants while looking out over the ocean.
The main dinning room (Britannia Restaurant) is quite nice
with two stories, very formal looking and comfortable. Of
course very good food as usual on most cruise ships. For
special times there is the Todd English restaurant in the
back of the ship with windows looking out over the sea.
The Spa features Canyon Ranch products as well as the rest of
the ships cabins. There is a very large and well-equipped
health club.
One of the high points not to be missed is the QM2 Library
and Bookstore. With out a doubt the best I have seen.
Below the Library and all the way forward is the Commodore
Club with a beautiful view of the sea and a full bar. Also
there is the Cigar smoking room adjacent on the starboard
side and another nice reading room on the port side.
The Pavilion pool has a retractable glass roof very welcome
on the crossing.
The entertainment was first rate through out the cruise
(crossing) along with extra shows during the day with the
crew putting on an old time radio skit also England’s
University of Oxford presented a unique Oxford Discovery
program with historians, scientists, scholars and authors
giving interactive talks. During the week the Royal Academy
of Dramatic Art gave performances.
All in all this is not to be missed Cruise, and we intend to
do it again at least one-way and maybe round trip. Better
than First class on the B747! Oh yes, we will be using
HomeportCruises.com many more times in the future, Thanks
Mike for all the great service over the years!
I hope this helps anyone out there to decide on a cruise, it
is the only way to travel!
Paul and Brenda/UAL
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