Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL-Dec 23, 2011

Merry Christmas from Mike and Darlene Jordan at CruiseOne!

Spend the 4th of July, 2012, in Skagway, Alaska!

Imagine that! Spend our country’s 236th birthday in our 50th state! What better way could there be to celebrate such an auspicious occasion?

Cruises to Alaska are selling like hotcakes right now, so if this sounds like a good idea to you, NOW is the time to make plans…AND, if you call us and book by the 31st of December, you’ll be eligible for our Spending Reimbursement promotion! Such a deal, you celebrate the nation’s birthday, and we give YOU a present when you get home!

We’re featuring the Norwegian Jewel’s June 30th sailing, a beautiful and convenient Seattle round-trip:

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel
7-Night Sawyer Glacier, Seattle R/T

Sat 06/30/12 Seattle, Washington – Embark – 04:00 PM Times subject to change

Sun 07/01/12 Cruise Inside Passage

Mon 07/02/12 Ketchikan, AK 7:00AM-03:00 PM

Tue 07/03/12 Juneau, AK 07:00 AM 01:30 PM

Wed 07/04/12 Skagway, AK 07:00 AM 05:00 PM

Thu 07/05/12 At Sea

Fri 07/06/12 Victoria, British Columbia 02:00 PM 09:00 PM

Sat 07/07/12 Seattle, Washington – Disembark – 08:00 AM Times subject to change

Here are the fares: Interiors start at $849 per person, plus tax. Ocean views start at only $1029 PP, plus tax, and you can enjoy the views of the Inside Passage on your own private balcony for only $1549 PP, plus tax! And if you want to take your kids or grandkids, 3rd and 4th guests in the same room go for only $549 PP! That takes down your average fare substantially, and everyone gets to have a great 4th of July! (You’ll need to upgrade to a higher balcony category to fit 4 in a balcony stateroom though, and those start at $1609 PP for guests 1 & 2).

Call us today at 1-800-267-7613 for more details on this great cruise, and for details on our Spending Reimbursement promotion. And in the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas!

Sincerely,

Darlene & Mike Jordan
CruiseOne
http://ping.fm/Cw6Tn
mjordan@cruiseone.com

Get Out the Map December 23, 2011

Cruising the Mediterranean
By Mike & Darlene Jordan

For our entire stay in Rome the sun was shining, but we awoke to a pouring rain on the day we left the Eternal City. And Mike had a cold. Nonetheless, we were excited—not to leave this wonderful city but to embark on our cruise that would take us 6,994 statute miles from Rome to Galveston, Texas, over the next 16 days.

There’s no port in Rome, so cruise passengers must travel about 80 miles northwest to the port city of Civitavecchia. Our friends at Ciao Italy picked us up for the drive to the pier and made a short stop at the quaint village of Ceri about halfway along the route.

Ceri is a tiny village that reminded us of being in an old movie. It sits atop a hill with a narrow winding road that leads to the “city” gate and into a courtyard, around which are small homes, businesses, restaurants and a small hotel. We had a few minutes to snoop this Tuscany-like setting in the country before continuing the journey to our ship. We’d love to go back.

By the time we reached the port, the sun had returned! Our ship, the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, basked in the sunlight all decked out and ready to sail. We’d been aboard the Mariner twice before; she’s one of our favorite ships. In the early 2000’s, she was one of the largest ships afloat; a Royal Caribbean Voyager class ship with a capacity of 3,114 passengers. These days, she’d be considered a mid-sized ship, which should give you an idea of just how large today’s newest cruise ships are. By the time we set sail at 4:00 p.m., the sea was smooth, the sun was out and life was good, except for Mike’s cold.

After a day at sea, our first port of call was Palma de Majorca, Spain. We’d been here before, but this time we stayed near the large cathedral and explored the “old town” area for the entire day, enjoying delicious tapas and doing a little souvenir shopping. The tiny streets go in all directions with many side streets and alleys and, sure enough, we got lost. After walking by the same church for a third time we finally asked a local how to get back to the cathedral. We were only a few blocks away, and made it back to our ship with somewhat sore feet, but loaded with mementos of our visit.

Cartagena, Spain, was our next stop. It was Sunday, but many of the shops and restaurants in this very walkable city were open. Cartagena is a great port city if you like ruins. The ancient Romans used the city as a natural port and built a large amphitheater as well as observation posts on the surrounding hills, easily accessible on foot. Tours from the ship are available, but not necessary, and we enjoyed the views and the history this city has to offer on our own, not to mention some delicious food at an open air café.

Our only complaint about this journey was the timing of the following day’s transition from the Mediterranean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean—we’d be passing through the Strait of Gibraltar at 5:00 a.m.! The interesting thing about this part of the voyage is that, when passing through during the day, you can stand on the deck of your ship and look to your right and see the southern coast of Europe and look to your left and see the northern coast of Africa. Unfortunately, it was dark on this trip, but we’d seen it before; it’s a must-see if you ever visit the Mediterranean.

Just out of sight of the African mainland we sailed southward to the small Portuguese island of Madeira (yes, it’s where they make the delicious wine of the same name) and its capital, Funchal. Blessed again with gorgeous weather we hired a taxi and toured the beautiful countryside. Funchal is built on a volcanic caldera that makes for fabulous views. Our driver took us to a quaint fishing village and past numerous fields of bananas! Vegetables of all kinds grow there, but the bananas were everywhere; on the sides of cliffs, hills, and almost anywhere there was an acre or two of land. Back in town, we took in a delicious Portuguese lunch at a restaurant overlooking the bay with the Mariner of the Seas in the distance.

Tomorrow we’d make one more stop before heading across the Atlantic. This time it would be La Palma, in the Canary Islands, Columbus’ gateway to the open Atlantic and the New World.

Until next time…get out the map!

Mike and Darlene Jordan are independent franchisees of CruiseOne and are based in southern Colorado. You can reach them at 800-267-7613 or mjordan@cruiseone.com.
http://ping.fm/VQQF8

Subject: Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL!

Hello Everyone, and Happy Friday!
December 16, 2011

‘Tis the season to book Alaska!

Many folks think it’s too early to book their summer 2012 vacation, but not if you want to cruise Alaska! We are booking family groups and couples for Alaska at an amazing rate, and it’s already getting difficult to find adjoining or connecting staterooms or rooms that will accommodate more than two in a room, and mini-suites and suites are going fast as well.

But there’s good news too! Our company had the foresight to book some block space in Alaska, and one of the ships we’re holding space on is the beautiful Norwegian Pearl, sailing on June 10, 2012.

This is a great Seatlle round-trip, which makes booking airfare easier and a little more affordable. You get to see a good variety of ports, and enjoy Freestyle cruising, so you don’t have to pack a gown or tux for a trip to see wildlife and glaciers!

Here’s the itinerary:

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl
7-Night Glacier Bay, Seattle R/T

Sun 06/10/12 Seattle, Washington – Embark – 04:00 PM Time subject to change

Mon 06/11/12 Cruise Inside Passage

Tue 06/12/12 Juneau, Alaska 02:00 PM 10:00 PM

Wed 06/13/12 Skagway, AK 07:00 AM 08:15 PM

Thu 06/14/12 Cruise Glacier Bay

Fri 06/15/12 Ketchikan, AK 06:00 AM 01:30 PM

Sat 06/16/12 Victoria, British Columbia 06:00 PM 11:59 PM

Sun 06/17/12 Seattle, Washington – Disembark – 08:00 AM Time subject to change

Great rates, onboard credit AND cash-back!

These features make for a really great DEAL:

Let’s start with the onboard credit: Each stateroom booked will receive $50 in onboard spending.

Now for the cash-back: If you book your Alaska cruise with us by December 31, 2011, you’ll receive cash-back when you get home!

If your stateroom booking total is between $1000 to $2499, you’ll get $50 back. For staterooms valued at between $2500 to $4999, you’ll receive a check for $100, and for staterooms purchased between $5000 and $7999, you’ll get back $150! Book a suite valued at $8000 or more, and get $200 back when you get home.

Here are the best fares as of today:
Interiors start at $1067.07 PP including port fees AND tax!
Ocean views start at $1317.07, and balconies start at $1997.07 per person.

And right now we can combine these value adds with a promotion that will require only 1/2 of the normal deposit-just $125 per person-but don’t wait, this promotion is good for a limited time only.

We know you’re busy…

But if you know someone who has been wanting to experience Alaska, there’s no better time, and what a great Christmas present! Give us a call, and we’ll help you plan an amazing trip; we’re here to help!

Happy Holidays!
Mike and Darlene

7131 Dunklau Rd
Ft Garland, Colorado 81133
1-800-267-7613
http://ping.fm/b5uIx
mjordan@cruiseone.com

Fares are based on double occupancy and are subject to change and availability. Fares include port fees and tax. Airfare, transfers and insurance are additional.
Cash Back Offer Expires: December 31, 2011. Reduced deposit offer expires when capacity is reached.

Get Out the Map
Arrivederci Roma

By Mike & Darlene Jordan Dec. 17, 2011

It seems like we just got here. Now we have one last day to see the city at our leisure. As is our custom, we were up early and had studied our guidebook the night before, so we knew where we were going. As usual, we would be on foot.

Our first stop would be in the Via Veneto district, about a mile from our hotel. We had read and seen TV documentaries about our destination and were filled with a bit of morbid fascination. We would be visiting the Crypt of the Capuchin Monk in the Church of the Immaculate.

In 1631, the friars of St. Bonaventure near the Trevi fountain moved to what is now the Church of the Immaculate. In the process, they moved all of the remains of deceased friars to the new location and added their own dead. Over the years, until 1870, the friars began the custom of arranging the bones of their departed brethren into elaborate works of art.

Six small crypts, about 10 feet by 10 feet each, contain what remains of these creations. A small donation of 1 euro per person is all the church asks of visitors to see these incredible creations. Skulls and bones in each crypt are arranged along the walls in elaborate mosaics, sculptures, and geometric designs. There are even tableaus featuring full skeletons of monks still dressed in their traditional habits. Even clocks and light fixtures in the crypts are made of parts of human skeletons.

A visit here takes only an hour or less, but is well worth the visit. The scenes are truly works art; not morbid, but somehow serene.

Our next stop would be the Spanish Steps, not far from Via Veneto. We approached this huge stone staircase from the top and elected not to hike all the way down. At the top of the steps is the Trinita di Monti church where we stepped in during a service. Part of a convent, the nuns and several priests were singing mass in Latin, the stone walls of the church acting as an echo chamber. The sound was amazing.

Outside, we sat on the steps and watched as a newly married couple had photos taken overlooking the Piazza di Spagna while we enjoyed, what else?…Panini. The Trinita di Monti is just outside one of Rome’s largest and most beautiful parks, the Villa Medici. We strolled along the tree-lined paths enjoying a spectacularly beautiful day before descending to the Piazza del Popolo to head back along the banks of the Tiber River toward Piazza Navona to do a little souvenir shopping.

We had dinner reservations back near the Campo di Fiori…but weren’t sure exactly where, so we headed that direction walking down one of Rome’s many short alley-like streets and walked by the restaurant completely by accident. It was nowhere near where we thought it was and we never would have found it had it not been for this fortuitous accident. But we were about 4 hours early.

We explored the nearby Jewish Ghetto which has transformed itself from the depressing place it must have been during World War II to a vibrant neighborhood with many shops and restaurants, not to mention antiquities that continue to be uncovered as Rome modernizes.

Rome has strict laws regarding ancient ruins. When a construction project unearths a new archeological find, work must stop while the find is excavated, studied, and then restored, if possible. The Jewish Ghetto has several of these finds, complete with placards that describe the ongoing study.

Before returning to the restaurant, we walked along the Tiber and watched as Romans desperately tried to parallel park their tiny “Smart Cars” in rush-hour traffic. We immediately understood why the bumpers of these cars are made of rubber. Drivers, and we saw several do this, apparently thought nothing of banging the bumpers of nearby cars in as they wiggled and banged their way into small parking spaces.

After an exhausting but fabulous day and a sumptuous Italian dinner, we opted for the first time to take a taxi back to our hotel. We’d need a restful night…tomorrow we’d say arrivederci to Roma and embark on a journey that traces the route of Christopher Columbus as we begin our cruise home.

Until next time…get out the map!

Mike and Darlene Jordan are independent franchisees of CruiseOne and are based in southern Colorado. You can reach them at 800-267-7613 or mjordan@cruiseone.com
http://ping.fm/kvnwJ

Get Out the Map Dec 09, 2011
Walking Rome…
By Mike & Darlene Jordan

We love to walk. Well, when it’s not too far and the weather’s nice. As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Rome is a very walkable city.
After touring the Vatican with our guide from Ciao Italy!, she dropped us off at Captitoline Hill overlooking the ruins of ancient Rome. It was a great place to start our independent time in the Eternal City. From here we could look over the Roman Forum as well as a number of other major ruins, including the Coliseum, with the option of going down and taking a look close-up. We opted to enjoy the view from afar. It was a beautiful day, and we wanted to see as much of the city as we could in the day and a half we had left.
There are very few streets in Rome that are a.) straight, or b.) long. There are what we would refer to as “blocks,” but they come in groups of 2 or 3 instead of a long string. Therefore, there are lots of twists and turns and blind alleys between where you are and where you want to go. Another problem is that, instead of street signs on every corner, the names of streets are carved in stone on the corners of most of the buildings that are situated at intersections. That’s why it’s essential to have some kind of map or guidebook with you.
We chose Frommer’s Rome Day by Day. This little book has a general map (with a Metro Rail map on the back) as well as a larger, more detailed street map. The book also recommends what to see based on the number of days you’ll be in the city and a description of what you’ll see. We set off for the Trevi Fountain.
Only 5 or 6 blocks from Capitoline Hill, it still took us a half hour or so to get there. As famous as the fountain is, it’s not in the middle of a big piazza. You can be only a block away and not see it. But when you do see it, it’s spectacular! There’s a legend that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain they will one day return to Rome. The legend earns the city approximately 3,000 euros (about $4,000) a day which is used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome’s neediest citizens.
We stayed at the fountain long enough to enjoy delicious pannini and a gelato, then headed toward the Pantheon. It’s not far from Trevi but the dead end streets and lack of reliable street signs makes navigation somewhat difficult, so it took a little while to get there. It didn’t help that there are so many huge churches and cathedrals in Rome that we couldn’t help stopping into some of them as we made our way.
The Pantheon is one of the oldest buildings in Rome that is still a functioning building. Built in 123 A.D. by Marcus Agrippa, it was said to be a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. Well, it’s still a temple—church, actually—and well worth the visit. The enormous columned portico leads into a round sanctuary with a domed ceiling. Interestingly, an open elliptical hole (oculus) in the ceiling/roof provides the building’s only light source, other than the entry doors. The oculus also lets in the rain, so the floor is slightly concave allowing water to escape through a drain in the center of the floor.
As is true of so many of Rome’s churches, the Pantheon is full of Renaissance art and sculptures that occupy a series of niches and chapels around the circumference of the interior. Fortunately, a recorded guided tour that explains all of the art and its significance made exploring this ancient building easy.
From the Pantheon, we headed toward the Piazza Navona for a snack before heading back to the Vatican. This is a fairly “touristy” but extremely popular open plaza featuring open-air restaurants, artisan and gift shops, and is topped off by a spectacular Bernini fountain. It was a nice rest before a beautiful walk along the Tiber River back to the Vatican to try and enter St. Peter’s Basilica before it closed.
This turned out to be a brilliant move. We had to cut our visit to the Vatican short due to a service in St. Peters early that morning, and waiting to enter the Basilica then would have meant 2-3 hours in line. Coming back at 5:30 p.m. we walked right in.
Words cannot describe St. Peter’s. During our visit to Rome we had visited other basilicas and churches; most of them huge, all of them beautiful. Several of them would fit inside St. Peters. The artwork and sculptures, not to mention the woodwork and various chapels made this stop worth the walk. We can only say that it is truly jaw-dropping in its extravagance.
We stopped for dinner in the Campo Di Fiori district of open air restaurants before walking, exhausted, back to our hotel. We crashed at about 10:00 p.m. with one more full day before beginning our transatlantic journey.
Until next time…get out the map!

CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan
Ship Review

Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Oct 26 to Nov 11, 2011-Rome to Galveston, TX

We began this trip with a 3-night stay in Rome, and had just a wonderful time. We booked a ½ day private tour for our group of 6, to see the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. The tour also included the hotel stay, and transfers from airport to hotel and hotel to pier, with a stop at the tiny village of Ceri on the way to Civitavecchia. The cost of the tour was worth every penny, as we got to skip the lines at the Vatican, saving at least an hour of wait-time, and our guide was knowledgeable and very good at making the best use of our time.

We’d been on the Mariner twice before, and were looking forward to being aboard her again. She’s a beautiful ship, and has been well maintained. Still very clean and looking new.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Our stateroom was a category D1, mid-ship on deck 7. Great location; and the room was very well laid out, with plenty of room for two. We found that the closet and drawer space offered plenty of room for everything we’d packed for a 16-night cruise. The bathroom is small but arranged nicely, and the balcony was in good shape. Our room attendant was very professional, and very good at his job, and when we asked for anything it was provided quickly. The bed was a bit firm, but he delivered a foam egg-crate pad and it made it quite comfortable. Our only criticism of Royal Caribbean’s staterooms is the fact that they’ve stopped providing the nice soaps and shampoos that they used to, unless you’re booked in a higher category.

FOOD

First of all, whoever dreamed up My Time dining was on something stronger than water. Most people think that My Time dining means that you show up at the dining room when you are hungry, and you get to sit down and eat (did NCL spoil us?). WRONG. My Time means that you choose a time other than Main or Late, but you must make a reservation, and you’re stuck with that table and that time for the whole cruise. Well, since we were going to be on a 16-night cruise, and we are somewhat stubborn, we refused to make reservations. We only had a long wait the first night, and a couple of other nights when all 6 of us wanted to sit together. Otherwise, the Maitre d’ soon learned that we would not be forced into the same time every night, he chilled out and had us seated rather quickly. He did take some MAJOR grief from a lot of other guests about the weird system, one woman claiming she’d have his job. We were really tempted to ask her if she knew how hard she’d have to work for very little money, but we restrained ourselves. My Time dining is a system with a very limited appeal, and we think RCI should really re-think this dining system.

Overall, we felt that the food was only average. There were a few items on the dinner buffet that were above average, and sadly, most meals in the buffet were actually better than what was served in the dining room. We had a couple of really good meals in the dining room, but overall, dining in the main dining room was a disappointment. Breakfasts and lunches in the buffet were typical, and we did not use the main dining room for any of those meals.
Chops
We celebrated our anniversary at Chops, and while the service and ambiance were very good, the food was only slightly above average, not what we’d expected.
Portofino
We took our group members to Portofino one night, and were really glad we’d booked Portofino and not Chops for this little party. The service was exceptional, even though they were very busy, and the food was exquisite! The presentation was so well done that one of our table-mates took photos of almost every course. This meal was well worth the money, and much better than our Chops experience.
Johnny Rockets
The six of us ate here, and it was much better than we’d remembered. Great, fun staff, and very good food.

ENTERTAINMENT
In a word: boring. We left almost every show early, with the exception of a slight-of-hand guy and a violinist. Their production shows were pretty unimaginative, and the talent was only so-so.
The guy at the piano bar looked kind of bored most of the time. They have a good house band, but they are pretty limited in their repertoire, and the salsa music got a little tiresome after hearing for several nights in a row.
The DJ in the Dragon’s Lair was not at all adept at reading his crowd, or was so restricted to a schedule that even if the place was busy and everyone was dancing, he’d change to hip-hop and everyone would leave. Not a lot of 20-somethings on a 16-night crossing in October.

CRUISE DIRECTOR/ACTIVITIES STAFF
Again, not great. We heard a lot of folks mention that there just wasn’t much to do, and we had 6 sea days in a row. Unless you’re into towel folding, you’d better not mind just entertaining yourself. Which was OK with us, we mostly wanted to relax and read, but others were kind of at a loss during the day.
They offered what they called “Zumba”, but the guy doing the class thought Zumba was the same as line dancing, and his English was so bad it was hard to understand him. They were also thoughtless and held the class poolside during the crossing. At least one person fell, so hard she hit her head on the deck, and many people slipped. It was not a good plan.
Overall, the activities staff lacked imagination and energy. For a 16-day crossing, they should have had a lot more planned.
They did offer Yoga and Pilates classes, but we thought they were overpriced. I would have spent hundreds if I’d taken the classes on all of the sea days.

Overall, we enjoyed the cruise, as we really wanted to see the ports and just relax the rest of the time, but we did hear a lot of people who wanted more options to keep them busy. The Mariner is still a great ship though, and I’d do this cruise again. One other thing, this ship has one of the most personable Captains we’ve ever met. He was seen all over the ship, mingling with folks and having his photo taken, and always seemed at ease and willing to chat.

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL!
December 9, 2011

http://ping.fm/gQYNX

Hello Everyone, and Happy Friday!

We’re going to be on the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas on January 21, 2012!

We just didn’t think we could make it through the winter without at least a 7-night escape from the cold, and we found a great DEAL. We’d love to meet and visit with you on this cruise, so join us! The fares are low, the itinerary is fun, and the adventure starts and ends in New Orleans!

Just think, book one night before the cruise in N’awlins, and enjoy Jazz, Blues, etouffee, oysters, jambalaya, all manner of cajun delights! Then, get up (not too early) in the morning, and have some great cafe’ au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde before you board the beautiful Voyager of the Seas. What a great way to chase away the post-holiday blahs!

Heres the itinerary:

Royal Caribbean Intl Voyager of the Seas
7-Night Western Caribbean, New Orleans R/T

Sat 01/21/12 New Orleans, Louisiana – Embarkation – 04:30 PM

Times are subject to change

Sun 01/22/12 At Sea

Mon 01/23/12 Cozumel, Mexico – Docked 07:00 AM 04:00 PM

Tue 01/24/12 Georgetown, Grand Cayman – Tendered 10:00 AM 06:00 PM

Wed 01/25/12 Falmouth, Jamaica – Docked 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Thu 01/26/12 At Sea

Fri 01/27/12 At Sea

Sat 01/28/12 New Orleans, Louisiana – Disembarkation – 07:00 AM
Times are subject to change

Scuba dive, snorkel, zip-line, hike, shop…or just do the hang at the beach. Whatever you decide, it will be warm and relaxing, and the Voyager Class flagship is beautiful and fun. We just enjoyed the Voyager’s sister, the Mariner of the Seas, and we love these ships and would love to give you a tour!

And check out these fares: Interior staterooms start at a low $429 per person, plus tax! Book an ocean view for only $529 per person, or upgrade to a balcony stateroom for a mere $749 per person! And while the promo lasts, if you’re age 55 or older, you can upgrade to a Deluxe Ocean View with Balcony at $729 PP and save $20 per person!

Don’t hesitate to call us for more information at 1-800-267-7613, or just reply to this email and let us know which category to reserve for you.

We are happy to help, and we’d love to sail with you!

Darlene & Mike Jordan
CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan

*Fares are based on double occupancy and include port fees. Gov’t tax, airfare, transfers and insurance are additional. Fares are subject to change and availability.

Ship’s registry: Bahamas

1-800-267-7613
djordan@cruiseone.com
mjordan@cruiseone.com

CruiseOne’s Cruise Give-away!
It’s back for 2011!
Be sure to visit our website:
http://ping.fm/pHits tours.com to enter! The winner will receive a 7-night cruise aboard a Carnival ship. It costs nothing to enter, why not try your luck? Enter by December 31, the winner will be announced in January. Good Luck!