Mike and Darlene’s
Weekly DEAL! March 23, 2012

Good Morning Everyone, and Happy Friday!

Timing, timing, timing…If you’ve been waiting for just the right deal to come along for your vacation this year, your patience is about to pay off! Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (one of our favorites) is offering a special onboard credit and reduced deposit promotion beginning next week! WOW! That’s what they call it…a WOW sale. Bookings made on March 27 or 28 for departures after June 1 are eligible-ANY Royal Caribbean Booking!

So…we found a great one for you…read on, because the offer gets even better!

See the Caribbean from the largest cruise ship at sea!

Here’s an example of how you can use this promotion to its greatest advantage! The beautiful Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas sails all summer long (and you can use this promotion during the summer, too)…but you can save a bundle by sailing the week of September 1!
Use the Wow sale to receive $100 in onboard credit AND a reduced deposit of just $125 per person!

Here’s the itinerary…then hang on for more!

Royal Caribbean Intl
Allure of the Seas
7-Night Eastern Caribbean, Fort Lauderdale R/T
Day Date Port Arv Dep
Sun 09/02/12 Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida – Embarkation – Times are subject to change 05:00 PM
Mon 09/03/12 Nassau, Bahamas – Docked 07:00 AM 02:00 PM
Tue 09/04/12 At Sea
Wed 09/05/12 St. Thomas, USVI – Docked 09:00 AM 06:00 PM
Thu 09/06/12 Philipsburg, St. Maarten – Docked 08:00 AM 05:00 PM
Fri 09/07/12 At Sea
Sat 09/08/12 At Sea
Sun 09/09/12 Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida – Disembarkation – Times are subject to change 07:00 AM

Some of the lowest fares we’ve seen for the Allure are available for this sailing! Interiors start at just $869 per person, plus tax.
Ocean view rooms start at $969, and balconies start at just $1,249!

But…we said there was more! At CruiseOne we’re offering a sale of our own! On any booking made between March 26 and March 31 we’ll add MORE onboard credit! For example, if you book an ocean-view or balcony room on the above sailing, we’ll add $50 more in onboard credit. Book the interior and we’ll add $25. That’s in ADDITION to the $100 from Royal Caribbean!

How’s that for a DEAL? NOW are you ready to book your vacation? Give us a call today at 800-267-7613 to take advantage of these offers!
Plan a group, and you could cruise for a very reduced price! And if you have a favorite non-profit, we can put together a fund-raising cruise for you…have a great time cruising with like-minded people, and raise money for charity at the same time!*

Have a great weekend!
Mike and Darlene
7131 Dunklau Rd
Ft Garland, Colorado 81133
CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan and Associates
1-800-267-7613

*Fares include port fees, are based on double-occupancy and are subject to change and availability. Government tax of $115.79 PP are additional. Airfare, transfers and insurance are additional. This promotion is not combinable with group bookings or other onboard credit offers except as indicated above. Ship’s registry: The Bahamas.

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL March 16, 2012
CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan
1-800-267-7613

Hello Everyone, and Happy Friday!

We hope you’re all enjoying that extra hour of daylight now that Daylight Savings Time has kicked in, we know we are! That fact, and the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that will occur tomorrow, signal the start of spring and also that school will soon be out!

So, it’s time to plan the family vacation for summer!

Why not take the whole family to Alaska???

We’ve got great deals on the Norwegian Pearl, one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s great “Freestyle” ships!

If you’re on a budget, but still want to treat the kids to something special this summer, consider this great itinerary starting on June 10th in Seattle, Washington:

Norwegian Cruise Line
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, B.C. 06:00 PM 11:59 PM

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

There are so many great things to see and do on this itinerary, and the ship also provides lots of entertainment and activities for all ages.

Norwegian typically offers great discounted fares for 3rd and 4th passengers sharing a room with two full-fare guests and if you have a family, this is a great way to go!

Consider these great fares:

A family of four sharing an interior stateroom will pay $3400.28, or an average fare of only $850.07 per person! And that includes port fees and tax for all four passengers!
Book a room with an ocean view for only $3900.28, or upgrade to a balcony for four for only $5140.28. And, if you’d like to have a bit more room, you can book a mini-suite for just $5640.98 for the entire family of four!

And remember, that’s not just a room for 7 nights…it’s a room, meals, transportation, entertainment, and resort style amenities, all included in your fare!

That’s not all! If you book the Pearl sailing on June 10th, each stateroom booked will receive a $50 shipboard credit!

There’s no better time to book your summer vacation! Call us now at 1-800-267-7613. If Alaska isn’t where your family wants to go, just tell us what your dream vacation looks like, and we’ll help you tailor a trip that just fits!

What are you waiting for? We’re here to help, and we look forward to your call!
Mike and Darlene
CruiseOne

7131 Dunklau Rd
Ft Garland, Colorado 81133
CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan
1-800-267-7613
http://ping.fm/T2tUa

Fares quoted are based on quad occupancy, and include port fees and tax. Airfare, transfers and insurance are additional. Fares are subject to change and availability.

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL! 3/9/12

Hello Everyone, and Happy Friday!

We’ve been getting a lot of calls from those of you who have yet to visit our 49th State, and also from folks who’ve been there and can’t wait to go back. We took a 12-night Alaska cruise/tour with some friends several years ago, and that trip still ranks among our top 5 (and we’ve put several trips on our log since then!)

You can’t get there from here…

Anyway, that’s what we usually say when someone asks for an Alaska cruise starting from California. But, one of the great things about the cruise business is that, from time to time, the cruise lines have to move ships around to accommodate seasonal demand. This week’s DEAL highlights just one of those times.

It’s the Princess Cruise Line’s Sea Princess, sailing a unique 10-night cruise, round-trip from San Francisco on May 13, 2012. And the really cool thing about this cruise itinerary? If the May 13 date won’t work for you, you have practically the whole summer season to choose from! The Sea Princess will be sailing this 10-night round-trip from May until the end of August, 2012!

The Sea Princess will have just made a crossing from Sydney, Australia, where she’s spent our winter season in the South Pacific. She’s one of Princess Cruise Line’s “small ships”, at just under 2000 passengers, a great size for an Alaska Inside Passage cruise.

(If you’d like more information on Princess Cruise LIne’s beautiful South Pacific itineraries, call us at 1-800-267-7613!)

Princess Cruises Sea Princess
10-Night Alaska Inside Passage, San Fransico R/T

Sun 05/13/12 San Francisco, California – Embark – Times Subject to Change 04:00 PM
Mon 05/14/12 At Sea
Tue 05/15/12 At Sea
Wed 05/16/12 Juneau, Alaska 01:00 PM 09:00 PM
Thu 05/17/12 Skagway, Alaska 07:00 AM 08:00 PM
Fri 05/18/12 Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska 06:00 AM 03:00 PM
Sat 05/19/12 Ketchikan, Alaska 09:00 AM 05:00 PM
Sun 05/20/12 At Sea
Mon 05/21/12 Victoria, British Columbia 06:00 AM 02:00 PM
Tue 05/22/12 At Sea
Wed 05/23/12 San Francisco, California – Disembark – Times Subject to Change 07:00 AM

As is the case with most Alaska itineraries, the earlier or later in the year you go, the lower the fares. For May 13 interiors start at $1099 per person.

Ocean Views start at $1499 per person (non-refundable deposit)

Balconies start at $1999 per person (non-refundable deposit)

The non-refundable fares are Princess “Flash Fares” and are time-sensitive, so if you’re interested in the May 13 sail date, don’t wait, call us now at 1-800-267-7613! And since the Flash Fare requires a non-refundable deposit, we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance at time of deposit.

This is a great itinerary! You get the best of Alaska, including a visit to Glacier Bay, a stop in Victoria, BC, AND one of the best embarkation ports in America, San Francisco! Call us now at 1-800-267-7613, or simply reply to this email, and we’ll help you plan your very own unique Alaska vacation.

In the meantime, if you’d like to receive the DEAL in your inbox on Fridays, send us an email at djordan@cruiseone.com. And consider planning a group, and you could cruise for a very reduced price! And if you have a favorite non-profit, we can put together a fund-raising cruise for you…have a great time cruising with like-minded people, and raise money for charity at the same time!

Have a great weekend!
Mike and Darlene

7131 Dunklau Rd
Ft Garland, Colorado 81133
CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan and Associates
1-800-267-7613
http://ping.fm/3IZho

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL!
February 17, 2012

A different kind of warm-weather cruise!

Hello Everyone, and Happy Friday!

A lot of our clients want to take a warm-weather cruise this time of year. It’s really nice to get away and warm up for a week, and doing that on a cruise ship allows for time to relax, be pampered, enjoy great food and entertainment, AND see places you may not have visited in a while…or ever.

Explore the West Coast this time!

This week we’re featuring one of Princess Cruise Line’s beautiful ships, the Sapphire Princess. This is a great, mid-sized ship, at just under 2700 passengers. The Sapphire Princess has great features, like the fine-dining experience at Sabatini’s, several casual dining venues, and the traditional main and open seating dining rooms that offer great food and service every night. In addition to the food choices, there are several different entertainment venues, a modern gym and amazing spa, and lots of bars and lounges. In addition to all of that, the Sapphire Princess offers Movies Under the Stars, complete with blankets and popcorn, and our favorite Princess amenity, The Sanctuary! This is a place where, for a very small additional charge, you can spend the day in peace and quiet, with your own little staff to cater to your every need. If you’re looking for a place to relax, this is it!

Great Ship, beautiful itinerary!

Princess Cruise Line-Sapphire Princess
7-night Los Angeles round-trip
April 7, 2012

Sat 04/07/12 Los Angeles, California –
Embark – Times subject to change 04:00 PM

Sun 04/08/12 Santa Barbara, California
07:00 AM 06:00 PM

Mon 04/09/12 At Sea

Tue 04/10/12 San Francisco, California 07:00 AM 10:00 PM

Wed 04/11/12 At Sea

Thu 04/12/12 San Diego, California 08:00 AM 06:00 PM

Fri 04/13/12 Ensenada, Mexico 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Sat 04/14/12 Los Angeles, California –
Disembark – Times subject to change 07:00 AM

Enjoy the beautiful beaches and upscale charm of Santa Barbara.

Take a ride on a trolley-car in San Francisco, explore Chinatown, the pier areas, Alcatraz, there are so many activities and sights to enjoy in San Francisco…and we haven’t even mentioned the food!

Then, you’re off to San Diego, with more great options! Go deep-sea fishing, take in the world-class zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, or SeaWorld, there’s almost no end to the options here!

One more stop in Ensenada, Mexico, where there are beaches and shopping options, then you’re on your way back to Los Angeles.

Don’t wait, book now to take advantage of these LOW fares!

There are a limited number of interior rooms available at a very low $599 per person. And don’t even consider an ocean view… Princess is offering a time-sensitive promotion which makes a balcony stateroom a better deal than an ocean view! We can book your balcony room at only $849 per person right now, but don’t wait, we have no way to hold these fares…you must book now!

Call us at 1-800-267-7613 or respond to this email ASAP, and we’ll help you arrange all of the details so you can enjoy this beautiful, West Coast cruise.
In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend, and for those of you with a 3-day weekend, enjoy! We’ll be available on Monday-give us a call!

Fares are subject to change and availability!
Fares are based on double occupancy. Port fees are included, tax of 76.49 PP is additional. Airfare, transfers and insurance are additional.

CruiseOne
Darlene & Mike Jordan
1-800-267-7613
http://ping.fm/m3ZIr

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly Deal
February 10, 2012

Good Morning Everyone, and Happy Friday!

From time to time, we get requests from folks who want to see Alaska, but want a more active, “down and dirty” Alaskan experience. We’d like you to know that we can help fulfill those dreams too!

We have many different preferred and trusted suppliers, and can help tailor a trip to fit every activity level. We can even put together a group trip and split the activities so that some in your group can hike and photograph wildlife, explore glaciers and pristine mountain valleys, while others in your group fish for salmon, trout or halibut.

Adventure awaits!

Here are just a few samples of experiences that you could look forward to:

Your small plane flight to Bear Camp crosses the second highest tide in the world before flying past towering, glacier covered volcanoes. A landing on a private beach front wilderness in Lake Clark National Park begins your guided experience with the 60 bears of in a deluxe remote camp. You and a few others will photograph and glass the Boars, Sows and Cubs of a “Critical Bear Habitat”

Or, how about this:

Kenai Fjords National Park! Take a short hike to the face of a Glaciered finger of the Harding Ice Field. Then spend the rest of the day on Alaska’s best Marine Wildlife Cruise viewing calving Glaciers, Humpback and Killer Whales, endangered Stellar Sea Lions and prodigious numbers of Sea Birds. Return to the lodge in time for Happy Hour and dinner..

And for the angler in your family:

Giant Pacific Halibut are offshore in the waters surrounding Kenai Fjords National Park. Plumb the depths of Cook Inlet or Resurrection Bay and beyond for Halibut, Cod, Bass and Salmon while viewing glaciers, Puffins, Otters and even Whales.

Want to know more???

Call us at 1-800-267-7613. Give us your Alaska wish-list and we’ll put a package together that includes something for everyone of any age. Give your family and friends a chance to experience the Alaska most people only see on National Geographic, then come home and show off your photos… Remember, a family experience like this gives the gift of life-long memories!

In the meantime, have a great weekend, we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Mike and Darlene Jordan
7131 Dunklau Rd
Ft Garland, Colorado 81133
CruiseOne/Mike and Darlene Jordan
1-800-267-7613 http://ping.fm/Rw9BP

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL!
February 3, 2012

Get ready to pack- this is a truly a Last-Minute travel deal!

Good Morning Everyone, and Happy Friday!

We recently (last week) enjoyed a great cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, and had a wonderful time!

The Voyager’s home port right now is New Orleans, Louisiana, and what a great place to start a cruise! The locals are gearing up for Mardi Gras, there are parades and live music (from American Jazz to Zydeco) all over downtown…and the food! Beignets and Café au Lait, Etoufee, Jambalaya, Dirty Rice, Boudin, and so much more! Bon Appetite!

The Cruise DEAL:

We said get ready to pack, didn’t we? Our feature this week is the Voyager’s February 18th sailing. Why not be REALLY romantic and put a boarding pass in your Valentine card??? Then fly to N’Awlins one day early and enjoy the pre-Mardi Gras atmosphere, but get out of town before the huge crowds arrive.

Here’s the cruise itinerary-which starts with a fascinating journey from New Orleans, down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico! Huck Finn never had it so good!

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas
7-Night Western Caribbean, New Orleans R/T

Sat 02/18/12 New Orleans, Louisiana Embarkation – 04:30 PM
Times are subject to change

Sun 02/19/12 At Sea

Mon 02/20/12 Cozumel, Mexico – Docked 07:00 AM 04:00 PM

Tue 02/21/12 Georgetown, Grand Cayman – Tendered 10:00 AM 06:00 PM

Wed 02/22/12 Falmouth, Jamaica – Docked 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Thu 02/23/12 At Sea

Fri 02/24/12 At Sea

Sat 02/25/12 New Orleans, Louisiana – Disembarkation – 06:00 AM
Times are subject to change

We had a great day in Cozumel! We went to Palancar Beach, enjoyed soft sand and warm water and we had a wonderful lunch. We went to Seven-Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, and another great day was marked on the calendar. Jamaica can be a fun stop too, with Dunn’s River Falls, a heart-stopping Zip-Line adventure, (Mike went para-sailing…I never knew his eyes could open that wide!)

So you see, there’s lots to do, or you can go to the beach and do nothing at all! It’s YOUR vacation!

Fares are really good for the February 18th sailing: Interior staterooms start at just $499 per person! There are a few ocean views left (one category only) at $799 per person, and while they last, you can book a balcony stateroom for only $1009 per person. And if you’re 55 or over, you may save even more!

But don’t wait, availability is limited, and we need time to help you plan flights and hotel accommodations. Call us now at 1-800-267-7613, and Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)

The fine print:
Cruise fares are based on double occupancy and are subject to change and availability. Fares include port fees. Government tax of $67.81 PP is additional. Airfare, transfers, and insurance are additional.

Call us at 1-800-267-7613, or email us at mjordan@cruiseone.com! Then…pack!
http://ping.fm/SZrbB

Mike and Darlene’s Weekly DEAL-Jan 13, 2012

Celebrate Spring on a beautiful Princess cruise!

Good Morning Everyone, and Happy Friday!

We took a little Holiday Hiatus, but we’re back with new and exciting Weekly DEALS to start your year off right!

This week we’re focusing on Princess Cruise Lines. We’ve been reading about the new Princess ships that will be coming in 2013 and 2014, starting with the new Royal Princess. That brought back fond memories of our own Princess cruise, and we thought we’d look for a great deal on Princess, so you can all enjoy the warm, welcoming, service of Princess Cruise Line.

The itinerary:

Princess Cruises Ruby Princess Apr 8, 2012
7-Night Eastern Caribbean, Ft. Lauderdale R/T

Sun 04/08/12 Fort Lauderdale, FL – Embark – 04:00 PM (Times subject to change)

Mon 04/09/12 Princess Cays, Bahamas 09:00 AM 04:00 PM

Tue 04/10/12 At Sea

Wed 04/11/12 St. Maarten (N.A.), Leeward Islands 10:00 AM 06:00 PM

Thu 04/12/12 St. Thomas, USVI 07:00 AM 04:00 PM

Fri 04/13/12 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 01:00 PM 07:00 PM

Sat 04/14/12 At Sea

Sun 04/15/12 Fort FL Disembark – 07:00 AM (Times subject to change)

Enjoy the exclusive Princess Cays, a day of sun, fun and relaxation, either on or off the ship. This great private island day will help you slip into the “cruise-groove”; you’ll be ready to explore the great ports that will follow!

There are beaches galore and great shopping on both St. Maarten and St. Thomas, and lots of other fun things to do. Then you’ll visit laid back Grand Turk, which is followed by a glorious day at sea, one last chance to rest, relax and rejuvinate before returning home.

The DEAL:

Space is already getting a bit slim on this sail date, but the DEALs are still good, especially for Princess!

Interior staterooms start at just $604* per person!

Obstructed Ocean Views (those great unobstructed rooms are already gone) start at just $729* per person.

Book an ocean view with private verandah for only $999* per person. (this will give you a chance to plan one of Princess’ great Ultimate Balcony Dining experiences-talk about romantic!)

Plus…if you’ve sailed on Princess before, your fare could be even lower. Call us and we can check for low past-passenger rates!

The fares are great, but don’t wait too long! They are not guaranteed until booked. If you’ve been looking for a nice get-away, now’s the time to give us a call at 1-800-267-7613. We’ll help you book the stateroom type you want, and we’ll also help work out all of the details to help you enjoy a seamless, relaxing vacation.

There’s no better way to keep your outlook bright than to have something awesome to look forward to. Call us at 1-800-267-7613, and we’ll help you improve your outlook on 2012!

*Fares include port fees. Taxes of $100.51 per person are additional. Airfare, transfers, and insurance are additonal.

Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding this DEAL, or any other trip you’ve been considering. We can be reached at 1-800-267-7613, or email us at kdscruises@gojade.org, and we’ll get in touch with you as quickly as we can.

Until then, have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Darlene & Mike Jordan
CruiseOne
http://ping.fm/cSDx2
1-800-267-7613

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.