Overview

There are giants in any business. And there are smaller players. The port of Floro is not one of the main Norwegian cruise ports. One could rather say the opposite is true. The geographic location of this Norwegian David is interesting, though. To the south is Bergen; to the north is Alesund – two Goliaths among Norwegian cruise ports. Can David compare, one might wonder. And does he have to?

A definite plus for our David is his personality. In a world where character counts, the fact that this small town has been recognised as the most charming in Norway must no doubt be considered a big plus. Floro’s 8,500 inhabitants clearly endeavour having a pleasant climate between each other, when not working in the fish industry, building ships or looking after equipment for the offshore oil industry (Norway is one of the world’s major producers of oil and natural gas).

Floro for Cruise Passengers

Cruise ships dock some 0.45 miles/700 meters from the town centre. Maps of the town are available on disembarkation.

Do Not Miss

Shore Excursions

Various shore excursions can be available in Floro and the surrounding region. Examples include:

• Coach tours of Floro and the town’s immediate surroundings, including the Brandsoyasen viewpoint (a popular recreational area for local inhabitants). These tours can be followed by drives to nearby attractions, such as Naustdal, with the Black Friday Museum (see above) and the scenic Fordefjord.
• The island of Kinn, with the legendary Kinn Church, is a popular shore excursion from Floro (see above under Do Not Miss).
• Experience three of the most westerly lighthouses in Norway on a lighthouse safari.

Getting Further

Oslo, Norway’s capital, is 320 miles/515 kilometers away. The nearest big city is Bergen, 145 miles/234 kilometers from Floro.

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On many cruise ships there are alternative dining venues, most of which have a surcharge, but are often well worth the extra cash. Celebrity has just come out with Qzine for its new ship, Eclipse. We hear that $30 will get you an unbelievably unique dining experience.

You may want to dine in a reservations-only restaurant on one night of your cruise, and take advantage of the no-additional-charge restaurants for your other meals. Following are a few suggestions for making those dining experiences extra special.

1. Check your table assignment when you board. Then go to the allocated dining room and see if that table location is to your liking. If not, see the Maitre d’ to change it.
2. For groups, round tables are better than long tables for promoting conversation.
3. Some ships have “anytime seating,” and lines can, and do form. Explain to the Maitre d’ that you plan to be there at a specific time each night, and see if he will save you a table. You also need to tell him, in advance, the nights you won’t be there.
4. Ask your server’s name, remember it, and use it when you speak with him. You’ll get more personal attention. Find out where your server is from and learn “hello,” please” and “thank you” in his language.
5. Ask the waiter’s opinion about the best offerings on the menu. This is especially worthwhile at later seatings. He’s seen what goes back to the kitchen uneaten.
6. Some menus list appetizer, soup and/or salad in the same category. You can have one, or all if you want.
7. Even if I’m at a table for six, I try not to sit in the same place each dinner. Helps promote conversation.
8. Don’t want to be in formal wear? These days most Lido dining areas serve good dinner fare at nicely set tables.
9. Don’t be afraid to move if you are not comfortable being with the same group the entire cruise. My wife and I were at a table for six on a world cruise. One of our table mates would not let anyone order until she had shown the crafts she had made that day. This was a 100 night cruise. Nice lady, but we moved our table assignment.
10. If there’s ever a problem with which you need help, point it out to the dining room captain for your area.

Bon appétit!

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But back to the present and another place on the list: Tahiti.  The other day, we had a visit from the executive team at Paul Gauguin cruises.  They operate the best known and most popular cruise ship in Tahiti and the surrounding area.  During some discussions, the topic of flying time came up.  They confirmed that they believe that most Americans think Tahiti is a 14 hour or longer flight from the West coast.  And that often becomes the main reason that people forego a cruise to one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

Here’s a pleasant surprise.  As the Paul Gauguin cruise people put it, “Tahiti is just over 8 hours from Los Angeles.  Think of it as one movie and a couple of beverages farther than Hawaii.”  I never considered it that way before.  While I have never met anyone who truly loves long distance flying, the fact that Tahiti is 8+ hours from LA vs. 14 is great.  The PG folks said that travelers to the ship from the Midwest or East Coast generally arrive in Los Angeles the day before and stay over at an airport hotel. Then they hop the non-stop Air Tahiti Nui flight to Papeete and their cruise.

Now that we have the “it’s too far” question resolved, why not take a look at the great programs that Paul Gauguin cruises has available.  Here’s a quick link to find more information about the cruise line and below are details on a two week sale going on now.  http://www.icruise.com/cruise-lines/paul-gauguin-cruises.html FREE AIRFARE FROM LA IS INCLUDED IN THIS SALE.

Paul Gauguin Cruises kicked off a two-week sale that raised the savings on ‘Tahiti & the Society Islands’ seven-night voyages. For bookings by March 5, customers can save an extra $700 to $4,200 per person from previously advertised fares on select departures. Plus, free airfare from Los Angeles applies.

For the April 30 and May 7 sailings, prices now start at $3,447 per person, reduced from $4,147. The June 4 and 11, Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 departures are now priced starting at $3,647, down from $4,397.

And the price of the July 9 and 23 and Aug. 20 cruises now starts at $3,697, reduced from $4,497.

Don’t wait.  Add a Tahiti and South Pacific cruise to your bucket list today.  One call to your iCruise Tahiti expert can start you on your way to the cruise of lifetime.

Norwegian Cruise Line has completed the first phase of enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay, its 250-acre private island in the Bahamas. On Feb. 3, the company opened the new marina and dining facility on the island, representing a milestone in the more than $20 million enhancement project currently underway.

The marina basin has four docks for the island’s tenders. The new 8,500-square-foot dining facility has two bars and four picnic pavilions.

“Both the new marina and the dining facility greatly enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay which is our second busiest port of call this year,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL president and CEO. “By moving the tenders’ arrival to the marina and away from the beach, we have now opened up a great expanse of beachfront for our guests to enjoy and relax. We’ve also built a new large dining facility that is similar to the action station restaurants we have on board our Freestyle Cruising ships.”

The marina is approximately 12 feet deep at low water and is home to the island’s four tenders. It took more than eight months to excavate the basin and the entrance channel.

The dining facility includes a central pizza-making station, two grills, hot and cold food stations, as well as fresh fruits and breads. There are two full bars on either side of the facility. The four pavilions, each more than 1800 square feet, offer picnic tables with a total seating capacity for more than 500 guests.

Enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay have been underway since January 2010 and will continue through the end of this year. Several new island activities have been added since the project began including more than 16 WaveRunners, kayak rentals and an eco-adventure boat tour around the island. These are in addition to the existing snorkeling, floats, inflatable hippo slide and parasailing.

The second phase includes an arrival/departure pavilion, additional bar facilities, several comfort stations, a band stand, cruise program activity area, private beachfront cabanas, a kids play area, straw market and beach volleyball courts. The beachfront will continue to be expanded on the island’s west end.

NCL has owned the island since 1977 when it became the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl regularly call on Great Stirrup Cay throughout the year.

Visit iCruise.com or call a personal cruise expert at 1-800-iCruise (800) 427-8473 for more information on NCL cruises.

Oceania is known as a “Deluxe-Premium Class” cruise line and operates a fleet of 4 ships including the brand new Marina.  In addition to the special Cruise Combos using the Regatta, iCruise.com also features special pricing and amenities on select sailings throughout the entire fleet.  Offers include ship board credits, free airfare, shore excursion credits and more.  More information on Oceania Cruises is available calling 1-800-iCruise (800-427-8473) or by visiting the iCruise website at http://www.icruise.com/cruise-lines/oceania-cruises.html

DELRAY BEACH, FL – JANUARY 26, 2011 – Norwegian Cruise Line has named WMPH Vacations based in Delray Beach, Florida its 2010 Retail Travel Agency of the Year. WMPH was chosen for their continued commitment to the success of Norwegian Cruise Line, along with their ability to grow sales. The agency is also a member of the line’s President’s Club Elite comprised of the top performing travel partners.

“Our travel partners are critical to our success so it’s important for us to show how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to WMPH,” said Camille Olivere, Norwegian Cruise Line’s vice president of sales.  “In 2010, we took Freestyle Cruising to the next level with the introduction of Norwegian Epic. All of our travel partners embraced not only our new ship, but our entire fleet and all the freedom and flexibility we offer. We look forward to working with them closely in 2011.”

WMPH Vacations co-president Don Walker commented, “We enjoy a close working relationship with NCL and are honored to receive this award.  Together, we have forged an excellent partnership since the inception of WMPH and believe this mutual effort has contributed greatly to our track record of consistent year over year NCL sales growth.”

About WMPH Vacations: WMPH Vacations, is an award-winning global cruise and travel retail company headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida.  WMPH operates www.iCruise.com, www.CruiseCheap.com, www.EuropeCruises.com , www.AlaskaCruises.com and www.HawaiiCruiseOutlet.com

Binder has continued posting images of the brand’s first newbuild, delivered on Wednesday by Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard. The latest shots show one of the 2,500-square-foot owner’s suites with furnishings by Ralph Lauren Home. Details include a baby grand piano in the foyer, faux zebra skin accents and a mahogany bar with bar stools of ivory leather and chrome. Earlier images depict the water wall of the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the teak pool area, La Reserve by Wine Spectator and what Oceania is calling the ‘Ultimate Chef’s Table,’ the centerpiece of Privée, an eight-seat private dining room where the menu degustation offers such delicacies as truffle panna cotta with king crab legs, duck foie gras and Kobe beef.

Binder has also posted menus from some of Marina’s 10 restaurants, including Red Ginger and Jacques, the first sea-going bistro by master chef Jacques Pépin.

The images and menus are at www.oceaniacruisesblog.com.  Reservations and more information is available from the cruise experts at www.iCruise.com or by calling (800) iCruise   (800) 427-8473.

It’s always a good idea to consider the all-in estimated cost of your cruise vacation when selecting a cruise line. And, in some cases, a luxury line may represent the best value. A major consumer cruise site, Cruise Critic, recently did just this by comparing a Regent Seven Seas Alaska cruise with a comparable stateroom and itinerary on Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium. The results re-published below show a surprising result. By way of caution, it is almost impossible to do a true “apples to apples” comparison due to variations in the size of the ships and relative amenities available. But this is a good way to identify some great values and your personal cruise specialist can help guide you to the best purchase decisions.

With three days at sea and three days in port (Costa Maya, Roatan, and
Cozumel), there was plenty of time to enjoy all of the ship’s facilities. For the
Caribbean, it was quite chilly, with daytime highs mostly in the very breezy 70s,
so the pool facilities never did get overcrowded; conversely, inside events, such
as a midday movie screening on the two-deck-high atrium video screen, were
very heavily attended.

It all ran exceptionally smoothly. Two of the options that sell out quickly,
partially due to limited seats, are the Teppanyaki Restaurant and the Cirque
Dreams/Dinner show. The latter was sold out for every performance by the first
day of the cruise, even with the recent price increase. I noticed the food has
significantly improved since the original menu.

NCL says all guests are able to book reservations up to 45 days prior to the
cruise by going online or by calling. The entertainment that can be prebooked
ranges from Blue Man Group to Nickelodeon Breakfast to Murder Mystery.
Guests are also able to prebook dinner reservations in any of the specialty
restaurants as well as shore excursions.

Reservations can also be made onboard by calling or visiting the box office,
various restaurants (there are also host stands stationed throughout the ship to
take dining reservations), or through the interactive reservation system on the
stateroom television. Reservations can be made any day of the cruise. I found
the stateroom television booking system easy to follow.

One evening around 7ish, I stopped at the Manhattan Room when I saw a lot
of folks milling about. I checked in at the podium (there are three active at peak
times) to see what the waiting time was for a table for two. I was told it would be
15-20 minutes for those without reservations; not bad for a small table at prime
time, especially since there would also be live music. Those with reservations
were seated immediately. At the same time, there was no waiting at the Taste
Restaurant. Neither of these two spots has an extra fee.

The dining options typify the Freestyle experience. Those passengers who
like everything planned out ahead of time can do so. Those who are a little less
regulated can book that first night after they’ve scoped out the venues, and those
who like to play it by ear will still have options open to them.

For instance, there were plenty of no-shows for many of the events, so
guests willing to take a chance can just show up close to show time to see if
there’s room. Fellow cruisers I chatted with did this on various evenings for Blue
Man Group, Legends, and Second City and had no problem getting in. The seats
were not near the front, but none of the show lounges are that big, and there are
no obstructive pillars for the main seating area of the Epic Theater.

Those worried about making changes to reservations needn’t worry. Cruisers
have up to two days prior to sailing to change their reservations; otherwise, they
can do it onboard. Agents booking groups also can make reservations up to 50
days prior. At 50 days, the group must guarantee the space if it is a show with a
charge, like Cirque. For their more anxious individual guests, agents can provide
a valuable service booking the more popular venues in advance.

The offer applies to active personnel currently serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves, Canadian National Defense. Military verification is required.

Retired personnel is defined as enlisted personnel or officers with a minimum of 20 years of service, medically retired or 100 percent disabled. Required is a blue or tan uniformed ID card or Canadian white N.D. 21 ID card.

The offer also includes veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of two years or six months in an active war zone in any of the U.S. service divisions or Canadian National Defense. Required is DD 214 plus current photo ID.

The onboard credit is $50 for cruises six days or less, $100 for cruises of seven to 13 days, or $250 for cruises of 14 days or longer.

To request the military personnel onboard credit, eligible persons should apply no later than 2 weeks prior to the cruise departure date. Passenger and sailing information should be accompanied by proof of eligibility and provided to your personal cruise and vacation expert at www.iCruise.com. For more information, call 800-iCruise or visit www.iCruise.com Other major cruise lines that offer military fares are Carnival, NCL, Holland America and Royal Caribbean.