http://www.bookemdonna.com/http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/honeymoon-registryhttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/honeymoon-registryHoneymoon Gift Registry for Today’s Bride The dynamics of the typical wedding couple has changed. Let’s face it. You’ve been together for years. Some of you even live together and have everything you need for your home.  No more towels or silverware to fill-up your house, and all the crystal you ever needed has been handed down to you. But you dream of being swept away on some exotic destinatio...Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:01:54 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/new-years-eve-cruisehttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/new-years-eve-cruiseSailing on a Cruise for New Year's Eve is so much fun!  We've done it several times.  Every lounge onboard has a party going on as well as in the atrium and up on the Lido/Pool deck.  Food and Drinks everywhere!  And the good news is that no one had to be the designated driver! Just walk to your cabin whenever you're ready!  PARTY TIME was everywhere. This year New Years Eve falls on a Saturday...Wed, 04 May 2011 07:10:51 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/first-starbucks-at-seahttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/first-starbucks-at-sea ANNOUNCING THE FIRST STARBUCKS AT SEA, PLUS MORE ALLURE OF THE SEAS IN OUR ONLINE WEBISODES Royal Caribbean just announced the first and only Starbucks® at Sea, brewing soon on Allure of the Seas. Whether it's a morning cup of coffee, a decadent Caramel Macchiato, a refreshing Frappuccino® Blended Beverage, or a tempting pastry, guests will soon be able to enjoy all their favorite Starbucks tr...Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:48:04 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/testimonial-3http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/testimonial-3First of all thank you for the strawberries and shipboard credit.  They were very much appreciated.  We had a great time. We especially liked the private tours we took.  As was my sense, they were much better than the ship’s.  Jenna from Shark’s Tours in Hilo was great – it was so personal and we loved going to the farm.  We would’ve loved to have some more down time, but with it being such a p...Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:17:42 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/norwegian-epichttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/norwegian-epicI just returned from Norwegian Epic's incredible Inaugural cruise event in Miami and I couldn't wait to tell you all about it. What an amazing ship. This is Norwegian Cruise Line's newest, largest and most innovative ship and it's a good thing she offers 7-days to take in all of the of non-stop entertainment, incredible dining, activities, the Aqua Park and so much more, because guests are goin...Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:33:10 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/epic-inauguralhttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/epic-inauguralJust back from our trip on the NCL Epic. Wish we had more than two days! 21 Restaurants! So many options for entertainment. We saw the Blue Man Group and Legends in concert. But my favorite was the Second City improv show. And they make an incredible chocolate martini at O'Sheehans Irish Pub!! Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:22:54 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/ncl-epichttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/ncl-epicThe Norwegian Epic sails into the Port of Miami for the first time today about 3pm.  I have the pleasure of being invited on the pre-inaugural tomorrow for two nights.  I'm so excited to be able to see this incredible new ship.  I will follow up with details when I return.The NCL Epic has many exciting venues.  In addition to the 20 dining options they will have a tremendous amount of entertain...Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:11:23 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/my-journey-beginshttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/my-journey-beginsToday is the day I set off on a 12 day trip to Europe.  So excited!   It's been a bit crazy this week.  Watching the goings on of this Volcanic ash over Europe.  The airports are open one day and closed the next.  We are changing planes in Iceland on our way to Norway!  Woke up this morning to the news that the airport is OPEN!  YEAH!  So hopefully the winds do not change between now and 8pm to...Tue, 18 May 2010 08:05:38 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/my-europe-cruisehttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/my-europe-cruiseTrying to pack for a 10 night trip to Europe is not fun anymore.  You have keep the suitcases under 50 lbs!  I now have two suitcases.  So that's going to cost me another $100 round trip in baggage fees. Here's  some tips on packing:Color co-ordinate so you can wear several tops with the same bottoms.If traveling with a companion or spouse, divide your checked items into two suitcases. That way...Sat, 15 May 2010 19:18:07 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/newly-solsticized-celebrity-constellation-sets-sail-with-stylehttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/newly-solsticized-celebrity-constellation-sets-sail-with-style　NEWLY "SOLSTICIZED" CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION® SETS SAIL WITH STYLE First of four Millennium Class ships completes eagerly anticipated refitCelebrity Cruises coined the word "Solsticized" in January, and yesterday, the meaning behind it became reality for guests embarking on Celebrity Constellation® in Amsterdam.Following an ambitious 15-day drydock and revitalization period, Celebrity Constella...Wed, 12 May 2010 08:52:00 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/top-10-reasons-to-buy-travel-protectionhttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/top-10-reasons-to-buy-travel-protectionTop 10 Reasons to Buy Travel Protection!Whether you take one vacation a year, or travel internationally on a regular basis for your business, a good travel insurance plan will cover you for virtually every unexpected contingency. From travel delays due to bad weather or a missed connection, a lost piece of luggage, or a medical emergency in a foreign country, help is only a phone call away. TOD...Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:55:19 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/volcanic-eruption-in-icelandhttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/volcanic-eruption-in-icelandI've been getting alot of calls about the volcanic eruption in Iceland.  I got this off the Access America Travel Insurance Website .The volcanic eruption in Iceland has impacted many Access America customers traveling to and through several European countries.Please note that many airlines and travel suppliers are offering their customers change fee waivers. Please check with your supplier bef...Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:11:19 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/the-chef-s-tablehttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/the-chef-s-tableCarnival is introducing an exciting new fine dining option for our guests – The Chef’s Table.Launched as a pilot program aboard the Carnival Dream and Carnival Ecstasy and currently being rolled out to six other ships, this one-of-a-kind culinary experience includes an exquisite multi-course dinner hosted by one of the line’s master chefs along with a private cocktail reception and a personaliz...Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:44:16 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/all-cabins-the-samehttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/all-cabins-the-sameAll cabins are created the same, right?  Not so fast, world traveler.  Experienced cruisers have learned a few secrets about determining the best stateroom choices.  It’s true that most  contemporary and premium class ships being built today offer “cookie cutter” cabins that are very similar in dimension and layout.  But even if they all appear to be the same according to the deck plan, there a...Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:00:16 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/life-lessons-from-bill-gateshttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/life-lessons-from-bill-gatesLife Lessons from Bill Gates Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world. Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!Rule 2 : The world won’t care about ...Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:50:47 -0400http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/carnival-revamps-the-fascination-in-drydockhttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/carnival-revamps-the-fascination-in-drydockCarnival Cruise Lines says that its ship “Carnival Fascination re-entered service at its home port in Jacksonville, Fla., yesterday, after completing a $34 million drydock session. Upgrades include a new WaterWorks aqua park , an adults-only Serenity retreat area, newly added balconies for 98 cabins, and a renovated Lido Deck pool area. The ship will operate four- and five-day Caribbean cruises...Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:27:44 -0500http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/why-should-i-use-a-travel-agent-instead-of-shopping-onlinehttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/why-should-i-use-a-travel-agent-instead-of-shopping-onlineWhy Should I use a Travel Agent instead of shopping online?I hear this question almost every time I tell someone what I do. Or some version of that question, like "Do Travel Agents still exist?? with  the internet now??" And of course, there is the infamous, I can get a better deal going direct to the cruise line.Since I specialize on the cruise business, let’s take a look at this particular se...Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:18:46 -0500http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/perking-along-at-holland-americahttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/perking-along-at-holland-americaPerking Along at Holland AmericaHolland America Line beefed up its loyalty club with the Mariner Society Rewards Program, providing on-board discounts while sailing, special rates on select cruises and reduced or free third and fourth rates when booking future cruises.Based on past cruises recorded as cruise days, members now get Star levels and automatically collect additional cruise day credi...Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:48:32 -0500http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/oasis-of-the-seashttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/oasis-of-the-seasThis past weekend many travel agents and travel journalists, including me, finally got a chance to see Oasis of the Seas, one of the most eagerly anticipated cruise ships in recent memory. In the words of Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the vessel is a “game changer” for its mix of traditional, evolutionary and revolutionary elements. To say Oasis of the Seas is ...Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:16:34 -0500http://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/royal-protectionhttp://www.bookemdonna.com/blogPosts/view/royal-protectionRoyal Caribbean International is reminding vacationers that they can enjoy the benefits of booking early and the peace of mind of receiving the best advertised prices with the line’s Best Price Guarantee program. By booking early, vacationers have access to a much wider selection of staterooms and availability on their desired departure date. If the guest then finds a lower fare advertised by R...Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:02:55 -0500