CELEBRITY ECLIPSE INAUGURAL CRUISE MIAMI NOVEMBER 13-15, 2010

WELL THE BEAUTIFUL NEW CELEBRITY ECLIPSE ARRIVED IN MIAMI FLORIDA ON NOVEMBER 13, 2011 AND WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A CABIN ON ITS TWO DAY CRUISE TO NOWHERE (OFF THE COAST OF MIAMI) TO SAMPLE WHAT THE ECLIPSE HAD TO OFFER.  THE ECLIPSE IS THE SECOND SHIP IN CELEBRITY'S NEW SOLSTICE CLASS OF CRUISE SHIPS - AND CELEBRITY HAS JUST ABOUT THE YOUNGEST FLEET OF CRUISE SHIPS SAILING TODAY.  
IT CARRIES 2850 PASSENGERS. THE CABINS ARE VERY NICELY APPOINTED - NOTE THE CURVED BOTTOM OF THE BED TO MAXIMISE THE SPACE IN THE CABINS.  SATURDAY NOV 13 WAS THE DAY THAT THE ECLIPSE ARRIVED IN MIAMI.  THE CUSTOMS CLEARANCE ON THE SHIP'S ARRIVAL TOOK FAR LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED BY CELEBRITY SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ASK TRAVEL CONSULTANTS LIKE OURSELVES TO BE THE FIRST ON BAORD - I AM PRETTY SURE THAT NONE OF OUR CLIENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THE 2 1/2 HOUR WAIT TO BOARD THE SHIP WHILE U.S. CUSTOMS CLEARED THE SHIP!

 THE SHIP IS WELL LAID OUT AND AROUND THE OUTSIDE POOL AREA THERE ARE SAILS WHICH BREAK UP THE LARGE AREA INTO SECTIONS THAT FEEL NOT SO OVERWHELMING FOR THOSE WHO PREFER SMALLER SPACES.  THERE IS ALSO A QUIET INSIDE POOL AREA WITH VERY COMFORTABLE AND CONTEMPORARY SEATING AND LOUNGES.  THE FOOD IN THE MAIN DINING ROOMS (BUFFET AND A LA CARTE) WAS EXCELLENT.  THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL SPECIALTY DINING ROOMS (FOR A SMALL EXTRA COST) WHICH I LOOKED AT AND THE MENUS WERE  COSMOPOLITAN AND INTERESTING.  THE CASINO IS LARGE (WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY WHILE I WAS ON THE SHIP BUT NOT FROM ME!) AND THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF BARS AND LOUNGES.


IN SUMMARY TERRY AND I LOVED THE SHIP AND WOULD HAVE REALLY ENJOYED A REAL CRUISE THAT WAS LONG ENOUGH TO TRY OUT ALL OF THE FACILITIES VERSUS THE TWO NIGHTS THAT WE WERE ON BOARD.  THE ECLIPSE WILL BE SAILING THE CARIBBEAN OUT OF MIAMI OVER THE WINTER AND WILL MOVE TO EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WE SPENT 2 NIGHTS IN MIAMI PRIOR TO BOARDING THE ECLIPSE - TRAVELLING FROM VANCOUVER TO MIAMI ON NOV 11 VETERANS DAY - A VERY BUSY DAY WITH EVERY FLIGHT BEING FULL AND AMERICAN AIRLINES ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO GIVE UP THEIR SEAT AND BE GIVEN A $300 CREDIT VOUCHER TO BE USED WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES DURING THE NEXT 12 MONTH PERIOD (NO - WE DID NOT GIVE UP OUR SEATS!).  WHEN WE RETURNED ON MONDAY NOV 15 THERE WAS THE SAME SITUATION WITH OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS - SO DO TAKE IT TO HEART AND BE AT THE AIRPORT EARLY FOR ANY FLIGHTS THAT YOU MIGHT BE TAKING ESPECIALLY IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS OVER THE BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON!


WE SPENT ONE AFTERNOON AT JIMBO'S BAR ON THE CANAL NORTH OF MIAMI IN DANIA.  THIS IS A REAL LOCALS' BAR, OPEN AIR WITH THATCHED PALM TREE ROOF.  THE STAFF AND LOCALS ARE FRIENDLY AND THE MUSIC A GREAT VARIETY - YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN THE ISLANDS OR ON THE FLORIDA KEYS.  THE FOOD IS BASIC AND PLENTIFUL AND A HAPPY HOUR EVERY NIGHT FROM 4 TO 7 - HOW GOOD IS THAT?  THE FRESH GRILLED MAHI MAHI BURGER WAS EXCELLENT.

WE STAYED AT THE NEWPORT BEACHSIDE HOTEL - A GREAT LOCATION WITH STORES AND RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STREET TO WALK TO, WITH BEAUTIFUL OCEANFRONT VIEWS OF THE SUNRISE AND THE ONLY PIER IN DADE COUNTY.  THE VIEWS WERE SPECTACULAR, AND THE HOTEL LOBBY AND FACILITIES EXCELLENT - BUT THE ROOM WAS DEFINITELY ART DECO 1950'S VINTAGE AND THE FURNISHINGS PRETTY TIRED!  THIS IS JUST SOUTH OF FORT LAUDERDALE SO A GOOD LOCATION FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A FEW NIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER A CRUISE (OUT OF MIAMI OR FORT LAUDERDALE) BUT WANTING A NICE QUIET BEACH AREA RATHER THAN THE FRENETIC ACTIVITY FURTHER FURTHER DOWN IN SOUTH MIAMI BEACH.  YOU WOULD NEED A CAR SINCE THE TAXI FARE TO MIAMI BEACH OR AIRPORT WOULD BE IN THE $60 RANGE EACH WAY.

SO IT WAS A VERY FAST TRIP FROM VANCOUVER TO MIAMI RETURN OVER THE WEEKEND - BUT WE TRULY DID THINK THAT FOR A LARGER CRUISE SHP THE CELEBRITY ECLIPSE WAS VERY WELL DESIGNED AND WE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY IT - ALBEIT FOR A TOTAL OF 40 HOURS!  I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TYPE OF FAST TURN AROUND TRAVELLING TO ANYONE!

NANAIMO, VANCOUVER ISLAND NOVEMBER 19-20, 2010

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE FLEW BY SEAPLANE FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST TO NANAIMO VANCOUVER ISLAND TO VISIT WITH MY SISTER SUE AND AUDREY. FRIDAY MORNING WAS COLD, AROUND 5 CELCIUS BUT THE WEATHER AND WATER WAS CALM.  CHRIS (THE PILOT WITH WESTCOAST AIR) GAVE US A BEAUTIFUL 20 MINUTE RIDE WITH A SMOOTH TAKE OFF FROM PORPOISE BAY INLET, FLYING ACROSS THE GEORGIA STRAIT BETWEEN VANCOUVER ISLAND AND THE SUNSHINE COAST AND LANDING IN NANAIMO HARBOUR.  THE WONDERFUL THING IS THAT THIS TAKES ONLY 20 MINUTES VERSUS BETWEEN 5 AND 6 HOURS IF WE GO BY FERRY, WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE 2 FERRIES IN EACH DIRECTION AND GO VIA VANCOUVER ON THE LOWER MAINLAND OF BRITISH COLUMBIA!

IF YOU HAVE NEVER TAKEN A FLIGHT ON A SEAPLANE WITH THE FLOATS IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE - FABULOUS VIEWS OVER THE GEORGIA STRAIT, CLOSE TO THE WATER SO SOMETIMES WE GET TO SEE THE KILLER WHALES (ORCAS), DOLPHINS, SEA LIONS, FISH JUMPING AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES ON THE BUSY GEORGIA STRAIT - LOG BOOMS PULLED BY TUGS, FISHING BOATS, AND THE LARGE CONTAINER SHIPS SAILING BETWEEN VANCOUVER AND ASIA.

THIS WAS A VERY SHORT VISIT - WE WERE SNEAKING IN A 24 HOUR BREAK FROM OUR BUSY SCHEDULE AT TRAVELMASTERS.  WE WENT TO MALVE HOUSE FOR AN EARLY  3 COURSE DINNER - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO VISIT NANAIMO.  AFTERWARDS WE SPENT 5 HOURS WATCHING EVEREST - THE AMAZING DISCOVERY CHANNEL MOVIE ABOUT THE 2006 ASCENT OF EVEREST, HIMALAYAS - AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

SUE, AUDREY AND JAN, ALONG WITH LINDA AND MICHELLE FROM SECHELT, CLIMBED KILIMANJARO TANZANIA THIS PAST AUGUST - SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND OUR INTEREST IN THIS EVEREST MOVIE AND THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE AND COLD.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE ON KILIMANJARO GO TO WWW.KILIMANJAROKRAWLERS.BLOGSPOT.COM

WHILE WE WERE WATCHING THE EVEREST DVD'S, THE SNOW STARTED TO FALL OUTSIDE - BY THE TIME WE WENT TO BED THERE WAS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 INCHES ON THE GROUND!

BY SATURDAY MORNING IT WAS A TRUE WINTER WONDERLAND SO WE ENJOYED OUR BREAKFAST WATCHING THE BIRDS EATING THE SEED AND SUET IN THE GARDEN, AND SEEING THE SNOW TRUCKS AND PLOWS ON THE STREETS OUTSIDE.  AFTER A FAST SHOPPING TRIP WITH CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND DECORATIONS IN ALL THE STORES, WE HEADED OFF TO THE FOX AND HOUNDS FOR A TYPICALLY BRITISH LUNCH OF STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE AND BEER (WELL, I HAD WINE!).  THE FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE IN THIS SMALL AND COZY PUB IS EXCELLENT AND WE HEARD THAT THIS BRITISH COUPLE ARE OPENING UP A PUB, CALLED THE BLACK GOOSE,  IN PARKSVILLE ON THE WATER IN JUST ABOUT 3 WEEKS TIME - WE SHALL DEFINITELY TRY THAT ON ONE OF OUR NEXT TRIPS TO VANCOUVER ISLAND.

WE CAUGHT THE 3:10PM SEAPLANE BACK TO SECHELT (JUST 3 PASSENGERS SO A COUPLE OF EMPTY SEATS) AND BY 4PM WE WERE BACK AT HOME AND WORKING ON THE COMPUTER LOOKING AFTER TRAVEL PLANS FOR OUR CLIENTS.  WE ARRIVED TO SUNSHINE IN SECHELT BUT THE SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS WAS VERY LOW DOWN ALMSOT TO SEA LEVEL - SEE THE PHOTO ABOVE TAKEN WHEN WE ARRIVED.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A QUICK BREAK - NANAIMO IS A GREAT PLACE TO GO.  YOU CAN TAKE THE SEAPLANE FROM SECHELT (AND VANCOUVER) AND IN JUST 20 MINUTES BE ENJOYING A BREAK AWAY.