Posts from the “Cruises” Category
Why is Alaska an excellent choice for singles?
Contributed by Michael Katz, STI Concierge and Professional Dance Instructor for Singles
One of my favorite itineraries of all time, for singles cruises, is Alaska! Having been there 5+ times, I’ve yet to get tired of being close to a real glacier with blue ice, watching eagles, whales, seals, and bears (oh my!) in their natural environment. Pictures can do no justice to actually being there. On August 31st, it will be my pleasure to once again lead another STI adventure aboard the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas through the Inner Passage to Jeanuau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Victoria, Canada.
Our adventure starts in Seattle, Washington a day before the cruise. During the day, if you’ve never been up the SPACE NEEDLE, been to the downtown PIKE PLACE MARKET, or seen the EMP ROCK N’ ROLL MUSEUM (Great Jimi Hendrix Exhibit), this is a great place to start! At night, we officially kick things off with our traditional STI Pre Cruise Party!
The next day, it is on to Alaska. As our ship sails up the Inner Passage, you will most likely experience one of the most beautiful sun sets that you’ve ever seen. As the air gets colder, it creates a mist and fog and as the sun cuts through this, you will get some amazing photo’s! Speaking of cold, August/September tends to be the warmest time of the year in Alaska, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees.
Our first port in Alaska is its capital, Juneau. Here is where you will get your first taste of the beauty and uniqueness of this state. There’s no better way to get around to see the sights then on STI’ s Shoretrips excursions. Choose from a Whale Watching tour, which includes Mendenhall Glacier, take a helicopter ride which is an awesome way to see Juneau and land on a glacier, or take an authentic dog sled ride, with real Alaskan Huskies. Yes, they really do have two different colored eyes! Finally, no day in Juneau would be complete without a trip to the Red Dog Saloon! Here, you will be entertained by a raunchy but very friendly piano player, and enjoy some local lager from the bar.
Our second stop, is scenic Skagway. Here, there are many ways to see the sights. Try a bicycle, kayak, or hiking tour. Or take the White Pass Scenic Railroad. This is highly recommended and lets you experience what it was like to take a trip on an authentic railroad from the old days! Passengers are allowed to ride in between the cars for a breathtaking view coming down the mountain.
Our next stop is a visit to the Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier. This actually takes place on the cruise ship with a narrative from an official Park Ranger. If you have never seen blue ice up and close, get your cameras ready. The picture featured here was actually taken by myself from an earlier trip and is one of my favorite all time travel shots! You might even get a chance to hear a thunderous piece of the glacier break off (aka calving)!! BTW-Seals and wildlife included!
Our final stop is to Victoria, Canada. This port offers the perfect end to a great trip, with its beautiful botanical gardens and another fabulous whale watching tour.
I am really looking forward to seeing Alaska again, and in case I didn’t mention it, in addition to all the spectacular scenery, we have planned a lot of activities to help our members meet and mingle such as STI dance academy lessons, theme parties and get together’s everyday to keep the party going! So if you only have 7 days for vacation, we’ll fill it with more than you might imagine. You’ll feel rejuvenated and return home with new friends and a whole new perspective.
Don’t delay, book your once in a lifetime Alaska Adventure today! See you there!
Click here to find out more: http://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/140-alaska-cruise-adventure
Ode to Singles Travel International
Written by member Artie L. from Chicago, IL and presented to Tammy, President of STI, on the Hawaii Five-O Birthday Bash Cruise to celebrate her 50th Birthday.
I’ve traveled with STI both far and near,
Always plenty of wine and maybe a little beer.
There were people from all corners, seeking fun in paradise.
New friends numbered many, and were always so nice,
Whether by plane, ocean liner or even a bus
The arrangements were perfect, at least for most of us.
There was food in the Big Easy, Chicago blues, and pub crawls in Key West.
But it’s darn tough to recall which one was the best.
And who could forget, anticipating the cruise in December
seeing old friends plus seeking, new adventures to remember.
There was Nurse Maggie, Loretta and Pauley D
And Christine and Linda and perky Janice T.
But I’ll never forget the wild trip to “Sin City”,
Where I met a special lady, who was much more than just pretty.
So as we celebrate your birthday in the Hawaiian sun
I’ll remember all the great times, new friends and loads of fun.
Because when it comes to travel, adventure and play,
You can always rely on Tammy and the STI way.
Happy 50th Birthday
April 3, 2012
Love Artie
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Thank you Artie and all of our beloved members who traveled to Hawaii with me to celebrate. What a great time we had…again!
So You’re Single and Over 50?
Contributed by Michael Katz, STI Concierge and Professional Dance Instructor for Singles
They say that today, 50’s is the new 30’s! Well, considering that on our last singles cruise for 50+, we were on an 18 deck, 4,100 passenger Cruise Ship as long as some buildings in NYC are tall, I can believe that! On a ship this big, sometimes you have to travel a little to get from one activity to another, sometimes from the front of the ship to the back, sometimes from to bottom deck to the top, sometimes both!! That didn’t seem to slow my troopers down one bit! They were just as happy to fill up my dance class, boogieing to the CUPIDS SHUFFLE, or head up to the pool bar for a sail away party, or STI T Shirt contest, or put on a Pirates, or 70’s outfit for our special themed parties at a mid ship bar. Full house every time! At night after dinner, no one was heading to sleepy land. Instead, we marched to the Blue Man Group one night, Headliner Show another night, or Legends in Concert in the main theatre. Without direction, they would hold an entire row for our 37 cruisers! One night, after the show, when you think they might be ready to call it a day, they all headed up to the party deck for NCL’s Hot White Party. Whooo Hoooo!!!!
The NCL Epic is a single cruiser’s dream come true at any age. Everyone appreciated the affordable (no single supplement) Studio cabins in the center of Decks 11, and 12, perfect for the single traveler. It was not unusual to find some of my group in the Studio Lounge, a great place to meet for coffee, tea, water, cookies, or an adult beverage. Lounge chairs and tables with 2 HD televisions are there for your convenience. We dined every night in a fabulous dining room with a live band. I was very proud of my STI Dance Academy crew who didn’t hesitate to spin around the dance floor during their meal in the classy Manhattan Dining Room. Sometimes, we had up to 10 couples grooving to the music! As a dance instructor, this was very inspiring! One evening after dinner, I took ten cruisers to the ICE BAR….20 minutes in a bar that has an average temperature of 17 degrees, complete with polar bear ice sculptures and exotic drinks in an ice glass! On other evenings, we danced the night away in the Jazz Club with a fabulous live band. This was a popular place with our group to say the least!
Whew, I am exhausted just telling you about it! I have been a coordinator with a lot of groups, and I have to say this group kept up and possibly outdid a lot of groups a lot younger than they were. I think it is safe to say that today, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s STI cruisers are proving that age is just a number, as they are getting out there and having a blast! By the way, one of our most energetic cruisers in our group was Hank. Oh yeah, he is 84 years young!
See how much fun we had aboard the Epic!
https://www.facebook.com/SinglesTravel?ref=name#!/media/set/?set=a.10150685411806095.455958.160159991094&type=3
Travel, Connect & Grow
It all started with the themes and costumes when members began to do funny or crazy things that I never expected based on my first impression. The best example was nearly 18 years ago, during one of our first cruises when Ron, a mild mannered man, somewhat quiet, wearing glasses and slightly balding, turned into the funniest female impersonator during our first Ms. Singles Travel beauty contest as one the 4 male to female contestants names “Shirley”. Ron not only came alive in the part but was the hit of the event and the laughter in our show room drew cruisers from all over to watch and participate. Ron was no longer a wall flower but the star of the cruise! His ability to take a risk and let his hair down was an inspiration to many.
In our day-to-day lives, we interact with people at home and work who have already judged us and think they know who we are based on our relationships and the past. Those views of us, often keep us in our place, so to speak, and inhibit our creativity or our ability to pursue the real you. Some of us even hear critical comments such as, “you could not”, “you would never be able”, and “it’s not like you to” and so on. Our friends and family truly believe that their “constructive” criticism is to help us when all we really need is a loving and supportive platform to discover who we are and how we want to live our lives.
Stop right now and think about what you do for a living. Did you really choose it for yourself? Reflect on the times and circumstances that lead you to your decision and whether or not it was a pure decision based on your passions or persuaded by someone else close to you.
A place and time free from being judged and with new people that take you for face value without any previous ideas about whom you are make a fertile ground for discovering who you really are deep inside. This is the first step toward healing and personal growth.
Now picture an exotic location with people that may seem to have a similar interest in travel or the destination and are also single, have come all by themselves and come with a long and rich, yet sometimes painful history of their past. I promise that every one of them took great pains to decide whether or not this was the right move for them. Can I afford it, will I be accepted/rejected, will I meet someone, will I get to do everything on my list, and will I fit into that dress /those pants by the time I go? But decide you did and that is half the battle.
Add to that, a team of staffers who are excitedly anticipating your arrival with a weeklong list of fun things for you to try and do, or not. A smiling concierge team trained to watch for the slightest hesitation and provide the support and encouragement to help you overcome it. There is no pressure to perform or participate, but just be you.
For some it takes a few days, others, the entire week. But sooner or later, one connection after the other with the “happy” people that you meet on vacation, you’ll discover that you are not alone and that there are others that truly care about finding out more about you and who you are. People who can’t wait to be entertained by your piano playing, hear about how you like to spend your free time, or learn the same dance so that you can both try it out after dinner. Such an accepting environment is created by the people around you. The more connections the better the vibes and the easier it is to cast aside all the “images” and “misperceptions” of YOU and let your hair hang loose. The best part of all is that there is little risk to fail, because at the end of the trip, you go home and you are your same ole self. But maybe not, perhaps this is just the beginning of the new you. More likely, you’ll have made some new friends and learned something new about yourself. Most likely, you’ll have the time of your life!
Antarctic Blast for Singles
Is Antarcitca for solo cruisers? We think so, especially if you want to expand your horizons and do something different that very few people ever have a chance to do. But it’s not for everyone and we’ve listed some tips as well as Dos and Don’ts from excerpts of an article from Cruise Critic. There are choices to be made and it really boils down to your personality, sense of adventure and physical ability.
Singles Travel International will embark on a cruise to Antarctica in January, 2013 and we’ve done our homework. In addition, STI guarantees to find you a roommate match, which shaves thousands off of your vacation.
-Excerpts from an article by Lynn Seldon for Cruise Critic
Antarctica– a k a “The White Continent” — may very well be the last frontier for cruise travelers. Don’t get us wrong — it’s a big destination, but we mean that in the most literal sense, with hundreds of thousands of penguins and icebergs that dwarf even the largest of mega-ships. Still, fewer than 20,000 cruise passengers make it ontoAntarcticaannually, and it’s often a once-in-a-lifetime notch in a cruiser’s belt.
Quite simply, Antarctica is unlike any other cruise destination in the world, and choosing and planning anAntarcticacruise is also unlike anything else a cruise traveler — veteran or novice — will face. The reasons for this include the distance to the port of embarkation (typically more than 12 hours of flying time), possibly harsh weather conditions at sea and on land, and non-traditional ports of call — you won’t find duty-free shopping centers on Antarctica.
More so than any other cruise destination, choosing the right line, ship and itinerary is the key to an enjoyable Antarctica experience. The style and size of the line and ship (from casual to relatively formal and from very soft adventure to hardcore) will greatly influence a cruiser’s experience inAntarctica. For example, mainstream cruisers looking to try something new might find the comprehensive experience onboard Hurtigruten’s ships an easy transition, whereas Antarctica veterans or adventurers looking for total immersion might choose to swim in a thermally heated spring or hike on South Georgia with Intrav’s Clipper Adventurer.
Here are a couple of key facts to know about visiting Antarctica:
Located in the Southern Hemisphere (and how! It’s just about as far south as you can go), Antarctica’s summer occurs during our winter. On theAntarctic Peninsula(where a large majority of ships go), temperatures generally range from 23 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and from -25 to 5 in winter. The annual cruise season runs from December until February; it generally stays light until midnight or later in summer, and visitors can expect about 20 hours of daylight a day.
As for key places to visit, Antarctica isn’t like the Caribbean, where itineraries are generally followed to the minute (when they say “All aboard” in Grand Cayman, they really mean it). In Antarctica, weather conditions often dictate whether a scheduled stop is made or bypassed for somewhere with better landing conditions. However, some possible destinations to look for in itineraries include the Antarctic Peninsula in general; HopeBay, a popular and typically calmer destination for lots of ships; Lemaire Channel (beautiful cruising); ElephantIsland; DeceptionIsland; and CoronationIsland. A bit further afield, but no less dramatic, longer cruises might include South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands and the Falkland Islands (which are both well worth the additional days at sea).
As for packing, the specific line you choose will provide advice, but some essentials include: a variety of casual clothes that you can layer (some ships do have more “formal” evenings, but Antarctica cruising is generally casual); fully waterproof rubber boots (Wal-Mart actually sells a good pair and we saw many passengers wearing them); a waterproof rain jacket; waterproof pants (worn over other pants or long underwear and needed for almost every landing); one or two sets of thermal underwear; two pairs of gloves (they will get wet); one or two pairs of sturdy sunglasses (the sun reflecting off the ice is incredibly bright — and warming!); a camera (we recommend digital so running out of film isn’t an issue) and lots of batteries; a set of mini-binoculars (carry them with you at all times); a waterproof backpack; plastic bags for added protection; sun block; and a bathing suit (for that hot tub!). Most — if not all — ships do provide a take-home parka to each passenger, so leave that heavy mink coat or huge North Face parka at home.
Here are some dos and don’ts:
Don’t be shocked by prices. Compared to most destinations, Antarctica cruises are quite expensive to run and often include many more things than typical cruises — like charter flights, pre-cruise overnights, and shore excursions. Expect to see pricing in the $250 – $500 (and more!) per person per day range — and that’s for the older, less amenity-laden ships.
Do consider a pre- or post-cruise stay inSantiago orBuenos Aires(one or two nights are often included in the package, and we wish we’d stayed in BA longer).
Do pay close attention to the packing list provided by your line, and the hints provided above. There aren’t any outdoor adventure gear stores on Antarctica.
Do take along one or more pairs of binoculars — Antarctica combines the dramatic landscapes ofAlaskawith the wildlife of the Galapagos, from towering mountains and glaciers to thousands of unique animals including — of course — lots of marching penguins!
Don’t expect the itinerary to run like clockwork: Weather can change everything (they don’t call Drake’s Passage “Drake’s Shakes” for nothing!). We actually had to skip two landings during our cruise because the crew couldn’t safely get the landing crafts into the water, much less the passengers into the landing crafts. Our hands-on captain simply explained the situation and we continued sailing. The first missed landing actually led to more time on the Antarctic Peninsula proper, and every minute there turned out to be precious.
Don’t fret if your itinerary fails to include rounding Cape Horn– many passengers find it quite anticlimactic, in that you don’t really get very close and the weather out on the deck can sometimes be quite daunting.
Do consider itineraries that feature more than a quick trip to the continent. South Georgia and the Falkland Islands are actually almost as interesting as Antarcticaproper. The wildlife found in both destinations makes it worth several days at sea, and cruisers who crave a bit of history and civilization will find the small populations living on the edge quite interesting.
Do mull over ship size quite closely. Smaller ships generally have more frequent landings on the continent. On the other hand, larger ships typically handle high seas better than small ones (but any ships venturing to Antarctica are built to withstand sometimes punishing conditions — this is not the Caribbean or evenAlaska).
Do think twice about bringing the family. Antarctica cruises simply aren’t targeted to parents or grandparents traveling with kids. Great news for singles.
We would not recommend a line or ship that simply sails near the Antarcticacoast, but never allows land exploration. That would be like looking at a menu, but never getting to order a meal. Why go that far and not march with the penguins?
There may be a few disappointments: long lines for tenders (something smaller ships don’t have) and the limited amount of time we had on land (driven by the number of passengers, but also by ecological concerns and regulations). That being said, we would discourage anyone from going to Antarctica who expects a “typical” cruise experience — stick to the other six continents if you’re looking for bustling casinos, shopping ’til you drop, or typical shore excursions.
Best Budget Line (Large Ship): Hurtigruten
Why: This popular Scandinavian line offers great value for your dollar.
Who Will Like It? Veteran cruisers that aren’t comfortable committing to one of the smaller ships and but are looking for a new destination experience.
Join fellow members from STI aboard the MS Fram in January, 2013: https://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/139-antarctic-blast-for-singles
