Posts from the “Destinations” 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
Music Festival is a Perfect Weekend Getaway for Solo Travelers
Contributed by Michael Katz, Singles Travel International Concierge and Musician
There aren’t too many places in this world that have the charm, excitement, and energy of the French Quarter in New Orleans. This past weekend, they kicked it up a notch, and 38 happy campers from Singles Travel International were there to experience the sights and sounds of the FRENCH QUARTER MUSIC FESTIVAL! What a dream come true…some of the best Jambalaya, Cajun, and Creole cooking, combined with some of the best blues, jazz, and big band music scattered throughout the streets and squares of the French Quarter….Wow! We had all barely checked into our hotel the first day of the festival when we were out the door getting the party started at the LOA Bar, a classy and perfect place to have a cocktail and to get to know our new friends! From there we took a walk up Decatur Street to have dinner at Tujaques, the 2nd oldest restaurant in town. What a treat. The meal was excellent and the bread pudding for dessert was out of this world! We ended the night strolling down Bourbon Street to get an up close and personal look at the nightlife in full swing! Nothing compares to Bourbon Street with it’s variety of bars, live bands, partiers throwing beads from balconies, and people walking the street mesmerized by the spectacular audio and visual performances!
The next day we were treated to a bus tour of historical New Orleans, complete with a trip to the Oak Alley Plantation, where we took a guided tour of the grounds and mansion, and had an authentic home style southern buffet lunch. Mmmmmm good! Getting back to the hotel at mid-afternoon, it was on to the music! The group was revved up as we checked out the four sound stages at the Riverfront. The park was packed and the music was awesome! From Zydeco to Blues, to Jazz, to Cajun Jitterbug, we heard and saw it all. We then headed over to Jackson Square, where we heard original Dixieland Jazz from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band! Nice! Listening to all that good music can sure build up an appetite, so we headed to the GUMBO POT restaurant, a favorite of many in the group. Shrimp Creole, Pasta Jambalaya, and Seafood Gumbo were big hits! Another trip down Bourbon Street completed another perfect day for all!
Our final day saw many from our group going on a Swamp Tour, Cajun Cooking School Tour, and a ride up the Mississippi on the Natchez River Boat Cruise. More music in the afternoon, and then to top off our fantastic weekend, our farewell dinner was held on the second floor of the famous New Awlins Cookery right on Bourbon Street, complete with our own private balcony overlooking 100’s of party people on the street below! Whooo Hoooo!!!! Standing on the balcony, watching how much fun everyone was having, I suddenly realized how much we actually did in three days. This really is a magical place to be. Great Food, Great People, Great Time! STI did it again! Can’t wait til next year! J
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!
Are you an Adventurous Solo Traveler?
My heart is racing, as I stand at the edge of the cliff, while my Ecuadorian guide hooks me into my double harness for a “Superman” run across the Amazon rain forest. The “Superman”, a forward zip line with arms outstretched in super hero form, is not for beginners. My fellow travelers look on in envy until it’s their turn. Earlier in the day, we hiked and swam at the foot of a waterfall, not bad for just one of the action packed days on an adventure vacation.
My very first adventure trip was a multi-sport trip to Bryce, Zionand Grand Canyon where we hiked and biked our way through some of the most beautiful national parks in the US. I trained a bit before I left but was told that all skill levels would be accommodated, so I didn’t kill myself getting ready. As a regular runner, I simply added a little biking to my routine and off I went. To my surprise, the guides on our tour were not only trained adventure, naturalists, but they also prepared a mean, gourmet baked brie snack in the middle of nowhere! They carried extra water, supplies, knew the best routes for each of our abilities and were willing to pick up the pieces or boost us up into the van when we’d had it and were ready to pack it in. As a super achiever with a competitive nature, I pushed myself as hard as ever and was rewarded with a new sense of accomplishment when I repelled after the most incredible hike in theGrand Canyon.
Best of all, my brave compadres and I bonded like I’d never done before on a group tour. There was something about sharing our fears, facing them together and helping support one another to successfully navigate new horizons.
Since then, my adrenaline rushing experiences include hiking to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, biking through hillside villages of Peru, hiking the 17 mile Samaria Gorge in Crete followed by a soothing, natural hot spring mud bath, horseback riding, surfing and white water rafting in Costa Rica to name a few.
I am a city girl who loves fine dining and the conveniences of a 5-star hotel. But now, nothing gets me more excited than taking it to the limit, surrounded by good ‘ole Mother Nature, with laid back people just like me who like to take a day at a time.
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!
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