Posts from the “Caribbean” Category
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
Thanksgiving Holiday Oasis for Singles
Contributed by Michael Katz, STI Concierge and Professional Dance Instructor for Singles
You would think that after being on 50+ singles cruises, that it would take a lot to be impressed when it comes to new cruise ships! This is Michael, your STI Concierge here to report that after being on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis a number of times, I have to say….I AM IMPRESSED! How can you not be impressed with a ship that has 7 neighborhoods?
From the moment you enter the Oasis on the Promenade Deck, you are instantly transformed into a fabulous mall, with a Latin and Karaoke Club, a Pizza and Cupcake Shop, Stores galore, and a bar that is also an open elevator that takes you 2 decks up toCentral Park. Yes,Central Park, complete with real trees, grass, walking paths, an incredible Café, and 4 top notch specialty restaurants. In betweenCentral Parkand the Promenade is the Boardwalk Deck, and this is not to be missed. Care to take a Carousel Ride, have a burger at Johnny Rockets, or have lunch at the Seafood Shack? All this and more is available to you as you stroll along the Boardwalk! Not to mention 2 giant rock climbing walls, ice cream shop, and at the end of the Boardwalk, a 700 seat Aqua Theatre, which by day, you can see the sexy legs and belly flop contests, and by night, an aqua show complete with 6 divers, 4 synchronized swimmers, 2 specialty divers, and 6 acrobats!
This is just one of the fabulous shows offered on the Oasis to entertain you. Over your 7 night cruise to St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau, Bahamas, you can also see Hairspray, the Broadway Show, enjoy an incredible Ice Show in the Oasis Ice Skating Rink, go to a comedy show in a real comedy club, listen to a live jazz band in the jazz club, or dance the night away in 2 disco’s, Bolero’s Latin Club, or an outdoor party on the pool deck!
Now you may feel that this ship is too big with too many people. How many? Did I say 6400!! Wow!!! Well let me tell you that because this ship has so much to offer, you never feel like it is any more crowded than a ship with 2000 people. This is the most amazing part!
And oh, we’re not finished yet! I forgot to tell you that you can zip line across the top of the ship, ride a surf board in 2 surfing pools, play basketball, golf, relax in the best cruise spa or fitness center, the Solarium, or one of the 10 whirlpools, 2 of which overlook the ocean. You can even see a 3D Movie in the Theatre. Wow!
All this in addition to the incredible food, bars, parades, pools, and ports too! Add Thanksgiving to the menu, and you have the perfect cruise! So what are you waiting for? Join us for the best Thanksgiving cruise of all time!
http://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/114-thanksgiving-holiday-oasis
New Life on New Year’s Eve
The Singles Travel International New Year’s Eve Singles Cruise of 2010, brought together about 100 single cruisers from 28 different states and 5 countries to welcome 2011. There were as many reasons why they were there as there were states represented, all with a common reason to bond, “YEAH, I AM SINGLE, SO WHAT!” Whether it was their choice or a choice made for them didn’t matter. They were there to CELEBRATE and that we did.
For some it was true culture shock as they were new to the single life and it was their first time traveling with a singles group. I could totally relate to how they felt. Only two years ago I took my first single travel adventure with STI; a weekend jazz concert in Chicago. I remember getting to the hotel, not knowing a soul and wondering what the heck I had signed up for. I’m in a strange town, feel like I have “ALONE” tattooed on my forehead and I’m stuck here! I never did see any jazz that weekend. I was too busy running around with people I had met, touring Wrigley stadium, taking the architecture tours, bike riding…. What a great and appropriate time to embrace whatever life had thrown at me and throw it right back! I have a friend that lives in Miami that I met on this trip and now we do our own travel and social thing together.
This was a common theme I learned from people on the cruise. There were many examples of friends that had met on previous trips and had been traveling together with the travel group for years. They were the seasoned singles in the group, quite content with the freedom of single life and the camaraderie of the travel group. In both instances, they had “been there, done that” and were often the heart and soul of the party.
The benefits of traveling with a singles travel group is the loose structure that allows you to be as involved or not involved as you want to be. It’s a mix of introverts and extroverts that drive each other crazy, but it works. You can participate in the planned activities, usually always includes a happy hour, or create your own. The “Lock and Key” icebreaker on the New Year’s Eve cruise provided a great opportunity to put names to faces as the men attempted to have the right key for the ladies’ lock. While there were prizes for those with the most matches, the real gift was listening to the suggestions flitting about the room about what could happen “if your key opens my lock………, oh baby!
As I got to know the other travelers and heard their stories about why they were there…….
- newly divorced,
- just separated,
- broke up with my girlfriend,
- lost my husband a few months ago,
- Already had a husband, don’t want another one……
…it was awesome to see them leave it all behind, to become more comfortable in their own skin and to just be in the moment. Making new friends, or maybe a new love connection, it didn’t matter; the New Year brought new hope for a new life.
A cruise as described on STI’s website is a chance to “..do as you please, celebrate special occasions, see the world and make new friends. As for the cruise of NYE 2010, I say Mission Accomplished.
If you were there, what do you think??
