To: The Cruise Master Travel Agency
www.cruisemasterwebsite.com
4001 Ferncroft Lane,Bethlehem,Pa.18020
Call Toll Free 1-800-523-8217
Solo Sailing to Alaska
By Pat Hagan, CruiseMates Singles Editor
September 24, 2004
My two favorite things to do are (1) cruising and traveling in Alaska, and (2) organized singles cruises. Recently I got the chance to do both at once, and enjoyed myself to the fullest with Ann Rotman’s group of singles on NCL’s Norwegian Star.
This was one of the best-organized singles cruises I’ve ever experienced, thanks to Ann’s boundless energy and dedication to her passengers, both before and throughout the seven-day voyage. From providing free tee shirts and bottles of wine to staying up nights to prepare the next day’s schedule and deliver it to everyone’s cabin, Ann was determined to give her group a cruise to remember.
Friendships were forged, along with plans for future cruises -- and, of course, a few romances began to blossom. Several couples were happily making plans to get together “back home” when relationships turned serious as the week passed; I even observed one couple checking out diamond rings in the ship’s Galleria shops.
We sailed from Seattle, and I flew in the day before, as did about 25 others in our group. Ann had everyone meet at my hotel--the beautiful Fairmont Olympic in the heart of Seattle—for drinks that evening, then led the way to the famed Space Needle. We enjoyed dinner at the top of this impressive landmark as the restaurant slowly revolved to offer breathtaking views of the city.
Ann’s carefully planned welcome-aboard cocktail party was such a hit for the entire group that cruise staff had to remind us it was time for dinner. And despite NCL’s freestyle cruising – i.e., anyone dines anywhere at any time -- Ann always made sure our group was seated together at an appointed hour at one place or another.
There was never a reason anyone had to be alone unless they wanted to be. Ann had events planned throughout the cruise—games, parties, and attending onboard activities as a group. Our clique was also well-balanced between male and female, with an age range from late 30s to mid-50s.
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Sawyer Glacier |
Special singles events were also hosted on several evenings during the week by the Star’s cruise staff.
Shore excursions purchased through the cruise lines have become increasingly expensive, but Ann Rotman helped our group avoid some of these costs. In each port, she had made arrangements for some kind of economical tour that we could enjoy. For instance, in Juneau the price charged by the ship for the “City and Mendenhall Glacier” tour was $45. Ann took our group ashore to the bus stop, where we paid only $5 per person for the trip. She even directed us to public libraries where we could check our e-mails for free, thus avoiding the pricey rates in the ship’s Internet café.
In Skagway, while Ann led many in our group sightseeing, I could not resist paying $175 for the chance to go horseback riding in the Yukon wilderness, and taking a canoe trip amidst the tranquility of a loon-swept lake. After our two-hour bus ride, there was still plenty of time for shopping before we sailed, but I was disappointed to see how these lovely historical port cities are becoming more like the tee shirt islands of the Caribbean, with made-in-China souvenirs.
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Skagway |
Never will I forget our day in Glacier Bay. For hours, the ship slowly turned so we could witness the full scope and splendor of glacial blue ice. Bundled up against the cold, we solo cruisers stood together on deck, sipping hot chocolate as we waited in hopes of seeing the ice “calve,” when chunks break off and hit the water with a sound like thunder. We were also thrilled to see a few bears creeping along the shore in search of the seals who darted in and out of the frigid waters.
In our last port—Victoria, B.C.—Ann had made arrangements for our group to visit the lovely Butchart Gardens and fireworks show. Victoria, with its deep roots in the traditions of the British Empire, is known for the popular ritual of high tea at numerous tea rooms in the city. The most legendary tea is served at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, where many of us enjoyed dainty sandwiches and scones with clotted cream.
Alaskan cruises and land excursions will always be my favorite things to do, but a word of advice—do not go solo. Go with an organized singles group. The ship was crowded with families, as it has become increasingly popular to gather whole clans, from grandparents to newborns, and book blocks of cabins for a family reunion cruise. I do not think someone traveling alone would have much fun, as there is no bonding outside these tight-knit families. Neither did I see many couples, married or otherwise, traveling by themselves. Hotel Director Frank Hasenwinkel also said he would not recommend the Norwegian Star for solo cruisers who are not part of an organized group.
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Glacier Bay |
Another suggestion: If you can afford it, book an outside cabin for any Alaskan cruise, but make sure it has windows. My cabin had only a porthole, which was good for letting in light but certainly not for enjoying the view. Many passengers with outside cabins told me they did not go out of their cabins the day we were in Glacier Bay, instead opting for room service so they could continually enjoy the sights. We tried to find a good observation spot in some of the public rooms.
There was much that I liked about NCL’s 2,240-passenger Norwegian Star. The ship was always clean, the crew friendly and the entertainment outstanding. I enjoyed the Italian restaurant La Trattoria, which we enjoyed immensely.
I still love Alaska, and now I love singles cruises even more, so kudos to Ann Rotman and her “Singles Cruise” adventures. She does a fabulous job from beginning to end, and I did not hear one word of complaint from anyone in our group about anything, which I really found unusual.
This singles cruise was truly fun, fun, fun in the midnight sun!
May 1,2007
Our online agency priceline.com accidentally cancelled our 4 day cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruiseline.
After watching the ship leave without us we had to arrange for a hotel and transportation back home. We finally where reimbursed
by priceline.com after weeks of waiting for our refund after they admitted to cancelling our reservations by mistake..........J.Cuadra - New York
Comment: Always go online and use your booking number to confirm your reservation with the cruise lines. Print that out and take that with you to the ship when you check in for your cruise.
Reconfirm 24 hours in advance like you would your airline reservations........The Cruise Master Agency
Sept.6,2005
Hi Paul!
We got home about 3:15 today. We had a very lovely time on the Carnival Legend. Our accommodations were great. Thanks for a great job with the booking. All went smoothly for us on Carnival and being old folks,at almost 80. Talk to you soon.
Lois and Jim Lum
Aug.4,2005
I love cruises. Been on 2 to the Caribbean,and just
absolutely love it.. There's something about waking up
in a different port each day,and looking out in the
morning and seeing all the brightly colored rooftops of
the cities..
Bonnie
Penna. USA
Nov.5,2004
Hi! Fellow Cruisers:
I can honestly say that this cruise was the highlight of my life and I will always remember all the great people I met, the warm tropical breezes and the ocean that seem to meet with the night skies twinkling with the brightest stars I ever seen. I have always told my daughters that there are only a few things people can not take from you; knowledge and wonderful memories that you make for yourself. These are two things I feel fortunate to have accomplished on this cruise. The gatherings around the pool were definitely quite interesting, especially the hairy chest contest and the scavenger hunts, which as some of you know I contributed...LOL It is my opinion that everyone deserves to be treated like the rich and famous at times in their lives. It will not be my last cruise, that's for sure. Hope every one had a safe trip home and have very happy lives.
Jaclyn from St. Louis, Mo.
To: The Cruise Master Agency Manager March 24,2005
"I have found my retirement plan!"
Sensible Old Age Care
My friend and I were on a cruise through the western
Mediterranean aboard a Princess Cruiseship. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room.
I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters and busboys all seemed very familiar with this lady. I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told she owned the cruiseline, but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back to back.
As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said, "I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises." She replied, "Yes, that' s true." I stated, "I don't understand" and she replied, without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home." (N0 pun intended).
So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old.
I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $200.00 per day. I have checked on reservations at Princess and I can get a long term discount and senior discount price of $135.00 per day. That leaves $65.00 a day for:
1. Gratuities which will only be $10 per day.
2. I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant or I can have room service (which means I can have breakfast in bed everyday of the week).
3. Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers, and shows every night.
4. They have free toothpaste and razors, and free soap and shampoo.
5. They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient. An extra $5.00 worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.
6. I will get to meet new people every 14 days!
7. TV broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No problem! They will fix everything and apologize for your inconvenience.
8. Clean sheets and towels every day and you don't even have to ask for them.
9. If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip you are on Medicare, if you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.
Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, or name where you want to go?
Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look for me in a nursing home.
Fred Urban
Bethlehem,Pa.
USA
To:
Manager/ The Cruise Master Agency April 12,1996
A friend of ours recently returned form there first cruise vacation. (Was booked somewhere else.) They dreamed about it for years. You wonder,how was it? Did they dance the nights away in black tie and formal gown? Was the week filled with elegance? NO! They replied!
They simply had booked the wrong cruise. They could have found what they were looking for on many of the New ships of today. Now they know there are many different cruise ships out there today. They certainly didn't find out from there travel agent. Now they know there are alot of travel agents out there that don't know the cruise ships they are selling. They just went to the wrong agency.
First of all the ship was OLD and the agent didn't tell them. Well perhaps the agent isn't really to blame here. Maybe the cruise lines advertising made it look new. What do you think? One has to know the ships to know whether they are NEW or OLD. So we recommend that you buy from an agency with agents who specialize in Cruise Ship Vacations. So Call an Expert! We find THE CRUISE MASTER TRAVEL AGENCY to be on top of the Cruise industry,for information,service and the best prices.
Thanks
Mr.& Mrs Lum
Easton,Pa.USA
To: Nov.24,2003 Manager/ The Cruise Master Agency
The Cruise video arrived yesterday and I've already watched it three times. Heaven only knows how many times I'll watch it before we actually get on the ship.
Thank you,
Gayle
Ohio,USA
June 6,2005
To The Cruise Master Agency
Manager
Thanks, I did receive the Monarch of the Seas /Southern Caribbean video tape. It's a great video tape,for the Southern Caribbean vacation.
Stacy Sandler
Las Vegas
USA
June 28,2005
I received the videos last week. Thank you for the very fast
delivery. I have already watched them twice.
Gayle Valencheck
Parma ,Ohio USA
