Flying Dutchmen Travel: The rest of the story

Flying Dutchmen Travel: The rest of the story

The rest of the story

Oct 18 - 21, 2009

We are all back onboard and will be enjoying a day at sea tomorrow. Most of the passengers went to see the Pyramids of Giza and stayed overnight in Cairo. Our group was delighted to find themselves staying in the brand new Fairmont Hotel that only opened 2 weeks ago. Reports were that the staff could not do enough for them! And that the rooms were stunning! Proof is that everyone took photos of the bathrooms!!

The Pyramids of Giza - During Egypt's Old Kingdom the pharaohs established a stable central government in the fertile Nile Valley. Perhaps the greatest testaments to their power were the pyramids and other tombs built to shelter them in the afterlife. Many of our group went into one of the chambers of one of the Pyramids – not for those who are claustrophobic. You cannot stand upright, you have to bend at the waste or even crouch down. Everyone was thrilled at visiting these marvels...and THRILLED at riding on a camel! The group also visited the Cairo Museum where the remains of King Tut are housed. And many thousands of other artifacts dating back thousands of years – everyone agreed a full day or more is what is really needed to do it justice. In Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt, there is an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern. My favorite view was across the Eastern Harbor to the Mediterranean. Lots of great looking beaches for people to visit – unfortunately there was not enough time for sunbathing on this excursion. What really blew my mind is the new Alexandria Library. There are over 8 million books housed there and they have stored over 70 BILLION web pages! The layout of the building is 11 stories, however, they do not reside one floor upon another, instead, they are terraced. You can stand in the viewing point and see the entire library – quite fantastic!! There is so much more to Egypt, but not enough space here. Anyone wanting to visit should email us and let us give you our take on the best possible holiday that includes Cairo, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings.

Kataklon, Crete - We took a tour from the port to the Ancient Olympia - where the original Olympics were held. Along with the original Olympic field, we saw the Temples of Zeus and Hera. After our tour of ancient Olympia, we went to the town for lunch, and a leisurely shopping stroll through town before returning to our ship. Then it was on to Naufplion, the original capitol of Greece. This is a very cosmopolitan small city with lots of winding streets filled with shops and restaurants. After the assault on our senses in Egypt (18 million people in Cairo alone! THIS is the city that never sleeps!), all agreed that this quaint seaside town was one of the favorite stops.

Athens. The city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshipped by gods and people, a magical city. It is the city where democracy was born and most of the wise men of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the world's most formidable edifices. Many of our group elected to stay a day or two in this fantastic city to visit the antiquities, mainly the imposing Parthenon, and eat and shop around the famous historic triangle called the Plaka.

I must mention the people in all of these destinations – they were all quite wonderful to us. The Turkish with their carpets; the Egyptians selling us camel rides and the Greeks just being Greek! Someone said ‘people get along, it is our governments that fight’. Other than a bit of extra jostling from the illegal vendors at the Pyramids, everyone agreed that in each country they felt welcomed. All in all, another great cruise!!

Life's A Trip!

Today we are sailing in the Mediterranean headed towards Alexandria, Egypt onboard NCL Jade. We are escorting a group of nearly 200 people that we met on Friday at the airport in Istanbul,Turkey-(Constantinople). Starting in Istanbul-- WOW, what an amazing city. Depending on whom you talk to, there are somewhere between 14 to 17 million people living within this sprawling city. There are thousands of mosques! The most famous mosque is the Blue Mosque – Sultanahmet mosque. The majority of our group took the time to visit this mosque that was built between 1609-1616. We also visited Topkapi Palace built in the 1400’s. And then there is Hagia Sophia: the most renowned Byzantine cathedral and the best–known Christian church in Istanbul. The first church of the Hagia Sophia was built between 325-361 AD and the church that stands in its place today was declared a national monument in 1934. We also visited the covered bazaar built originally in 1461 and rebuilt to its present plan of 65 streets within the market in1701. Carpets, dishes, clothing, jewelry, knick-knacks, small restaurants – it is all in there! Speaking of carpets – there are stores everywhere as this is where the carpets we still use today originated from. Istanbul’s second covered market is the Spice Market - originally built in 1660 and restored to its present structure in 1943 – the smell of the spices is delicious. However, there are more souvenir shops than spice shops located here. Still, we managed to buy a number of spices and look forward to some scrumptious meals when we get back home!

Then it was on to Izmir, Turkey. Izmir is most famous for the ruins of Ephesus. When the buses first pulled up, most wondered what was so special about these ruins. There were some pillars and large stones but nothing unusual. Our guide continued on for about 5 minutes down a dirt and stone path and then –VOILA! – there in front of us was a city! Mosaics painstakenly restored; the stone bathrooms, a library, houses, streets. All in all, amazing! There is also a 24,000 seat coliseum type stadium that both Madonna and Elton John have performed in! Back to carpets – we were taken to a school/factory where they make the famous Persian/Turkish carpets. First you are taken into a small room and then you are offered apple tea. Offering tea or something to drink is considered to be a sign of friendship. You return the sign of friendship with your Visa card…

We then sailed for Mykonos, Greece. Everyone loved the winding streets and friendly atmosphere. Some even rented motor scooters and scooted around the island to the beautiful beaches on the other side from where we docked. Most had time to walk and eat and drink and shop! And then it was on to Santorini. Oh yes, there were those that took life and limb in hand and rode the donkeys up the 400 plus stairs to Fira, the capitol of Santorini. The views from Fira and Oia are world-famous – the white washed houses against the dazzling blue of the Mediterranean. We then sailed to Iraklion, Crete. It is the largest city in Crete and 4th largest city in Greece. This is no quaint Greek city – Iraklion is a big, busy city. There is one of the most interesting archeological museums of the world located here. And did I mention ---- Starbucks! Oh yes, in Istanbul and Iraklion you can find the ever-expanding coffee company.

Now we are having a day at sea –whew! – and everyone onboard is looking forward to the next port of Alexandria, Egypt. Many passengers will be taking shore excursions to Cairo to visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Cairo Museum that houses thousands of artifacts not the least being all of the artifacts from the tomb of King Tut.

Phoenix, Arizona

Just got back from Phoenix. While the rest of the country seems to be hunkering down for brrr cold weather, it was a balmy 90degees in Phoenix. I went on business for 4 days and stayed at the Biltmore Hotel - "known throughout the world as the "Jewel of the Desert," the Arizona Biltmore provides a restful oasis of 39 acres covered with lush gardens, glistening swimming pools, and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture. Set in the heart of Phoenix, the Arizona Biltmore has been a favorite of celebrities and U.S. presidents throughout its colorful history."

WOW! is what I say about this hotel. The accomodations range from hotel rooms to one and two bedroom villas. I had the good fortune to stay in a one-bedroom villa. Bring your hiking shoes though, as this property is quite big. You can always be picked up via golf cart to be transported to the lobby and restaurants, but I opted to walk everywhere.

Dining options are good and the food was very good. Service everywhere was a 10! There are 740 guest accommodations; 78 one-and two-bedroom villas; Eight swimming pools; Seven tennis courts; A full-service resort spa, salon and fitness center and Five dining options. The adjacent Arizona Biltmore Country Club boasts two 18-hole PGA golf courses: The Links and The Adobe. I didn't get a chance to play, but I won't make that mistake the next time I stay there!

Read here for the history of this magnifent restort http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/About/History.aspx. The place is luxurious but not pretentious - my favorite kind of resort.

Looking for something relaxed but elegant with all of your needs for spa and golf and just relaxing? This is the place! Oh, by the way, they are celebrating their 80th birthday this year!

Cavallo Point - the Lodge at the Golden Gate

This weekend we had an opportunity to visit a new hotel in Sausalito at Ft Baker just across from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. I wasn’t expecting to be dazzled, but I was! The Lodge is located within the historic Fort Baker which is a national park. Having grown up in San Francisco, I had been to the other side of the park that faces out to the Pacific, but I had never been to this side before. The view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the skyline of the City are wonderful. The fog came in over and through the Bridge and slid down the mountain and covered over the Bay, but when it cleared, the view was worth waiting for.

Things to do. Cavallo Point has made sure that if all you want to do is be pampered, then it is all there for you. Their Spa is world class! I enjoyed a one hour massage that was a 10! There is a steam room and an outdoor pool and and and. The service and ambience were fabulous! There are also a number of programs – each 3 to 5 days – Adventure and Well-Being, Creative Arts and Culinary Arts. Visit these links to learn more about these exceptional programs

There is a GiGANTIC parade ground that children and dogs alike were frolicking on. Yes, you can bring your dog with you to stay at Cavallo Point! Or you can go down and walk along the beach, hop their private bus to Sausalito for some world class shopping, take the ferry to San Francisco, visit the Environmental Center that is in the park or hop in your car and drive to the Napa and Sonoma Wine Country in about 30 minutes. It is a wonderful location for a hotel.

Did I mention the dining? Their restaurant, Murray Circle, is elegant and casual at the same time. The food is exceptional. Everything I ate was so tasty! I loved my hamburger that I had for lunch in the Farley Bar (named after the late Phil Frank’s comic strip character Farley). It was not your typical hamburger, that’s for sure!

We stayed in the new part of the hotel that is located up the hill. The views are wonderful and the rooms are spacious and luxurious and have a fireplace in each one (which I loved!). The bathrooms amenities included a large tub (which I also love!).

The most important feature for me is the historic buildings that have been transformed into luxury accommodations. Great beds, organic linens and large windows that look out over the Bay. Very comfortable and cozy. The buildings were preserved wonderfully for which I am grateful. I felt like I had gone back in time and yet still had all of the modern conveniences.

And it is clear that everyone who works at Cavallo Point loves their jobs. From the fellow who drove me up to my room in the golf cart to the gal who took my order for lunch, all were friendly and gave down to earth good service.

I would highly recommend this property to my friends and clients for a unique view and experience of the San Francisco Bay, Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge. From the historic to the contemporary, this is a great place to unwind and relax.
To read more about this property, please go to http://www.cavallopoint.com/.

Alaska

13-night Explorer: Copper River Cruisetour #15S from $2,499

Princess Tours®: Diamond Princess®

Ship Tour:
Overview Statistics Activities & Services Staterooms Deckplans *NEW* Ship Reviews

13-night Explorer: Copper River Cruisetour #15S beginning in Fairbanks and ending in Vancouver.
This Cruisetour Includes:

• 6-night/7-day Land Tour featuring:


• 2-nights Fairbanks Princess LodgeSM


• 2-nights Denali Princess LodgeSM


• 2-nights Copper River Princess LodgeSM


• 7-night Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise (Whittier/Vancouver)

EXCLUSIVE AMENITIES (per couple):

• $50 Shipboard Credit

Boasting 750 private balcony staterooms and weighing 113,000 tons, the new Diamond PrincessSM is the largest and most innovative Princess vessel yet. Princess' newest gem delivers high-tech features combined with classic Princess amenities to create the next generation of Personal Choice Cruising®.

Hawaii

7-Nights Oahu, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa from $1,609 - Includes air from Los Angeles (LAX)

One of the area's most popular hotels features a magnificent tropical lobby atrium which welcomes you with lush, tropical flowers and cascading waterfalls, plus 65 unique shops, several restaurants and local entertainment.

Vacation Inclusions:

• Ocean View accommodations


• Roundtrip economy class airfare from Los Angeles


• All hotel taxes and more!
  

7 nights from $1,609 per person

Spain

13-night Transatlantic Cruise from $749

Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Gem

13-night Transatlantic Cruise sailing from Barcelona to New York.

Many of our best deals are specials that are only offered to customers in specific cities and/or states. Prices change frequently, so please call us for the best offers in your area.

New Ship - Details Coming Soon

When it comes to Freestyle Cruising, something new is definitely a good thing. Introducing Norwegian Gem. This brand new ship will offer all the things you love about NCL - all the restaurants, the bars and lounges, plus the complete disregard for watches and alarm clocks. It's the latest in the Jewel class family of ships, sister ship to Norwegian Pearl; and you'll find yourself wondering what to do next, nap, bowl a few games, get a good workout or ...whatever.

Germany

1-Night Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten from $453

Prominently located on the western side of the Inner Alster Lake shore in Germany, The Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten lies in the heart of the prime retail and commercial district.

Founded in 1897, the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten has welcomed its guests from all over the world for more than a 100 years. Ceaseless concern to offer each guest the greatest possible comfort has led to it being consistently ranked among the top hotels in the world. Few other hotels in Germany or elsewhere can match its rich blend of individuality, tradition and distinction. The public areas of the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten are furnished with a collection of exquisite 16th- and 17th-century Flemish Gobelin tapestries, baroque cupboards and Renaissance chests. This luxurious Hamburg Hotel offers a veritable treasure trove of history, luxury and elegance in one.

In addition to impeccable service and luxurious accommodation, you will find some of the best restaurants in Hamburg such as the Haerlin Restaurant, which serves classical and modern cuisine. The Lounge, at the heart of the hotel, creates a unique atmosphere of elegance and cosiness. We recommend afternoon tea in front of the fire while listening to live piano music.

Vacation Inclusions:

• Standard Room accommodations


• Full breakfast for two daily


• Welcome bottle of wine and fruits


• Complimentary internet access


• Upgrade*
  *Subject to availability at check-in
  

1 night from $453 per room

Costa Rica

7-Nights Costa Rica Eco Adventure from $1,259

7-Nights Costa Rica Eco Adventure beginning in San Jose and ending in Liberia.
Vacation Inclusions:

• Roundtrip transfers between the airport and hotels, including porterage at the airport


• Accommodations in hotels listed in twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower


• 7 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L) and 6 dinners (D); breakfast daily on beach extension


• Services of an English-speaking Tour Director throughout; local host on beach extension


• Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary including admission charges, where applicable


• Boat transfer to Tortuguero


• Hotel taxes, service charges and porterage


• Portfolio of travel documents

7 nights from $1,259 per person