In cruise news, Doug will have a full report of the Oasis of the Seas not so calm Transatlantic crossing.  

With dozens of cruise lines out there -how do you know which one to pick?  We are starting a weekly series with Anne Campbell today on how to pick the perfect cruise with your interests.

They looked at me and almost simultaneously said “whats that?”

So what the heck, lets blog about it — What is a cruise to nowhere?

A cruise to nowhere is exactly how it sounds. Normally lasting two or three nights, the ship leaves port, goes into the ocean and basically spins circles while you are having a good time. A cruise to nowhere has the same amenities as a regular cruise: dining options, gaming, art shows, etc. The only difference is you are not going into a exotic port of call.

Who goes on a cruise to nowhere?

There really isn’t a direct answer for this. Folks that want to sample what a cruise ship is like, folks that don’t care about going to ports of call, or folks who just want to have a quick weekend getaway are all ideal candidate for a cruise to no where.

What kind of activities can you find on a cruise to nowhere?

Here are just a few, depending on the cruise line, the list can go on:

• Casino fun
•  Spa
•  Lido deck activities
•  Bands
• Vegas style shows
•  Fine dining
• Art shows
• Night clubs

By the end of our conversation the couple was very thankful that I took the time to explain to them what a cruise to nowhere is. I swear I should have been a travel agent! (kidding)

 What is cruise ship dining like?

If you appreciate good food then you will love cruise ship dining. Even if you don’t love food, you will still love it, there is something for everyone!

Lets start with the options:

Fine Dining: This dinner is typically a four or five course meal in a fine dining room setting. Depending on the occasion and how full the ship is, you could be sat with strangers or as a couple. The dress for this dining option is generally dress casual (depending on the cruise line) and the times are set. The fare offered usually consists of steak, seafood, and pasta. Tea and water are complimentary.

Speciality Dining: This dining option typically requires reservations and is available for a nominal fee (starting at $15). This setting is intimate and perfect for a couple wanting some rest and relaxation. Fine steak houses, seafood, and japanese restaurants typically fall within the speciality dining category. You don’t have to do it every night but its a great break from the ordinary.

Buffet: If fine dining is not your cup of tea then this is perfect for you! You will find a variety of meats, vegetables, rices, breads, and desserts. The meal time for the buffet is not set to a certain time frame and generally spans over a three hour period. You don’t have to eat in the dining room either, you can take your meal by the pool or on one of the decks. You will usually find the pizza and pasta bar in this area. Tea, lemonade, and water are complimentary.

Room Service: Last but certainly not least we have the room service. I have personally used this service quite a bit when I have had late nights in the casino. The menu consists of items like burgers, chicken wings, salads, veggies, etc. The room service is available 24 hours a day but some cruise lines charge a fee for service after midnight.

 So you see you do have lots of options when it comes to dining. You should know that soft drinks and alcohol drinks do have a charge across the whole ship….but, if you have a soda card, you are set to go and don’t have to worry about the charge for soda products.

If you have any comments, I would love to hear them.

• Book a room in the lower part of the ship and towards the center, the closer you are to the bottom of the ship, the less rocking you will experience.
• Book a smaller ship (they go into small destinations and not out in the open waters)
• Try to keep a full stomach.
• Stay out of the sun
• Pack Dramamine
• Get a pressure point wrist band — its goes back to acupuncture. There is a pressure point about an inch above your wrist.
• Easy on the booze
• Stay hydrated with water
• Eat bread/crackers to absorb the acid in your stomach
• Lay down and look at the horizon, it will give your brain a reference point to focus on
• Keep your ears clean

As you can imagine, after hearing all those he was sorry he asked, but those are some remedies that I swear by. These are just a few and I welcome your comments!!

We will be doing a radio episode on sea sickness in the near future that will answer all your questions.

I always enjoy posting questions that people pose to me about cruising because chances are if one person is asking me the questions…. many others are wondering the same thing.

Today’s questions was a good one and to my surprise I have never wrote about it.

What is Cozumel, Mexico like ?

My journey was on the Carnival Legend, a seven night trip out of Tampa, Fla. Excursions are a dime a dozen and I highly recommend going to the excursion explanation meeting that they have on board the ship so you have a better understanding of what each excursion is.

The ship pulls into port unlike most western Caribbean destinations, so its walk on and walk off without the hassle of a tender boat. When you do walk off the ship, be prepared to be hounded by taxi drivers. A side note, Cozumel, is the largest island in Mexico, extending 28 miles.

If you enjoy snorkeling or diving this place is ideal for you. We did a snorkel excursion offered on the cruise ship and had a blast. Beer, snorkeling, boating, simply heaven! If you want to just be a beach bum, there is plenty of that there too. After we did our snorkel excursion we went back to the boat, the sun will wear you out and dehydrate you.

On the walk back from the ship you will find a lot of bars and shops, make sure you stop and browse, they have all kinds of little nick knacks. If you buy booze, they will check it at the gangway and deliver it to your room on the last night.

Our table mates didn’t do an excursion but they did say they got to see the island along with some ancient ruins with a taxi and it was safe, so if an excursion is not in your budget, you have options.

Overall my experience of the island was good, I wasn’t overly impressed. You can’t beat the west Caribbean experience though: the turquoise water, drinks, and friends always make for a relaxing time.

• Anne Campbell returns with her second part of her “Saving Money at Sea” interview. 
• In cruise news we talk about just how Royal Caribbean is helping the S. Fla., recession. 
• On our cruise corner segment, Natalie, talks to us about her western caribbean trip on the Carnival Legend. 

Remember you can subscribe to our weekly podcast on i-tunes.

Anne Campbell, talks to us about things to do on Nassau, Bahamas.

News on Disneys upgrades to Castaway Cay and discounted reposititioning cruises for this fall. 

Also, cruise passenger Amanda, joins us for a review of Nassau, Bahamas from her perspective after sailing on Royal Caribbeans ”Monarch of the Seas,” out of Port Canaveral, Fla.

Be sure to check out our new episode of cruise and blog radio every Wednesday. For more information on the show, check out our show page.

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Natalie aboard the Carnival Legend.

Well I wish it was me writing this from the Carnival Legend, but im not.  I am sitting in my office however, my friend and his girlfriend are sitting on the lido deck and teasing me with pictures from their iPhones. 

This will be a seven day western caribbean cruise leaving from Tampa, FL with an itinerary of,  Fun Day At Sea ; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands ; Cozumel, Mexico ; Belize ; Isla Roatan ; Fun Day At Sea ;  back to Tampa, FL.  Right now you can’t beat the price,  about five hundred bucks out the door per person based on double occoupancy… geez I sound like the guy that talks fast on the car commercials. A nice size ship too, all 963 feet of it. No shortage of staterooms either, 1,062 of them. A passenger capacity of just over 2,100 people.

The decor on this ship is amazing. You could spend the whole week alone looking through and depicting all the artwork on the walls and in the common areas. 

Being in the media industry, one thing that sticks out the most in this ship is the main show lounge…. it is Fantastic! The best design I have seen on any ship. You can enter from decks 2, 3 or 4 and the balcony seats are very comfortable. Views from almost any seat are good. 

Those are just a couple of the things that stick out from the top of my head. I will have Matt as a guest blogger next week with his whole cruise review and on Cruise and Blog Radio next week with a full review. 

Looks like they have a nasty storm cloud over the ship.  As of last call (5:40 pm) they were still sending me pictures, I just hope he isnt on the cellular at sea network. If so, good luck with that cell phone bill next month!!