Tuesday, February 19

Partial Listing for Nova Scotia Shore Excursions






  • A Walk Through History

    Join your local guide for a walking tour through Halifax history. 2 Hours

  • All Day Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Tour
    Get the low down from up high on happening historic Halifax. 1.5 Hours

  • Bachelor of Beer Arts
    Learn what it takes to make a great beer as you earn your Bachelor of Beer Arts, complete with a graduation certificate! 2.5 Hours

  • Back Road Hummer Adventure
    Hold on tight as you tame some of Halifax's back roads in your Hummer! 3 Hours

  • Canadian Tall Ship Sailing Experience
    Set sail aboard Silva, a historic and elegant tall ship for an adventure you'll never forget. 2.5 Hours

  • Fisherman's Cove
    Pay a visit to this quaint fishing village situated in one of the earliest settlements along Halifax Harbour. 3.5 Hours

  • Glen Arbour Golf Club
    This course has been designed on an exquisite piece of Nova Scotia landscape as its canvas. 5 Hours

  • Halifax & Peggy's Cove
    Experience an informative narrated tour of Halifax, including historic properties, a restored section of the waterfront, Citadel Hill and the beautiful public gardens. 3 Hours

  • Halifax by Horsedrawn Trolley
    You'll feel like you've traveled back in time as you explore historic Halifax by horse and carriage. 1.5 Hours

  • Halifax City & Harbour Duck Tour
    These amphibious vehicles were originally built for the military during the Vietnam War and have become a huge guest favorite in Halifax. 1 Hours

  • Halifax City Tour
    Travel through streets paved with history as you explore Nova Scotia's capital city. 3 Hours

  • Highlander for a Day
    As a "Soldier for a Day", you will march in the boots of one of Queen Victoria's soldiers. 3.5 Hours

  • Historic Halifax Pub Tour
    You'll have a great time discovering downtown Halifax as you visit many of the city's favorite pubs. 3 Hours

  • Horseback & Outdoor Adventure Tour
    There's plenty of fun for everyone on this multi-activity excursion. 4 Hours

  • Lobster & Lighthouses
    Get an up close look at the life of a lobsterman and three of Nova Scotia's beautiful lighthouses. 3.5 Hours

  • Lunenburg & Halifax Coastal Expedition
    Explore Lunenburg, the city has been named one of the world's few UNESCO World Heritage Sites by the United Nations and commonly known as "the prettiest town in Canada." 5 Hours

  • Nature & Whale Watch Cruise
    Enjoy a full and informative commentary as you take in the wonderful sites and wildlife along the coastlines of George's and McNab's Islands. 2.5 Hours

  • Nova Scotia Black History Tour
    Discover the Nova Scotia African connection on this Black History excursion. 3 Hours

  • Nova Scotia Fishing Adventure
    Enter the Great North Atlantic to cast lines in search of cod, haddock and Boston bluefish. 4 Hours

  • Peggy's Cove & Double Decker City Tour
    Spend the day your way, on this great combination tour of two of Halifax's most popular sights! 5 Hours

  • Peggy's Cove & Lobster Lunch
    This informative, narrated excursion of Halifax is made even better by a traditional Nova Scotia lobster lunch at a seaside chanty. 6 Hours

  • Peggy's Cove Coastal Hike & Lunch
    Do more than just visit Peggy's Cove; experience it as you explore paths and hidden lagoons along the coastal waterways of Peggy's Cove that many tourists and even locals never see. 5.5 Hours

  • Sea Kayak & Lobster Lunch
    Experience some of the best sea kayaking in the world, just a half-hour ride from Halifax waterfront. 4 Hours

  • Theodore Tugboat's Big Harbour Tour
    Hop aboard a tugboat for a fun and educational cruise around the harbour. 1 Hours

  • Titanic Treasures
    This informative tour will show you how the city of Halifax became connected to the sinking of the Titanic 750 miles east of Halifax on April 15, 1912. 2.5 Hours

  • Valley & Vineyard Tour
    Have an unforgettable day exploring Halifax with a stop at an award winning winery, a visit to a local fromagerie, and your own personal sommelier as your guide. 6.5 Hours

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 2/19/2008 01:01:00 AM

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Monday, February 18

Navigation Buttons Interpretation

Welcome - Home page which contains general information for all.

Itinerary - Information about pre-cruise, shore excursions, and post-cruise activities. Any reservations that are not handle by GATI or Brenda will need to be made by individual participants. This page allows Cruisers to quickly access available websites of activities, events, and excursions or provides added information for Cruisers to make 'informed' decisions about personal itineraries.

Contacts - Page of contact information regarding participants and Carnival as well as excursions, activities, and events NOT already included in tour package.

Landlubbers Food Galley - Pictures and such from cruise luncheons, of course!

The Mother Ship: Victory - Your "Carnival" connection...

Shiver Me TImbers: Bare Necessities - Things you need to do before embarkation as well as timely travel tips for cruises and enjoying ports of call.

The Eye Galley - Cartoons and cruise pictures to bee enjoyed by all!! Send in your submissons...

Trivia of TITANIC Preportions - Cruise-related FUN STUFF to pass the time while waiting for the BIG BON VOYAGE Day!!!

Davy Jones' Locker - Recent Archival posts of interest as per each page.

Thar be the Treasure Chest - Past Archival posts catalogued monthly as per each page.

HOPE THIS HELPS!!

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 2/18/2008 05:52:00 AM

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Sunday, February 17

As Promised - quick links to Saint John, New Brunswick

Saint John, New Brunswick Shore Excursions: Guides to the city and its attractions:
  • Travel Brochure
  • Travel GUide
  • Official Tourism Site

  • A Whale of a Time
    Become a marine biologist for a day when you join museum educators for this indoor Bay of Fundy adventure. 2 Hours

  • Bicycle Tour of Covered Bridges
    New Brunswick's scenic beauty, quiet roads and unhurried pace of life all contribute to a biking experience you will never forget. 5.5 Hours

  • Coastal Kayak & Lobster Bake
    There is no better way to experience the Saint John River, known as the Rhine of North America, than by paddling a kayak. 4.5 Hours

  • Flowers, Farms & New Brunswick Charms
    The charm of rural New Brunswick's friendly people, wonderful experiences, and beautiful scenery are yours to experience. 5.5 Hours

  • Harbour Cruise & City Highlights
    Experience the best of Saint John by land and by sea. 2.5 Hours

  • Historical Saint John by Horsedrawn Trolley
    Take a ride back into another time as you tour Saint John by horse drawn trolley. 1 Hour

  • History in Stone Walking Tour
    This city is a contrast between old and new, enjoy a walking tour of Saint John founded in 1783. 2 Hours

  • Hopewell Rocks - Bay of Fundy Escape
    Experience some of the world's highest tides as you explore this world-class attraction. 9 Hours

  • Irving Nature Park Tour
    Learn about the fascinating Irving Nature Park eco system and get some exercise on your walk at Taylor Island. 3 Hours

  • Moosehead Beer Tasting & City Highlights
    Celebrate a passion for beer and culture, experience the sights of Saint John, sample Moosehead beer products from the Maritimes and experience live entertainment by our local East Coast Artist! 3 Hours

  • Ride the Rapids Tour
    The Reversing Falls Rapids Jet Boat Ride is an adventure you won't want to miss. 3 Hours

  • Rockwood Golf & Country Club
    Come and enjoy this 18-hole public golf course located less than 10 minutes from Saint John center within the beautiful 2,200 acre Rockwood Park. 5 Hours

  • Saint John Highlights
    Experience the highlights of a city that has survived the test of salt air, sea winds, and a devastating fire. 2 Hours

  • Saint John Photography Tour
    A Saint John photographer has designed this special combination of sightseeing and photography. 3 Hours

  • Saint John River Cruise
    Sail back in time as you cruise the majestic Saint John River, often referred to as the "Rhine of North America". 3.5 Hours

  • Saint John's Bay of Fundy Up Close
    Get up close to the world-renowned Bay of Fundy and experience it's effects on Saint John, the Fundy City! 2.5 Hours
    Terri left a message and a blogspot I think the Cruisers will find interesting and meaningful! Enjoy! (Sorry about the mistake and thanks for helping me correct!)
  • Saint John's Jewish Heritage Tour
    Joined by a guide, who is a member of the Jewish Community, embark on a fascinating discovery of Saint John's Jewish Heritage. 2.5 hours

  • St. Andrews, Gardens & Lunch
    Board your coach for a scenic drive along the Bay of Fundy Coast to St. Andrews. 6.5 hours

  • St. Martins & the Bay of Fundy
    Less than one hour away from Saint John is the picturesque fishing village of St. Martin, a beautiful window through which to take a peek at life in New Brunswick. 5 hours

  • The Bay of Fundy at Fundy National Park
    Marvel at the variety of natural wonders on this tour of Fundy National Park. 7 hours

  • Trolley Round Saint John
    Saint John's history comes to life on a San Francisco-style motorized trolley tour. 1.25 hours

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 2/17/2008 03:26:00 AM

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Wednesday, February 13

TEN Tips for New York Tourists - USA Today

Don't be intimidated by the big crowds and bigger buildings. New York can be a friendly and manageable city for visitors if you heed some of this time-tested advice.

1. Don't be afraid to wander. Start spreading the news: New York is the safest big city in the United States. Gone are the days when people were warned not to venture into Alphabet City or the Lower East Side. Pretty much nowhere in Manhattan is off-limits – though it's still an urban area, so do use your common sense (for instance, you may not want to walk around at 3 a.m. by your lonesome). Most of Manhattan, with the exception of a few downtown neighborhoods like the West Village, the Lower East Side and Battery Park, is laid out on a grid system with very few hills, making it extremely easy to find your way around. In fact, a highlight of your trip will likely be strolling the streets gazing at the fascinating people, buildings and sights that pop up on every corner.

2. Take the 'A' (and the 'B' and the 'C'…) train. Though the New York subway system is ancient – the first underground line started running in 1904 – the trains are well-marked and surprisingly fast, often a better bet than cabs if you're trying to cross the city from east to west or vice versa, or traveling during the morning or evening rush hours. The subways do run 24 hours a day, but if you're alone, you may feel more comfortable taking a taxi after midnight, though you'll find many people still riding the rails. Try HopStop.com to figure out which subway line will help you reach your destination fastest, but keep in mind that there can be a lot of routes re-routed or closed for maintenance, especially on weekends, so also check the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's website for the latest subway route updates. Tip: The 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard is usually a good deal so you don't spend $2 on MetroCards each time you hop on the train.

3. Eat dinner early – or late. When New Yorkers eat out, they like to take their dinner between 8 and 10 p.m. If you want to eat at the same places they do, it's best to make a reservation in advance – at least a week ahead of time for most places and a full month ahead for perpetually booked favorites such as Daniel, Babbo and Le Bernardin – and to go for an evening between Sunday and Wednesday rather than the always-crowded Thursday through Saturday. But if you've left things till the last minute, try calling a day or two ahead and reserving a table either for before 7 p.m. or after 10:30 p.m., which exponentially increases your chances of getting seated, even at the hottest spots in town. Of course, this tactic won't work at the handful of trendy restaurants that don't take reservations in advance, like Momofuku, Boqueria and Bar Jamon. There, you'll have to queue up with the rest of the ravenous foodie masses.

4. The world on a menu. New York City houses so much diversity of cuisines that it's a shame to stick to tourist neighborhoods or chain restaurants you probably have at home. Travel to some of the city's ethnic enclaves to sample delicious, cheap and authentic fare. In Queens, an easy subway or cab ride from Manhattan, there's renowned Indian food in Jackson Heights (the area's Jackson Diner is regularly rated some of the best Indian food in NYC) and hard-to-find Egyptian cuisine in the "Little Cairo" neighborhood of Astoria. Astoria is also home to many old-time Greek restaurants, primarily situated on Broadway or Ditmars Blvd. You can have a more authentic Italian meal on Arthur Ave. in the Bronx than in the tourist-clogged streets of Manhattan's Little Italy, and it's hard to beat the soul food found in Harlem, including the famed, family-run Sylvia's. Consider expanding your boundaries with a guided neighborhood food tour, such as one offered by Savory Sojourns and run by Addie Tomei, mother of Marissa.

5. Scout out the smaller shops. It's nearly impossible to visit one of the fashion capitals of the world and not drop some dough on clothes, shoes and other goodies (unless you have a lot of willpower!). But don't just confine yourself to the shopping meccas of SoHo and Fifth Avenue, though each does have its own New York charm — SoHo for its beautiful 19th-century cast iron buildings and Fifth Avenue for its elegant department stores and proximity to Central Park. Head to the Lower East Side to check out intimate boutiques that feature local designers as well as trendy new and vintage pieces that you can't find anywhere else. You'll also find special shops sprinkled throughout the downtown neighborhoods of the West Village, the East Village and Nolita, as well as across the East River in artsy Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

6. Buy-buy Broadway. With the opening of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein last year, the top price of a Broadway ticket reached $450 for the first time ever. Though this is an extreme case, it's difficult to find a seat at a popular Broadway show for less than $100 nowadays. A couple of options can save you money: Sign up for the free discount ticket listings at www.theatermania.com and www.playbill.com, which offer savings on advance ticket purchases for select Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Or get in line at a TKTS Discount Booth on the day you want to see a performance to save up to 50% on a variety of plays. (Tip: The South St. Seaport location is usually a lot less busy than the Times Square one, and only there can you purchase tickets the day before for matinees.) That said, if there's a particular Broadway show you've set your heart on, buy tickets as far in advance as possible (and be prepared to spend top-dollar). If your show's sold out, check out the online ticket brokers such as www.stubhub.com or www.razorgator.com, where people sell extra seats or re-sell ones they won't be using.

7. Hear the music. It's tough to claim boredom in New York. Every night of the week you can listen to world-class musicians of all types in venues across the city, from classic settings like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall to gritty downtown (or, increasingly, Brooklyn) rock clubs to traditional jazz bars (though the era of the traditional smoky bar is over, since smoking was banned at bars and clubs in 2003). You can find indie rock events listed at www.ohmyrockness.com, classical music events at www.classicaldomain.com and jazz at www.gothamjazz.com. Best of all, some of these concerts are free of charge, especially in the summer months.

8. Pack your running shoes. On the weekends, Central Park closes to traffic and becomes a huge open-air running (and biking and inline skating) track. Enjoy the prime people-watching as you exercise, or opt for other scenic paths along Riverside Park on Manhattan's Upper West Side, along the Hudson River heading downtown to Battery Park, on a trail next to the East River, or across the Brooklyn Bridge. Though it's more comfortable to run in the spring or fall, you'll find many hardy New Yorkers braving the extreme heat and humidity of summer or the bitter chill of winter for their outdoor fitness fix.

9. Don't crowd yourself out. A lot of tourists (and relatives visiting local family members) who come to NYC can't get over how crowded the city is. The crazy secret about New York is that many locals can't stand crowds – which is why they stay away, at all costs, from Macy's anytime except weekday evenings, holiday store windows and Rockefeller Center between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Times Square whenever humanly possible (except when they must venture over there to work or to catch a show). While you may want to see these iconic parts of New York City, consider planning your visit so that you're not hitting the big department stores, say, the week before Christmas – unless you think that braving hordes of pushy people is part of that old-fashioned New York City charm. (And it really isn't!)

10. Mind your city etiquette. Unfortunately, tourists have a reputation for doing a few things that drive New Yorkers crazy: taking up the entire sidewalk so that other walkers can't pass; coming to a complete stop at the top or in the middle of the subway stairs, thus blocking the way down; looking over a shoulder or down at a guidebook while ambling straight ahead, thus sideswiping people walking toward them. New Yorkers like to walk quickly with a purposeful strut and are often in (or appear to be in) a hurry. Respect their sense of purpose and be mindful of the space around you – and you'll win renewed respect for tourists from the world over! On the other hand, if you need directions or if you drop something on the subway or sidewalk, New Yorkers will be the first to run after you, offering their assistance. They really are nice folk, after all.




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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 2/13/2008 10:23:00 PM

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Countdown to Anchors Aweigh!



Cruise Luncheon

It's time for our February cruise luncheon and we've a good bit to talk
about (shore excursions, flight schedules/rates, NY tour), so mark your
calendars for Saturday, February 16th. You'll see from the list below that
our cruise attendee list has dropped some; but, we've still got a good group
and can send post cards home to those unable to attend. We're also still
encouraging those who are thinking about joining this cruise to attend the
luncheon as well....it's not too late to sign up...

The cruise luncheon will begin at 11:30 and go until ....

Let's plan on pot luck...bring your favorite New York food - or for that
matter anything! :-)

See you there...
Brenda

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 2/13/2008 08:39:00 AM

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Trip Insurance

For those of you who may be interested, here is the link for quote comparisons of travel insurance. I have not checked specifically this year; but, in years past itR17;s been fairly easy to locate good travel insurance for a more economical price than that offered by Carnival (and, it covers more of your trip besides just the cruise).

Here's the link: TRIP INSURANCE

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 2/13/2008 08:34:00 AM

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Friday, October 19

New York Post Cruise Tour

FYI



Do we have a 14th so we can finalize this tour package? The 13 that have confirmed so far are shown below; the highlighted names are those I have not yet heard from…



New York City Tour
Confirmed

Burcham, Bud and Sheila - ???


Gordon, Joe and Jauhyn
2

Hemby, Larry and Terry
2

Duncan, Annette
1

Smith, Neil and Barbara - ???


Turner, David and Brenda
2

Weatherford, Phillip and Patty - ???


Williamson, Curt and Pam
2

Williamson, Doug and Marsha
2

Williamson, John and Betty
2

TOTAL
13




Remember, this doesn’t limit us adding more people later on but to lock in these rates we need to act soon…



Also, I would like to hear back from everyone who has confirmed regarding the deposit; can each of us supply our deposit by December 3rd? Remember, the total deposit is $2500 and it will be divided by the number of participants.

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 10/19/2007 10:32:00 PM

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Thursday, September 27

USA Today article on Passport Requirements

Tuesday, September 18

The City That Never Sleeps -

Here are some links to the Yanks Baseball Schedule and general info - I wanna go to a game before the legendary stadium is demolished. How 'bout you?


Official New York Yankees MLB Site

Pinstripe Alley Blog Site

New York Yankees - Wikipedia

New York Yankees Tickets Now - Deals and Steals

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posted by Dixieland Cruisers at 9/18/2007 04:49:00 AM

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