by Michael Laferriere

UNN Port Ferdinand & St. Peters Bay- Barbados (April 2016)

FAM Report

 

 

Accommodations:

  • 8 of us were lucky enough to stay at Port Ferdinand Luxury Residences
  • This is located nearby historic Speightstown on the Northwest coast of Barbados.
  • Offering 82 residences and 120 berths, each home has its own uninterrupted view of the marina, with many of the homes also offering direct views beyond the marina to the Caribbean Sea.
  • The villas are decorated with a combination of restoration hardware meets beachy comfort. While it was beautifully appointed, I felt the furniture was comfy, cozy, and laid back.
  • The villas come either 2 or 3 bedroom style, including a fully equipped kitchen with all the modern amenities, the living room and bedrooms are equipped with beautiful flat screen tv’s. Each bedroom has a full bathroom attached as well.
  • The staff was EXTREMELY attentive. The concierge staff is absolutely amazing.

 

Accommodations: site inspection of St Peters Bay—sister property of Port Ferdinand.

  • This resort is geared much more towards families with larger accommodations, more expansive beach, and a 160 foot lagoon pool.
  • Similar villa style accommodations to Port Ferdinand. Their luxury three bedroom fully furnished homes range in size from 2700 square feet to their expansive 4 bedroom penthouses offering over 6300 square feet of living area.
  • Every home enjoys amazing “picture postcard” views of the beautiful coconut trees, the beach, and the ocean.
  • St Peter’s Bay only dining option is The Gazebo Bar & Grill which offers simple food with a stunning ocean view. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers bar service throughout the day. Nothing better than sipping on arguably the best rum punch I have ever had, watching the sunset.

 
Dining:

  • The resort has 2 restaurants plus room service. A personal chef can be hired too.
  • 13/59 is the fine dining restaurant. Drawing on their extensive knowledge from around the world, they combine beautiful Barbadian ingredients with modern techniques. We had dinner and brunch here and the food was over the top with an array of choices. I had freshly caught Wahoo fish for dinner and chicken and waffles for brunch so you can see the variety there.
  • The Quarterdeck/Pool Island Bar offers full cocktail and lunch service. Food service is also available on the beach from the pool island restaurant.
  • The cost of the food is additional as this is an EP resort.
On-Site Entertainment & Activities

  • Both resorts offer well equipped fitness centers with personal training.
  • Port Ferdinand has a great kids club, all included
  • Port Ferdinand has an “adult games room” fully stocked with card tables, pool table, and a golf simulator, perfect for a rainy afternoon.
  • St Peters Bay has a beauty lounge for salon services but the Sandbox Tree Spa located at Port Ferdinand with its private outdoor showers and quaint, quiet backyard, cannot be missed.
  • The resorts are connected by a quick 10-minute water taxi which not only brings you between the 2 resorts but will stop at a grocery store along the way to pick up groceries for your villa and other local restaurants and shopping.
  • Port Ferdinand is located adjacent to Six Men’s Beach via water taxi or about a 10 minute walk over, guests can enjoy lots of water sports all included (for the time being). I jetskiied, water tubed, and snorkeled all minutes away from my room.
  • Live jazz music fills the restaurants and dockside at Port Ferdinand during most days/nights.

 

 

General Comments:

  • Jetblue Mint service is really a premium class experience for not much more of a cost than economy. In the airport, Mint allows clients faster airport check in, speedy security lines and early boarding. While onboard guests can enjoy open bar, full meals and unlimited snacks, beauty boxes, and free Wifi and DirectTV.
  • Both resorts have the added benefit of skipping the customs line when you land in Barbados. With that said, I had landed, gone through customs, and got into my transfer all within 15 minutes.
  • Docked right at Port Ferdinand, we boarded Cool Runnings, a private Catamaran for a sunset cruise dinner. It is very popular among guests. Fantastic staff and the food was all prepared by a chef with local ingredients.
  • Few local things that are a MUST: Friday nights at Oistins Fish Fry—a small fishing village with a town square lined with little food huts and a big stage where local events are held. Guests come and fill their plates with all the local fixins. Very informal, very delicious! Sunday nights at Raggamuffins—every Sunday the small street in Holetown shut down for a block party. One restaurant stays open where all locals and guests can listen to music and get some drinks. The best part is the VERY low budget drag show at Raggamuffins with the queens in sky high heels singing some of the classics like Celine Dion, Rihanna (obviously) and Tina Turner. The whole place was up and dancing.
  • Barbados is known for its rum and it is NOT a myth. The rum punches are NO JOKE. It is part of Bajan hospitality to offer any guests a rum punch and you don’t turn them down.. With local rum and spices, it is perfectly unique to the island.
  • Speaking of local rum, the main rum distillery is the famous Mount Gay Rum. However, I was able to tour a smaller, more quaint St Nicholas Abbey distillery, the only rum made from pure sugar cane. Lots of history and education on the distilling process.
  • I was also able to take part in an island favorite of swimming with turtles. Couple of the water sports guys took us out on a boat armed with snorkel gear and raw fish to lure the turtles over. Such majestic creatures and such a fun experience.
  • The GM of St Peters Bay is super hands on with clients. Him and his family are very active and love to involve guests on moonlight kayaking trips, night fishing, and sunrise hikes. I jumped at the chance to see the sunrise on the last morning and hiked up Chalky Mountain at 5am.

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites- Jamaica (December 2015)

 

 

 

FAM Report by Leslie P

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites, Jamaica

 

I had the pleasure of spending 4 nights with my family at this property, our stay was fantastic!

 

Took Exceptional to Logan, please be careful when departing on American from Logan. We were 1st dropped off at the original American section of terminal B, but we needed to be on the other side where the old USAir flights departed from.  Fortunately an AA rep. knew from our flight number, so we jumped back in car and was taken to other side  – it’s walkable but just a pain if at wrong area of terminal B.   AA flights were all good and on time, non-stop flight was perfect. Cleared customs in Charlotte, on the return (not too long) but that airport seems to get busier and busier!

 

I booked through our TL/ The Resort Collection as they offer each office a 3 night stay.

I stumbled across it on Mercavia: http://www.mercavia.com/Mercavia/Suppliers/Hotels/TheResortCollection/index.htm

There were 2 teens in our room, they were an additional $95 per night, so much for free … darn kids, haha!

 

Transfers: Iberostar did not include transfers.  I pre-booked with Jamaica Tours Ltd, it was $25 roundtrip per person, shared, gave 10% discount for agents.  Took about 40 minutes to get to hotel.

 

Iberostar Suites is a resort within 3. Iberostar Grand (adults only, access to all 3 resorts), Rose Hall Suites (access to Beach resort) and then the Beach Resort (limited to this resort)

 

I have nothing but great reviews, from check-in to check-out, every staff member was accommodating, friendly. The suites offer 2 beds (some a king) and a large sitting area with a pull-out sofa, balcony, garden or ocean view, huge double vanity, soaking tub, stand up shower, in-room WiFi, also at the pool and beach area. The hotel only has two family suites that includes an extra king bedded room (floor to ceiling window – no balcony in the extra room).  They do not sell this room as a category but try to upgrade people with families or more than 1 child.  We were fortunate to get this upgrade.  I highly recommend requesting if you have 2 older kids in the room, but it can’t be guaranteed.  The rooms are on 4th floor, offer an ocean view but are not oceanfront.The railing of the balcony was so high, when you sat in the smaller patio set, you couldn’t see over it – my only downfall of the room.

Mini-fridge stocked with water, soda and beer, coffee maker. TV with a most movie channels.  Turndown service a pleasure – room feels refreshed when you come back up for the night.  Hotel offers lunch/dinner (not breakfast) menu for room service – took a while, but food was good (kids had to try it of course).

Resturants were all fantastic, but reservations are required. We were not able to get into the 2 nicer restaurants (Mare Nostrum or Calabash) they were either booked or closed on certain nights.  I really didn’t think that time of the year would be difficult but if going at a peak time, they should make reservations as soon as it is open.  The Steak House, Mexican and buffets were all excellent.  We never had a complaint.  Staying at the Suites you can also dine at the Beach Resort restaurants, 4 additional restaurants to pick from, it’s a nice option if you cannot get into the main restaurants but even they were booked on short notice.  Booze was very good quality.

 

The Beach is rather large considering you can walk the distance of all 3 resorts. Water is ok, it’s not the typical turquoise blue clear water, it’s a little cloudy.  Included watersports are really only snorkel or kayaks, limited to 1 hour per day, per room.  There are other activities all at a cost and cannot be billed to the room, it’s a separate company but very professional.  Girls went parasailing; it was $130 for the 2 of them. The activities directors are constantly doing something, the pool area is loud when the typical activities are happening (water aerobics, arm wrestling contests, bingo etc), but there is a smaller pool if you want a little quieter, the lazy river is small – but really perfect!

 

I did a site inspection of the Grand (adults only), amazing property, the lobby, pool and all restaurants are stunning. Pool has a concierge for towels, suntan lotion.  Each room has butler service, stocked mini bar with nips and you can request large bottle of booze of the smaller nips.  All booze is top shelf. 24 hour room service including small breakfast menu. The pool area has beautiful beach bed and cabanas that are 1st come 1st service, even the beach chairs look more comfortable than the other 2 resorts.  Being adult only – it was MUCH quieter than the Suites or the Beach Resort.

 

The Suites and Grand share the water sport beach booth, and between the two is a circular atrium where the theater, shops, spa (use of the wellness pool, saunas and whirlpool are complimentary for both, not the Beach resort), huge gym with Pilates/yoga classes, casino, shopping center, billiard room/bar and disco are located and all shared.

The shows were excellent and rather entertaining.

 

I would recommend the Suites or Grand to anyone, if not much more the Suites is well worth the upgrade from the Beach Resort, especially for all the added dining options, larger rooms – it’s well worth the upgrade!! The hotel has a shuttle that runs evey hour on the hour and will take you to the shopping center a few miles down the street, it looked very nice, it’s a true shopping center not an outdoor market.

 

We went on a zip lining tour, it was great Chukka Tours, it was $79 per person, we hit about 10 zips, lots of walking and the zillion mosquito bites were at no additional charge, that was after using the Jamaica bug spray too!  Good trip fun.

 

I’m so glad I went to Jamaica, I’ve not been in about 15 years, the island has changed so much. There’s so much to do now, it’s not just Dunn’s River or Negril for tours, lots of parks and adventurous things to do.  I’m eager to return!!!!

 

Thanks! Leslie P

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Dubai (November 14, 2015)

 

 

 

FAM Report by Matt Balsamo, Cranston

US Mega- Dubai November 2015

Nov 14th

Left Boston on Emirates at 1055am. Arrived in Dubai at 840am on Sunday Nov 15th

 

I was met by representatives from Dubai Tourism and transferred to the JW Marriott Marquis.  We then had a city tour for about an hour on a hop on hop off tour bus. Rest of the day was at leisure and then a group dinner at the hotel at 9pm.

 

Nov 16th

After breakfast. We went to the Burj Khalifa. This is the tallest building in the world.  We went to observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors.  Then we went to the Underwater Zoo at the Dubai Mall.

 

We then transferred from there to the Armani hotel for a presentation.  Then lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Center for Understanding with traditional Arabic food.  This is a center that has been designed by the ruler of the country to help educate people on the culture of the Emirati people. It was a very educational experience and I would say one of the highlights of the trip.

 

We then had a tour of the gold and spice markets.

 

Free time for about an hour before going to the Palazzo Versace for hotel inspection and dinner.

 

Nov 17th

After breakfast, we were transferred to The Palace Hotel Downtown for the workshop on Dubai Tourism. We learned about their campaign to reach 20 million visitors by 2020. There were various hotels, tour operators, Emirates who gave presentations.  We had lunch at the hotel following the workshop

 

Following some free time in the late afternoon we were transferred to the Waldorf Astoria hotel for an inspection and cocktails outside on their beach.  We were then transferred to the Mina Al Salam a Jeremiah property for dinner.

 

Nov 18th

After breakfast we transferred to Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates.  I went tubing and got to experience the largest indoor ski park in the world. After a little free time at the mall we had a hotel inspection and lunch at the Sheraton Hotel at the Mall of the Emirates.

 

We had Free time in the afternoon before heading out for the Desert Safari.

 

The Desert Safari was an hour outside of Dubai.  It included riding in vintage land rovers over rolling dunes.  We arrived at a camp site that was created especially for us. There was a man with 2 falcons, camel riding, Arabic bread making demonstrations, belly dancers and a wonderful buffet. It was a wonderful experience.

 

Nov 19th.

After breakfast we were transferred to the Burj Al Arab (the worlds only 7 star hotel).  We were giving a tour of the property. After this we had a little free time for shopping before hotel inspection and lunch at Zabeel Saray Hotel on the Palm.

 

For our final evening there was a Gala dinner planned at Meydan Racecourse.  This is a premier horse racing venue.  We had a wonderful cocktail reception followed but a sit down dinner on the patio over looking the racecourse.

 

Nov 20th

Transferred to Dubai airport for flight home to Boston

Matt Balsamo
Cranston

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Riviera Maya- ILTM Americas (September 2015)

FAM Report by Kris Levy, East Greenwich

 

ILTM AMERICAS RIVIERA MAYA WITH STAYS AT FAIRMONT MAYAKOBA, GRAND VELAS, AND VICEROY RIVIERA MAYA

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 9, 2015

I recently attended the ILTM Americas in the Riviera Maya which was held at the Fairmont Mayakoba. I met with over 70 luxury suppliers ranging from DMC’s, small boutique hotels, large luxury chain hotels, and tourists boards. I’m going to share with you some of the exhibitors that I visited.

Hotel Villa Maria Cristina mr@verypcc.com www.villamariacristina.net This property is located in Guanajuato, Mexico and is close to the colonial cities. It has 38 suites and one 8-room villa. All rooms have high ceilings, large framed windows, and hardwood floors. The owner of the hotel also owns a silver mine and they offer tours on a daily basis. I would use this property for a guest visiting the colonial cities or a guest doing business in Mexico City and wants to get away for a weekend.

Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof info@hotel-schweizerhof.com www.hotel-schweizerhof.com This resort is 120 years old and is located in Grindewald. This property is great for all seasons especially for skiing because of the close proximity to the lifts. It has 27 apartments, 2 junior suites with balconies, fitness center, spa, and pool. They offer either half board or full board.

HL Adventures toddigodi@hl.is www.hl.is This would be your DMC for Iceland. They provide accommodations, activities, entertainment, and private transfers throughout Iceland, Greenland and the North Pole. They are very much into adventures and outside the box thinking.

Annandale, New Zealand jasmine@annandale.com www.annandale.com This one really impressed me! It’s located south of Christchurch on the coast. It boasts 4 private villas on a working farm with farm-to-table cuisine. This property would be great for a honeymoon couple, family gathering or even a corporate event. They also own Lake Kora (www.lakekora.com) which is a lakefront property featuring luxury lodges set on a thousand acre wilderness escape in upstate New York. I see this property being used for a destination weeding or a family reunion.

Val D’Isere Tourist Office valpromo@valdisere.com www.valdisere.com Val D’Isere is situated at an altitude of 1850 m and offers a connected ski areas of 300km of slopes, and glaciers. They also have 3, 5-star properties throughout the area. They are the only ski resort that offers intermediate slopes on the tops of the mountains.

Hotel LM gerencia@hotel-lm.com www.hotel-lm.com This is part of the small luxury hotel chain and has 7 rooms with only one room having 2 double beds. The restaurant in this hotel doesn’t have a menu because the chef comes out and asks you what you would like to eat and prepares everything to your liking. It also has a roof-top terrace.

Hotel Quadrifolio melopez@hotelquadrifolio.com www.hotelquadrifolio.com This is a small luxury hotel located I n Cartegena, Colombia. It features 8 jr. suites, 2 conference centers and a rooftop Jacuzzi.

The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul Caglae.gonculer@ritzcarlton.com www.ritzcarlton.com.tr I think that the Ritz says it all. They are located on the hill overlooking the Bosphurus. Please offer your clients the concierge level because it includes 5 meals per day, open bar, 20 minute massage, and the use of a smart car for 4 hours each day. The cost is 70.00 more per night and I think that it’s a great value!!

Intiways lia@intiways.travel www.intiways.travel This is a great DMC option for Peru. They specialize in luxury travel for all of Peru using properties like Belmond, and Relais de Chateaux.

Casta Diva Resort and Spa sales@castadivaresort.com www.castadivaresort.com They are located right on Lake Como, They have 9 villas with a total of 75 rooms and suites. All of the villas have views of the lake. They have one restaurant and a wonderful spa.

Blue Lagoon Iceland berlind@bluelagoon.is www.bluelagoon.com The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most unique attraction and one of the 25 wonders of the world. This property will soon be opening a 5-star spa hotel. Some of the rooms will even have their own blue lagoon plunge pool.

The Tokyo Station Hotel veda@tokyostationhotel.jp www.slh.com/hotels/the-tokyo-station-hotel The Tokyo Station Hotel re-opened in October 2012. They are conveniently located right at the main train station, but they insist one hears no train noise. The hotel is 50 minutes from NRT by train and the hotel will meet you at the end of the train platform for an easy registration.

Ted Turner Expeditions erossi@chredo.com www.tedturnerexpeditiions.com Ted Turner expeditions was created to provide guests to a wildlife and nature experience with over 11 million acres in New Mexico. These are his own homes that he has opened up to the public. It’s like staying in your own national park.

Exclusive by TLC Antonio.silva@exclusivebytlc.com www.exclusivebytlc.com This is a great DMC option for Portugal. Their emphasis on art, bicycle, wine and food tours for all of Portugal.

Lafayette Group DMC Info@lafayette-travel.com www.lafayette-travel.com This is my new DMC for France, Monaco. They have 5 agencies based in Paris, Cannes, Marseilles, Strasbourg and Monaco. They also can fast track your clients though CDG. Do yourself a favor and check out their website because they have tons of options for your clients.

Blai Limosines olga@blailimosines.com www.blailimosines.com This company offer first class transfers, tours, certified guides, and chauffeurs throughout Spain. They own their own fleet of Mercedes sedans, minivans, and coaches. They also offer tickets to many attractions.

Fairmont Mayacoba Samantha.gatza@fairmont .com www.fairmint.com/mayakoba-riviera-maya The Fairmont offers elegant accommodations and impeccable service. It also offers room only or an inclusive plan. You also have signing privileges with the Rosewood and Banyan Tree since they are all on the same property. I stayed in a jungle view room and I have to say that I loved the bathroom!! The accommodations are located on the beach, canals, and mangrove forests. Use Samantha’s email address to VIP your clients.

Fairmont Southhampton Bermuda Resort Ashley.malone@fairmont.com www.fairmont.com Perched on Bermuda’s south shore with miles of pink sand beaches, the Fairmont Southhampton, sits on 100 acres. The resort has 9 dining options, 2 pools, 6 tennis courts and a kids club.

Eolo Patagonia’s Spirit lucia@eolo.com.ar www.eolo.com.ar Eolo is a unique resort that combines the impressive nature of Southern Patagonia. The lodge has 17 rooms.  Common areas : two living rooms, library, TV room, bar, and restaurant.

Grace’s Distinctive Properties gdistinctiveltd@aqol.com www.gracesdistinctiveproperties.com   North America sales and marketing firm, specializing in representing hotels and villas in Mexico, Caribbean and Italy.

Grand Velas Resort Riviera Maya ggodoy@grandvelas.com www.grandvelas.com I was fortunate enough to spend 4 nights at this luxury all-inclusive resort. They have 3 sections, Zen section, Ambassador, and a Grand Class section. The Zen section has a more jungle feel to it because it’s not on the beach and is less quite. The ambassador section is located right on the beach and is for families. This section has their own infinity pool with swim up bar. The Grand Class section is an adults only sections with and infinity pool and a swim up bar. The resort has 8 restaurants, some buffet and some a la carte. I have to say that food was outstanding, the wine selection was superb, and the spirits were all high end. Everyone has their own concierge that can help you with dining reservations, spa appointments, and anything else that you desire.   The rooms and balconies were very spacious with L’occitane amenities, nespresso maker, and a stocked minibar.

Viceroy Riviera Maya Again, I was fortunate enough to stay at this resort. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the hotel staff. The lobby area was all open and you felt like you were in a jungle with wonderful scents all around you. This resort has 41 villas with private plunge pools in each villa. The villas were absolutely fabulous. It had all the bells and whistles, but my favorite was the outdoor shower. The resort has a fitness center, boutique, 2 restaurants, and a spa. I would go back in a heartbeat!!!   I met with a lot of exhibitors and if you are looking for something different and you don’t see it here please give me a call and I may have additional contacts or insight for you.

Kris Levy East Greenwich

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 by Michael Laferriere

Riviera Maya- Paradisus La Esmeralda (November 2014)

FAM Report by Kim Sgambato-Woonsocket

 

Riviera Maya ~ Paradisus La Esmeralda

 

 

Once I took the Paradisus class the company gave me 4 free nights and 1 additional night at an agent rate.  Take the class if you haven’t yet!!!

We flew out of Providence and connected in Charlotte both ways.  Keep in mind customs in Charlotte has changed (for the return).  You will collect your bags, recheck them at the counter, and go through security again.  You need plenty of time for this!

We took Best Day Transfers from the airport to the resort.  Very good company, clean buses, on time, and very polite drivers.  As an agent I also got 10% off any excursions that I booked at the hotel at the Best Day Tours desk.  We took one tour that included Tulum, zip lining, repelling, and swimming in the caves.  It was a ½ day tour that included lunch.  Well worth it if you have never been and want to see the ruins and learn the history and have a little fun all at the same time.

Upon arrival we were greeted with a cold cloth and a purple drink in a champagne glass.  Not sure what it was but hey you’re on vacation right!  We got to the resort about 1pm and our rooms were ready.  They took us in a golf cart with our luggage to our rooms.

This was the surprise to me.the rooms are huge!  What a great size room.  King bed, very large bathroom with a large tub and shower that is separate, sitting area with a couch and table and chairs for 2.  Mini bar was stocked with soda, water, milk, snacks, and beer.  This was replenished daily if you used anything from it.  No additional cost.

 

 

We were upgraded to a swim up room which I did not request but was great!  It is not like your typical swim up room where the pool in front of you connected to the main pool so there was not a lot of traffic swimming by all the time.  It was so nice to leave the patio and go right into the pool.  The staff covered the entire area and brought drinks and food right to you so you never had to get out if you didn’t want to.  This was a great service because we were in a room that was on the far end of the resort.

Here is a picture from the main pool area looking at our patio.  There are 2 tile chairs right in the pool next to your stairs.  Quick in and out!

Once we dropped off our luggage we went back to the main lobby and made our dinner reservations for the week with the concierge.  We were helped by a women named Yasmine she was so nice and went above and beyond to make she we had everything we needed and checked in with us during our entire stay.  She also set up a site inspection for me for La Esmeralda (where we stayed) and La Perla (adults only side).

Here are a few pictures of the lobby area all open aired.  There was a little coffee shop right in the middle that serves cappuccino and express.  They have little treats in the afternoon and in the evening as well.  All included!

 

Dining:

Every night 1 restaurant is closed for a full cleaning so keep that in mind when making reservations.  There are 8 sit down restaurants, 2 buffets, and 1 restaurant that is an additional cost.  Each buffet has the same exact food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The only difference is one is adults only and the other is for families.  Passion is the fine dining restaurant that is an additional cost.

A few of the restaurants are open aired restaurants and the others are inside with air conditioning.  My favorite meal was at Vento this is a fresh Mediterranean inspired menu.  All restaurants were fantastic we had a wonderful meal every night.  Even the restaurant manager come over to our table to be sure everything was OK and to let us know during our stay if there was something not on the menu that we wanted they could make it no problem.  AMAZING Service again!!!

 

The resort has 1 show a night that changes.  This is on the family side.  The adult side does have an area that has nightly entertainment.  This was a very slow time of the year for them so we were able to take advantage of a lot of the things without it being too crowded.

The beach area if your clients are looking for a fantastic beach this is not the place.  The resort is located in a cove.  Lots of sea weed and rough water.  If could also be the time of the year.  I’m not a big beach person so to me I was perfectly content staying by the pool.

The pool area was great there was a separate pool that had a water slid ship and hippo for the kids.  1 swim up bar that you could not access from your swim up room but that was ok the wait staff come around like I mentioned earlier.  If you want to bring rafts or noodles they allow it of course in the gift shop they are very expensive!!!  Here are a few pictures of this area:

 

 

This resort is a great place to go to relax.  There is not a lot that goes on during the day for activities etc.  That was the purpose of my trip to just relax.  I wasn’t looking for a resort that had entertainment all day.  They did have aqua aerobics every day at noon they would turn up the music but once that was over the music was low.

I talked to a few families that had the concierge family suites and they said for the difference in $$$ that they paid it was well worth the extras they have for their children.  They left them little activates every night in the room.  They would draw a bath and fill it with bubbles and balloons if they requested it.  There was always a special little plate with the cookie of the day as they called it just for the kids.  The kids club was filled every time I walked by it.  One day was face painting, another day they were all dressed up as pirates and walking in a parade through the resort.  The area that was for the concierge families had it’s own BBQ kid friendly food, popcorn machine, cotton candy, and pool toys for them to pay with.

There is a room type at this resort for couples, families of 4, families of 6, and families of 8.  I could not take pictures in these rooms however.  Not sure why they told me no when I asked but they did.

I was told this resort was close to 5th Ave and I could walk there.  I would not recommend it.  5th Ave was about a 10 – 15 minute cab ride ($10 – $15 each way) and you are not walking through the best of areas.  5th Ave is a hopping place at night.  There are so many restaurants and all kinds of vendors trying to sell their goods.  It is nice to take the ride to see but we did not spend too much time there.  We had everything we needed at the resort.  They just opened a new mall towards the end of 5th Ave  it has all your modern stores that we would have here at home.  It was packed with people.  Who goes to Mexico to shop at Victoria Secret?!?!

If you go and eat at the family buffet you must ask for Mexican coffee we didn’t ask for it and over came the waiter and insisted he make this for me topped with ice cream!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!  What a show they put on when they make it.  Here are some pictures:

 

 

 

All the restaurants for the resort are in the middle of both the family side and adults only side.  They are in the shape of a U so they are easy to find.  What is on the family side is duplicated on the adults only side when it comes to the gift shop, the pool bar, the pool restaurant so you are not having to walk from one side of the resort to the other to get to anything.  The only difference on each side is the decor and the meaning of the resorts.  The adults only side is themed after the sun and the family side is themed after the moon.  The lobbys reflect this if you look up at the ceiling in each!

If you have any questions on this resort please call me!

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Norwegian Gateway (Dec 6th to Dec 13th, 2014)

FAM Report By Helene Baillargeon

Norwegian Gateway – Dec 6th to Dec 13th, 2014

We flew Southwest very early in on Friday morning, (in case of snow, I wanted to get there a day prior) we were ready to be picked up at 10:30am from the airport by the Rodeway Inn and Suites in Ft. Lauderdale.  I have done groups at that hotel and have put many clients there but it was my first time staying there.  The hotel is old and dated but super clean.  They gave us a Jacuzzi room on the first floor of one of the outside building.  The hotel doesn’t have elevators but they do have a heated pool!  The hotel also comes with a Continental Breakfast, again perfect for us before heading out to Miami.  It certainly was not the Taj Mahal but it was perfect for what we needed.  It has a pub in the hotel where we had a great lunch.

I got to meet Nadine from the group department at the hotel, I have spoken to her quite a few times as I have done groups there and it was so nice to put a face to the name.

The hospitality I receive there was second to none, they are all very pleasant and professional.

On Friday night, we met friends in Ft. Lauderdale, they picked us up at the hotel and we headed for a pub crawl and dinner.  We had a great night!

The next day,  Dec. 6th, we had bought transfers from Ride SAS and they came to pick us up at our hotel at 11a.  Again, very professional, they called me about 15 minutes prior to picking us up to let me know that they were on their way.

They had a van full of passengers heading for the Getaway in Miami.  They dropped us off and we checked in and then were held in a huge room waiting to board.  The room was very comfortable, there were vending machines, everyone was seated and of course there were also restrooms available.    We were the 3rd group to board.  I saw people holding 15……. So as you can see, they let a few in at the time to make it easier all around.

We boarded on deck 7, but I saw that there was a restaurant on Deck 6, called Taste.  We went there for lunch as I wanted to avoid the buffet, which is usually so crowded and hard to get a table sometimes.  Taste was perfect and not busy at all.  The service was great and we had a great lunch.

They made the announcement that our cabins were ready around 1:30pm.  We headed to our cabin we had a balcony cabin 9824 on Deck 9.  We met our Cabin Stewart, a very nice guy.  Our balcony cabin was a good size, the bathroom had a large shower and the amenities were liquid hand soap by the sink, in the shower you had your shower get and shampoo.  So please remember to bring your own bar of soap, hair conditioner and lotion.  The balcony was extremely small barely fitting 2 chairs and a small table.  All balconies are now smoke free as of Nov. 1st, so remember to let your clients know if you have smokers.  It’s something new with NCL.

We went around the ship to familiarize ourselves with the ship  – just remember 6-7-8 Ocean Place, this is where everything is happening inside the ship.  They have restaurants and bars where you can eat inside / outside and designated places and 1 bar for smokers.  The ship is very nice.  We had the muster.  Like most ship now, you gathered at your muster station and no need to put on your life vest, they just go through the drill.  It is a much better way than the old muster’s cruise line use to have.  We headed backup and we saw the ship sail away!

We came back to our cabin and unpacked and showered for dinner.  We had a lite dinner at Taste on Deck 6.  It was perfect!  Kathy held a cocktail party at Spice H2O.  It’s the adult only outside place on Deck 16th   , they have a huge movie screen and they were showing all different destinations, it was well done and we got to met our fellow travel partners.

Then stop in the shop and bought liquor, they were running a special.  Every night, they have different items, that they ran special on….. worth checking.

Then a stop at the Casino where I tried real hard to make our fame and fortune but it didn’t work!  L

Before we knew it, it was 1:30am and of course Norm was hungry so we went to O’Sheehan for a bite to eat.  Again full table service, the food was good.

Every time you go eat at any restaurants on NCL, they swiped your Seapass.  At first I thought it was funny, it’s not like you can come in from anywhere other than being on board, but they do that, I’m sure so that they can see where people eat and also they can address you by your first names at the table.  A nice little added personal touch!

Sunday, Dec. 7th – I made reservation for our shows and booked our specialty dinners from our TV in our cabin.

We had breakfast at O’Sheehan, a waited on breakfast cook to order!  We decided to eat our breakfast there every day.  It was a pub and the service and food was good.

We then headed for the pool but it was a cloudy / cool day.  We sat by the adult only pool, the Wave bar and listened to Caribbean music.

We made a show reservation for “Burn the Floor” and after the show had dinner reservation at La Cucina, Italian restaurant, the food and service was very good.

Then listen to Groove International in the Atrium.  Also very good!  Every night there was entertainment in the Atrium.  The entertainment was always good.

Monday, Dec. 8th.  We started with a seminar from 9a to 12noon.  They talked about their ship, doing groups etc……… I was with a lot of Cruise Brothers agents, so the seminar was very different, as those people are not really agents and the things they brought up made your head spin. I guess it’s one of Kathy’s top account over 3 million a year – 1800 agents so, she had to cater to them.

After leaving the seminar, I went to see Vibes, adult only quiet place.  Jacuzzi only with nice beds.  There is a bar and you can order lunch too.   Kathy paid $70.00 to have access to it and she was kind enough to bring me to see it.

That night we ate in Tropicana for dinner, the food was always good but nothing spectacular.  Service was good.

On Monday night they had a Tribute to Bob Marley, great show!

Tuesday, Dec. 9th we were in St-Martin, we went off the ship but only stay at the pier to pick up a few gifts to take back home.  You can ferry for $7.00 roundtrip to take you to the shipping district in Philipsburg on the Dutch’s side of the island.  We hurried back on board to enjoy the pool and Jacuzzi so we could enjoy the quit.  It was wonderful.

On Wednesday, Dec. 10th, We were in St-Thomas, we went and toured more of the ship, where you can walk the plank, rock climbing, zip line and mini golf.  There are also water slides for children of all ages! J  Lot’s of additional fun to keep everyone entertained and occupied.

That night we had dinner at Le Bistro at 9:15p.  Long pants are required and I saw people being turned away that were wearing short.  The food was delicious.

Thursday, Dec. 11, Seminar from 9a to 12 noon:  again, Cruise Brother’s agents took over the seminar with questions, questions, questions and wouldn’t drop it!  We all have to learn but most of those agents are in it as they have retired and are looking for travel benefits.  Wow, they have so much to learn, no wonder people that book with them have a bad taste in their mouth for a Travel Agent!  I felt badly Kathy.

We had a group dinner at Tropicana, we had nice table mates and it was very enjoyable.

That night, I saw Legally Blonde, great show!  I had seen it before and NCL did a great job with it!

Friday, Dec 12th, our last night already.  We had a great day by the pool and saw a comedy show that night.  The comedians were very funny, they did a great show.

The drill was the same, packing, luggage out by 11p, ready for the debarkation the following day.

On Saturday, we had breakfast one last time at O’ Sheehan and left the ship by 10a.  The debarkation went very smoothly and Ride SAS were out there waiting for us.  We waiting for 11 other passengers but we had a late flight, so we didn’t care!

Southwest damaged my luggage on the way back and they wanted to give $50.00 for the luggage.  I paid $200.00 so I refused and brought it back the next day and they had it fix and it came back to me 2 weeks later.  It looks great hopefully it holds up now as the bag was buckled on the side.  We’ll see!

All and all, NCL Gateway was very good.  The ship is beautiful and gives you a lot of options for restaurants, entertainment…. Etc..  The drinks were expensive $8.20 per drink but again you are a captive audience so they got you!

I will be going on the Gem 1/21/15 with a group, I know the ship won’t compare to the Gateway but I’m looking forward to that cruise as well.

If you have any questions, about the ship don’t hesitate to call me or email.

Sincerely submitted,

Helene Baillargeon Travel consultant

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

RCCL: Allure of the Seas (December 2014)

FAm Report by Robin Paul

Allure of the Seas/Checca Lodge Islamorada, FL

I went to Florida a few days before my cruise and stayed in the keys. I went to Islamorada and stayed at the Cheeca Lodge. This is a 5 star full service Resort Hotel .My stay was for 4 nights and while I was there I did a site inspection. I stayed in a 1 bedroom suite w/ a full kitchen. The suite was immaculate. The design style was Tommy Bahama, rich cherry wood furniture and tones of beige and green. (Pictures of palm trees and parrots everywhere). The kitchen was state of the art w/ stainless steel appliances and brand new granite countertops. There was complementary coffee and tea issued daily. The suite had a wonderful screened in balcony and the view was of the adult only pool and spa. All of the suites are resort vies and pool view. This resort is right on the water and had ocean front bungalows with Jacuzzis on the deck and privacy curtains. Here are some of the specs. The resort has: 214 rooms 1 Family pool 1 Adult only pool 3 first class on site restaurants Jack Nicklaus designed 9 hole par 3 golf course Unlimited use of fishing equipment, sea kayaks, bicycles, and tennis equipment Camp Cheeca program for children Amazing spa and fitness studio Oceanfront Tiki bar Full service water sport facility This was a wonderful resort with some of the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. If you’re looking for a beautiful 5 star resort in the keys, the Cheeca Lodge won’t disappoint. Before I start to talk about the “Allure of the Seas”, I would like to share my thoughts before the cruise with you. About 3 days before the cruise, I thought “What the heck are you doing? There are 5400 people on this ship; I’m going to be around nothing but crowds of senior citizens and small children. I’m going to be in lines for 8 days. What was I thinking???” I couldn’t have been more wrong… Embarking on the ship was smooth, no crowds no lines. The dining venues were all spread out and there were never any lines or crowds no waiting. I dined at 3 specialty restaurants, all were amazing. The service was impeccable. Advanced reservations were not necessary. The main dining room was run very professionally. The service and food were very good. I did 3 shore excursions, and once again disembarkation and embarkation were not an issue. There were 3 days at sea,. I thought the pool area was going to be a nightmare., once again I was proven wrong.. There were plenty of lounge chairs and beach towels, the wait staff was constantly coming around. There is an adult only area called “ The Solarium”. This is an area where adults can kick back and lay in the sun, go into a hot tub or just play cards around one of the many comfy tables and chairs. .This area is large and very spread out., and well monitored,. Royal Caribbean makes sure that the solarium is adults only. The shows were amazing,. There was a broadway production of “ Chicago”, WONDERFUL !!! I saw a comedy show and laughed for two hours. You do need to make advanced reservations for the shows, they do sell out. I had a junior suite and the balcony was 80 square feet. There was plenty of room in the cabin. The cabin steward was great and remembered everyone’s name. . This 225,282 ton, 5400 passenger ship was amazing. This was my first Royal Caribbean cruise ( I’ve been on Holland America, Disney and Celebrity).This was the best cruise I’ve been on.. Beautiful boat, lots of fun things to do for all ages. Please contact me if you have any questions. Robin Paul

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 by Michael Laferriere

NCL Getaway – St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Bahamas (October 25-November 1, 2014)

FAM REPORT – Kris Levy, East Greenwich

 

NCL Getaway – St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Bahamas October 25-November 1, 2014

I was eager to travel this NCL cruse since the Getaway, headquartered out of Miami, is a brand new vessel and it became immediately clear that it was a great choice as everything from the rooms to the decks to the lounges and all the restaurants were sparkling new

We flew into Miami and stayed at the Westin in Hollywood. Very nice hotel, pool area and very enjoyable pool bar. The weather was terrible on that day so we took a short drive top the Adventura Mall – incredible if you are into shopping that area. The mall was simply endless with 80% of the shops being very high end.

The ship:

Like I said, all brand new. Stateroom was a pretty typical layout, not huge but comfortable. WiFi is available in packages sold in minutes. A bit expensive but in case one needs to stay in touch daily, it’s very convenient. The WiFi is accessible throughout the vessel.

The Getaway is very children and young adults friendly. Plenty of things to keep kids and teens busy. There were not a lot on board since we traveled during school dates. The ship has a kids nursery and playschool, a young adult area with teen events, an arcade area and bowling lanes. Plus the pools, water slides, rock climbing walls, and a rip line area – also fun for the adults. One upper deck is devoted to aerobics, basketball, shuffle board, etc. Nickelodeon character party, circus workshop were also featured.

Basically only two negatives that we all shared as being in agreement with – #1 was that the balconies were unusually shallow. Literally unable to walk by someone if they were sitting on their balcony chair. Only one swimming pool was the other somewhat negative thing we found.

Night entertainment was phenomenal. And that’s coming from a couple that is not 100% cruse show oriented. A dinner magic show was out first night – The Illusionarium. Amazing!. Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos was great. But the best was Burn the Floor which we saw twice – a Latin/Cuban music and dance presentation that I rated an A+++ [get a front row seat and enjoy]. The show makes Dancing With The Stars look like a rookie presentation. The Grammy Experience features music and memorabilia of past Grammy winning shows. The ship presented a Newlywed Game, live comedy, a Mr. Sexy Legs competition, a 70’s Disco night, Deal or No Deal, Jeopardy and a Michael Jackson tribute night. Plus a Fiesta Latina latin dance night and a Jazz evening at the Grammy Experience. Legally Blonde, the Musical was presented and the evening of day 4 the ship had an 80’s Party with fireworks.

Day entertainment. Too many bars to speak of [all the bars offered a special daily drink each day], music everywhere, all the time. A great reggae band at poolside. Very comfortable library and card game room. Dan took a $90.00 Behind the Scenes tour of the vessel – backstage from the shows, the main galleys, the laundry area, the environmental area, recycling and water treatment] and best of all – the bridge! It’s very seldom, due to security concerns that passengers are allowed on the bridge but that’s where his tour ended and where the most time was spent. It was really a worthwhile expense to him. Shopping and casino were pretty typical. We did take advantage of some very low prices on high end vodka that they were offering. The standard bingo, trivia contest, etc. were also presented.

Dining. We took a specialty restaurant dining package that allowed us access to any of the specialty restaurants. As a result we did not experience any of the main dining rooms but I did inspect them at off hours and took a look at the daily menus which appeared excellent. The dining areas were beautiful. But I must say, for the price of $—- that we paid for the specialty restaurant package, it is highly recommended. They include Cagney’s Steakhouse, La Cucina Italian, Le Bistro French, Moderno Brazilian Churrascaria, Ocean Blue seafood, Tepanyaki Japanese hibachi, Raw Bar and Wasabi Sushi Bar [great for lunch]. We dined at Le Bistro twice. Cagney’s was outstanding as was the Brazilian steakhouse. We did Tepanyaki our first night with friends. Very good, but kind of typical hibachi. Breakfast was at the main buffet area that also serves buffet lunch but we preferred a quitter area – also breakfast and lunch called Flamingo Bar & Grill. We also had lunch twice and watched the Pats on Sunday at O’Sheehan’s Pub. We were invited to a “meet the crew” cocktail party where drinks and hors d’ouvres were served and where we had the chance to mingle with other guests and talk to the Captain, 1st and 2nd Officers, Hotel Director and Cruise Director [and some of the entertainers].

Itinerary:

Day 1. – sail from Miami

Day 2. – sea day

Day 3. – sea day

Day 4. – St. Maarten

Day 5. – St. Thomas, USVI

Day 6. – sea day

Day 7. – Nassau, Bahamas

Day 8. – Disembarkation

 

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 by Michael Laferriere

Paul Gauguin (Sep 30-Oct 7, 2017)

 m/s Paul Gauguin 7 Night Tahiti & Society Islands Cruise RT Papeete, Tahiti

 

September 30-October 7, 2017 $1,295 Outside Cat. F ppdo $1,400 Outside Cat. E ppdo $1,995 Balcony Cat. D ppdo $2,100 Balcony Cat. C ppdo $129 pp taxes & fees

 

FAM News is pleased to be sponsoring a Seminars-on-Ship aboard the elegant m/s Paul Gauguin on September 30-October 7th for 7-Night Tahiti & Society Islands cruises sailing round-trip from Papeete, Tahiti. The m/s Paul Gauguin was designed specifically to sail the shallow seas of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific, visiting small ports that larger ships can’t reach and effortlessly blending into the stunning natural beauty of the South Seas. The most luxurious ship to sail in Tahiti on a year-round basis. No ship gets closer!

In 1891, when Paul Gauguin arrived in Tahiti, he captured the charm, culture and languid grace of the natives in oils. You won’t find his paintings here, but the original models still call this piece of French Polynesia home.  The m/s Paul Gauguin was inspired by both the music of Rogers & Hammerstein for the play South Pacific, and what James Mitchener wrote, “Anyone who has ever been there wants to go back.
Explore the verdant peaks, crystalline waters, and pristine beaches of these magnificent volcanic islands, from snorkeling off Bora Bora to dolphin-watching at Moorea. This 7-night itinerary is perfect for those who want a core Polynesian experience.  Call on Huahine, the “Garden Island” and Taha’a, where you’ll enjoy a full day of exploration. Then sail to Bora Bora, and her siren sister, Moorea.  There’s a reason these islands are world-renowned – their beauty is unmatched.   Check out the Itineraries.  Watch  Polynesia by Paul Gauguin;         Outside Category F cabins are available at only $1,295 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only. Outside Category E cabins are available at only $1,400 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only.Outside Category F cabins are available at only $1,295 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only. Outside Category F cabins are available at only $1,295 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only.Outside Category F cabins are available at only $1,295 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only. Outside Category F cabins are available at only $1,295 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-onlyBalcony Category D cabins are available at only $1,995 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only. ony Category D cabins are available at only $1,995 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only.Balcony Category D cabins are available at only $1,995 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only.Balcony Category C cabins are available at only $2,100 ppdo plus $129 port charges cruise-only. The cruise is truly “All-Inclusive ” – includes all onboard gratuities, complimentary beverages including wines, spirits, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages served throughout the ship, and many watersports. The rates are per person based on availability, cruise-only, and does not include airfare, transfers, or travel insurance. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Companion rates are the same as the travel agent rate. Single rate is 200% of the per person double occupancy rate. There will be a 1 1/2-hour seminar during the cruise – “Selling Paul Gauguin Cruises!“. This is a Great Deal. Space is Very Limited. Book your cabin ASAP.  Click for Booking Procedures
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 by Michael Laferriere

Royal Caribbean Seminar at Sea (September 10, 2017 / 7-night)

Seminar at Sea onboard Allure of the Seas, September 10, 2017. This will be a  7-night Western Caribbean itinerary departing out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During the week onboard we will have some exciting training and events planned for the Travel Partners.

 

Availability will be on a first come first serve basis.  Pricing will be based on a Category L, interior stateroom and is the current lowest available fare. See pricing below:

 

Category L (Interior) Travel Partner Rate Inside Guest Rate Inside Single Rate Inside
S@S Rate $525.00 $665.00 $656.25
Taxes $113.83 $113.83 $113.83
Total $638.83 $778.83 $770.08

* Pricing includes gratuities

 

Hello Sales Team,

 

The 2nd Seminar at Sea that we will be hosting this year is onboard Explorer of the Seas departing out of Seattle, Washington on 9/22/17. This will be a  7-night Pacific Coastal itinerary.

 

Availability will be on a first come first serve basis. Pricing will be based on a Category L, interior stateroom and is the current lowest available fare. See pricing below:

 

Category L (Interior) Travel Partner Rate Inside Guest Rate Inside Single Rate Inside
S@S Rate $350.00 $455.00 $437.50
Taxes $208.71 $208.71 $208.71
Total $558.71 $663.71 $646.21

 

* Pricing includes gratuities

 

Please let me know if you have any agents that are interested and I will check to see if space is still available.

 

 

Sincerely,

Susan Dentino | Strategic Account Manager  |Southern CT, RI, and South Massachusetts

 

Samara SaintSurin | Business Development Specialist

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 1080 Caribbean Way, Miami FL 33132

800-327-2056 ext. 83619| susandsupport@rccl.com

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