Cruises | ecoXplorer

Theme Cruises for Elvis, Country Music and Big Band Fans

Music theme cruises include country, rock and Big Band

Whatever your interest, from cooking to yoga, there is a theme cruises to fit. One of the most popular categories of theme cruises is music and dancing, especially since the popularity of such hit TV shows as “Dancing With The Stars” and “America’s Got Talent”.

Here are some upcoming cruises that will get your feet tapping:

Country Music Cruise — The annual Grand Ole Opry Country Classics Cruise sails Jan. 30 – Feb. 6, 2011, aboard Royal Caribbean‘s Mariner of the Seas. Grand Ole Opry stars Charley Pride, Jim Ed Brown and Jeannie Seely are set to entertain during the seven-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera, plus newcomer Chris Young, nominated for the Top New Solo Vocalist award by the Academy of Country Music.

Elvis Cruises– Elvis Presley would have been 75 years old in 2010, not that we needed a 75th Anniversary to remain fans of this legendary star. Elivis is so popular that there are several Elvis cruises.

Aussie Restaurant Puts Menus on iPads

The restaurant Global Mundo Tapas in Sydney, Australia really has to worry about guests stealing the menu as a souvenir, now that they’ve put the menus on iPads. In this restaurant, app means mobile device as well as yummy appetizer. The iPad menu gives a description of the dish, even a photo, and the wine selection is computerized as well. Users — diners — can click their own order, which goes directly to the kitchen. The MenuPad even can recommend dishes depending on the weather. No waiting for a waiter, except to deliver the food and refill the water glass. I wonder how they’ll keep the iPads from disappearing.

View video on next page…………….

Travel Advisory: US Passport Fees Going Up

US Passport fees increase substantially on July 13, 2010

If you have been planning to get a U.S. Passport, or renew one, act fast. U.S. Passport fees increase dramatically on July 13, 2010. The cost of a new passport jumps from $100 to $135. Renewing your existing passport will rocket from $75 to $110, a 47 percent increase. Charges for a minor to age 16 increase from $85 to $105. Even the cost of a Passport Card, for land crossings into Canada and Mexico is going up from $45 to $55. These represent the third increase in the last five years.

And the feds are adding an entirely new passport fee, too. If you are a frequent traveler who needs to add additional pages to an existing passport, that will cost $82 after July 13, 2010. Right now it is free.

So, if you think you’ll need a passport in the next few years, if your existing passport is expiring in the new couple of years, or if you think you’ll run out of pages soon, the apply, renew or expand now, before the price goes up on July 13,2010. You can apply at many US Postal Service branches, by mail, or in person at a passport office.

Five Best Places for July Fourth Fireworks and Concerts

Macy's Annual July Fourth Fireworks in NYC is largest in US

The Fourth of July and fireworks displays go together like hot dogs and mustard, kids and ice cream. Here are five of the best places in the United States to watch Fourth of July fireworks:

New York City — The biggest and best, of course, is the annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display. This year again, the pyrotechnics are from barges parked in the Hudson River, near the Statue of Liberty, who will be basking in the glow of 40,000 shells in a 26-minute display synchronized to music. A special symphony of patriotic music, Broadway show tunes and other favorites is being provided by The New York Pops orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as a capella, gospel, choral groups and barbershop quartets. There’s a FREE download of the music on the Macy’s website. The show is being televised by NBC at 9 p.m. EST, which will be broadcasting from the brand new cruise ship Norwegian Epic, berthed in the Hudson River.

Guestroom Amenities Get New Life

Crystal Cruises recycles unused soap, shampoo

It always breaks my heart to leave behind soap and other bathroom amenities that I used only a couple of times, knowing they will be thrown out by housekeeping. I’ve been wishing for years somebody could figure out a way to recycle them. Somebody has.

Non-profit foundation Clean the World [...]

Travel Industry Helps Haiti Relief Efforts

Haiti earthquake victim

Here’s what the travel industry is doing to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake, travelers who have been affected, and how you can help, too:

Travel Guard is providing free emergency travel and medial assistance services to travelers and families affected by the earthquake, including coordinating emergency medial arrangements and evacuations, temporary lodging, cash wire transfers, passport replacement, translation services, message relay, emergency travel arrangements and luggage tracking.

American Airlines and American Eagle, is giving bonus frequent flyer miles for contributing to the Red Cross. Members can earn a one-time bonus of 250 miles for a minimum donation of $50 or 500 miles for a donation of $100 or more through Feb. 28.

dollars_fan American Express will donate $10 to the charity of your choice for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points you donate.

Spirit Airlines will give 5,000 Spirit miles to the first 200,000 members who donate at least $5 to UNICEF, the Red Cross or Yele Haiti.

United Airlines through its United Airlines Foundation will match up to a total of $50,000 to the American Red Cross for contributing money to the organization through its International Response Fund. United Mileage Plus members also can donate miles to the airline’s nonprofit relief partners.

Grand Circle Travel is matching customers’ donations to Haiti through its Haitian Disaster Relief initiative, more than 270 donations were received, according to Priscilla O’Reilly, director of public relations. In addition, Grand Circle Travel has pledged $15,000 via the American Red Cross.

Members of the frequent stay programs of Choice Hotels and Starwood Hotels and Resorts also can donate points to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts.

Country Music Theme Cruise Features The Bellamy Brothers

cowboyboot_freeclipartpicturesnet Grab your cowboy hat and boots for some two-stepping, cowboy cha cha and West Coast Swing dancing to The Bellamy Brothers on MSC Cruises’ Country Music cruise. It’s a seven-night cruise to sunny and balmy Caribbean ports departing from Fort Lauderdale on February 20, 2010.

Howard and David Bellamy, The Bellamy Brothers, have been a constant in country music for more than 30 years with 21 singles and more than 50 hits on both the pop and country charts. One of their most famous songs, “Let Your Love Flow,” received the distinguished BMI Five Million Performance Award and was No. 68 on BMI’s Top 100 Songs of the Century. The Bellamy Brothers will have guests dancing in the aisles during their one-night performance. Ther also will be line dancing lessons and country music karaoke, during the cruise, plus other country music performances.

The itinerary for unique Country Music theme cruise sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and calls at ports in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Cruise-only rates begin at $419 per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional. As on all MSC Cruises, kids ages 17 and younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults, which is a great family travel deal.

Enjoy a video clip of their legendary Let Your Love Flow, from a concert broadcast on German TV in the 1970s, on the next page.

Vacation Deals for January and Early 2010 to Book Now

The weeks after the holidays tend to be a slow season for airlines, ski resorts, cruise lines and even warm weather resorts. That means there are lots of travel getaway discounts and deals to take advantage of. Here are three winter vacation bargains to book now, before 2009 turns into 2010.

Jackson Hole Tram

Jackson Hole is offering a ‘buy two, get two free’ airfare promotion, good on any of the six airlines that serve the legendary ski resort, including American, Delta and United. The two-fer airline ticket deal is good for flights between January 3 and Jan 31, and you have to book before January first. Call 888-838-6606 for this special winter vacation promotion. Even if somebody in your group doesn’t ski or snowboard, Jackson Hole has lots of galleries, museums, shops and spas to keep them busy, and Yellowstone National Park and Old Faithful are nearby and totally magical in winter.

Want to be warm instead? Check out these travel discounts for the Caribbean and cruising …