TOB TRAVELS

To Richmond Over Ice and Snow!

2010-01-31T10:41:00.002-05:00

Jean and Woody did a harrowing drive over ice and snow from Norfolk to Richmond last night.

Their Delta flight was cancelled, BUT Jet Blue was still flying out of Richmond.

After rescuing their cat, Vynnie, from under the house in a blizzard, they hit the road in their pick up truck. We were on pins and needles until we heard they were safely in a Richmond hotel last night.

The word this morning: They had passed through security at the airport and should be able to meet us at the cruise pier today.

Keeping our fingers crossed for their safe arrival!

That's all for now.

Snow in Virginia - Very bummed

2010-01-30T06:28:00.001-05:00

Up early so I can finish packing and be ready to leave our house in ATL at 9:00 a.m.

My cousin, Jean, and her husband, Woody, are stranded in Norfolk. Snow, snow, snow. All flights cancelled.

The NCL Jewel sails tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. Can they make it? I will be heartbroken if they can't.

My Cousin is Stuck in Norfolk!

2010-01-29T21:04:00.002-05:00

A pending snowstorm has resulted in all flights out of Norfolk, VA to be cancelled. My cousin, Jean, and her husband, Woody, are supposed to arrive in Miami, stay at our hotel, and cruise with us.

We're all pretty upset right now.

They are now scheduled on a Sunday morning flight that will land them in Ft. Lauderdale at 1:58 p.m. The ship sails at 4:00 p.m.

Noooooooooooooo!! I don't want them to miss this cruise!!

They do have trip insurance. That is the only bright spot.

Headed Out Tomorrow with New Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Camera

2010-01-29T11:37:00.003-05:00

My new digital camera has arrived. Yahoo! Its a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 digital that shoots video as well.

I hope to take lots of good pictures and some video of the NCL Jewel and our shore excursions in Roatan, Belize, Costa Maya, and Great Stirrup Cay.

The Old Broad is ready to begin packing. Hope Atlanta doesn't get any snow tomorrow!

New Panasonic DMC-ZR1 Camera!

2010-01-28T09:34:00.002-05:00

Really excited! My Panasonic DMC-ZR1 digital camera is now in hand. Will use it for the cruise - as soon as I figure it out!

Today is for hair, nails, and toes. Still haven't packed.

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Possible snow for Atlanta on Friday night. Hope we don't have flight delays on Saturday morning. Looking forward to Miami sunshine!

Still no Gem Godmother video - Try again.

2010-01-27T20:01:00.002-05:00

NCL Gem Godmother Entry

2010-01-27T19:58:00.004-05:00

Okay. I'm not having any luck getting a video uploaded.

I just linked to YouTube in a attempt to pick up the video I made for the NCL Gem Godmother Contest. (I didn't win, but I did submit a video entry.)

We did a Halloween cruise on the NCL Sun, and this video has me on our balcony, at Bannister Island, in my Medusa costume, and dinner outfit.

Let's see if I can get something up on this blog!

Can I upload videos? Let's see.

2010-01-27T16:37:00.000-05:00

Hmmmmmmmmmm. I don't see the video icon, only the image icon.

No luck with video. This is a picture taken from the NCL Pearl on our Southern Caribbean cruise.

Counting down the days!

2010-01-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

Today I worked as an extra on a movie being filmed in Atlanta! Lots of fun.

Six days before we leave for the cruise!

Does anybody hate packing as much as I do??

Can I resist all the cruise food?

2010-01-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

Lord, help me! I've been on Dr. Seigal's Cookie Diet and have lost 10 pounds - far from the 50 I would LIKE to lose.

Anyway, I'm taking the cookies with me in hopes they will curb my desire to eat, eat, eat!!!

Excursion #3: Maya Chan All Inclusive Resort in Costa Maya

2010-01-23T12:12:00.000-05:00

This will be our first visit to the Maya Chan in Costa Maya. They want us to make reservations (which we have) and to pay through PayPal (which we have).

Excursion #2: Fishing in Belize

2010-01-23T12:03:00.000-05:00

No one wants to do anything except stay on the ship. In years past, we have taken an NCL excursion to beautiful Bannister Island (known as the Beach Break).

Belize City gets some negative feedback on cruisecritic.com so I'm leary about venturing out alone. Also, one must tender to this port. Again, in the past, our tender has taken us directly from the ship to Bannister Island. I've never set foot in the Belize City port.

Won't this time either.

I've signed up for the NCL excursion - Reef Bottom Fishing. It's a whopping $90 so I better catch something!

All fish are supposed to go to the local orphanages so I hope to contribute.

When was the last time I went fishing? I think I was 8 years old. My mom got seasick, and I remember her throwing up over the side of the fishing boat in Miami. My dad should have known better. She got seasick on the glass bottom boat at Silver Springs in Ocala!

Shore Excursion #1: The Plan for Roatan

2010-01-23T11:51:00.000-05:00

We're hanging loose in Roatan with no specific reservations made. Right now, the plan is to disembark the NCL Jewel and find a representative to take us by water taxi to the Maya Key Resort.

When we last visited, this same resort was called Fins and Flippers. I didn't care for the beach (too much sea grass and rock), but I loved the pool area, food, drinks, and gardens.

The Maya Key website (mayakeyroatan.com) tells us to plan on $30 per adult for use of the resort. This isn't all inclusive. We'll have to buy food and drinks.

Nuts and Bolts of Planning this Cruise

2010-01-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

We like using Best Price Cruises and decided to use them again. We'll be enjoying a minisuite on the NCL Jewel and can't wait. If all goes as in the past, we will have a complimentary bottle of wine in our cabin, courtesy of Best Price Cruises.

Trip insurance is a must! I took Clark Howard's advice and selected my policy through insuremytrip.com. I decided on TravelGuardProtectAssist.

Why do we need travel insurance? Why do we reject what the cruise line might offer?

Anything can happen, and I want to be prepared. Clark Howard points out that policies sold from the cruise company are going to favor the cruise company. Also, when I use insuremytrip.com, I can read the policies and select what is most important to me.

We're flying down on Air Tran and staying at the Hampton Inn Miami Dadeland. The hotel offers a great price and passes my TripAdvisor.com inspection.

Next: Shore Excursions

Sailing NCL Jewel next week!

2010-01-23T10:54:00.000-05:00

Yahoo! The Old Broad is cruising again on Norwegian Cruise Lines on the fabulous NCL Jewel!

Stops are: Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya, and Great Stirrup Cay.

Can I loose 50 pounds by next week?