I am recently engaged and my fiancee and I have decided to marry while
on a Holland America cruise in the Caribbean. We are trying to decide
whether to book through the cruise line or book directly through a
company on St. Thomas VI - has anyone had any direct experience with
this? It seems more affordable to book directly through a company on
the island, however, I am sure that there are pro and cons to both
scenarios. We have identified a company called Fantasy Weddings on
the island. If anyone reading this has any insight, I would greatly
appreciate your feedback. We are planning our wedding in October of
2008.

Thank you and Happy New Year!
Sarah

10 Killers To Personal Development

Many people want to change their lives for the better. It seems that
the majority of individuals are unhappy with some aspect of how they
are living. Perhaps they would like to lose some weight. Some want
to improve their relationships. And others want a successful career
path. Regardless of what someone wants to change, there is a model
available to follow. Unfortunately for some, to be effective one
needs avoid certain pitfalls that befall so many. Avoid these to
increase the chances that you will be able to make the changes
necessary in your life.

Here are the 10 most common killers to personal development.

1.Being a 'know-it-all': It is always interesting to see someone who
wants to make a change because the results that they are presently
receiving are causing them pain. They are not successful doing what
they are doing. However, when suggestions are offered they
immediately discount them. They say something like "I already know
that" or "I agree with you but ...." They simply are cannot be taught
anything. The mind is closed off from any new information. This type
of person knows it all.

We have several trips planned this year: 2 Weeks in Mexico late Spring
& 2 Weeks Alaska Cruise/Seattle late Summer.

Is there travel insurance available for six months (as an example)?

Thanks, DMBS

There are 4 of us going on a cruise to San Juan, St. Thomas, St.
Maarten, Tortola and Nassau.
Of the five I have picked St. Maarten ( and hope weather is nice).
Is there anyone who has gone parasailing on any of these islands or
combination of and would suggest one of te others?

TIA, Jim

JBJ

We'll be in Port Canaveral on President's day. There seem to be
several tours for the Kennedy Space Center. Are there any must sees or
dos? I'm travelling with a 12 year old boy who has some attention
issues, so anything that requires a lot of concentration or a long
speech is out.

Thanks in advance and happy new year.

To Whom It May Concern:

We received this information from P&O Cruises and thought it would be of
interest to this newsgroup as well.

Happy sailing,
John Sisker, SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY
(714) 536-3850 or toll free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency No. 714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com

2008 is going to be a very exciting year for P&O Cruises as we welcome
Ventura, the superliner designed for Britain and the countdown is now on!
There are now only 103 days remaining until she is named in Southampton and
embarks on her maiden cruise to the Mediterranean.

All Australians and all on other continents who may be lurking, too!

http://llerrah.com/newyearwishes.htm

--Jean in Texas

Bug hits 78 on luxury cruise

DOZENS of passengers on the new £300million liner Queen Victoria have been struck by a vicious stomach bug.

Cunard said 78 people have been taken ill since its 90,000-tonne ship left Southampton on December 21 for a 16-day Canary Islands
cruise.

Last night 25 were still suffering from the highly contagious norovirus bug probably taken on board by a passenger.

The illness lasts two days and causes violent vomiting. Sufferers have been kept isolated from the other 3,000 passengers and
crew.

Guests paid £1,100 to £24,400 for the voyage, the Queen Victoria’s second since Camilla launched her three weeks ago.

The champagne bottle used by the Duchess did not break traditionally a bad luck sign.

Passenger Jean Trainor, 49, of Blackburn, Lancs, said: No hygiene rules were implemented until people fell ill. If they had been,
this might have been avoided.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article633698.ece

I'm considering a cruise for my vacation this year. I'm recovering from
a nasty leg break and the resulting 2 surgeries (happened in Italy on my
last vacation in September), so my usual active type vacation is kind of
off my list for another year. I thought a cruise would be good, since I
could do as much or as little as I felt I could handle on any one day.
But, I know that going as a solo is a bit on the costly side, with the
single supplements. Is there a cruise line that is better at offering a
friendly price point? I've taken the cruise quiz that was suggested by
Tom K ( think it was him), and the top 2 were Orient and NCL, with HAL,
Celebrity and Princess as the next ones. I'm not keen on doing a random
share - I did that once at Club Med and wound up with a 18 year old...

Hi all.

Just got back from a cruise on the Valor. It's a great ship, but my husband
contracted the Noro Virus. Classic symptoms, no doubt what he had. 2 days
later, both my kids had it but we were back in Florida by then.

My question is - has anyone heard of an outbreak on the Valor in December?
I've googled but to no avail, so can only assume there wasn't one or the
report's not out yet.

I had to go to the infirmary to get Imodium AD and some nausea medicine.
They sell neither in the gift shop with the other over-counter meds. I had
to fill out a CDC form. When I first got to the infirmary, there were only
2 other people there for other conditions (one was heart, the other was a
bum knee). By the time I left, 8 people had arrived and all were filling
out a CDC form.

At any rate, the Valor seemed to be kepy clean and tidy, and we are big on
the washing of hands. Just wish other's were too so they wouldn't spread
disease.

happy New years!!!

-B