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Tom and Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
Age: 75
Occupation: Retired Restauranteur
Number of Cruises: 26
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Ship: Enchantment of the Seas, (3rd cruise)
Departure Date: July 14, 2002
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
We Had to Cancel Our Original Booking:
We had originally booked the ‘Enchantment of the Seas’ for a back-to-back cruise
for May 26th and June 2nd, but on May 19th, Mary had to call 911 and I was
rushed to the Hospital and they performed an emergency operation for a
strangulated Hernia. (Yes, we did have cancellation insurance.) After spending a
week in the hospital, I have been under the loving care of my lovely Mary and
have shown steady improvement. We decided that a sure way to speed my recovery
was to book a recovery cruise as soon as possible.
Our Recovery Cruise :
We don’t normally cruise during the summer because of school vacations but
having sailed on the ‘Enchantment’ two previous times, we knew they have a
magnificent Solarium area, a simulated Roman Garden with a pool, Jacuzzi and a
retractable ceiling, that was for adults only. No one under the age of sixteen
is allowed to use the pool. A perfect place to spend a week of relaxation and
recuperation with my lady. We booked for July 14th, the week of my birthday.
Tom Ogg gave us our own review page on his CruiseReviews.com site a year ago
last October. Since that time, we have had more than 56,000 cruise enthusiast’s
visit our page. Mary & I spend our mornings answering e-mails from all over the
world. After answering a readers e-mail, it isn’t unusual for them to write
again when they return from their cruise, telling us about their experience.
Consequently, with the ensuing correspondence, we have developed a special
relationship with many of our readers. Six months ago I started keeping a data
base of our reader’s e-mail address’s and as of this moment have more than 1,100
on file. We recently sent them a note telling of my emergency operation and
reminding them of the importance of having cruise insurance. We were overwhelmed
with the response. Mary & I want thank them for their concern and their prayers.
I don’t think any one of our friends and readers who expressed their concern and
offered prayers, realize the important part they played in my healing. The phone
calls, cards, and e-mails I received from those I know and so many of you whom I
never met, softened the aftermath of my surgery and hastened my recovery. There
is no way we can adequately express our thanks.
What Cruising Means to Us:
Mary & I have said this many times and we will continue to say it, the reason we
call our cruises ‘Honeymoons,’ is we can’t think of a more romantic, intimate,
exciting way of spending quality time with the one you love, then when on a
cruise. Unless you have cruised, you can’t imagine how wonderful and romantic it
is to be with your loved on a luxurious cruise ship. To celebrate our 35th
wedding anniversary next year, Mary & I have decided that we are going to
celebrate & renew our marriage vows on a 10 day Panama Canal cruise aboard the new NCL ship the Norwegian Dawn, next April
26th.
We chose this ship and the Panama Canal itinerary because we feel it will
provide us with a wonderful romantic, intimate setting. I know Wimpy is looking
forward to spending 10 days aboard this magnificent floating resort with Mary,
doing all the little things Mary likes so much. It will be a wonderful way for
us to rediscover the reasons we married and too once again finalize our
commitment to each other by renewing our marriage vows.
This is Going to be a Short, Condensed Review:
We have written reviews of our two previous cruises on the ‘Enchantment.’ Our
last review was very comprehensive and gave a detailed description of each of
the venues. The address is:
http://www.cruisereviews.com/rci/Enchantment12.htm In this review we are going
to tell you a few highlights of our cruise and as usual some of our thoughts on
life in general. It’s a short review, quite condensed, but we think you will
enjoy it...let’s get started.
A Few Things You Should Know:
Our regular readers know what to expect of us but for those of you who have
never read our reviews, we’re going to tell you a few things about ourselves, so
you can better relate to what your reading.
We are in our mid-seventies and are having the time of our lives. Age to us is a
numerical number and not a condition. The experiences we have had in our latter
years are more unique and more enjoyable then when we were young. Except for a
slight lessening in our physical abilities, all the important components are in
good working order and our spirit and senses are at an all time high. We feel
youthful and alive. We have lead a very full life and we will be sharing some of
our memories with you. We often interrupt the sequence of our review and tell
you something of a personal nature. We are romantics that have learned that what
Leo Buscaglia has written is true, “Love is the fountain of youth.” That
statement becomes more clear and relevant, each and every passing day. We keep
that thought foremost in our mind and live our life to the fullest, one day at a
time. If you are not of a sentimental nature or would rather not read about some
of our thoughts on the romantic aspects of life, it’s best you read no further
because we will probably bore you.
[I almost forgot to tell our new readers.] Our new readers might wonder whom I’m
referring too when I refer to myself as Wimpy...Well, Tom learned during the
latter stage of his life, that when he dropped his macho image and started doing
all the nice little things that Mary liked him to do, you know, those wimpy
things, Mary gave him a lot more reason to smile. At last, Tom finally got it!
That was the last of Macho man...Viva La Wimpy!
To Expedite the Reading of our Review:
We thought it best that we consolidate our ‘Suggestions How You Could Enhance
Your Cruise,” that appear in all our reviews, in a paragraph at the end of our
review, just before the final section---Loose Ends & Random Thoughts. That
paragraph includes---Pre Cruise Things to do — Tipping Suggestions — Magic of
the $2 Bill — The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important — Should You buy Cruise
Insurance? — Informative Cruise Web Sites---All Ships of a Cruise Line Are Not
the Same---Writing a Review. (Be sure to read the ‘Loose Ends & Random Thoughts’
section, it has become quite popular.)
Embarkation:
We drove to the port, Ft. Lauderdale, from our home in New Smyrna Beach. As we
arrived at the Port, we noticed they had tightened security. There was a 25
minute delay in entering the port while security officers checked our documents
and we were asked to produce a photo I.D. When we pulled up to the area where
they take the luggage, we were again asked to produce a photo I.D. Embarkation
went smoothly. We walked into the terminal at 12:30 and boarded the ship at
1:00.
The Solarium:
The Solarium area of the ‘Enchantment’ is the main reason we booked this cruise.
It is one of our favorite places on RC ships. As we entered the Solarium area,
which was designed to look like a Roman Garden, my imagination kicked into
another gear and I could swear I was the incarnation of Caesar entering his
garden Villa, with Cleopatra on his arm. Although we gave a detailed description
of the Solarium in our last review, we think it deserves to be described again.
The focal point is a rectangle pool situated between two Gazebos, that house two
large Jacuzzi. On each side of the pool at the water line, are three brass tiger
heads spewing water from their mouths. The Gazebos are covered by brass cupolas.
The outer pool area is lined with a row of marble columns, connected above by a
large concrete beam that was the trademark of Roman Architecture. Live garden
plants, hedges and trees are to be seen everywhere. The entire back wall is
covered with dense vines and it has a planter at its base overflowing with
tropical plants. It also has a retractable roof that can be closed when there is
inclement weather. To insure that the peaceful tranquillity of this area is
maintained, anyone under the age of sixteen is not allowed to use the pool. It
was very quiet and serene and this is where Cleopatra took care of her wounded
warrior. We could usually find an empty lounge chair if we were there by
10:30-11:00 o’clock. If not, lounges were always available under the shaded
overhang. The design team did a superb job of creating a realistic replica of
what a Roman Garden might have looked like in ancient times. If you like quiet
pool time with a serene atmosphere, the Solarium is the place for you. A short
order restaurant, the Solarium Café, served Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pizza and
terrific French Fries. The Shipshape Spa adjoins the Solarium.....the fact
that exercising was the cause of my emergency operation ...Mary made me promise
I wouldn’t go within 10 feet of the Spa....I think this is the perfect time to
tell you why it is of the utmost importance you take out cruise insurance. This
is what happened to me this past May 19th.
Everyone Needs Cruise Insurance, Even if You Are in Perfect Physical
Condition:
On Sunday morning May 19th, after coming home from church, I was working out. I
had just finished doing eight reps of an abdominal exercise, when all of a
sudden I felt a burning sensation. Immediately the pain intensified. I turned
off the machine and went in the house. I went into the bedroom and sat on the
bed and within fifteen minutes the pain became unbearable. Mary called 9:11. I
was rushed to the hospital emergency room. To make a long story short, they
diagnosed me as having a hernia. When the surgeon came in, he said he was going
to operate but not to worry because the operation would take 45 minutes and I
would probably be home by the next day. That 45 minute operation turned into a
four ½ hour marathon. The surgeon found I had a strangulated hernia and he had
to remove a section of my bowel and intestine. I have the skill of the surgeon
to thank for me not having a colostomy. I spent the next seven days in the
hospital and was released on the day we were supposed to begin our 7-day
back-to-back cruise on the Enchantment. That is why Mary & I call this cruise
our recovery cruise. I have told you all of the above to make the following
point.
I haven’t been taking cruise insurance previous to this because I reasoned that
Mary & I are in great condition. We didn’t think we needed it. I was lucky that
just before I booked our May cruise, I read a review by Tom Ogg. Editor of
Cruise Reviews. http://www.cruisereviews.com
Here is an excerpt of what he wrote:
On the departure evening of the second leg of a recent seminar cruise, one of
our group members had chest pains that the ship’s doctor was afraid it may have
been a mild heart attack. The gentleman was held in the infirmary for almost 3
days until we arrived in Puerto Vallarta. Even though he felt fine, he was
disembarked in Puerto Vallarta and transported to the hospital for treatment and
then returned to their home in the United States. Fortunately he had travel
insurance, otherwise it would have cost him many thousands of dollars.
After reading what Tom wrote, I called our agent and had him cover us with
cruise insurance. A month later I had the emergency operation. If you get
nothing else out of this review, I hope we have made you realize the importance
of cruise insurance...now for a change of pace...the following is a thought that
can change ones life.
The Captains Party and Dinner With the Captain:
The highlight of our cruise was having dinner with Captain Gunnar Oien. We first
attended the Captains party hosted by a beautiful, charming young lady, Julie
Atkinson. (We will tell you more about Julie later in our review.) The cocktails
and Hors`doeuvres were plentiful and the music was supplied by, in our opinion,
the best combo in the cruise industry, ‘Moses and the Highbrows.’ We first met
Moses on Celebrity’s Century in 1996. It was his first contract and he and his
group were the talk of the ship. Mary says that Moses music makes her have happy
feet. Moses will be transferring to the ‘Vision of the Seas.’ If you meet Moses,
be sure and tell him Tom & Mary said hello. (This is a picture we took with
Moses.)
As you can see in the pictures, Mary looked gorgeous in a stunning rust-colored gown. We danced like we were two young kids at their prom. I made sure we covered the entire dance floor, so everyone would see my beautiful lady. I noticed the ladies eyeing her from head to toe, a sure sign she looked sensational. I think they would have been astonished to know Mary will be seventy-nine this December. Just look at the pictures and tell me if she isn’t remarkable for her age. I look like her father in the pictures. The greatest thing about being married for near 35 years is I have the opportunity to keep falling in love with her over and over and over again. We had a grand time and were eagerly looking forward to having dinner with the Captain, which we will tell you about in a moment...but first...remember we said we sometimes interrupt the sequence of our review to tell you something of a personal nature... well this is one of those times...we want to tell you about a thought we had pertaining to dancing
Dancing is Love Set to Music.
I read that line and thought, how true that is. I thought of our many cruises
and the wonderful moment’s Mary & I have shared while dancing. There is
something very special about weaving your way around the dance floor, while
holding your sweetheart tightly in your arms, as the band plays one of your
favorite love songs. ‘Dancing is love set to music,’ is a very poetic way to
describe those moments.
When we returned from a cruise, one of us would say, "We should take the time to
learn a few new steps." We even went as far as taking dance lessons. The
instructor suggested we take two a week, but being the obsessive person I am, I
figured if two was good, five would be much better. We took two evening lessons,
three day lessons and two nights a week we danced at the recreation center.
After six frantic months of driving back and forth to Daytona for lessons and
practice sessions, I didn’t improve much but I can tell you, I was awfully
tired. To this day, some times in the middle of the night, I can hear the voice
of the instructor saying, in the slow melodic Fox Trot tempo,
slow...slow...quick-quick. So much for structured lessons. I then decided that
we could do just as well on our own. I bought the complete series of tapes by
Ron Montez, “Anyone Can Dance.” (I told you I was obsessive.) The tapes are
great but when you have been accustomed to dancing the old WW #2 slide and glide
for 60 years, it’s not so easy to reprogram ones aging mind. To make a long
story short, we stopped seeking outside help and we came up with a
do-it-yourself routine that works for us.
A few weeks before we cruise Mary and I select our favorite CD's and retire to
our den. It has a beautiful parquet floor, which is perfect for dancing. And
then the fun begins. We aren’t dancing very long before we are trying some new
variation of an old step. But it also isn’t very long before we find ourselves
falling back to the same routine we have been doing for the past thirty five
years, that old WW #2, slide and glide, hold me tight kind of dancing, that we
enjoy so much. Even though we don’t make much head way in adding to our
repertoire of dance steps, we continue doing the same routine, right up to the
night before our cruise date. When you’re having this kind of fun, why stop? We
may not be as poised and graceful as Ron Montez would want us to be and we
haven't made any major improvement with our dancing, but I’m gonna tell you, we
are having more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
If you want to heighten your pre cruise experience, play your favorite CD and
imagine you’re in the lounge of your favorite cruise ship. Take your sweetheart
in your arms, hold her tight and as you dance, think of the many romantic,
Intimate moments you soon will be sharing.“Dancing is Truly Love Set to
Music.”...now we are leaving to have dinner with Captain Oien.
Dinner With the Captain & the Protocol That is Followed:
Julie had the Captains guests meet at the port side entrance to the dinning room
and she then prepped us on protocol. We were to walk into the dinning room in
the order we were to be seated. The ladies would be seated and their spouses
were to stand behind them until the Captain entered the dinning room and was
seated in his place, then the men would sit down. In front of each place setting
was a place card with the couple’s name on it and on the back of the card, the
individuals name in large letters, so everyone at the table could read it. We
had a wonderful six course dinner with a choice of wines and after dinner
drinks. The service under the direction of the Maitre`de Joe Fernandez was
impeccable.
Captain Oien was a delight. He is a most interesting and
charming man, He put everyone at ease and encouraged us to ask questions. Within
moments we all joined in a lively conversation. We covered a wide range of
subjects and everyone participated. Mary was seated next to a charming couple,
John and Linda from Rhode Island. They were just married and celebrating their
Honeymoon. John was a handsome young man, (since I’ve turned 75, anyone less
than sixty is now a young man) and his wife was for all appearances looked like
she might be a fashion model. She was blonde, strikingly beautiful and was
wearing a sensuous blue beaded gown that enhanced her trim figure. I was sure
she was a model. I heard her mention that she was working and I seized the
opportunity to ask what she did. She looked directly in my eyes and said, “If
you can guess what I do for a living, I will pay for your cruise.” She sounded
so confident I threw up my arms and said, “I give up.” Mary and I almost fell
out of our chairs when she told us that she and John were police officers from
Rhode Island. She said John had a lollipop job working an affluent area in the
suburbs while she worked the ghetto where the real police work is done. Mary was
completely captivated by John and Linda and was in lively conversation with them
most of the evening.
In fact we hadn’t realized it but the conversation at our table became so
intent, we weren’t aware we were the last remaining table in the dining room.
Captain Oien was a wonderful host and we were honored to be invited to have
dinner with him. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves....this is going to be
another of those interruptions...we thought you would like to hear what Wimpy
did for Mary.
How Wimpy Surprised Mary at Dinner Each Evening:
Wimpy took a page from what he did for Mary last Valentines week, when he
surprised her by placing love notes in the most unexpected places. Remember? It
worked so well and had such a lasting effect on Mary he decided to do it again
but in a much smaller way. This time he printed up seven cards with, and if I
may say so, very well written endearing love notes. The way he gave them to her
became a nightly ritual. Every night at dinner just before Mary took her first
sip of wine, Wimpy would slide one of his prepared cards across the table and
before she has a chance to read it he would lift his glass and toast her and say
something very nice. Wimpy then watched very intently as Mary read her love
note. When she finished reading her love note, she grasped his hand, leaned over
and kissed him and thanked him. Wimpy sat back and just smiled as he felt all
kind of warm emotions surge through his body. As you might imagine our evening
dinners were very special. It is amazing how a little act of love can make for a
memorable evening....this is another aside...but I think it will have meaning
for you...it’s a thought that an change one’s life, like it changed my mothers
life.
It’s Important to Have Something to Look Forward To:
Just months after we were married Mary & I decided to ask my Mother to come live
with us. She was 72, living alone in the same home where she raised five
children. My father had passed away five years earlier and she was lonely and
depressed. Before she agreed to come live with us, she tried us for a month, to
see how she got along with Mary. Needless to say, she fell in love with Mary and
moved in with us.
My father was a workaholic and never took my mother or the family on a vacation.
He was from the old Italian school that believed a wife’s purpose in life was to
serve her husband in every possible way and that is exactly what my mother did
for her entire married life. At the age of 72 she had never been out of New Your
State or flown in a plane. We wanted to do something for her that would pick up
her spirits and give her something to look forward too. After much thought Mary
& I came up with a way of doing that, which not only changed my mother’s life,
but has taught us one of life’s great lessons. “We are happiest when we have
something to look forward too.”
The first Christmas we gave her a present of a trip to upstate New York with a
Catholic church woman’s group. The trip was by bus and chaperoned by a priest
who took care of the tipping and all the incidentals, so that the women didn’t
have anything to do but enjoy themselves. But the important aspect of giving her
this present wasn’t the trip itself but that it wasn’t until June. My mother had
five full months to look forward to her first vacation. She was so excited. A
day didn’t go by that she didn’t talk about it with Mary. As each month went by,
she got even more excited. Well, to make a long story short she had a wonderful
time and we knew we had found the answer on how to make her happy, “Give her
something to look forward to.”
When she arrived home, we had a big dinner celebrating her return and at the end
of dinner we told her we were giving her another trip for the following January.
(The trips were all under the auspices of the Catholic church and were
relatively inexpensive.) We continued giving her a gift of a trip, always six
months in advance. For the next twelve years, this women who had not been out of
New York State, made trips all over the United States, Canada and Europe.
Because of my Mary’s loving tender care and my mother always having something to
look forward too, she had a wonderful life and lived to the age of ninety-four.
It was only recently that we realized we are doing the same thing for ourselves
as we did for my mother by always having a cruise booked in advance, having
something special to look forward too. Although we have made twenty-six cruises,
we still find ourselves talking about our upcoming cruise with as much interest
and excitement as if it was our first. We find this lesson of life, of making it
a point of always having something to look forward too, doesn’t just apply to
cruising but to every aspect of our life. If you want to add a new positive
dimension to your life, plan on always having something special that you can
look forward too. You will be astonished at the effect it will have on your
everyday life...now to tell you about some of the special people we met aboard
the ‘Enchantment.’
Julie Atkinson:
Seldom has a social hostess made such an impression on us as Julie did. She is a
beautiful, charming young lady who not only performed the duties of a social
Hostess but also helped out the Cruise director Marc Walker with many of the
entertainment chores. We had a chance to spend some time with Julie and her
enthusiasm for her job and her zest for life was something to behold. She was
always up-beat and positive, full of energy. It felt good just being in her
company. This girl has so much talent in so many areas, we’re sure RC is going
to keep an eye on her as being a future Cruise Director. (If she wants it, Mary
& I will make you a wager it will happen.) As you can tell we were captivated by
this young lady. She was a delight and RC is indeed fortunate to have her in
their employ.
These Two Men Were Exceptional Entertainers:
Roger Behr: This man is a phenomenal performer. He is billed as an
Impressionist, but it doesn’t do him justice, he is much more than that. Roger
is an accomplished Vocalist, an outstanding Comedian and....an Impressionist. He
held the audience in the palm of his hand. The audience loved everything he did
and it showed in the way they responded at the end of the show. Many times we
have seen standing ovations, where one, then two, then three stand and finally
some of the remaining audience. Not so with Roger. When Roger finished his act,
the entire audience stood as one and gave him a round of deafening applause.
Roger works exclusively for RC. If you are on a RC ship and you see his name in
the bulletin, make sure you go to see him, he is one of the best single acts you
will ever see.
Don Ware: It is almost one week since we listened to his jokes and my rib
cage is still hurting from laughing so hard. He had one of the funniest routines
we have heard in many years. His inter play with the audience and his remarks
about other performers were hilarious. He had a number of jokes about cruise
ships, you know about the bathroom and the flushing of the John, many of the
same themes we have heard so many times. But Don Ware phrased his jokes in a way
that they were as if we never heard them before. He had all of us in stitches.
He also did something very nice. He paid tribute to those who responded to
service during 9/11. A complete change of pace and very moving. We were
fortunate to see these performers on consecutive nights.
Sherri Cafaro...Singer...Pianist: For years our favorite singer has been
Edie Gorme, that is, until we listened to Sherri Cafaro during the course of our
week aboard the ’Enchantment.’ She is a very attractive women with a beautiful
haunting voice and accompanies herself on the piano in great style. We wished
she performed in a lounge where we could dance to her music, instead of in an
area where people have to dance on one of the circular steps on the grand
stairway, as people walk by. Why RC doesn’t put the ‘Souvenir Trio’ in the
Centrum and Sherri in a lounge, is beyond our comprehension. Sherri is a talent
that has gone undiscovered for to long. She would be a wonderful attraction on
stage, she has the type of voice that would mesmerize an audience. We
bought one of Sherries CD’s and played it in our car on our four-hour drive
home. When we heard her sing a wide variety of songs we couldn’t believe our
ears. We also had an Edie Gorme CD in the car and we played it after listening
to Sherri. You have to believe us, there was no comparison. Sherri clearly had
the better voice. I do hope RC uses this talented performer in a venue where she
can truly display her talent. She is really very special.
A Suggestion: When you enjoy a singer or a combo aboard ship, make
sure you buy their CD. You will be able to play it at home and bring back
memories of your cruise.
George Miller...Bar Manager of the Enchantment:
I would be remiss if I didn’t say a few words about George Miller. We first met
George one night as we were seated in the last row of the theater. As we were
seated, I noticed a very good looking man dressed impeccably in a white,
officers dress uniform, standing behind us. I told him he looked like a million
dollars and he smiled and introduced himself. We had a very warm, friendly
conversation. From that moment on Mary & I made it our business to sit at the
back of the theater hoping to see George again. Well we weren’t disappointed. We
saw George most every night and after awhile we felt like we were visiting with
an old friend. We learned a great deal about each other and had many delightful
conversations. If there was ever anyone that belonged in management, it is
without a doubt George Miller. If you meet George on one of your RC cruises,
make sure to tell him, Tom & Mary said hello.....and now for something we
thought might interest you...some of the web-sites we use for cruise
information.
Cruise Web Sites:
These are the URL’s of interesting and informative web sites. We will be adding
to this list with each new review.
Cruise Reviews and Feature Articles http://www.cruisereviews.com/
Every Cruise Link Imaginable http://awinner.freeyellow.com/index.html
Sites for the Caribbean Islands http://www.shipboardcruiser.com/islandcruise/cb.html
One of the Best for Cruise Links: http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~rklein/cruise.html
Deck Plans: http://www.cruise.com/pez/ship_deck/decks.asp
New Ships & Cruise News http://www.cruisenewsdaily.com/newships.html
Singles & Parents Without Partners: http://www.cruisereviews.com/NancyNorris.htm
Raoul Fiebigs Cruising & Beyond: http://www.cruisereviews.com/news/
Cruise News-Updated Weekly: http://www.cybercruises.com/newsfile.htm
Royal Caribbean Discussion Group: http://www.evensens.net/rccl/rccl.html
Comprehensive List of Cruise Links: http://www.cruise-links.com
The best cruise ship pictures on the Internet:
http://home-4.tiscali.nl/~t411310/indx.htm
A good way to save these URL’s and have them readily available:
Swipe with your cursor and copy. Then in your e-mail program, open new message,
then paste. Then address the message to your self and in the subject line write
Cruise Sites. In a short period of time you will receive it as new mail. Open a
new folder, name it Cruise Sites in your e-mail program and move the e-mail with
the Cruise URL’s to that folder. This way you will have the URL’s handy whenever
you need them.
Ports of Call:
Being we restrict our cruising to the Caribbean we have been to the same ports
many times. Most of the time, if we go ashore, we usually just walk around the
town and then head back to the ship. To be truthful, we enjoy it when everyone
goes ashore and we have the ship to ourselves. Of course there is an exception
to most everything and the port of Cozumel is one of those exceptions.
Cozumel:
Cozumel is one of our favorite ports because we can have lunch at Pancho’s
Backyard, something we never fail to do. It is our favorite Caribbean
restaurant. The setting is everything you would expect a Caribbean restaurant to
offer. It is an indoor-outdoor restaurant, with a courtyard dining room. The
courtyard tables are located under towering, swaying Palm trees. From 12-3 every
day, two Musicians playing the Marimbas add to the romantic atmosphere of
Pancho’s. It’s the perfect place to relax and spend some quality time with your
loved one, while sipping one of their famous Margaritas.
Adjoining Pancho’s is our favorite Caribbean store, Los Cinco
Soles. Don’t bother shopping all the stores because this store has everything
you can find anywhere in Cozumel at the right price. And I think you would like
to know, at no time while you’re in this store will anyone approach you unless
you want information. The cute little Mexican sales girls are dressed in very
attractive white dresses and stand by until there needed. Quite a change from
fighting your way down the main street of Cozumel. Now that I have peaked the
ladies interest, let me tell them
of
one other establishment that will make them want to stop by Pancho’s. Just off
the courtyard at Panchos, is a doorway with a little sign above it that displays
the magic words that a women can’t resist, ‘Lady’s Boutique.’ Girls, get your
credit cards ready, because this shop has so many beautiful women’s things, you
are bound to add to your wardrobe. The location of this trilogy of pleasure is
at the very far end of the downtown shopping area. A $6 dollar cab ride from the
ship.
We always make it our business to said hello to Manuel Hernandez the manager of
Pancho’s. He is a very personable, has a ready smile and is a pleasure to be
with. I didn’t discuss this with Manuel, but I bet if anyone who is reading this
review is sailing on an itinerary that is stopping at Cozumel and they go to
Pancho’s Backyard for lunch and ask to see Manuel and tell him that...’Tom
& Mary sent me’...I think there is a distinct possibility Manuel might offer to
buy you a Margarita. Why don’t you try it and see if it works. If you have lunch
at Pancho’s make sure you write and tell us.
Costa Maya Could Become the Gem of the Western Caribbean:
(Unfortunately this was the only picture we could find) We were amazed at what
the business people of costa Maya have accomplished in building such a
magnificent dockside complex. If you aren’t interested in going into town or
booking an excursion and instead enjoy swimming in a luxurious pool, you must
visit Costa Maya. The dockside complex consists of a perimeter of very
attractive stores and an amphitheater on three sides, surrounding one of the
most beautiful pools we have seen. The pool is a free form design and it is
immense. It is the same depth of 4ft6 for the entire pool. The servers are
dressed in very colorful attire and come pool side to serve you drinks. The
amphitheater is just a short distance from the pool. You can watch the shows and
take a dip during intermissions. They have continuos’ shows from mid morning
until mid afternoon. They performed a number of Mexican folk dances with many
costume changes. Each of the shows was very professional and the costumes were
beautiful. We really enjoyed the shows. We took another swim before we had lunch
in a restaurant near the pool. Next to the pool was a large indoor-outdoor
restaurant with a beautiful thatched roof. During lunch we were serenaded by a
male vocalist who sang some of the great old ballads. He had a real good voice
and we found the lunch to be delightful. The open-ended side of the pool faces
the ocean. They also have a salt water pool that you can join in a continuous
Volley Ball game. Within fifteen feet of the pool is a beach area with thatched
huts shading the lounge chairs underneath.
We have often used the beautiful and extensive pool at the Jamaica Grande, in
Jamaica. It is our opinion it pales in comparison to the Costa Maya complex.
Costa Maya is without a doubt our new favorite port in the Western Caribbean.
In Conclusion:
We are anxiously looking forward to celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary and
renewing our marriage vows. I know that some of you who are reading this might
think, what’s so special about being married for 35 years? We would agree with
you except for the fact that we both were married more than 20 years during our
first marriages, which gives us 55 years of married life, and we think that is
very special! With God's grace, we hope to keep on enjoying each other and each
of the days of this wonderful life he has provided us.
This review was quite different than our normal reviews but we hope you enjoyed
reading it. We are looking forward to our up-coming cruises on RC’s new ship
the, ‘Brilliance of the Seas’ December 2nd, the new class Princess ship ‘The
Coral Princess’ Feb. 12th Valentine week, and we will be celebrating our 35th
anniversary on the new class NCL ship 'The Norwegian Dawn,' on April 26th. Our
December 2nd cruise is also a celebration cruise. We will be celebrating two
biggies. Mary’s birthday and my 37th anniversary in A.A. We hope you might be
booked on one of these cruises, we would love to meet you. Keep your eye on our
review page, we will be posting some very interesting articles.
Finally, we welcome any questions you may have, especially those from new
cruisers.
Make sure you read our “Loose Ends & Random Thoughts.”
May your next cruise be your best ever.
Our very warmest regards,
Tom & Mary
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD ENHANCE YOUR CRUISE:
Pre Cruise Things To Do:
For those of you who are reading our reviews for the first time, we suggest some
pre cruise things to do, that have greatly enhanced our cruise experience. Read:
“Before, During and After Your Cruise.
http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/ThingsToDo.htm We suggest you also Read
http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/CruiseExperience.htm : “How to Heighten
Your Cruise Experience”
Prepare Envelopes for Tipping Before you Leave for Your Cruise: Many of our
readers have tried our suggestion on tipping with great results. Following are
some examples of the many e-mails we received.
<<The tipping went very well. I would recommend it for everyone. All in all we
had a delightful experience made even more so by the tipping method. >> Mike &
Pat Ball
<< I followed your tip suggestion on our last cruise and had the best service of
any cruise thus far.>> Jay Krueger
<<I’ve been on 18 previous cruises and I never had the service or got the
attention like I did after pre tipping the crew on our last cruise. Your
suggestion worked like magic and it didn’t cost any more than I normally tip.
Thanks for a great suggestion. Mike Sullivan>>
Our Tipping Suggestion:
We like to give the suggested tip for the week, to our cabin attendant, waiter
and assistant waiter and Maitre`de, the first evening of our cruise. Tipping at
the end of the week is like locking the barn door after the horse has run away.
We make out [3x5] envelopes with a note that reads...
The main reason we love to cruise, is because of the way the servers have
catered too and pampered us during our many cruises. We appreciate what you do
and would like you to have this as a down payment on your services...Thank you,
Tom & Mary Milano.”
We have never had service on any of our cruises that was poor enough to warrant
us tipping less than the suggested amount. By tipping the suggested amount on
the first night, you let your servers know that you are appreciative them and
they can expect an additional stipend at the end of the cruise. [At the end of
the cruise we usually give an additional $20 to the waiter, $10 to the assistant
and $10 or $20 to the cabin attendant]. Giving an extra forty dollars for the
week, is a small price to pay to ensure the very best from your servers. Take
our word for it. It does make a difference. Make Out Envelopes For Pre Tipping.
Magic of the $2 Bill: If what we hear from our readers is true, banks
should start running out of $2 in the new future. This again is another low-cost
way of getting a high return. We start collecting $2 bills weeks before the
cruise. We take with us $20--$30 in $2 bills. I call these our magic potion. I
take a $2 bill and keep folding it until I have a small square, with the large
imprint of the $2 covering the surface. I use the $2 bills a lot in the
beginning of the cruise. It's important what you say when you give it, otherwise
it doesn't have much significance. When I give it to a server, I say to them,
“Give me your hand.” When they give me their hand, I take it and with my other
hand I show them the folded $2 bill; then I say to them, “I want you to know
this is a magic $2 bill and I can promise you that during this coming week
something special is going to happen to you, something that will make you very
happy.” Very few servers have ever seen a $2 bill and that alone gets their rapt
attention. Then you can see in their quizzical expression that their thinking;
it's crazy but who knows, it might work. Who among us doesn't have some form of
a lucky piece? A lucky coin, a rabbits foot, a religious medal. All we can tell
you is, we have had the most amazing, wonderful things happen as a result of
giving out these two dollar bills; not the least is the friendliness and the
exceptional service we have received from our servers. Start Collecting $2
Bills.
Make Your Luggage Easy to Spot: 85% of all luggage is black. It will save
you a lot of time and aggravation if you put a colorful bow or luggage strap on
your belongings. It is much easier to identify them among thousands of pieces of
luggage on the terminal floor...Tie Something Colorful On Your Luggage
The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important:
Mary and I have found that there are certain things that we can do the first day
that will set the tone for our entire cruise. The first thing we do is check our
table assignment. We can’t stress enough the importance of doing this. It’s
important to see if the table assigned you is what you requested. If it isn’t,
speak to the Maitre`de as soon as possible and he will has a chance to make the
change you desire. If after the first evening, you are not happy with whom
you’re seated, speak to the Maitre`de and ask to have your table changed. If he
can possibly change it he will, he wants to make you happy. If the ship has one,
this is the time to make your reservation for the Alternative Restaurant. Most
alternative restaurants have limited seating, so make your reservation as soon
as you can...Check Your Table Assignment and Then Make Reservations For The
Alternative Restaurant.
All Ships of a Cruise Line Are Not the Same:
Mary & I come from large families. Our siblings have similar characteristics but
each one has their own distinct personality. Cruise lines and their ships are
like that. Not all ships of a cruise line are the same. They differ for many
reasons. The age of the ship, the size of the ship (the tonnage), the amenities,
the expertise of the Food Manager/Executive Chef but the most important
difference is how the crew comes together under the guidance and the direction
of the Hotel Manager. The effectiveness of his training of the servers is
reflected in the way the crew caters to and pampers their guests.
The point we’re making is, if you want to increase your odds of booking the ship
that will best fulfill your expectations, we suggest you learn as much as
possible about the ships of the cruise line your considering booking. Read as
many cruise reviews as you can. Frequent the cruise message boards; Google is a
very good one, having many seasoned cruisers and TA’s as members. If you have a
question about a specific ship or port, post your question and one of them will
answer you. You shouldn’t leave every thing to your TA. Do as much research as
possible so you can give your TA the information he/she needs to help you select
the right ship and right itinerary for you. The Internet has a wealth of
information about cruising. The following are cruise web sites we recommend that
will help you in your research.
Our Final Suggestion is to ‘Write a Review: http://www.cruisereviews.com/submit/
After you adjust to being back home and you slowly recover from after cruise
depression, sit down and write about all the wonderful things you experienced.
You don't have to be a polished writer to write a review. All you have to do is
write as if you were having a conversation with your best friend. The important
thing is to be honest and forthright. Writing a review is a wonderful way to
relive your cruise, and at the same time help fellow cruisers by sharing your
thoughts. Tell them your opinion of the ship, the food, the crew, the
entertainment, the ports of call and any special moments you experienced. Also
write about the things that weren't so wonderful so your fellow cruisers can be
forewarned. Include your spouse and ask her/him for suggestions on what you
should include. And remember, don't be afraid of writing too much, longer is
better than shorter. People are reading your review to determine if the ship
your writing about is the one they should book. Put yourself in their place and
tell them all the things you would like to know. But whatever you do, the most
important thing is for you to have fun and enjoy what your doing. When your
review is finished, Tom Ogg would be happy to post it on his web site,
CruiseReviews.com. If you need help, Mary and I would be glad to assist you.
Loose Ends & Random Thoughts
Cruise Reviews.com Expanded Format:
Tom Ogg has asked Nancy Norris, to be a contributing editor to his page. She
joins Raoul Fiebig, renowned cruise industry writer and Mary & I, on the
Cruisereviews.com team. Nancy has an extensive background in the cruise industry
and her reviews and articles are a pleasure to read. Her passion is helping
singles and parents without partners experience the joy of cruising. If you are
a single or a parent without a partner, or just another cruise enthusiast, you
will love her articles and reviews. Make sure you visit Nancy’s page.
Tom has also formed a new CruiseReviews.com Cruise Chat Room and Message Board.
It gives you the opportunity to meet fellow cruise enthusiasts and enter into a
discussion about cruise lines, ports of call and general cruise topics. Register
and have the enjoyment of being one of the charter members.
How we Can Make This a Better World: Every single loving thing we do
helps to make this world a better, more wonderful place to live. Every smile we
share, song we sing, hug we give, laugh we laugh, tree or flower we plant, dog
we pet, piece of trash we pick up, and bird we feed does its bit to make this
world a little more like Heaven. Just think what a world this would be if every
single one of us would do just a few small acts of kindness each day. It would
be a paradise where the smile of God would shine on every face ...J. Mazella
Getting the Best Possible Price When Booking a Cruise: We have been receiving
many e-mails from our readers, thanking us for our suggestion on how to get the
best price when booking a cruise. If you would like us to send you our
suggestion, drop us a line. Regardless if you have an agent, take our word for
it, what we suggest is a win/win situation.
A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment: Mary & I have collected one page
daily meditations for many years. Our local paper published them as a daily
column. We now send them by e-mail, five nights a week, to our loved ones,
friends, crew members of some of the ships we have sailed on and to readers of
our reviews. If you would like to receive the ‘Teaspoon of Spiritual
Nourishment,’ send us an e-mail and we will put you on our mailing list.
(Example)
A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment
Compiled by Tom & Mary Milano
The Station
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see
ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train.
Out the windows, we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of
children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke
pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flat lands and
valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a
certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags
waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the
pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How
restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering...waiting for
the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it” we cry. “When I’m 18!” “When I buy
a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I
have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion!” “When I reach retirement,
I will live happily ever after!”
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at
once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream.
It constantly outdistances us.
“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24:
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over
yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us
of today.
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains,
eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more
sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station
will come soon enough....Charles Hastings
What is the Most Important Thing to Bring With You When You Cruise?: The
most important thing you can bring with you when you cruise, is a good attitude.
Don’t underestimate the power of ones thoughts. If you heed the words of that
great old Johnny Mercer song, “You Got to Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive and E-lim-min-ate-the
Neg-a-tive,”...you can be assured you will have a wonderful cruise.
A Good Thought When You go to Bed: “When you go to bed each night, look
back over the day and ask yourself if the world is better because you lived
today. If it is, be content. If it isn’t, you know what you have to do
tomorrow.”
The Agelessness Of Love: I was walking through a park once with a friend.
We saw many young lovers as we strolled on our way, my friend made no comment
until he encountered two elderly people being rather amorous on one of the park
benches. "That's weird," he commented. "They're a little old for that, don't you
think?"
I find it interesting... and as I grow older, rather appalling... that we
relegate romance only to the young. This comes from the false notion that
passions cool as we age. Vitality and attractiveness are lost, along with the
appetite for love and romance.
This is nonsense! Love lasts as long as we draw a breath. In reality, our
options may have grown, reflecting the accumulation of a lifetime of wisdom.
Feelings may have deepened and become even more velvety and rich with time.
Living in love, no matter our age, simply means we learned to keep our love
vital. Aged love, like aged wine, becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more
valuable, more appreciated, more intoxicating. Experienced lovers need only
smile in forgiveness at the very young for their incomplete understanding of
love, and drink fully...Leo Buscaglia
Why we Write Long Comprehensive Reviews! We write long, comprehensive
reviews because that is what our readers tell us they want. This is an excerpt
from a recent-mail we received.
Tom & Mary, thanks again and keep writing those LONG reviews. Trust me, newbies
like myself WANT all the information we can get...even the romantic hints
THE END
Ever thought of becoming a part time or home based travel agent? Follow this link to see some of the books Tom Ogg has authored.
