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Tom and
Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
Mary & I, retired in 1973 and moved to Florida. We were owners and operators of an award winning restaurant in Huntington, Long Island, forty miles outside of
N. Y. C. In the ensuing years we traveled extensively and played golf all over the world. We vacationed at most of the well
known golf resorts such as Greenbrier, Pebble Beach and etc. We often visited our daughter and grand children that have been living in Istanbul, Turkey for the past 18 years. We also had a ocean front
condo in Puerto Rico and we spent some vacation time there. It was often suggested by various travel agents we used, that we should try a cruise but we never
considered it because we thought it would to confining. We were used to the hustle and bustle of a the busy restaurant life and we didn't think we could take being
cooped up on a ship for seven days.
In the early part of 1991 we became very disillusioned with the lessening of service and the hassles associated with flying and made a decision we wouldn't fly
anymore unless it was absolutely necessary. At the same time we also decided we didn't want to drive any place that was more than one days distance from our
home. As you can see, we didn't have a lot of flexibility in our vacation plans. We took a Florida map and scoped a 500 mile radius of our home and we made a number of three to seven day stays at the best known
vacation spots in that area. As you can well understand within five years we ran out of places to go. It was then that our local travel agent once again suggested we
take a cruise. She had worked part time at our country club and knew that we had retired from owning and operating a restaurant. She told us that we should especially be interested in trying the Celebrity cruise line because the
internationally acclaimed and world renowned chef, Michael Roux, was in charge of their restaurant operation. To make a long story short, Lisa persuaded us to try
our first cruise. Our first cruise was on Celebrity's Zenith. It was an enlightening and truly memorable experience. We found it was exactly the type vacation we had been looking for for many years. Mary never liked
moving from motel to motel, with all the packing and unpacking. It was a pleasure for Mary to be
able to unpack and know she didn't have to do another thing until we were ready to return home. This was the beginning of our love affair with cruising and it continues to intensify with every cruise.
Our cabin although smaller, gave us the same feeling as being at a fine resort. The only difference being that this room moved and took us to the places we wanted to
go. We were impressed. Things were looking up. In the morning we called for room service. Within 20 minutes there was a knock on our cabin door. I opened it
and there was a smiling waiter bringing us the continental breakfast we ordered. Mary fixed our coffee and we had a delightful breakfast as we looked out at the sun
bouncing off the ocean waves. A most pleasurable way to start a day.
After breakfast we spent a leisurely hour or two while deciding what we were going to do. The TV had a channel that told of all the activities that were going on on
the ship. We were also informed of all the happenings aboard ship in a bulletin that was left on our bed each evening. Both were very helpful. We made mental notes
of what we wanted to do and then got dressed and went to the ships outdoor restaurant to enjoy another cup of coffee. It was a beautiful relaxed setting, with a
spectacular view of the sun rising over the horizon. After breakfast we returned to our cabin, took care of necessities, and changed into our bathing attire. We went
to the pool deck and slipped into one of the four Jacuzzi that were located on the outer perimeter of the pool. After a half hour of being massaged by the bubbling
90 degree water, we were totally limp and languid. We could have gone to sleep but instead we took a dip in the pool. It was very pleasant and very
invigorating, just what we needed. When we left the pool, Mary found a couple of lounges for us. We got comfortable, ordered a couple of Pina Caladas and enjoyed the
goings on around the pool. It wasn't very long before we began to think about what we were going to have for lunch. Our conversation caused our stomachs to
decide it was time to eat. The buffet was presented in a very creative way, with a number of fruit sculptures. The selection of hot and cold dishes was excellent. As
soon as we finished putting our selections on our trays, waiters came over and took the trays from our hands carried them as they escorted us to a table. Now that's
what I call service. Mary loved it. We had a very enjoyable lunch. The crew couldn't have been more attentive. They catered to us and pampered us in every way.
On a port day, we would go ashore about 11 o'clock and either do some shopping or we would go to a Hotel, like the Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocha Rios, and for
a small fee of ($10 dollars per person), they let us their facilities. The Beach, pool, restaurants, showers and etc. We usually returned to the ship about three o'clock.
We would shower and then take a nap or maybe watch a movie. Around 5:00 to 5:30 we would call room service and order some cheese and fruit and coffee. At
about 6:30 we would start getting dressed for dinner. After we had gotten all dressed up, we would go to one of the beautiful, intimate lounges aboard ship that had
a combo that played our kind of music. We enjoyed a romantic interlude, having cocktails and dancing until it was time for dinner.
The dining room and the table setting was absolutely elegant. The food was superb and the service impeccable. We had a
Maitre`d, waiter, assistant waiter, and
wine steward take care of our table and they did an outstanding job. They made us feel like we were the only ones in the room. Being retired restaurant people we
were amazed at the many things the kitchen was able to do that are difficult to do, even in the kitchen of a very fine French restaurant. Things like hand made pastry
baskets made out of dough that the starch was served in; soups that were some of the best we have had; salads served on a refrigerated plate with a chilled fork; al
dante vegetables, the very finest desserts and pastries and etc. The variety and quality of the desserts was incredible. The pastries were out of this world. The hand
work that was done in some of the preparation is only seen in the finest restaurants. Restaurants that have a limited seating capacity of maybe 50 to 70 seats.
Unheard of when your serving 1800 to 2000 guests. The dining experience was worth the price of the ticket.
After enjoying a truly memorable dinner, we stopped by another attractive lounge and enjoyed after dinner drinks while we listened to a very talented combo play
the romantic ballads of yesteryear. We enjoyed dancing until it was time for the show.
The showroom was absolutely beautiful. The appointments and the decor were elegant. The seating arrangement was love seats with a lighted cocktails table for
each grouping. The show far surpassed anything we had imagined it would be. It was a La Vegas type production, with a very talented group of young seasoned
performers. The choreography was top notch, and the costumes, the lighting and the special effects were stunning. After the show we went to still another lounge
and we danced till the wee hours of the morning.
We returned to our cabin a little after one, somewhat tired but completely ecstatic with the first day of our cruise. Mary & I reminisced about our day. We talked
about the wonderful time we had and the many things we did. We couldn't believe how many enjoyable things we were able to do in the course of one day. We
were talking about what tomorrow might bring, and all of a sudden we both realized what makes cruising the wonderful vacation it is,....we were going to wake in
the morning and have a chance to do all the things we did today and then some... all over again. We could look forward to our next day and the remaining days of
our cruise, would be exciting, fun filled days just like today. The last six days of our cruise weren't like our first day...they were even better. We had found the ideal
vacation for us. This was the beginning of our love affair with cruising.
We are passionate about cruising and are fortunate that we are able to cruise as often as we do. We now book cruises for Mary's birthday, my birthday, our
anniversary, Valentine's day and usually a fifth and sometimes a sixth cruise, if our agent Gari Senderoff calls with a fax special. Mary and I, refer to our bookings
as cruises when we write a review, but when we discuss our cruises with each other we refer to them as ‘Honeymoons." We do so because we can't think of a
more romantic, intimate way of spending quality time with the one you love than when we are on a cruise. We will be having a number of ‘Honeymoons' in the next
six months. We have booked ‘The Enchantment of the Seas' for the second time, Oct. 1st, 2000, an 11 day cruise aboard the ‘Splendour of the Seas' Nov. 25th,
2000, ‘The Explorer of the Seas' Feb. 10th, 2001 and Celebrity's ‘Millennium' for March 25th, 2001. We will be writing reviews of these cruises.
For those who have never been on a cruise vacation, we suggest you at least try it one time. You could very well find that it's just the kind of vacation that you've
been looking for. If you compare a land vacation for your family, compared to a cruise vacation, we think you will find that a cruise vacation is less expensive and
will provide you with a broader range of activities. We suggest you make a list of the things you pay for on a land vacation such as; reservations, transportation,
extra meals, cost of evening entertainment, keeping the children entertained, and any others you might think of. Then compare that with what a cruise vacations
costs and what it has to offer.
On a cruise vacation, the cruise lines often offer a special reduced airfare to the point of departure. The ships of today are like floating resorts with many of the same
amenities. You unpack your suitcases and your moving resort takes you to the destinations of your choice..
An attendant is assigned to take care of your cabin. He makes your bed twice a day, keeps your room in immaculate condition and is available for anything else you
might want him to do.
Your cruise price includes the cost of all your meals and room service, 24 hrs. a day. If you like variety in dining, many ships have alternative restaurants.
The cruise cost includes entertainment. On the newer ships you can see as many as three shows a night, Las Vegas type productions and all kinds of lounge acts.
Many of the ships have movie theaters that show first run movies. Cocktail lounges that feature every kind of music. Big band, Rock N Roll, Country, Jazz, you
name it they have.
Another important plus is you don't have to make a choice of either an inland or a beach resort vacation for the family, because a ship is both. One of the new ships
has a miniature golf course, a rock climbing wall, an in-line skating track and a ice skating rink. Ships are also like beach resorts because they sail to magnificent
tropical islands that afford their guests the opportunity to spend an afternoon swimming and snorkeling in the waters of some of the finest beaches in the world.
Cruise ships also have pools. In fact, some of the new ships have two and three pools, with adjoining Jacuzzi. Many have pools with a moveable ceiling that can be
closed in inclement weather.
If you like to gamble, ships have beautiful La Vegas type casinos with all the newest gambling devices. They also have daily bingo games with an escalating Jack
Pot, sometimes reaching as high as five to six thousand dollars.
Ships also have very elaborate Beauty Salons and Spa's. And if you want to exercise or begin a workout program, they have fully equipped gyms, with instructors
who are there to help you.
You have more opportunity to meet people on a ship than you would at a resort. At a resort you are seated by yourself, whereas on a cruise ship you are usually
seated at a table with other passengers. Being seated with the same people for the seven days gives you a chance to know them. If you do not feel comfortable with
your table mates, the maitre`d will make every effort to seat you at another table. Many ship board friendships are carried on for a life time.
Ships, especially the newer ones, excel at having top flight children's programs supervised by highly qualified personnel. Some of their activities are scavenger hunts
and other activities that give the children a chance to meet other children. Ships usually have baby sitting service at a very nominal fee, so Mom and Dad can enjoy
the activities of the evening.
Our choice of a cruise itinerary is extremely limited because we do not want to fly. We live in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and our cruising is restricted to cruise
lines that use the ports of Ft. Lauderdale & Miami. Ports we can drive to. All our cruises are to the Caribbean. The Eastern Caribbean, the Western Caribbean, the
Deep Caribbean, the Southern Caribbean and a one we haven't done before, the Circle Caribbean.
We have cruised the various Caribbean itineraries many times. Although our choice limited, it really wouldn't matter to us if we didn't get off at any of the ports. We
are not port oriented. We enjoy the ambiance of the ship. We will be making our 18th cruise in a little over four years and 9th in 19 months. We look forward to
every cruise we book with as much eagerness as if it was our first and with God's grace we hope to make many more.
In closing, we would like you to know that we are not travel agents or are we affiliated in a any way with any travel business. We penned these words because we
are passionate about cruising and we want to share our cruise experiences with you, hoping that we might encourage you to cruise for the first time. Or if you have
cruised before and have had a less than a happy experience, we hope we will change your mind and have you give cruising another try.
We would be happy to answer any questions you might have. If you want us to help you with booking your first cruise, send us an e-mail.
May you find the joy in cruising as we have.
Happy cruising,
Tom & Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
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.
