32 Day Cruisers... Shore Excursions are On-Line

Just wanted to let you know that Buzz & Karen has informed me that for our 32 Day Cruisers that your Shore Excursions are Available for viewing and scheduling. 

Hope you have signed up on Princess.com, My Princess !

Thanks Vaughn's
Happy Exploration!

Packing For a LOOOOOONG Cruise

Anxious, Nervous, Concerned ...Panic!!! How do you pack for a 32 day Cruise and not be dressed in style with at least some what of a “fashionista”, have enough luggage to bring all my “gotta have’s” and still not have to spend tons of dollars on baggage fees?

You gotta start by being smart and tough! Know that you will need to bring only the essentials

Cruise Critic: Long Cruise Packing
 http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1440#



Packing for a 36 day Cruise

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/pack-36-day-cruise-17899.html

CRUISE CONNECTION ...By KAREN & BUZZ

Let Us Just Explain....by Buzz and Karen Vaughn

We thought you might be wondering how two seemingly normal, quiet and upstanding people ever fell in with the likes of Roger and his adorable and sweet wife, Diana. You are probably curious about how she got mixed up with him, too, but thatʼs a different article....’er...book! The tale goes back a few years.......

It was 1976 and Roger had just become my boss in the Purchasing Department at the City of Irvine. I know, I know.....I should have immediately sensed something amiss with a man who wore a leisure suit with white patent loafers, a 4” wide white patent belt and had a life size CP3O cardboard figure in his office. Color me....DUH!!

Suffice it to say it was a very interesting 17 years. Yes.....I did this for 17 years - daily!! One of the only other women to surpass this record is Diana, so I suppose we both deserve a little credit for something....not sure what, but something. Funny thing is, I actually knew Diana before Roger in her role with the Cityʼs Parks and Recreation Department. She and I formed a quick and lasting friendship and though she chose to ignore my early warnings about Roger, I will be forever happy that she listened to her heart instead.

So around 1986, Buzz came into my life and he and Roger met through my work shortly after. The good news (I suppose) was they seemed to get along rather well...actually really well.....maybe too well. Do not ask what Buzz gave Roger for his 50th birthday, or what they laughed their heads off about at at friend’s wedding. They can’t remember one and the other is an inside joke, but these two events were harbingers of the future.

 The next good news was Buzz had already gotten rid of his polyester leisure suit (and Diana has reported that Roger  finally out grew his) so that was one less worry for both Diana and me. (Although, Laura, our fingers are crossed for you that Dell got rid of his polyester tux so he won’t think of reviving that formal wear from 1995 at Diana and Roger’s Vegas Renewal, yikes!) And the great news was that I told Roger he should surprise Diana and take her on the Coastal Cruise I had planned as a birthday surprise for Buzz and... he agreed!

This was not without some trauma, however. If you know what apoplexy is, you will know how Roger reacted to the $2500 price tag. I cajoled for days and appealed to his purchasing sensibilities in the end....how could he pass up a 7-day package that included 2 people, in a full suite, had free food (magic word), lodging, steward services, transportation, entertainment, many fun stops and the camaraderie of a cruise? He finally wrote the check. So, we surprised them both and the rest has become history....and an expensive thorn in Rogerʼs side, but a very beloved and fun one, too. (Right, Rog’?)

Since that first cruise together....where Diana and I discovered we really love the pampered life more than we thought (sorry Stella) and shared a passion for food and travel (guess youʼve noticed that)....we were hooked. Seems the menfolk were hooked as well! Could have been the spa treatments, comfy bars, cocktails & card games or the dancing girls or the food, or maybe the fact that they could travel without lugging suitcases hither and yon, didnʼt have to pack and unpack to see many cities and sights or that there were plenty of places to imbibe. Probably for all those reasons and certainly several others, cruising worked itʼs magic and we have been on many wonderful journeys together over the years.

But knowing the Davis’ isnʼt just about cruising. Itʼs about friendship and the people along the way. They include everyone with open arms and warmth. You cannot be unhappy in their presence. Diana, being the adorable, sweet woman that she is, and having a background in Recreation & Leisure Services, takes the game to an entirely new level, too.

Beginning with their wedding in Maui in 1990 and renewal ceremonies every 5 years in places like Vegas 1995, Re-Mauiʼd in Maui 2000, a Caribbean cruise 2005 and Cancun/ Mayan Riviera 2010, Diana and Roger have opened their travels and adventures to their expanding group of friends and loved ones. Subsequent cruises have found many of us together in China, the Mediterranean, Baja, the Mexican Riviera and soon the exciting Asia to Alaska cruise in 2013.

Each of these adventures has let us make new friends, renew old friendships, see wonderful sights and experience much of the world together. Along with their hosted cocktail events, commemorative tee shirts and goodies, we have also received wonderful discounts, upgrades or credits with our group packages. Diana and Roger always make sure their guests get the most cluck for their buck, and thanks to the efforts of Alex Kuncio, our dedicated travel agent, we have achieved some very special treatment. Her arrangements for our overnight in Rome were exceptional. The post cruise stay in Venice was sublime.

Then Diana tops it off with things like arranging group photos, pre-cruise luncheons (donʼt miss this event on March 2) and creating the Roger and Dianaʼs Cruise Blog. A lifelong learner, Diana has picked up the Blogging bug quite nicely. Her articles are always interesting, pertinent (Russell - read them please) and provide so much information that make your travels smooth and carefree. Be sure you donʼt miss any of her issues....they are really packed with great stuff.

And that my friends, is how we got mixed up in the best times of our lives. Who knew white patent shoes would prove to be like Ruby Slippers instead, but click your heels and you too will have a fabulous time. If you are new to the group, Welcome, and prepare to fasten your seat belts. Itʼs a wonderful ride, with marvelous people and amazing sights. The friendships we have made and the places we have been fill our hearts immensely and our photo books for a lifetime. Bon Voyage and see you all sooner than you think!! And many thanks to Roger and Diana. We love you!!

CRUISE CONNECTION SERIES ...Intro by Diana

Calling all guest writers from this upcoming 2013 Asia to Alaska Cruise... don’t be alarmed, surprised or shocked if in your email inbox you find a invitation to be a guest writer for this upcoming blog article series.

I wanted to do something different and ask our guests to write an article about how they heard about this cruise, what prompted them to want to go, what are they looking forward to. I also wanted to take this opportunity for our writers to introduce themselves to the group and share their cruise experience which may or may not include past trips with the Davis‘ as well as their interest and passion for travel. 

The article is pretty much in the hands of the guest writer. You can be creative, matter of fact or humorous! The article has no length limits, so short couple of paragraphs or pour your heart out and write a novella. You can personalize it and share stories of fellow cruisers  (as long as you are “nice”, remember what your mother taught you?) or keep it simple and share what you know best...yourself and your passion for cruising, traveling or friendships. 

Want to give a shout out thanks to Jo Mary for being our first guest writers as well as to Karen & Buzz Vaughn, Scott & Liddy Paulsen, Linda Spacil, Cristin George and my hubby Roger who quickly responded with a of course I can help! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....oh by the way Jo Mary, Michael, Karen, Buzz, Scott & Liddy are all returnees to our group. And Linda and Cristin are our new friends which I look forward to officially meeting them soon. So Welcome Aboard and thanks for your help in our Cruise Connection series... Can’t wait to see you all in print!

Photo provided by RTA & Associates

CRUISE CONNECTION ... by JO MARY

Hello Fellow Cruisers,

 Diana asked me to write something for the blog, so here goes.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jo Mary Murphy. I am retired from the City of Irvine, Community Service Dept. I worked at City Hall for 15 years.  I think I’ve known Diana for 19 + years. Roger worked on the third floor of City Hall and though I knew his name I never met him until the Med Cruise.

My husband Mike and I love to travel so when Diana approached us about the Mediterranean Cruise 6 years ago we jumped at the chance to be part of her travel group. We have been to Europe before but not to any of the cities on that cruise. This was something we had always wanted to do. The trip was two years in the making and it’s been almost four years ago since we flew to Barcelona.  What an amazing adventure we all had, all 60 plus of us. Mike and I met so many new friends and I got to spend time with my friends from the City. One of the best parts of the day for us was dinner where everyone came together and discussed what they did that day. Not everyone goes on the same excursions so it was great to hear about the things we missed. Unfortunately we can’t “do it all” as they say.

Now we get to do it all over again with the Asian Cruise. We can’t wait!!!!!

For you new cruisers, being with a large group has its perks. Familiar faces in a foreign country for one. Or being able to join a group of friends on an excursion, or just going off on your own. Having drinks before dinner or lunch with old and new friends. It’s all up to you. If you just want some alone time to relax, you’ve got it. Also, you don’t need to pack a lot since the ship has laundry service. It’s well worth the extra fee.

This will be our 5^th cruise, first time on Princess and second time with Diana and Roger. Our other cruises were with groups of friends, some large and some small. We have always had a wonderful time.  So if some of you are still trying to decide whether to go, just do it. You won’t regret it.

Mike and I hope to travel again in the future on one of Diana and Roger’s famous cruises. We are looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones on this Asian Cruise.

Bon Voyage,

Jo Mary

What to Pack for a Cruise

Grab a drink, a pad of paper and a pen, sit back, you will want to take notes! Watch this helpful video of "What to Pack for a Cruise"! Thought it had some great ideas of what you might want to add to your packing list. If you have about 10 minutes, its worthwhile...check it out!

Video provided by YouTube, What to Pack for a Cruise, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4D_KzcqWVg 

Create Your Personal Packing List

One could easily create your own packing list by simply planning to dump in the corner of your room all the items you want to take and then hopefully eliminating a third to half and then make a list as you pack. 

OR you could also check out these website and print up a copy and since we still have plenty of time. Take the initiative by making a list so you don’t forget anything? Either way, just be sure you make a list of all your items so you have it for insurance purposes (hopefully you chose to opt for that) and also if the credit card you used for your air fare may cover baggage? Worth a phone call...

Below are a sampling of website links that I came across for packing lists. See what works for you.....

Cruising Insider

http://www.thecruisinginsider.com/cruisepackinglistpdf.pdf

Independent Traveler 

http://www.independenttraveler.com/packing

Cruise Diva for Woman

http://cruisediva.com/print.htm

Cruise Diva for Men

http://cruisediva.com/print_a.htm

Cruise Crazies

http://www.cruisecrazies.com/packing_list.php

Rick Steve’s Packing List

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlist.htm

Universal Packing List- Create Your Own

http://upl.codeq.info/index.jsp

Photo provided by Flickr. zingersb (left) and josuppi (right)

Choosing the Right Luggage

Where do you even begin when you are picking out new luggage? This is the next step in what Roger and I are tackling. Most recently, we made a visit to an independent luggage store called Peninsula Luggage in the Tustin Marketplace. Roger and I have bought luggage here before and have had helpful success in getting questions answered and also getting some hands-on, real look at some actual types of luggages. There are other sources of course, including Department Stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Discount Outlets such as Premium Outlets and TJ Maxx/Marshalls,  Speciality Stores such as Travel or Outdoors focus, including Magellan or REI, On-Line Website Sources, Amazon, Zappos, EBay, Overstock, LuggageShow Room,eBags, tibesti and the list goes on and on.   

With our trip being overseas, We knew that we had to begin with our luggage allowance with the airline carrier we chose . Because we opt to travel business class, our particular airline allowed two checked baggage per person and obviously carry-on. But, this may not be the case for all.

Do your homework, so you won’t get caught in the hard sell of the sales person trying to meet their nomination to be Employee of the Month. So let’s start by listing some homework suggestions, before you head out to actually go shopping.  

• Find out what is the allowable baggage on your airline. Number of allowable Luggage, Dimensions, Weight etc. 

• How many days do you need to pack for? 16 day cruise plus ? 32 day cruise plus?

• How much do you want to spend on your luggage?

  

• Know your Luggage options and what you need or want: 

>Regular Suitcase   

>Garment Suitcase

>Duffle Bags

>Carry-On - suitcase, bags, totes, satchels

>Toiletries bags

  >Accessories - tags, belts, hooks, money holders etc

• Choice of Luggage options:

>Soft case vs Hard case

  >Regular weight or light weight 

>Solid Colors vs Prints

>Number of Rollers

>Handles, interior or exterior

>Interior storage and compartments

• Explore the websites and see the different brands and prices

Additionally below are some websites you can view to assist you in your knowledge of  luggage and baggage for your upcoming cruise. 

Choosing the Right Travel Luggage

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/packing-and-accessories/choosing-the-right-travel-luggage

Tips for Selecting Luggage for Your Cruise

http://cruisediva.com/luggage.htm

Best Luggage to Use for a Cruise

http://www.overstock.com/guides/best-luggage-to-use-for-a-cruise

4 Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage

http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/4-most-common-reasons-airlines-lose-luggage,7558/

Photo provided by Flickr.Pellgen

Cruise Critic's ...Packing For A Cruise

Came across this very informative article from Cruise Critic’s website, ‘The Ultimate Guide To Packing For A Cruise’. I know many of you might be thinking, “Really Diana, packing already?” Yes, really! It’s a multi-tasking-gotta do-a plan ahead kind of task! Well worth the effort in the thinking-planning-preparation, especially those ‘venturing onward to the 32 day cruise option. Following is the link to the website and check out the list of subject articles below for Cruise Critic’s...Pack This, Not That: Top Tips for packing on your next cruise. Thanks Cruise Critic for this great introduction to "PACKING"

                                                                The Ulitmate Guide To Packing For A Cruise

     http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1436 

The Basics: Cruise Packing 101

Guide to Cruise Line Dress Codes

Graphic: Anatomy of a Cruise Carry-On

12 Tips for Packing for a Long Cruise

8 Reasons to Pack Duct Tape on a Cruise

10 Packing Tips From Real Cruisers

Top 10 Cruise packing Tips

9 'Carry-On Friendly' Mini-Cruises

The Sordid Confessions of an Over-Packer

5 Things You Want to pack - But Shouldn't

Do We Love Free Cruise Bags? Totes! 

Graphic provided by: CruiseCritic.com

TRAVEL BOOKS - Diana's Top Five

Enjoying the last of the lazy warm days of the season? Thought you might enjoy making a trip to Barnes & Nobles or checking out on-line with Amazon.com for some reading materials for our trip. Fellow cruiser, Kelly asked me me what some of my favorite travel books were and so here are my go to Top Five choices, particularly for this getaway!

Number # 1 
DK EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE
When taking a cruise and time is limited to a day in port. DK Eyewitness Top Ten Travel Guide works well. It's concise and focused. Just explore by City or Country or Region
and you should be on your way to your destination.

Number # 2
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE
This is a the go to book if you want more details then the Top Ten. Again I enjoy the DK Eyewitness series because it's focused not always wordy and has quick points of interests and information which is helpful. Plus the photos are generally a great quality. Be sure to check this out, as the book itself is kinda heavy due to the quality and heavier paper stock. Do keep this in mind if you plan to take it with you.

Number #3
LONELY PLANET
Is very detail and what I can describe as a "adventuresome" travel book. I know my girlfriend Stella uses this book quite a lot for her planning resource prior to trips. Note that if culture, history, traditions and nature is your focus this resource may be of interests.  

Number #4
FROMMER's & FODOR's
In my opinion, these two books are what I consider the standard travel books. More like a travel encyclopedia. Lots of details and specifics. But, for me personally these books can be noted for updates and revisions. So be sure you check for the most current publications.  

Number #5
INTERNET 
With access to the world wide web, how can you not list this as a travel resource. Just plan to have plenty of time as you can find yourself lost in hours of explorations drilling into links after links.  Another new territory that I have not explored is the Apps world for your mobile device. Perhaps someone out there can offer their expertise and recommendation?