". . . all that hope and change c##p."

I recently had a post show up on my Facebook Wall that stated among other things, "we know who the fools are. The ones that believed all that hope & change c##p." My first response to think to myself, "Have I just been insulted?" Is someone insinuating that if I believe in hope and change that somehow makes me a fool.

Now I have to explain that I really think they were referring to the President's campaign rhetoric when he was running for office. However, even if that is the case I wondered, why would anyone call "hope" and "change" c##p? It just didn't resonate with me as something a thinking person would say.

Now I know that not all change is good and that sometimes we misplace our hope but to blanket label hope and change as c##p seemed a little much to me. So I decided to give it a little thought . . . a little thought (with the emphasis on the little part) is all it deserved in my mind.

At first I spent a few moments wondering whether or not we should be calling anyone a fool. In light of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:22 I suspect we should be very judicious before referring to anyone as a fool. There is no question in my mind the people sometimes act foolishly. In fact I might go so far as to assert that we all have or will have acted foolishly at some point in our lives before we leave this world. But that only makes us "acting the fool" not being one. That is perhaps with the exception of the atheist since Scripture declares that "the fool hath said in his heart there is no God." The "in his heart" part is important because that means not only does he say it but he believes it in the core of his being.

Now the dictionary defines the word fool as "a person who acts silly or stupid; a person who lacks judgment or sense. Or, a professional jester, formerly kept by a person of royal or noble rank for amusement: the court fool. Or,a person who has been tricked or deceived into appearing or acting silly or stupid: to make a fool of someone." I would add that it might even refer to an English soup such as in "Gooseberry Fool."

As serious as I think calling anyone a fool is, I realized what was really troublesome to me is that they were labeling anyone who believed in hope and change a fool. I ask, "why would anyone think of "change" and "hope" as "c##p?" In my mind change is inevitable and hope is essential."

Then it dawned on me they weren't speaking of hope and change in general they were thing of one man's hope and change. That bothered me even more than if they had stated a bias against hope and change in general.

Having hope means being optimistic and encouraged. It is believing that better days are ahead. It is that which drives change. For things to get better they have to change. Now I understand believing that hope and change is c##p means that they are happy with the status quo. This is as good as it gets so we don't need change and we especially don't need the change with which I disagree.

I remember my Father talking about a certain relative and say, "Aw,______ remembers things the way they never were." This was often followed with, "The only thing good about the good old days is that they are gone." It is true that we tend to romanticize the past and fear the future. But buried somewhere in this bit of home grown wisdom is the fact that change can be good and change can be bad and it can be both at the same time. The one thing that is certain is that for good or for ill change is inevitable. It is one of the few constants in life.

And that's why we need hope. We need hope to help us effect and adapt to change. You see that's what is wrong with ideologist. They are rigid and inflexible. They think every little thing that is inconsistent with their viewpoint is a hill on which to die. It is only people who are not afraid of change and have hope that better days are coming through that change that progress takes place.

I would add a third element, one that my FB friend did not mention, and that is faith. It is the absence of faith that has turned hope to cynicism for many. Faith causes me to act on my hope and both effect and adapt to change.

I have faith in God. I believe he is in control and that His will and purposes will be accomplished. I have faith in my fellow citizens. I choose to believe that with our hopes for the future we will believe that tomorrow can and will be better than today. It is through change wrought by our faith that our hopes become reality. Throw in a big old dose of charity (love) and we have the formula for building a great nation. Now abide these three, Faith Hope and Love but of these three the greatest is love. Love is a powerful agent for change. After all it was God's loved that changed me; it is God's love that dwells within me; and it is that love which will cause me to act in ways that bring my hope for a better tomorrow to fruition.

So my FB friend may see hope and change as c##p but I see it as a major component of God working in His world today. Only believe, only believe all things are possible if we only believe.

Is It A Christmas Or A Holiday Tree?

I recently read with interest an exchange between some friends on Facebook about stores no longer having Christmas trees. Now you will notice that I did not say they were no longer going to have trees. That practice they are going to continue. There will be highly decorated trees in the stores but they will now be known as "Holiday" trees. That discussion between my friends ended with the question, "Where did we go wrong?"

It is that question that I wish to address. We went wrong when we Christians began to stress the exchanging of gifts over the reason for the celebration. In our defense, giving and receiving gifts has always been a part of the modern celebration of the birth of Christ. However, it was never the focus of the holiday.

We could blame the transition on what in the 1960's we referred to then as the "Madison Avenue" retailing (marketing) of Christmas. That was when American retailers began to realize the enormous potential for sales that this gift giving custom presented. But that really would not be fair to these people, many of whom were themselves Christians.

No, I suspect where we really went wrong was when we started allowed the secular world to seize our celebration. Perhaps seize is too strong because in reality we pretty much handed it over to them. In some strange way we thought that letting non-believers celebrate Christmas it somehow brought them closer to faith. The birth of Christ and the Biblical Christmas story had no meaning for them but the gift giving was another story. That they could understand . . . that they could do not because the loved Jesus but because they loved each other.

Now do not let me loose you here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with people exchanging gifts with one another. After all the birth of Christ was the beginning of the greatest gift of all . . . the beginning of our salvation. And it was indeed because of the love God has for us that he gave us that wonderful gift. Hence the pattern is set for exchanging gifts as an expression of one's love.

Besides all that, didn't the wise men from the East bring gifts? They most certainly did and they were expensive gifts. However, these gifts were not for each other, or the Shepherds, or Herod, or Mary & Joseph. No, they were for the child born that night . . . the same child for whom the season is named . . . Jesus Christ!

However, over time the reasons for giving and receiving of gifts was so enlarged by slick marketing that in most cases the gifts we now exchange have little if anything at all to do with the gift God has given or even our own love for others. We do it because it is expected.

I remember that when I was a child our extended family would gather on Christmas eve to share a time of fellowship, food and yes, some gift giving. However, at some point during that great family gathering we would assemble as a group by families and someone would open a Bible and read the biblical account of the birth of Christ. This was followed by a prayer that always began with an expression of thanks to God for the gift he had given in Jesus Christ His son. This was done to remind us, lest we forget, that the heart of Christmas is the birth of Jesus. From the youngest to the oldest among us when asked, "What is Christmas?" would answer, "It is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus."

Yes my friends, where we went wrong was when exchanging gifts became the focus of the occasion. The evidence of this transition from celebration of Jesus' birth to exchanging gifts is demonstrated by the fact that we start our shopping on "Black Friday" (the Friday after Thanksgiving) and don't stop until the stores close on Christmas Eve.

This transition is so complete that our society now deems the use of the name Christ in conjunction with Christmas as politically incorrect. I heard a fellow on a cooking show on talk about preparing a stuffed pork chop that was seasoned with rosemary and other spices. However he said, "If you don't like pork you can use chicken and if you don't have any fresh rosemary you can substitute . . . " Somewhere in that his meal ceased to be a pork chop and became a chicken. I am afraid that is what has happened to Christmas.

Little by little over the years we have "substituted" away our Christmas celebration and now it has become just another holiday. I know that "happy holidays" is not a bad greeting; I also know that gift giving is not incongruous with Christmas; I know that having a "holiday tree" isn't a bad thing but I also know that it isn't really Christmas.

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

I always like attending church on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. One reason for that is because invariably some portion of the service will be given over to sharing that for which you are thankful. This past Sunday was no exception.

It is always interesting to me the kinds of things people share. Little children are always a source of interesting comments. One little boy is thankful for the "world" while a little girl declares that she is thankful for all the food. I liked the little boy who shouted out that what he was most thankful for was "My mother." I don't know what his motivation was but from just about every angle it was a great answer.

"Thanks" . . . that's what I like about this uniquely American holiday called, "Thanksgiving." It is a national holiday universally recognized by the citizenry that forces us to pause and think about that for which we are most thankful. I actually have the fear that like Christmas this holiday may very well be succumbing to commercialism as the "kick-off" day for major Christmas shopping.

I hope that trend doesn't continue because I think that reflecting on how we have been blessed and sharing that around a family table adds something very important to our national as well as family experience. Something intangible but very special and powerful happens when families gather and break bread together. It becomes especially powerful as we express our gratitude to God and to and for each other.

So, while I think of turkeys past and all the various gatherings over the year I want to begin by Thanking God for my heritage. Both sides of my family came to the shores of this nation before the nation was even conceived in the minds of our founding fathers. The hopes and dreams that they brought with them and all the struggles of each generation since then to bring them to reality are one of the things for which I am grateful.

I am grateful to all the members of my family who defended this nation starting with Samuel Appleby who marched with the Continental Army to help give birth to this wonderful nation and contibuted through every generation since.

I am grateful for the Christian heritage of my family. I know few families who has has so many ministers of the Gospel and teachers of the same over so many generations. It has been said of more than one of them by friends and neighbors that they were the "Godliest Christians they have ever met."

I am thankful to God for giving me my parents. "Boots" and "Syl" as they were known raised me to be kind but strong; independent but cooperative; loyal and accepting; and what it means to be a friend. Not only am I thankful for my parents but for every other person who became a part of my life because they were.

I am thankful for my wife, Susan. She has loved and supported me for 45 years now. That love and support did not require me to be perfect and has sustained me during the infrequent dark hours. I am thankful for the family we have together and the families of our children . . . they are precious in my sight.

I am thankful for my friends. I have many many acquaintances all around the world and I am thankful for each and every one but the people I am most thankful for are the true friends who have stood with me; have laughed and rejoiced when things were good and who have cried and carried me when things were not so good. I am especially thankful for those who have stood in the gap with and for me when many turned away.

I could go on and on. There were my teachers and fellow students; there were my church members and fellow staff members; there were the denominational leaders and missionaries/evangelists; there were my fellow ministers and my colleagues in the travel industry. So many people God has used to touch and shape my life.

As I look back over this list I find that the common denominator for everything I am thankful for turns out to be people. So as I count my blessing I discover they are all the people that God has chosen to weave into the tapestry of my life. I am so blessed. To each and every one I say, "Thank You!" Thank you for being a part of my life. Why not join me in giving thanks?

You'll Know Who Your Friends Are!

Tracy Lawrence got it right when he said: Everybody wants to slap your back, wants to shake your hand when you're up on top of that mountain but let one of those rocks give way then you slide back down look up and see who's around then. This ain't where the road comes to an end; This ain't where the bandwagon stops; This is just one of those times when a lot of folks jump off and you find out who your friends are.

In my life there have been times when I was riding high. It is during those times that people seem to come out of the woodwork to be my friend. Truth is, everyone likes the ride when things are going well. These people congratulate you on every little accomplishment; They sing your praises to both you and to others. They love to bask in the sunshine created by someone else's popularity and success.

And let's be honest. There is something inside us that enjoys the attention, thrives of the interactions and just plain enjoys being the man of the moment. But, we must never be seduced by all the attention and praise. Instead, we must keep our wits about us and understand that not everyone who calls us friend is a friend. In fact, most of those who called us friend will be as quick to jump on the bandwagon of those who attack us as they were to join the bandwagon that praised us. In fact when things get tough they will be among the first to "throw us under the bus" to save their own hide. The same people who today are singing our praises will trumpet our failings when we fall from the pedestal on which they have placed us.

When our feet of clay become evident these fair weather friends will like the rats on a sinking ship be the first to abandon us. But we must not mourn their loss. We should celebrate their departure as they rob us of quality time with our real friends. We should, in some warped way, be appreciative of our own failing because, as Tracy Lawrence says in his song, "we find out who our friends are." Or perhaps we find out who is not our friend and unless my experience has deceived me most of the people we know will come down in this category.

Perhaps they lack courage but most likely they were just along for the ride. Truth is it doesn't matter why they bailed out, only that they did. In this simple act of walking away they have shown their true colors (better character). When it counted they were not there; When they could have made a difference the chose to be absent. Worse yet many of them will fabricate stories about you, repeat spurious comments and generally kick you when you are down as they jump on their new bandwagon

Is this a bad thing? Well, at the moment you are experiencing the abandonment it certainly is painful. You have moments when like the Psalmist you want to cry out, "I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would acknowledge me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." (Psm 142:4) If we are not careful we will allow these people to keep us from rising as the Phoenix from the ashes of our present circumstance. Remember, these people were never you friends . . . they were just along for the ride. When the ride became too bumpy they left the journey.

By my definition a friend is someone who comes to you when everyone else is leaving you. They may not be numerous but they are more precious than pure gold. They don't judge you but rather they embrace you. They become your safe place. They look past any failings you may have and see your need and that is what they try to meet. Because they care for you they listen. In short they stay on the bandwagon and encourage you to go forward.

All this brings me to my point. When everyone seems to be jumping off the bandwagon of your life keep in mind that just because those who were along for the ride jumped off you bandwagon does not mean that your bandwagon has stopped. It is lighter; it is leaner; but it still has your true friends on board. And my experience has taught me that your in for a surprise as to who these true friends are. They are often people you least suspect or regarded as friends. Don't close these people out.

My experience has been that these dark hours in our life while painful are merely slow places in our life journey. They are not the end of our life. Too be sure they may mark the ending of a phase of our life but there is more to come and a steel that has been through the furnace is strengthened so we are strengthened through these trials. My advice is to embrace your true friends and purpose to go forward. As to those who wounded you I urge you to heed Paul's advice, Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

Oh yea, while it may not work out the way we planned it, it will work out. Remember, life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning how to dance in the rain.

Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Dining

Again I want to thank Iberostar for a terrific week. I suppose I should also thank Jamaica for the great weather as well. Yesterday, I talked generally of the Iberostar properties at Montego Bay and you can read that blog entry for some general impressions. Today I want to speak specifically about the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach . . . my hotel.

As indicated yesterday I rate this particular property as a 4.5 star resort largely on the basis of limited amenities ($75 for Wifi in the lobby only and not in the rooms)and the limited nature of their customer service (I spoke of this yesterday).

Today I want to talk about the resort's restaurants. The hotel has three themed restaurants. There is a Japanese venue called The Samurai; there is a steakhouse called Uncle Tony's; and there is a Cajun restaurant called the Jambalaya; there is a daily breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet eatery and a snack venue on the beach. With the exception of the Buffet all eateries are by reservation only. During peak season all restraints are open nightly but during off-peak they rotate. Reservations are required because seating is limited. Unlike the cruise ships there is no added cost for choosing to dine in one of the three hotel restaurants.

We enjoyed our Saturday evening dinner at the Samurai Restaurant where we met a pretty much international crowd which included an English couple having their first Japanese food experience, a Scottish couple who were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary by returning to the scene of the crime and a family from Houston, Texas doing a generational vacation. I was impressed with how fully they made an effort to accommodate the folks allergic to shell fish. The chef also put on a good show. After that we were done for the day. I would rate this venue the equivalent of a Benny Hana Restaurant.

On Sunday evening we had dinner at Uncle Tony's. The restaurant is presently being housed in the beach snack shack but the staff does a great job of giving it the feel of a Texas Barbecue House. I had a medium rib-eye steak that was disappointingly thin but was very favourable. Susan had a grilled Salmon which she said was as good as she has ever had. The staff was excellent and the service was top-shelf.

Monday night it was the Jambalaya restaurant. This is a Cajun/Creole style eatery and in my judgement the best of the three. The menu is wonderful, the food delicious and well presented. I had the Blackened Grouper and Susan had a pork chop. However, my favorite was the Coconut Shrimp. I really liked this venue.

As for the daily Buffets all I can say is that they were adequate not exceptional. Again, the Jamaican staff was superb but the food average. Actually the only thing that was exceptional was a Beef (ground meat) Strudel. The beach snack shack was handy and loaded with finger foods.

While the food does not compare with that on a cruise ship is is generally adequate and occasionally exceptional. Food service is good and the staff friendly and helpful. There is no reason why anyone should be unhappy with the food at the resort. It is good, plentiful, and available almost 24/7. I give the food a two thumbs up.

My First Experience With An Iberostar Property

I arrived at my home for the week, the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach shortly after 2:00 P.M. (cst). I soon learn that the resort is really a three resort complex made up of three Iberostar hotels: The Rose Hall Beach, the Rose Hall Suites, and the Rose Hall Grand. I suspect that Americans are as familiar with Iberostar properties as they are many other resort companies. At least I know I was not. In fact, I can’t say that I ever even heard of them until winning a drawing they had at the Miami Home Based Travel Agent Show a year ago. I knew then I was going to learn firsthand about them.

I need to say a great big “Thank you” to Iberostar Hotels for our complimentary stay at this property. It was a welcome and needed break as well as a terrific learning experience. As regards amenities it was everything it was advertised to be.

After a good breakfast buffet a customer service representatives for one of the hotels met me in the lobby of the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Resort and served as my guide as I toured all three properties.

After introductions and small talk I shared with my "tour Guide" that my major interest were, “What differentiates these three properties from each other?” and “Why should a potential guest choose Iberostar over the many competing properties at Montego Bay?”

The first question was answered by the tour of the property and the explanations of the Customer Service rep showing me around the property. I learned that the major difference between the three properties is level of amenities. There are other differences but this is the major one. The Iberostar Rose Hall Grand is a truly all-inclusive property. Once you have booked into this resort there are very few things for which there is a charge and these are things that are fee based at all the properties including competitors. A free fully stocked mini bar, free in room WiFi, 24-hour room service etc. Booking this hotel gives you access to both of the other two property’s amenities at no charge. Additionally this is a “no children” adults only property. So, if privacy and quiet are important then this may be your Jamaican Iberostar resort of choice.

The Iberostar Rose Hall Suites is just that, all-suites. The amenities are similar to those of the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach property. In fact the only real difference is that it is all-suites. It shares a security feature with the Grand in that it has a process that records and lets you know before you enter your room whether anyone has been in the room in the previous 15 minutes. Also this property includes spirit shots in the mini-bars.

That brings me to my home for the week the Iberostar at Rose Hall Beach. Don’t let the name fool you, all three of these properties are on the beach and have infinity pools. While the Grand has a Greco-Roman motif and the Suites is post modern, the Beach is very Spanish and probably best reflects the culture of the parent company, Iberostar. The amenities are adequate for this to be a five-star hotel. However, I personally would rate it closer to a four than a five when compared to what the other two properties offer.

The atmosphere of this hotel is more relaxed and the staff openly interacts with the guests. You get a real feel for Jamaican friendliness at this property. However, while mini bar is complimentary it only includes beer, soft drinks and water. No hard liquor except by purchase. The lobby bar is also complimentary. However, the liquors stocked are not what we would call “high” end brands as they are in the Grand.

Unfortunately I never got an answer to the second question. I was hoping someone would say, “Why it is obvious, it is the level of our customer service.” But they didn’t. In fact, when I said, “Look every resort in Montego Bay has wonderfully appointed rooms, beautifully landscaped grounds, plenty to eat and drink, beaches, pools, water activities and the like. What does this Iberostar Property offer that sets them apart and above the competition?” When front line staff cannot answer this question I have to assume it is either because upper management has formulated an answer or middle management has not implemented it. My experience tells me that no one in upper management has developed an answer to this question and that, no doubt, is because it is not a major part of their business model. And that to me is almost inconceivable for folks in the hospitality industry.

My experience with the Resort's front line staff was that they are capable and willing to offer service at the highest levels - they just need to know how and they need the support of hotel management. Cruise lines discovered this years ago as have most of the top hotels hence they provide training for their front line staff in both how to do their jobs and how to provide excellent customer service. Again, I do not know this to be the case but it sure appears to be.

An example of what I am speaking about: Because of a power outage a couple was trapped in an elevator in a little traveled portion of the property. This was an especially frightening experience because the emergency lights in the elevator did not work. As a consequence the on duty customer service employee notified the couple they would be receiving a bottle of champagne in their room. A few days later when asked about the champagne by the rep they replied, "What champagne, it never arrived."

Now I could stop there and talk about a lot of things regarding failure of the staff to carry out the request and they would all be applicable. However, being an old wily dog I new from the look on the customer service rep's face that there was something else going on. They never spoke a word but I intuitively knew hat it was not a failure of the front line staff. No this was a mid-management created issue.

Like I said, I'm a wily old dog who has been around a lot of years and most of those years involved reading people. Here's what my experience told me: A manager of some kind (probably customer service) decided that a bottle of champagne was too much for the inconvenience that the guest had experienced and simply cancelled the champagne. They did not investigate the incident; they did not tell the rep; nor did they notify the guest. All evidence of incompetence in the customer service arena. Reminds me of the old proverb that says, "For want of a nail a shoe was lost; For want of a shoe a horse was lost; For want of a horse a rider was lost; For want of a rider a battle was lost; For want of a battle a kingdom was lost. All for the want of a horseshoe nail" One can only wonder how many potential paying guests will be lost for want of an inexpensive bottle of champagne.

Now, because I always like to end on a positive note, I must reiterate that the hotel was well appointed, the food was above average, the location was wonderful, the grounds were immaculate and the front line staff were friendly, helpful and upbeat. These all make this hotel a great family vacation spot. I would certainly visit the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach again and will without a doubt recommend it to clients for whom it is a good and affordable fit.

Watch for more in the next few days.

Choosing The Right Cruise For You

Most of you know that in addition to other things I am a certified cruise consultant. As such I'd like to offer the following

I had an uncle who would never go in a cave. It was not that he was afraid of descending into the bowels of the Earth but an attitude he had. He had seen the magnificent Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and that was enough for him. So when we were at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico he decided to just wait for us topside saying, “When you had seen one cave you’d seen them all, after all they’re all alike. Well he was wrong, they are not all alike! I have been in many caves and there were no two the same. To be sure they are all holes in the ground with stalactites’ and stalagmites but that was about all they had in common.

Many people feel about booking a cruise as my uncle felt about visiting caves, that is, “there all alike so just go with the least expensive.” That attitude toward cruises is just as wrong as was my uncle’s attitude toward caves. All cruises are not created equal anymore than all caves are. Again, to be sure there are common elements. All cruises take place on water in a boat or ship of some kind but that’s where the similarity ends.

Truth is, buying a cruise is in many ways like buying a loaf of bread. There are so many varieties, sizes and prices from which to choose. I suspect the real reason for people always going with the same cruise time and time again is the same reason they stay with white sandwich sliced bread in a 1-1/2 pound loaf. They look at the shelf, see all the choices and finally just leave the store with the same old same old with which they are familiar.

Deciding to take a cruise is only the beginning and easiest part of the process. After that the multiplicity of variables makes the process a bit daunting for most people. That’s why I recommend engaging a cruise consultant. They generally don’t cost make the cost of a cruise more and they are a storehouse of valuable information and help. In fact, they probably will save you money, time and frustration.

But I digress. What I want to talk with you about today are some of the variables involved in selecting the right cruise for you and your family. The very first question you need to answer is, “Where do I want to go?” Today cruise ships ply the waters of the world. I remember when someone said they were going on a cruise we automatically assumed it would be to the Caribbean. Not anymore! Cruises now go to Alaska, Europe, South America, The South Pacific, Mediterranean and more. Don’t feel like you are “locked-in” to just the Caribbean simply because that is what you are familiar with. Your cruise consultant knows which cruise line offers the best cruises to each part of the world and is able to help you with this.

The second question you need to answer is, “How long do you want to be away from home?” The answer to this question will go a long way in helping you decide on a cruise line. Keep in mind that while virtually all cruise lines offer seven day cruises each one is a specialist in a certain length cruise. For example, the mass-market cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian) specialize in short cruises of seven days or less while the upscale cruise lines (Princess & Holland America) usually are ten days or longer.

The third question you need to address is, “What is my cruise budget?” Don’t try to book a champagne cruise on a beer budget. A mass-market cruise line will have prices generally starting in the range of $399 per person for a seven night cruise. This does not include port fees, taxes or gratuities. As a general rule of thumb for determining your mass-market cruise budget I recommend that you double the basic per person cost of the cruise (Fare, taxes, gratuities) and double it to get a good estimate of your “real” per person cruise cost. BTW – keep in mind that the $399 per person prices is the lead-in price and not likely to be actual price of the cruise you select.

Also, be prepared to pay for virtually everything other than what is included in the basic cruise fare. We refer to this as being “nickel and dimed to death.” The cheapest cruise is not always the best value for your buck.

The more deluxe cruise line fares will be higher but there will also be more amenities and a higher level of service. High end cruises include virtually everything in their fare price. Rates on all cruise lines vary with the season. Your cruise consultant can be of enormous help with helping you develop and stay within your cruise budget.

What is your cruise personality? Everyone has a cruise personality and that personality needs to be matched with a cruise line that is compatible. If you are fun-loving, active and filled with energy then a mass-market cruise line is probably what you want. On the other hand if you are more style conscious then something like Celebrity might be more to your liking. Point being that every cruise line offers a specific type of cruise experience and that it’s important to match your personality with a compatible cruise experience.

Another question is, “Who all is going on the cruise?” - Is it a solo event? Will it be a romantic occasion for a couple? Is it a multi-generational family affair? The answer to this question will impact your choice of a cruise line. Again, your cruise consultant can help you select a cruise that fits your need here.

Another question that I think is important is, “Do you like crowds?” If you don’t mind crowds then Royal Caribbean with her mega-resort ships could fit the bill. If not her sister cruise line might be a better choice. Keep in mind bigger ships mean more crowded shore tours and ports while smaller ships offer quieter ports and fewer lines.

“Is onboard entertainment important to you and if so, what type?” The mass-market cruise lines offer “Vegas” style shows while smaller ship offer more intimate nightclub style shows. Disney offer, well . . . Disney style shows.

Other questions are, “How important is a variety of dining venues?” What about the quality of food? How about “dress codes and formal events?” “Do you suffer from motion sickness?” All these and many other questions will impact the cruise you SHOULD select.

Selecting the right cruise really does matter. It is sort of like buying shoes. Select the wrong shoes make your feet hurt and you feel miserable the whole time you’re wearing them Select the right ones and you hardly know they’re on your feet. Same is true for a cruise. Select the wrong cruise and you’ll be miserable while you’re on it. Select the right cruise and you’ll have a great vacation.

That’s why the first thing you should do after deciding on a cruise vacation is “How soon can I sit down with my cruise consultant and plan my trip?