Announcing: Disney Dream Sail-A-Bration at Port Canaveral

Although she's actually been here for over a week already we're still EIGHT DAYS AWAY from the day of Port Canaveral's big Sailabration for the new Disney Dream. More about that in a moment, but first - if you're hungering for some Disney Dream eye candy, the Orlando Sentinel has put together a nice album. Here's a link: PICTURES: Disney Dream cruise ship

Now, on to news of Port Canaveral's
Live the Dreams Sail-A-Bration

Mark your calendar for
Wednesday, Jan 26, 4 to 6 pm

The Live the Dreams Sail-A-Bration will take place at Jetty Park. For free parking, just follow the signs to Cruisse Terminal 4. The Port Authority promises "family fun and excitement," as well as a chance to win prizes as the community wishes Bon Voyage to the Disney Dream as she departs Port Canaveral that evening. Although there have already been pre-inaugural sailings, this will officially be her 'maiden voyage' from her home port.

Tise attending are asked to please bring a nonperishable food item donation for the Central Brevard Sharing Center.

I was there for the Sail-A-Bration for the Carnival Dreamm a while back, and am hoping to be able to be there for this Dream's party as well. If I make it, I'll try to get some photos for you!

8 days and counting!

Awards

A quick bit of bragging. As many of my readers know, I have a design gallery of cruise themed gifts and personalized cruise gear on Zazzle. Today, one of my designs received a TBA from Zazzle, which stands for Today's Best Award.

This Mug received a Today's Best Award:

Anchors Aweigh Personalized Travel Mug

by CruiseReady

Please stop by my gallery - CruiseReady on Zazzle - if you have a moment. I would really appreciate it!  You are more than welcome to leave a comment while you are there.  I would love to know that you visited.

Separately, I have recently been given the Stylish Blogger Award.  I'll be writing a little more about this award in the coming days, but for now, I would like to thank Lora Severson, for giving it to me, and suggest that you also browse through some of her beautiful work at Lora Severson Photography.

Earth's Magnetic Shift Forces Closure of Tampa Airport Runway

It has been reported that the main runway at Tampa International Airport (in Tampa, Florida) must be closed down until January 13. 
The reason?  It seems that a 40 mile shift in the earth's magnetic pole has occurred  This naturally occurring shift has apparently tilted magnetic N more towards Russia.
This means the runway in question must be renumbered. For navigational purposes, the runway's number is consistent with its longitudinal orientation, which, of course, changed with the shift. 
The old designation of 18R/36L, for 180 degres (from th north) or 360 degrees (from the north) will be changed to 19R/1L.  This requires repainting those huge numbers you see on the runway.  And thanks to this event, now you know what those numbers actually mean.

Other runways will be closed to be 'rejiggered' later in the month.

And yes, it's absolutely necessary, since worldwide navigaation is based on latitude, longitude, and the magnetic poles.

New Year - New Ships

Happy New Year, fellow cruisers! 

May your 2011 be filled with health, prosperity, time well spent with loved ones,

and at least a few happy days at sea.

What's new in cruising for the New Year?  Well, one thing is that we can look forward to welcoming a few brand new ships into the world of cruising in the months ahead.  Here's a quick run-down of expected new launches:

JANUARY

The maiden voyage of  Oceania's Marina departs Barcelona for Miami on the 22nd. A Regatta class ship, but a bit larger than her sisters, at 66,000 gross registered tons, she'll carry 1250 passengers.

The Disney Dream will arrive at her home part of Port Canaveral for her inagural sailing on the 26th.  She's the first in the newest (bigger) class of ships for Disney Cruises.  (130,000 tons; 4000 pax)

APRIL
German line Aida Cruises launches Aida Sol.  (71,000 tons; 2050 pax)

MAY
Carnival debuts their 23rd ship, the Carnival Magic, sister to the Deam. After a season of sailing from Barcelona, she'll arrive at her new homeport of Galveston in November.   (130,000 tons; 3690 pax)

JUNE
The Seabourn Quest, new from the Yachts of Seabourn will begin sailing the Mediterranean and Greek Isles in mid to late June.  (332,000 tons; 450 pax)

JULY

Costa brings us their sixteenth ship, the Costa Favolosa, sailing the Med fromVenice, beginning on the 7th.   (114,500 tons; 3000 pax)

A new Solstice Class ship, the Celebrity Silhouette embarks the 23rd from Hamburg to Rome on her inaugural, then sails the Med and Middle East before coming to Bayonne, NJ in the fall.  (122,000 tons; 2850 pax)

Happy New Year from Cruising Musings!

In this New Year, may we all

Live, Love, Cruise, and be Happy!

Take advantage or Cruise Ready Store's New Year Sale -  discounts up to 20%.
Through Jan 4. See Store home page for details.

Happy New Year

Today's Specials at CruiseReady on Zazzle

Cruisers - today is the day to order that shirt you've been wanting from CruiseReady on Zazzle! Monday, December 6. Take advantage of these great Zazzle specials!

Jingle Sales – $6 Off T-Shirts & Aprons + Free Ship on ALL $35+ Orders! Use Code: JINGLESALE41 TODAY ONLY!

LOTS to choose from ... Sizes for Men, Women, Children, and infants/toddlers ... Many styles and designs ...

Here's a sampling

1 . 2- . 3

1 - Hey Captain ... 2 - Cruising Multicolor ... 3 - Ahoy

4- . 5- . 6-

4 -Parrots of the Caribbean 5- Crossed Palms Group Cruise Tee 6 - Cruising Multicolor

7 - . 8 - 9 -

7 - Ocean Waves Custom Shirt ... 8 - Rather Be Cruising ... 9 - Upgrade Fairy T shirt

Specials valid at all Zazzle stores, including TropiCards and H2Owater, too!

Swirling Sea Star

Want something cool and Cruise-y to hang on your Christmas tree this year?

Swirling Sea Star Ornament by h2oWater

Notice the pattern on the front of the star. What do you think it is? It's the churning water of a cruise ship's wake!

Now, you know what it is, but guests at your place might think it's just an interesting swirl of colors... until you tell them. (Or, you could play a guessing game with them!)

You can put the date on the other side.
The hanging ornament is from the H2Owater Zazzle Gallery, but other cruise themed ornaments are available at CruiseReady on Zazzle.

Got Bumper Stickers?

CruiseReady on Zazzle has cruise bumper stickers for you!  Put them on your car ...  put them on  hard-sided suitcases to make them easy to find on crowdedairport  luggage carousels, or at disembarkation. 

There are some other uses for cruise bumper stickers ... bulletin boards ... covering up a scratched area on a filing cabine, or other metal object ...  

 

Can you think of some uses for cruise bumper stickers?

Cruise Tote Bags

Ahoy Name Tote by CruiseReady

Looking for something special to take along on your next cruise?  How about a cruise themed tote bag with your name on it?   You can select most of the designs in a number of different sizes and styles, starting with budget totes at around $11.00. The Ahoy Jumbo tote above is 20"w x 14.5" h x 4.5"d.   And, for the AHOY design, as well as several others, there are even matching keds shoes if you really want to do it up right!

Life Ring Personalized Bag  and Ocean Waves Personalized Bag

Customizable bags for Group or Family Cruises can have your family or group's name on them, if you like, along with your cruise date and ship.  Customization is as easy as selecting your design, and filling in the blanks with your desired information.  And, if you need a great reusable souvenir for everyone in your party, bulk discounts start at at just 11 bags.

Rather Be Cruising Name tote  and Parrots of the Caribbean Name tote

You'll find a variety of bag designs to choose from at CruiseReady on Zazzle, including some that would be great for everyday use.  Again, you can make most any of them especially yours by personalizing the one you chose with your name or other special text.

Mark Your Territory at Sea

As I wrote in an earlier blog entry, my dear one always, but always,has a problem remembering his stateroom (cabin) number when we cruise. At one point, he had developed a nasty little habit of writing down the number - on his hand! (Men- what can I say?) I told you my solution was to put an attractive magnet or even a custom cruise magnet on our cabin door as a marker for him. We've done this on a number of occasions now, and it works like a charm!

I'm guessing he might not be the only one with that problem. And it will only get worse, as cruise ships get bigger and bigger... and the hallways with their rows of identical cabin doors stretch farther and farther.

So, I thought . . . Wouldn't it be a great idea to have magnets designed specifically as markers for cabin doors? Yep. So, Stateroom Door Markers became my latest design project. The first designs have now been added to my collection of cruise themed buttons, badges, and magnets in my design gallery at CruiseReady on Zazzle.

Now, of course, you could use any magnet to mark your cabin door... and there are lots of cruise themed magnets to choose from in my gallery - both fun magnets, and customizable cruise magnets that (like the cruise name badges) you can personalize with your own cruise information. But, now, there are cruise cabin door markers, too. Some are very generic, like the This is OUR DOOR one, while there are others you can personalize with your name or names. There's even a special one for honeymooners.

Maybe there's one there that just needs to go on your stateroom door for your next cruise. Look and see! And, please, feel free to leave a comment - either here, or at CruiseReady on Zazzle.

I Heart CocoCay buttons from Zazzle.com

I Heart CocoCay buttons from Zazzle.com

It's the Month of THE SUN

October is Sun Month at Port Canaveral! Yes, friends and neighbors, the Sun will be shining here, no matter how many clouds might be in the sky.

Why is that?

Because The Sun is coming - the Norwegian Sun, that is!

Yes, beginning the middle of this very month, there will be a new ship calling Port Canaveral HOME. For the first time in 11 years, Norwegian Cruise Line will homeport a vessel here at Port Canaveral. The Sun will be 'wintering' here for at least the next two years... She'll spend October to April plying the waters of the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with weekly Saturday turnarounds at our fair port. (The remainder of the year, she sails a Baltic Capitals itinerary.)

So, get ready, Port Canaveral, because:

HERE COMES THE SUN!
(Dah-duh-dah-duh)

This blog entry brought to you by
Norwegian Cruise Line Mementos at Cruise Ready Store