Saturday, May 26, 2007
Drive Like a Cop
The FBI says police officers are about as likely to be killed in a vehicle crash as with a criminal's gun. Cops drive in a high-threat, workload-intensive environment: blaring sirens, flashing computers, screaming radios, civilian drivers seemingly bent on kamikaze attacks, and, at their destination, angry bad guys who don't particularly respect public servants. All reasons that cops take driving very seriously. With feedback from officers in the field, law enforcement driving instructors have compiled numerous tips to help their students avoid becoming a statistic. Here, we pass those along to you.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
The Ship
"Freedom of the Seas." We board 'Liberty of the Seas" today, the second of three ships to be launched in this class.
Liberty of the Seas is Officially Named in Stateside Ceremony
MIAMI, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With a dramatic smash of the champagne bottle against its brand new hull, Royal Caribbean International's 21st cruise ship, Liberty of the Seas, was officially named by travel agent godmother Donnalea Madeley today at the Port of Miami. The naming ceremony included performances by the Miami Children's Chorus, blessings by Rabbi Terry Bookman and Pastor Sverre Tofte, as well as remarks and a tribute by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO, Richard Fain.
Performing the prestigious role often reserved for dignitaries and celebrities, Donnalea Madeley is the first travel agent to be the godmother of a Royal Caribbean ship. Ms. Madeley, of Ontario-based Marlin Travel, was selected from among nearly 2,500 nominations of exemplary women travel agents who have demonstrated dedication to philanthropy and service in their communities.
Holding the dual-title of world's largest cruise ship along with sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty is the first Royal Caribbean ship to showcase the line's enhanced onboard programming in the wellness, family and teen, and weddings arenas -- implemented to give all guests more onboard options and activities.
"We have listened to guest feedback and with the launch of Liberty of the Seas, we are proud to introduce new and enhanced onboard programs to give vacationers even more choices when cruising on our ships," said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International. "Our new programming will be rolled out fleet-wide this year, giving people even more reasons to book a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation."
Liberty features cruise industry innovations such as the FlowRider(R) surf simulator, the Powerbox boxing ring, the H2O Zone water park and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard, as well as the new programming, which includes Explorer Weddings, for couples looking to tie the knot in extreme style; the Vitality wellness program, promoting a healthier vacation with new, well-balanced fitness, spa, shore excursions and culinary choices; and new family programming, for children and teens.
At 160,000 gross registered tons, and a capacity of 3,634 guests (double- occupancy), Liberty of the Seas was built by Aker Yards, Finland, over the course of two years. Having just completed preview sailings from Southampton, England, Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, and the Port of Miami, she sets sail on her maiden Caribbean voyage tomorrow from Miami, and will continue to depart on Saturdays, with her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, departing on Sundays. The two sister ships will alternate between 7- night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Both itineraries include a call at Royal Caribbean's private destination Labadee, Haiti. Liberty's Western Caribbean itinerary calls in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, allowing for a third day at sea to take advantage of all the ship has to offer.
The two Freedom-class ships will be joined by a third, Independence of the Seas, when she debuts in Europe in May 2008. She will sail from the United Kingdom during her premier season and will be the largest ship home-ported in Europe.
Performing the prestigious role often reserved for dignitaries and celebrities, Donnalea Madeley is the first travel agent to be the godmother of a Royal Caribbean ship. Ms. Madeley, of Ontario-based Marlin Travel, was selected from among nearly 2,500 nominations of exemplary women travel agents who have demonstrated dedication to philanthropy and service in their communities.
Holding the dual-title of world's largest cruise ship along with sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty is the first Royal Caribbean ship to showcase the line's enhanced onboard programming in the wellness, family and teen, and weddings arenas -- implemented to give all guests more onboard options and activities.
"We have listened to guest feedback and with the launch of Liberty of the Seas, we are proud to introduce new and enhanced onboard programs to give vacationers even more choices when cruising on our ships," said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International. "Our new programming will be rolled out fleet-wide this year, giving people even more reasons to book a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation."
Liberty features cruise industry innovations such as the FlowRider(R) surf simulator, the Powerbox boxing ring, the H2O Zone water park and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard, as well as the new programming, which includes Explorer Weddings, for couples looking to tie the knot in extreme style; the Vitality wellness program, promoting a healthier vacation with new, well-balanced fitness, spa, shore excursions and culinary choices; and new family programming, for children and teens.
At 160,000 gross registered tons, and a capacity of 3,634 guests (double- occupancy), Liberty of the Seas was built by Aker Yards, Finland, over the course of two years. Having just completed preview sailings from Southampton, England, Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, and the Port of Miami, she sets sail on her maiden Caribbean voyage tomorrow from Miami, and will continue to depart on Saturdays, with her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, departing on Sundays. The two sister ships will alternate between 7- night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Both itineraries include a call at Royal Caribbean's private destination Labadee, Haiti. Liberty's Western Caribbean itinerary calls in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, allowing for a third day at sea to take advantage of all the ship has to offer.
The two Freedom-class ships will be joined by a third, Independence of the Seas, when she debuts in Europe in May 2008. She will sail from the United Kingdom during her premier season and will be the largest ship home-ported in Europe.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Leaving On A Cruise
After spending most of the day travelling to Miami, we are here! Tomorrow we board our ship "The Liberty of the Seas." Time to go and find dinner.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
We're Back!
We are back in the house after a week in the fine Oxford Suites. The floor and ceiling repairs have been completed! We are going through each room putting it back together and cleaning it of the fine wood floor dust that coats everything. The smell is still pretty strong downstairs but upstairs you have no idea. This whole process is very reminiscent of when we first moved in July of 2006.
Mishra the cat had just decided that we were going to live in the hotel from now on when we scooped her up and brought her back. She did fine and will figure out soon enough that this is indeed home.
Time to go and BBQ!
Mishra the cat had just decided that we were going to live in the hotel from now on when we scooped her up and brought her back. She did fine and will figure out soon enough that this is indeed home.
Time to go and BBQ!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Moving Out!
Tomorrow starts the resurfacing of all the hard wood floors. We spent the afternoon moving all of the furniture into the living room.
Since we are pretty sure the house will be absolutely FULL of dust when this is all through, we moved everything we could into one place to be covered with plastic.
Yup, that is the pile over there.
We will check into a hotel tomorrow morning and be out of the house all this week while the floor job, ceiling repair, and several other issues are dealt with. Hopefully this will be the end of it.
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