Picture this, my wife and I have just booked a Norwegian Cruise Line Alaskan Cruise. And now to book the flights using our accumulated airline miles.

Ok, there was no tragedy, there is no "Sorry you cannot use those miles on those dates" story. In fact we opened these new credit cards and were able to secure two coach tickets from Ft Lauderdale, to Seattle and Vancouver back to Ft Lauderdale, free, or close to free (see below).
I called up the airline and used the miles. It was as simple as that. Yes I had to pay $30 per ticket processing fee and we had to stay a day after the cruise ended (only because we did not want 2 layovers totaling over 6 hours).

So whats my point? Use these credit cards that give you airline miles. They work. Just do your homework. Look at all of the restrictions, ask the fine people on the phone when your signing up questions like.
• How many miles do I get as a sign-up bonus?
• How many miles is it to take a domestic flight?
• How many miles do I get per dollar spent?
• What is the annual fee?

About.com had a pretty good article about airline miles, click here to see it.

Think about it, you live in New York City and are going to Orlando on vacation 6 months from now. You and you wife get one of these airline miles credit cards. And even if you do not initially have enough points for your tickets, you then put everything you buy on them. I do not know about your neck of the woods, but down here in Sunny Ft Lauderdale, I can use a credit card for almost everything. Groceries, Gas, Xbox 360 games, My internet service, my phone service, everything. Your not buying anything you do not already, your just paying for it in a different way. And then in a couple of months you should have enough points for your tickets.

So lets say you do not have enough points. You can usually buy additional points. And trust me this is always cheaper than buying a full ticket anyway.


So check out those Airline Credit Cards, and start racking up those miles. Heck, you never know, buy enough stuff and you could be sitting in First class on that next trip.

Sweet Travels.

Want to have Sweet Deals on all sorts of Travel sent directly to your mailbox? Click the banner below and enter your information on the "Deals and Steals" portion of my website (lower right).

Most of us during the Holiday season have about 1,000 things on our mind. And because of this certain things happen. We might leave out luggage on the curb of the airport and drive away without it, or we leave out passports at home and have to drive all the way back once we are safely in the airport terminal.

So please do me a favor, slow down. Not just in your car, but in general.

• Get to the airport 2 hours ahead of time. So you have to do a little waiting. Waiting can also be called relaxing.

• Find out all of the crazy new airport security that is going on and follow each and every one. Trust me the TSA are not a bunch of happy people. So the easier you make it the less stress you have when you have to trow out that $100 bottle of perfume because you left it in your purse. Check this out before you go to the airport. Click Here.

• Know where you are going. With the advent of GPS navigation systems, and Mapquest, getting lost should be a thing of the past. So if you are one of us Directionally Challenged people, then make sure you know where your going.

Take it easy out there and remember to have some fun, eat to much and be merry. But also to be safe.

5,400 passengers
1,180 feet long
154 feet wide
240 feet high

This is the latest Royal Caribbean Genesis Class Ship, set to sail from Port Everglades here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2009.

Lets do some comparisons.

A typical Nimitz Class Carrier is
1,092 feet long
134 feet wide
And carries 6,000 service men

So that would mean that this new Genesis Class Cruise ship is Wider (by 21 feet) and longer (by 90 feet) than a U.S. Aircraft Carrier.

WOW!


If this new ship follows in the footsteps of its smaller sisters, like the Navigator of the Seas. Then it should have everything. Ice Skating, Rock Climbing, Mini golf a Johnny Rockets and a Mall.

She will have to tender at most ports, simply because they are not deep enough to berth her. And I hope that RCI, takes this into consideration and improves the tender system a bit. I am talking more tenders, faster loading.

But this is not her only problem. I took a cruise with some friends a few years ago on the Navigator of the Seas. 135,000 tons displaced and 3,200 passengers. We disembarked from the Port of Miami and it took us 2-1/2 hours to get on board. Man that was tough. So why do you ask did it take so long, only two US Customs xray machines, only 10 check-in counters open and countless other problems.

But go a few hours North and hop on a Disney Cruise. Why your on the ship in less than 10 minutes. No joke. And no waiting for some crazy color to be called to get off the ship. Just have a bite to eat and walk right off. Yes there are only 1,200 people on board, but still triple Disney's time and your still at 30-40 minutes. Not 2-1/2 hours. Why you ask. Well first off there are 4 x-ray machines manned by a full staff of Security Guards. Next, there are 6-8 cast members helping people with there paperwork. Yes, someone coms up to you and will show you in detail what you need to fill out, and what you need to sign, Then he will hand you your passports, all the paperwork you need and point you to a line. The shortest cruise ship check in line ever.

Sweet Rates for Sweet Escapes

Bon Bon Travel
ww.bonbontravel.com

Space Ship Earth holds special place in my heart. Always there, looming our the horizon, shining brightly in the daylight, and glowing under the moonlight (and laser light) night.

So how do I react to all of this negative press coming from the folks that post in the forums over at WDWMagic.com? Well sadness, and a "I am not going to believe it is true," attitude.

It cannot be a bad renovation, it simply cannot. WDI brought in the some of the original Imagineers to help with the renovations. Siemens (or someone real smart) got the Suits to take down the cursed wand. So how can they mess with my beloved Space Ship Earth.

Well I am going to have to see the finished product for myself come February. It is not done, and maybe WDI is just teasing us. A theme Park Focus group. Maybe they will read the hundreds of posts about the ride and fix what is not up to the high standards we who still call it Epcot Center hold.

But if this is it, and all we get is a lack luster renovation, I have to tell you that I probably will still like it. Spiraling up in those blue or teal cars, passing the smell of Rome Burning, the sleeping Monks, MichaelAngelo painting his masterpiece, and that small Animatronic Boy shouting "Extra" still given me goose bumps each and every time I ride it.

It is usually the first and the last thing I do at yet another wonderful day at Epcot Center.

To all that read this, please take the time to get over to Kissimmee, to the Reedy Creek Improvement District a little place called Disney World. With all of the new ideas and innoventions coming in the next year you will not be let down.


Need a great rate on a vacation, visit www.BonBonTravel.com

I am new to this blogging thing so please bear with me.

I love to Travel. I love to talk about travel, to think about traveling. This blog will be all about that, Travel.

I am also a huge Disney fan. I drag my family up to Orlando four times a year. So this blog will also be a place I can come to talk about the House of Mouse.

Welcome and thank you for reading me blog. If you have anything you wish to talk about, please drop me an email. I hope this will be informative for everyone.