Congratulations Norfolk - Top Cruise Port Ranking!!

Posted today on PilotOnline, Norfolk was voted top cruise port in the country according to Royal Caribbean's weekly passenger ratings! Full article Here >

Of course, this is a weekly poll, but according to the article, it is gathered from "..up to 4800 passengers" who cruised from Norfolk on May 30th.

We hear similar comments about the beautiful terminal and the ease of the process compared to other ports. The port here, unlike most cruise terminals, was built specifically for people and not for loading/unloading goods as well as people. And you can really tell the difference...ask anyone who has sailed from Norfolk and another port, and they will tell you there is a distinct difference.

There are some comments on PilotOnline for the article that are negative...mostly about there not being enough sailings from Norfolk. I see that actually as a positive, that there is demand for more sailings. In fact, if the only thing one can say negative about the Norfolk Cruise Terminal is that there aren't enough cruises, then we are in good shape for expansion.

I happen to know that representatives from Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines, as well as other cruise lines, read this blog. So, a quick message to them: Give Us More Cruises! More Destinations! More Variety! If you bring it - they will sail! Just check out the article above...and contact Stephen Kirkland - he'll make it happen for your cruise line and for the area.

The last cruise royal caribbean cruise for 2009 is about to set sail!

On June 13, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas will set sail from Norfolk for it's last cruise. Next year, Royal Caribbean returns with the Enchantment of the Seas - it's a bigger ship, with more oceanview balcony cabins and was refurbished in 2005. They brag about having the very first (bungee) trampolines at sea, so you can't do that anywhere else. I honestly don't know how i feel about that.... to jump or not to jump while at sea. It should at minimum be a hoot to watch!!

Besides that, there are a number of other things that the Enchantment offers that are new (to us):

• Bungee trampolines, serious fun for thrill-seekers
• Massive suspension bridges spanning the expanded Pool Deck
• Pools for swimming and one dedicated to sports
• Splash fountain with 64 water jets controlled by a kid friendly touch-pad system
• Latté-tudes,SM a specialty coffee house featuring Seattle's Best Coffee®
• Glass-walled Viking Crown Lounge

By the way, my favorite place to be when we first set sail from the port on any Royal Caribbean cruise is in the Viking Lounge while sipping a dirty martini. Many people prefer being out on the deck, but for some reason, this really sets my vacation off on the right foot!

Please feel free to comment and share the place that you like to be on a cruise when it first sets sail....

9-Night E. Caribbean Cruise from Norfolk Port Highlights - Labadee, Haiti

Labadee is Royal Caribbean's private island, although it is actually contiguous with the rest of Haiti and is a private resort leased to Royal Caribbean. As such, it is fenced off from the surrounding area. However, when you get to Labadee, you don't really notice that.

Great beaches, charming shops, lots of water activities - this is what you will see. There is even a new Aqua Park for kids. Among available activites are kayaking, snorkeling, parasailing, and jet skiing, all available as shore excursions.

Or, simply relax in a hammock or on the beach. It's a great, stress-free retreat, especially if you have been busy exploring the other ports of call on this cruise, you should definitely take advantage of the time at Labadee.

Haiti itself has an interesting history. I pulled this from Wikipedia:

"It was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion. Haiti is the only predominantly Francophone independent nation in the Americas, and one of only two (along with Canada) which designate French as an official language..." For more, click here.