The Third
Wisconsin EMS Cruise
EMS Cruiser's Newsletter
November 2004
Carnival Miracle Receiving Rave Reviews
The Carnival Miracle is still the newest ship in the Carnival fleet. She has been on the seas since late February and has already delighted well over 50,000 passengers. Some of these travelers have taken the time to submit their reviews of the ship and here is what they have had to say:
Previous Carnival passengers say that without a doubt the Miracle is among the nicest looking ships in the fleet. Carnival Fun Ships clearly have their own look to them and while the Miracle retains the Carnival theme, a bit more class seems to have been added. However, a very large amount of passengers seem to comment on the rather strange colored balls that hang in the main dinning room. They evidently are supposed to be grapes, but they are more than capturing the attention of passengers. See if you don’t notice them as soon as you enter the dinning room for the first time. You’ll be thinking "those must be those balls that I read about in the Cruiser’s Newsletter."
Speaking of food, clearly the favorite place to eat on the ship is Nick and Nora’s. Many of the newer cruise ships have begun including alternative dinning as part of the cruising experience. Nick and Nora’s is located at the top of the Carnival Miracle. According to passengers, it is well worth the $25 extra fee. Nick and Nora’s features an expanded menu, superb service and a five star dinning experience. Several seasoned travelers claim it to be one of the best restaurants they have ever dinned in. EMS Cruisers will want to make reservations for at least one night to experience Nick and Nora’s for themselves.
Carnival is known for their entertainment, especially their full production shows. Each cruise features two large scale shows with over 35 live entertainers, singers, dancers, and musicians. The show that is simply bringing down the house is Ticket To Ride. This Beatle-themed revue seems to be the talk of every group of passengers that sails on the Carnival Miracle. It’s amazing how the same type of show that might cost $50 or more in Las Vegas or New York is included free with every cruise. Clearly, the show you do not want to miss is Ticket To Ride.
When you’re looking forward to – and having fun during – your cruise, the last thing you want to think about is having to return home. However, even this part of the cruising experience has gotten a significant improvement on the Carnival Miracle. If you’ve cruised previously, you already know what it’s like to have to pack your luggage on the last night and leave it in the hallway for pickup, go to your assigned meeting area, disembark the ship and struggle to find your luggage again in longer luggage lines than you’ve ever seen. Well never again – at least if you don’t want to.
The Carnival Miracle has introduced self assist disembarkation. Now, cruise passengers who are able to carry their own luggage off of the ship can simply wait in their cabin on Sunday morning until their area is called. They then walk off the ship with their luggage and right through customs. Many passengers report being off of the ship as early as 8:30 AM! Best of all, there is no pre-night packing, no cramped waiting in large groups, and no luggage hunting. Everyone strongly suggests that passengers take advantage of the new self assist disembarkation program.
With satisfaction running high and the complaints running very low, everything looks great for the third Wisconsin EMS Cruise. Care to read some of these reviews for yourself? The two best places on the Internet to head are to www.cruise-addicts.com, or check out www.cruisecritic.com. Both of these web sites have dozens of reviews of the Carnival Miracle completed by actual passengers – not professional travel reviewers. Take a look at what everyone is saying. After we sail, you may even want to post a review yourself for others to read.
Final Cruise Payment Now Due
As if coming up with cash for the holiday season isn’t enough, the final payment for your Wisconsin EMS Cruise is due by December 1, 2004. By this time your first and second deposits should have already been completed. Hopefully everyone has planned ahead and is ready to complete their cruise payments.
Lead cruise passengers should have already received their final cruise invoices. If you haven’t received yours, be sure to contact Magic Carpet Travel right away to request a duplicate.
Now is also the perfect time to consider upgrading your cabin to either an oceanview or one of the many balcony cabins on the Carnival Miracle. It has been said that once you sail with a balcony cabin, you won’t ever want to go back to a regular stateroom again.
Another tip for Wisconsin EMS Cruiser’s is that Carnival often provides complimentary category upgrades within cabin class (From 4A to 4C or 8A to 8C). For that reason, it’s usually not a good idea to get a higher class inside, oceanview or balcony cabin. For starters the cabins are identical in size. They are just on a more accessible and stable deck. Wisconsin EMS Cruiser’s are first in line to obtain a complimentary upgrade. Keep in mind, however, that these upgrades will rarely if ever include a change from an inside cabin to an oceanview or from an oceanview to a balcony. For that reason, it is best to upgrade those right now.
The fine folks at Magic Carpet Travel are always available to answer any of your questions or provide any additional assistance. You can reach them toll free at 800-776-7011 or via e-mail at cruise@magiccarpettravel.biz.
Just think, with final payments now due, or with your account paid in full, it means that the third Wisconsin EMS Cruise is now only a few months away.
The second stop on our first EMS Cruise was such a hit that we're making it a part of our next cruise. Cozumel serves as the home to nearly 20,000 people, and will soon serve as the getaway resort town for our group. The lifestyle of Cozumel is one sure to satisfy even the most demanding desires, featuring everything from diving to sport fishing for the adventurous, or from shopping to life on the beach for those looking for a more relaxing experience.
Despite its population, Cozumel is a safe traveler's destination. If walking is your preferred mode of transportation, you could make it from one end of Malecon – the town's seaside boulevard – to the other in less than 30 minutes. But why do that when there's so much to do along the way? If you enjoy shopping, or would like to investigate life at the local watering holes, such as the world-renowned Carlos and Charlie's, plan for at least a two hour journey on foot as you explore this fascinating seaside destination.
During your travels, medical personnel in the group may be surprised by the availability of medication at Cozumel's local pharmacies. Drugs which require prescriptions here in the states, like nitroglycerine, lasix, Penicillin, and even blood pressure medication, are sold over the counter by people who could not easily be mistaken for trained pharmacists. For first-timers, it's nothing short of an eye-opening experience.
If getting around on foot isn't for you, a wide variety of transportation options await you. While we advise against taking the local bus service, taxis are readily available for as little as $4 for up to four passengers from International Pier to the town center. Just be sure to agree on the cab fare with the driver before getting in his car. For longer independent excursions, Avis, Budget, and other rental car agencies are eager for your business. Conveniently located along Malecon and its side streets, these companies offer day rates ranging from $35 for a car to $50 for a Jeep. For travelers looking for a more efficient means of transportation, look no further than a motorscooter rental for about $25 per day.
If you’re looking for a variety of things to do, Cozumel shines in the brilliant sun. Shore excursions from touring, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, sight seeing; to a trip in a glass bottom boat exist for the sole purpose of fitting your fancy. Prices range from as little as $10 to as much as $100 for these expeditions, depending on what you wish to do. Like all of the other ports of call, these activities are available for purchase after we board the beautiful Carnival Miracle on Sunday, or you can purchase them on your own, often at discounted rates, from operators on shore.
As a Mexican free port, a prime attraction of Cozumel is its shopping. While it might be enticing to stock up on duty-free items such as perfume and liquor, which are widely available in the ship's many boutiques, we suggest spending your time shopping for authentic products of Mexico. In the beverage category, you'll find Tequila, the basic spirit in the margarita, and Kahula, a Mexican coffee liqueur. If you're a craft connoisseur, Cozumel presents you with exquisite and inexpensive opportunities – colorful papier-mache decorations; dolls and toys; ceramic dishes and glassware; cotton clothing; leather goods; colorful placemats; silver pitchers and dishes; silver jewelry (though fine quality is not cheap); copper plates and cooking utensils; hand-woven hammocks; and tapestries and blankets. Quality and craftsmanship vary greatly, so look around before you buy and don't hesitate to bargain. Using cash instead of credit cards can also save you up to 30 percent at some shops.
If you’d prefer to spend your day away from the hustle and bustle of shopping, consider an affordable trip to Chankanaab Lagoon National Park. Built around a natural lagoon, which serves as home to more than 60 species of fish, this vibrant locale is located on the Atlantic coast just five miles south of San Miguel. Enjoy a stroll through the botanical gardens, which showcases nearly 800 species of trees both native to the area as well as from 22 other tropical countries. A stop at the museum along the way will round out your day at the park, where you’ll marvel at marine life exhibits. Then, take your amazement to living breathing dolphins – one of the park’s newer attraction. No trip to Chankanaab Lagoon National Park is complete without exploring the Park’s Mayan house, where you’ll learn about traditional building and farming techniques.
Take your new found appreciation of Mexican architecture to the park’s beachside restaurant. Enjoy a meal under one of the many palapas (or thatched roof huts) for refuge from the blistering sun. The reefs in front of the beach are popular for snorkeling, and equipment is available from dive shops nearby. Restrooms, dressing rooms, and a gift shop are all close at hand for your use and exploration. Best of all, for only $7.50 plus transportation to and from the Park, you’ll have a fun and inexpensive way to spend the day in Cozumel!
For those looking for a fun day at the beach, a good time is yours to be had at Playa Mia Grand Beach Park – one of Cozumel’s newest attractions – by purchasing a ticket to Beach Break. This great mini-excursion can include domestic drinks, beer, soda, and juice in an open bar during your stay at the park; guided visits to the zoo; thousands of yards of beach front; a beautiful underwater Mayan City (snorkel gear not included); a swimming pool; many activities for the kids, including an iceberg water mountain; volleyball and ping pong courts; and fully equipped bathrooms and dressing rooms. Or, just enjoy a day of lounging around on one of the beach’s many hammocks with your own umbrella. You can book through the cruise line or, again, take a short taxi drive on your own for a great day of fun and relaxation.
We’ll have plenty of time to explore Cozumel since the Carnival Miracle docks at 7:00 AM and doesn’t set sail until 6:00 PM – just in time for dinner!
Save Time And Money With A Park And Fly Package At The Four Points Hotel
Veteran cruisers already know the drill: Get up early – very early – make your way to the airport, drop everything off at the door, find a place to park your car, then make your way back to the airport just in time to stand in line to clear security. If you’ve done it before, you already know the routine.
If you are like many Wisconsin EMS Cruise passengers, you know there is a better way. Why not travel to Milwaukee on Friday or Saturday, spend some time getting to know other EMS Cruise passengers, and then get a fresh start the next morning? This option worked out wonderfully for passengers on the first two EMS cruises and is expected to be a great alternative again this time.
Most EMS Cruisers will have to arrive at the airport bright and early in order to make flights to Tampa. Unless you can arrange for someone to drop you off and pick you up, you’ll have to park your car at the airport and pay anywhere from $40 to over $100 in parking fees. In fact, nearly all of the third party parking lots are now charging a minimum of $6 a day to park.
With our park and fly package, you’ll stay either Thursday night (for cruisers flying out Friday morning), Friday night (for pre-cruise passengers with Saturday flights) or Saturday night, leave your car safely parked at the hotel while you are gone and pay only $65 double occupancy for the whole package! You read that right. Your hotel room, parking and shuttle to and from the airport is only $65. Compare that to no less than $40 in parking charges at the airport alone, and it’s easy to see what a great deal this is.
The majority of travelers on the EMS Cruise are departing from Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport. This includes passengers who do not live in southeastern Wisconsin. For many, this might mean a very early start to the first day of your vacation as you head to Milwaukee to meet your airline departure time. Even if you arrive late the night before, you’ll find this package worth its weight in gold the next morning.
Many of the over 500 cruisers will gather at the Four Points Hotel on Friday, March 11th, have some fun Friday evening at the hotel, spend the night, leave their cars in the parking lot, take the shuttle to the airport ticket gate, and depart for the pre-cruise. The others will arrive at the Four Points Saturday, March 12th in preparation for the start of the cruise on Sunday. What could be better?
If you’d like to take advantage of this great offer, you can book your room right now by calling the Four Points Sheraton at 800-558-3862. Tell the hotel operator you are booking as part of the Wisconsin EMS Association Bon Voyage room block or use booking code 7399.
Join us for a great night of fun. You can either relax, retire to your room early, and get a good night’s sleep before your vacation, or set the pace for the week to come!