With the second Wisconsin EMS Cruise leaving port at 4:00 PM on Sunday, everyone was thrilled to find out a Saturday night stay in Miami would be offered as an add-on to the cruise.

Most people would guess that with everything in the United States being what it is since September 11th, the travel industry would be very happy to book a large group. They would guess that since the airlines are getting money from the government and showing huge losses on their balance sheets they would be thrilled at the opportunity to fill airline seats with EMTs, and first responders along with their family and friends. Most people might guess these things but they would be wrong!

Attempting to put together a pre-cruise package has been just short of a nightmare. Don Hunjadi, the Wisconsin EMS Association’s Executive Director flew to Miami in March to locate hotels for our stay, tour the ship, and put together a pre-cruise stay. The ship looks great, in fact you can see the video he shot on the cruise web site. He found several nice hotels overlooking the Port of Miami who were willing to book rooms. So far so good. Then came finding airline seats to get everyone to Florida. Not one single airline was willing to offer a large block of seats. Not one! Several said we could have 20 or even 30 seats, but with nearly 500 people involved that wouldn’t cut it.

Plan B was to have the cruise line continue to provide the air and then use the hotel rooms we had placed on hold. The problem with plan B was the cruise line refused to use our hotel rooms, instead forcing us to use their contracted hotels. We have to admit that their hotel was one step up in quality from ours. Then again, at double the price it had better be!

The Wisconsin EMS Association had to decide whether to scrap the whole idea or take what we could get. Because so many cruisers had expressed interest in a pre-night stay, the Board of Directors decided to go ahead and offer the pre-night package as long as we let everyone know all of the details before they booked.

Should you fly to Miami the day before the cruise? Should you take advantage of the pre-cruise package being offered? We’ll answer the first question first. The answer to the second question depends on how much work you want to put in finding something on your own.

Heading to Miami the day before the cruise is a great idea! With Wisconsin winters being what they are, there is always the chance that the big one could hit just when everyone needs to get out of town. A big storm could prevent you from getting to Miami in time for the ship’s departure. The cruise line always tries to accommodate large groups but is under no obligation to wait if passengers miss the boat, er ship, in this case. Departure time is 4:00 PM, but the ship typically boards passengers at about noon. Up to 2,750 people could be on the ship. That’s quite a few people to get on board which results in long lines. Finally, getting up at the crack of dawn, flying out a few cracks later, working your way through several airports, retrieving your luggage, getting to the ship, standing in line and finally getting on board really tends to take the fun out of your first day.

The answer to these problems is to fly down the day before. Take it easy in your hotel or even head to Miami Beech, South Beech, or the City of Miami on Saturday. Sunday morning you’ll wake up, look out of your hotel and see the Carnival Victory docked in port waiting for you. Yep, the hotels are that close, you’ll be able to see the ship! A shuttle bus will have you at the ship in time to be one of the very first passengers to board. The ship will be pretty empty by the time you get on, but everything, other than the casino, will be open for business. While you are sitting by the pool, having lunch, or drinking a cool one, the other passengers will be enduring a day full of travel.

When you look at it this way, it’s pretty easy to see that a pre-cruise stay is a very good idea! That brings us to question two.

Should you take advantage of the package offered by the cruise line? The Inter-Continental Hotel is a very nice property situated right at the Port of Miami. Downtown Miami is not the safest place to be. However, the area this hotel is located in is as safe as it will get. Truth be known, as long as you stay in groups, use common sense and don’t hang around on the streets by your self at night, you will have nothing to worry about. Even though everyone will stay in the same hotel, the airline seats will be provided by a variety of carriers and at a variety of times. At a total cost of $190 for two people, we believe the package is an average deal.

If you are one of those people who book your own travel on the Internet, has frequent flyer miles to use, is not planning on using the cruise package air, or in general is comfortable making your own travel arrangements, we’d suggest you consider putting a pre-night stay together on your own. There is a good chance you’ll be able to save yourself some money. You’ll also be able to pick your own flight times rather than take what you get from the cruise line.

If you’ve never booked your own travel or just want to make one phone call or fill out one form and be done with it, we think you should take the package. While you may pay a little bit more, you’ll have everything, from air travel to transportation and hotel accommodations, laid out for you.

The pre-cruse stay is still a great idea and the package being offered includes a very nice hotel. It just didn’t work out like we had hoped and isn’t quite the great deal the Wisconsin EMS Association continually strives to bring to its members. We wanted to be sure all of the passengers on the Second Wisconsin EMS Cruise had enough information to make an informed decision.

Your pre-cruise stay has to be booked right away and is not able to be cancelled. It already looks like quite a few people will be booking this package with others already making their own arrangements. Whatever you do, don’t wait to decide. If you want to start your vacation off right, start making your plans to stay in Miami on March 8, 2003. We’re sure you’ll be glad you did!

There are very few ports of call on any cruise ship that take place at night. Nearly everything is an early or mid-morning to late afternoon stop before getting the ship on her way to the next port. That routine gets altered with our very first stop on the Wisconsin EMS Cruise.

The cruise starts off with nearly two full days at sea. Chances are good you’ll be ready for our first stop by the time we dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship hits port at about 5 PM and won’t get under way again until after midnight leaving you with plenty of time to nose around town.

Many people say that if you can’t find something to amuse yourself in San Juan, you need to check your pulse. It’s a late-night town with the action really starting to heat up about 9 or 10 and lasting until long after we’ll be gone. The Old City is ground zero for our stop. If you’re looking for something a little more laid back there are piano bars in many of the cafes, clubs and discos. Restaurants will suit many tastes with anything from Tex-Mex, Latin, Caribbean and even American cuisine.

While quiet and out of the way may be nice for a while, to really say you’ve partied in San Juan you need to get out and about to clubs like Babylon, Cafe Bohemio or the show bar in the Wyndham El San Juan, where the whole city goes salsa. You’ll even find this city’s version of the Hard Rock Cafe.

Many islanders are somewhat conservative in dress and manners despite a penchant for frenetic music and sexually charged dance. Puerto Ricans have, in general, a strong sense of religion. There’s also a strong sense of island identity. Puerto Rico is officially bilingual. Spanish predominates although English is widely spoken.

San Juan, like any other big city, has its share of crime, so guard your wallet or purse on the city streets. Although you certainly can, and should, explore the city and if you wish, its beaches, use common sense. Don’t leave anything unattended on the beach. Leave your valuables back on the ship, and stick to the fenced-in beach areas.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has instituted a well-organized taxi program in San Juan. Taxis painted white and sporting the garita (sentry box) logo and Taxi Turístico label charge set rates depending on the destination. They run from the cruise-ship pier to Isla Verde, Condado/Ocean Park, and Old San Juan, with rates ranging from $6 to $16. If your feet fail you in Old San Juan, climb aboard the free open-air trolleys that rumble and coast through the narrow streets. Departures are from La Puntilla and from the marina, but you can board anywhere along the route.

Puerto Rico, as a part of the United States, uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency. Traveler’s checks are a good idea, but get them in small denominations - $20 or $50. Restaurants and most shops will accept them. If you venture to any rural areas or small villages you’ll need cash.

Chances are you’ll be in full party mode and before you know it, it will be time to head back to the ship. Transportation is typically plentiful as the locals are accustomed to getting hundreds or even thousands of cruise passengers back to their ships every night. Just be sure to allow enough time to return prior to the ship setting sail.

Your last decision will be choosing whether to head for bed so you’re ready for the next day or to one of the many bars and lounges aboard ship. Unlike some other cruise lines, the bars on the Victory are open until 4 AM so if you’re still ready to party, you’re likely to find other passengers doing the same thing.

Your quick taste of San Juan may well have you already making plans to return again sometime soon. And just think, in eight hours we’ll be at our second port of call, St. Maarten where another wonderful experience awaits.

Tell Your Friends Time Is Running Out

At the end of July just over 210 cabins have been booked for the Second Wisconsin EMS Cruise. Last time about 205 cabins ended up occupied by Wisconsin EMTs, first responders, family and friends. Do you know someone who may still like to go? There is still time for them to get booked and join in on all of the fun, although that time is going to be running out. Invoices for the second payment have gone out and are due shortly. Final payments are due at the end of November.

It looks as though our second cruise will be just as much fun as the first – maybe even more fun! People are booked on the cruise from all across Wisconsin and even a few from outside. Like last time, you don’t have to be an EMT to participate. People from all walks of life are involved including those who have never even ridden in an ambulance – and actually hope not too!

Final advertising for the cruise will go out in September. When that happens, any remaining cabins we can get our hands on will likely sell out fast. Therefore, now is the time to get the rest of your friends or those other EMTs, first responders and firefighters with your organization on-board. If they don’t sign up soon, the rates could increase or it may be too late to even get a cabin.

Complete information, including updates will continue on-line at www.WisconsinEMS.com/Cruise. In fact, as we get closer to the cruise, you’ll want to check the web site for the temperature in the Caribbean and to see how many days are left until we set sail. If you have questions, or want to help a friend get booked, don’t hesitate to contact Magic Carpet Travel toll free at 800-776-7011 or send off an E-Mail to us at cruise@WisconsinEMS.com.

More Than Ship Shape

One of the neatest things to witness is a first time cruiser when they first see their ship. Anyone who’s never seen a cruise ship before is completely amazed at the sheer size. However, even if you’ve cruised before, perhaps as part of the first Wisconsin EMS Cruise, we’re betting you’ll still be amazed at the size of the Carnival Victory. As she sits docked along side the other ships in port, it’s almost as if she is twice their size.

At 101,509 ton and carrying 2,750 guests, she is currently the largest in the Carnival fleet and one of the largest at sea. The Victory has a total of 14 decks including multilevel dinning rooms, a three deck show lounge, dozens of other lounges and bars and so much more.

Like we said, even if you’ve cruised before, you still may not have seen anything yet. There is a winding, twisting, turning water slide ending at the edge of the main pool. The Lido Deck has stadium deck seating so everyone has a good view of the stage. Working out in the aerobics room or the gym affords you with a Bird's-eye view out the front of the ship.

They don’t call Carnival the Fun Ships for nothing! After a wild day soaking up the sun on deck, dinner is an extravaganza in itself with the waiters getting involved in some theatrics while they attend to you in the restaurant.

Following dinner, the show lounge is the place to be for Vegas-style shows featuring singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, and live music. Things still don’t quiet down when the show lets out, because that’s when the lounges are just heating up. You’ll find more live music featuring American entertainers as well as a hoppin’ disco with a transparent dance floor looking through to the lounge below and 100 or more video monitors lining the walls. And by the way, the Disco doesn’t close until 3 AM! Still not ready to quit, well then visit Siren’s Bar, they’re open until 4 AM!

Feeling lucky? Anytime the ship is at sea the casino is open for business, and what a casino it is – again one of the largest at sea! It features 9,000 square feet of gaming fun including 270 slot machines and 17 gaming tables.

For those looking for a snack, or a meal for that matter, food is available any time of the day or night, and if you can’t seem to find something, there is always the 24-hour pizzeria and 24-hour room service.

Once you’ve had it with the crowds and party ‘till you drop mind-set, you’ll still be able to find a quiet corner where you can just watch the world go by. In fact, if you’ve booked one of the many balcony cabins, you’ll always have your very own space to kick back and relax or steel a romantic moment on your very own private balcony.

Are you too excited to wait and see what all of this looks like? The Wisconsin EMS Association shot and created its own video of the ship for you to enjoy. An edited version of the video is available on-line at www.WisconsinEMS.com/cruise as well as on the new Resource Kit Second Edition just mailed to all Wisconsin EMS Association service and corporate members. The cruise web site also has several links to more pictures and information about the ship. If you’re not yet connected to the Internet just get your hands on a Carnival brochure for several pictures of the ship along with more information.

We just know you’re going to love the Carnival Victory! The only problem is, now that we got you all excited, you’re going to have to wait seven more months to see it in person. Trust us though, it is going to be well worth your wait once you get to see and explore this ship up close.