Enjoy your vacation and satisfy your desires

Home of the Orioles and some of the best crabs cakes on the Chesapeake, (if you eat crabs) Baltimore is as local as it is international. Although some poverty exists here, stumbling upon the annual carnival event in Fell's Point will make it seem as though there is none. Every year visitors continue to swarm this city and after timeless expectations come true, they leave floating on air after a successful and seriously entertaining vacation. Sporting events are a favorite pastime for locals and visitors alike as they consume some of their favorite lagers and catch a game of baseball, football or indoor soccer.  With three local teams to keep the interest alive, makes the Orioles, the Baltimore Blast and the Baltimore ravens thankful that they can call Baltimore their home.

As a leader in the entertainment world, Baltimore is also the home of Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, which adds to the classic events and refinement that most individuals from Baltimore have been known for. If that is not enough culture for you, the Lyric Opera House will leave you and your guests spellbound as you are entertained with some of the better known performers. So if you are in search of both culture and history, Baltimore is the place to be.

How to spend a luxurious mini vacation

Cozumel is one of the more interesting ports of call in the Mexican territory and it gets even better on the Carnival Destiny. A four day western Caribbean cruise which leaves from Miami and includes Key West, is a perfect reason for the quick getaway to relieve some tension. Like most ports of call, shopping is usually plentiful and colorful, with all sorts of marketplaces to peak your interest. Take a break during your activities and relax at a café before returning to the ship and heading out to the pool, where you can get drenched with sun, water and drinks. You can spend all of you time in your stateroom which is comfortable and roomy, and includes 24 hour complimentary room service. 

Whether you choose to book an interior or a balcony, your stateroom is the perfect place to rest up before you ready yourself to take part in whatever fun activities you choose. This is not the time to be fasting, especially with more than one restaurant available for you to choose from. Whether you are looking to sink your teeth in an international style cuisine, or just the basics, carnival is designed to satisfy every culinary desire. So indulge yourself with the pleasures of a five star restaurant or a casual buffet style where the helpings can be generous or as simple as you would like it to be.

How to support yourself, the wrong way

 When Michael Maloney and Matthew Wehling chose to go into the business of scamming unsuspecting vacationers, they probably did not realize that they would be needing an attorney. Amazingly enough, all the funds that they managed to accumulate, still placed them in need of a public defender. With over a dozen counts of embezzlement, the two individuals were charged accordingly. After it was determined which public defender would represent the alleged embezzlers, the pair each posted a $75,000 bond to be released as they await trial. The victims in this case lost thousands of dollars, with some as much as $15,000.00. Prospective vacationers were lured to rental websites where they were offered vacation properties to rent, unfortunately the security deposits were allegedly rerouted and never made it back to the renters. It was an aggressive plot to increase their financial standing at the expense of unsuspecting vacationers. It seems that everywhere we turn, someone is trying to leach off of someone else at any cost, a sad fact that only goes to show that our moral standing as human beings still leaves a lot to be desired. 

Attending the greatest show on earth

If you have been to any of the islands in the Caribbean, there is a better than average chance that you have witnessed one of their carnival celebrations. Due to the popularity they have been spread outside of the Caribbean islands and can be found in Miami, Orlando, New York and yes even in Toronto. Because there is quite a bit of drinking going on, security is usually very tight, in fact without proper law enforcement you could not safely have one of these events for fear of a reasonable amount of violence. I am not suggesting that the festival is violent by any means, however, with the mix of alcohol and music, people tend to get a little risque. Thousands of islanders, now living in the United States flock to these Caribbean events, in fact the majority of participants are usually from the islands. Once you have gotten used to participating, if you try to pull out of future events, your friends will go out of their way to ensure that you remain true. Police officers do not usually appear stressed when seen covering these events, although if you attempt to break the law, you should plan on spending some time behind bars.

Reasons why drug use can be a poor choice

 The United States of America is probably one of the biggest markets for drugs in this part of the world, so whenever packages come through customs from parts of the world where known drug producers are plying their trade, such as Columbia and the Panamanian connection, you know that the prosecutor is sharpening his pencil. Any operation outside of this country, especially when it comes to drug issues are always ready to raise eyebrows. As much as they hate to admit it, officials are losing the battle of the war on drugs and as I have stated time and time again, we are approaching this problem from the wrong direction. If for one minute you consider drug use as a form of weekend entertainment, all you have to do is to look at the amount of people getting arrested everyday for things like cocaine, marijuana and heroin. There was a time when the only concern for influential or mind altering drugs was “moonshine”, that has since changed with everyone being down with the much harder drugs. It just seems as though we are more interested in losing our minds to mind altering drugs that take over our lives and are quite content to call it recreational.

How to avoid the possibility of layoffs

 When people plan their annual vacation, it is usually well in advance, so that they can see what's available, or to help them get the best deal for the vacations that may come by. A well planned vacation can be the best form of therapy for you to achieve an automatic rewind. What would you do if  someone slips into your spot in your absence? A perfect example of a company seeking to have you replaced is if they seem unconcerned about your travel plans. An interested manager would be trying to ensure that they had your entire itinerary, complete with phone numbers, even with the threat of canceling your plans. The mentality is that an employee should always consider who will be hard at work covering their schedule while they are away. If you are rich or  you happen to be indispensable, then there is really no need to be worried about any consequences from your employer. On the other hand, with the economy as bad as it is today, you should probably be a little concerned whether or not one of your colleagues could step in to fill your shoes while you are away, regardless of how temporary it may seem. After all, the last thing you want to hear when you return from a week in the Bahamas, is that layoffs are the order of the day.

Blindly accepting that they are all safe

Unless you live in a section of the world that is plagued by terrorism, or is not friendly to visitors bringing foreign exchange into the country, there is a good chance that you have at least one Cruise ship gracing a port near you. The one hour television show entitled “The Love Boat” , did wonders for young and old alike who seemed interested in finding true love on the high seas. The time came when travelers were conveniently introduced to other interested single cruisers and in many cases, cupid did its thing. Although I am not here to criticize the show, because I certainly enjoyed it, you must admit that there was a whole lot of Hollywood goes on there. If you are interested in meeting someone on a cruise, you might want to consider MeetOnCruise as an option, but please don't go blindly accepting the fact that they are all safe, make sure to use the usual amount of precautions.

Preparing to purchase your dream vacation

It seems as though everyone wants to get into the travel business and that may be due to the fact that it seems to be thriving, or is it? A woman was recently arrested for basically scamming more than 40 people of their hard earned money, under the pretext that they were being booked on a Disney cruise line. Julie Diane Nimtz was arrested after one of her customers became curious when he was unable to get a confirmation number for the vacation that he hoped to be getting. Nimtz ran her operation called Johannes Travel on campus streets in Celebration and as Disney aptly put it, she had no affiliation with them. If you have a love for travel and you are preparing to purchase your dream vacation, make sure you are familiar with the company you intend to deal with.

Making it easier to get in and out of Cuba

Those people who consider Cuba as a viable country to spend their vacation time will find that their efforts to get there can be very successful. Unlike many of his successors, our beloved leader has chosen to make it easier for routes in and out of Cuba. If our fearless leader is under the impression that he is doing any favors to the Cuban people, he could find himself in a bit of hot water when the election rolls around. It seems as though keeping the pressure on the Cuban government to provide free and fair elections and the ability to speak their mind, is not on the agenda of this leadership. Maybe our government is getting soft on socialism, or maybe he would like to introduce it to the United States.

An eternity before help arrived

As the summer season gets into full swing, travelers are taking to the skies to enjoy their much needed holidays. Most who take to the air find that their biggest concern  is the threat of terrorism, unless of course they happen to be stuck on an older aircraft. Some flights are canceled due to an abundance of empty seats. A recent flight to Guyana that briefly stopped in Trinidad was not so lucky as it managed to break apart after landing. The authorities in Guyana did not appear to be properly prepared for the arrival of this aircraft, which by the way is owned and operated by the people of Trinidad & Tobago, as it seemed like an eternity before anyone came to help the survivors. One taxi driver did manage to make $20 from the mishap, as he charged a passenger to take her back to the terminal.

Cruise ships can do wonders for the local economy

 When someone purchases a piece of property there is only one thing on their mind, and that is a place for them to call home. When business establishments in the area end up changing the landscape it could change the way homeowners look at their property. It is with that in mind that the people in the neighboring vicinity of the port of Charleston decided that they did not want cruise ships calling the port their new home. The problem is that the increase of cruise ships can do wonders for the local economy and the local businesses are aware of that. It is a tragic thing when a few people can cause so many to lose the ability to make a few dollars, simply because they are either too innocent, or they simply don't care.

Making your booking on “Freedom of the Seas”

 Royal Caribbean is not planning on being outdone as far as being a leader on the high seas and with its new vessel, “Freedom Of The Seas” they are ready for anything. The latest addition to the fleet handles 160,000 gross tonnage and is expected to sail out of port Canaveral on July 24th 2011. Departing at 4:30pm, two days later its first stop will be “Labadee, Haiti”. The next three days will include stops at “Falmouth, Jamaica”, “Grand Cayman”, and “Cozumel.” This vacation will be fun for the entire family, not to mention the on-board entertainment that will include Broadway shows and even some comedy. So don't allow your next vacation to go by without booking on one of Royal Caribbeans future itineraries.

You will not be bored, even for one minute

 Princess Cruises are probably one of the oldest and more recognized names in the business, they are especially popular among those who caught the long running television show known as the Love Boat. The Caribbean Princess is known for its Europe, Caribbean and New England/Canada destinations. With two main dining rooms, several specialty restaurants and 24 hour room service, you will need the exercise and fitness room to balance the scale. For some customers, entertainment is the most important aspect of their trip and along with the Casino, a few nightclubs to choose from and movies that can be seen either in the Princess theater or the Movies Under the Stars® outdoor theater, it would be a shock if you were bored, even for one minute.

The Celebrity Silhouette is in a class by itself

 As the pressure heats up to gather as many passengers as possible, Celebrity Cruises is making it a bit more difficult for the competition to keep up with them. Where else could you possibly find the pleasure of grass growing under your feet while on the high seas, it just does not get any better than that, and did I mention that the grass is real? It is called the lawn club and it is here that you and your friends can enjoy the open sea air, as the smell of freshly cut beef, chicken and other kinds of meat are being barbecued for your dining pleasure.  After being told that you should be getting a life, you actually do, and it is one that you can write home about. If you have an infatuation for cruising like I do, the Celebrity Silhouette is in a class by itself.

Having fun without the promiscuity

It's nice to see that New Orleans is getting back much of the same popularity that it once had, and although it is not as it used to be before hurricane Katrina, it appears that they are well on their way. With new cruise vessels being added to the increasing popularity of the thriving port, New Orleans seems to be once again emerging as a port to be reckoned with. I have been to New Orleans on two occasions in my life, once on a business trip and the second time was for a Christmas vacation with my ex wife. Although I find the people to be very friendly, I consider the lifestyle to be a bit offensive to me and my particular beliefs. Personally I believe that we can have just as much fun without all the promiscuity, but then again, that's just me.

Cruising is still ahead of everyone else

 Are we in a financial downturn or are we just being subjected to wishful thinking, that is the million dollar question, or is it the 300 million dollar question. I guess Royal Caribbean must be doing a whole lot better with its passengers than its competition because they are planning on dishing out at least 300 million dollars to refurbish many of its fleet during the next three years. Of course refurbishing is still probably cheaper than purchasing new vessels all together, so what do I know. We are all under the impression that with the economy as bad as it is, cruising will probably take a back seat from everything else, then we should understand that everyone needs a vacation and cruising is still the cheapest way to go.

It sure feels like paradise

So lets get serious for awhile, how many people actually break their diet when they go on a cruise? By a show of hands, how many people actually look forward to the food being offered (included in the ticket prices) when they hit the high seas? It may be somewhat difficult to avoid falling into the trap of breaking your diet when on a cruise, especially with all the restaurants now available to choose from. And as if that was not enough, you have access to room service 24 hours a day. It is easy to encourage passengers to eat until they drop and in fact we sometime feel threatened by the amount of food in front of us, but who knows, maybe that is what paradise should feel like.

So many missed opportunities

 The next time you find yourself a bit stressed out and you need a few days off, don't wait on your vacation before taking that cruise, because by the time that gets here it may be too late. One of the closest destinations for a quick getaway is in Bahamas and someone is always heading that way, whether it is a charter for the casinos to try your luck, or a two night, three day trip that includes Nassau. Unfortunately some people believe that they must meet their death before they can take time off and as far as they are concerned they must wait until their allotted vacation time before having any fun, what a pity that they end up losing on so many opportunities.

The shenanigans of Arnold Schwarzenegger

If you happen to be a fan of entertainment, and politics for that matter, you are probably up to date with the shenanigans of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his marital bliss that is no more. So far it has cost him a new mansion for his soon to be ex-wife and I am pretty certain that this is surely a sign of things to come. Divorce is already a dirty word and will only get dirtier if it involves a dose of public humiliation which apparently easily comes along when the people are well known in the entertainment world, not to mention someone as well known as the ex-governor of the state of California.

Unable to enjoy a vacation of any kind

As I get older I have decided that I would much prefer to avoid the stress and aggravation that comes with working in certain fields. The last thing that I need is to have issues with my blood pressure where I will need to be making regular visits to the doctor. So that we can avoid unnecessary health problems, vacations should be an important part of our lifestyle. Unfortunately in 2011 with the economy being the way that is, many are forced to avoid vacations or at the very least they are staying at home to save money. There is a bright side to this coin though, and it should change some of our aggressive behavior, just think about those who are unable to enjoy a vacation of any kind.

Avoiding the chaos and deception

I guess you know that things are pretty bad when a city like Boston would actually fake its July 4th celebrations, especially when it was done over famous city landmarks. Of course the good people of Boston did not buy the showing and started calling about what they knew was impossible. Because I stayed at Home for most of the weekend I was able to avoid all of the usual chaos that generally comes along with celebrations such as this one where something always goes wrong. I did manage to see some fireworks though, fortunately I managed to skip the false display from Boston.

Changing the way we think

As the travel industry continues to do its best to adjust to the changing economy it is surprising to say the least that we continue to see new cruise ships being built all the time. To anyone who has ever cruised before it is obvious that cruise lines give some of the best value for your money and that may be why travelers continue to flock to this very popular method of vacationing. As important as her celebration was, it is surprising that Lindsay Lohan did not invite a few of her closest friends and hit the high seas. Maybe in five years when she turns 30 things may change considerably for her.