European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse 3 4 " parents and teens at sea Ien one cruise in t enough for one family by Barbara Radin Fox Andlar Syfox the Washington Post our summer at sea began with a plan and a Promise. First there was our plan a Mediterranean cruise without our two teen age on. Then came the Promise to the teens Clayton who would Start College in the fall and Jonathan. They could we said choose our family vacation spot. Well get Back to you they said. Not a Good sign. Weeks passed and they continued their deliberations. In the meantime we completed arrangements for our 12-Day cruise aboard the Pacific Princess the original love boat from Barcelona Spain to London. Then during dinner one night Jonathan and Clayton announced we have what would it be the Beach the Pacific Northwest the Canadian Rockies nope we want to go on a cruise Jonathan replied. Not two cruises in one summer you promised you said we could choose Clayton said. We glared at each other. Now what Well a Promise is a Promise. We called the travel agent and before Long it was arranged two weeks after we returned from our Pacific Princess trip the family would embark on a seven Day carnival cruise to the Caribbean the carnival and Princess experiences could not be More dissimilar. The Pacific Princess s ambiance is regal a bit aloof sedate if not sedentary and aimed at an older crowd. The carnival cruises Are a whirlwind of round the clock anything goes parties games entertainment and other activities for All Ages. Two cruises 19 Days at sea in less than a month. It s enough to make anybody swear off promises. It s funny How television distorts reality. The Pacific Princess was the setting for the popular television series the love boat but somehow the Cabins on television All seemed big enough to play Host to conventions. Our Small room was Mcdonald Ca United Arab emirates comfortable but not luxurious two single Beds closets a Dresser a tub Bath a tiny sitting area with two chairs and a tiny table a min refrigerator and a television. Nevertheless the Pacific Princess was an easy like. The 20,000-ton, 550 foot Longship can carry 640 passengers in 305 Cabins. It was built in 1971, underwent a $20 million refurbishment in 1992 and features two nightclubs one for the evening show and the other for dancing a Casino a disco a movie theater a card room two swimming pools and ample space. Our fellow passengers were mostly couples in their 50s and 60s. But to our minds the Pacific Princess s Strong Point was the wide variety of land Tours offered during port stops. We boarded the Pacific Princess in Barcelona Over lighted on the ship there and then sailed to Livorno Italy for a Day trip to Florence to Civitavecchi for a Day trip to Rome then to Cannes Gibraltar Tangier Lisbon and be Havre for a Day trip to Paris and finally London. The three most alluring cities Florence Rome and Paris were merely Brief four to eight hour visits because of the Long bus rides from the ship. Despite those limitations this cruise was fun and the Eclectic mix of ports Spain France Italy Morocco Portugal and England made it memorable. In particular we liked be Havre Tangier and Gibraltar probably because they were new to us Many of the other stops were places we had visited previously. If there was one moment that defined the difference Between the cruise aboard the Pacific Princess and our family trip on the carnival cruise line s Celebration just two weeks later it was when we were in our carnival Cabin dressing for dinner and. Switched on the television to a closed circuit broadcast of an audience participation show in the ship s theater. There was Clayton our oldest son taking part in the sex trivia quiz quickly we switched the set off. We just did t want to know. The sex trivia quiz Clayton made the semifinals was just one of Many funny but often risque audience participation games the sensation is just one of the carnival ships that cruise in the Caribbean. Rio held on the Celebration which is Best described As a we Klong party with water views. While the Pacific Princess was sedate the Celebration was nonstop activity. While the Pacific Princess catered to an older clientele the Celebration had seniors As Well As children aboard and had entertainment and activities for All Ages. Our cruise was a seven Day trip from Miami to san Juan St. Thomas St. Martin and Back to Miami. The Celebration is a Large ship 733 feet Long 47,262 tons about 2 i times the size of the princes with 743 Cabins holding 1,486 passengers four decks of Cabins and six Public area decks two dining rooms several other restaurants six bars one Bistro a Library three pools one for children spa a gym and an enormous Casino with scores of Slot machines Roulette wheels craps tables and other games of Chance. The Slot machines opened As Early As 8 a.m., and no real Surprise were drawing business even before some people aboard had breakfast. Our Cabin was a bit More spacious than the one we had on the Pacific Princess. One Nice touch was that the twin Beds could be joined to form one Large bed a feature that Many cruise lines would be Wise to adopt. The boys Cabin was across the Hall from ours which allowed us to keep an Eye on them although that proved difficult to do. Jonathan and Clayton loved the cruise. There were scores of children and teen agers aboard and both boys quickly found groups of kids their own age to hang out with. The daily games shows Pool and pizza parties and disco blasts provided a teen Ager s vision of heaven. Younger children were not left out either. They could go to a Camp carnival where trained Counselor supervised games and other activities for them. The Celebration made Only three port stops on this seven Day cruise san Juan where we visited the flamenco nightclubs and a Casino St. Thomas where we took a. V boat for snorkelling off a nearby Island whose Waters Are populated with sea turtles and St. Martin the Island shared by the dutch and French where we went snorkelling and Jet skiing on a topless Beach on the French Side. The port Calls though were a diversion a break from the relentless schedule of activities aboard. Add to the typical daily schedule 10 major and minor dining opportunities two nightly floor shows a pos Midnight Blackjack championship three lottery drawings disco or live bands in five nightclubs shuffleboard Badminton Pool games and other forms of sea madness and you get the picture that this cruise was not designed for the Serene or the sedentary. The Celebration lived up to its name so much so that we older adults wandered around in a perpetual state of tiredness while constantly wondering what s next on the schedule meanwhile Jonathan and Clayton and the rest of the teen age mob on Board apparently loved it round the clock parties parents at least in our Case who Only required their presence at breakfast and dinner and a big Mufti floored play land to roam. I loved it Clayton said. When i get older i think i la get some of my friends together and Well go on a carnival his sentiments were echoed by Jonathan who was almost exhausted from the revelry. As for us Well our tastes run More to the Princess ships. But for families particularly those with Active teens a carnival at sea in t at All bad. Big Mac plans offensive drive through Middle East from wire reports the Gulf Between american and Arab culture just closed a Little with the opening of the first two Mcdonald s restaurants in the persian Gulf in Riyadh and Jidida saudi Arabia. Also on the company s plate Are More openings in the Region in Oman Kuwait the United Arab emirates Bahrain and Egypt can Kentucky Fried be far behind several new Security measures Are now in the works the metro Dade county police department is creating a special tourist police Force to patrol the area East of the roundabout Miami Airport where car rental lots limousine services and hotels Are located. The travel Industry association of America and crime stoppers International have initiated a program to pay Cash rewards for tips leading to the arrest and indictment of those who assault or kill travellers in the United states. A traveler is defined As anyone who ventures More than 100 Miles from Home and plans to return. Call 1-800-474-8477. The american automobile association is requiring Deadbolt locks and peepholes to outer Halls in All accommodations it will approve in the United states and Canada and include in the aaa s 1995 tour books. Budget travel can be easy once you be got the system Down that s hosteling International american youth hostels new computerized advanced booking system also called Ibn International booking network. Reserve Hostel space at More than 100 major destinations on five continents up to six months ahead by calling the Washington d.c., reservations Center or any of seven other centers in the network in Canada Australia new zealand and Britain. Travellers pay in the currency of the country they Are booking from and receive printed confirmation credit cards Are accepted. Information 202 783-6161. February 17, 1994 stripes Magazine 25
