Up & Coming Weekly

30 UCW DECEMBER 23-29, 2009 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DINNER at Poindexter 's Saloon. Begins at 4 p.m., bring a covered dish to share. For more information call 910-433- 2089. APRIL 24 HOGS & RAGS 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., $50 per entry, $30 per additional rider. www.hogsandrags.com PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www. patriotguard.org for more info. THE MAJORS 2010 Daytona Bike Week • Feb. 26- Mar. 27 Hogs & Rags • April 24 Myrtle Beach Bike Week • May 7-16 Laconia Bike Week • June 12-20 *Sturgis Black Hills Rally • Aug. 2-8* * Want to go? Call 910-391-3859. Have a motorcycle ride or event coming up? Let us know! Call Joy at 910-484-6200, e-mail to editor@upandcomingweekly. THIRSTY THURSDAY $1. 00 OFF ALL DRINKS Five Reasons To Put Cruising On Your To-Do List by JOY KIRKPATRICK I was recently introduced to the world of cruising aboard the Disney Wonder. Although I never would have thought of myself as the "cruising" type, my family and I had a truly exceptional vacation, and I'm now a cruising convert! As we enter into 2010, there are myriad reasons why cruising may be the perfect vacation choice this year. And if you can't make it in 2010 — there's an even greater reason to do so in 2011 — the Dream. Our adventure was on the Disney Wonder. The ship itself was like a fl oating resort. The stateroom suites were beautiful and more spacious that I anticipated. The dining experiences were terrifi c, and the service of the staff was excellent. And although the cruise we enjoyed was Disney, the "Disney-factor" was not off-the- chart. The Disney details are subtle enough not to distract from the elegance of the ships, which are reminiscent of the classic, glamourous oceanliners of the past. Disney was recently named the top large cruise ship experience by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the 9th annual "Reader's Cruise Poll." The Disney Wonder was ranked as the No. 1 cruise ship in the "Large Ship" category. And, the Disney Magic also ranked in the top fi ve cruise experiences overall. With accolades like these, I'm obviously not the only one that has found cruising to be a spectacular vacation option. Following are the top fi ve reasons why I'm convinced that cruising is the way to go. I'm defi nitely making a New Year's resolution to take another cruise as soon as possible! 1. Dynamite Destinations without the Hassle - One of the great things about cruising is that you can visit multiple destinations and only unpack once! And the destination options are spectacular. Disney Cruise Lines, for instance, currently has two ships, the Magic and the Wonder, traveling to the Bahamas and the Carribbean, and even to Europe — with ports of call in Spain, Italy and Russia, to name just a few. Beginning in the spring of 2010, the Magic will embark on a season of limited itineraries exploring Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.With the new ship, the Dream, coming in 2011 (and then the Fantasy in 2012!), new destinations for the Wonder will include the Mexican Riveria and Alaska. In fact, as the Wonder moves to the west coast in January 2011, cruisers will have a spectacular limited-edition opportunity to cruise the Panama Canal! And on a cruise, you leave the driving to someone else. You won't need your GPS to wake up in a new port every morning! And you don't have the hassle of coordinating travel details. The Disney Web site or your local travel agent make it easy to select all of your options and coordinate your itinerary. 2. Multigenerational Memory Maker - According to AAA, a growing number of families are choosing to embark on vacations with their entire families in tow, from grandmothers to grandkids and everyone in between. "Multigenerational travel is one of the fastest-growing segments of the leisure travel industry," said Dawn Gibson, Travel Sales Manager of the AAA Vacations offi ce in Fayetteville, NC. "Cruises are one of the top choices for multigenerational travel because today's modern cruise lines offer activities that appeal to all ages, from 3 to 80." There truly is something for everyone. With Broadway-style shows and endless activities for every taste (swim with dolphins, parasail, rent a Jet Ski), the problem will be fi nding the time to do everything! 3. Guilt-free Fun for Grownups - While those grandparents spend time with the kids, or the kids spend time on their own (see #4), cruising offers plenty of opportunity for Mom & Dad to rediscover being a couple. Relax at the spa, have a drink at the adult-only coffee bar, have a romantic dinner or go dancing — or all of the above. From adults-only pools, bars, restaurants and night clubs, there are plenty of opportunities to escape reality and have fun! Be sure to turn off your cell phone (it may not work anyway!), and relax, knowing your kids are in good hands. (TIP: Ask about the little-known VIP option to visit the Rainforest at the Spa on the Disney Wonder and Magic. For less than $20 a day, you'll have a special place to unwind with rainforest-themed aromatherapy steam rooms or a sauna fashioned after a Roman bath.) 4. Kids Love It! On a Disney Cruise, as you would expect, fun is in The Disney Wonder at port in Nassau, Bahamas. abundance for the kids. There are age-appropriate, safe, supervised options for kids — from toddlers and elementary children, to tweens and teens. The youth clubs, lounges and interactive programs will ensure your kids are having fun every day! And there are fun, educational activities at port, too — learn about stingrays, dolphins or the history of the Bahamas. The opportunities really are endless! And of course, kids of all ages will love the numerous pools, the game arcade and my child's personal favorite — the free soda and ice cream station. 5. Great Value - Believe it or not, cruises are more affordable than many land-based vacations. And, once you are onboard the trip is cashless (except for spending money for port excursions). Currently there are some terrifi c specials, like "kids sail free" on select trips, as well as discounts for military members. "Plus, families can take advantage of discounts for multiple cabin bookings and special group amenities," adds Gibson. Joy Kirkpatrick is associate publisher of Up & Coming Weekly, the national editor of Kidsville News and mother to a nine-year-old son. For more information on cruising, visit your local travel agent. To learn more about Disney Cruise Lines, visit www.disneycruise.com.

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