BeachBumMama

Just out of curiosity, I was wondering how many actually read the books we take with the intention of reading. lol I always plan ahead, get a book I've been wanting to read, and most times it begins on the plane, is put down, then picked up again for the flight home. The only one's I've read while on a cruise itself was a few of Alisa Allan's books that I always recommend, because her books have in them specific ports I was sailing to, so that was neat. Someone else awhile ago mentioned her title Winds Of Change and said how neat it was as she was reading about sailing into Bermuda and doing the same herself. That certainly puts one directly into a story!

Other than those books, she had 6 with all of them having a cruise of some kind in them, she might have more now, most are put by the wayside. But now, the ports repeat themselves for me and I don't feel guilty with just sitting on a beach and reading all day long! Something that never seems to happen at home!

I love the Stephanie Plum series so I will have to try the Sandra Hill Jinx series as well.

 

Thanks for the lead!

Sandra Hill Jinx series?:confused: I'll have to check it out, you ladies have given me more to add to my read pile!

I always like to suggest the Alisa Allan cruise novels, www.AlisaAllan.com. Still waiting patiently for more!

I didn't read all pages yet, but just wanted to recommend again the Stephenie Meyer "Twilight" series. I believe these are categorized as "Young Adult", but all I can say is that this particular 30 year old, couldnt put them down and am anxiously awaiting the newest book :)

 

STEPHENIE MEYER

-Twilight

-New Moon

-Eclipse

Aren't they somewhat of the Vampire genre? I read that somewhere, but I could be wrong.:confused:

Most will allow a name change up to a certain point in time. Not sure when or what the restrictions, if any, there are. You'd have to call your travel agent or the cruise line directly if you booked direct. Also, if the person that has to cancel has insurance that would take care of their portion and I think the other person can sail alone if thats what they wish. Hope that helped.:)

Thanks boom op and BeachBumMama for your help. I will definately look into it more and look up that website. $205 at the H. Inn is better than $315. THanks so much!!!!

My husband is skeptical about these bidding sites (giving your credit card)but I said they had to be safe if it is recommended on Cruise critic..... Am I correct????? Is there anything like a Better Business Bureau in the states where you can look into companies?

Again, thanks for all the help!!!!

It's good to be skeptical at times, but Priceline is certainly one of the most legit out there. Not only recommended on Cruise Critic but probably all across America. It isn't some small, no name player, so rest assured. I'm sure you could look them up at the Better Business Bureau if you'd like, I never have.

It's how I have booked, and I'm sure many others, most of my hotels and car rentals for the last umpteen million years it seems. Even air fare when I can be really flexible and make it work. Look up the other website and 'learn' how to bid properly and you'll be fine. The money you save will pay for an excursion or maybe even 2:p . Then come back and tell us about your money saving success.:D Good luck!

How does it work with Priceline? (sorry I am new). If you put in for a bid do they give you a couple of options or do they just book you right away? What if you like something else better? Any chance to back out after you put the bid in?

 

We have a room reserved in Manhattan, The Belvedere, for 4 ppl/room at $315. per night and we are trying to find something more reasonable in the area. Which may or may not be possible.

 

I didn't notice any successful priceline bids for New York. Is there a reason for this?

You can see the hotels that would come up in the area you're looking for at www.biddingfortravel.com , check out the New York page and there should be sections that will tell you what hotels, if any, come up in that area.

It's important to know that it does book you right away if you try a priceline bid and your price is accepted. If you like something else better and you want to be guaranteed to get that place, you're better off booking it directly rather than take your chances. And you can't back out from your bid. It purchases your room with the credit card info you give it and you've got that room. With you having 4 people, do your research on the hotels and make sure they have rooms to accomodate 4 and if/when you win your bid, call the hotel and confirm and request a room with 2 double beds as with priceline your 'bid' only says you'll get a room to accomodate 2 people.

You can choose what star rating you want, so know your options going in before you bid and read up at that site on 'how' to bid. It avoids being stuck with a crappy hotel in a crappy area you didn't want.

Good luck!

I would recommend The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I found it hard to put down.

Just saw a commercial, this will be a movie with Scarlet Johanson (sp?), looks really good. It's been recommended by others but I just haven't picked it up yet, maybe now I'll just wait for the movie.:)

No time to read whole thread, hope these aren't repeats:

Water for Elephants

I just picked this up recently because I'd read good reviews on it. Haven't opened it yet but looking forward to it.

Are you charged for sodas served with meals in the dining rooms?

Yes, all soda is a charge. For meals you can get water or iced tea. Also cappachino or espresso after dinner at no cost. But the coffee's are only free in the restaurant, if you order from a waiter or at the coffee bar, there is a charge.

:D

You can save the soda fee by taking your wife and kids to Beaches Turks for 8 days including meals drinks and all sports for aprox. $6,000.00!!!

 

Why cruise the Not Caring Lince NCL!!!!:eek:

I've seen you mention this before. If you work for Beaches, as you certainly aren't here to find information on cruising with your negative, odd posts, you are doing them no favors.:rolleyes:

Can we walk to the lighthouse in Progreso from the cruise ship pier? Are there any other lighthouses around Progreso?

I remember seeing it, but can't remember how far it was. Progresso is fairly small and I'm almost sure it would be within walking distance. If you take the $2.00 bus tour, you'll see it from there and then know how to walk to it. I don't recall more than 1, but I could be wrong.

We were just there. I'd suggest taking the $2.00 double decker bus tour as soon as you are dropped off. You'll be dropped off from the ship on a bus to a shopping area, on the same sidewalk, you should see the double decker bus. Taking this little tour first (not very long) will give you a layout of exactly where the beach is, the businesses across from the beach, etc. And then when you get back just walk to the beach and go where you want.

Anything really good you've read recently ... or not even recently?

The last six books I read were all of Alisa Allan's books.:D

And I'd recommend every single one, all of them different and I love how hers would seem predictable as most of those books can be, and yet with every one I questioned exactly HOW it was going to end and they ended up being so unpredictable. I think you said you read them all, didn't you?:confused:

I have my pile of books, I have a list of books but the clock seems to move faster and faster every day and I'm just trying to find the time to get to them. I think I'm also procrastinating and just waiting for Alisa's new one, I read a hint of it on her website but no date or info. If you read all of hers it will be somewhat a continuation of Jack and Jenna's story from One Last Time. They weren't a featured couple in the story, kinda came in at the end of it, but as soon as I finished that book I wanted to know what would become of them!:p

I thought your name looked familiar.:)

Right now on the top of my pile are a few by Debbie Macomber. A Good Yarn and The Shop on Blossom Street. I think I might have another from her but can't remember the name. She was recommended by a friend but I haven't read any of them yet but can't wait to start.

I really enjoy Jeanne Ray's books. Fun and something I can relate to by NOT being the perfect 20-something, perfect body, perfect life kind of story.

I'll have to hunt those down too.:p

I think I vaguely recall you from an old, old post specifically titled for Alisa Allan's cruise books. Or was it another Lynn?:confused: If you're the same one, are the Jeanne Ray books on the same line? Light and easy? I have all kinds of reading taste, but the light and easy one's I like for cruising and vacationing. Just curious if they are somewhat similar as I've never heard of Jeanne Ray.

And if you are the same, and have read Alisa Allan, have you heard anything about a date for her new one? I can't find a thing anywhere!:(

I just LOVE Jeanne Ray's books. Finally, everyone isn't 20-something and perfect. I appreciate that as I'm getting older. I'm now 54, but I read Julie and Romeo when it first came out, several years ago. She's a good author!

 

Lynn

I don't consider myself a senior citizen, but I'm way past the 'twenty year old skinny somethings who are all wealthy' books. Give me a little more plot and substance.:)

I cracked up the first time I saw on the news that Paris Hilton came out with an autobiography... what could the kid have possibly written in it when she's a kid!:eek:

It's called A Trip to the Beach by Melinda and Robert Blanchard. Enjoy.

I have this one on my long list, can't wait to read it.:) But can't wait patiently enough for Alisa Allan's new one and still don't know when it will be coming.:( http://www.AlisaAllan.com

Just got this for 1 night pre-cruise and 1 night post-cruise.

Houston Clear Lake/Nassau Bay

Marriott Residence Inn

# of rooms: 2

# of nights: 1

$56.00 night x 2 =$112.00

Taxes and Service Fees: 27.32

Total Charges: $139.32

If you were leaning towards After Midnight, go with that one. I wasn't disappointed in any of them, and again, I honestly wouldn't be able to pick out a favorite if I tried. I think you can still get an autographed copy of that one on her website. http://www.AlisaAllan.com There isn't one that features the itinerary you're on, but I'm pretty sure it was Beyond The Horizon that featured the Western Caribbean. I remember Belize, Roatan and a few others in that one. And there's a ton of reviews on her site too. You sound like me, I want to know what others thought. I've wasted more money getting something because it was on a bestseller list and found out I should have just thrown my money in the trash!

Thanks for all the 14 year old suggestions. I know she's read and likes the Travelling pants series, and probably the others you mentioned. She's a big reader so I didn't want to chance getting something she'd already read and thought if they had a book on Little Miss Sunshine it would be something I KNOW she wouldn't have. I haven't seen the movie yet but I heard its great. I'm hoping to take her and her younger sister soon to see it.

Have a great time! Even with the spring breakers. But as you said, you'll have a wonderful room to escape to.

I hope you come back sooner than the last time. I am facinated by Alisa Allan's cruise novels. I have never heard of her. Just wondering which one was your favorite.

 

mamamo65...Thanks for the review of A Salty Piece of Land. In the end it just didn't intrigue me enough.

 

So far I have James Patterson packed for our upcoming cruise but would like to throw in a second as our itinerary is mediocre AND we got an upsell to an Owner's Suite on NCL so I suspect I will be spending more time on my own balcony (less distractions)

 

I'm leaving in a month.... :)

 

Sandy

Sandy - About Alisa Allan... Can't tell you a favorite because I loved all of hers. All six were different, and it surprised me how unpredicable they were when they were all released so quickly together. I would have thought they would have started sounding the same but they didn't. And most of the islands she writes about I've been to or plan to go so that just makes it even better.

I have a friend who constantly raves about After Midnight as a favorite even though she said it 'made her sick' - lol Let me explain, when she got toward the end of the story, she said she literally had an upset stomach because she didn't think things could possibly work out for that 'happy ever after' ending we all want. I won't tell you what happens because you might read it and I don't want to ruin it. But she really said her nerves took a beating all the way to the very last chapter!

For me, her books work so well for the light vacation reads. So you haven't read any yet? If you were looking for which to read first, I'd get the one maybe with the islands you're sailing to. If you let me know I could at least probably tell you which one has those islands in it.

As for the Owner's Suite for your cruise, what a treat! And you will be in the room more, sitting right on that balcony. It's one of the reasons sometimes I wish my hubby wasn't so spoiled now and has to have a balcony, we get out of the room more when we don't. But since our first balcony he can't go back. I'd never care, I'd just be happy to be on the ship at all! And it's been awhile, far too long. I've been checking out the NCL Dream though for a quick getaway in the very near future with some friends in Texas.

Also, while I'm on here, I wanted to find out if anyone knows if the movie (I think this is the title) Little Miss Sunshine, was based on a book? The movie is getting rave reviews and I was needing something for my niece she hasn't read yet. As a matter of fact, she's 14 and she too loves Alisa Allan. Yes, they are clean enough for young teens and still a fantastic read! Neice is the only one I've lended my copies to, all my friends have to go out and buy their own because I ordered from the author website and they are autographed. Not taking the chance those babies getting lost!

So, I'm wondering if anyone knows if Little Miss Sunshine movie was based on book and by who?

It's been awhile since I've been on here and glad to see this thread still running strong. You ladies have been responsible for making me add to my list! I always have to recommend a favorite that has been mentioned here several times. http://www.AlisaAllan.com

Like others have said, I need something light and not too intense and I've read all of hers and can't recommend them highly enough. And for those who haven't seen her website lately, she'll be coming out with a new one this year that will have two characters from One Last Time, Jack and Jenna, in their own story!

It won't be out before I cruise again, and I've read all 6 of hers now, didn't have the dicipline to save any for my upcoming cruise, but you've all given me a great list while I have to wait. Thanks!

They have the movie of Memoirs of a Geisha coming out soon, don't they?

You or someone posted a thread about this on the NCL site . . . it got pulled or I'm just stupid and cannot find it. I checked these books out online and got excited, but my library doesn't have them (what's up with that???). So, I'll have to make a trip to Barnes & Noble. The books sound wonderful.

I think it got pulled and I don't know why. I figured all us cruise addicts would be interested, guess the moderaters weren't, don't know what the deal is there.

This thread is dangerous, I've got such a long list now I'll be reading through the winter and not get anything else done. lol

Has anyone else read Alisa Allan? Winds Of Change? After Midnight? Any of the others? Just finished the third one, The Best Man, and was wondering if anyone has read the next one's, Beyond The Horizon, One Last Time or Angel Mist. I literally have to force myself to put these down and get anything done.

Looked at the original post from above and so glad to find more Alisa Allan fans. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her books - so far. I'm only up to the 2nd one, my hubby didn't want me to get anymore because he said my daughter is getting them for Christmas for me so I have to wait and I'm dying here. I could sit down and read every one back to back if I could.

I'm looking at the Mexican Riviera for next year and her 2nd novel, After Midnight, features those ports, now makes me even more anxious to book. I like her books because they have cruises and all the places we've been or are going to. All the ports and islands and some great little tidbit information I didn't know when I went to those islands.

But great part is, isn't like a 'fact' book, it's all in a nice little contemporary novel in story form.

She's definately a great read - http://www.traveltimepress.com