Aruba Marriott Resort

The holidays are a great time for giving back, and also a great time for remembering the needs of others. We here at DTM enjoy giving more than receiving. The true holiday spirit is one of love, warmth and compassion- those traits that truly represent our Savior, the one who we celebrate this Christmas season.

That’s why we are happy to support the Passports with Purpose mission and announce it to our readers. Last year Passports with a Purpose raised enough money to build a school in Cambodia, this year their efforts are focused on building an entire village in India! We can do it, but we need your help!

The great news is that we are not doing it alone. We have some great brands backing us up. Including one of my favorites (and one of my sponsors) Marriott. They have graciously donated a 5-night stay at any of the nine Paradise by Marriott resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico! You can win this jaw dropping prize from the Best Family Travel Advice website (one I contribute with that’s a lot of fun) by entering their raffle. You can win this coveted prize and see a listing of other blogs offering prizes by clicking here, but you better hurry- all raffles and contests end December 13! Hope you will contribute! We plan on it!

*photo courtesy of http://www.bestfamilytraveladvice.com

Officers at the Bridge

This is the Bridge where the Captain spends most of his time. The bridge serves as the navigational, command and control center of the ship.

Navigational Map at the Bridge

View of the Bridge while arriving at port.

View of controls at the Bridge.

Here are some pictures of the engine control room. There are over 5000 alarms in the engine control room. The engine stretches the entire length of the ship filling up 10 compartments. The ship is equipped with backups for everything including backups for the bridge with phones, radios, backup generators etc.

Engine Control Room

Gauges and garlic in the engine control room.

Did you know that cruise ships are superstitious? Apparently having garlic in the engine control room is a good omen or something. I never could get a straight answer on that.

More engine control room

Laundry is something that is often overlooked when it comes to a cruise vacation. Mainly because you are on vacation and you don’t have to think about it! But you got to wonder… a cruise ship has got to produce a lot of dirty laundry what with all the sheets, table cloths, napkins, towels, etc. And how big does this laundry room have to be to take care of all this laundry? On average a cruise ship does about twenty loads of laundry a day. This doesn’t sound like a lot but when you factor in the the fact that one load of laundry can be up to 250 pounds- that’s an intense washing machine. That means about 5,000 pounds of laundry a day.

One intense washing machine.

Laundry press for sheets and table cloths.

Crew uniforms fresh from the dry cleaners.

Did you know that most cruises have a dry cleaning service available aboard? It’s fast, easy, pretty inexpensive and you don’t have to worry about losing your ticket because they will deliver it right to your cabin.

Cooks in the kitchen preparing food.

On average a person on a cruise ship will gain a pound per day. That means if you go on a seven day cruise you should expect to come home about seven pounds heavier. Now you know why I was trying so hard to lose five pounds before my vacation. And we can owe it all to these guys- the chefs and cooks for preparing all that delicious food. Oh and all the excessive trips to the buffets before and after dinner.

Lots of plates.

More food preparation.

You’re probably thinking… man when I go on a cruise I stuff my face silly! How much food does a cruise ship go through? Well on average a cruise ship will go through 400-800 eggs a day, 200 pounds of strawberries, 82 pounds of cookies, 1,000 pounds of potatoes, 25 gallons of ice cream, and 6,895 liters of milk. Safe to say that’s a lot of food. The most popular ingredients used on the ship are flour, garlic, onion and salt. Most food is picked up at your original place of embarkation but they pick up fresh fish along the way.

One last tidbit of information before we say adieu- You know one of the best parts of any cruise? The outstanding service you receive from the international (and national) crew. Aboard the Celebrity Mercury there were over 55 nationalities represented and over 800 crew members aboard. So remember to take a look at their name tag and take a look at where they are from.

I hope these pictures and accompanying information helped satisfy your craving for a look behind the scenes of a cruise ship.

Arches National Park

Did you know that this weekend kicks off National Park Week? What the heck is that you ask? It’s an awesome week where the National Park Service waives fees for entrance at all 392 of their National Parks! It runs April 17- April 25 and chances are you live near one- so get out and enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of this great country! Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon- yup all free! Save yourself $25 bucks! What better way to celebrate Earth Day (April 22)?

For more information on National Park Week visit the National Park Service’s website.

Men’s Ballistic White Shoe $129.95 through SkyMall.

I too have been annoyed by children on airplanes. But I see where they are coming from. Flying is not pleasant for 9 out of 10 travelers (the 10^th is flying first class) and it is a stressful situation. So of course the child starts out anxious, tired and grumpy. Most of the times the child has missed a nap, snack time, or has not had enough time to run around and play. However- parents need to be held responsible to keep children from kicking the seats in front of them, talking too loud, or throwing things at other passengers.

I was once on an airplane (oh my blood boils just thinking of this) where a little boy probably four or five (well at the age where he knew better) was climbing over and under seats, yelling, throwing drinks, snacks, and in flight magazines and just being a plain menace. At one point the little dear climbed under the seat (while we were making our final approach nonetheless) and started riffling through my purse, scattering the contents. I exclaimed loudly enough for the flight attendant to hear, “Hey get out of my purse!” after which the FA came to my rescue and scolded the parents for letting their child out of their seat during landing.  The parents got annoyed at me and later when waiting for my bags, I actually overheard them making fun of me for what I said to their little “angel.” I’m sorry but that is unacceptable.

On the other hand, I must mention children and babies are people too and have every right to travel-so to the comment that was incorporated in the article: “Babies should be banned from planes, movie theatres, restaurants, and any other public place for that matter. The rest of the world doesn’t think your kid is as cute as you do.” Are you kidding me??? Children and babies have just as much right to fly and travel as you do. Speaking as a new mother who flies often it is ten times more stressful to be the parent of a crying baby then it is to be a passenger hearing them cry. And babies communicate through crying so if their ears hurt, are tired, or are hungry that is what they are going to do. If a parent is sitting there trying to do nothing while their child is crying- then be angry at them. But if a mother is traveling alone and her baby is crying and trying to do everything she can to comfort her infant- keep your snotty comments to yourself, they do not help. I would say 80% of the time we fly, we don’t have any issues with crying fits but I can also say that 80% of the time I hear a comment or get the evil eye for bringing my baby on a plane.

Now that I’ve voiced off, it’s your turn! I’m dying to hear your thoughts!!!

Ps. Oh and everyone DOES think my baby is the cutest in the world! ; )

Justin over at Southern Explorations sent me their list of the 10 best reasons to visit South America in 2010. I thought it was extremely pertinent because I am sending my photographer to Argentina this week.  I am a little sad to not be going myself- but figure our brother-in-law would be a better companion because he speaks the language.

So here you go- as if you needed an excuse, the top 10 best reasons to visit South America in 2010:

1. It’s Still Affordable: It used to cost much more to fly to South America than to Europe but not anymore. Airfares from many US cities are comparable, and after you arrive, you’ll find hotel and meal prices mostly lower. Favorable exchange rates make 2010 the perfect time to go.

2. Safety: The last decade has seen a rising popularity of travel within the Western Hemisphere. Travelers to South America get to visit exotic lands but stay closer to home. Some of the continent’s top sights require a guide, adding an extra measure of safety as well as eliminating some of the hassles of international travel.

3. No Crazy Time Change: Traveling north and south instead of east and west means you’ll spend less of the vacation adjusting to new time zones and more time feeling like yourself. International travel without the jet lag makes South America a rejuvenating trip.

4. Shorter Flight Times: Travelers who think they’ll only visit South America once will be pleasantly surprised to learn how close some of the continent’s top sights are to one another. Because of short distances and flight times, you can combine Machu Picchu with the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands all in one vacation.

5. Cultural Immersion: Here visitors may travel back in time to observe indigenous populations practicing the same cultural traditions as centuries ago. Ancient ruins and the well-preserved architecture of colonial cities make South America a paradise for history buffs. For those who wish to experience the continent’s emblematic dance rhythms from Bahia to Buenos Aires, it’s a festival.

6. Culinary Travel: South American cuisine is all the rage. Foodies rave about Peru’s fusion style prepared by indigenous cooking methods, the European, African and Caribbean influences in Brazilian dishes, and the French and Italian slant to Argentine cooking, not to mention the world’s most perfectly grilled steak. Divine meals paired with some of the world’s top wines from Argentina and Chile make South America a unique gastronomic adventure.

7. Something for Everyone: So vast a continent offers destinations to suit almost every traveler. From tropical beaches and rainforests to glaciers and the magnificent Andes, you’ll find a bountiful array of ways to vacation in South America.

8. “Bucket List” Sights: South America is filled with bucket list opportunities—a journey down the Amazon, observing Galapagos wildlife at close range, traveling the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, walking among the penguins of Patagonia. South America offers many once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

9. Experiential Travel: The adventure travel options are plentiful. Ride the pampas like the gauchos, sea kayak with marine wildlife, hike scenic trails, drift-snorkel, whitewater raft and surf in warm waters. With seasons opposite those of North America, you can ski in July or sunbathe in December.

10. It’s Still Off The Beaten Path: Unlike the much-traveled destinations of Western Europe, most of South America remains relatively undiscovered by tourists, making it easy to go “off the beaten path.”

Southern Explorations offers dozens of different ways to explore the mountains, islands, jungles and beaches of South America.

*image and content courtesy of Southern Explorations. I was not compensated for this post. I just thought the content was useful and interesting as well as timely since we will be featuring South America next week.

I find this concept fascinating, L.A. Gang Tours expects to open to the public in January, giving tourists a look at the heart of the nation’s gang culture — the birthplace of many of the city’s gangs, including Crips and Bloods, Florencia 13 and 18th Street. For just $65 for an adult you can experience the real South Central L.A.

A bus tour of some of the hardest areas of the city, including decayed public housing, sites of deadly shootouts and streets ravaged by racial unrest. Sound intriguing? This sounds like the type of tour my sociology class would have loved. While it does sound a little controversial, scary, and like a heavy dose of reality, if it’s done right it can be a great thing for the area educating people on the underbelly of society.

Does it make you feel a little better that the proceeds go right back to the community? Profits will be put back into the community through jobs, tours in new areas and loans to inner-city entrepreneurs.

Visit the L.A. Gang Tour’s website for more information and to reserve your spot!

I’m curious to see how the launch of these tours turn out, what do you say? Will you sign up for a tour during your next trip to LA? Very tempting.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving from all your friends here at Dotting The Map! We hope you have safe and fun turkey travels!

Just a note that if you thought travel was stressful on Wednesday, you will be surprised to find out that according to USA Today it’s only the 36th busiest day of the year to travel!! Apparently summer days call for far more stressful times at airports!

So what exactly makes a family friendly hotel? Is it just offering cribs and free breakfast to children under 12? Perhaps it’s more. Perhaps it involves the overall attitude of the hotel. There are definitely hotels built for romantic getaways or hotels that are built to be five star extravagances catering to the rich and famous. Maybe family friendly hotels are built from the ground up with an attitude of fun and adventure. Maybe it’s more than just a checklist of a few amenities.

Look at the Nickelodeon Family Suites; it screams family friendly (although no one wants to be slimed upon check in). It boasts a huge water park, a kid’s spa, a mall and 4-D experience. I still think there is a difference between being kid friendly and family friendly because I think the thought of staying at this hotel would give some parents a headache, while others would probably love it. Maybe family friendly hotels have something for everyone, a place for the kids to have fun with a lounge for the parents to relax in.

I don’t think a hotel doesn’t have to be quite this extreme to be considered a family friendly hotel. I think some simple things can be done as well.  An example could be if a family has reserved a crib having it set up for them when they arrive in case they get in late, having foods in the continental breakfast that would appeal to younger folks, extra towels, etc. But really it’s the attitude and the combination of these amenities that the hotel takes on that I think makes the difference.

This year I plan to explore this concept and seek out hotels that claim to be family friendly and report my findings here. However, till then I’d love to hear your thoughts or hear of places you have stayed that you thought fit the bill and why.

*picture courtesy of www.nickhotel.com