[Nfbf-l] NFBF State Convention 2014 Cruise Info

[Lenora J. Marten]

NFBF State Convention Cruise 2014 Info: Below, you will find information on the ship itself plus pricing, how and when to book. 

Your NFBF State Convention Cruise 2014 Committee is working on an agenda and are there to answer any questions. 
Dwight Sayer, Committee Chair; Dan Hicks; Lenora Marten; Gloria Hicks; Nallym Bravo; Joe Minichiello; Larry Marten

Stats on the Norwegian Sky:

Passenger Capacity: 2, 004 (Double Occupancy)
Gross Register Tonnage: 77, 104
Overall Length: 848
Max Beam: 105
Draft: 26 feet
Engines: Diesel Electric
Cruise Speed: 20 know
Access Department on Board
934 crew members
launched in 1999 (has been in for refurbishment in 2010), all Norwegian Ships go for upgrades/refurbishments every 3 to 4 years. 

There are 13 Decks which consist of decks 4 through 10 are staterooms with different categories (Interior, Oceanview, Balcony and Suites).

Dining options: 
Included in the price of your cruise:

• Crossings Main Dining Room
• Garden Café – Indoor/Outdoor Buffet Dining
• Palace Main Dining Room 

Specialty Dining which you pay a slight cover charge and get from Appetizer to Dessert
• Cagney’s Steakhouse which is a $25 cover charge 
• IL Adagio – Italian Restaurant $10 cover charge
• Le Bistro – French $20

What to do on board included on your cruise:

• Atrium: Where you will find main desk and excursion desk area, excursions extra
• Basketball/Volleyball Court
• Body Waves Fitness Center (Free accept for some personal classes)
• Duty Free Shopping: Jewelry, clothes, liquor, sourveniors
• 2 Golf Driving Nets
• 5 hot tubs (one just for the kids)
• Internet Café (Norwegian Working on adding screenreaders not yet in place)
• Jogging/Walking Track
• Kid’s Korner – All all ages (geared to age groups from 2 months to 16 years old)
• Mandara Spa – (Services are extra, from nails to massages and more!
• Mark Twain Library
• Sky Club Casino
• Splashes Children’s Pool 
• Stardust Lounge (seats up to 1000 people, this is a place to have general sessions and elections, as well as Scholarship presentations. 
• 2 Outdoor Swimming pools: 1 for families and 1 for the adults
• The Zone: Night Time Place for kids 13-17 to go: Dancing, Wii Consoles, Air Hockey, and more
• Video Arcade

Lounges (Alcohol not included in the price of the cruise same with soft drinks, but we can add a package to the group):

• The Coffe Bar – All kinds of coffees and teas (some things are free)
• Plantation Bar – Champagne and Wine Bar
• Outrigger Lounge
• Longbar Sports Bar (watch you favorite games on board, food is free)
• Dazzles Nightclub (Dancing the night away)
• Champs Bar (this is the Pool Area Bar)
• Captain Cook’s Martini Bar
• Breakers Bar

Entertainment:

• DJs durign the day and night
• Variety of Entertainment in the evening for your enjoyment
• And the Famous White Hot Party (This is a party for everyone, everyone dresses up in WHITE and enjoys the night on the pool desk or in the “Stardust Lounge” in inclimate weather.

Pricing and options

These are based on current rates subject to changed until rooms are held

Itinerary: 

February 7: Departs Miami, FL 5pm
February 8: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (Norwegian Cruise Lines Private Island) 
Arrive at 8AM – Departs 5PM (This is a beach day)
February 9: Nassau, Bahamas
Arrives at 8AM – Departs 5PM
February 10: Arrive Miami, FL at 7AM

You must put a $25.00 per stateroom deposit within 30 days of booking, that money goes to towards the price of the room as well. 

1st Initial Deposit of $50 per person in stateroom would be due within 3-4 months of holding the rooms.

2nd Payment 10% of total balance due on each stateroom 270 days prior to sailing.

3rd Payment 15% of of total balance due on each state room 180 days prior to sailing.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to sailing.

FYI – UP TO 180 DAYS PRIOR TO SAILING CRUISE LINES WILL REFUND ANYONE NEEDED TO CANCEL FULL AMOUNT, AFTER THAT PENALTIES WILL BE IN PLACE, SO THE TRAVEL INSURANCE WILL HELP GET ALL MONEY BACK THAT WAS LOST DUE TO PENALTIES.!

Rooms pricing are as follows and subject to change until booked as stated. So when and if you decide to go in this direction, I would call up Norwegian just to finalize the pricing.

All rooms in general are the same square feet until you get a suite.

All have 2 beds that convert into one bed, couch, closets, bathrooms, tv, coffee pot, fridge (yes will be charged if soda, water and other things are removed, but can be used for medications such as insulin and other meds, safes, hair dryers, towels, same items in a hotel room, accept for an Iron.

Accessible Staterooms go fast. Based on availability – Those are for people that need wheelchair rooms, they are not for guide dogs (FYI, I am a guide dog user, and I know this are just for wheelchair accessible – they have roll in showers, more room for wheelchair in room, lower shelfs, bars along toliet to help up and down.

Pricing as of 8/18/12 – Subject to change – not guaranteed until booked!

Based on double occupancy rates, 3rd person and more in rooms cannot be held in group due to the fact that 3rd person and more in room are subject to change, they can only guarantee once group held are the double occupancy rates, not additional pricing for accessible staterooms.

FYI: Children do not go free, they are considered regular fare unless they are 3rd or 4th person in the room. 

Interior Stateroom - $199 per person, taxes and fees are $86.73+$12.00 a day Gratuities
Total: $321.73 per person. 

Ocean View: $289 per person, same taxes and fees and gratuities.
Total $411.73

Balcony: $549 per person, again the same as above
$671.73

Extras to keep in mind when planning a cruise!

• Travel Insurance is optional but highly recommend, especially this far out!

• Passports are needed for all
• Excursions not included, but we can get group excursion rates
• Alcohol & Soft Drinks not included
• Specialty Dining as mentioned with pricing above
• Spa Treatments or Excersize Classes not included

TO BOOK YOUR CABIN FOR THE NFBF STATE CRUISE CONVENTION 2014 - CALL

Cheryl Echevarria, Owner/Agent 
Echevarria Travel
631-456-5394

reservations at echevarriatravel.com
or
cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com

Between the hours:
Monday – Friday 9-6PM Eastern Time
Saturday 9-1PM Eastern Time
Sunday Closed


Lenora J. Marten
NFB-Florida Secretary 
FOPBC President
NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary 
bluegolfshoes at aol.com 
904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554