Thursday, September 30, 2010

Red Lobster Printable Coupon

Red Lobster Printable Coupon:

Receive
$3 off any two adult lunch entrees
$4 off any two adult dinner entrees

Now through 11/15/10.

Click here for coupon

New York & Company Coupon Code

Use online coupon 5848 to save $15 off $50 or 5851 to save $35 off $100+. Coupon also valid in-store with the printable coupon found by clicking here. Expires 10/04/10

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Smokey Bones Printable Coupon

Receive $10 Off Any $20 Purchase at Smokey Bones now through 10/9/2010 using the printable coupon found by clicking here.

LongHorn Steakhouse Coupon - $4 off 2 adult entrees

Receive $4.00 off your purchase of 2 adult entrees at LongHorn Steakhouse now through 10/17/2010 using the printbale coupon found by clicking here.

T.G.I. Friday's Printable Coupon


Receive $5 off $15+ Purchase at T.G.I. Friday's now through 10/09/10.  Click here for printable coupon!

Monday, September 27, 2010

LongHorn Steakhouse Special Deal

This past weekend, my husband and I went to LongHorn Steakhouse for dinner and were quite surprised to learn of their limited time special. They are offering a three course meal for two for just $29.99. I know a lot of restaurants have been offering “two can dine” deals, but this one is really incredible. LongHorn’s deal is unlike other “deals” that give you one appetizer, one meal, and one dessert to split between the two people. The details for LongHorn’s deal are listed below:

Steakhouse Dinner for Two $29.99

Start with two fresh salads, then choose two entrees from 7 expertly grilled options. Round out your meal by sharing one of our appetizers or a dessert. All for only $29.99 for two.

Side Salads (Choose 2)
Mixed Green Salad
• Caesar Salad
With unlimited, freshly baked honey-wheat bread.

Entrees (Choose 2)
New 8 oz. Garlic-Herb Crusted Sirloin
8 oz. Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin - A juicy USDA Choice top sirloin wrapped with bacon.
8 oz. Renegade Sirloin - A juicy USDA Choice top sirloin.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken - Two fresh grilled chicken breasts, topped with a parmesan garlic crust and choice of two sides.
Grilled Chicken & Stuffed Portabella - Tender grilled chicken breast topped with mushroom sauce and a cheese stuffed portabella mushroom. Served with choice of side.
Redrock Grilled Shrimp - A dozen grilled shrimp glazed with our smoky tomato butter. Served over rice with side choice and garlic butter sauce.
7 oz LongHorn Salmon - Fresh, hand-cut salmon, grilled using our secret bourbon marinade. Served over rice with side choice and salad.

Share either an appetizer or dessert (Choose 1)
New Grilled White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms - Grilled mushroom caps stuffed with white cheddar and herbs. Served over a creamy blend of aged cheddar, parmesan, Monterey jack, and fontina cheeses. Available for a Limited Time
Wild West Shrimp - Crispy shrimp, hand-battered and tossed with sliced cherry peppers, garlic butter and served with Ranch.
Texas Tonion - Crispy onion petals drizzled with sour cream and served with zesty dipping sauce.

OR

Ultimate Brownie Sundae - A Ghirardelli chocolate brownie served warm and topped with hot fudge and vanilla bean ice cream.
Golden Nugget Cheesecake - Tasty nuggets of creamy cheesecake lightly breaded and crisp fried. Served over vanilla bean ice cream with strawberry sauce.
Chocolate Stampede - Great for sharing! Moist peaks of chocolate cake layered with six types of chocolate and served with vanilla bean ice cream.
For our choices, my husband and I picked: 2 Caesar salads, 8 oz Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin, 7 oz LongHorn Salmon, and Chocolate Stampede for dessert. As usual, our food was delicious and cooked to perfection.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of this limited time deal before it’s too late!!  To find a location near you, please click here .

Monday, September 20, 2010

Norwegian Cruise Line And Golf Go Hand In Hand

Norwegian Cruise Line And Golf Go Hand In Hand


by Gregg Eppleman on September 20, 2010

I’m not sure if many of you future vacationers know this, but Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is the official cruise line of the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. So if your idea of a great vacation is a round of golf at an exotic location, but your significant other wants to go on a cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line gives you the best of both. Here’s what you can get on an NCL cruise…

See if anything on this list is what you had in mind for a cruise or golf vacation.

-Access to top courses in Hawaii and Bermuda
-Certified golf instruction with trained golf professionals on-board to service you every day of your cruise
-Guided VIP golf excursions with personalized expertise
-Sophisticated golf academy experience using the V1 Digital Coaching system to help improve your game during your vacation
-Complete Nike Golf club and shoe rentals and custom order equipment program to enjoy the very best irons, drivers, golf balls and more
-Priority tee times
-Transfers between ship and courses
-Club valet and storage (only available aboard Pride of America)

As you can quickly see, Norwegian Cruise Line has covered all the bases, and is ready to cater to your every vacation whim while on one of their ships. I recently sailed to Bermuda on the Norwegian Spirit out of Boston, and it was simply the most relaxing vacation I’ve had in a long time. I would highly recommend Port Royal if you want to play a challenging course with a little distance between tee and green.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Crowne Plaza Nashua - Review

On a recent business trip to Nashua, New Hampshire, I stayed in a suite at The Crowne Plaza Nashua (http://www.cpnashua.com/).

Room Description:
QUEEN BED EXECUTIVE FLOOR NONSMOKING - LOCATED ON A PRIVATE ACCESS FLOOR THESE ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS AND A 32 INCH FLAT SCREEN TV WITH HBO START THE DAY WITH A FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AND ENJOY THE EVENING RECEPTIONS WITH HORS DOEUVRES AND COCKTAILS YOURE SURE TO LOVE OUR HOLISITIC SLEEP AMMENITIES.
The business suite/presidential suite is located on the 8th floor. The primary benefits of the suites are:

1. Business lounge area with free cocktails in the evening (coffee, tea, bottled beer, and a small selection of wine)
2. The room has whirlpool tub upgrade
3. The 8th floor is all suites. There is free highspeed wireless in the entire hotel provided by Comcast.







From their website you can learn the following about the hotel:

The Crowne Plaza Nashua:
Nashua’s premier hotel where comfort, service, style and function elegantly intertwine.

The Crowne Plaza Nashua, a charming hotel, brings together everything the discerning traveler seeks: an ideal location, impressive accommodations, personalized service, and attention to detail.

Area Information
The Crowne Plaza Nashua is centrally located in New Hampshire’s high tech southern tier just moments away from an exorbitant amount of indoor and outdoor activities. A perfect location for both the business and leisure traveler, the Crowne Plaza is suitable for a high-tech meeting or a swim in the popular health club’s indoor pool. Experience some of New Hampshire’s finest local attractions:

Tax-free shopping
Anheuser Busch Brewery tour, home of the Clydesdales
NASCAR - New Hampshire International Speedway
Cruise aboard the Mount Washington on Lake Winnipesauke in the Lakes Region
Hike and ski in the White Mountain National Forest
Enjoy a day of relaxation & fun at Hampton Beach

Hotel Amenities
The Crowne Plaza Nashua offers exquisite accommodations. Rest your head on our new comfortable beds when you try out our signature Sleep Advantage Program. Located off the main lobby, Speaker’s Corner Restaurant & Pub offers breakfast, lunch, evening dining, and Sunday Brunch. Weekly events featuring live music and outdoor deck service are available. Create the ideal stay to match your tastes with our distinguished amenities, including:

230 renovated guest rooms, including 6 Jacuzzi-kings and 20 luxury suites
Executive Level, with private lounge
100% Smoke-Free Facility
All new Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage & Quiet Zone features
Free and ample parking in our covered, 4-story garage
Complimentary shuttle to/from Manchester–Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
Executive business center
Full service health club with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and saunas
Massage therapy for special occasions
Hair Salon
Gift & Flower Shop featuring items designed locally
Speaker’s Corner Restaurant & Pub
Event Planning

With over 11,500 square feet of meeting space, offering state-of-the-art amenities, our group facilities are Nashua’s premier site for high profile meetings, multi-day conferences, and social events. Our award-winning Executive Chef, Martin LeGay, has designed unique and elegant menus for every type of function. From a morning break to an evening plated dinner, you will savor the fares offered by our accomplished culinary team. Our staff takes pride in hosting your special guests. The lasting impression of your event hosted by the Crowne Plaza Nashua is excellence, quality, character, and professionalism.

Executive Boardroom
Somerset Ballroom
Trafalgar Suite
Hunt Club
Brookfield
Library
Amphitheater
Essex Room
Windsor Suite
Relax In The Comfort Of This Nashua Luxury Hotel…

Sleep Better In Our Nashua Accommodations…
With a fine attention to your needs, our accommodations were designed for the comfort and convenience of the discriminating traveler. At Crowne Plaza, we recognize the importance of getting a great night’s sleep when you travel. That’s why we have developed the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage Program with the help of sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, Ph.D. of Sound Sleep, LLC. Our program is a holistic approach, designed to enhance your well-being as well as your stay. Enjoy the wide range of impressive features at our luxury hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire, including:

• Comfortable new beds, with pillow-top mattress
• Plush duvet, luxurious sheets, and seven pillows
• Amenity bag including lavender linen spray, ear plugs and eye mask
• Guaranteed wake-up call
• Quiet zone floors
• Complimentary high-speed internet connection
• Dual-line phones with data ports
• Individual voicemail and caller ID
• Executive work desk with ergonomic chair
• Coffee/tea maker
• Hairdryer
• 32" Flat Screen TV with over 70 channels
• In-room pay movies
• Iron with full-size ironing board
• Private access electronic-key system (Executive Level only)

With luxurious accommodations and first-class service, the Crowne Plaza Nashua invites you to experience royal treatment during your next New England trip.
I highly recommend the restaurant located in the hotel, the food and menu are awesome. For a hotel, the price of food is well within range considering what you get. I haven’t had a bad meal from the restaurant yet, and I have eaten there 4 times. I highly recommend the lobster stuffed filet and the lamb chops, they are both excellent. All meals are served with a fresh head of lettuce with all the normal toppings, the salads are actually a work of art. Each meal comes with an edible flower too, which you don’t see being served often these days.
Speaker's Corner Restaurant ...

For a sumptuous menu in a bistro-style setting, stop by our Speaker’s Corner Restaurant. Our award-winning Executive Chef, Martin LeGay, has designed menus with seasonally inspired ingredients to please any palate. Enjoy our Prime Rib Buffet every Thursday or top off your weekend by joining us for the Crowne Plaza’s popular Sunday Brunch. Throughout the summer and into fall, take advantage of our outdoor deck. Whether you are stopping by for an after-work cocktail with your colleagues, or want to have dinner in a fresh and pleasant atmosphere, our outdoor deck is Nashua’s chic dining destination.
I thought this is worth mentioning…all rooms in this hotel are ‘technically’ suites. The big difference with the 8th floor is there is a lounge available to guests. The rooms on other floors are identical except for the lack of a whirlpool tub in the bathroom.

The rooms are slightly dated, but well maintained. The hotel is around 20 years old, so the rooms are showing their age but the beds are very comfortable (Crown Sleep Comfort Beds).

The biggest and most notable problem is the noise. Since the hotel is older, noise canceling insulation wasn’t good when the hotel was built so you can hear people in the room next door talking. I am not talking about a muffled sound; I mean you can hear a full conversation crystal clear. This doesn’t affect me too much because I usually turn the TV on anyway.  Another issue I had was the lack of power outlets near the bed.  I had to plug my cell phone in across the room which makes it a little inconvenient.

It’s also worth noting that the front desk staff was very nice and accommodating.

I give the hotel a 7/10 and would recommend it to others.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Castagnola's San Francisco - Review

My husband and I went to eat at Castagnola’s in Fisherman’s Wharf one evening while in San Francisco. We called in advance for reservations and requested a seat near the windows (I highly recommend doing this as these are the best seats in the restaurant). Our request was accommodated and we were seated promptly upon our arrival. Within minutes, our server came over and read us the specials and took our drink orders.



From their website (http://www.castagnolas.com/ ), you can learn the following about Castagnola’s:

Thomaso Castagnola opened the first crab stand on Fisherman’s Wharf in 1916, selling fresh crab to passersby. His family owned and operated the restaurant until it was sold in 1975. The Castagnola family played a major role in building San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf into the famous icon and incredible destination it is today. Castagnola’s continues the Fisherman’s Wharf tradition offering exceptional dining and entertainment.

Oine on Fisherman’s Wharf and watch the boats come and go from Pier 47 as they have since the Gold Rush. Castagnola’s Restaurant has been serving delicious food for all occasions since 1916. Castagnola’s Restaurant in San Francisco is known for great steaks and seafood specialties in Fisherman’s Wharf; one of the most famous of San Francisco’s neighborhoods.

Come for an intimate evening with someone special, or bring a few hundred friends. Tourists and local residents alike have been coming to relax at their favorite restaurant for generations. Our dining room boast floor to ceiling windows where you can watch the fishing boats return from early morning fishing trips for lunch; during dinner hours the boats serenely float on sparkling waters in the evening light.

Castagnola’s offers a changing menu to reflect local flavor, old world specialties. We’re also expanding to offer Live Stand-Up Comedy 5 nights a week in our second floor showroom. Be sure to check out our entertainment page and discover some of Fisherman’s Wharf best entertainment.
For a starter, we both ordered cups of Lobster Bisque ($7 a cup) and were extremely impressed with it. It was a chilly evening and the soup instantly warmed us up.

My husband ordered: Cedar Plank Salmon 8 oz. – $26 Broiled on a Pacific Northwest cedar plank. Topped with Lobster Brandy sauce, allow additional time.

I ordered: Seafood Saut̩ Р$26 A combination of jumbo shrimp, scallops and fresh Dungeness crab are saut̩ed with lemon, butter & white wine.

Both of our meals came out in a decent amount of time and tasted delicious. The only criticism was from my husband, who said his salmon could have been cooked a little longer. However, neither of us left hungry from this restaurant!

I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others who are looking for a nice dinner with a beautiful setting. I have read where others think this restaurant has bad service, poor quality food, and high prices. I can honestly say that we have eaten other places where the setting wasn’t nearly as nice and the food not as good with subpar service and paid roughly the same. For San Francisco, these prices are reasonable, especially with the location. My only regret is that I didn’t save room for dessert, I was hoping to try their Crème Bruleè.

Marina Submarine - San Francisco - Review

While sightseeing one day, my husband and I stumbled upon Marina Submarine (2299 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123-3901 (415) 921-3990). Since it was our first time, we were a little confused and thankfully it wasn’t too crowded so we didn’t feel overly embarrassed. We tried placing our order with the cashier, but were told we ordered directly with the sandwich maker (who we late found out is the owner) who then yells our order over to the cashier to ring us up. Once we had our order, we sat down to enjoy it (and boy, did we enjoy it). I have to say, it was a little entertaining to realize we aren’t the only “newbies” who get confused. Many other people tried walking in, got confused and left. I feel sorry for these people; they don’t know what they missed!



The sandwich options are: choice of meat, cheese, veggies (avocado, tomato, sprouts, lettuce, onion) and spread. The sub is then toasted to perfection. The restaurant is on the smaller side, with about 6 tables. I heard that the owner is the ONLY person who makes the sandwiches and I believe this is why they are always good.

One other notable item, the subs are pretty big and they are not stingy with the ingredients. On our first trip, I ordered a medium and my husband ordered a large. Big mistake, we could have split the large! On our second and third trips, we both ordered smalls. Much more manageable!

Obviously, we were both extremely happy with Marina Submarine and would take another trip to San Francisco just to enjoy one of these delicious subs! Highly recommend!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Tad's Steakhouse - San Francisco - Review

I know that food is a pretty subjective topic and quality can be hit or miss, so please keep that in mind when reading this review.

Since Tad's Steakhouse (http://www.tadssteaks-sf.com/index.html) is located in a high traffic area on Powell Street, my husband and I walked past this restaurant many times on our vacations to San Francisco, but never made it in. On this trip, we made it a point to eat there since it was always pretty busy when we walked by. On their website, their motto is: “Our motto at Tad's remains the same through the years— Top Quality Meals at Value Prices”. With that in mind, my husband ordered Tad's Famous Steak special cut for $13.79 and I ordered the 1/2 broiled chicken for $9.49; both included a small salad, baked potato, and garlic toast.

The salad was okay, but then again…how can you screw up a salad? My husband ordered his steak medium, and based on the color of the meat, I believe it was. With that said, there should have been more juices running out of the meat, it was just terribly dry and I noticed that he used steak sauce, which he never does. Also worth noting, the steak was of low quality and extremely fatty. Now, moving onto my chicken, this was also extremely dry and didn’t have much flavor. The baked potato was good, about the only part of the meal that I ate. The garlic bread was weird. I took one bite and didn’t even want to take another. It wasn’t good at all.

On our next trip to San Francisco, we will definitely avoid this place. I might have been willing to give it another chance if one of our meals was good, but both were almost inedible. In fact, after we left Tad’s, we went to get ice cream.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Intercontinental San Francisco


My husband and I just returned from our second trip to San Francisco. On this trip, we booked the Intercontinental Hotel (http://www.intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com/) located at 888 Howard Street. From their website you can learn the following about the hotel:
The InterContinental San Francisco Hotel, a graceful tower of translucent cool-blue, soars 32 stories above the vibrant South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood of San Francisco, and has quickly taken its place among the city’s most admired landmarks.

Located directly adjacent to the Moscone West Convention Center, the InterContinental San Francisco occupies a strategic location for both business and leisure in America’s most dynamic and beloved city. While its convenience for businesspersons is unrivaled, San Francisco’s newest luxury hotel is also within easy walking distance of Union Square, premium shopping areas, a diverse collection of trendy and upscale restaurants and bars, and a number of major San Francisco tourist attractions.

The InterContinental San Francisco Hotel offers 550 guest rooms (all non-smoking), including 14 suites featuring a spectacular duplex Presidential Suite with unrivaled city skyline and San Francisco Bay views. The hotel has an intimate footprint with only 22 guest rooms per floor. Rooms are luxurious and elegantly appointed with rich wood and marble, striking contemporary art, sleek, stylish furniture, and the latest high-tech amenities. All of this is enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows through which spectacular city and bay views add to a wondrous experience in San Francisco.

Establishing new standards for design, luxury, amenities, and commitment to guest satisfaction, the InterContinental San Francisco hotel features a 10-room spa offering a comprehensive array of exquisite treatments and signature experiences, staffed by a team of therapists skilled at graciously pampering guests. For a more vigorous workout, guests can enjoy the indoor heated lap-pool or fitness center right next door to the hotel.

Wonderful dining experiences await our guests at Luce Restaurant offering American- style breakfast and lunch and transforming into a destination wine restaurant for dinner. Enjoy a tantalizing Grappa cocktail at Bar 888 located on our lobby level.

The Hotel’s 43,000 square feet of meeting and function space includes 2 spectacular ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors, where flexible configurations provide for events requiring 400 to 1,600 square feet. The hotel's conference and banquet facilities all have natural light and are the most technologically advanced of all San Francisco meeting venues, equipped with capabilities for high-speed Internet access, ISDN lines, independent climate controls, and advanced security.

INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

Check In/Out
Check-In Time 03:00 PM
Check-Out Time 12:00 PM
Late Check-Out Available

Location
Located in downtown San Francisco, South of Market
888 Howard Street, corner of 5th Street
14.1 miles from San Francisco International Airport
19.8 miles from Oakland International Airport

Facility
• 32 Floor(s)
• 550 Guest Room(s)
• 14 Suite(s)
• 345 Single-Bedded Room(s)
• 205 Double-Bedded Room(s)
• 550 Non-Smoking Room(s)
• Executive Suites
• Executive Floors

Internet Access
High Speed Internet Access
* Initial Fee: $14.95 (USD)
Service Provider: AT&T, Superclick
PC available Service Provider: AT&T. Club Lounge only

Wireless Data Connection
* Initial Fee: $14.95 (USD)
Service Provider: AT&T, Superclick

Languages Spoken by Staff
Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, Tagalog

Pet Policy
Pets allowed with a non-refundable fee per night of $50 (USD)
Specific rooms only
Pet cannot be left unattended in guest room

Parking
Parking Available/180 Spaces
Valet parking only
Valet Parking Available: $60.42 incl. tax (USD)
Controlled Access Gates to Parking
Parking Area Equipped with Lights

Currency
UNITED STATES DOLLAR $ (USD)

Accessibility
Service Animals Allowed
16 Room(s) with Accessibility Standards
Valet parking
About a week before our arrival, I called to see if a couple of my requests could be accommodated. My first request was an early check in. I knew our flight was scheduled to land at 1:30 and since their check in time is 3:00, I was hoping they would let us check in about 2:00 – 2:30. I was told by the representative that this would not be a problem and she would note my reservation. My second reason for calling wasn’t exactly a request; it was more of a question. While in San Francisco, we were meeting up with a few friends and celebrating an anniversary. We wanted to ship their gift directly to the hotel and not have to worry about it on the plane. I was told exactly how to address the package and that it would be placed in my room when it arrived. I was extremely happy and had a great feeling about this trip.

On Saturday, our flight was pretty uneventful except for our flight having to circle the San Francisco airport for about 20 minutes waiting for clearance to land. We retrieved our bag and hopped in a taxi to be taken to our hotel. We arrived at the hotel approximately 2:30 and we were tired. We stood in line for about 5 minutes waiting to check in. We were then told our room was not ready, needless to say we were frustrated. I asked how much longer and was told it would be at least an hour (which is after the 3:00 check in time). To be fair, the woman did offer to downgrade us from the King Deluxe (which we booked) to a standard queen room (which was available right at the moment). No thank you. We booked the room we wanted, we weren’t about to accept a downgrade for a week just to get into our room. Perhaps if an upgrade was offered, we would have accepted and paid the difference. Since our early check in request was not honored, I confirmed that there was a note on our reservation that we were expecting a package, I was assured there was a note and the package would be delivered to our room. We asked if our bags could be held, we were starving and didn’t want to take our luggage with us. We were told to give the bags to the bellman, so we did and we left.

Fast forward a few hours. We arrived back at the hotel about 5:30, thoroughly exhausted by this point. We checked into our room without incident, handed over our luggage tag and were told our bags would be delivered to our room promptly. We got to our room (on the 25th floor) and we were very happy with everything, very clean and modern. About 5 minutes later, there was a knock at the door and it was the bellman there to deliver our luggage. Unfortunately, it was not our luggage. The guy argued with us for a second, but seriously, why would we refuse our bags? He left, and about 25 minutes went by and he finally came back with our bags. I was thankful to finally have everything and hoped that would be the end of the “incidents”.

Pictures of our room:





A description of the King Deluxe room is:
THE VIEWS KEEP GETTING BETTER ON THE 25TH TO THE 30TH FLOOR UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF THE FAMOUS SAN FRANCISCO LANDMARKS LOWER FLOORS ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF AN EXTRA 70 SQ FT OF SPACE WITH A WINDOW SEAT FEATURE ON REQUEST
View from our room:




Everything was going perfect with our stay. We were sleeping well, the hotel was quiet, and the staff always seemed pleasant. On Tuesday, our package was supposed to be delivered. My husband had met up with a few friends earlier in the morning for a bike ride, so I was in the room alone when I received a call from the concierge that a package was delivered. I asked if they would bring it up and was informed that I needed to go down to get it. Okay, fine. I went to the concierge desk and the woman gave me a little bit of a problem because the package was shipped in my husband’s name. I informed her that the hotel reservation was also under my husband’s name, but that mine was also listed under the room. She finally relinquished and asked me to “sign this sheet accepting the package”. I did so, but then realized I wasn’t signed only for the package, but also for an $11 package handling fee. I was outraged; we had never been informed of such a fee. When I asked her about it, she informed me that it was a standard fee. I informed her that I had called in advance of shipping the package and was never made aware of this fee. Had I been made aware, I never would have shipped it to the hotel. She didn’t really want to listen to me. I told her for $11, the least they could have done was bring it to the room for me. Honestly, I don’t know how they get away with charging this fee. UPS delivers the package; they call the guest, the guest then have to get the package. Wow, expensive $11 phone call. :-( When my husband returned, I informed him of the charge and he was as annoyed as I was. He went to the front desk and got it removed.

Other thoughts on the hotel and the area:
• I thought $14.95 internet charge was a little excessive, but we paid it.
• I was happy that they offered a place to check in for your flights and print boarding passes.
• “The Green Door”, which is a medical marijuana dispensary is across the street from the hotel. Often times the smell is pretty strong when walking by.
• “Buca di Beppo” a fresh, authentic Italian food served family style, for parties of two or two-hundred is also across the street from the hotel. This came in handy on nights we didn’t want to go too far away.
• There seemed to be a lot more homeless people around the SoMa area. Last year we stayed near Union Square and didn’t notice them as frequently. They seemed to be harmless, but still made me feel uncomfortable to be asked for money, especially when I was walking alone.

Overall, I was extremely happy with our stay and I would recommend the hotel to others.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Norwegian Cruise Line Offers Nickelodeon All Access Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line Offers Nickelodeon All Access Cruises

by Gregg Eppleman on September 2, 2010

In an era where parents are looking for a great vacation that includes the kids, this is just a reminder that Norwegian Cruise Line is partnering with Nickelodeon to bring you not one, but two Nickelodeon All Access Cruises. Better yet, if you book one now, you will receive up to $250 in on-board credit and half off the normal deposit. The release from NCL Cruises is below.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon are offering the ultimate family cruise vacation with two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” setting sail in 2011. These special Nickelodeon-themed cruises give guests access to seven days of slime-filled entertainment all day, every day aboard Norwegian Jewel, sailing from New York on February 20, 2011; and on the cruise line’s newest and most innovative ship, Norwegian Epic, sailing from Barcelona on July 24, 2011. Families who book an All Access Cruise between August 23, 2010 and September 13, 2010 will receive a special offer of up to $250 in on-board credits, based on stateroom category; and half off the deposit (excluding the Garden Villa and other suite categories).

Norwegian and Nickelodeon have partnered to provide families with a once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation that is all Nickelodeon, all week long. Exclusive Nickelodeon family programming featured on the two “Nickelodeon All Access” cruises includes:

- Ultimate sliming experience offers a chance for the whole family to get slimed together.
- Meet & greets with the stars of Nickelodeon’s hottest live-action shows. Special cruise guests have included stars from iCarly, True Jackson VP, and the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.
- This year’s star line-up is still to be announced, but promises to be just as exciting.
- Special viewings and premieres of never-before-seen episodes of Nickelodeon’s hit TV shows like iCarly, Victorious and SpongeBob SquarePants.
- Meet & greets with some of your favorite Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Aang the Last Airbender and many more!
- Nickelodeon’s signature messy game shows like Slime Time LIVE! and poolside events.
- Breakfast with Nickelodeon characters every day of the cruise.
- And much more!

- Plus, families can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle Cruising®.

The non-stop excitement and thrills of the “Nickelodeon All Access Cruise” are only available on: Norwegian Jewel sailing President’s Day holiday, February 20, 2011, round-trip from New York to Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island or Norwegian Epic departing on July 24, 2011 from Barcelona with ports of call including Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain. Starting rates are from $899 per person double occupancy on Norwegian Jewel and from $1299 per person double occupancy on Norwegian Epic.

The on-board credit limited time offer includes $250 per stateroom when sailing in a Garden Villa, available on Norwegian Jewel; $150 for suites; $100 for mini-suites and deluxe balcony staterooms; $75 for balcony staterooms; $50 for ocean view and $25 for inside staterooms.

To book one of the only two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” in 2011, call Norwegian at 866-770-NICK (6425), or visit www.ncl.com/nickallaccess. Get the latest updates, play interactive games and connect with other families on the Nickelodeon All Access Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/nickallaccess.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 44-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, Norwegian has 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea.

Norwegian’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic, debuted in June 2010. Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of Blue Man Group, debuting for the first time at sea on Norwegian Epic, as well as the official cruise line of Legends in Concert, Second City® Comedy Troupe, Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos, Gibson Guitar, and Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids. Cirque Dreams” & Dinner is also featured on board Norwegian Epic as the first show of its kind at sea under a big top.