Cruise Review
The newest of Voyager class vessels, Royal Caribbean has introduced in December 2002 the Navigator of the Seas. One of four ships that can claim to be "the world's largest", complete with a roller blade track, ice skating rink, and rock climbing wall. Plus a boulevard full of shops, bars and cafes known as the Royal Promenade, and a 1950's style diner: Johnny Rocket's, great for burgers, dogs and shakes and a nickel jukebox. Plus a Latin jazz bar and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor.We sailed on a 2 day special Inaugural cruise. Navigator will alternate between 7 day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.
Our observations are limited to the time we spent onboard.If you have sailed on the Voyager of the Seas you will notice that the steel oval framings of balconies are gone, replaced with full-length glass and teak railings. As big as it is, Navigator never felt over crowded and we were able to experience a variety of activities without the long lines one would of expected for a cruise ship that houses 3800 + guests. Three main dining rooms, Swan Lake, Coppelia and The Nutcracker, which are actually all part of one three-story venue offer traditional assigned seating dining. For breakfast and lunch, it's open seating. Windjammer and Jade offer a sumptuous buffet, with Jade featured some very innovative Asian/ Fusion cuisine that would delight anyone's palate with the subtle flavors of the Orient.
At dinner time, Windjammer and Jade are a casual alternative to the dining room. We thought the wait staff service was good and the food was well prepared, the presentation consistent and the choices plentiful. All consistent with what you find at a fine-dining establishment back home. If you visit the Royal Promenade, you will find pastries in the morning, sandwiches, pizza and deserts at night as well as Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Berringer Wines. At Johnny Rockets, the 50's themed diner style restaurant features red naugahyde booths, Formica counters, a jukebox, signature burgers, hot dogs, chili, french fries and onion rings.
The food here is included. All you pay for are Cokes, and ice cream shakes. For an upcharge of $20.00 per person you can dine at either Portofino, an Italian specialty restaurant or choose Chops Grille, A New York style restaurant featuring a high quality steakhouse menu. Make your reservations as soon as you get onboard cruise or you may never get the opportunity to enjoy it. If you get a sweet-tooth or hunger pains ( How could you? ) at 2:00AM, no problem.
Navigator offers a limited room service menu available round-the-clock. Visit the Connoisseur's Club where you can enjoy aperitifs and fine cigars or stop by the Champagne Bar, An elegant but cozy atmosphere to share a glass of wine or champagne. As wine lover's we enjoyed Vintages, the first totally dedicated wine bar afloat. Here you can savor wines from the world's finest wine producing regions featuring Robert Mondavi and Beringer, with wine appreciation programs. The staff is well versed in the history and education of wines.
Wine tasting can highlighted the essences of wine and the staff helped pick the right kind of wine for us. On the Royal Promenade you'll find the Two Poet's British style pub and Cafe' Promenade that features Seattle's Best Coffee. Then there is Schooner Piano Bar, and Bolero's an upscale 'Latin Lounge" featuring composers of Bolero's and other popular rhythms of the 50's and 60's. Plus there are a number of Bars scattered throughout the ship.The Navigator of the Seas' Library has one of the largest collection of books I have ever seen on a cruise ship. We were able to surf the net and check our e-mail at Royal Caribbean Online.
( 20 work stations available at an extra charge )On the upper decks you will find two main pools and an adults-only pool at the Solarium. Workout at the Shipshape Fitness center or the Spa. Here you will find spinning bikes and free weights, treadmills, cross trainers, bicycles, weight machines and a thalassotherapy pool. The ShipShape Spa has an ocean-view salon, massage rooms, and a relaxation area with ocean view.Send the kids to Club Ocean with what Royal Caribbean calls the world's largest youth facility afloat. There is Navigator Dunes, a nine-hole miniature golf course, roller blade course, Jogging track, full-size basketball court, golf simulator and towering 200 feet above the sea a rock climbing wall designed to challenge experts and beginners alike.
( Too scary for us- no guts, no glory )In the Viking Crown Lounge, we found the Cosmopolitan Jazz Club, a great cosy lounge for drinks and good vibes. There is also a Card Room, 19th Hole Golf Bar and Navigator has a Wedding Chapel that can accommodate 60 guests.We had a balcony stateroom with twin beds that can be converted to queen size bed, private bathroom, phone, closed-circuit television, mini bar and a hair dryer. No complaints here. The cabin was a good size, though not huge and the balcony really added to the spacious feeling. Nothing beats a view of the sea and the stars at 1:00AM.
Very romantic.There are 1,500+ staterooms of which over 900 are ocean view and of those, 0ver 700 have a balcony/verandah. There are also interior cabins, with over a hundred of those with a window that overlooks the Promenade. The cabins have twin beds that can be converted to queen-size. If you bring your own laptop you can hook-up right in your cabin to internet access at an extra charge. If you are looking to go over the top, check out the Royal Suite: a separate bedroom with king-size bed, private balcony with a hot tub, whirlpool bath, living room, wet bar, dining area, tv/dvd entertainment system and a baby grand piano.
Broadway style show productions at held at Metropolis. In "Now & Forever", the cast performs music and dance from such shows as Dreamgirls, The Producers, and Mamma Mia. An ice extravaganza in Studio B on Deck 3,"Ice Dancin'," features an international cast including Russian, Canadian and American skaters. Great show. You will need a ticket to see the show as space is limited.
At other times, there is open skating for guests. There is singing and dancing in The Ixtapa Lounge, and a variety of musical choices at venues throughout the ship ranging from classical, rock, country western, and jazz.A really fun to watch experience is the Mardi-Gras Parade where -- jugglers, comics, costumed characters and other performers parade through the Royal Promenade and perform for you.Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean's youth program is a great expereince for your kids. There is a 22,000 sq.ft.area that includes computer stations with activities divided into age groups:(1)three to five year olds,(2)six to eight year olds,(3)nine to eleven year olds, and(4)teens; twelve to fourteeen and fifteen and seventeen. You will find an art studio, large play area, themed events, and science programs. Adventure Art by Crayola projects...and a lot more activites, too numerious to mention here.Navigator has an outdoor area for teen parties with music and food service.
Fuel is the teen disco, complete with dance floor and Internet Caf?. Teens also can hang out at The Living Room....or play games in the video arcade. Baby-sitting is available. Overall, we give Navigator of the Seas an 8 ( out of a possible perfect 10 ). We think Navigator is a great for honeymooners, couples and families and especially for groups.
There's plenty of room and lots to do for everyone..
Oklahoma Christian University announces $33 million student housing project
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (ContentDesk) April 24, 2004 -? Oklahoma Christian University (OC) has announced a comprehensive student housing project that will result in the construction of two new residence halls and a new student apartment complex, as well as major renovation of all existing student housing.The new student residence hall and apartment projects will mark the university's first new housing additions since 1978. Earlier this month, the Oklahoma Christian Board of Trustees approved the plan for the $33 million project, which will be financed by 30-year bonds and a fundraising campaign."This is strategic not just from a recruiting standpoint, though that is an important benefit of these plans. One of the strategic multi-year goals identified by the Strategic Vision Committee is to enhance and better integrate the living and learning experience of all those who are part of the OC family. Students spend a major part of their college years in student housing, not just in the classrooms,...
Oklahoma Christian University announces $33 million student housing project
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Bedroom Furniture
The bedroom is your private haven, a space that belongs just to you, where you can be on your own and relax after a tiring day. Thus, it becomes important that everything about your bedroom, including the Bedroom Furniture, should be chosen with utmost care so that it accentuates style and enhances your comfort.
Bedroom Furniture should be designed keeping in mind the profile of the person living in the bedroom. That will, in fact, largely determine the type of furniture that is going to be a part of the room. For a newlywed couple the furniture should be in soft and pastel shades radiating the warmth of love.
For children the furniture should reflect a naughty streak on the outside and feature durability on the inside. The beds for children also include bunk beds. The youngsters need space for the storage of books as well as CDs; thus, their furniture should be made accordingly. You can also choose different bed sets, bed frames and more. Some people don't...
Bedroom Furniture
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Synk Audio Studios Introduces Summer Halos, New Customizable Production Music
Synk Audio Studios LLC introduces Summer Halos, a customizable stock music content package for Musicbed DV, its innovative Mac OS X application for interactively customizing production music from the Synk Music Library. Encoded for interactivity from over 1.1 GB of CD quality audio, Summer Halos extends the thematic reach of the Synk Music Library's catalog of cinematic music beds with thousands of new customizable stock music variations. Summer Halos is composed by Rom Di Prisco, whose credits include "The Sopranos", "America's Next Top Model", "MTV Cribs", "SSX Tricky" (EA Big), "Blair Witch Experience" (Artisan Entertainment), and "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2" (Electronic Arts). Distinguished by positive vibes, strong melodic themes, and style and texture parameters controlling over 245 virtual tracks, Summer Halos is capable of an incredible variety of beautifully rich and textured music beds."We are extraordinarily enthusiastic about Rom's new Synk Music Library title," said Eric...
Synk Audio Studios Introduces Summer Halos, New Customizable Production Music
Beds > Synk Audio Studios Introduces Summer Halos, New Customizable Production Music
Too Stressed to Snooze?
Solutions for a More Peaceful Night's Sleep (ARA) - Most Americans do not get the recommended eight hours of sleep required for good health, safety and optimum performance. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently reported that 63 percent of Americans are sleep deprived. During stressful times -- such as the loss of a loved one, a change in job status or a serious illness -- the numbers of those who suffer from sleep deficiency can be even greater. Ironically, this is the time when a good night's sleep is even more important to facilitate recovery and healing. The following suggestions may ensure a more peaceful and restorative night's sleep for the entire household.
Struggling for Much-Needed Rest People who suffer from anxiety often have difficulty falling asleep, wake up frequently during the night, arise too early in the morning, or experience unrefreshing sleep. These symptoms of insomnia are fueled by stress, grief, worry and disrupted sleep schedules. One solution...
Too Stressed to Snooze?
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Destination Weddings Go To New Heights
"Destination Weddings" are a growing trend, by some estimates accounting for 10%* of the nearly $120 billion industry, according to Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Magazine. Even the most affluent couples seek valuepriced alternatives to bring scores of family and friends to exotic and sometimes remote locales, turning to companies like Private Jet Services Group for first class travel solutions for large parties. Go to our site www.pjsgroup.comPrivate Jet Services Group offers larger parties unparalleled luxury, value and convenience compared to commercial flights. Private Jet Services Group uses fullsized, VIP configured airliners that have been redesigned to look and feel like exceptionally spacious, luxury private jets. These supersized jets can accommodate up to 106 passengers on one flight in all first class cabins complete with lounge areas that are perfect for entertaining.
"The concept of ?weddingmoons,'...
Destination Weddings Go To New Heights
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Log Cabin Living: Soften the d?cor with fabric, artwork, and plants
If you're looking for a rustic living experience, log cabins - either individually built or from a prefab kit - are a great choice; but they do present some unique decorating challenges. Most often the interior walls around the perimeter of the home are constructed of the same rough logs as the exterior; so what do you do to define your d?cor, or to provide a new look to a home that's become boring to you?
Drapes on the windows are always an easy option, but don't stop there. Quilts or other fabric wall hangings can add interest while establishing a color scheme; add enough large quilts in your choice of designs and the bare log walls will fade into the background. (Wall hangings can also do double duty by helping to minimize drafts common in log homes.) Carefully chosen artwork can also help define the d?cor; a group of small paintings can complement the log walls, while a number of large canvases can completely redefine the d?cor, creating any look you want within the...
Beds > Log Cabin Living: Soften the d?cor with fabric, artwork, and plants
Too Stressed to Snooze?
Solutions for a More Peaceful Night's Sleep (ARA) - Most Americans do not get the recommended eight hours of sleep required for good health, safety and optimum performance. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently reported that 63 percent of Americans are sleep deprived. During stressful times -- such as the loss of a loved one, a change in job status or a serious illness -- the numbers of those who suffer from sleep deficiency can be even greater. Ironically, this is the time when a good night's sleep is even more important to facilitate recovery and healing. The following suggestions may ensure a more peaceful and restorative night's sleep for the entire household.
Struggling for Much-Needed Rest People who suffer from anxiety often have difficulty falling asleep, wake up frequently during the night, arise too early in the morning, or experience unrefreshing sleep. These symptoms of insomnia are fueled by stress, grief, worry and disrupted sleep schedules. One solution...
Too Stressed to Snooze?
Beds > Too Stressed to Snooze?
How to Buy a Used Adjustable Bed
Mounting health costs and cuts to government funding are making people seek cheaper alternatives like used or secondhand adjustable beds. Used adjustable beds are no doubt cheaper than new ones, but a lot of care should be taken while buying a used adjustable bed.
The exact condition in which the adjustable bed is in is required to be taken into consideration. If it is for permanent use, then it is better to go for a new adjustable bed. If the condition is just temporary then a used adjustable bed can be bought.
Accessories like side rails and sideboards can also be affixed to a used adjustable bed.
Information about used adjustable beds is available in ads on bulletin boards, in newsletters, on websites, at local hospitals and rehabilitation centers, or at local disability organizations. Information is also found in newspaper classifieds or pawnshops.
Care should be taken to see that the bed is in good condition. Therapists' and physician's...
Beds > How to Buy a Used Adjustable Bed