The Devaluation of Money
10/25/20087:23:21 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
I thought I have seen it all in this business . . . . . . . . but . . . . . . . . there is always more . . . . . . . . . a customer who makes us wonder . . . . . what are we doing wrong?
Iwanna Moore and her husband had just returned from a 7 night cruise. A cruise which she had told us was a lotta fun and was had for a great deal . . . . . . . . . . . a total price for both of them . . . . . . . . . for 7 night’s . . . . . . . . including . . . . all taxes . . . . . . food . . . . room service . . . . . entertainment . . . . . coffee and juices . . . . . a total price (did I say that) . . . . . . $1139.02. so here lies my sigh. Iwanna Moore came by after this cruise . . . . where she received . . . . . as a thank you from us . . . . a GalaxSea beach bag . . . . . . champagne and chocolates . . . . . . and $100.00 shipboard credit to be used any way she sees fit. I keep saying she because I don’t think he has spoken in her presence for the last 20 some years.So . . . . as I was saying . . . . . . . and you can’t make this stuff up.She wanted us to give her . . . . . . . . give her . . . . . . an additional $300.00. You may ask why? I certainly did. And here is what I found out.The $100.00 was devalued by . . . . . . at least 75%. What? Then Iwanna Moore states that . . . . . . . . . . every time I would pay for something (let’s say a coke, for example) it would cost me $1.50 . . . . . . . and . . . . she continued . . . . . . a coke should only cost about 35 cents. So, by you (meaning GalaxSea) forcing me to spend . . . . . . . . . cruise money . . . . . . . which is inflated, I (meaning her) think you owe me $300.00 to make up the value of the actual product. I don’t know how fast I responded with a “not gonna happen” . . . . . . . . . but she immediately followed up with “I guess I need to find a different travel agent that takes care of his customers”.Simply said . . . . . I told her that I don’t know how to respond and thanks for her business. That’s funny . . . . . . me not having a response.I used to know how economics worked, but after having it explained to me in this way . . . . . . . . I just don’t know anymore.As Seen Through The Eyes Of Me
10/18/20088:16:32 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
And then . . . . . . . as if it never happened . . . . . . . the band was actually Ralph Schoenenblachen, the elderly janitor, hacking his lungs out . . . . . . . the grass turned brown and snow began to fall . . . . . . and the chirping . . . . well that was a couple of 80 year old servers bickering in the cafeteria. But I had what I needed . . . . . . . . in my mind . . . . . . I had met the girl I was to marry . . . . . . . exactly as I described. She may have a different memory . . . . . . . and that’s ok. But if she tells you that the glide was more of her running from . . . . don’t believe her.
These memories are how we live forever . . . . . . forever in the minds of those we touch. A day at the beach . . . . . an awkward moment at a party . . . . . . a child’s first baseball game. A while back my granddaughter . . . . . . . 6 years old at the time . . . . . . . . . . had asked me, while driving past a cemetery . . . . . . when I am going to die? Surprised at the question, I answered . . . . . . . . never . . . . . . . as long as you keep memories of me that can someday be passed on to your kids and again on to theirs.
Our memories of people, places and thoughts become our most important asset. They will continue to grow and they can never be taken away. Many years from now . . . . . . . . our children’s children . . . . . . our friend’s friends and our family’s families . . . . . . .will always have a part of me. My life within them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as given through memories.
The Captain Should Understand
10/15/200811:24:15 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Time and Distance. It’s a fairly simple mathematical equation. The old x y z thing that none of us cared about in school. But, simply put . . . . . . . . . . . if your ship’s departure time is 4:00 . . . . . . . . . and it took you 20 minutes to walk into town . . . . . . . you should assume it takes 20 minutes to walk back. Then why - oh why – oh why is it the fault of the cruise line for . . . . . . . . . . get this . . . . . . . . leaving on time. It seems that some people think that the world should wait for them. In particularly, a couple of cruisers were still shopping at 4 o’clock . . . . . . . . . and can’t understand why the Captain would not understand the art of bargaining in a store and the time it takes to secure that fake purse which they . . . . . by they, I mean she . . . . . had to have. So now, it is up to us to write a letter to the cruise line asking for reimbursement of a hotel night, as well as 2 airline tickets to the next port of call.
We will send this letter on their behalf; yet, I think I know the answer. I don’t know what time they actually returned to . . . . . . . . . . the spot where the ship was docked . . . . . . . but, I can assure you it was not a couple of minutes past 4 as I was told. I am also reasonably certain that her husband was giving his wife the same type of disgusting looks which I am giving to my computer screen right now. But . . . . . . . we shall do what we can. After all – we did once get a replacement cruise for a couple that would not surrender her . . . . . yes, her . . . . . tire gauge at airport security and was therefore denied boarding her flight.Frequently the guests will ask why a ship simply won’t wait. The first answer to that . . . . . is that they do understand x y z. They need to be at the next port in 15 hours . . . . . . after travelling a distance of 300 miles . . . . . . . . and the ship’s speed is 20 mph. Do the math. The second answer is the little thing called port fees. Port fees are based on the charges incurred at each port to cover . . . . . . . . among other things . . . . . . . the manpower and services it takes to bring a ship into and out of a port. There are pilot boats . . . . . . . customs officials . . . . . . . security . . . . . . . . . dock hands . . . . . and much more that happens behind the scenes. Now don’t get me wrong . . . . . . a Captain . . . . . any Captain . . . . . . . will stay at or go to an unscheduled port for any type of a medical emergency or safety issue. But, the justification of spending $4000.00 dollars or so . . . . . . . . so that Paris Hilton can have an original fake dog carrier bag . . . . . is not going to cut it.So, the next time you travel, be aware of time and distance and you will experience a much more enjoyable time.It's All About The Food
10/7/200810:56:51 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
No matter where we go . . . . . . . . . . it’s all about the food. How is food compare from one ship to another? . . . . . . One cruise line vs. the next? . . . . . . . . . . . This hotel or that hotel? . . . . . . . . Wherever we go . . . . it’s all about the food.
So take a look below at one of the many cruise ship menus . . . . . . . . from one of the many supper clubs . . . . or dinner clubs . . . . . . or specialty restaurants which are so abundant on today’s ships.
Certainly, you can get a meal . . . . . . . such as this . . . . . . . in the city for a cost of about . . . . . . . . $80 to $120 per person depending on the quality.
Well . . . . . . how about $30.00 per person . . . . . . and you may be surprised at which cruise line offers this menu.
Welcome to the Supper Club
Prepare to tantalize your palate during a leisurely paced meal.
Our menu is modeled after
serving only the finest aged prime beef, which is cut,
weighed and charbroiled to your exact specifications.
Select from a perfect 14-ounce
24-ounce Porterhouse steak,
18-ounce Rib chop, or 9-ounce Filet Mignon.
In addition to mouth-watering steaks, a variety of other
delectable entrées – everything from double-cut lamb
chops to seafood dishes such as lobster tail and
Sole – are also available.
The intimate atmosphere and extensive menu that
includes 17 gourmet appetizers, salads, soups and side
dishes, complement the season’s freshest produce and
one of the best wine lists afloat, handpicked by our chefs
to perfectly match the wide-ranging cuisine.
Welcome to a world of award-winning chefs,
extraordinary cuisine and impeccable service. Many of
the menu items are original creations designed especially
for the supper club and for your enjoyment.
Starters
ESCARGOTS BOURGUIGNONNE
Baked in Garlic Herb Butter
PUMPKIN AND FETA CHEESE PARFAIT
Served with a Light Roasted Pumpkin Cream
BEEF CARPACCIO
Sliced Raw Beef Tenderloin with Shaved Parmesan Cheese
Marinated Mache Lettuce
SUSHI PLATTER
Salmon, Lobster and Shrimp with Pickled Ginger and Wasabe
JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL
Black Tiger Shrimp with American Cocktail Sauce
On Roasted Pepper Remoulade
LOBSTER BISQUE WITH VINTAGE
Fleuron and Fresh Cream
BAKED ONION SOUP “LES HALLES”
A Parisian Classic
Salads
CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD
Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, Traditional Prepared
BABY LEAF SPINACH AND FRESHMUSHROOMS
With Blue Cheese Dressing and Warm Bacon Bits
TOSSED GARDEN SALAD
Greens Radichio, Tomato, Purple Onion Rings and Watercress
Choice of House, Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing
Side Dishes
BAKED POTATOES WITH TRIMMINGS
SAUTÉEDMEDLEY OF FRESHMUSHROOMS
GRILLED FRESH VEGETABLES IN SEASON
CREAMED SPINACH WITH GARLIC
Entrées
Our Steaks Are Hand Selected, USDA Prime Beef, Aged to Our
Specifications, Carefully Handled and Perfectly cooked.
BROILED
14 oz. of the Favorite Cut for Steak Connoisseurs
GRILLED PRIME RIB CHOP
18 oz. for the Real Beef Gourmet
CLASSIC PORTERHOUSE STEAK
Combines the Full Flavor of the Strip Loin with the Tenderness of
the Tenderloin, 24 oz. of the Best from Both Worlds
BROILED FILETMIGNON
9 oz. for the True Gourmet
SURF & TURF
Seared Lobster Tail and Grilled Filet Mignon
WHOLE
Pan-fried and Served with Beurre Noisette
BROILED LOBSTER TAIL
Served With Drawn Butter
BROILED SUPREME OF FREE RANGE CHICKEN
With Blackberry – Port Wine Reduction
GRILLED LAMB CHOPS
Double-Cut Lamb Chops
Served on Five Bean Cassoulet and Rosemary Jus
MUSHROOM STRUDEL ON ASPARAGUS FONDUE
Stuffed Tomato with Green Peas and Truffled Mac n’ Cheese
Sauces Available
THREE PEPPERCORN SAUCE
WILDMUSHROOM SAUCE
SAUCE BÉARNAISE
Desserts
CITRUS CHEESECAKE WITH HAZELNUT BISCUIT
Burnt Basmati and Mango Ravioli with Almond and Mascarpone Jam
Served with Chocolate and Lemon Balm Salad
CHOCOLATE TARTE WITH BITTER CHOCOLATE PÂTÉ
Pineapple Croquant, Tiramisu Notre Façon
FRESH FRUITS
Assembly of Tropical Fruit and Berries in Season, Served with
Homemade Sherbet
SELECTION OF INTERNATIONAL CHEESES
That’s right. Carnival offers the best optional dining at sea. If you would like to find out more, simply book yourself on a Carnival ship . . . . . . . one that was built after 2001 . . . . . . . . and bring 30 bucks. Then, you too will have experienced the best meal at sea.
GalaxSea Cruises
- (770) 785-7304
- *E-Mail Us*
- 1815 Parker Road
- Suite I - 110
- Conyers GA 30094
