I am going to let you in a little secret…..

…. and I am going to have to ask you not to tell my husband because it is going to be a surprise for him. He doesn’t know it yet, but this will be the summer that he will love snorkeling as much as I do!

Watching this video aboard the Pride of Maui, a popular 65 foot Maxi Power Catamaran, brought back so many fun and exciting memories of my teen years spent visiting Molokini and Turtle Town. I have always been a water baby and visiting exotic locations combined with snorkeling sounded like a perfect summer holiday in the making for me. So, I bought us plane tickets to Maui and a cruise around the islands for the week after.

I’m so excited that it is so hard to keep a straight face, when all I am thinking about is Molokini…. Molokini…. and hoping my husband likes hawaiian green sea turtles.

When in Maui, the best way to get around to the best snorkeling destinations and to have a one-on-one meeting with this little guy is to book a snorkeling cruise.

Pride of Maui offers morning and afternoon cruises that take you to Molikini and Turtle Town, two of the world’s most ancient submerged volcanic calderas. Crystal clear water inside the craters offer unlimited visibility and is home to hundreds of marine animals endemic to the islands. I am hoping to do this…..

… and I want to do it at affordable prices! It is a very good thing that Pride of Maui has wonderful Molokini internet rates that will let us enjoy our vacation without breaking the bank. Even her sister ship, 50-foot Leilani, offers a more personalized snorkeling experience at an intimate setting is priced only at $71 per adult.

Of course, I fully intend to take advantage of Pride of Maui’s sunset cruises which are bound to be romantic enough that he will eventually forgive me for not giving him enough time to get as excited as I am about our upcoming snorkeling holiday!

Sponsored by Pride of Maui

Nickelodeon has assembled seven days of non-stop fun and activities for its first-ever Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean, which sets sail August 10-17, on Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas. Vacationers will be able to participate in a variety of activities, including: a kick-off sail away party; evening shows, a Nick Live Poolside! interactive game show; special screenings of The Naked Brothers Band and SpongeBob SquarePants; Nick Karaoke; and character meet-and-greets with Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob, among others. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to attend autograph signings and meet-and-greets with Nick celebrities including SpongeBob SquarePant’s Tom Kenny and iCarly stars Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress.

“It’s only natural that SpongeBob would headline this cruise since he’s most at home at sea,” said Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. “What better place for SpongeBob to meet his fans than cruising the beautiful blue ocean waters. He’ll feel right at home!”

Families setting sail on the Nickelodeon Family Cruise by Royal Caribbean will kick off their experience with an evening of live music and dancing at the sail away party, followed by the evening “big show” with live performances and an aerial act that will have kids on the edge of their seats.

The Nickelodeon cruise will offer family-friendly amenities and a packed schedule of fun-filled branded activities like:

* Nickelodeon character breakfasts: Families can start off their day with a hearty breakfast and a special visit with their favorite Nick characters like: SpongeBob SquarePants; Dora the Explorer; The Backyardigans; Jimmy Neutron; and Diego.

* Slime Time Live!: Both kids and parents can experience Nickelodeon’s trademark green slime at Studio Nick during this interactive game show, with the ultimate goal of getting slimed.

* Nick screenings: Each day families can catch a special screening of kids’ favorite Nickelodeon shows like: SpongeBob SquarePants; The Fairly OddParents; The Naked Brothers Band; and more.

* Nick Live Poolside!: At the pool each day there will be a Nick-themed interactive game show providing family enjoyment in the sun.

* Let’s Just Play Family Beach Day: On the sixth day of the cruise, families will have the option to disembark on the private island of Labadee where they can enjoy a day on the shore as part of Nick’s Let’s Just Play Family Beach Day, featuring freestyle beach games with a Nickelodeon twist.

Throughout the week, cruisers will have the opportunity to interact with Nickelodeon personalities. Kenny will host a screening of a brand new SpongeBob SquarePants episode as well as a voiceover workshop to teach kids how to sound just like their favorite porous pal: SpongeBob. McCurdy and Kress will host a special screening of a never-before-seen episode of iCarly and will serve as judges for an iCarly-themed Nick Karaoke contest.

The Nickelodeon Family Cruise on Freedom of the Seas also includes a full range of onboard activities and amenities appealing to adults and children of all ages. During the day, guests can rejuvenate with a session in the Freedom Day Spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, and relax in the cantilevered whirlpools in the adults-only Solarium. In the evenings, guests can enjoy live music and entertainment in several bars and lounges, a Broadway-style performance in the Arcadia Theater, or try their luck in
the Casino Royale. In addition, Freedom of the Seas provides its award-winning Adventure Ocean kids programming to entertain toddlers to teens while parents enjoy the on-board activities.

Vacationers on the Nickelodeon Family Cruise by Royal Caribbean will visit four tropical Western Caribbean destinations including: Cozumel; Mexico; George Town; Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios; Jamaica; and a special stop at Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination, Labadee. Vacation packages for the cruise are currently on-sale. Visit http://www.nickfamilycruise.com for more information.

About Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand.

For more information about Freedom of the Seas, visit http://www.RoyalCaribbean.com or http://www.FreedomoftheSeas.com .

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 29th 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, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 13 consecutive years.

Globally, Nickelodeon is the world’s most widely distributed kid’s channel, reaching more than 228.7 million homes in 152 territories via its 39 fully dedicated channels across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East as well as 19 programming blocks reaching 126.1 million households. Exclusive Nick content and programming can also be seen via the Network’s 12 global mobile channels and 74 online properties.

Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B).

SOURCE Nickelodeon / PRNewswire

Despite a weakened economy, a challenging airline industry, and sky rocketing fuel prices, Americans aren’t giving up their summer vacation plans, travel industry experts observe; but they are scaling back.

Jim Grace, President and CEO of InsureMyTrip.com, the leading online travel insurance comparison site, agrees. “At InsureMyTrip.com, we are seeing noticeable changes in the trips our customers are taking. This time last year we provided critical insurance protection for a tremendous amount of vacations to the Caribbean, Europe, and elsewhere overseas. The summer of 2008 however, seems to be about vacationing closer to home.”

But whether you’re trading a villa in Tuscany for a beach house on Cape Cod, or an African safari for the wilds of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, one fact still holds true: “Travel insurance is the best way to protect all of your travels and trip investments during this challenging time,” says Grace. “While travel insurance can’t prevent things from going wrong, it can help ease your travel woes and get your journey back on track.”

The key is to plan ahead. Travel insurance, like all insurance, is predicated on the occurrence of unforeseen events. You need to purchase travel insurance before your trip for maximum coverage and peace of mind protection against the unexpected. “It only takes one bad travel experience for a person to understand that trip insurance is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” explains Grace. “Travel insurance is your best defense against many of the most common risks affecting travel today.”

Trip Cost Protection: It happens all the time. Just before your family vacation, one of the kids gets sick, forcing you to cancel the fun-filled get-away. Travel insurance protects your financial investment so you don’t pay for a trip you cannot take.

Travel Delays/Missed Connections: A delayed flight can strand a person for hours or even cause them to miss a connecting flight to a vacation cruise. These events occur often and can wreak havoc on your itinerary not to mention your wallet for hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation caused by weather-related delays and cancellations.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions: If you, a traveling companion, family member, or business partner have a pre-existing medical condition (injury, disease or illness), trip insurance is a must. But plan ahead as the majority of travel insurance policies require that you purchase your policy within 7 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit to be eligible for pre-existing medical conditions coverage.

Hurricanes & Severe Weather: Mother Nature can be a powerful force to reckon with especially if you are traveling to earthquake, hurricane, or flood prone areas. Travel insurance provides coverage for weather-related trip cancellations, delays and interruptions as well as vacation rentals, resorts, and hotels made uninhabitable by weather.

Supplier Default: Most of the major U.S. travel insurers provide financial default/bankruptcy protection if you purchase your travel insurance plan within 7 to 21 days (varies by company and plan) of your initial trip deposit. Although some travel insurers will provide coverage for suppliers that have declared bankruptcy but continue to operate, once a company ceases operations it becomes a foreseen event and insurance can no longer be purchased.

Tour Operator Cancels: Travel insurance does not provide coverage if a tour operator cancels due to a lack of participants. However, some insurance companies do offer a Cancel For Any Reason policy that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason you choose, up to two days prior to your departure.

Unemployment: Most travel insurance policies will cover an unexpected loss of employment. Plans vary by company but all specify coverage for lay-off of a full-time employee.

InsureMyTrip.com allows consumers to review, rate, compare, analyze and purchase travel insurance from all the leading U.S. travel insurance companies in a completely secure environment. To learn more about the protection plans that best suit your vacation travel needs, visit http://www.InsureMyTrip.com on-line or call (800) 487-4722 to speak with a licensed travel insurance professional. Whether you simply need one question answered or want step-by-step help in selecting a travel insurance policy, InsureMyTrip’s professional Customer Care representatives are waiting for your call.

About InsureMyTrip.com

Established in 1995, InsureMyTrip.com is the leading, consumer-oriented online travel insurance aggregator worldwide. Featuring insurance comparisons from the top industry providers, InsureMyTrip.com is a unique, one-stop resource designed to meet consumers’ comprehensive travel insurance needs all in a secure environment. InsureMyTrip.com also specializes in providing integrated technology solutions for the travel insurance industry, with over 2,000 private-labeled and co-branded travel-related websites around the globe. InsureMyTrip.com is headquartered in Warwick, RI with additional offices and data centers in Connecticut and Oregon.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Peter Evans
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=62537
James Grace
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=73855

SOURCE InsureMyTrip.Com / PRNewswire