Cruise the Caribbean with Andy Rent and Chuck LaTour
Topic: Tour CalendarMarch 1 to 9, 2008
The end-of-winter blahs will never find you—You’re cruising in the Caribbean! And not just any cruise—With stops at four amazing ports and two full days at sea to enjoy your fabulous floating resort, this is nothing short of the perfect winter getaway!
Your Hosts
When he was a boy in Muncie, Indiana, ANDY RENT dreamed of a career in show business. A graduate of Ball State Unversity, Andy started out as the weatherman for TV8 in the late 60’s and 70’s. He also did a stint as “Captain Woody” on the TV8 afternoon kids show. Today, with the better part of three decades of radio work behind him, Andy is one of the most recognized personalities in West Michigan. He loves music, golf, travel and reading, and says the best part of his job is the opportunity to make a difference in the community. Andy and his wife have four daughters and two grandchildren.CHUCK LATOUR has been in the broadcasting business for nearly 20 years. He came to the River 100.5 morning show with a wealth of local experience; most recently as the morning news anchor for the River’s sister station, WLHT. Chuck grew up in the Detroit area and he and his wife have four children. In addition to spending time with his family, Chuck enjoys mountain bike riding, ice hockey, playing guitar, and a good round of golf—although, he says, a good round for him is rare!
Andy and Chuck are looking forward to welcoming you aboard the Freedom of the Seas and to sharing this wonderful experience with you. You’ll have opportunities to meet Andy and Chuck and talk with them at a number of exclusive River 100.5 onboard events and get-togethers. Of course, they’ll be “out and about” every day, too. A Witte Travel tour manager will also be on hand to answer questions, provide suggestions, and help you have the best vacation ever!
Day-by-Day Fun Stuff
Saturday, March 1 – Our adventure begins today! Take off from Grand Rapids (or your departure city) for the flight to Miami where a pre-cruise overnight is included.Sunday, March 2 – Sleep in this morning and enjoy a leisurely breakfast or get out and do some exploring. In the late morning or early afternoon, we’ll transfer to the pier to board the Freedom of the Seas. The next few hours are yours to unpack, settle into “vacation mode” and take your first walk-through of the ship. We depart from Miami at 5:00 p.m.
Monday, March 3 – The entire day is yours to do just as you please! Spend the time getting acquainted with the Freedom of the Seas and everything it has to offer. There’ll be a full program of shipboard fun to choose from—or you can grab a book and start working on your tan! In the late afternoon, we’ll meet all of our traveling companions at a just-for-River fans cocktail party hosted by Andy and Chuck.
Tuesday, March 4 – We’ll be docking in Labadee, our first port of call, at 8:00 a.m. Royal Caribbean International’s private paradise, Labadee sits on the north coast of Hispaniola, surrounded by beautiful mountain slopes and exotic foliage. Combine Labadee’s native charm with its pristine beaches, breathtaking natural scenery, and fantastic water activities and you’ve got a destination not to be missed! Departure from Labadee is scheduled at 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 5 – The home of the spectacular Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios is one of the Caribbean’s most popular vacation meccas. Ocho Rios is situated on Jamaica’s northern coast and is known for its white-sand beaches, reggae, and scuba diving. We’ll be in port in Ocho Rios from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 6 – We’ll drop anchor at George Town at 8:00 a.m. Located on Grand Cayman, George Town is the capital of the Cayman Islands. Explore the dazzling shops, take off for magnificent Seven-Mile Beach or visit a turtle farm—and that’s just a short list of the excitement that awaits you here! We’ll be on our way again at 4:00 p.m.
Friday, March 7 – Cozumel sits off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is renowned for its sheltered coral reefs and the remains of ancient Mayan and Olmec cultures. Scuba diving among the reefs is the top draw in Cozumel and there’s also good shopping, beaches, snorkeling, hiking, and fishing. We’ll be in port at Cozumel from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 8 – Another wonderful day at sea! Indulge yourself with a spa treatment this morning or meet friends for a late breakfast. After lunch, check out any areas of the ship you haven’t visited yet or catch some rays by the pool. Tonight we’ll get together with Andy and Chuck and the River’s “traveling family” for a festive farewell dinner—Sounds like a great way to top off our cruise!
Sunday, March 9 – Welcome back to Miami! We’ll be docking at 7:00 a.m. Following disembarkation, transfer to the airport to check in for your return flight. We hope your cruise with Andy and Chuck has been relaxing, rejuvenating—and a rollicking good time!
Visit www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreexcursions for information on the array of exciting shore excursions offered at each port of call. Shore excursions can be booked in advance or you can wait until you’re on board.
Your Ship
The Freedom of the Seas is the largest, most innovative ship in Royal Caribbean International’s fleet. This masterpiece of naval engineering is also a visual feast with soaring open spaces, glass elevators facing the sea, plush decor and stunning artwork. Among the ship’s features are the first-ever onboard surf park, cantilevered whirlpools, an enormous rock-climbing wall, and the H2O Zone waterpark. There’s also a great shopping promenade, lots of dining options from casual and kid-friendly to elegant, extensive WiFi capabilities and connectivity for cell phones, themed bars and lounges, a casino, the ShipShape Fitness Center and Day Spa, swimming pool, and a nine-hole miniature golf course. After a day—or evening—of non-stop fun, you can rest up for your next adventure in the comfort of your attractively-appointed stateroom. All staterooms are equipped with two lower twin beds or one queen bed, shower, hairdryer, flat-screen TV with satellite programing, telephone, and individually-controlled air conditioning, For a tour of the ship, visit www.freedomoftheseas.com.Stateroom Choices
| Category, Location, Stateroom Type, and Cruise Cost | |||
| N | Decks 6, 7 and 8 | Interior | $1,329 |
| PR | Decks 6, 7 and 8 | Interior w/View of Royal Promenade | $1,419 |
| H | Deck 3 | Ocean View | $1,560 |
| E2 | Decks 6, 7 and 8 | Deluxe Ocean View w/Balcony | $1,680 |
| E1 | Decks 6, 7 and 8 | Deluxe Ocean View w/Balcony | $1,730 |
| JS | Decks 9 and 10 | Junior Suite w/Balcony | $2,129 |
All staterooms are furnished with two lower beds or one queen bed.
A limited number of staterooms are reserved in each category. Indicate your first, second and third choice on your Application Form. Sign up early—Stateroom categories are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
The costs listed above are per person, double occupancy, and they include the pre-cruise overnight in Miami, the transfer from the Miami hotel to the pier, the cruise on board the Freedom of the Seas, and the transfer from the pier to Miami International Airport. Flights to and from Miami are sold separately. For more information, see “Flight Arrangements” below. Travelers who book their flights with Witte Travel & Tours will be provided with a transfer from the Miami International Airport to the hotel at no additional cost.
Supplements for single occupancy in the various categories and discounts for triple and quad occupancy are available on request.
Flight Arrangements
Witte Travel & Tours will be happy to arrange for your flights to and from Miami. Complimentary transfers from the airport to the hotel in Miami will be provided for all travelers who book their flights with Witte Travel & Tours.Travelers who make their own flight arrangements will be responsible for getting themselves from the airport to the hotel in Miami on March 1 or from the airport to the cruise ship on March 2.
If you’d like Witte Travel & Tours to take care of your flights, please indicate this on your application form. Please note that we will be using flights blocked by Royal Caribbean International for most passengers. Specific flight schedules to be used are at the discretion of Royal Caribbean International and are usually not available until approximately two weeks prior to departure.
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