Hello cruisers!

The cruise is just one month away. Are you excited yet?

1) PRE-REGISTRATION - *VERY IMPORTANT*
If you haven't yet done so, you should go to this link as soon as possible and complete Norwegian Cruise Line's pre-boarding registration process:
https://www.ncl.com/nclweb/secure/loginBookedGuest.html

You'll need your booking number and your passport/travel documents handy. Once you have completed the registration process, you can print your E-documents, reserve evening entertainment, make restaurant reservations, and schedule shore excursions.

It is _very_important_ that you go through this process NOW for each passenger in your party. You may be denied boarding if you fail to complete the pre-boarding registration process!

If you need help with the registration process, you can call the CruiseWeb hotline (1-800-377-9383 x8) or the NCL help line at (1-866-625-1160).


2) LECTURE SCHEDULE - The cruise line has not yet given final approval to our lecture/venue schedule. We expect to get that approval in the next few days and will then publish it.

Generally speaking, however, the schedule calls for a full day of lectures on at-sea days (Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday) with hosted breakfasts (or breakfast on your own) and NO events scheduled after dinner. For this reason, at-sea days would be the best candidates for scheduling evening entertainment or restaurant reservations.

On each port day (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) there will be an early morning lecture, completing before the ship arrives at the port. On those mornings, the cruise line will serve continental breakfast in the theater for those who attend. There may be one or two lectures after the ship leaves the port but before dinner. One-on-ones are currently scheduled on Saturday (9/18) and Thursday from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. And on all port days (including Saturday) there will be the ever-popular late-night group discussions (9:30-10:30pm+).

A *draft* lecture/event schedule is available for download from:
http://www.WhollyGenes.com/files/draftschedule2010.pdf


3) GROUP DISCUSSIONS - As in previous years, we'll have casual roundtable get-togethers late on some evenings with discussions led by a professional genealogist. This year's discussions will be led by Craig Scott, MA, CG. This is a great place to bring your specific questions about sources, repositories, methodology, etc. Each night's discussion will focus on a particular topic that will be published in advance. If you want to suggest a topic, please write to cruise@whollygenes.com with your ideas.


4) SHORE EXCURSIONS, RE$TAURANTS, AND EVENING ENTERTAINMENT - We strongly recommend that you register soon for any shore excursions, extra-cost restaurants, or evening entertainment that you plan to attend.

There are many places to eat that do not require a pre-boarding reservation and do not cost extra. But if you hope to have a fancy dinner at Cagney's Steakhouse or attend Cirque Dreams and Dinner, for instance, there is a cover charge and we recommend that you make a reservation as soon as possible.

Some evening entertainment (e.g., Blue Man Group) do not cost extra but DO require a reservation - and they will fill up in advance so don't wait until you get on the ship!


5) REGISTRATION FOR ONE-ON-ONES AND HOSTED BREAKFASTS

There are a limited number of slots available for "hosted breakfasts" (small groups who share a casual breakfast with one of the speakers) and "one-on-ones" (a 15 minute personal consultation with an expert). In order to be as fair as possible in the allocation of these limited spaces, we will be accepting reservations under the terms specified below.

Please keep in mind that the speakers and experts have volunteered their time for these bonus events in an effort to be as accessible to as many cruisers in our group as possible. While not everyone can be accommodated and some people will no doubt be disappointed, we rely on you to help us keep this a positive experience that is implemented in as fair a way as possible.

Mark your calendar! Starting at noon Eastern time on Saturday, September 4th, we will accept emailed requests for reservations for "hosted breakfasts" and "one-on-ones." Each passenger in our group (including each roommate in a cabin) is entitled to submit a request. Reservations are not transferable so please be polite to other passengers and do not have spouses or friends submit a second request on your behalf.

A request for reservation must take the form of an email to cruise@whollygenes.com with a subject header of "Cruise Reservations." Each passenger must submit a separate email. If you send a second email, it will completely _replace_ the previous one (not be appended to it).

As reflected in the draft schedule, the events in question are current scheduled as follows:

Saturday (8:30-10:30pm) - One-on-Ones
Wednesday (7:00-8:00am) - Hosted Breakfast
Thursday (8:30-10:30pm) - One-on-Ones
Friday (7:00-8:00am) - Hosted Breakfast

All speakers will be available in each time slot. PLEASE consult the speaker biographies in order to request time with someone whose expertise matches your area of your interest:
http://www.whollygenes.com/Merchant2/merch...UISEBIOGRAPHIES

The content of your email message may include a prioritized list of preferred reservations, each on a separate line with your highest priority listed first. Each reservation request may be general or specific. For instance, your email might look like this:

==================================================================
Thursday one-on-one with Hank Jones …or
Saturday one-on-one with Megan Smolenyak … or
Any one-on-one for TMG tech support (customizing sources) … or
Any one-on-one for TMG tech support (narrative reports) … or
Any one-on-one for TMG tech support (cleaning up after an import) … or
Any breakfast with any speaker
==================================================================

Initially, no more than ONE reservation will be accepted for each passenger (i.e., a hosted breakfast OR a one-on-one). We will attempt to provide your highest priority request that is available at the time that your email is processed. If the available slots are not filled, we will also apply second preferences, etc., until the available time slots are filled. It is therefore to your advantage to request MANY reservations and to make them as flexible as possible.

Emails will be processed in the order in which they are received but to be fair to everyone, any reservation which is received before noon Eastern time on September 4th will be _ignored_.

Note that each accepted reservation is for one person. If your reservation for a "hosted breakfast" is accepted, other people in your cabin will be expected to make separate arrangements (i.e., sit at a different table) for that meal. Also, by reserving space at a "hosted breakfast" or "one-on-one," you agree to have your name published in the event schedule which will be distributed to everyone in our group.

Wholly Genes is the final judge on how to schedule these events. We appreciate your cooperation.


6) DISCUSSION FORUM: Remember that you can read previous newsletters, ask questions, or talk to other cruisers at our cruise discussion forum here:
http://www.WhollyGenes.com/cruiseforum.htm


30 days and counting!

Hi folks!

The 6th Annual Genealogy Conference and Cruise is just two months away and we've got a lot of news for you.

1) THE LECTURE TOPICS are now listed on the cruise web page:
http://www.WhollyGenes.com/cruise.htm
I'm sure you'll agree that we've got a great lineup this year with some really interesting lectures!


2) THE LECTURE SCHEDULE hasn't been published yet. With the brand new ship, the staff on the NCL Epic haven't wanted to commit to a schedule several months in advance but I hope it won't be long now.


3) THE PRE/POST CRUISE HOTEL (for those who need accommodations before or after the cruise) is the Sofitel Miami airport hotel. As previously posted on the cruise discussion forum, the rate is $135 per room (not per person)or $152.55 including tax. The rate for a single is $120 ($135.60 with tax).

Those rates includes breakfast and a free shuttle from the Miami (not Ft. Lauderdale!) airport to the hotel. A taxi from the Ft. Lauderdale hotel is about 20 minutes and $27.

A transfer from the hotel to the pier on the morning of the cruise is an additional $10.00 per person. If you drive to the hotel, parking is $8.00 per day.

The hotel has wired or wireless internet for $9.95 per day but there is a Business Center on the main floor which has four computers (including internet access and printer) which you can use for free. There is a fitness center, outdoor pool, and tennis courts. See below regarding our site visit and photos.

http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-0889-sofit...ami/index.shtml
Address: 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive , Miami, FL 33126.

Prices are subject to availability. Please contact our travel agent, Julie, to make a reservation. (Contact info is below).


4) HOTEL SITE VISIT

We made a site visit to the Sofitel Miami hotel last weekend and were very impressed. The staff was friendly and the facilities were very nice. The hotel is very clean and upscale, including flat-panel TVs in every room. The free business center includes a printer so you can print out airplane boarding passes if you stay in the hotel after the cruise.

We're not coffee drinkers but I heard from several sources that the coffee makers in the room make "extremely good" coffee. If that's not enough, there's a Starbucks right on the premises.

The beds are European style with feather beds on top of the regular mattress. The outdoor pool area was recently renovated with cabana-style seating around the pool.

As reported above, the room rate includes breakfast. It is served in the hotel restaurant with waiters (not a buffet). You'll be offered a subset of the regular breakfast menu but it includes hot and cold breakfast options, including eggs, sausage/bacon, pancakes, cereal, juice, etc. I don't think that you'll be disappointed.

You can find a few photos from our visit here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whollygenes/s...57624518031238/


5) EPIC SITE VISIT

Next was a 2-night site visit on the Epic itself. This was a "cruise to nowhere" that was put together to promote the ship to travel agents. Yes, it is a huge ship and we didn't even see all of it but the parts that we did see were terrific.

I think that the cabins are a little smaller than those in the same category on the Caribbean Princess but we didn't feel more cramped and they were very clean.

The floor plan is strange, however. (They say "innovative" <g>). When you step in the cabin door, you're standing in the bathroom! Well, not really. You're standing in a space with the shower on the left and the toilet on the right but both of them are in their own compartments with sliding frosted-glass doors. So the bathroom is split into two very small rooms with the cabin entranceway between them. There's a curtain (not a door) separating that whole section from the rest of the cabin. And the bathroom sink is on the cabin side of that curtain. Yes, the sink is in the cabin. (See photos referenced below). We weren't thrilled with the floor plan but we managed. Otherwise, the room was very comfortable with modern amenities like a wide-screen TV and a safe for your valuables.

We did have trouble finding a light switch. We learned that to turn on the lights you have to put your cabin access key into a slot just inside the door. What's more, you have to leave it there or the lights will go off after 30 seconds or so. On the other hand, you'll always know where to find your cabin key when you're on the way out.

There are 11 options for food that are included in the cruise fare -- plus 10 more options that require a cover charge of $20-$30 per person.

We ate several times at the Garden Cafe (buffet) on Deck 15. The quality was good, if unremarkable, and there was a very wide selection, including 12 different buffet sections (entrees, bread, pizza, fruit, desserts, etc.). I don't think that the sections were laid out particularly well to account for the traffic flow. We didn't encounter a problem but the ship was not full. We'll see. The seating was plentiful and comfortable and there were huge windows to enjoy the view.

We also ate at Cagney's Steakhouse ($) and we saw the Cirque Dreams show in the Spiegel tent ($) on Deck 6. The food in those restaurants were nothing short of fantastic! I've never had better food on a cruise ship -- and rarely on land.

For those who miss it from our first cruise, there's 24-hour pizza and soft-serve ice cream on Deck 15! And the cabin steward folds towels in the shape of animals.

The "Cirque Dreams" show started off slow but they did have many interesting acts as the show progressed. The Spiegel tent is much smaller than it appears in the press photos but that's not necessarily a bad thing and it didn't feel crowded. In fact, it doesn't appear like a "tent" at all except the room does come to a point in the middle where there is rigging for some of the acrobats, etc.

There are "standard" and "premium" seats in the Speigel tent but I don't know yet which is which. We sat in the balcony which gave us a great view and kept us out of reach from being "volunteered" by the performers - so, in my mind, those are the premium seats.

The Epic theater is the main venue for our lectures. It is smaller than the theater on the Caribbean Princess but plenty big enough for our group. The seats were comfortable and had cup holders but there's no electric for laptops. We saw Blue Man Group there (no extra charge) and the show was very entertaining.

We also checked out the Headliners Club and some other venues which might work for us for some lectures, one-on-ones, etc. Older ships have night club venues but they aren't really laid out for anything else like lectures. The Epic is better designed for that, taking business groups and lectures into account. There is a projection screen that covers the entire stage and the seats are tiered (i.e., they get progressively taller as you walk toward the rear of the room) so that people in the back can see. And, as new as it is, it is wired properly for computer projections.

One thing I missed was clear signs on the cabin levels to help find your room. On other ships, there is a sign near the elevators saying "You Are Here" and a diagram of the ship. The signs on the Epic are more like those in a typical hotel:

Cabin 13002-13258 even -->
Cabin 13105-13313 odd <--
Cabin 13350-13790 even -->
Cabin 13507-13891 odd <--

Yikes. I had to stop and carefully read the signs every time I got off the elevator. (And, yes, there is a Deck 13).

It wasn't until I had been on the ship for 24 hours that someone mentioned that the carpets were red on the port (left) side and blue on the starboard (right) side of the ship. I hadn't noticed. Knowing that would have made it easier -- but still not as clear as a diagram of the ship which shows me where the bow of the ship is.

But I don't want to focus too much on the little things that annoyed me. It really is a fantastic ship with lots of innovative features. And, of course, everything is brand-spanking new. The gym is large and really modern. There's a big "Bridge Viewing Room" which is really interesting (Deck 13). We didn't manage to get into the ice bar, others reported that it was really fun. They only open the door every 20 minutes so that they can maintain the frigid temperature.

There were lots of quiet places where you can sit and talk. The decor is very nice with some really interesting paintings on the walls. The music was often subtle and not always the typical Jimmy Buffett and reggae varieties.

And, as I said, the meeting venues are better than most, the food is as good or better, and the service was terrific - the staff was genuinely friendly and very helpful.

Some photos from that visit are available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whollygenes/s...57624393379447/


6) TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: If you haven't done so already, don't wait to the last minute to make sure that you have the necessary travel documents. NCL has a helpful web page on that subject here:
http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages...isaRequirements


7) AVAILABILITY: Although our room block is technically sold out, there are still cabins available on the ship and Julie would be happy to help any of your friends, relatives, or fellow researchers who aren't yet booked for the cruise/conference event of the year! They'll pay perhaps $40-$60 more than you did per person but it is still a great deal!


8) DISCUSSION FORUM: Remember that you can ask questions or talk to other cruisers at our cruise discussion forum here:
http://www.WhollyGenes.com/cruiseforum.htm


9) OUR TRAVEL AGENT, Julie from CruiseWeb, can be reached at 1-800-377-9383 x269 or <Groups@cruiseweb.com>. Please contact her if you have any questions or modifications to your reservations.


60 days and counting...!

Bob Velke
Wholly Genes, Inc.

Are there any plans for any kind of a get-together at the pre-cruise hotel?

Mike

Trying to decide if I want to bring my laptop. Will there be any TMG demos etc. where it would be beneficial to have it along? Internet is going to be too expensive onboard, so the only real reason to lug is for TMG. Opinions, anyone?

If looking for an inexpensive excursion on Roatan, I have located an operator who will provide roundtrip transport to two uncrowded beach resorts on the north shore for $25 per person. I am interested in the Palmetto Bay Plantation Resort trip, or Turquoise Bay Resort as a second choice. The only catch is they require more than one customer to make it worthwhile. If interested, check out www.roatanshoretours.com/beach_day.htm . Beach, pool, recreation, showers, etc., are included in the price. Restaurants and bars are on site.

I'm booked on an Alaska flight from Seattle to Miami which arrives at 7:12 AM (shudder) on September 18. If anyone is interested in sharing a cab from the airport to the pier that morning please let me know.


Robert

We just got our document(s) from NCL. So I guess we are getting serious about this voyage.

A question for Bob. Are there going to be hosted breakfasts? We sure would like to participate if there are.

Thank you
Mike

MIAMI, FL - March 17, 2010 - Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that its largest, most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, will feature an extensive number of complimentary Freestyle dining options – 11 out of 21 total – that are included in the cruise fare. The additional 10 dining options will have a nominal cover charge.

Guests on board Norwegian Epic can select from a variety of cuisines, dining styles and atmospheres on board with a total of 21 dining options. Those that will be free of charge are:

• Taste, the atrium restaurant serving traditional and contemporary cuisine;

• Manhattan Room, reminiscent of an elegant supper club complete with music, dancing and entertainment;

• O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, serving American favorites and comfort food, 24 hours;

• Café Jardin, Norwegian's signature action station casual restaurant;

• Great Outdoors, the pool-side grill;

• Spice H20, serving Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine in the adults-only complex;

• Atrium Cafe and Wine Bar;

• Studio Lounge, serving snacks and light fare;

• Epic Club, the elegant, exclusive eatery available to Norwegian Epic's Suite and Villa guests;

• Courtyard Grill, the more casual, outdoor area of the Epic Grill, open for breakfast and lunch; and

• 24-hour room service.

“It’s important for our guests to know that Freestyle Cruising on Norwegian Epic will offer the ultimate in freedom and flexibility, especially when it comes to dining,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “With that flexibility comes a wide-range of complimentary dining venues and options.”

In addition, Norwegian also announced the cover charges for Norwegian Epic’s specialty dining/entertainment venues:

• La Cucina, Tuscan-style eatery serving regional Italian specialties, $10 per person;

• Cirque Dreams & Dinner, two shows nightly including a three-course meal, $15 for general seating/$20 per person for preferred seating;

• Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic’s new Chinese restaurant serving a delicious mix of Chinese dishes and noodle bar specialties, $15 per person;

• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, a la carte pricing;

• Wasabi, expansive sushi and sake bar, a la carte pricing;

• Le Bistro, Norwegian’s elegant bistro serving classic French cuisine with an American flair, $20 per person;

• Moderno Churrascaria, expansive salad bar and choice of a variety of meats served by tableside passadors, $18 per person;

• Cagney’s Steakhouse, the line’s signature American steakhouse, $25 per person;

• Teppanyaki, the largest signature Japanese experiential restaurant at sea, $25 per person; and

• Pizza delivery, $5, available 24 hours around the ship.

"With our specialty restaurants, some guests may choose to dine in one of these venues just once or twice during their cruise to celebrate a special occasion," added Kevin Sheehan. "At the same time, others may want to sample a different specialty restaurant each evening to experience a new type of cuisine. That’s the great thing about Freestyle Cruising – the choice is up to our guests to decide how they want to customize their trip.”

What if any consideration is being given to pre and post cruise accommodations and airport pickup and delivery? As usual Bob you and the rest of your team have gone above and beyond. See you in September.

Can anyone tell me how to list us for shore excursions on the Norwegian Epic, we are booked for the cruise but I cannot find where on their web page to do that or am I to early for this?
Thanks
Kenny

Here are some photos from my site visit to:

The Sofitel Miami hotel

Norwegian Epic

More info to come in a newsletter...

Is there any information yet about the conference schedule and the topics each speaker will be covering?

How about a roll call so we get to know our fellow travellers in advance? I'll set the ball rolling.

I'm Caroline Gurney and I live in a small town called Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, England. This will be my 3rd Wholly Genes cruise. My genealogy interests cover the British Isles, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I'll be travelling with my husband, Nick, who has no interest in genealogy but is hoping to find some others on board who are keen on playing bridge. We'll be flying from Heathrow to Miami (pray the ash cloud stays away) and have treated ourselves to a posh hotel in South Beach for the night before the cruise. We're not great ones for organised entertainment, so onboard we'll probably focus on food, conversation and relaxing with a good book and a cold glass of something on our balcony. I'm definitely planning to treat myself to some spa treatments. We've booked two excursions to Mayan sites and are looking at options for visiting the coral reef at our third port of call. We've booked the Everglades transfer to Miami airport on disembarkation but are now a bit concerned that it may be unpleasant in September due to heat, humidity and insects. Advice from Floridians would be welcome.

I'm attaching photos so you'll recognise us in the embarkation queue:

Over to you.

Caroline

Do the quoted cruise fares include internet access? If not, how much are the additional charges?


Robert Jacobs

It is about 11 weeks to sailing and the amount of discussion on this forum has been almost nil. Years past it was crowded with all kinds of topics. Have we all become so experienced there is nothing new to talk about?

Hey people, let's get a little bit excited, OKay?? Just think in 11 weeks we will be sipping Bahama Mamma's by the pool, soaking in the rays, and learning more about our hobby. I mean it will be the middle of hurricane season, the oil spill will be around Florida by then, the stock market will have crashed, politics is getting crazier. But all in all, NO PROBLEMO.

We will be having so much fun who cares?

Mike

The Cruise Critic website has posted an hour long video tour of the Norwegian Epic here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1133 It is a huge file so you may want to pause the playback and let it fully buffer and download before trying to view it. Enjoy!

I have signed up for my first cruise (ever), and a genealogy one at that! Does anyone bring their materials, i.e., a laptop or notebooks or research with them?

I thought others might like to see today's press release from Norwegian Cruise Line: http://www.epic.ncl.com/the-latest/in-the-...rticle/?jid=143

Norwegian Epic successfully completed her sea trials last Sunday, 13 June, and will officially be handed over to NCL this coming Thursday, 17 June. She will spend a week doing short "inaugural" trips before departing from Southampton on 24 June on her maiden voyage to New York.

NCl have posted a few photos from the sea trials on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Norwegiancruiselin...;id=43678986413 The aerial view of the top deck is awesome. Enjoy!

Caroline

I noticed on the norwegian cruise line site that there is an automatic $12 a day per person service charge above tipping. Is this service charge already calculated into our TMG pricing? Thanks.

I've never been on a cruise before and would like some advice about the shore excursions. I'm not one to usually enjoy guided tours with large groups. Are the tour groups usually large? How informative are the guides? How easy is it to go off on your own or arrange your own tour? Do all the ship activities continue on board while the ship is in port? Thanks a lot.

Bob
Is there a chance of getting the location of the meeting rooms
Some of us older ones would like to pick a cabin closest to the meeting rooms
This looks like a huge ship and travel distance is important to me
Thanks
Kenny

The deadline for the $50 on-board credit is in two days!

Hi folks,

A lot of people have inquired about a 2010 conference and cruise but we've frankly been too busy focusing on TMG v8 to think about it. I know that people have to make plans many months in advance, however, so here's some food for thought...

There are many, many variables that we have to take into account, including, of course:

• the number of days at sea
• the meeting facilities
• availability of speakers
• not conflicting with holidays and major genealogical conferences/events.
  
  but then also....
  
  
• Past cruisers tell us that the destination and itinerary are of lesser importance -- but then they say that want to go someplace warm and someplace that we haven't taken them before <g>. Some suggest Alaska or Hawaii (but could speakers compete with wildlife and daily tropical ports?) and many insist that it be no longer than 7 days because of difficulties with time off work, childcare, etc.
• Some people have preferences one way or the other about the size of the ship and many people have strong feelings about the cruise line. (We are not inclined to use Carnival again, for instance, despite the fact that they are generally cheaper).
• Of the cruises which might work, many won't let us reserve a block of rooms to accommodate our group.
• And then, of course, we want to keep the price as low as possible -- which also requires considerations about the accessibility of airports and hotels, transportation between them, etc.

So when people say that they won't go with us unless we leave from a certain port, for instance....well, it just isn't that simple.

Having said that.... I want to let you know that we're considering a 7-day Caribbean cruise which leaves on Sept 18th and goes roundtrip from Miami on a new ship, the Norwegian Epic. It visits Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Roatan, Honduras, with three days at sea for lectures. I'm not prepared to announce speakers yet but you won't be disappointed. Prices would start at about $900 per person, double-occupancy. Of course, that includes food, entertainment, port charges, taxes/fees, and attendance at conference events (but not transportation to/from Miami or optional shore excursions).

I'd be interested in what you think, whether you are inclined to go under these circumstances and if not, why not? More generically, I'd be interested in your thoughts about setting priorities.

Suggestions for speakers and/or topics would also be appreciated.

If you haven't yet been to one of our conference/cruises, I'm especially interested to know why not.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Where can I find a diagram of each level of the ship, so we can pick our room when we sign up?