Wow...

All I can say right now is...

Shots shots shots shots shots shots
Shots shots shots shots shots
Shots shots shots shots shots
EVERYBODY!!

More later, promise!! :)

Packing List!

Hey Cruisers!! :) Only ONE week left!! It's so close it's ridiculous!! I know some of you have already started packing back in..March, but here's a nifty list from the nKoTb Cruise blog that might be helpful, anything different for us will be noted in red:

Organized by category.

Clothes:

• Four casual day time outfits: sundress, shorts and tanks, etc.
• Bathing suits and cover ups
• Photo op outfit
• Theme outfits: International Luv Night, Masquerade, and Black & Blue.
• Beach Party outfit
  
• Going home outfit for Monday
• Wednesday night outfit if you'll be in Miami for the kickoff concert
• Sweater or light jacket
• Shoes: in addition to theme outfit shoes, flip flops and/or comfy walkabout shoes
• PJs to sleep in
• Gym clothes and shoes if you're really ambitious
• Bras and underwear. Make sure you have any special undergarments that go with your specific outfits. (Tangent: I am packing a bra for this trip that has 62 configurations. SIXTY TWO! Men have no idea. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to have to lug around what they do, so I guess fair's fair. Anyway . . . .)

Accessories:

• Sunglasses
• Jewelry for each dress
• Watch (since you won't want your phone turned on)
• Beach bag/day purse (to hold your camera, sunglasses, ship map, book for pool reading, etc.)
• Evening bag/wristlet (when all you want is your room key and lip gloss)
• Hair ties/clips
• Hat or visor

Beauty:

• Make up and moisturizers
• Hair and make up brushes
• Make up remover
• Chapstick
• Q-tips
• Flat iron or curling iron
• Hair dryer [There are hair dryers on board, but in case you want to bring your own.]
  
• Hair products/hairspray
• Razor and shaving cream
• Nail care kit
• Safety pins
• Wrinkle releaser spray
• Tide bleach pen

Bath and body:

• Sunscreen
• Aloe vera gel
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Face and bath soap
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Body lotion/oil
• Perfume
• Aspirin/Tums/other OTC meds
• Tampons (let's hope not)
• Meds you take regularly
• Motion sickness medication
• Contact solution, case, and glasses
• Band-aids

For the cabin:

• Extension cord/power strip
• Door decorations
• Tear-by-hand tape (not magnets) for the decorations
• Travel steamer (irons not permitted)
• Flashlight or night light
• Battery powered alarm clock
• Post-its to leave on your door/friends' doors
• Earplugs/sleeping mask
• Concealed liquor
• Ziploc bags for wet swimsuits and the like

Electreonics:

• Camera, memory cards, and charger
• Camcorder/flip cam and charger
• Walkie talkies
• Laptop and charger
• iPod and charger
• Extra batteries for all of above
• Electrical converter/adapter, if you're coming from outside North America

In your carry-on:

• Passport/ID/Birth Certificate
• Cash and only the credit cards you will use on the trip
• Airline and hotel reservations
• Cruise docs, luggage tags, and Fun Pass
• Tickets to acoustic show
• Books for waiting in line and pool lounging
• Gum/mints
• Sharpie and anything you wouldn't mind having autographed
• Anti-bacterial wipes or hand sanitizer
• List of your friends' room numbers

[Taken from the nKoTb Cruise Blog]

Anything else you guys plan on packing that isn't on the list? How excited is everybody?? :)

Backstreet Boys Cruise Itinerary!

Wow, Cruisers! We are soooo close! Sorry for being MIA over Thanksgiving break. As much as I was thinking about the cruise, I just didn't have any extra time to update.

So, a lot has happened since the last post! We got our itinerary for the cruise! SO exciting! In case you missed it, here's the email:

Dear Cruise Guest,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for participating in the

1ST Annual Backstreet Boys CRUISE aboard CARNIVAL'S DESTINY.

Please review below information necessary to ensure a trouble free, relaxing vacation for all.

You can also find this information on www.carnival.com under the "Manage My Cruises" tab.

Please note - you might need to use Internet Explorer as other browsers may not work properly

Enter in your Booking Number as indicated above, your Last Name, Date of Birth, Name of the Ship
(Carnival Destiny) and the sailing date 12/09/2010 and click the Submit Box. From here you can access your cruise documents and complete your "Fun Pass" which serves as your Carnival boarding-pass. Alternatively, you can access your "Fun Pass/Boarding Pass" directly from the link provided below. You should complete your Fun Pass/Boarding Pass prior to printing out your document information. All guests in cabin must complete the Fun Pass/Boarding Pass in order to print it.

Here is what you will need for everyone in your party:
Personal Information
(full name, home address, phone number, etc.)
Citizenship Information
(passport data, permanent resident card number, etc.)
Travel Plans
Guests with independent travel arrangements will need to provide details regarding pre and post transportation arrangements (arrival and departure flight information, hotel arrangements, etc.)
Onboard Expense Account Information (Sail & Sign)
Method of Payment to set up account
Remember, all guests in your cabin must provide the required information in order to obtain a Fun Pass. Online registration is available until the day before sailing. Taking a few minutes now will let you start enjoying your long-awaited cruise that much sooner.

Enter in your Booking Number, your Last Name, Date of Birth, Name of the Ship, Carnival Destiny and the sailing date, 12/09/2010 then, click the Continue Box. Complete Guest Information then click Continue. Complete Citizenship Information and click Continue. If you are flying home on Monday, Dec. 13th, leave the Ground Transportation Box empty and check the flight box in Air Travel. Be prepared to provide your flight details then click continue (leave the fare basis box blank).

Make sure you click on Setup Onboard Expense Account. Click on I accept the terms and conditions (Step 2 of 4). If you are part of the match program or traveling with friends, you will be able to enter your individual credit card numbers. However, if you are the first passenger listed in the cabin, you will need to select "set up account at a later time" for the 2nd passenger. When the 2nd passenger logs in, they will have the opportunity to add their own credit card information please enter just the last 4 digits of your credit. You will need to present the same credit card that you registered with at the pier. If you are using cash, you will open your cash deposit onboard at the Pursers desk. You can now click View/Add Booking on the Cruise Ticket Contract Acceptance Information (Step 3 of 4). After reviewing the Cruise Ticket Contract, you will need to click on I accept and click on Continue. Then Click - Continue again. After you have reviewed the information and everything is correct, click Continue. All information for all passengers in your cabin must be completed. Under each name it must state Complete in order to print fun pass. If incomplete, click on incomplete to see what needs to be done. After everyone is completed, click - Print Fun Pass. Make sure you Print out your Fun Pass and bring with you.

Everyone must check in at the pier. (IMPORTANT - Please remember to fill out your Fun Pass/Boarding Pass and Bring with you to the pier for Check In)

It is suggested that you put all medication in your carryon bag. Your luggage will not be delivered to your stateroom until a later time.

Once you arrive at the Pier, go to the Reception Area to check in. **Please have your proper identification with your Fun Pass (valid Passport or Birth Certificate with seal and official photo ID) for cruise check-in.

You will receive your Sail & Sign /Cabin Key from Carnival at the pier. Once onboard, please proceed to the Universe Dining Room, Lobby Deck 3, where you will receive your Wristband and Beach Party Ticket.

You must wear the wristbands for the entire cruise. Each passenger will receive one wristband, which is non-transferable and will not be replaced.

BACKSTREET BOYS RULES & OTHER INFORMATION

AUTOGRAPHS:
Please note that due to the number of people attending the cruise, we are not able to provide an official autograph session for everyone. No autographs will be given at the photo sessions.

PHOTO SESSIONS:
We will have groups of 8 passengers pose for each picture with the Backstreet Boys. This way we will be able to see everyone, and no one will be left without a photo. We ask that you please respect this group policy. Black & Blue Wristbands will begin at 12:00PM on Sunday December 12th. Orange, Red, Purple & Green Wristbands will begin at 1:15PM on Sunday December 12th. These sessions will be in the Criterion Lounge on Promenade Deck 5. While in line, you will be given a ticket with a number. You must be present to receive your ticket. We will go in numerical order for photos. If your number is called and you are not present, you will miss your photo opportunity. Please arrive at the Photo Session with your group of 8 passengers!

PERSONAL CAMERAS / VIDEO CAMERAS:
Please feel free to bring your personal camera to all events except for the official photo sessions. We are providing an official photographer for your convenience. They will be circulating at all official events and taking photos. All photos, including those taken at the official photo sessions will be posted after the cruise. Photos will be available on a website and a link will be provided at a later time. If personal cameras are brought to the photo sessions, you will be asked to return the camera to your cabin.

Video cameras are allowed only for your own personal events. They are not allowed at official Backstreet Boys Cruise events.

Please note no cameras are allowed in the Casino.

WRISTBANDS:
You will receive your wristband when you check-in. There are 6 wristband colors Black, Blue, Orange, Red, Purple & Green. These colors represent the zones in the Palladium Lounge. Your wristband will have your exact seat assignment. Wristband color and seat assignment number was determined by time of booking. Please note that these wristbands are required for all events. DO NOT REMOVE these wristbands until the end of the cruise

PERSONAL GIFTS TO BACKSTREET BOYS:
Gifts will NOT be permitted at any Backstreet Boys scheduled events.
Gifts can be left at the hospitality desk during designated hours.
Your gifts will be delivered to The Backstreet Boys.

SEATING:
All seating in the Palladium Lounge will be reserved. Your wristband determines which zone you are in and your Seat Number. Please look at the seating charts you received at check in to see where you will be seated. Please respect the seating policy and do not switch seats during the events. Please be respectful of others when entering the Palladium Lounge and do not wait in the line prior to the show.

DRESS:
Dress during the day is casual (shorts, shirts, skirts, jeans, etc.)
Theme nights are as follows:
Thursday December 9th - INTERNATIONAL LUV NIGHT
Show off your Country pride with flags, T-shirts, Countries colors, etc. Let's see how each country represents!
Friday, December 10th- MASQUERADE NIGHT
Let's dress up and dance the night away at our Masquerade ball “ feathers, beads and lots of fun!
Don't forget to bring your mask!
Sunday, December 12th “BLACK AND BLUE BUBBLE PARTY
Come ready to party on our final night in black and blue attire.

Beach & Swim Wear, Tank Tops, Tennis Shoes, Flip-Flops, etc are Not Allowed in the Dining Room.

DINING ROOMS:
Our group passengers will be eating in the Universe or Galaxy Dining Room.
You will receive dining room assignment at check in. Seating in the Universe Dining Room is
open except for reserved tables. Seating in the Galaxy Dining Room will be assigned. Please
arrive at your assigned dining room with your party, the Maitre Dâ will seat you. Other options
include 24 hour Room Service, Buffet on Lido Deck or the 24-hour Pizzeria.

OTHER PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE SHIP:
Please keep in mind that we are joined on The Carnival Cruise Ship Destiny; with passengers who are not participating in the Backstreet Boys Cruise. We ask that you please be courteous to all the Carnival Cruise guests.

ITINERARY:
Please click here to view the Full Itinerary.

Thanks and See you on board!


It seems so real now! :) I don't think it was fully sink in for me until I'm getting on that ship though! What do you guys think about the itinerary? Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to??

We also received our State Room numbers with that email, and Cinzia over at the fan club put this list together for everybody:

Deck 1 - Riviera
1177 - Jizzlette
1180 - fede85
1194 - Jdub
1217 – patsalvarez
1230 - Erin & Averi (@erinlynn_m)
1235 – NicksLatinLuvR87
1238 - Cinzia and Lydia (Cinzia)
1245 - Caju Garcia
1266 - broksgrl2002
1277 - Cortney (Cort_21)
1279 - Janine
1280 – mawie
1285 - cmduncan

Deck 2 - Main
2126 - LaliePop
2134 - REBECCA
2147 - ilovenickolas
2145 - Jess & Maggie
2149 - Lilly and Bea (Lilly-Marie)
2157 - lisscat
2158 - Sarah and Priscilla
2169 - vettechnikki
2171 - Martz
2174 - Lyndzy_BSBFan09
2177 - Orcagirl_78
2183 - Tostado
2209 - Gissell
2240 - beba716
2221 - Kristen
2227 - brokbabyduck4me
2251 – revolledo
2256 - Ana
2276 - dreamer426 & Janeen
2288 - LauraD
2292 - Lauren M.
2296 - mamacorey23
2298 - Juniela
2310 - lilMomma
2321- RockerHatTeam (brendas boyfriend!)
2340 - Nicole + cousin
Forward Starboard side - kbnhachicky
MooMooSaurus, Lianne, & Shorty

Deck 3 - Lobby (No Rooms)
Deck 4 - Atlantic (No Rooms)
Deck 5 - Promenade (No Rooms)

Deck 6 - Upper
6107 - AmyC
6148 - Olga D.J.
6165 - Mara
6179 - Danyell and Husband
6180 - Anitaxx and Michele
6181 - HalifaxGurl
6187 - Katya
6188 - Cathy
6203 - Melanie & Katelyn (Melmuff)
6207 - tiff (from philly) and savannah (from minnesota)
6210 - Malin and Nathali and Anneli
6215 - Lucy
6225 - totallytaylor + 3 girls
6254 - eMKay
6261 - T.Tati_argentina
6266 - Mrs_Backstreet_was_Miss
6274 - Claire_UK
6279 - Iris
6286 – pharmtechchick
6287 - lxlMUSIClxl, ILoveBSBitsTrue
6289 - Sari + two friends
6291 - Teddystarr
6295 - xxbOnxbOnx
6353 - Backstage Fans Club and Mariol
6365 - Shay (HollywoodKaos)
6367 – Livia L
nicksgurl

Deck 7 - Empress
7125 - Carrie & Nicole
7153 - Stephanie and Silvia (@Krazy_4Kaos)
7155 - Ashlea & Lauren
7170 - LinziLou
7174 - Hot4Nick
7195 – Laura and Abbey (socialcasualty07)
7199 - Judith, Sttefy & Sabela
7227 - Sam & Tina
7249 – Farah87
7268 - Becky
7273 - Irene_88
7296 – Aquarius and Gardenia

Deck 8 - Verandah
8103 - Lauren
8111 - chaechae
8116 – IheartAJ
8148 - Jasmine (aussie_bsb_fan), Kyla (kylairene24), Stacie (smmay1) and Alicia!
8149 - Aida and Quel and Rachel
8161 - Heather28UK
8162 - Yee Yee
8171 - Roxanne & Cassandra
8216 – Zena
8247 – Melissa
8302 – BedtimeDelicious
8306 – Liliana Cepa
8329 - Carole and Jessica from Canada!


Deck 9 - Lido
9174 - Ashley & Cortney
9182 - I.M.
9188- rockerhat team (brenda, lulu and bel)
9195 - nickcarterfan1985
9197 - Mary_Alien
9199 - tracyp1 and husband
9290 - Erin Ali

Deck 10 - Spa (8E Balcony Suites)
1002 – Lisa
1004 – jeshiblah
1005 - YUKA
1006 – Beverly Diehl
Barbm218

Deck 11 - Sun (No Rooms)
Deck 12 - Sky (No Rooms)

Leave a comment if you aren't already on there! :) Thanks, Cinzia!! You rock!

I think that's about it for now! Only NINE days!! :) Let's get ready to party!!

Meeting Up with People

Hey Cruisers!! Only FIFTEEN days!! :) Before the announcement of more NKOTBSB tour dates, we were talking about cell phones on the boat. Since most of you will most likely not be using your cell phones, how will you meet up with other cruisers? Well, Katie laid it all out in her blog entry from the nKoTb Cruise Blog:

So how do you find each other to meet up?

I won't lie. It's not easy. But most of us are old enough to remember life without cell phones. Somehow we managed to get by then, so we can do it now. Unlike when we were kids, though, we probably weren't going on vacation hoping to meet up with people we'd never seen before.

Things that work:

• Walkie Talkies. This is the first recommendation on any cruise forum. They will work on the ship, but they're limited to at most four people, and most of them are pretty big. So for a small group of roommates this would work, but overall, walkie talkies probably won't get it done.
  
• Setting meeting points and times. I did not do this nearly enough last year. "I'll meet you around the pool later" does not really work, particularly when it's white night and searching a crowd knowing your friends are wearing white does not help one bit. Think more like "I'll meet you next to the guest services desk at 9:30." If you are arranging a photo group before the cruise, set the meeting place and time before we get to Miami. Key point to this method: wear a watch.
  
• Post its. Throw a cube of post-its in your suitcase so you can leave notes on your friends' doors about when and where to meet. Or leave a note on your own door about where you are in case your friends stop by. Key point to this method: have a list of your friends' room numbers.

Things that don't work:

• Room-to-room calling. I can't say this absolutely doesn't work, but it involves both parties being in their rooms at the same time, which doesn't happen often. From what I remember, unlike hotels, there was no voice mail. (Confirmed: there is NO voice mail on the in-room phones. Thanks wizbiff!) [EDIT: According to Marie, "I just came back from a cruise on Carnival, and I can assure you, there IS a voice mail in all the rooms. I met friends on the boat that kept leaving us messages."]
• E-mail or DMs. As I mentioned in my last post, I never once got my e-mail to load using the ship's internet. This was how I was planning to communicate with my husband and it didn't happen. I ended up calling him on my cell from Nassau. That's not going to work this year, since Half Moon Cay supposedly has zero cell coverage. DMs may work if you are able to limit who is DMing you, but if you're not getting texts or e-mails, it would require signing into Twitter to get them, so you'd have to check in fairly often.

Last year, I way underestimated how tough it would be to find people. It hadn't occurred to me that DMs and voicemail would be off the table. This year I'll be setting a lot more meeting times. If you have other tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them! Please share in the comments.


So, there's a few ideas for everybody! How are you guys planning on meeting up with the other cruisers once on board? :)

MORE NKOTBSB Tour Dates!

Hey Cruisers!

Only SIXTEEN days!!

Again, this isn't exactly cruise related, but in case you missed it, MORE NKOTBSB tour dates were announced today:

You've all been waiting for them... More NKOTBSB 2011 tour dates announced!

The Toronto show on JUNE 9 and the Chicago show on JUNE 17 are now SOLD OUT! Second shows for Toronto and Chicago have been added to meet overwhelming demand. Tickets to all other shows are selling out fast!

CURRENT LIST OF SHOW DATES (As of November 22, 2010)

THU 2-JUN
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 12pm EST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

FRI 3-JUN
Washington, DC
Verizon Center
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 12pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3

SAT 4-JUN
Boston, MA
TD Garden
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 1pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3

SUN 5-JUN
Philadelphia, PA
Wells Fargo Center
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3

TUE 7-JUN
Montreal, QC
Bell Centre
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD

WED 8-JUN (Previously Announced)
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Center

ON SALE NOW

THU 9-JUN (Previously Announced)
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Center
SOLD OUT! Second show added to meet overwhelming demand!

SAT 11-JUN (Previously Announced)
Uniondale, NY
Nassau Coliseum

ON SALE NOW

SUN 12-JUN (Previously Announced)
East Rutherford, NJ
Izod Center

ON SALE NOW

WED 15-JUN
Pittsburgh, PA
Consol Energy Center
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 1pm EST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

THU 16-JUN
Detroit, MI
The Palace of Auburn Hills
ON-SALE 10am EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm EST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

FRI 17-JUN (Previously Announced)
Chicago, IL
United Center
SOLD OUT! Second show added to meet overwhelming demand!

SAT 18-JUN
Chicago, IL
United Center
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD

TUE 21-JUN
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD

WED 22-JUN
Atlanta, GA
Philips Arena
ON-SALE 12pm EST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 3pm EST THURSDAY, DEC 2
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am EST FRIDAY, DEC 3

FRI 24-JUN
Lafayette, LA
Cajundome
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 6pm CST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am CST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

SAT 25-JUN
Houston, TX
Toyota Center
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm CST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am CST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

SUN 26-JUN
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
ON-SALE 10am CST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 3pm CST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am CST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

THU 30-JUN
Phoenix, AZ
US Airways Center
ON-SALE 10am MST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD

FRI 1-JUL (Previously Announced)
Los Angeles, CA
Staples Center

ON SALE NOW

SAT 2-JUL
San Jose, CA
HP Pavilion
ON-SALE 10am PST SATURDAY, DEC 18
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am PST SATURDAY, DEC 11

SUN 3-JUL
Las Vegas, NV
Mandalay Bay Events Center
ON-SALE 12pm PST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 2pm PST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am PST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

FRI 8-JUL
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma Dome
ON-SALE 10am PST SATURDAY, DEC 11
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE 3pm PST TUESDAY, DEC 7
AMEX PRE-SALE 10am PST WEDNESDAY, DEC 8

SAT 9-JUL
Vancouver, BC
Rogers Arena
ON-SALE 10am PST MONDAY, DEC 13
FAN CLUB PRE-SALE TBD
AMEX PRE-SALE TBD

SO exciting!! What shows is everybody looking to attend? Multiple shows for anybody?
NKOTBSB were also on the AMAs last night! :) It was an epic performance (I might've been squealing on Twitter!)! Did everybody else catch it? What did you guys think? :)

More on Cell Phones

Hey Cruisers! Only EIGHTEEN days!! I have a few updates on cells phones on board the ship for everybody!

Mel asked, "Would I come into contact with any pay phone? I have an 800 number which can charge the call on the home phone bill if I use it on a pay phone but maybe it would work on the cruise phone too. Or would they charge me their rate no matter which number number I use? So that's another question. Would 800 numbers be free on a cruise phone?"

And the response I got back from Jeannie at Rose Tours was:

Hi Janine,

Cell phones work on board the ship but you have to check with your carrier to see what your rates and plan covers for ship to sea. The phones in the cabin are charged for numbers that you do call any outgoing calls.

There is a number that people call shore to ship if there is an emergency and they will put them in touch with you.

Thanks and have a great day!


Also, April added that, "I'm with ATT and have a droid. I added the 50MB roaming data plan and a 9.99 plan that gives me 50 roaming texts.

If you're with Verizon and have a smart phone, you can go with the global email plan that will give you unlimited roaming data for 64.99. If you're already paying 29.99 for your data plan, you should go with this, because teh awesome part is that you only have to leave it on for the time you're gone, and change back to your old plan when you get home. It prorates the monthly charge but you'll still have unlimited data.

As someone who works in the wireless industry, I do want to make a slight correction to this article. You aren't being charged like you make a phone call when your phone updates or downloads email. You're being charged data rates as though you were on a pay per kilobyte/megabyte plan, but a higher rate because it's roaming.

I also want to add that while you are in port in Miami or on Key West, to check your roaming indicator! There is a small chance that you will pick up the cruise ship tower instead of American towers."

Hopefully those things were helpful! :) I haven't talked to my cell phone provider (AT&T) yet, so I will let you know what I find out! Anybody else have any tips or advice?

Cell Phones

Hey Cruisers!! I can hardly believe we're only TWENTY days away from being on a ship with the Boys!! SO exciting! But to not get too caught up in the excitement to forget a few key details, such as cell phones on the ship. Thankfully Katie from the nKoTb Cruise blog has laid it all out here in her blog entry (Thanks again, Katie!! You've been so helpful!):

First things first: your cell phone WILL work on the ship. But think twice about using it. Case in point: Cruiser disputes $28,000 bill for wireless session on ship. And I'm not even going to talk about the in-room phones, which are about $10/minute.

While cell phone rates at sea vary by wireless company, they generally reflect international roaming rates, which can be breathtakingly expensive. On the cruise, your only connection is through the ship's provider "Cell at Sea." This on-board tower works with both GSM and CDMA. Once you are a certain distance from port, they will turn it on.

Here's what I found for calling rates, but don't take my word for it. Check with your provider!

• AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint: $2.49/min
• T-mobile: $4.99/min

Text messages are generally $0.50/each for outgoing and vary for incoming. When the ship reaches port, pricing will switch to the country-specific roaming rate. (The rate for this should be listed on your wireless company's site.)

The problem is, if you have a BlackBerry or other smart phone that downloads e-mails and texts automatically, every time it scans for incoming messages, you are charged as if you are making a call. And some cruise lines charge extra for attachments or photos due to the extra bandwidth they consume. (There are lots of horror stories out there of $3000 phone bills for week-long cruises.) Some carriers will even charge for incoming calls that aren't answered.

There is usually an option to turn off data/e-mail on smart phones, but if you are sending texts, there's no way to turn off the phone service. So you risk the cost of receiving incoming texts and phone calls while your phone is on for you to send texts. I've also read stories of people who had their phones turned off but were somehow still picking up a signal and getting charged for roaming. That's why last time I left my phone in the room safe with the battery out.

But let's say you are okay with the rates and want to use your phone anyway. It may not be an option everywhere. Many people said last year they were unable to get a signal on the lower decks of the ship. And since Half Moon Cay is a private island, there's no cell service there. There's also no wireless there, so it's going to be a several hour stretch of no tweets for those at home.

There is, however, internet access on board. You can bring your own laptop/iPod/iPad/what-have-you or use the Internet cafe. The rates for both are the same: 75 cents per minute. You can also buy blocks of minutes. Last year I paid $24 for 60 minute blocks. There was a minimum charge of two minutes, which was about a minute and 45 seconds longer than it took me to send a tweet. I did not figure this time minimum out till Sunday night.

Cruise ship internet is . . . not the best. For one, it takes a good minute to get logged in and do anything. Once you're in, you can use it for sending a quick email or tweet, but don't plan to upload a photo album to Flickr or anything. Remember the internet in 1998? It's like that. Last year, I never once successfully got my email to load, even in basic HTML mode. But it's certainly better than nothing, and they do have wireless throughout the ship, which is nice.

What are your plans for phones on board?

[Taken from the nKoTb Cruise blog]

So, what are you guys doing? I haven't talked to my cell phone provider (AT&T) yet, but I plan to soon! I will definitely update with my plans as soon as I find out! :)

Tips for first time cruisers

With TWENTY-FIVE days until the cruise, I thought I'd post one of the entries from the nKoTb Cruise Blog to get everybody excited. So, here ya go! Tips for first time cruisers:

If this is not only your first New Kids cruise but your first cruise period, these tips will help you make the most of the weekend.

Checking In
A couple weeks before we sail, you'll receive a link for online guest registration. Make sure everyone in the room completes these forms at home and print out copies before you go to present at check in. You also print out your luggage/bag tags at home and attach them before you even leave for Miami.

After you go through the x-ray machines (just like at the airport), you bring your paperwork, passport, and credit card to the check-in agent. If you are using cash rather than a credit card, you have to pay a deposit at check-in.

Once you're checked in, you will have your wrist band put on for you by the agent. Not sure if we will have colored zones this year, but it will at least show your dining group. Security was very careful to check that no one from the wrong group was trying to sneak into an extra show. (There was a bit of confusion last year because red and orange looked very similar and meant the difference between row 6 and back of the balcony.)

You will also receive your Sign and Sail card, which is both your room key and onboard credit card. You use this for anything you buy on the ship. They won't accept cash or other credit cards.

If your suitcase is bigger than carry-on size, you leave it with a porter to be delivered to your cabin. Most bags were delivered by dinner time, but make sure you bring a change of clothes and all your toiletries in a carry on if you want to use them before the sail away party.

Chances are, you won't be able to get into your cabin right away. So hang out and have a drink until 2:00 p.m. or so.

Food Tips
Soda and water are not free. Coffee, tea, iced tea, and juices are. There are drink stations around the buffet and pool area. If you are addicted to soda, you can buy an unlimited soda card for something like $25.

On the other hand, room service is free. I highly recommend hanging the order form on your door the night before so you can wake up to toast, fruit, and cereal -- and a pot of coffee.

Don't worry about tipping in the dining room. You pre-paid for tips through Rose Tours. However, the room service waiters will not turn down a few singles.

Seasickness
I don't typically get motion sick, but those that do relied on behind the ear patches on board. I've also heard ginger capsules work well. Sunday morning was especially rocky, and combined with lack of sleep and excessive drinking the night before, I was not feeling great. While we were waiting in the photo op line, I saw one person throw up and one pass out.

What I did not expect was to feel so strange 2-3 days AFTER the cruise. This is called Mal de Debarquement Syndrome, and it made me feel like I was on a moving walkway for much of the following week. Eventually it went away.

Excursions
Most cruise articles will recommend you pre-book shore excursions months in advance to avoid waiting in line once on board and to make sure you can get the popular options. But don't do it for this one!

From Sarah in the comments: "I spoke with Jeannie right after we booked about shore excursions. She was quick to advise me NOT to book anything for Half Moon Cay because just about every option on the island will cause us to miss events planned on shore and the NKOTB functions."

Don't leave home without
A watch. There are were very few clocks on deck or around, and you won't want to have your cell phone turned on because of the outrageous roaming charges (even if you're not making calls).

A travel alarm clock. Even though you can request wake up calls, you'll need to make sure you're on time for all the activities. I read on a Carnival website that it needs to be battery powered because the electric ones will run slow.

A power strip. You get one outlet in the room. One.

A night light. The room is so dark at night you could think you've gone blind. Lots of deck party drinking leads to middle-of-the-night bathroom trips, and you don't want to break an arm.

A hair dryer. Unless you're in the penthouse or owner's suite, you won't get one in your room.

Disembarking
On Monday morning, be prepared to be booted from your cabin bright and early (think 8:00 a.m.). There will be lots of porters walking up and down the halls banging on doors and hurrying you out. But you can head up to the Lido deck for coffee and breakfast before you get back to solid ground.


Hope this helps you know what to expect. Experienced cruisers, please add your tips to the comments!

[Taken from the nKoTb Cruise Blog]

Do we have any experienced cruisers on the the Backstreet Boys cruise? Or has anybody heard any other good tips? Leave a comment!! :)

Game Show Survey

Hey Cruisers!! :) In less than a month, we will be on a boat with the Boys!! How excited are you guys?? I can hardly wait!! :) In case you missed it, here's the newest email from Rose Tours:

Backstreet Boys Cruise

2010 Game Show Survey

We are going to have a Family Feud Style Game Show on board with the Backstreet Boys! They will be competing against some lucky fans who will get a chance to prove they know the boys better than they know themselves!

To help us get the best answers to all the questions, please fill out the survey with the first answer that comes to your head! We will tally all the answers, and use them to play during our game show!

Survey

Let the COUNTDOWN begin!! :) TWENTY-EIGHT days!!

NKOTBSB Tour Announcement

So, this isn't exactly cruise related, but...

Who's excited for the NKOTBSB tour??! :)

I'm sure you all received this email, but here it is, in case you missed it:

As announced exclusively on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, NKOTB and BSB are making it official. NKOTBSB on ONE STAGE will begin in the summer of 2011. Tickets to this historic event go on sale beginning November 19th at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

The NKOTBSB tour, produced by Live Nation includes confirmed dates in Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Chicago and Los Angeles with additional dates to be announced soon.

The public will get their first sneak peak of what’s to come on November 21, 2010 as all nine men perform LIVE at the American Music Awards in their first joint televised appearance.

With over 200 million albums sold between both bands, and smash hit after smash hit, these two pop sensations have dominated the music scene for over three decades.

CURRENT LIST OF SHOW DATES (As of November 8, 2010)

THU 9-JUN
Toronto, CAN
Air Canada Center
ON-SALE 10am ET FRIDAY, NOV 19
BSB Fan Club Pre Sale TBA
BSB VIP Packages On Sale TBA

SAT 11-JUN
Uniondale, NY
Nassau Coliseum
ON-SALE 10am ET FRIDAY, NOV 19
BSB Fan Club Pre Sale Friday, Nov 12th 8am EST
BSB VIP Packages on sale Friday, Nov 12th 8am EST

SUN 12-JUN
East Rutherford, NJ
Izod Center
ON-SALE 10am ET FRIDAY, NOV 19
BSB Fan Club Pre Sale Friday, Nov 12th 8am EST
BSB VIP Packages on sale Friday, Nov 12th 8am EST

FRI 17-JUN
Rosemont, IL
United Center
ON-SALE 10am CT SATURDAY, NOV 20
BSB Fan Club Pre Sale Friday, Nov 12th 8am CST
BSB VIP Packages on sale Friday, Nov 12th 8am CST

FRI 1-JUL
Los Angeles, CA
Staples Center
ON- SALE 10am PT MONDAY, NOV 22
BSB Fan Club Pre Sale Monday, Nov 15th 8am PST
BSB VIP Packages on sale Monday, Nov 15th 8am PST

For complete ticket, VIP/Fan Club and tour information visit: BackstreetBoys.com, NKOTBSB.com, Ticketmaster.com, and LiveNation.com.

So, we definitely have something to look forward to after the cruise! :) And even more dates to be announced later!! How exciting!! What shows so far is everybody thinking of attending?

Backstreet Boys Q & A!

Hey Cruisers!! :)

We are so close it's almost ridiculous! How excited are you guys??! I can hardly believe it's almost a month away!!

So, I'm sure all of you received this email today from Rose Tours, but just in case, here it is:

Got a Question for the Backstreet Boys?

During the Q & A session with the boys, we will be randomly selecting from among the questions you give to us.

PLEASE SUBMIT ONLY ONE QUESTION PER PERSON. MULTIPLE ENTRIES WILL RESULT IN ALL QUESTIONS BEING DISREGARDED.

Please submit your question below:

Q & A Survey

How exciting!! :) I can't wait to hear all the questions and, of course, the answers the Boys have!! Only 36 more days!!

Themes!!

Hey Cruisers!! :) I'm sure you guys already got the email, but we got the cruise themes today!! Here's the email, in case you missed it:

Hey everyone,

We are so excited to be experiencing our FIRST EVER cruise with all of you! AJ has already bought a ton of Dramamine just to be safe!! We’ve put together a jam packed FUN schedule for our four days at sea, so rest up now because there will be no sleeping on this cruise!!

Here is a sneak peak at our theme nights. Can’t wait to see all your faces there!

A more detailed schedule will be coming closer to our sail date!

KTBSPA!

Hugs,

AJ, Brian, Howie and Nick

Theme Nights

Thursday, December 9th- INTERNATIONAL LUV NIGHT Away, Internationally, Away, Eh…. We are all going AWAY together on a four night adventure. Let’s start the cruise off right by celebrating us all coming together from around the world and showing off your Country pride with flags, Tshirts, Countries colors, etc. Let’s see how each country represents! Friday, December 10th- MASQUERADE NIGHT It’s a Masquerade, A Love Parade, So wont you stay and dance with me… Let’s dress up and dance the night away at our Masquerade ball – feathers, beads and lots of fun! So all you solider boys and beauty queens better be ready to lose control! Don’t forget to bring your mask! Sunday, December 12th – BLACK AND BLUE PARTY You were there from the start! We know who you are…and this one goes out to you! Let’s celebrate 17 years plus TOGETHER! Come ready to party on our final night in black and blue attire…

Door Decorating Contest

Want a chance to prove you are the most creative Backstreet Boys fan onboard the cruise this December? Well, this is it! We’re announcing the OFFICIAL BACKSTREET BOYS CRUISE CABIN DOOR DECORATING CONTEST! All you have to do is have the best decorated door on the cruise!

Get together with your cabin mates and show off your BSB Pride! You can use photos, letters, poems, keepsakes, banners, streamers, glitter, whatever fits on the door to make yours stand out! Use your imagination and design the door that everyone wants to see! Best-decorated door will win a fabulous prize.

*The cabin door is 22" x 6’8" and is magnetic so we suggest you bring magnets and masking tape to decorate and hold items in place.

Thank you, Boys!! :) Tomorrow will mark the two month mark! How excited is everybody??! Time to do some shopping!! :)

Final Cruise Payment!

Hey Cruisers!! :)

Today is October 1st, and we all know what that means! Our bank accounts are going to be hurting, haha! The final cruise payment is due today! I actually paid my earlier this week, so I'm not sure if the payment has automatically been pulled from anybody's account yet. :) Let me know on here with a comment or tweet me (@bsbcruise)!

Today is also an exciting day because the tickets for the Miami Acoustic Fan Event go on sale!! I've been anxious all morning waiting on the tickets to go on sale! Just as a reminder (haha, as if you actually need to be reminded!), tickets go on sale at 10am PST. Good luck everybody!! :)

So, has anybody had their final payment taken from their account yet? Did you get tickets to the acoustic show? :)

Miami Acoustic Fan Event

Hey Cruisers! It's been an exciting few weeks here with all the new events for the cruise! :) Although I haven't received the email yet I just received the email that the fan club sent out about the Miami Acoustic Fan Event! It's official! :) From the email:

Miami Acoustic Fan Event

The long-awaited Miami Fan Event is finally going to happen on Wednesday, December 8th at the Byron Carlyle Theater in Miami Beach!!! You heard it here first!

For those of you who attended the Napa Fan Event or the NYC Fan Event earlier this year, this Acoustic Fan Event is going to be the Miami equivalent of those shows. There will be an intimate, acoustic performance from the guys, a Q&A, and last but not least, a M&G and group photo taken.

This event will go on sale on Friday, October 1st at 10am PST to Fan Club members only. This is a LIMITED SEATING event, so act fast.

Tickets will be $199 which includes all of the above (performance, Q&A, M&G etc). This is a General Admission Event.

So, what do you guys think? Are you going? :)

Beach Party Details

So, there has been a bit of confusion about the Beach Party, so here's some clarification! :)

Amy C emailed Christi at Rose Tours, and Christi confirmed that the Playa Mia Grand Beach Park will be just for us, even though some have said that Carnival is still offering it as an excursion: "Yes we will have exclusive use of the resort, I am sure that you might have talked to a confused agent..."

April also emailed Rose Tours and received an email back from Michelle:

I honestly feel incredibly bad about this situation – the last thing we would ever do is deliberately mislead any guest. We are very excited about this event and only want for our guests to be equally excited.

Our web site was set up at the time of booking with current cruise information. We try to be very specific with the list of inclusions to avoid confusion. The cruise FAQ covers the cruise & it’s inclusions. The ship is not exclusive to our BSB group and there will be other guests onboard who booked directly through Carnival. We want our guests to know that ONLY THEY GET TO PARTICIPATE in these private events, NOT the main Carnival population. That is the reason we put up the note about the private events.

The cruise fare covers the cruise. Much like the group rate at the hotel in Miami, the beach party is offered for the guests as a non-cruise option. Many guests like having a theme related shore excursion option in addition to the ones that Carnival sells. It’s not mandatory and was not confirmed at the time of booking – so that is why we did not mention it or include it on the site at that time.

I think much of the confusion comes in with the fact that the beach party is included on NKOTB (which is a full ship charter and an entirely different model) If you check out Rick Springfield’s cruise from last year – it was almost identical in terms of the beach party being sold later and at additional cost.

As for Playa Mia – it is normally an excursion that Carnival sells to its regular guests. We have taken sole occupancy of the resort (although, it’s possible that not all of the CCL staff is aware of it yet) and it will not be offered for general sale. We have used this resort before and in our estimation, it would most definitely. NOT be comfortable for 2000 guests. Particularly when you factor in the motor coach transportation over to the resort and back. That is why we have limited the number of participants. We have to figure in our own staff and crew for set up and security.

I hope that helps a little – we want this to be a great event and I am sure that it will be a great cruise.

Thanks to Amy C & April for emailing Rose Tours!! :)

So, hopefully that clears everything up for everybody! If you want to get extra excited, check out where we will be partying with the Boys!! :)

Beach Party!

Hey hey Cruisers!!

I'm sure by now most of you have already got the email about the Beach Party in Cozumel, but just in case you didn't, here it is:

Beach Party in Cozumel - Playa Mia Beach Resort

Reservations are now being accepted for the Backstreet Boys Cozumel Beach Party Shore Excursion on Saturday December 11, 2010. All Backstreet Boys Cruise Passengers who booked through Rose Tours are welcome to join.

COZUMEL PREMIER BEACH PARTY:

Enjoy a Four-hour party including a DJ and appearance of the Backstreet Boys at the Playa Mia Beach Resort! The Beach Excursion will include an unlimited domestic open bar including Draft Beer, Purified bottled water, Soft drinks, Tequila, Mezcal, Brandy, Rum, Vodka, Rum Punch, Margaritas, Pina Colada and assorted flavor Daiquiris. You will also enjoy a delicious International Buffet which will include a menu of Grilled Chicken breast, Pork loin in mushroom sauce, Fish Filet, Fettuccine Alfredo, Rice with fried bananas, Cesar Salad, Guacamole, a variety of Desserts and MORE! You can eat, dance, swim and relax on a sun chair enjoying the beautiful beach! We will even have special beach games available in which you can participate. Your beach party will include round trip transportation from the ship to the beach resort, Buffet, Domestic open bar and beach activities.

The price of the Beach Party is $119.00 per person and will be charged at time of booking. This charge will appear as Rose Tours & Travel. If you are interested in attending, please follow the link below and submit your reservation now as space is limited. (RAIN OR SHINE)

Final payment for your cruise will be charged by Carnival Cruise Line the week of 10/1/10. It will be billed to the card you have on file There is nothing that you need to do.

Your Documents will be emailed to the email address on your reservation approximately 2 weeks prior to departure.

You will be able to pick up your beach party tickets on Thursday December 9th at the Hospitality Desk in the Universe Dining Room between 1:00PM - 4:00PM.

*Questions, please call Rose Tours at (888) 491-7673 or (215) 663-8800.

You must be booked on the Backstreet Boys Cruise with Rose Tours to book the Beach Party.

Book early - Space is Limited!

So, what do you guys think? Are you going to the Beach Party?

EDIT:
For those of you who are unsure about the Beach Party and curious about the other excursions offered for Cozumel, there's a list of them here. Hopefully that helps!! :)

THREE months!!!!!

Wow, cruisers!! Can you believe it?? We are only THREE months away from cruising with our Boys!! :) SO exciting!! I always know when it's the 9th of every month. I can forget to pay my rent on time (Oops!), forget to water my plant for Hort class (Surprisingly, it's still alive!), and forget my nametag at work (Oh well.), but I always know when the 9th is!

I honestly have not shopped for the cruise yet. Haha, hard to believe, huh? It's not to say I haven't looked at clothes or shoes for the cruise (I found a super cute white dress...if we have a white night, which is why I haven't bought it yet!), but I haven't actually bought anything. Now, I know I can't just wait around for the themes (though I wish I could!) since they won't arrive until two weeks before we cruise, but I just wasn't sure what to buy yet. To get a few ideas of what would be safe to buy, I checked out the nKoTb cruise blog and found this wonderful list (Thanks, Katie!! You are too amazing!!):

Safe Bets

• Bathing suits
• Beach/day wear
• Flip flops/sandals
• Sunglasses, beach bags, other accessories
• Sail away party outfit (although many wore swimsuits to that)

Somewhat Risky

• General evening dress - I'm betting on one generic "dress to impress" night, and even if it doesn't happen, you can probably wear such a dress elsewhere.
• Something to wear for the photo op - Last year I bought a really cute dress before finding out our photo session was at 10 a.m. I felt pretty silly wearing it at that time of day but I did anyway. You don't get the schedule with enough notice to do much.

Don't Do It!

• More than one evening dress - There were a lot of disgruntled cruisers who bought 3-4 hot dresses last year before themes were announced and were stuck buying more to fit the themes.
• Anything with a theme in mind - I've come close to buying another white dress now because it was so hard to find white in April, but I figure as soon as I do, they'll decide to do pink night instead.

Most everyone will tell you that they overpacked for 2009. I only brought a carry on, and I STILL had more than I needed. In general, you'll need swimsuits, a cover-up, a couple tank tops and shorts, and your theme outfits.

[Taken from the nKoTb Cruise Blog]

Now, keeping that all in mind, what do you guys think? Have you purchased anything specifically for the cruise yet? If so, what have you bought? Let's discuss!! :)

100 Days!!!!!

Hey Cruisers!!!

How excited are you guys?? We are exactly 100 days away from cruising with our Boys!!! Yay!! Just to get you even more excited (as if that is even possible!!), here's a post from the nKoTb Cruise Blog about eating on board:

Breakfast:

With the drinking and all-night parties, nothing beats scheduled room service. Hang your order on your door at night, and you can get coffee, cereal, fruit, toast, or yogurt delivered at the time of your choice. However, I seem to remember the latest time being around 9:30, so you can't sleep in too long. We did this every morning to get coffee and juice. Otherwise it would have been difficult to get out of bed.

After we showered and dressed, we went upstairs to hit the breakfast buffet next to the pool. Breakfast buffets are my favorite kind of buffets. Scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, fruit, potatoes . . . I'm getting hungry writing about it. Of course they also had bacon and sausage if you're into that kind of thing. I believe this lasted until 11 a.m.

Inside near the shops there was a coffee bar that offered lattes and cappuccinos, but those were an additional cost.

Lunch:

We didn't get around to eating lunch until after 3 p.m. both days. There are two buffets: one next to the pool and a larger one inside. The one next to the pool offered hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. Not much for vegetarians.

The larger buffet had a full salad bar, a hot bar with various meats, sides, and apps, the pizzeria, a dessert table, and an ice cream machine. I was a big fan of the salad bar. I seem to remember some kind of broccoli slaw that was particularly good.

From room service, you could order deli sandwiches or salads. There was also a sushi bar near the casino, but I never saw it open.

Dinner:

If you managed to stay on schedule and eat at either 6 or 8 p.m. you could go to the dining room for multi-course waiter service. The portions were tiny, but you could order as much as you wanted. You get a choice of six starters, a couple of salads, and six or seven main courses.

Here is a list of sample dinner entrees: http://www.unofficialcarnivalwiki.com/wiki/Dinner_Main_Courses

The inside, large buffet was also reset for dinner. They seemed to have most of the same dishes as what was in the dining room, but in buffet form. They also had the pizza and ice cream. Unless you really hate getting up in the middle of your meal, I think the buffet is the better option. For one, when you're getting a fruit salad, you can give yourself more than half a strawberry. And the dessert table has the same chocolate lava cake you get in the main dining room. This was available until 9 p.m.

Room service was limited for dinner. Same sandwiches and salads they had at lunch. Still, if you're in your room getting ready for the night, it could be the way to go.

Late Night:

At midnight, they'd reopen the buffet near the pool. I remember Friday night was Mexican night. I don't know if the other nights had themes. Since I didn't get around to eating dinner till around 9 p.m., I never hit this buffet. The pizzeria and room service were available 24 hours a day.

The only problem with eating onboard is finding time to do it. You may find yourself stuck in line during meal times, and staying up all night tends to throw off your schedule. Still, the food is there and decent when you can get to it. Worst case, you eat pizza and ice cream for three days, and there's nothing wrong with that!

[Taken from nKoTb Cruise Blog]

Now, that might not be exactly the same as our cruise, but it should give you an idea of what will be available to eat onboard! Yum!!

Budgeting

Hey Cruisers! It's nearly the end of the summer, so I figured it was time for a budgeting post! :)

This is taken directly from the nKoTb Cruise blog , so anything different for us will be noted in red.

There's a lot more that has to be budgeted. Keep all this in mind as you plan for the next few months.

• Remaining balance: The total of your cabin less the $700 we've already paid ($300-1800)
• Flights: Have you booked yet? (~$200-700 depending on where you're flying from)
• Transportation to/from FL airport: $30-75
• Transportation/parking at home airport: $0 if you're lucky, up to $200 if you're not
• Hotel: One night, split with a roommate, probably $100
• Passport (if you need it): $100
• Clothes: Pre-cruise party, theme nights, swim suits, daywear, shoes. . . let's be serious. $200-700
• Drinks, photos, shore trips, misc on board: ~$150
• Other (door decor, travel toiletries, pre-cruise mani/pedi, etc): ~$150

Maybe some of my estimates are a bit high. I live in one of the most expensive areas of the country, so I'm rounding up. For example, I know parking at JFK costs a lot more than it does at the Pittsburgh airport. And you certainly don't HAVE to spend anything on clothes or get a pedi before the trip, but chances are you will.

Where does that put our totals?

At the low end: You're in a category 4 room, have a ride to the airport, don't need a passport, and are very good at keeping a budget. $1150

At the high end: You booked a suite, have an expensive flight, and will spend $300 on the perfect theme outfit if necessary. $4000

Did you read that and think, "Katie, you are crazy. NO way I will be spending $300 on a dress. Put me in the $1150 group." Well, I would have said the same thing to you last year. And how much did I spend on my white dress two weeks before we sailed because I was getting frantic to find something white and flattering? $300. (Note to TPTB: If we do white night again, I'm wearing that same dress.)

[Taken from nKoTb Cruise Blog]

So, Cruisers, does anybody have any suggestions for budgeting? Have you already purchased your plane tickets? Where is everybody staying in Miami? Without the themes yet, has anybody bought any cute clothes yet? Let's compare notes, Cruisers!! :)

Second payment is today!

Today is July 1st, and we all know what that means!! :) The second payment is due today, so hopefully everybody is ready! It really makes me excited to know how close we are getting!! :)

As of this morning, my payment still hasn't been taken from my account. So, I'm not sure when Rose Tours is going to automatically take it, since I heard it was suppose to happen at midnight? According to the nKoTb cruise blog, the second payment varies on when it is taken out, so I guess we will have to wait and see!!

UPDATE: The money hasn't left my account yet, but it is a pending charge, as of 10:07 am. Anybody else have their money taken or a pending charge yet?

UPDATE (Again): The money left my account today (07/02). :) @SarahMcTamney also tweeted me that hers left yesterday, and Rose Tours even called her just to double check. Anybody else? :)

Waitlisters MelMuff (#2471), Melissa (#2541), Carrie (#2554), Emelita, and Kate were all called (and accepted!!), so don't get discouraged if you're on the wait list!! It also appears they are going in order on the wait list, based on what I have heard so far!

The spot in Gissell cabin has been filled by @nonoebel1103, but I haven't heard about the spot in Saldawgli9979's cabin. Also, @Swayshay is looking for a spot in the cruise, if anybody has a roommate who drops out.

Hope everybody has a great day! Only 160 more days!!

Get excited, waitlisters!!

The wait list calls have started!! :)

Laura and Abbey (#2433) were called (and accepted!) today, and their wait list number was 2433! Congrats, girls!! :)

I also saw on the Facebook group that another waitlister (Rorey) was called (and accepted!), and their number was in the 2000s.

Also, there are two different girls looking for new roommates on the fan club:

Gissell is looking for a new roommate. She has a 6C oceanview quad cabin. The other cruisers are all girls with ages 22, 19, and 26. Two of the girls live in Florida, and Gissell lives in Pennsylvania. She is looking for somewhere to fly down to Florida with, but anybody would work. :) As far as I'm aware, she hasn't found a new roommate yet, so contact Gissell or leave a comment here, if you're interested!!

Saldawgli9979 is also looking for a new roommate. I believe she's in a double, but I'm not sure. Again, as far as I'm aware, she hasn't found a new roommate yet, so contact Saldawgli9979 or leave a comment here, if you're interested!! :)

So, if you're on the wait list, and you receive a phone call (and accept or decline!), leave a comment or tweet @bsbcruise!! :)

Cruise Article

Hey hey Cruisers!! :)

Somebody retweeted this article today, and I just had to share a small tidbit that might get you even more excited for the cruise (As if that was even possible!!):

Whose idea was the upcoming Backstreet Boys Cruise?
AM: It was a collective idea. We've been talking about it for years now, because we've heard other artists have done it, like New Kids on the Block. It's something cool for us to do with our fans. Whether it's having a pool party or a gambling night...we're doing a full concert with our dancers. We might do some weird things. I heard some rumors that New Kids went as a group and knocked on fans' doors to say hi and hang out.

Read the rest of the article here.

Six Months!! :)

Hey cruisers!!

I can hardly believe the cruise is only six months away! So, in honor of this eventful day, let's keep a few things in mind...

The second payment is due July 1st, which is about three weeks away! Hopefully everybody is budgeting and is ready for the payment!

Waitlisters, don't lose hope! It seems that the calls will start soon after this second payment, as a few will probably drop out then!

Not that I need to tell you this, but since we are the peak of summer, it would be a great time to pick up a new bikini or some summer clothes! I know I'm keeping an eye out for anything that is super cute to wear on the cruise!!

Another thing to keep in mind is flights down to Miami, so if you haven't already booked, here's a few tips from the nKoTb Cruise blog concerning which airport to fly into:

Already looking at flights? You may have noticed that fares into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) tend to be cheaper than those into Miami (MIA). Rose Tours lists FLL as one of the airports to fly into, so it seems like a no-brainer to take the cheaper flight, right? Not always.

FLL is about 20 miles from the Port of Miami. MIA, on the other hand, is 6 miles. So what you save in airfare may be much less than what you spend to get to the port from FLL.

In a later post, I'll cover transportation options from either airport to the port, but in general, FLL is only a better option when the flight is more than $50 less than one into Miami AND you are traveling with a group. If you're traveling alone, it would need to be more than $100 less to save you money. Shuttles from FLL are available but many require at least two people to make a reservation. (You then have the added step of finding/waiting for your shuttle.)

If your friends are flying in at different times, or if you don't want the extra bother of reserving shuttles, taxis are the way to go. Taxis from FLL are about $75 + tip. If you've got 3-4 people sharing a ride, that could still make the FLL fare better. On the other hand, taxi fares from MIA are around $20.

Good luck booking!

[Taken from the nKoTb Cruise Blog]

North American Concert Tour

...starts today! :)

Just for fun...

How many of the cruisers are going to a concert this summer?
Which one(s) are you going to?
How many are you going to?
Are you doing any of the VIPs?

Leave a comment! :)

Shopping/Packing List

Wow! Only 200 more days until the Backstreet Boys Cruise!! :) So, in honor of this eventful day, here's shopping/packing list to give you some ideas!

This is taken directly from the nKoTb Cruise blog , so anything different for us will be noted in red.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. I assume you don't need me to tell you to bring a toothbrush.

• Three Four casual day time outfits: sundress, shorts and tanks, etc. Wear these to the sail away party, while you're on land on Friday and Saturday, and around the ship Sunday.
• Bathing suits and cover ups. You'll wear these a lot. Many people wore only swim suits at the sail away party. I spent the better part of Sunday in my suit and cover up.
• Photo op outfit. This may just be one of your casual outfits. Last year I bought a dress before finding out our photo session was at 10:00 a.m., so I felt a bit silly wearing it at that time of day. This year I'll just wear a regular sundress.
• Theme outfits, whatever they may be. (Dear powers that be: I have a proposition. We get the themes at the same time we make the final payment. That's fair, right? I don't even have to know which day is what. They can just be announced one at a time as they are decided. Perhaps we can get one per month? Maybe you can start giving out cryptic clues. Or once a week tell us what the theme is NOT. I'm reaching here, but the point is: we would all appreciate as much notice as possible, especially for things that may take a bit more effort, like . . . 80s night as an example. Have pity on us girls trying to look our best for you. Thank you.)
• Going home outfit for Monday. You won't do anything Monday except get up and get out, so pack something comfy to fly home in.
• Pre-party outfit (optional), assuming it happens. Club wear.
• Sweater or light jacket for nights on the deck.
• Shoes: in addition to theme outfit shoes, flip flops, comfy walkabout shoes, and/or something to slip on after 3-4 hours of the deck party when you don't even want to look at heels anymore
• PJs to sleep in that will not shock and offend your roommate or any unexpected visitors
• Bras and underwear: please wear these

Aside from clothes and the normal stuff you'd pack on any trip, you may want:

• Power strip or extension cord, as there is only one outlet in the room
• Hair dryer, since only the very top suites have them [This is different for us. We do have hair dryers in the room, but as Erika noted, if you need a specific hair dyer, you might want to bring your own.]
• Flashlight or nightlight
• Travel alarm (no clock in the room)
• Walkie talkies. I've heard of people using these onboard but have no experience myself.
• Over the door shoe holder to hold toiletries in the bathroom
• Door decorations and tape
• Sea sickness medication
• Contraband alcohol
• Travel steamer
• Various methods of keeping your hair back in the wind and humidity
• Books or something to do while waiting in line or laying out at the pool

Most 2009 cruisers will tell you that they overpacked. Even with just a carry-on, I still had two outfits left unworn in my suitcase. I just didn't wear as much as I thought I would. Sunday I had my photo op dress on for an hour or two, wore my bathing suit the rest of the day, and then the white dress at night.

What saved me from having to bring a larger suitcase was packing only two pairs of shoes: flip flops and a pair of heels that went with both theme dresses. I wore a pair of dressy sandals on the flight. It was plenty.

[Taken from the nKoTb Blog]

Cruise Spot Available

Waitlisters--

Colleen_loves_aj over at the fan club is no longer able to go on the cruise, so she is looking for someone to take her place. She booked a cabin with 2 other friends who are still going, so there is only one spot open. The cabin is an ocean suite that is $2200.

So, if there is someone interested and willing to pay the change of name ($100), leave a comment! Thanks!

Reservation Numbers

Hey everyone! :)

Mawie over at the fan club complied everybody's reservation numbers into a list with their fan club names:

1000 – NICKoleCarter – 2 ppl
1003 – Jdub - 2 ppl
1012 – Jon
1014 - Crazy57307 (suite) - 2 ppl
1016 – Cinzia – 2 ppl
1017 - Brokenfootgirl - 3 ppl
1019 - lilprincess8041 - 2 ppl (Bailey)
1023 - crisssyta
1030 – HOT4NICK (suite) – 2 ppl
1031 – Camilla Maria (suite) – 4 ppl
1034 - Danyell - 2 ppl
1036 - bsbgrrl
1039 – Patsalvarez – 4 ppl
1042 – anitaxx – 2 ppl
1043 – Ashleigh969 – 1 ppl
1055 – Farah -
1056 – ilovenickolas
1058 – mawie – 4 ppl
1059 – malin – 3 ppl
1085 - NickHeartsJello - 3 ppl
1088 – NICK’S SASSY GURL – 3 ppl
1090 – Irutxi - 2 ppl
1092 – stepha – 2 ppl
1095 – bsb4evr712 - 2 ppl
1099 - Stephanie Dianna - Roommate Match Program
1108 - bsb1forever - 3 ppl
1115 – geminirockchick – 4 ppl (MooMooSaurus, Shorty, and Lianne [ThatsWhatLiSaid])
1121 -Cherry B - 3 ppl
1128 - Veronick - 2 ppl
1131 - Jenna
1135 – colleen_loves_aj (suite) – 4 ppl
1137 – bsbfan85
1138 – Sam_Y
1140 – sofdlovesbsb – 4 ppl
1146 – Ana
1148 - Totallytaylor - 4 ppl (Jill, Vicky, Sarah, and Cassie)
1149 - *L*A*R*A* (suite) – 4 ppl
1167 – eMKay – 2 ppl
1184 - Catherine
1207 - kaos9783
1212 – 15hughey – 2 ppl
1216 – Miss_Backtreet
1220 – Cort_21
1229 – Clau Carter
1230 – duckydoom - 2 ppl
1231 - IxlMUSIClxI - 3 ppl
1234 - Sari - 3 ppl
1242 - Jannicke - 2 ppl
1258 - Mariol - 4 ppl
1259 – Lyndzy_BSBfan09
1269 - Tati_argentina - 4 ppl
1274 – aussie_bsb_fan - 4 ppl
1288 - jessybear19 - 4 ppl
1289 – Claire_UK – 2 ppl
1294 – SerenityfromOz – 1 ppl
1316 – MhYrA – 3 ppl
1320 - IheartAJ
1324 - _judith_ (suite) - 3 ppl
1337 - chaechae - 2 ppl
1360 – AmyC
1361 - pixielovesu
1362 – mamcory23
1378 - Teddystarr
1399 - MiZz_KaOz - 2 ppl
1432 – ResaD
1436 - Shauna - 2 ppl (LaliePop)
1470 – Jannis
1485 - Anastasia005
1524 – nevergone84
1532 - melbsbfan
1535 - Kimsche - 2 ppl
1545 - Jessica - 2 ppl
1573 -CortneyLeah01 - 2 ppl

WAITLIST
2420 - Heidi - 2 ppl
2433 - Laura & Abbey (socialcasualty07) - 2 ppl
2468 -Dinorah Jimenez Perez
2471 - MelMuff
2476 – francocarterlittrell
2503 - Brandi Reumont
2554 - Carrie - 2 ppl

Leave a comment with your reservation number and/or how many are in your cabin, if you aren't already listed! :) Thanks!

New Roommate

Wait listers--

Elisak16 over at the Fan Club is looking for a new roommate! Her roommate won't be joining her, so she wanted to know if anybody was interested in being her new roommate. The old roommate is willing to pay for the name change. Elisaka16 is 22 from Toronto. Her cabin is a 4C cabin. :)

If anybody is interested, leave a comment! Thanks! :)

Cruise Tips

Erika over at LD just recently went on a cruise and had some tips to share:

First, pack light. There were three of us and we had 2 carry on sized suitcases and a garment bag. That was still too much for a 5 day cruise. Now, I get that y'all want to look your prettiest for the boys and will pack lots since it's hard to plan outfits, but I really do emphasize planning outfits, especially those that are sharing 3-4 people per room. The carry on size suitcases fit nicely underneath the bed so it keeps them out of the way, but unless you're in a suite, your room will be small. We had a balcony room and it was tight so the balcony was a welcome escape. The closet space was ample, but again, if you're rooming with 3-4 people in a room, it does get a little tight for space.

Coordinate with your roommates and take ONE hairdryer/straightener/curling iron between all of you. There is ONE outlet per cabin as well. There is one in the bathroom, but it is for a low voltage electric razor only. Actually, each cabin has 2 outlets, one American and one European. So, those coming from overseas, you don't need an adapter for your appliance.

There are self serve laundrettes on board. You can wash, dry, and iron clothes if needed. This helps in packing space as well. Expect to spend your sea days in a bathing suit and cover up. Dress for dinner (in the dining room) and one formal night. You can pack in one to two small bags and still get everything you need.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a Schick Intuition razor for the cruise. If you're in a room with a stand up shower only (suites have bathtubs), it makes it very hard to shave the legs. I have an Intuition and it is a miracle in those stand up showers because you don't have to worry about shaving cream. Another space saver in packing too. ;-)

Make sure you complete all your pre-registration paperwork on www.carnival.com before you get to the port. It makes checking in so much easier.

Carnival tells you that all you need to get back to the boat after a port of call is your Sail and Sign card. FALSE. You do need to take a picture ID off the boat as well. Local authorities will be checking your picture ID before you reach the gangway area where Carnival scans your S&S card. It is best to NOT take your passport off the ship though. Make sure you have another form of photo ID with you. A lost passport makes it harder to get back into the US at the end of the cruise. Yes, you don't need a passport, but if that is what you are using as proof of citizenship, you don't want to risk losing it. A driver's license alone will not prove citizenship back in Miami when you debark.

Carnival tells you you're allowed 1 liter of alcohol per person duty free. It's 2 per person. We had 4 and had no problems with customs. Just remember, if you're flying out of Miami, you can't carry this on the plane. It must be in your checked luggage. We drove to Jacksonville so we didn't have an issue with the flight. It's just something to remember. Bottles of alcohol are going to weigh down the suitcase and they run the risk of breaking in-flight.

Cigarettes are super cheap on the ship. 5 cartons for $100. Now, here's the catch, you're only allowed 1 carton per person through Customs. Buy them the first night on the ship and if you can, mail them to yourself when you dock in Key West. Don't mail them from Mexico. If you mail US to US address, it's not a red flag for the mail to be inspected. Or, you can just take your chances and hide extra cartons in your luggage.

Carnival says you're allowed a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages during initial embarkation. I saw people bringing on cases of water and soda. I don't recommend trying this though. I know Miami Port is a little tighter than Jacksonville (where I sailed from) so don't push your luck. I brought on the allowed 2 bottles of wine (1 per person over 21) and they never questioned it even though my bag was exrayed. Again, if you dare, try to put something else in your bag if you feel you want to.

On board liquor purchases are stored until the last day of your cruise. However, anything purchased from 4pm and on on the last day of sailing, you can take with you right away. Jonesing for some Patron shots but don't want to spend a fortune at the bar and want to spend the last night with a bang? Buy a bottle for $30 bucks at 4pm and spend the last night in style!

For those setting up their S&S card with a debit bank card, keep an eye on your spending with that debit card to make sure you don't overdraw yourself before the final S&S charges are taken out of your account. This didn't happen to us, but it's worth mentioning for those using a debit card attached to their checking account.

Unlimited soda is $6 per day and can be activated at any bar or restaurant on the ship. It is not good for room service soda. Room service food is free 24x7 as well.

Bring a hoodie/light jacket/pashmina on board. It can get chilly at night since you're on a moving ship.

I saw something mentioned somewhere about bringing a power strip since there is only one outlet. They might not allow it on board. There's one outlet for a reason (suites do have more than one though). You can't overload the circuits.

Remember this might not all apply to us, but there are some helpful tips to keep in mind! :)

Cruise Article

Hello everybody! :)

I added a link to the Cruise Map on the left side for easy convenience. :) Don't forget to add yourself, if you haven't already!!

@amycishere sent me a link to an article about the cruise. Some noteworthy points were that the cruisers "will be treated to special full performances by the group, Q&A sessions, game show activities, photo sessions with the guys and much more". The only thing not mentioned by Rose Tours is game show activities, so it'll be interesting to see if that is accurate or not! :)

Hope you didn't get fooled by too many jokes today! ;)

Updates

Hello everybody! :) I have a few updates for everybody:

@laura1247's sister received an email from Jeannie re waitlist. She confirmed the waitlist starts at approx 2400 (Yay!).

Somebody also asked about cameras at the Backstreet Boys events, and this is what Jeannie at Rose Tours had to say:

Yes, you can take cameras for still, NO video.
It doesn't matter what time of camera you bring on board.

Sofia also emailed me some info for first timers from Kim who went on the nKoTb cruise:

I'll try to help anyway I can :)

Your trip is in December & ours are in May so I don't know what the weather will be like for you. I'd imagine beautiful lol For us it was warm but not hot hot. Night time was a little cooler-one night I had a sweater on.

What to pack is the million $ question lol I'm assuming you're also going to have "theme" nights. What stinks is Rose Tours only releases what they are 1 month prior to the cruise :( Last year we had PJ night-Dress to Impress- & Wear All White Night You can participate if you choose to-you don't have to do anything you don't want. As you can imagine it got interesting lol PJ went from PG to XXR in seconds! Some woman pretty much wore nothing! Dress to impress was nice-I just wore a nice skirt and top-some girls had gowns on! White Night was hard, try finding a white dress lol

Most of the time girls wore bathing suits and cover ups during the day. And your hair will be all over the place haha There's a breeze the whole time.

The Sail and Sign card is very easy and dangerous lol When you check in you will give your credit card. Then they give you your room key which is your lifeline. You use this to buy anything and everything. If you want a drink-you give them the card-candy give the card and so on.

Soda/pop is not free. They have a special price where you can get so much for a certain price-me? I put it in my suitcase lol

You are on a different ship but I was told that they are kinda the same.
There's only 1 outlet in the room-so bring a power strip
There's no blow dryers in the room [This is actually different for us--we do have hair dryers in the room!]
The rooms are small!
The bathroom is smaller lol
There's a very small safe
The phone in your room only calls other rooms
Cell phone won't work & if yours does it will cost! No lie-$20 a minute

The meet & greet! What everyone waits for!! Well it's very strict. You will not be able to bring anything with you..no phone..purse..camera..nothing. You will be in groups of 10--it'll last 3 seconds and you move on :( With 2000+ ppl they have to keep moving

You will be split up in group A or B..so when group A is attending a BSB event-group B will have free time The whole boat doesn't go to the same event at one time There will be 2 of everything [This is actually different for us--as confirmed by @ThatsWhatLiSaid in a email from Jeannie:

The detailed itinerary has not yet been confirmed.
The Backstreet Boys events in the showroom will not be split into groups.
The NKOTB had to perform everything 2 times in the showroom because it was a
full ship charter.
The Backstreet Boys is a partial ship charter.]

I suggest you don't try to "follow" the guys..you'll drive yourself nuts and you'll miss out on what the ship offers. We all did that last year-we watched for the NKOTB the whole time..this year I'm enjoying myself.

We all decorated our cabin doors! Made them like how our lockers looked in high school.

Have a great time :) You will love it!

I.M. over at the fan club forum suggested having a map like Frappr for everyone to sign in and place yourself on. I couldn't get Frappr to work, but I did find a similar map. It's located here. So, go place yourself on the map, and I'll figure out how to get it posted on the blog! :)

Oh, and if you hadn't already noticed, there is a countdown timer on the right side now, as suggested by @ThatsWhatLiSaid. :) Enjoy!

EDIT: I also received an email from Jeannie about Rose's question, "When we all booked, it mentioned everyone who booked before the 31st (which since it sold out, is all of us LOL) got entered into a drawing to get front row seats to a BSB event. When will we find out who won that?". Jeannie said, "Probably not until it gets closer but it has not yet been determined."

Hope this is helpful! :) Let me know if you have any more suggestions or questions!