I'm back from a week's cruise to a little island in The Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.  The only cruise I had been on before was about 25 years ago and I didn't love it.  The destinations were great (same area, but including Grenada and Curacao), but the food and ship were nothing special.  This time was different -- we got a great deal on the trip, and Royal Caribbean's ship "Freedom of the Seas" ROCKED, as did the food and the bevy of things to do.  I went with some really fun friends who all enjoy a casino, too -- unfortunately, we came home a bit lighter in the wallet that way.  My friend Nicole loves craps as much as I do, and she is convinced there was something funky with the dice or the table on the boat.  It really didn't seem right that NOBODY seemed to be winning at craps every night we were there.  It was so bad we had to quit playing our favorite game two nights in.  I did hit a jackpot on video poker, though.  Pretty fun to be screaming with a friend in a casino on a big boat at 2am!!:)  There was top-notch entertainment with incredible musicians, wonderful food, three pools, a spa, beautiful gym, shopping -- literally something for everyone.  If you're interested in cruising, there are some terrific deals right now and my old friend Arthur Fessenden (remember the County Cork Pub in Buckhead? There were many great St. Patty's parties with those folks!  Arthur's family owned the pub) really set us up!  He is a travel agent that exclusively books cruises, so check his agency, The Art of Cruising, out at www.artofcruising.com.  

I was gone so long it was great to get home yesterday -- just in time to see The Falcons lose!  Bummer!