Family Fun at Sea

Creating a family vacation that your whole gang will love can sometimes be nothing short of a challenge – but that doesn’t mean it has to put a drain on you or your wallet.

By cruising, family fun can be found almost anywhere. The possibilities for you to get away from it all, relax and kick back while having a great time are endless. Cruise ships venture to nearly every corner of the globe, from the sun-drenched islands of the South Pacific to the snowy alpine scenery of Alaska and pretty much everywhere in between.

Offering everything from the comfort of cozy cabins and the excitement of bustling deck areas, to all-day buffets, nightly sweets, talent shows, and special programs for the kids, cruise vacations are voyages filled with a boatload of fun and a world of possibilities. From sunrise to sunset and beyond, you will find unique activities tailored to suit just about any cruiser.

Gone are the days of shuffleboard. Now you have your pick of swimming pools, spiraling waterslides, sports decks, scavenger hunts and much more. Oh, and the ports of call you can visit are pretty cool too!

Family Time Well Spent

Just like your family, cruising is always changing and evolving, introducing new out-of-this-world ships, along with new innovative amenities catering to familes of all sizes and ages. If you’re planning a family cruise for the very first time, or if you are a returning cruiser, you couldn’t have chosen a better time to set sail as there are oodles of new ships with great itineraries and amenities to experience.

No matter how old your kids are, the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line are prime for families – and the line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, is certainly no exception. The latest expression of NCL’s ever-popular and relaxed “freestyle cruising” atmosphere, the Norwegian Breakaway’s design will offer the best of the line’s current fleet while infusing a variety of new innovations to create the best vacation ever.

On board you’ll find NCL’s largest kids club to date for ages 3-12; and teens will look forward to getting out of bed and heading to Entourage where they can hang with their peers. Even the under two crowd can enjoy special playtime with their parents in a dedicated area.

To keep the kids active, the on board Sports Complex will challenge cruisers to a game of mini golf or to climb the largest ropes course at sea. There’s even a basketball court and an enclosed climbing cage here too. Of course no family-friendly ship is complete without a pool, or two! The Aqua Park offers five multi-story waterslides (no other ship offers that). Add two swimming pools, four hot tubs and water features and you’ve got more ways to have fun than ever. For the younger crowd, the Kids Aqua Park features squirting  Nickelodeon figures and a perfectly sized pool.

Start your planning now as the stunning Norwegian Breakaway will set sail in the Summer of 2013 from New York to the pink-sand beaches of Bermuda, and in the winter to the warm tropics of the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Florida.

Adventures with Carol – Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches

Have you ever dreamed of exploring culturally rich city of Paris? Seeing the romantic French countryside? Visiting the historic sights along the beaches of Normandy? You can do all of this and more when you go with Carol on her next adventure.

Who is Carol and why you should go on her adventure?

Carol is a regional manager with Boscov’s Travel and is based in our Neshaminy office. She has been in the travel business for 35 years and has escorted groups of 20 travelers-389 travelers to Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, the Caribbean. Many travelers in these groups have returned to go on more adventures with Carol. Her goal is always to make everyone feel excited about their journey and is always accessible  through out the trip. If you are looking for fun and excitement, an adventure with Carol is the way to go!

 Where is Carol’s next adventure heading?

Carol is off to France! More specifically, she is going on a Paris and Normandy river cruise. She chose this adventure for very special reasons. This cruise will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landing and also, the 100th anniversary of WWI. Not a history buff? That’s alright, this cruise is also a culinary cruise offering wine tastings and special cooking presentations. Carol likes adventures that offer something for everybody.

This trip includes an overnight stay and half day guided excursion to the magnificent Palace of Versailles  in Paris before boarding your ship: the Avalon Creativity for your 7-night cruise. The Creativity offers unmatched service; first-class amenities such as Wi-Fi access, fitness center, hair salon and a whirlpool on the Sky Deck; and staterooms that are 15% larger than the industry standard. Each stateroom has floor-to-ceiling windows to give you a panoramic view of the French countryside as you cruise along.

Viking River Cruises – Viennesse Hot Chocolate

This recipe, courtesy of Viking River Cruises, comes to us from Reiner Marks, who prepared this drink aboard Viking River Cruises ships in Europe many times. Reiner has fond memories of how much our guests enjoyed the drink, which he says “tastes delicious.” Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Seven ounces premium dark chocolate, grated
Three cups of low-fat milk
One tablespoon granulated sugar
One cup heavy cream, chilled
One-half teaspoon vanilla paste (or vanilla extract, organic if possible)
One tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
Cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for garnish

Directions:
Gently heat one cup milk with the grated chocolate. Simmer in a saucepan over low heat until all chocolate has dissolved. Combine the remaining milk and the granulated sugar in another saucepan and whisk until all sugar has dissolved. Gently heat while stirring. Add the chocolate mix to the sugared milk and continue simmering over low heat. Whisk heavy cream and vanilla together on high speed and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar until peaks form. Remove hot chocolate from heat and divide into cups. Place a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of each. Garnish with a pinch of cocoa powder or sprinkle with chocolate shavings and serve.

Makes 4-6 servings, depending on mug size.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Breakaway on the Breakaway

Last year I shared some impressive details about Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest and most incredible ship. She sets sail on May 12, 2013 from New York City and we couldn’t be more excited!

NCL has been slowly releasing more information on this massive, floating fun zone. In addition to The Waterfront, 678 Ocean Place, Breakaway Casino, The Manhattan Room; there is much more included for its lucky passengers.

My favorite thing about traveling has always been the food, so let’s start with all of the great on-board restaurant choices. Besides the six different complimentary dining options on the Breakaway, including O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, there are also eight different specialty restaurants from a range of cuisine choices.

• Ocean Blue – NCL’s first-ever fine-dining seafood experience brought to you by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian.
• Le Bistro French Restaurant – NCL’s signature French restaurant with new Atrium Al Fresco seating options.
• Cagney’s Steakhouse – NCL’s classic, signature steakhouse perched high atop The Manhattan Room.
• Teppanyaki – A guest favorite, Teppanyaki is an exciting hibachi-style dinner and show.
• Moderna Churrascaria – The first Brazilian-style steakhouse at sea, Moderna Churrascaria offers beautiful indoor and outdoor seating options to complement their mouth-watering menu options.
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar – The largest noodle bar at sea is the answer to your cravings for a taste of the Orient.
• La Cucina Italian Restaurant – This colorful piazza-style trattoria offers family style Italian dining on The Waterfront.
• Wasabi Sushi Bar – Sushi, sashimi and more, artfully presented and prepared as you watch.

In addition to all of the great options already mentioned, the Breakaway went a step further and added some extra tasty treats to their menu. Setting sail for the first time in May is Carlo’s Bake Shop, the famous bakery from TV’s “The Cake Boss”. And if you are looking for a way to cool down while indulging your sweet tooth, check out Dolce Gelato; a true mouth-pleaser.

Believe it or not, Breakaway’s dining options aren’t the only headliners aboard; the entertainment options are out of this world!

Cruise Show Spectacular 2013!

For the past four years, we have had the pleasure of hosting the biggest cruise show of the year in select Pennsylvania cities and, this year, we are back and bigger than ever with Cruise Show Spectacular!

Attending Cruise Show Spectacular is a great way to find out what’s new in the cruise industry, save big with great special offers and register to win fun door prizes. Our Cruise Line Representatives and Boscov’s Travel Specialists will be available to answer questions, so this is the perfect opportunity to start planning your dream cruise.

Check out our participating cruise lines:

• Avalon Waterways
• Celebrity Cruises
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International
• Viking River Cruises

Find your nearest Cruise Show Spectacular below! For a sneak preview, click here.

Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crowne Plaza Hotel
Reading, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Crowne Plaza is located just a few blocks from the Berkshire Mall at 1741 Papermill Road in Reading. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Reading Mall to reserve your seats. Call 610-779-8640 or email us
bostraveast@boscovs.com.

Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey
Harrisburg, PA
1:00pm-4:00pm
Registration begins at 12:30pm

The Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey is located at 4650 Lindle Road in Harrisburg. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Colonial Park Mall to reserve your seats. Call 717-540-4222 or email us bostravcolonialprk@boscovs.com.

Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Sheraton Bucks County
Langhorne, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Sheraton Bucks County is located at 400 Oxford Valley Road in Langhorne. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at the Neshaminy Mall to reserve your seats. Call 215-355-3737 or email us bostravneshaminy@boscovs.com.

Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Ramada Inn
Wilkes-Barre, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Ramada Inn is located at 20 public Square in Wilkes-Barre. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at 15 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre to reserve your seats. Call 570-823-4141 or email us bostravwilkesbarre@boscovs.com.

Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Estonia adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express
Easton, PA
12:00pm-3:30pm
Registration begins at 11:30am

The Holiday Inn Express is located at 90 Kunkle Drive in Easton. Please contact Boscov’s Travel at Palmer Park Mall to reserve your seats. Call 610-250-2772 or email us bostraveaston@boscovs.com.

Viking River Cruises – Potstickers with Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce

Potstickers

Potstickers, or Chinese dumplings, consist of a meat or vegetable filling in a thin dough wrapper and can be steamed, boiled or fried. They are a traditional treat served during the Chinese New Year when families gather and make them together. You can double or triple the recipe below and freeze uncooked potstickers until ready to prepare and serve. Just one of the many treats you can enjoy on one of Viking River Cruises’ China itineraries.

Ingredients:

Filling:
One-half pound ground pork or ground turkey
Two green onions, minced
Two tablespoons minced bamboo shoots
One teaspoon minced ginger
One tablespoon cornstarch
Two teaspoons soy sauce
One-eighth teaspoon white pepper

Twenty-two round potsticker wrappers
Two tablespoons vegetable oil
Two-thirds cup water
One-third cup spicy soy dipping sauce

Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce:
Six tablespoons soy sauce
One-quarter cup Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
Two tablespoons sesame oil
Two teaspoons chili garlic sauce

Directions:

Combine all filling ingredients; mix well. Put one tablespoon of filling in the center of a potsticker wrapper. Brush edges of wrapper with water, fold in half and press edges to seal. Place potsticker on work surface and press lightly to form a flat bottom. Repeat for all 22 potstickers.

Heat nonstick frying pan to medium high and add one tablespoon of oil; swirl around to coat bottom. Add half the potstickers seam side up and cook until the bottoms are golden brown (about 3 minutes). Add one-third cup of water, cover and reduce heat; cook until water is absorbed (about 3 minutes) and remove from pan. Repeat with remaining potstickers. Serve with dipping sauce.

Makes 22 potstickers.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Viking River Cruises – Easy Apple Strudel

Making strudel dough from scratch is notoriously difficult and time-consuming. Here, Viking River Cruises has simplified this recipe using widely available frozen puff pastry dough so you can create a similar treat easily in your own kitchen. Strudels are a well-known central and eastern European treat; enjoy them on our Rhine and Danube cruises.

Ingredients:

One sheet (half box) frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
One-half cup sugar
One-quarter cup finely chopped walnuts
Five tablespoons raisins
One-half teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
One teaspoon cinnamon
Two or three Pippin or Granny Smith apples (approximately three cups chopped)
One tablespoon toasted plain dry bread crumbs
Two tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a very lightly floured, plain-weave kitchen towel, lay out puff pastry dough. Lightly flour top and gently roll out to a thin rectangle about 14″ x 17″, sealing any tears in the dough. Dough will be quite thin; do not over-handle. Set aside, keeping dough on towel.

Peel, core and chop apples into small chunks. Toss with sugar, walnuts, raisins, lemon peel and cinnamon.

Lightly brush dough with one-quarter of the melted butter. Sprinkle with dry bread crumbs. Add apple mixture in the center of dough, leaving a 1″ margin around the filling. Fold in 1″ along three sides of the dough, leaving one long side unfolded. Moisten all folded edges and remaining flat dough edge lightly with water. Using the towel to assist you, roll the dough toward the unfolded edge, enclosing the filling. Press gently but firmly on bottom seam and sides to seal.

Using the towel as a sling, transfer strudel seam-side down to a cookie sheet; gently remove towel. Brush lightly with the remaining melted butter, and prick sparingly along the top with a fork. Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cut crosswise into 12 pieces and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a vanilla custard sauce.

Makes 12 servings.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Viking River Cruises – Apple Cranberry Tart

Here is one of the recipes Viking  River Cruises has collected while traveling through France—the almond paste, an ingredient often used in French baking, gives this delicious dessert a Continental flavor. Serve alone or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy many apple-based pastries on a Paris & the Heart of Normandy cruise through a region famous for its apple orchards.

Ingredients:

One unbaked, room-temperature 9-inch tart shell
One roll (about 7 ounces) almond paste
One cup fresh cranberries
Five medium-sized apples (preferably Macintosh), peeled and sliced to make approximately 5 cups
A quarter cup sugar
One teaspoon cinnamon
A half cup uncooked oats
A half cup all-purpose flour
A half cup brown sugar
Six tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold or frozen
A quarter cup sliced almonds
Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Flatten almond paste on a sheet of wax paper with a rolling pin, to form an 8-inch circle. Press almond circle into the bottom of the unbaked tart shell. In a bowl, combine cranberries, apples, sugar and a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Pour on top of almond circle, into tart shell. In a bowl, combine the remaining cinnamon, oats, flour and brown sugar. Cut butter into very small pieces and stir into cinnamon mixture until crumbs form. Spoon crumb mixture evenly over the top of the apple mixture. Bake 50–60 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced almonds during the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Makes 6 servings.

For more information on Viking River Cruises, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, call 800-755-8020 or email travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Nickelodeon at Sea Giveaway!

Boscov’s Travelers, get ready for this afternoon’s Mystery Photo Game!

We are giving away a Norwegian Cruise Line Nickelodeon at Sea swag bag to one lucky player per photo! The prize is perfect for kids with fun Spongebob and Dora-themed items inside a Boscov’s Travel reusable shopping bag.

Be sure to guess each photo because each guess will be entered into a drawing to win the goodies! One entry per person, per photo and your guess must be posted on this blog post or the Facebook post to qualify.

Winners must be a past Boscov’s Travel client with a valid phone number and email address on file. Prizes must be picked up at the Boscov’s Travel location of your choice.

Good Luck!

To make sure your contact information is up to date, please contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.

NCL Day 2012!

Boscov’s Travel is hosting NCL Day on Friday, October 26th. You’ll want to bring the whole family for a fun day at Boscov’s!

Boscov’s Travel East, Reading Mall
4500 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, PA

2:00pm – 5:30pm
Kids’ prizes
Crafts and coloring
Face Painting

3:00pm – 5:00pm
Join us for a live remote broadcast with Jo Painter of WEEU and the Boscov’s Travel staff. Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships, Freestyle Cruising and more!

2:00pm
The Chick-fil-A Cow will stop by to say “Moo” to all our friends!

3:00pm
Our favorite silly local mascot, Slapshot of the Reading Royals, will be available for pictures!

4:00pm
The Red Robin Bird will fly in for a special appearance!

We can’t wait to see you all!