2018 Nova Scotia Ministry Cruise

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1 2018 Nova Scotia Ministry Cruise Frequently Asked Questions How do I register? You may go online and register at or secure a registration form from Kermit Tandberg or Michael T. Smith. You then may simply pay with credit card online OR make your check out to Cross Key Productions, and mail to Amistad Avenue, Prosper, TX and you re registered! Registration is not complete until a deposit has been made. What are the highlights of this trip? One of the huge highlights of this trip is the ship itself! Royal Caribbean s new Quantum Class Anthem of the Seas will be our ship. Its spectacular dining venues and gorgeous accommodations are sure to make for smooth sailing! But one of the unique features is that there are many ports of call as we sail up the coastline more variety and scenery ever on a New England cruise! Here are the highlights: New York City: Arriving the day before we sail, you will have the opportunity for an evening in New York, and the option to book a Broadway Show, or visit the One World Observatory at the World Trade Center Memorial Site, or simply soak up Times Square. Boston, Massachusetts: Being in New England in the month of October will be the absolute perfect time to view the stunning fall foliage. You can book a shore excursion to such historic and scenic sights as Walden Pond, Lisa May Alcott s home, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery with its Poet s Corner, Paul Revere s home, Christ Church, Harvard and much more! Portland, Maine: Maine s largest seaport, full of cobblestone lanes and a photogenic harbor, is our first Maine destination. With its fishing wharves and market as well as the converted warehouses of restaurants and shops it s a great place to visit! Bar Harbor, Maine: Home to part of the Acadia National Park and the highest point on the East Coast of the United States, Bar Harbor is the place for what else Maine Lobster! French explorer, Champlain, ran aground here, and the history continues. The birthplace of Nelson Rockefeller, the town became the rival to Newport, RI during the Gilded Age, home of the Astors, J.P. Morgan and the center of shipbuilding in the United States for many years.

2 Saint John, New Brunswick: As the largest city in New Brunswick, Saint John was the first incorporated city in all of Canada. There follows a long line of firsts for Canada, as found in the New Brunswick Museum. Two coastal mountain ranges and two rivers converge here at the mouth of the Saint John River, and actually create a reversing falls where the rapids are reversed a stunning and memorable port of call! Halifax, Nova Scotia: As the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax is known as a global city and economic center in Nova Scotia, with huge history and amazing industry. The first European settlement in Canada, it is home to the oldest lighthouse in North America, built in The stunning views, the postcard lighthouses and coastline are a sight that is simply unforgettable. Where will we sing? The North Texas Singers will sing in various venues, usually in the larger venues on board, including the MUSIC HALL venue with crowds of folks. We will sing several concerts on board the ship itself, and then as opportunities arise in a port of call. What will the singers be singing? We will be doing a variety of exciting music in our concerts, including hymns, gospel songs, songs of praise, spirituals, and some Broadway and Patriotic music to help open doors of ministry when we sing. All those details, music and CD s will all be provided to you. What will the non-singers do? If you are not a part of the singing group presenting the concert, you will be most importantly a prayer partner, a facilitator of ministry, and a support for the performers. From experience, we have found that in many cases, those sitting nearby listening are able to meet people in the audience, connect with them and open doors that the singers could not. While the singers are rehearsing, spouses, family members or friends who are not a part of that will have free time options available. We often have many who travel with us who are not singers but great supporters and encouragers! Can I reserve a specific location on the ship? When you register with your deposit and select the stateroom category you want, that category is reserved for you. You are then guaranteed your room category choice. If you desire an Ocean Front Balcony room, select Balcony Ocean Front and you will have a room reserved in that category. We will do our best to give you your preference of locations. Does it make any difference if I register sooner, rather than later? Absolutely! Stateroom selections are made on a first-come-first-served basis, so sooner is always better! AND there is an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT of $100 as well, if you pay your non-refundable $300 deposit by November 1.

3 What amenities are in my stateroom on the Anthem of the Seas? All staterooms come with refrigerator (mini-bar), satellite TV, safe, shower, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, 100% Egyptian Cotton Linens, hair dryer, daily housekeep service, evening bed turn down with chocolates and standard U.S. 110 volt AC plugs just like a deluxe hotel room. What about Accessible Rooms? Accessible rooms are available upon request. We will secure the best accessible room available at your time of booking. Please note that request on your registration form, or by phone call to Michael Smith at (940) Are all meals complimentary onboard the Anthem of the Seas? Yes. There are specialty restaurants as well that may require a small cover charge. Most people choose to have breakfast and lunch at their leisure at the huge complimentary buffet. We will be together for our evening meal in one of the grand dining rooms. You will also find many other delightful complimentary cafes and bistros on the Regal Princess. Room service is complimentary as well most times of the day. What about Beverage Packages? Ice water, tea and coffee are complimentary everywhere on the ship and at meal time. Specialty coffees, sodas, and bottled water are not. You will have the opportunity to purchase the beverage package of your choice, which will be a flat price for unlimited beverages during the cruise. You may purchase those on board. What is unique about the new ANTHEM OF THE SEAS? One of the newest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, the Anthem of the Seas made its debut in 2015, a sister ship to the acclaimed Quantum of the Seas. This class of ship represents a major evolution for cruise ships, with its beautiful staterooms (RCCL is known for the largest staterooms at sea) and a great balance between fun and refinement. You can learn more online, but suffice it to say that the Anthem of the Seas went outside of the box, compared to your usual cruise ship. In addition to the restaurant venues and cool entertainment, they have added Bumper Cars(for all ages!), the ifly Sky Diving Experience, and the huge crystal pod, that takes you out over the water for those who need more thrills! Junior Suites, Sky Loft Suites (two story suites with floor-to-ceiling glass windows) and firstever Interior Cabins with floor-to-ceiling screens (replicating an outdoor virtual balcony) are groundbreaking in the industry. Great decor, wonderful service, and cuisine, along with excellent entertainment venues make the Anthem of a Seas a very special, unforgettable experience! Can my family attend? What about children? With school in session, there will not be many children or teenagers on board. But, we encourage spouses and entire families to join us! Special family rates are available for families with children staying in the same rooms with parents. No children or teenagers under age 18 can attend without parents.

4 Can we book rooms with 3 or 4 adults? Due to the typical cruise staterooms on any ship, double occupancy is recommended - three or four adults gets very crowded in that small space. However, if you would like to make your stateroom a triple, that pricing will be secured for you separately. Although the price of a triple may be a little bit less, your cruise experience will probably be better with double occupancy, requesting connecting rooms. What about Gratuities? Instead of tipping waiters, servers, room service, cabin stewards and others, you are asked to pay about $13 per day per person at the end of your cruise for all your gratuities, including cabin attendant, wait service and other cruise personnel. What additional cash will I need for this trip? Your cruise cost includes your 9 day cruise (with all meals), your air fare from Dallas, one night at a 4 star hotel in New York (the night before the cruise departs), all 3 motor coach transfers from the airport to the hotel, hotel to terminal, and terminal back to the airport, and all porterage. In addition, all taxes and government fees are included. You will only need to cover your meals on days of departure and return, as well as any meals you have while off the ship. We recommend using credit card for everything if possible, and carry cash only for incidental tipping or incidental purchases. Will I need a credit card on the ship? You will need it only when you check in. At check-in, you will give them a credit card which they will verify and use as your account onboard the ship. Then you will be issued a Cruise Card to use for any purchases made on the ship. (This card is also your pass to disembark and board the ship at ports of call.) Since neither cash nor credit cards are accepted on the ship, you may choose to put your wallet, credit cards, cash, passport and valuables in the inroom safe while on the ship. NOTE: You may use your credit cards on shore for purchases. What identification documents do I need for the cruise? There are mixed answers to this question, since Canada only requires a driver s license for entry into Canada. However, since we are cruising to ports in Canada, a passport is required for any air travel return to the United States. If you had to fly home from Canada, you would be unable to do that unless you have a passport. For this reason, we require that all travelers have a passport. A Passport Card is not acceptable same reasons. Passports may take several months to secure and we suggest you apply for one immediately. You may inquire at your local post office or go online at and find out what is needed for you to get your passport. In addition you will need your driver s license or a government-issued photo I.D., so you can leave your passport in the ship safe, and use your photo I.D. for credit card purchases on shore, or for re-entry to the ship if asked. Can we book Shore Excursions? Yes. We plan to sing in an occasional port of call, and they will be public venues. Those brief concerts will be scheduled so as not to interfere with the wonderful shore excursions in this part of the world. Cross Key will take care of your cruise registration and documents, and once

5 your final balance is paid, you will be given access to your reservation, and can explore all the wonderful excursions available online. We are happy to help you book those excursions if you like. Tickets for any excursions you book will be delivered to your stateroom. Will we have reminders sent to us about deadlines and payments? Yes. In managing this trip, we will send you reminders by for deposit deadlines, insurance options, upcoming meetings, trip updates, final balance deadlines, passport reminders and more. We will also provide your ship stateroom tags, and manage the entire group, assuring safe and worry-free travel with your friends. Will we have meals together? For the evening meals, our group will be seated together in one of three magnificent dining rooms. We are scheduled for early dining. This is the time when we are all gathered together, you receive your daily summary schedule for the next day, and we have a great time of fellowship and fun! Will we have schedule and information in advance? Yes. In addition to being invited to an occasional group meeting, having several SEMINARS AT SEA options, you will receive a Cruise Booklet with detailed itinerary several months before the cruise. That booklet will include information about luggage, baggage fees, airline rules, and reminders as you prepare for your cruise. We will make sure you have everything you need for the perfect cruise! We will also have meeting rooms on board the ship where we can gather for fellowship, relaying information and just touching base during the week. Will I need Travel Insurance? Yes, you will. We ask that you make sure you have insurance to cover any potential surprises, to reimburse you if you have to cancel for medical reasons, and to cover any medical emergency while on the trip. There is a medical clinic on board the ship, and in every port. Where should I purchase Travel Insurance? If you want the Pre-existing Medical Conditions clause, you are required to purchase within 14 days of registering with your first deposit. Cross Key Productions has secured a special rate for a GOLD POLICY with TRAVEL GUARD, one of the best in the industry. Once registered you will be sent the information for the GROUP PLAN, which covers Pre-existing conditions, canceling for work reasons, and the best reimbursement figures available. You will have the option of securing the discounted group policy rate, or securing your own separately. You also have the OPTION TO PURCHASE WITH DEPOSIT simply click on the chart listed online here, secure your age and cost specifics, and include when making your deposit. This option will save you any credit convenience fees if paid later, since your first payment has no fees. What kinds of clothes are appropriate for the trip? You should take comfortable, casual clothing, as you would for any cruise. Temperatures in Boston will range from mid-forties at night to upper 60 s during the day. Nova Scotia will range from low-forties to mid-60 s at this time of year. It is always good to take a light jacket. There will also be Formal Nights, when you will want to dress up a bit more.

6 How Does the BROOKLYN TABERNACLE Extension work? There is an option to extend your trip one extra day, spend the night in New York City, and attend Brooklyn Tabernacle Worship Service on Sunday morning, September 30. You can indicate your interest now, or you will be asked later, and we will base the final cost on room occupancy, change in air fare and transfers needed, depending on the amount of people wanting to extend the extra day. You will be notified of the cost and given the chance to signup. Can I fly from another airport besides DFW? Your cost includes roundtrip air fare from DFW airport to New York City. If you are flying from another part of the country, then we will simply route you from your nearest airport. In most cases, there is no difference in cost, but would have to be determined when you register. Will we have a Travel Agent/Tour Manager with us? Yes. Managing our trip will be Michael T. Smith. Michael was a Minister of Music/Worship Pastor for 40 years in various churches around the country, and during those years was passionate about taking church music out of the four walls of the church building to use it in ministry. With over 100 trips and tours under his belt, and having been a travel agent for 20 of those years, he is semi-retired and focusing on bringing extraordinary ministry to choirs and church groups around the country. He will handle all the travel details and arrangements, which will free up Kermit Tandberg, the musical director of the group, to lead and provide some fantastic ministry through the music. A great combination of music and ministry we call it a Vacation with a Mission! For further questions or more specific information, please contact: Michael T. Smith Cross Key Productions & K & E Travel Amistad Avenue Prosper, Texas Michael Smith: WEBSITE: crosskeypro@gmail.com PHONE: (940) Kermit Tandberg: KTandberg@fbclewisville.org PHONE: (940)