Thinking of setting out for the islands for your dream wedding? Here are some important things to keep in mind while you plan your paradise nuptials.

As of January 8, 2007 passports are required for every island! We also recommend that you check the operating hours of any government office that you need to register with. Although the island governments set the minimum time required to be on the island before you can marry, many hotels require that you arrive earlier, so be sure and check your hotel’s requirements as well.

ANGUILLA – Cost is $284 and there is a waiting period of two days. Proof of citizenship of resident country, and if divorced -the original divorce decree, are required.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA – Cost is $240 ($40 registration fee, $150 marriage license fee, and $50 marriage officer fee) and there is no waiting period. Proof of citizenship of resident country, and if divorced -the original divorce decree, are required. Couples must visit the Ministry of Legal Affairs in downtown St. Johns.

ARUBA – Civil marriages are now legal in Aruba. For a religious service, you must first be legally married. There is no waiting period and no fee.

BAHAMAS – Will cost $40. Couple must first be a resident for one day. Licenses are issued by the Office of the Registrar General in . Proof of citizenship and any existing divorce decree.

BERMUDA – Cost is $220. There is no waiting period but all persons wishing to marry in Bermuda must have their Notice of Intended Marriage published in the Bermuda newspaper by the Registrar General.

BARBADOS – Will cost you $75.00 and $12.50 Barbados postage stamps. You must have a passport or original/certified copies of birth certificate, proof of divorce or death certificate. Any document that is not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. You must apply in person to the Ministry of Home Affairs and be older than 16 years of age.

BONAIRE – Couples must write letter to the Registry Office on Bonaire notifying them of the wedding intentions and requesting permission 3 months in advance. One of the couple must be a temporary resident of Bonaire for at least 7 days prior to the wedding. Must be able to prove citizenship and eligibility for marriage.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – Will cost you $110 in BVI postage stamps and you must wait three days. You must have a passport or birth certificate and photo ID, proof of divorce or death certificate. All documents should be originals or certified as true copies. Two witnesses must be present. Apply for the license at the Attorney General’s office in Tortola upon arrival.

CAYMAN ISLANDS – Must obtain a non-resident marriage license for a fee of $200. You can get applications at the Chief Secretary’s Office in Georgetown. You must also obtain a letter from the Marriage Officer who will officiate the ceremony. There is no minimum stay. Proof of citizenship, age, and marriage status are required. You must be 18 and have two witnesses.

CURACAO – Will cost you $167 and the waiting period is three days. You will need written registration two months prior to wedding; passport and birth certificate; return air ticket; proof of divorce or death certificate; and proof both parties are eligible for marriage.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Cost is $20. First, you must write to the American Consulate in Santo Domingo requesting permission to marry. You will also need two witnesses, passports and birth certificate, proof of divorce or death certificate, notarized letter from an attorney and be legalized by the respective embassy stating that each person is single. You must be 18 years old and all documents must be translated into Spanish.

FRENCH WEST INDIES – Will cost nothing. One person must be a resident for at least 30 days. You will need birth certificates, certificate of good conduct, certificate of being single, medical certificate issued within three months of the event, and a blood test. You must have a French translation of all documents.

GRENADA – Cost is $15 and there is a waiting period of three days. Proof of citizenship of resident country, and if divorced – the original divorce decree, are required.

JAMAICA – Most weddings in Jamaica are done through wedding packages at participating hotels. Couples must apply for a license and arrive in Jamaica 24 hours prior to the ceremony. You must have a valid birth certificate and proof of marriage status is applicable.

PUERTO RICO – Cost is a $2 stamp fee for a certified copy of license and a $20 fee to process all certificates. You will need photo ID, two witnesses over 21, proof of divorce or death certificate, documented parental consent if under 21, a health certificate from a resident practitioner in Puerto Rico, and a VDRL test conducted by a doctor in Puerto Rico no more than 10 days prior to wedding.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS – Will cost you about $20 if you are resident for more than 15 days and $80 if you are a resident for the minimum time of 2 days. If you are requesting that a minister marry you, you must have a letter from a minister at home stating you are not married. You will also need any change of name documents, proof of divorce or death certificate, a birth certificate or passport.

ST. LUCIA – Will cost you about $198. You will have to wait two days for residency and two days for the license. You will also need any change of name documents, proof of divorce or death certificate, a birth certificate or passport. You can apply through any local lawyer or attorney to the Attorney General for the marriage license.

ST. MAARTEN – Will cost $300. It takes 10 days to register at the Office of Civil Registry, and then a three day waiting period. A written request must be mailed two months prior. Bring a passport, birth certificate, and airline tickets; names, dates, and birthplaces of bride and groom’s parents on birth certificates; parent’s place of residence must be submitted to the Office of Civil Registry. All documents must be notarized. Your nonresident witness must request a temporary tourist permit.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – Will cost you $99 for the application. You must wait three days. A birth certificate and divorce certificate (if applicable) are mandatory. Must obtain a Governor General License from the Minister of Justice.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Will cost you $55 in postage stamps. You must wait until three days after arrival. You will need a passport; airline tickets; proof of divorce or death certificate; deed poll or other proof of name change.

TURKS AND CAICOS – Will cost you $55 in postage stamps. You must wait 24 hours to apply and then 2-3 days to marry. You will need a passport; proof of divorce or death certificate; deed poll or other proof of name change. Most churches require proof of membership.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS – Will cost $50, plus a $200 fee to be married in the court by a judge. Payments must be made with a money order or cashier’s check. The waiting period is eight days from notarized application. First, a letter must be written to the territorial court of the USVI in St. Thomas or St. Croix requesting the marriage license. You will also need proof of divorce and a set appointment to be married by a judge.

October 20th – November 4th 2012

Cruise on board the luxurious Mariners of the Seas and enjoy Christian entertainment including music, lectures, bible actors, and magnificant shore excursions. This cruise sets sale in Rome and will visit historic and inspiring Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jordan River, Galillee, Athens, Corinth, and Ephessos. Plus, enjoy 2 nights in Rome and visit the Collosseum, Mamertina, the Forum, and the Vatican Museums. This is the experience of a lifetime 17 days tour which includes airfare from New York to Rome.

Itinerary

Saturday October 20th – Civitavecchia – Italy
Sunday October 21st – At Sea
Monday October 22nd – At Sea
Tuesday October 23rd – Alexandria – Egypt
Wednesday October 24th – Alexandria – Egypt
Thursday October 25th – Ashdod – Israel
Friday October 26th – Ashdod – Israel
Saturday October 27th – Haifa – Israel
Sunday October 28th – At Sea
Monday October 29th – Kusadasi – Turkey
Tuesday October 30th – Piraeus – Greece
Wednesday October 31st – Souda – Crete
Thursday November 1st – At Sea
Friday November 2nd – Civitavecchia – Italy. Rome
Saturday November 3rd – Rome
Sunday November 4th – Rome

Pricing

Tour packages for the Lands of the Bible Cruise begin at $2,990.

January 13-20, 2013
& January 20-27, 2013

Now celebrating its 10th Anniversary, The Smooth Jazz Cruise,is the premiere cruise program for this genre. With more artists, more musicians, more events and parties than any other music cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise richly deserves the title “The Greatest Party at Sea!”

All past sailings of the cruise have been sell outs, so do not hesitate to book either Week 1 or Week 2. We look forward to seeing you on The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013!

• George Benson
• David Sanborn
• Marcus Miller
• Candy Dulfer
• Brian Culbertson
• Jonathan Butler
• Alonzo Bodden
• Rick Braun
• Richard Elliot
• Ken Ford
• Jeff Golub
• Bob James
• Brian Simpson
• Angie Stone
• Steve Cole
• Paul Taylor
• Larry Braggs
• Raul Midón
• Judith Hill
• DW3
• And Many more…

Itinerary

Jan 13/Jan 20 – Depart Ft. Lauderdale
Jan 14/Jan 21 – Fun Day At Sea!
Jan 15/Jan 22 – Cozumel, Mexico
Jan 16/Jan 23 – Cozumel, Mexico
Jan 17/Jan 24 – Belize City, Belize
Jan 18/Jan 25 – Fun Day At Sea!
Jan 19/Jan 26 – Key West, Florida
Jan 20/Jan 27 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Pricing

Tour packages for Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013 begin at $1,875

December 07 – December 15, 2012

Welcome to Collette’s holiday program featuring the traditional Christmas markets and historic towns of Central Europe. On this journey you will have time to sip mulled wine and shop for handicrafts in some of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in Europe. This 9 Day tour includes 7 Breakfasts and 4 Dinners as you visit wonder producing locations in Munich, Innsbruck, Wurzburg, Nuremberg, Black Forest, and Strasbourg.

Visit Collette Vacations for even more details.

Itinerary

Friday, December 07 – Overnight Flight
Saturday, December 08 – Oberammergau, Germany
Sunday, December 09 – Innsbruck, Austria
Monday, December 10 – Wurzburg – Franconia
Wednesday, December 12 – Nuremberg – Rothenburg
Thursday, December 13 – Franconia – Black Forest
Friday, December 14 – Black Forest – Strasbourg, France
Saturday, December 15 – Black Forest – Tour Ends

Pricing

Tour packages for Classic Christmas Markets begin at $2799.00

OCTOBER 1-6, 2012

Concerts Cruise in Association with Bling1 Entertainment presents R. Kelly, on a 5-day Romantic “Love Letter Cruise”, from Miami to Grand Turks, Half Moon Cay and Nassau, Bahamas. An exciting time awaits you on Carnival Cruise Line “Destiny”, as R. Kelly presents a fabulous performance, never seen before at SEA. Enjoy delicious cuisines. Work up a sweat at the “Stepping Class”, Sign up for the “12 Play” Basketball Game. Pamper yourself with a massage, and select from more than 20 various games and activities on board, along with special guest artists. Don’t miss this exciting cruise with R. Kelly.

Itinerary

Monday, October 1, 2012 – Departs Miami, FL 4:00PM (ET)
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 – Fun Day At Sea
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 – Grand Turk 7:00AM 2:30PM
Thursday, October 4, 2012 – Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas 9:30AM 6:00PM
Friday, October 5, 2012 – Nassau, The Bahamas 7:00AM 5:00PM
Saturday, October 6, 2012 – Arrives in Miami, FL 8:00AM (ET)

Pricing

Tour packages for the Love Letter Cruise with R. Kelly begin at $699.00 per person.

We’re happy to announce that three artists have been added to the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, setting sail on October 27th. Joining the already extensive list of… well… legendary rhythm & blues artists are:

The Wired!

The Wired! Band features Washington Blues Society Performer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year Kevin Sutton with perennial Pacific Northwest rhythm kings Rick ‘the stick’ Jacobson on drums and his uncle Seattle legend Keith Bakke on bass. Get out and see the WIRED! Band for their sweet and soulful take on the American art form we call “THE BLUES”.
(Visit their website)

Samantha Fish

Just a few months ago, very few people outside Kansas City, Missouri knew there was a young, dynamic musician named Samantha Fish getting ready to take the world by storm. In fact, it’s not all that long ago that the 22-year-old singer/guitarist first discovered the blues and started paying her dues on that city’s local scene. With Runaway, her solo debut, she now breaks out big time, announcing herself as a newcomer to be reckoned with.
(Visit her website)

Matt Anderson

Matt began to build his name on the Canadian circuit, his imposing voice and slashing slide guitar making a monolithic impression on audiences. He debuted with 2002’s One Size Never Fits, and followed with the likewise-warmly received Solo at Session (2004) and Live at Liberty House (2005).
(Visit his website)

For a complete list of artists scheduled for the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and to learn about booking your reservations on this unique cruise, please visit Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.

One misconception about travel insurance is that it’s only necessary for travelers in ill health, those who pack expensive items in their suitcases or those who plan wildly expensive trips. With the recent Costa Condcordia incident, it’s’ important to recognize that travel insurance policies can bail us out of a multitude of quagmires. For example:

Trip interruption
You’re two days into a 10-night Mediterranean cruise, and you’re sitting by the pool when the captain comes over the public address system to share some unfortunate news with passengers. The ship has developed a serious mechanical problem, which will necessitate the cancelling of the entire voyage. You need to disembark the ship at the next port of call. While the cruise line will generally assist passengers in such predicaments, a travel insurance policy will give you ultimate coverage and will reimburse you for any unexpected out-of-pocket expenses (like a hotel stay while you wait for an available flight back home), that the cruise line won’t cover. Additionally, your insurer’s hotline may actually be able to get you home faster than the ship’s guest services department, which is busy trying to rebook 2,000-plus passengers.

Trip cancellation
You’re unexpectedly stricken with appendicitis a week before your cruise embarks. If you don’t have trip insurance and cancel your cruise now, you’ll be hit with an excessive cancellation penalty and may even lose out on the value of the trip altogether.

Trip delay/missed connection
You’re on the way to the airport when your taxi breaks down, and you end up missing your flight. Or you’re on the first leg of flights to the cruise port, and a mechanical delay means you’ll miss your connecting flight — and your ship. Travel insurance covers these sorts of trip delays and missed connections.

Baggage delay/loss
You make it to the Port of Miami on time, but the airline misdirected your luggage to Cleveland. Your formal attire — and all your other clothes and accessories — will literally miss the boat. Some policies include coverage to make sure your bag gets to the next port of call. Likewise, if the airline permanently misplaces your bag, trip insurance will help cover the loss.

Medical expenses
It can happen so fast. One minute you’re focusing your camera lens on the Parthenon and jockeying into the best position for the shot. The next minute you’ve stepped on a rock, slipped, fallen and broken your ankle. You require immediate medical treatment. The appropriate coverage will get you patched up right away without exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses. (Note: In many countries, you must pay a doctor or hospital upfront, but a travel insurance policy will reimburse you for those expenses in a timely manner.)

Financial default by a travel provider
No one wants to think about this, but in times of global financial upheaval, we all need to be cognizant of the financial health of our travel suppliers. (Case in point was the shuttering of Cruise West in late 2010.) Some insurance policies cover financial default of airlines, hotels, cruise lines and tour operators. (Hint: Many policies offered directly through cruise lines do not include financial default coverage. Check each policy carefully before purchasing.)

Emergency evacuation/repatriation
If you watch the news, you’ve probably seen video clips of helicopter evacuations from cruise ships in the middle of nowhere. This may be necessary in cases of health threats — like heart attacks or strokes — in which you require immediate care that goes beyond what’s available in your ship’s sickbay. If the next port of call is too far away, a medevac may be the only option to save your life or the life of a loved one. (Trip insurance may also cover the repatriation of remains if a death occurs during an insured vacation.)

Involuntary job loss
You and your best friend have been planning to cruise together for more than a year. Two months before embarkation, your friend loses his job and can no longer afford to go on vacation. Without insurance, you may be left holding the bag to either pay an additional single supplement to continue with your plans or cancel and get hit with the full force of the cruise line’s cancellation policy. (Not all policies offer job loss coverage; check the terms of your policy, and ask the insurer if it’s available as part of a package or add-on service.)

War or terrorism
Acts of violence from war, terrorist activity or strikes are generally included in insurance policies. However, like so many other aspects of insurance, there are caveats. It’s always advisable to carefully check your policy’s description of coverage to determine how these events are covered. For example, sometimes a policy will cover a traveler if an act of terrorism occurs in his/her hometown or trip destination within a certain number of days of embarkation — as few as seven or as far out as 30 days.

The ins and outs of purchasing travel insurance can be confusing at times. This post is part of a series of posts which cover everything you need to know to find the best policy for your next vacation, including:

• What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
• Does Everyone in the Group Need Insurance?
• What’s Not Covered?
• A la Carte Policy Additions
• Types of Travel Insurance
• Cruise-Line or Third-Party Insurance?
• When to Buy Insurance
• Real-World Examples

–by Andrea M. Rotondo, a New York City writer specializing in luxury cruise travel and romantic vacations She writes the Luxury Cruise Bible blog at www.luxurycruisebible.com.

For years, my approach to buying travel insurance was scattershot. I didn’t understand insurance lingo and hadn’t really given much thought to what aspect of insurance coverage was most important to my family. Then my husband and I experienced “Honolulu Hell.”

Upon checking into our hotel after a Hawaii cruise, taken to commemorate our 15th anniversary, the bellman put our luggage on a van back to the airport instead of taking it to our room. The bags were never located. We lost clothing, cameras, iPods, work-related documents and all the photos we’d taken during our seven-night cruise! Luckily, our trip insurance policy made us whole — monetarily, at least. We are, to this day, devastated about the loss of our vacation photos. (Because it was such a special vacation, we went all out and did things we’ll probably never have the chance to do again. We may not have the photos, but at least we have the memories.)

After that experience, I thought about the myriad things — personal illness, cancellation of plans by a travel companion, airline delays, lost baggage or a cruise line going out of business — that could go wrong on vacation. In the future, I vowed to purchase travel insurance policies that would best cover our interests.

Many travelers have the attitude that “it will never happen to us” and choose not to spend the extra money on insurance for the unlikely event something will go wrong. But I’m living proof that bad things can happen to good cruisers. I’ve seen why it’s important to safeguard yourself and your cruise investment by purchasing travel insurance. After all, can any of us afford to throw away the investment we make each time we pay for a vacation?

Sometimes, purchasing insurance is a no-brainer because you want to cover easy-to-foresee issues. For example, your elderly mom has been getting sick more often these days, and it’s possible the illness will flare up and you’ll need to cancel your trip in order to stay home and care for her. Or, maybe you’re traveling to the Caribbean in September. A horrific storm could sidetrack your trip because, hey, it’s the peak of hurricane season. Or perhaps you’re traveling to an exotic destination that’s a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. You certainly can’t afford to lose all the money you paid months (even a year) in advance, should something prevent you from taking the trip.

Sometimes, though, trouble pops up in ways you’d least expect. In October 2010, Celebrity Century suffered damage to its rudder just two days into a 12-night Mediterranean cruise. Guests were dropped in Villefranche, France, where — to add insult to injury — they discovered that French transportation strikes were going to make getting home extremely difficult. While Celebrity eventually offered refunds, spending money for incidentals and compensation for airfare rebooking fees, its original offer was less generous. A travel insurance policy would have given the greatest protection to travelers in this situation — especially since you never know how much a cruise line will reimburse you.

With everything that could go wrong on the way to the cruise terminal or during the cruise itself, do you really want to chance it and go without travel insurance?

The ins and outs of purchasing travel insurance can be confusing at times. Over the next several posts we will cover everything you need to know to find the best policy for your next vacation, including:

• What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
• Does Everyone in the Group Need Insurance?
• What’s Not Covered?
• A la Carte Policy Additions
• Types of Travel Insurance
• Cruise-Line or Third-Party Insurance?
• When to Buy Insurance
• Real-World Examples

–by Andrea M. Rotondo, a New York City writer specializing in luxury cruise travel and romantic vacations She writes the Luxury Cruise Bible blog at www.luxurycruisebible.com.

Make plans for the new year and join us in New York City to see The Mountaintop, starring Samuel L. Jackson as Dr. Martin Luther King and actress Angela Bassett. Taking place on April 3, 1968, The Mountaintop, press notes state, is a “gripping reimagining of events the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After delivering his legendary ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious young woman delivers room service, King is forced to confront his past, as well as his legacy to his people.”

Stay in Jersey City and tour in the Big Apple – New York City. Spend the day on a guided tour of ‘the city the never sleeps” and see the sights that make NYC so famous – from uptown to downtown and everywhere in between!

For more information, view our flyer and RSVP today!