By Jack White and Jill Weinlein
Jack and Jill's Cruise Reviews
~ Staying Ship Shape While on a Cruise ~ Can It Be Done?
Is there a way
not to gain a pound
while vacationing on
a cruise with all the
rich food and
midnight buffets?
Try These Tips:
Always take the stairs,
instead of elevators, drink water and icetea,
instead of sugary soda or fruity
flavored alcoholic beverages, and dance at
least thirty minutes each evening in one of
the piano bars, ballrooms or discos.
While on Crystal Cruises, walk
around the 360-degree promenade several
times before breakfast. Guests may use
Crystal’s Walk on Water weighted vests and
Nordic Poles to maximize the morning
stroll.
At least one night, forgo the main
dining room, and eat at Crystal’s Nobu
restaurant for sushi and sashimi. It’s a
healthier alternative to higher calorie
dinner specialties.
At least one meal a day on a Carnival
Cruise Line should be ordered from the
Carnival Spa Fare. Enjoy the tasty lower
in fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories
dishes. Poultry and meats are broiled or
roasted, and
salads are
prepared with
low-fat or fat-free
dressings. Even
the sugar
substitute desserts
are delicious.
Twenty-one of Carnival’s “Fun
Ship” spas offer a full gym complete with
the latest exercise equipment and free
weights, weight circuit classes, and
workout classes at different interest and
activity levels.
During stops at Disney Cruise
Line’s private island, Castaway Cays,
take a sunrise yoga session on the beach
or a massage at one of the cabanas
overlooking the ocean. Walk or jog on
Deck 4. One lap is 1/3 a mile.
Skip lunch one day while on
Holland America and attend their Royal
Dutch High Tea. Instead of loading up on
cookies and cakes, eat the fresh fruit and
sip an elegant cup of tea. They offer an As
You Wish dining alternative that allows
passengers to choose a festive, five-course
menu or a quick and casual meal. Health
conscious, vegetarian, diabetic and glutenfree
dining options are offered if arranged
before boarding the cruise.
Royal Caribbean’s mega ship, Oasis
of the Seas, is so large with its 16 decks and
2,700 staterooms, burning calories is easy
while walking through the 7 distinctive
neighborhoods around the ship. Try a
Pathway to Pilate’s class for the complete
novice or if you enjoy sweating, the
Tour De Cycle is a unique indoor
cycling program.
The key to staying fit and healthy
while cruising is to get out of your
stateroom and take advantage of the
fun activities each line offers to
passengers.
|
 
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
By Mel and Ronnie Greenberg
 Reflections of
sizzling orange sunsets
pierce the gentle waters of
Myrtle Beach, the jewel of
the southern east coast.
Shaggy moss-draped oaks,
splendid palmetto,
dogwoods and magnolia
border pine frame fertile salt
marshes and networks of
lagoons and creeks. Gardens
overflowing with crepe
myrtle, camellias, Jessamine
and drifts of white, pink and
scarlet azaleas dot the
landscape.
The heart of the Grand Strand, is a year
round potpourri of both fun and adventure.
Myrtle Beach is a sought after haven for its
more than 100 championship golf courses,
mini-golf courses, tennis courts, and sixty
miles of wide sun-splashed beaches. It’s home
to elegant hospitality, historic towns and
fishing villages. Outdoor adventures run the
gamut from wet and wild to fast and furious
to pleasant and relaxing. There’s a bounty of
water amusements including waterskiing,
wind surfing, parasailing, kayaking,
canoeing, boating, fishing and sailing.
Cyclists can spend hours exploring the area
along extensive bike trails, while nature
lovers will find a wide range of options to fill
their days. For those drawn more to culture,
there’s a flourishing range of performing arts,
a wonderfully diverse scene of visual arts and
music including live jazz. For the shoppers
there’s a treasure trove of shops and
boutiques sprinkled across the area.
In the heart of Myrtle Beach, the luxurious
master planned resort community of Grande
Dunes, is breathtakingly set amidst 2200
naturally beautiful acres. It encompasses
classic and timeless Mediterranean style
architecture, multi-million dollar homes and a
dazzling array of exceptional amenities. At
the helm The Ocean Club is Grande Dunes’
magnificent social and recreational focal
Photos: Mel Greenberg
point.
Set inside this exclusive enclave the AAAFour
Diamond Marina Inn
at Grande Dunes is the
perfect hub for your Myrtle
Beach adventure. The hotel
of choice of celebrities
when in the area includes
the Eagles, former Mayor
Rudolph Guilliani, Pro
golfer Anika Sorenstram
and Senator John McCain.
There’s a
wonderful choice of
luxurious accommodations.
Grand guest rooms and
suites with double beds
boast exceptional views of the Intracoastal
Waterway or marina from private balconies
and lavish spa-like bathrooms. Studio
rooms also include a mini-refrigerator and
microwave. Two and three bedroom suites
offer spacious living room area with a
fireplace, dining room, two or three full
baths and equipped kitchens.
Resort amenities include an exquisite
outdoor pool offering an incomparable
setting for relaxing and soaking up the sun,
two soothing outdoor hot tubs, and an
indoor pool with two swim-in-place
stations, badminton, ping-pong and
bicycles. Bicycling and jogging maps are
yours for the asking from the concierge.
The state-of-the-art Fitness Center is fully
equipped with the latest in cardiovascular
and weight-training equipment and also
features a sauna for post workout
relaxation.
The Tennis Club, a five-star racquet
facility, is perfectly suited for all aspects of
tennis including private lessons, clinic,
camp, match play, a fully stocked pro
shop, and eight lighted Har-Tru courts.
For lovers of golf, the Resort Golf
Cub offers a dramatic design featuring
seven holes that play along the Intracoastal
Waterway. With its numerous elevation
changes, wide Bermuda fairways, generous
bent grass greens, and more then 34-acres
of freshwater
lakes, this course
sets a new
standard for
world-class play.
Guest of the Inn
may also golf at
the exclusive
Members Club, a
magnificent 18-
hole layout, that
weaves
throughout the
area’s natural
pine preserves
and along the
Intracoastal
Waterway, presenting a unique variety of
shot-making challenges on a gently rolling
terrain. Grande Dunes Golf Academy
features Brad Redding, a PGA Master
Professional in teaching, and customized
individual programs are available.
Dining at the Inn includes:
Waterscapes, casually elegant and
showcasing the talents of Executive Chef
James Clark and his imaginative modern
American cuisine of local and regional
specialties. Open for breakfast, lunch and
dinner, service is warm, friendly and
unobtrusive. The dining room offers
sweeping views of the marina and an
infinity-edge pool.
Reflections, located off the main lobby,
offers a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying
signature cocktails, fine wines and tapas.
Anchor Café (seasonal) is a lively
waterfront bistro that serves up succulent
burgers, and a delicious selection of fresh
salads and sandwiches. Beach Cabana
(seasonal) set in a secluded part of the
beach, offers an array of grilled specialties,
sandwiches, fresh salads and cocktails.
Beach chairs, umbrellas and towels are
provided at no additional charge and a
complimentary shuttle service is available
throughout the day from the Inn.
Marina Inn is located at 8121 Amalfi
Place in Myrtle Beach, (866) 437-4113 or
www.MarinaInnatGrandeDunes.com
Golf is where it’s at in Myrtle Beach
Pine Lakes County Club is the epitome of
the traditional golf resort since opening in
1927 as the Ocean Forest Country Club.
Designed by St. Andrews, Scotland native
Robert White, Pine Lakes put Myrtle Beach
on the map as the destination of choice for
the country’s most elite families.
Pine Lakes is also known for its role in
the formation of Sports Illustrated. After
undergoing a multi-million restoration
Pine Lakes recently reopened restoring the
course and clubhouse to its glory days
along with enhancing the playability and
enjoyment for golfers of all skill levels.
The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame is
situated in the Pine Lake’s new Hall of
Fame Garden adjacent to the newly
renovated clubhouse www.PineLakes.com
Meadowlands Golf Club with distinctive
parkland features that follow the lay of the
land through mature woods bordered by
serene meadows, pristine lakes and vast
wetlands. Five sets of tees, an open
layout, well defined hazards and
exemplary attention to detail create a
rewarding round for everyone who
comes ready to play
www.MeadowlandsGolfClub.com
Myrtlewood Golf Club features two 18
hole courses, the Palmetto course and
the Pine Hills course. Stretching out
along the Intracoastal Waterway, the
course serves a variety of hazards and
bunkers to test golfers’ shot-making
abilities www.MyrtlewoodGolf.com
There are 50 Mini-Golf Courses
wedged into the Grand Strand, each
with a unique theme. A few of the
more popular are Dragon’s Lair
Fantasy Golf, Jungle Safari Golf,
Shipwreck Island Adventure, Jurassic
Golf and Captain Hook’s Adventure
Golf.
 Area trimmings include Broadway
at the Beach, a premier entertainment
complex surrounding a 23-acre lake.
There’s oceans of fun at Ripley’s
Aquarium showcasing the popular 310
foot underwater tunnel that allows the
incredible experience of seeing sharks
swim right over you. The I-Max 3D
Theater features stunning crystal clear
3D images, making it the world’s most
immersive movie experience. Pavilion
Nostalgic Park offers a collection of
classic rides from the famous Pavilion
Amusement Park. You’ll also find an
amazing array of restaurants and
shopping.
The historic Palace Theatre
welcomes a variety of celebrity acts
throughout the year. For ticket
information phone (800) 905-4228 or
www.palacetheatremyrtlebeach.com
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede is an
action packed dinner theatre-show
that will keep you energized. This
patriotic extravaganza is packed with
music, dancing, special effects and
pageantry. For information phone
(800) 433-4401 or.
www.dixiestampede.com/
myrtlebeach
For additional information visit
www.MyrtleBeach.com
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
|
|
