The Who's Who of BSB Cruising

A reader suggested a while back that I do a post on all the important people in the BSB and BSB cruising world. And I know she asked me ages ago, but better late than never, right?

Backstreet Management

Jenn

Melissa

Jenn Sousa- BSB's manager. Super sweet. You'll most likely see her hosting the game shows.

Melissa Mondello- Assistant Manager.

Ground Ctrl- They manage the general day to day interactions between the Backstreet Boys, their management, and the fans. You'll see them on board but they are not the ones you go to for most cruise related issues.

Eddie and Justin (Left to Right)

Eddie Meehan- CEO & Co-Founder of Ground Ctrl. You'll probably see him around the boys taking care of loose ends. I believe last year he was interviewing a few girls for some video that I have yet to see.

Justin Segura- Photographer/Event Coordinator of Ground Ctrl. He'll generally be the one with the camera.

Rose Tours- Company that organizes theme cruises, including the BSB cruise of course. You go to them for any questions/concerns related to the cruise.

Complete Rose Tour Staff

Michelle (back row 2nd from left) and Jeannie (far right).

Hal Roseman with the Backstreet Boys

Bill & Suzanne Roseman with Brian

Michelle Moore- Event Coordinator of Rose Tours. As her title suggests, she runs the BSB events on board.

Jeannie Gearhart- Manager of Rose Tours. She's the one you'll most likely email or speak to with any issues/concerns before the cruise.

Hal Roseman- President of Rose Tours

Bill Roseman- CEO of Rose Tours

Suzanne Roseman- CEO of Rose Tours

Lots more important people who work there, obviously, but sadly I don't know everyone so just highlighting a few.

Backstreet Boys' Security

Backstreet Boys Security Team

In order from left to right:

Mike E.- Nick's bodyguard.

Aaron- Sorry, don't know his name. Anyone out there know it? *Update* His name is Aaron per 'Anonymous' below. Thanks!

Keith- Kevin's bodyguard   .

Drew P.- Head of security. Brian's bodyguard.

Josh N.- AJs bodyguard.

Family & Friends- With every subsequent cruise this category has dwindled down, so I'm not going through everyone. I'll just cover the important people I can remember who attended the last cruise, as I assume they'd have the greatest chance of attending in 2014.

Curtis, Leighanne, and Jodi on the 2013 cruise

Howie & his bro, John, on the 2013 cruise. (And AJ enjoying some pizza.)

Leighanne Littrell- Brian's wife and CEO of Wylee. 

Jodi & Curtis Hartley- Friends of Brian & Leighanne. Jodi is also a Wylee sales rep.

John Dorough- Howie's brother.

Backstreet Boys- Can't forget these 5...

Captain Backstreet Boys

Howie- The "latin one." On the cruise can generally be seen with at least 1 drink in his hand and closing down down the deck parties, winning the honor of last Backstreet Boy to go to bed.

AJ- The "bad boy." On the cruise can generally be seen doing whatever it takes to make sure us fans have a good time.

Kevin- The "mature, responsible one." On the cruise can generally be seen spending hours in the same spot surrounded by mobs of fans taking pictures and signing autographs. Seriously, the man has the patience of a saint and deserves some sort of award.

Nick- The "cute one." On the cruise can generally be seen working the crowd from the stage and seductively hamming it up for the fans.

Brian- The "funny one." On the cruise can generally be seen doing the same silly antics he does on-land, but now on the high seas.

Seasoned cruisers and fans- please comment below if I mis-stated anything or missed anyone. And shout out to my girls- Ashley, Chrissy, and Anne Marie for helping with this one!

11 Steps to an Easy Breezy Booking

Hello cruisers- I've been getting a TON of questions related to booking, and understandably so, its stressful! So I thought I'd put together a quick 11 step guide to help with the process. But first I want to answer the most commonly asked booking related question.

How does booking work with a roommate, specifically in terms of payment?

Good question! So here's how it works. You each need to create an account with Rose Tours. You do that before booking. Once you create an account you can put your credit card info in there. So when it comes time to book- only one of you will book the cabin but it'll have a screen where it asks for your roommates name and email address. So for example if you book it, you'll need your friends email address and full name he/she signed up with. Make sure you get the exact spelling. Then there will be a screen where you have the option for 1 person to pay the deposit or for everyone to pay their own portion. Its a nice system such that you don't need to hand over your credit card info to other people.

Ok back on track....
 


Step 1- Pick your Cabin Mates
You can't go any further until you decide on this step because it dictates which cabins are available.

Step 2- No roommate? No Problem!
Don't let the fact that you have no one to go with stop you. Trust me! I didn't let it stop me the first year and I'm so glad I went. If you don't have a roommate, and still want to cruise you have a couple of options. You can do the roommate match program, where Rose Tours will pair you with someone. You just won't know who it is until about a month out.
You can also try to find a roommate on the fanclub forums, twitter, or on facebook. I especially see a lot of folks looking for roommate in the facebook groups. If you cant find the groups, shoot me an email and I'll invite you to the group.

Step 3- Pick your Cabin
Now that you have an idea of how many people you'll be rooming with, you need to decide what type of cabin you want. Interior, oceanview, balcony, or suite. You need to pick what works best for you, your budget, and needs. Once you decide on what type of room, you also have the choice to pick what deck and what specific room you want. I recommend taking a peek at the Ecstasy deck plans so you have a sense of where everything is.

Step 4- Have a Plan B
Make sure you discuss with your roommates what your backup plan is in case your first choice room isn't available. Id suggest having a Plan B, C, and D just to be super safe. There's no time to waste on booking day going back & forth, so be make sure you're in agreement.


Step 5- Devil is in the Details
Once you have the cabin decided- you also want to decide with your roommates which dining you prefer. Early or late. It doesn't really matter, its a matter of personal preference. You may want to check and see what your friends are doing so you can all be in the same group. But just make sure you and your roommates are in agreement.
Another thing you'll need to decide before you book is if you want insurance. I'd suggest reading over the policy on the website to see if it makes sense for you and your situation.

Step 6- Block off the Calendar
Only 1 person is needed to book the room. If you're in charge of booking, make sure you are available when the tickets will go in sale. Past passengers & fan club presale will be January 7, 2014 at 12PM EST. The general cruise will go onsale January 8, 2014 at 12PM EST. So start faking that cough now so you can call in sick the day of.  Do whatever you need to do. I already have a meeting I'll be blowing off.

Step 7- Register Now
Everyone in your party needs to create an account with Rose Tours. This is super important. Create an account here. Make sure you enter all the necessary info including your credit card. If you're in charge of booking, make sure you have your roommates' full name (spelled correctly) and the email address they signed up with. This will tie to the accounts together.

Step 8- Presale Info
If you are participating in the pre-sale, you should receive an email from Ground Ctrl or Rose Tours with the password a few days before booking. Keep that password handy!

Step 9- Have some Wine
Come booking day, seriously, whatever you need to do take the edge off and relax will be helpful. I promise it's not as bad as you think. So try as best as you can not to stress.

Step 10- Book your Cabin
Ok I know this it the big step. You will book the cruise here. It's done through Rose Tours and backstreetboyscruise.com NOT the official BSB website. You will be taken through a series of prompts, its quite painless. I did a previous post with a step by step if you want to check it out to make sure you're super comfortable with the process.

Step 11- Celebrate
Time to excitedly blast all over social media that you are officially cruising with AJ, Brian, Nick, Howie, and Kevin! And don't forget to start that countdown timer along with the diet regimen.

The Evolving Backstreet Cruise

I'm proud to say I've been on all 3 cruises and will hopefully be going on the next cruise as well. Every cruise seems to keep me on my toes and have a completely different vibe from the previous. So I'm going to take a quick look down cruise memory lane and make some predictions for the 2014 cruise.

2010 Cruise

The first time the boys are brave enough to face the sea. This cruise was probably the most unlike the others because it was a half charter, a day longer, and they had a kick-ass pre cruise acoustic concert. So the trip translated into 5 days of Backstreet goodness. And with a half charter, that meant only 1 of each event- none of the group A/group B nonsense. We were all in the same dining and all got to see everything. This also meant that there was a lot more opportunity to see the boys during the downtime. They actually got to sit down and have dinner with us, knock on cabin doors, and hang out in the club with us after the events.

The other neat thing about this cruise was that everyone and their mother came, including Howie's mom! Most of their family was able to join and a lot of their friends were able to come as well. With that came pros and cons- I think it was neat to see all of their loved ones. But it arguably took time away from fans.

The boys were still quite scared and unsure on what to expect for this trip. That was really evident in their interactions with the fans. Moreover, the fans didn't know what to expect. There was no practically no camping out because we were all still learning the ropes. That and there were half the number of people on board.

Overall this trip felt more like you were on vacation and backstreet boys & their families happened to be there too. There were less events and a lot more downtime. You actually had time to sit by the pool and relax, go figure!

2011 Cruise

In 2011 they went to their first full charter and cut back on the number of days. Now we're down to a 3 day cruise, but the good news is they still kept a pre-cruise event so 4 days of solid BSB fun! There were twice the number of fans, and people started catching on to how things work. It became tougher to get closer to the stage at events. Fans came to reunite with old friends they had met from the first cruise.

The boys definitely felt a lot more comfortable on this cruise, knowing what to expect. I think they let loose a bit more, as evidenced during some of the theme nights.

This was the first year that we had to deal with early/late dining groups, which was certainly an adjustment.

Looking back I'd say this cruise had the most ideal Backstreet Events: Vacation Time ratio of the three cruises. Lots to do, but still had some time to relax and eat.

2013 Cruise

I'll cut to the chase, the 2013 cruise was nuts. They kept up a 3 day cruise, but got rid of the pre-cruise event so know we're down to 3 days of BSB excitement. That said- they sure filled those 3 days!

I think the fans were the most crazy this year. Felt like a lot of first time cruisers were on board due to the excitement of the 20th anniversary and Kevin's return. Meanwhile repeat cruisers now know all the ins & outs and tricks of the cruise. Fans were camping out by the stage for hours, even forgoing other events to do so. It just felt so much more chaotic to me.

The itinerary was also the most busy its ever been, primarily because of the addition of solo events.  Not complaining, but it didn't feel like a vacation- it felt like a BSB marathon. I was forced to skip meals because there was just no time to eat. It left me feeling exhausted, and from what I could tell, the boys exhausted as well. There was a lot less of those random run-ins because there was no downtime.

I believe Leighanne and Howie's brother, John, were the only family members still brave enough to still board the ship with all of us. Its becoming clear that this is "work" for the boys, not time to vacation with their family in the Caribbean.

Rose Tours keeps honing the trip and making the events better. Boys are also getting really comfortable at the events and giving us what we want including more chances for interaction, more pictures, etc.

2014 Cruise

I have a few predictions for 2014. I think the fans are going to continue to get worse, in terms of camping out by the stage and mobbing the guys. Repeat cruisers are just getting more and more experienced on how to work the system and get their moments. This past cruise I was roaming the halls looking at door decorations and I see a bunch of girls camped out by the crew entrance where the boys would theoretically come out of the crew corridors to get back to their cabin. Oye! Every year seems to get progressively worse.

That said, it seems like a lot of repeat cruisers are not all eagerly signing up as they were in the past. Mainly for 2 reasons. First is cost- some can't afford yet another cruise so close to the last one and so close to the holidays. Second- I think a lot of fans have had their fill, so to speak. After a couple of cruises, some people got a taste of it and that was all they needed. Lucky for me, I don't fit in either of those categories.

Once again I think there's going to be very little to no downtime. At this point I dont think they'd take away the solo events, so I think we're going to have another very busy schedule. I also see the quality of the events just getting better as they need to continuously need to outdo themselves.

These are just a few of my predictions. Do you guys have any?

Rose Tour Feedback Survey

I know I'm a few days late, but you should've received a survey from Rose Tours via email a few days ago. I probably take these a tad more serious than I should, but I do find they did incorporate a lot of our suggestions from last time. Thus I wanted to share a few of my thoughts that I plan on submitting. 

Overall I try to stick with constructive criticism. Whining won't get us anywhere, so lets think how they can improve things for next time to make the 2014 cruise even better than this one!

Things I Liked

• Whoever thought of the sailor suits deserves a raise
• LOVED the smaller picture groups. Do that again!!
• Overall a huge improvement from the past two cruises. I really appreciate that Rose Tours seemed to take our suggestions from last time. I could definitely see that the boys and Rose Tours stepped it up.
• Loved half moon cay/private island much more than the public beaches from years prior. Definitely prefer this for future cruises.
• Rose Tour staff was great.
• Very much enjoy the random drawing of names for events because it gives everyone a fair shot.
• LOVED the addition of solo events- definitely do that again! I'd say Howie's and Kevin's were my favorite and I'd gladly have those same 2 events done again next year.
• Really happy they brought back the Q&A and got rid of karaoke. The Q&A is a must-have on every cruise!
• The boys were especially good at working the events having 2-3 of them on stage entertaining the crowd and the others taking pictures and doing autographs. I think this worked well.
• Did a great job of having some events that were just the boys on stage and others where for other events they were able to incorporate fans. I felt like there were a lot of opportunities to have a special moment.
• Loved having their logo on more things throughout the ship- ie napkins, photo backdrops, elevators, etc Its all of those little extras that make a big difference

Areas for Improvement

• 4 day cruise next time! My feedback after the first 2 cruises was to have more activities to fill the downtime, and Rose Tours sure did listen. I almost found the opposite problem this cruise where there wasn’t enough downtime. And I know I sound like a spoiled fangirl complaining about too many BSB activities. I'm not suggestions they cut back on events, but rather spread them out more evenly over a 4 day cruise to allow us all a bit more time to relax (including the boys)
• Game shows- While the game show this year was enjoyable, I think they need an event that features fans with boys rather than fans versus boys. Hope that makes sense. But I look at last year's In It To Win It and I think it makes for a more fun and entertaining dynamic. I also liked the format of In It To Win It better with lots of little challenges to keep it interesting. As entertaining 'Are you Smarter than a Backstreet Boy' was, the trivia concept can get old rather quickly.
• I’d love to see more of the boys throwing out cheap giveaways like the beads at bachelorette night. Something little like this goes along way for the fans.
• I realize there was a lot to pack in, in a short amount of time…but its definitely a shame when events have to overlap and we’re forced to pick between events and/or eating. For example Kevin’s event ran into dinner and the Halloween night overlapped with Nick’s event.
• Brian’s fashion show- If he were to do it again, they really should have catalogs, promotions, or merchandise available to make it easy for us to buy the products afterward. Seems like a missed opportunity for him.

General Suggestions for Next Time

• Encourage the boys to make announcements on the PA system
• BSB TV. Always a nice feature- would’ve liked to see newer footage. Also would love if that footage was turned into a DVD for purchase
• Encourage the boys to revisit the concept of randomly knocking on cabin doors.
• Beach games are great. Obstacle course was a lot of fun, particularly because it was fresh. I'd suggest trying some new games next time because musical chairs and limbo, while fun, are starting to get a bit old after 3 years and I think would be nice to try some new games.
• Would like to see some fans have the opportunity to attend the soundcheck- whether its random drawing, door decoration contest winners, etc
• Nick’s event- As much as it pains me to say it- it was good, but not great. I think the other events were unique to the cruise, which made them that much more special. Nick DJs all the time. So next time I'd love to see Nick do something more unique. 
• Solo events- I liked the ones that incorporated fans and would like to see more of that next time where possible.
• Having things like those commemorative cups and poker chips is so smart & we really love that. I think it would also be neat to sell a “commemorative set” of glasses for example and featured a different guy on each cup. Or if they had a different cup for every day, perhaps to reflect the theme nights.
• They should broadcast the alternate groups event on the TV so the rest of the ship can simultaneously watch and not feel left out. And continue to air all that footage the remainder of the cruise, similar to how they do it on a ‘regular’ cruise.
• I think there needs to be a monitor or screen at the deck parties with a live feed of the event in order to make it easier for people to see. I know the Destiny was more conducive for that, and I'm sure other ships offer similar functionality. Unfortunately the Imagination does not.
• I liked how on the cruise in 2010 you would upgrade girls to front row for each event via a random drawing. I'd like to see that brought back.
• No major complaints about the Imagination but I think it would be nice to try a new ship next time. I also think other ships have a main lounge that is more conducive for a concert. The Imagination's lounge isn't meant for people to stand up, which made it difficult for a lot of fans to see during the concert.

Event suggestions

• ‘Boys will be Boys’ Battle of the Sexes
• ‘Incomplete’ Name that Tune
•  ‘Downpour’ Pool Games- Similar style to the beach party but at the pool on the lido deck
• ‘If you Stay’ Survivor- Boys and fans in various survivor like challenges. I.e eating funny items.
• ‘Hey Mr. DJ’ Dance Class- We got to sing with the boys in karaoke, what about dancing with them?
• Backstreet Boy Roast
• Do some sort of brunch/lunch with the boys for a smaller group of fans. They have to eat anyway...
• Do a townhall like the New Kids- whereby it gives the fans a chance provide feedback to the boys.

Don't forget fill out the survey here if you already haven't. Feel free to use some of my ideas above when filling out your survey, should you agree. Alternately, if you have anything I may have missed, let me know!

Pre Cruise Hotel Announced

Never too early to start booking your cruise hotel! And Rose Tours has just announced the pre-cruise hotel special at the Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel. See below for details. Personally I've never stayed there, so I cant speak from personal experience how it is. But I do understand a lot of fans stay there so I'm sure it can't be too bad.
 

Rose Tours has negotiated a special rate at the Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel and Marina for the night of October 24, 2013. We recommend arriving a day prior to avoid any possible flight delays which could cause you to be delayed for your cruise. The rate is only $189 per room per night plus 13% tax. You could also extend your stay if you desire. The rooms can accommodate up to 4 guest with 2 double beds. Rooms are limited so book now!

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO BOOK OR CALL 305-374-3900 AND REFER TO CODE rotrota

Experience everything Miami at Marriott Biscayne Bay, a luxury hotel in Miami, FL. Located at the intersection of Downtown and Miami Arts District, the Marriott Hotel offers waterfront accommodations with a gorgeous view just minutes from the Port of Miami. Enjoy fine dining and shopping at Bayside Marketplace or wander through the hip Art Deco District. Entertainment at nearby Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts features opera, jazz and symphony performances. With a $17 million renovation, our luxury Miami hotel rooms are designed to make your stay enjoyable. Rooms feature laptop, MP3, and video connectivity. Biscayne Bay Marriott offers convenient hotel amenities with a new state-of-the-art fitness center with Miami Bay views. Meetings and social gatherings in this Miami hotel include over 17,000 sq of event space, high-speed Internet, catering and audiovisual equipment. Make your next vacation or business trip a South Florida getaway at Biscayne Bay Marriott Hotel in Miami.

FAQ

I'm so overdue for an FAQ section on this site as this blog is accumulating more and more posts. I find people reach out to me and largely ask the same questions. So not that I don't love hearing from you all, because I most certainly do, but I figured I'd aggregate all of those questions for you in 1 place in hopes to answer the most often asked questions. I also hope to keep adding to this as needed so keep checking back.


I hear the guys go around knocking on cabin doors, is that true?

Yes, AJ did go around knocking on cabin doors the first cruise and visited with fans. Supposedly Howie stopped by a few cabins as well. AJ made his way to 2 decks. Thus there is always the possibility they'll do it again, but nothing I'd want to get my hopes up for.

When did they announce the themes last year?

Last year the themes were announced on August 19th, which was a little over 3 months out.

What's the deal with the pre-cruise party?

For both of the past cruises the Backstreet Boys held a pre-cruise event the night before in Miami. In 2010 they did an acoustic show with the option for a meet & greet; in 2011 they did a club event also with the option of a meet & greet. In 2013 they did no pre-cruise event. When they did have an event, it's something that wasn't announced until 1 month before the cruise. So please keep it in mind as you make your travel arrangements, but my advice would be not to count on an event.

Do you get the meet the guys?

Yes, you get to the Backstreet Boys at the meet & greet photo event. That is the ONLY time you are guaranteed interaction with them. That said, there are plenty of other opportunities during the cruise to see them and interact with them- both at official events and just roaming around the ship. I think a lot of it is luck and a lot of it is just how assertive/dedicated you are.

What's the deal with the plug situation?

I seem to remember 1 outlet in the room and maybe 1 in the bathroom. Basically count on a limited number of outlets. Some people like to bring surge protectors, however I've also heard they can get confiscated. So bring at your own risk. We had 3 girls in the cabin and managed just fine sharing. It just takes coordination and consideration of your roommates. I think the only thing I used an outlet for was my hair straightener and to charge my camera. I didnt need to charge my phone since I wasnt using. Overall it wasnt really an issue.

How do I buy VIP?

I think this is one of the most popular questions from new cruisers. You CANNOT buy a VIP for the cruise. They do have VIP sections for certain events, however its primarily designated for the boys, their friends, family, staff, etc. The staff have been known to hand out VIP bracelets to randomly chosen cruisers so its 

Tips for dressing around the ship/theme nights? How many formal outfits do you need?

So at night definitely consider the fact that you will be outside on a windy deck with the ocean. It will be chilly. Pack layers and plan your theme outfit accordingly. I know there were a couple times I had my nice theme outfit planned and it pretty much was all for nothing when I had to throw a sweatshirt on over it.

Some people like to dress up for dinner every night. So if that's something you like to do, pack a few nicer outfits. The dining room does have a dress code. Though if it's not your thing, there is nothing requiring you to get dressed up and you can always eat at the informal buffet should you choose.

As for walking around the ship during the day, many people opt for beach/pool type clothes. You'll also see BSB shirts floating around. I'd recommend something comfortable and something you're okay possibly running into a Backstreet Boy wearing.

How does the group photo work? How many people and when does it happen?

For the photo shoot- you basically get in a group with 10 girls and show up to the photo session at your designated time. On the past cruises its been held on the last day. Ideally you want to form a group with other people in your dining seating (either Group A or Group B) and you find all your Howie girls ahead of time. Sorry- but you know I speak the truth! If you don't have a group ahead of time, or your group is incomplete, don't worry. Rose Tours will make sure you have a full group before getting your photo taken and match you up with others who also need a group. But I think its best to be prepared if you're particular on who you stand next to.
UPDATE- On the 2013 cruise they changed the group sizes to 4-5 girls. For the 2014 cruise they have been promoting smaller group sizes thus I would anticipate it to be around 4-5 fans this upcoming trip as well.

What time in the morning do the events typically start?

Typically there were no events in the morning. The earliest we ever had something was noon- which was the photo shoot. So feel free to sleep in should your heart desire.

When should I arrive to the port in Miami the day of the cruise?

This is another common question and the answer is- it's really up to you. You can get there as early as you'd like. They let you on the ship as soon as its cleared by customs and the previous cruise has emptied off. The BSB cruise website says we board at noon, and generally speaking they'll let us on around noon or even as early as 11am. That said, it could be earlier or later. You just NEED to be there before the ship sets sails at 4pm.

The Backstreet Boys themselves generally get there on the earlier side. I'd say 10ish. They will check in separately in a special VIP area so they aren't mobbed by fans. They will also board prior to everyone else. If you want to see them board, get there early.

As for me, I personally get there as early as possible. In my head the sooner I get to the port, the closer I am to the front of the line to board, and the sooner I can get on that ship and start my vacation. I probably shoot to get there around 9-9:30. Im also a paranoid traveler and don't like to take ANY chances missing that ship. I also find these few hours while you're waiting in the terminal is a great place to meet up with friends you've been looking forward to meeting because once you're on the ship, all hell breaks loose.

Can you tell me more about the door decorations?

They hold a contest where you can opt to decorate your door with any sort of BSB-related decoration you'd like. The winner will be announced during the cruise and in the past the winner gets front row seats to the concert on board. If you're looking for ideas- generally the ones with a clear theme seem to do well. Lots of people put up collages of sorts but the themes help set you apart. I've seen a lot of people do Christmas themes, beach/cruise themes, and movie themes were popular. I also found that having something 3-D makes your door stand out. And this is something you don't have to participate in if you don't want to. No matter what you decide, just have fun with it!

Can you tell me more how the roommate match program works?

If you are a solo traveler and are so gung-ho about going on the BSB cruise but can't convince anyone back home to go with you, the roommate match program is for you! When you book your cruise you have the option to book a cabin with the roommate match program, and you will be matched based on several different criteria. You will not find out your roommate until a little over a month out from the cruise. I did this program the first year and didn't have any major problems. Most people I know who have done it were very positive with their experience. My biggest frustration was that I couldn't work on my door decoration until last minute. But I would definitely recommend this for anyone who is traveling solo.

Will I get sea-sick? If so, what should I do?

Hopefully not, but you should prepare yourself, particularly if you've never been on a cruise before. If you're prone to motion sickness, you should take even further precaution. Since I luckily don't really get seasick, here are some words of wisdom from my not so lucky friend who did....

If you're prone to motion seasickness, seasickness is nothing like it. It's much worse! And I found that regular motion seasickness medication didn't work. If Nick Carter points out that the ship is rocking, you will instantly feel it - even if you didn't before! Haha. I went to my doctor and she prescribed those bracelets that some people wear. I'm sure those and other knickknacks work for mild sickness, but I'm not willing to gamble my once in a lifetime experience again. I got REALLY sick. That said, not everyone will. I just think it's better to be prepared for it then to spend the first day curled up in a ball.  The best advice I have is to get on the boat and hit the Customer Service desk. For a couple of dollars you get four pills. Each pill lasts twelve hours. Most importantly - take it a half hour before the boat departs. Once you're seasick, it can't be undone.

To expand on her experience, guest services will give you medique (meclizine hydrochloride) 25 mg. It’s an antiemetic. Apparently good stuff.

What should a first time cruiser expect?

I would say to expect to have the time of your life with your friends, meet some wonderful new friends, no sleep. You'll laugh, you'll cry. Tons of great unique BSB events that you can only get on the cruise. On the flip side I would NOT expect to literally hang out with the backstreet boys for 3 days.

What's the best part of the BSB cruise?

Everything!! Seriously though, its such a unique experience that nothing else even comes close. A concert is only 2 hours of BSB but on the cruise is 3 days! And in that 3 days there are so many special moments that you can only get here. Like you'll be eating dinner and casually look across the room to see Brian eating with his family. Or you'll be chilling at the pool and see Nick walk by.

On top of that the events themselves are so unique. You get game shows, beach parties, deck parties, etc. I just feel like you dont get to see BSB in some of those environments anywhere else. Even outside of the events there is BSB-stuff everywhere! BSB TV, door decorations, music playing by the pool, etc. In the "real-world" I jump for joy hearing IWITW on the radio....on the cruise its everywhere. Like a magical Backstreet utopia!

Beyond BSB themselves- for me its all about hanging out with my friends & making new friends who all share the same level of passion I do for BSB. These people all understand 110% what the backstreet boys mean to me and its so nice to share this experience with them. You can walk up to anyone on that ship and just talk for hours to them sharing stories and experiences. This is really my favorite part! I know have so many life-long friends because of the past 2 cruises.

What's the worst part of the BSB cruise?

The only negative thing for me is that there is so much anticipation leading up to the trip and my expectations are so high for it that its tough for the cruise to live up to my expectations, though so far its been able to. Its just natural that things won't always go as you envisioned so I've found you can't let the little things get to you or it will ruin your trip. Things will inevitably go wrong. You might have someone spill a drink on your outfit you've been planning out for months. You might end up getting seasick. Whatever it is. Just stay optimistic and have the time of your life!

Any suggestions if I don't have anyone to travel with?

If you decide to come by yourself, they do have a roommate match program so they would pair you up with 1 other random roommate. I've heard mostly positive things about the program. Another idea is to search on the fanclub, twitter, or facebook for other people going and looking for roommates.There are a couple closed facebook groups that I'm more than happy to invite you to, just shoot me an email and I'll get you invited!

When we book a ticket, is there a payment program?

They do have a payment plan. If your room was $1000 you pay the $300 deposit, then $300 a few months later, and $400 for the final payment. And obviously that would adjust depending how much your cabin cost. Rose Tours requires 3 payments. But I know some people will call more frequently, say the end of every month, and pay less for each payment. I've found Rose Tours is very willing to work with you on your payment as long as they get their money at the end of the day.

How much time do you actually get with the Boys? 

So time with the boys...this is a tricky one to answer. As I've said numerous times, you need to go in with realistic expectations. If you think you're going to have dinner with Nick every night, you'll be sorely disappointed. There are 2000 girls on the ship and only so much BSB to go around. You can probably do the math. The only guaranteed interaction you have will be at the M&G/photo session. However I think its fair to say you'll see plenty of them. You'll prob see them wandering around the ship, at all the events, maybe catch them at a few of the meals, in the elevator, etc. My advice here is go in expecting very little interaction, and you can only be pleasantly surprised when you get more.

I'm traveling from overseas. Is it worth the thousands of dollars it would cost me to get there? Or should I just buy a VIP the next tour?

Well, I think so but with a few caveats. Obviously this is a trip you only consider if you can afford it. If you're going to rack up major credit card debt, it's not worth it. But assuming you can afford it, I think if the roles were reversed and the boys did a cruise outside the US; I would probably make a vacation of it and extend my trip. So I'd recommend anyone traveling to the states to take a few days to explore Florida, go to Disney World, or even fly to other major cities in the US that interest you.

I think a lot of this cruise is what you make of it. If you have a positive attitude and make the most of it, it will be a great trip and thus worth the money. My other advice is try to meet some new friends. That's one of the best parts for me. Being able to share your love for BSB with girls who feel the same. Plus theres a lot of down time. BSB doesnt entertain us 24/7. So having people to hang out with during those down times is great. The cruise is such a unique experience that you'll remember forever. A VIP is so quick. I def recommend the cruise over a VIP.

Do you have to participate in everything?

You dont have to participate in anything if you don't want to. A lot of people bring their boyfriends/husbands who dont really go to the events, they'll just choose to hit the casino or something instead. It's your vacation so you can do whatever you want. Some girls would rather go explore some of the islands rather than go to their beach party, because they've traveled so far to be there. But I do highly recommend in participating in everything they do.

Do you think booking the more expensive cabins are worth it in order to get better seats?

I personally don't think so, but I know many girls who disagree with me. My personal opinion on the matter is that its not worth the extra hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get a few rows closer. The lounge is small enough that even being in the last row isn't that bad. You'll have plenty of opportunity to see them up close around the ship and you also have to remember that not all the events are held in the lounge. Last cruise there were only 2 events in the lounge. Plus you could put that money towards another cruise or doing a VIP on tour. If you are lucky enough to book early and get a good reservation number, than you should be fine. My advice is save the money!

But to make Im impartial and present both sides, I have friends who did the suite. They like it and will do it again because they liked not having to worry about possibly being in the back and risk not being able to see.

If you book early, will you have a better seat for the BSB shows on board?

Yes, the earlier the book the better your seat should theoretically be. If you book a suite- it shouldn't really matter because you'll be guaranteed to be in the first 6 rows regardless. However if you're gonna book a cheap cabin like me, the earlier you book the better. They will assign the rest of the seats beyond the 6th row based on your reservation number. So the earlier you reserve, the closer you'll be to the stage.

How do they pick fans to participate in games/concerts/events?

Fans are picked differently depending on the event. For some events- like karaoke, you got an email before the cruise started and you could sign up. Then Rose Tours randomly selected a few people to be chosen. Then there's things like the prom queen, and those girls were chosen because they had a lucky item placed in their goody bags when they got in the room. So that was random.

The girls who got picked at the beach party were a mixture of the boys picking people on the spot. But also members of the Rose Tour staff seemed to be grabbing people to sign up as well. If you ever see a Rose Tour staff with a clip board before an event, thats generally where you should be. For the game shows- I think you have to show up early and Rose Tours staff was picking people. In 2013 they started drawing names from a bag, which I like because it gives everyone a fair shot. I think those are your primary ways to be chosen. I have yet to be picked for anything, so as always, take my advice with a grain of salt. But it seems to be a lot of luck or being in the right spot at the right time.

Will my cell phone work on the cruise?

When we're in the middle of the ocean- no, you will not have service. When we're docked in port, it will work, but if you're outside your country you will most definitely incur crazy roaming fees. My advice is to turn your phone off once we set sail and not turn it on until we're back in Miami. I've just heard such horror stories on coming back to obscene bills. If you simply can't go 3 days without your cell phone and need to get in touch with work or loved ones back home, I recommend checking with your carrier and adding the appropriate international voice/data plan.

When do we get the itinerary?

Two weeks before we set sail.

Do I have to tip?

No, your tip is included in your fees. Though feel free to leave an additional tip for your cabin steward or waiters if you feel they've gone above and beyond.

How much should I expect to spend?

In short, a lot. I'd budget at least $2,000 and even more depending on your cabin. The lowest I've heard someone spend on the entire experience was $1,800. Factoring in the cost of the cruise, travel, accommodations, pre-cruise shopping, merch/drinks on board, pre-cruise events, etc. It all adds up to a lot more than you'd anticipate.

How much cash/spending money should I bring? Do I even need to bring cash?

I personally am not a big spender on the cruise. The items that cost extra are drinks (including sodas), spa services, casino, shopping, specialty restaurants, excursions, cabanas, etc. But you don't pay cash for any of it- its all on your sail & sign card. You can tie your sail & sign card to your credit card and not have to worry about carrying cash at all on board.  Even the backstreet boys merchandise, you can charge to this card.
As for how much- it really depends on your spending habits. You can get out of there without spending any extra money- but realistically if you want some souvenirs and or splurge on any of the extras you'll want anywhere from $100-$300.

Are there professional photographers on board?

For BSB events- Justin will be taking pictures. He'll post them on backstreetboys.com afterward. Though in my opinion, there weren't a whole ton of pictures. There will also be a videographer, though for the 2011 cruise they never did anything with that footage. So I wouldn't count on these pictures, even though you'll see them feverishly taking videos/photo.

What does Group A do when Group B is having their event & vice versa?

Short answer- whatever you want! Generally when the other group is having their events, in some ways its a bit more relaxing because I know exactly where the boys are and that I cant run into them. But I also find I'm anxious because it KILLS me knowing they're doing a concert like 30 feet away and I'm not there. Some times the other groups event will be happening during your dinner. So you'll still have something to do. And if not Id suggest its a good time to relax, get ready for your next event, or even steal in a quick nap.

Will there be time to change for the theme nights?

In years past some people would get dressed before dinner- but i also feel it really depends on the theme. You could wear a prom dress to dinner, but not a Halloween costume. There is time in between events to change. Remember, they run on backstreet time! If they say the deck party starts at 12, you can safely assume the boys wont show up at that time. They're gonna be putting on a concert and then need to go get ready themselves. So dont stress about not having time.

The only caveat here is that like most events- the sooner you get to them, the better spot you'll have. So by taking that extra time to change later in the night, might set you back a tad. But if you're not the type who needs front row for everything, then you'll be fine. Plus its kind of hard to define what a good spot really is, because the guys move around the deck anyway.

How do you meet up with people? Should I bring walkie talkies?

I know I put walkie talkies on my packing list, and I've tried bringing them before but they ended up sitting in my suitcase. I found they were too burdensome to carry around. Maybe there are smaller models these days, but Im not sure. I ended up meeting my friends the old fashioned way, remember those days before cell phones? Yeah, we were able to function! So basically just deciding on when and where to meet. You can also call each others cabins, so jot down all your friends' numbers. Otherwise I find people generally hang in the same spots. Some will like to hang in the lido buffet, others by the pool, casino, etc. Generally if I wandered around for 10 minutes I could find my gang or I'd run into someone else I knew. The ship isn't that big.

I have a gift I'd like to give to the boys. How do I give that to them?

So here's the official word on gifts:
"Gifts will NOT be permitted at any BSB scheduled events. Gifts can be left at the hospitality desk. Please consult your itinerary for Hospitality Hours. Your gifts will be delivered to BSB."
I personally wouldn't want to leave a gift for them; half the fun there is seeing the reaction. But there is this option if you don't care about giving it to them directly. The only time you are guaranteed to interact with them is at the meet & greet, and they are VERY strict about not letting you bring anything in there. The only other way to get them a gift is getting lucky. You might have a chance elsewhere on the ship if you run into them. So if you're dedicated to the cause, you can carry it with you and hope you'll bump into one of the guys and give it to them then.

What do people wear to dinner?

Honestly you see a range of everything from fancier dresses to borderline t-shirts. You'll fit right in if you want to get dressed up. Though sometimes they have formal night where people do get a bit more dressed up. Personally I like to do a sundress to dinner on most nights.

FYI the dress code:
Ladies - Casual dresses, casual skirts or pants and blouses, summer dresses, Capri pants, dress shorts, jeans (no cut-offs). Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Casual dinner for ladies and gentlemen: shorts, gym shorts, basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, & sleeveless shirts.

 

Planning Party & Booking

First things first....in case any of you missed the planning party here is the video below.


Planning Party with Nick and Howie I'd very loosely call this a planning party. It was basically 33 minutes of Nick and Howie clearly having no clue what is going on. But a few items they mentioned:

• Theme night suggestions: Neon night; Halloween night; drag night.
• Their advice for first time cruisers: According to Howie start sleeping now and "Start detoxing now."
• They alluded to the fact that they'd sing songs off their new album during the concert on board.
• They said they might try to do some DJing this time around

Booking

It seems like a lot of people have questions on the booking process. Here are a few items that you should consider:

Make sure you and your roommates all register in advance at this site:
https://www.reservations.rosetours.com/Booking/Account/Register?returnUrl=%2FBooking

Know what cabin you want
Make sure you know in advance the type of cabin you want as well as backup cabins. Particularly if you're going for a type of cabin where there aren't too many rooms available, such as the owner's suite.

Pre-Sale
If you were a past cruiser or a fan club member, you should've received an email from Rose Tours or Ground Ctrl with a password and booking instructions. I got my emails on Monday. As long as there is 1 passenger in your cabin who has cruised before or is a fan club member, you can book during the pre-sale. If you didn't receive an email, I recommend contacting Rose Tours/Ground Ctrl.

Booking Day
Watch this video so you know what to expect. This video takes you through the booking process.

Credit: Girlygirlstefie

1- Login to the Rose Tour site.
2- Choose the number of people in the cabin
3- Choose the category of room you want (have a backup in case)
4- Confirm your choice
5- Choose if you want to have insurance
6- Review the price and checkout
7- Enter names of you and and the people you are staying with. Make sure you have their full legal first and last name as well as the email address that they registered under.
8 - Next is the payment screen. Your choices are for each person to put the deposit on their own credit cards (which they should've each filled out when they registered) or 1 person will pay the whole deposit. Note that payments/credit cards can be changed later.

I believe at some point you will choose your exact room as well. At least we did last year, not sure what it will be like this year.

My last piece of advice to first time cruisers is stay calm and be patient. I feel like everyone goes into panic mode and there's no need. If your first choice cabin isn't available, don't freak out. I find that cabins will be "sold out" and become back available throughout the first hour, much like concert tickets. You will have multiple people trying to book cabins from each room, and inevitably rooms get released. So hang in there and keep trying!

Good luck everyone and I wish you all a happy and stress-free booking.

Sticker Shock

I know there's a bunch of people out there who may have had a reaction similar to this. "Woohoo, Backstreet Boy cruise. I can't wait to go!! Let me just take out the good ole credit ca....Holy crap. It costs how much?? And for only a three day cruise. I wish, but I'm just not sure I can justify that."

Well you're not alone. In fact, I don't think any past cruiser didn't have that thought run through their head. I know I sure as heck had that mindset. But I'm here now as a two-time cruiser and am here to help ease the blow a bit.

Yes, the cruise is expensive and costs about three times the price of a normal cruise. Just remember that all that extra money goes towards around 10 Backstreet events (give or take) If you priced those out separately you could factor in $100 for a concert; $200 for what would be equivalent to a silver VIP meet & greet, $100 or so for 3 after party type events, and several other events that in my mind are priceless because you can't get them anywhere else. So hopefully this can at least help justify where your money is going.

You should also take comfort in the fact that you do not have to pay that money all at once. Rose Tours works out a payment plan and gives you the flexibility to make payments pretty much on any schedule you'd like. So don't think about it as $1,000-$2,000 all at once. Think of it as about $100-$200 a month. We also have the added advantage of being given a bit more notice this time around. So that means its even less money every paycheck than on the prior 2 cruises. I find this a lot easier to digest because that's a much more manageable number. For me that means eating out a few times less throughout the month or skipping out on buying a new pair of shoes I don't really need anyway.

Another way that I was able to reduce the overall cost of the cruise is to ask family and friends to help out. And I don't mean ask for a hand out. But we have the holidays coming up right around the corner, and odds are there might be a few other special occasions that would warrant gift giving between now and the cruise. Why not ask your friends and family to skip getting you a gift and instead ask them to contribute to your BSB cruise fund. I did this for both cruises and was able to knock a couple hundred dollars off easy. You can even get creative with it and create a BSB Cruise registry. Who says you need to get married to create a registry?! I found a good site called Celebration Wishes so why not set up something fun for your trip and spread the word to loved ones about your cruise fund.

My last point is that I don't regret spending the money on the previous two cruises as all. I'd much more regret not going than seeing my bank account just a little bit fuller. My ONLY caveat here...as much as I support going on the cruise and think its worth every penny, I also don't condone going into debt over it. So really take a good hard look at your budget and see if you can afford this trip before committing.

If you want more info on cruise costs...here are a few of my previous posts on the subject.

Credit Card Damage: The Final Cost  (2011 cruise cost breakdown)
Can you Afford a Backstreet Cruise? (2010 cruise cost breakdown)

Any of you past cruisers our there also feel free to comment below on your experiences/opinions with the cruise pricing and if you think its worth the money!

Recommendations for Rose Tours

I'm taking a brief break from my cruise recap to call your attention to a survey request from Rose Tours. You should've received an email from Rose Tours today asking them for feedback about the cruise. As a general reminder to everyone out there I think it's so incredibly important to not only fill this out, but make sure you give constructive criticism and point out everything that you liked about the cruise. If all they hear is complaints, they won't be as likely to do another cruise in the future! So really take some time to think about what you liked, what you didn't like and what you'd like to see more of in the future.

As a point of references, here's what my comments for Rose Tours are. Let me know if you agree/disagree or maybe I missed something big.

What I Liked

• Loved the banners and cardboard cutouts around the ship. Would love to see more of this.
• BSB channel on TV. Always a nice touch.
• Great selection of merchandise
• I liked having new and different games. In it to Win it was a lot of fun!
• Loved that there were lots of little goodies thrown into the audience- beads, shirts, pillows, candy, etc. Even something super cheap, if thrown by a backstreet boy, is priceless to us fans. So a little bit of money can go a long way. Would like to see even more of this next cruise.
• You really did a good job of giving plenty of opportunities for a lot of fans to have their special moment with a backstreet boy- whether it was playing games on the beach or selected to be prom queen.
• Loved pajama night. Not sure if it was just the event itself or the location in the atrium that made it better. On a related note I think adding games to the deck parties was a great idea. I also loved having that ‘goodbye’ moment which we didn’t have last year. I think its important to end the cruise on a high note.
• Cable Beach was set up much nicer for our event than the beach last year. Lots of room with a big stage. Everyone had a great view. Also loved the addition of lots more games.
• Ability to choose your own seats in dining room
• Sail Away party was a lot of fun and a nice new addition this year. Great way to kick off the cruise.
• Rose Tour staff was great, friendly, and accommodating with 1 exception (see below)
• LOVED the concert. I like the fact that we could vote on the songs and it was an unplugged set. Would love to see this again!!
• I liked how you picked contestants for karaoke. Gave everyone a fair shot and brought a sense of calmness to the process because it was pre-decided.

What I Think Could've Been Improved

• Minor complaint but I didn’t care for the naked mermaid logo that was used throughout the cruise. It makes it harder to wear the merchandise later on.
• Need to clearly announce the door decoration contest and dimensions of door, if there was going to be a contest
• When planning events, consider what it is like for the other fans watching more so than the ones playing. Overall you did a great job with this, but personally I didn’t enjoy watching them play beer pong. It was fun for the girls on stage but not for everyone else. I'd argue the same for prom night.
• DJ was very repetitive. May want to try a new DJ next year
• It seemed bringing back karaoke wasn't nearly as successful as it was last year. It seemed forced to me. I think for next time either scrap the event all together or bring a new refreshing twist to it. Maybe its a karaoke contest. For example Nick and Brian with fans vs AJ and Howie with fans. It seems like the Backstreet Boys have a competitive side so that might be more entertaining all around.
• I also plan on telling them as nicely as possible that I think Hal Roseman’s behavior was wildly inappropriate. Quite frankly his behavior was disgusting, unprofessional, and I think he poorly represents Rose Tours as the face of their company.

Suggestions for Next Time

• Event suggestions
• Have the boys do a roast. They seemed to start on that during karaoke a bit and I think it would be a great event if they are willing.
• Battle of the Sexes- I think this would be extremely entertaining
• Some sort of audience participation game. Royal Caribbean does a game called Quest and its basically an interactive adult scavenger hunt which might be fun if adapted properly. But what's nice is that even if you aren't on stage you're still involved
• You should broadcast the alternate groups event on the TV so the rest of the ship can simultaneously watch and not feel left out. And continue to air all that footage the remainder of the cruise, similar to how they do it on a ‘regular’ cruise.
• It was apparent that the cruise had trouble selling this year. Meanwhile I also noticed that subsequently, many contests for cruise giveaways started popping up giving away free accommodations, exclusive meet and greets, and even access to sound check. You may want to consider offering similar rewards/incentives for people signing up early. It doesn’t have to be money off, but perhaps something like “if you sign up by X date you get exclusive access to the sound check party” or “the first 200 people who sign up get a bonus meet and greet”
• I’d love to see the boys do solo events. You could possibly have 4 events at the same time allowing for a more intimate event. Or do them at separate times, allowing the other boys a break.
• Clarify that if a deck party starts at 11:30, it doesn’t mean the backstreet boys get there at 11:30. Same goes for beach party. I personally understood the concept, but many did not and were complaining.
• I think there needs to be a monitor or screen at the deck parties with a live feed of the event in order to make it easier for people to see. Also would’ve been nice at the beach party or during the main events in the lounge. It’s tough for shorter people to see over the crowd and I think a screen is crucial to fully enjoy those events.
• Minor suggestion, but Hal was the one who announced the door decoration contest winner. I think it would be a nice touch to have the backstreet boys announce it next time. The fans work really hard on those doors so any way to give the winners extra credit would be nice. Also announce more runners up.
• Create an ultimate fan trivia event. BSB doesn’t even have to be there, but it would be fun to do during down time or while the other group has their event.
• I really missed the Q&A this year. I think its important to have at least 1 event where its just BSB on stage with no fans (aside from the concert) just to see them. After all, that’s why we’re there.
• I liked the selection process for karaoke and think it should be more widely adopted next time around. It gave everyone a fair equal shot at getting picked; it didn’t allow any bias in terms of race, ethnicity, physical appearance, etc.  It also brought a much calmer atmosphere to the event because girls knew that the contestants had already been decided. I don’t suggest this for everything, as I also think it’s nice for the Backstreet Boys themselves to pick fans in some scenarios. But I think this is more fair approach than having Rose Tour staff hand pick girls on the spot because it appeared to many of us that there was some prejudice in that process. Whether that’s a true statement or not, that is the widespread perception.
• I liked how on the cruise in 2010 you would upgrade girls to front row for each event via a random drawing. I'd like to see that brought back.

I feel like my list could go on and on, but this is what I've come up with so far.

Cruising at a Glance

Before I do my complete review, here are a few random thoughts coming off the cruise.

First of all, how many Howie fan converts do we have? He totally surprised me this year. I didn’t see any of that coming!

It goes without saying that this cruise ranked up there as 3 of the best days of my life. Only to be challenged by last year’s cruise.

I thought the vibe on the ship was great. The boys were relaxed, interactive, and surprisingly sexual at times.

I was relieved to hear Brian talk about a summer cruise in 2013. Rose Tour staff also confirmed that a cruise is in the works, they’re just waiting to get a date from the boys. I also heard from Rose Tours they plan on going back to a 4 day cruise. Let the countdown begin!

Most of the events were amazing. Some stood out above the rest. For me the concert and pajama night were my favorite. Both were so unexpected and full of surprises.

I reacted a lot differently to seeing Kevin than I thought I would. If you remember I was apprehensive to have him on board but as soon as I saw him all I wanted was to hear him sing with the boys and rejoin the group, which is good because there was a lot of hinting at his return. He seemed so happy to be there and it was such a great feeling to see him again.

Overall I thought they did a great job of giving fans the opportunity to have their ‘special moment’ with the guys. Whether it was at the beach party playing games, prom queen, or truth and dare.  On a related note- anyone else feel so much jealousy in the span of 3 days as I did? There were so many moments when I would give my first born child to be in the place of another fan. Coconut smoochie. Prom queens. Truth or Dare. The list is endless.

I’ll do a complete look at 2010 cruise vs 2011 cruise later, but I’ll just say there were a ton of differences. Some good, some not so good. I’m still debating which cruise I preferred. I’ll opt for the politically correct answer- I liked them both for different reasons.

Lastly, I can’t get wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle out of my head. I was picturing Howie wiggling all day at work today.

I'll post a full review soon so keep checking back and relive all those great moments again with me.

10 Things You Must do Before you Leave the Cruise

There are a ton of fun things you will want to do on board, most especially BSB related things. However it's easy to get caught up in all the excitement of the BSB hoopla, that you sometimes forget to step back and enjoy all that the cruise itself has to offer. Here are just 10 things you might not think about but should definitely do before you leave the cruise:

1. Try the chocolate melting cake.
2. Take a stroll around the promenade deck. One of my favorite things to do. Its usually very peaceful there and you are a lot closer to the ocean than up on the pool deck.
3. Take time to explore the ship. I find cruises to have so many neat features that are definitely worth checking out.
4. Relax! This is your vacation so take the time to enjoy it.
5. Take a moment to take in some natural beauty. And no the Backstreet Boys don’t fall in this category. Well they do, but that’s not what I’m referring to. Watch the sunset or sunrise. Its not too often you get to experience being in the middle of the ocean with nothing but water surrounding you.
6. Have ice cream in the afternoon as a snack, just because you can.
7. Meet at least 3 new fans.
8. Dedicate at least 30 minutes to looking at door decorations. Though you really need more time than this.
9. Have a fruity drink on the beach or by the pool. Nothing screams paradise like a pretty pink drink with an umbrella in it.
10. Thank the Rose Tours and/or Carnival staff for making this trip possible.

Various Cruise Announcements

Hot off the presses...several cruise announcements from the Backstreet Boys.

CRUISE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Are you guys ready for a jam-packed newsletter that's full of exciting announcements or what? Well, we sure hope so, because that's what we're giving you....

You all voted, and we are excited to announce that the winning theme for the prom is... A Night To Remember! Thank you for helping us decide on a great theme for this unforgettable night. Can't wait to see our Prom Queen all dolled up!!

And if you haven't already, go vote for a song in the set list poll now!

BSB wants you to pick the set list for the BSB cruise in December. What songs do you want to hear them perform on the high seas? You can pick any of the choices presented or add in the song you’ve been wanting to hear them perform. Remember, this night is for you, so let the boys know what you want to hear!

We are still working out the details of the pre-cruise party, but it will be a late evening event, so go ahead and get your travel arrangements booked.

Tickets for the cruise are still available! Rose Tours is willing to work out any type of payment plan that will help you experience your dream of sailing away with BSB, so give them a call today!:

Rose Tours
215.663.8800 | 888.491.7673

Lots of exciting info! We have our prom theme finalized- A Night to Remember. Really not sure how this will be relevant seeing as how the theme is so vague, but I'm excited nonetheless.

They also continued to remind us to vote for the cruise set list. So I for one intend to keep voting. I can't wait to see what they come up with! I've been voting for Song for the Unloved at least a few times a day. I'd love to hear that song live.

The most exciting thing is to see there is more promise of a pre-cruise event. Based on the fact that it will be a "late evening" tells me its probably an after party as opposed to a concert. But hopefully we'll get more details soon.

Final Payment Due Soon

Just a reminder that our final payment is due soon. The only good thing about it is that we are in the home stretch until cruise time.

The final payment is due Monday, October 3rd. So make sure your bank accounts are ready. And don't fret if for some reason the payment doesn't go through right away. They will not cancel your spot. You will most likely be contacted by Rose Tours to explain what the issue was.

New Cruise Website

I just noticed they completely redid www.backstreetboyscruise.com

(I apologize if this is completely dated information, but I just noticed it)

Go check it out if you already haven't!

What to Expect- Photo Shoot

I thought it would be a good idea, especially for those new cruisers, to do a series on 'what to expect' for each aspect of the cruise.

So I'm going to start out with the photo shoot because I get really excited thinking about meeting the Backstreet Boys, and you should too! I figure it would be slightly more fun that starting with something like debarkation. I don't even want to think about that because its too depressing.

Okay lets dive right in. Last year they split us up in 2 groups for the photo sessions, and your group was determined by the color of your wristbands. The wristbands were given to you at the time of check in, and they also determined your seating in the main lounge. It's tough to say if that will change this year or not since it will be a full charter. If we want to base it on how New Kids' worked- they also had 2 photo sessions even with the full charter. One for each group. Thus I imagine they'll stick with 2 groups so as not to over-complicate things.

Last year they were supposed to have the first session for black and blue wristbands, and the other session for all other colors. This initially generated some panic because people had already figured out their groups for the pictures, but their friends may have had different color wristbands. Not to worry though. Rose Tours was incredibly flexible switching the time of your photo session, as long as you had your group ready.

The photos were with the 4 Backstreet Boys (obviously) and 8 fans. Lets pray they don't up that number this year. I felt like the constant buzz around the ship was who you were taking your picture with and which BSB you wanted to stand next to. In the end, Im happy that my group turned out perfectly. Everyone was able to stand next to who they wanted. If you don't have a group, or even only have a partial group, Rose Tours was available to assist. As the line of people grew and grew, you would see Rose Tours staff walking through making sure you had a group of 8. If you didn't, they would pluck you out of line and yell for other groups who needed "x" number of people, so as to match you up. So if you care about which BSB you stand next to, I'd recommend going in prepared.

People were lined up pretty early to get their picture. I didn't stress too much about this because I knew I was guaranteed a picture and I didn't want to waste my time in line. It didn't matter to me if I was first or last. The line was crazy long. It started on one end of the ship and went pretty much straight to the other end. Once the doors opened, the line moved very quickly. This is one event that I thought went very smoothly, unlike the acoustic show pictures. Once you approached the door, there was a security guard punching holes in your wristband, on the exact same spot for every person. I thought this was a good way to do it. Otherwise my mind was wandering.what if I just rotate my wristband, or perhaps hide it all together to see if I could sneak in another picture. Not that I would actually do this.but I'm sure Im not the only one who thought that way. I guess more than anything, it reassured me that other people weren't taking advantage of the system by getting multiple pictures.

People Waiting in Line
The line continued...

Anyway, once you're in the door, the line continued to snake around the room so you could see the boys while you waited those last 5 minutes. This allowed me some extra time to calm myself down until we made it up to the front. The staff very clearly indicated that no hugs were allowed, just handshakes. Some girls would still sneak in their hugs, but I respected the rules because I know they had a lot of pictures to take. I hope they still allow us to do handshakes this year. One more thing- They also had a few of the Backstreet Boys kneeling in front, so you just have to make sure that no one is standing in front of you blocking your picture. On the flip side, if you're in front, try to be respectful of those behind you. I definitely saw a few ruined pictures that way. And unfortunately the photographer will not give you a second picture, you only get one shot.

Typical photo shoot.

Once our group finally made our way to the front, it was really all a blur. You really only had like 5 seconds with each BSB. Just enough time for your quick handshake and maybe a few words. Then you quickly have to go stand next to the Backstreet Boy you wanted to stand next to. I just remember so much going through my head at that moment.. "OMG I'm meeting the Backstreet Boys!" "Oh geez, I hope my hand isn't too sweaty as I go to shake their hands" "Don't trip or say anything too stupid" "Make sure I say everything I planned on saying" "Now I changed my mind and want to stand next to Nick" "No, no, I'm standing next to AJ. The other girls would kill me if I changed my mind now" "Oh crap, I need to go run to AJ before they take this picture" "Does my hair look okay?" "I hope I don't seem as nervous as I feel on the inside" "Well, maybe now I want to stand next to Howie" "Oh my gosh, Im standing next to AJ" "Oh no! Brian is in front of us blocking us in the picture" "I can't push Brian out of the way, what do I do?!" "Calm down, AJ is still standing next to me, does it even matter if the picture doesn't come out perfectly?" "Yes, yes it does! I need to get Brian to move!" "Okay good, he finally moved" "Photographer is counting down. Alright, lets make sure I don't screw this picture up" "Make sure not to blink and make sure I'm smiling nice and big" "What, we're done already?" "I don't want to go!" "Let's hope the picture turned out okay" "Phew!"

My photo session and that's me in the back next to AJ!

Oh gosh, I get all anxious just reliving that moment. Hopefully this year will go a bit smoother for me. So after the picture is taken, you are quickly directed out of the room and just left to take it all in.