I had such a pleasant stay at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott.

Just a 5 minute shuttle bus ride, it is centrally located in front of the three main passenger terminals. What impressed me the most was the top quality and level of customer service provided at this “airport hotel”. I was greeted with a smile. Check-in was processed quickly and I went directly to my spacious room on the executive level. It had great views of the airport operation, perfect for plane spotters! The room had an enormous flat screen television, was decorated in warm attractive colors and had really comfortable beds.

The executive lounge offered an enticing array of hot and cold appetizers during happy hour and an impressive dessert display later in the evening. A variety of tasty breakfast items were available from 6 AM for a quick bite before heading over to the terminal.

After getting settled, I took a quick swim in the indoor pool. I then went to one of two eateries(the bar offers a less formal venue for dining) and enjoyed one of the most satisfying Cesar Salads ever! It had a twist of citrus flavor that made it really stand out. Again, staff was attentive, welcoming and efficient.

Later that evening, a colleague joined me and we went to the Sports Bar for a bite and to enjoy some big screen pro sports broadcasts. He had a juicy hamburger with fries.

My “not spicy” quesadilla was inadvertently delivered to another table and I got their spicy order…Restaurants with “runners” are a pet peeve of mine. No matter how good a restaurant is, having a waiter take orders and then a runner delivering them is a recipe for confusion. The waitress easily corrected the error and we enjoyed the rest of the game. The next morning after the short shuttle ride, we were at the gate in plenty of time even after getting some extra sleep! Nothing like “rolling out of bed” with plenty of time to catch an early flight!

Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott is a top quality property and very convenient for overnight connections, early morning flights or if you are heading to a cruise at close by Port Liberty Cruise Terminal.

For more information visit: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrap-newark-liberty-international-airport-marriott/

(Courtesy fallbrook50/myBudgetTravel)

Come on, be honest: The all-you-can-eat buffets and huge selection of on-board restaurants and cafes are among the top reasons to head to sea.

A survey published last summer revealed a nugget of info that probably comes as no surprise to seasoned travelers: Cruise passengers like to eat. Nearly three-quarters of travel agents said that their clients look for added choices of unusual and special restaurants when selecting a cruise.

It seems as if cruisers’ appetite for more and more on-board food options is endless. Here are three new developments that they may find tempting:

On the “Waterfront”

One of the most exciting features on Norwegian’s new ship, the Breakaway , is simply called the Waterfront. It’s an open-air boardwalk similar to what one might expect at a seaside resort town, lined with shops, restaurants, and bars that are perfect for al fresco dining, as well as just browsing and strolling. The options at the Waterfront will include a steakhouse, cocktail bar, spots for seafood and Italian cuisine, a gelato station, and a Brazilian-style churrascaria. Speaking of which…

More Meat, Please!

When Norwegian introduced the Epic in 2010 , it was the first ship to offer an authentic churrascaria, a Brazilian-style restaurant in which passadors walk from table to table serving generous slices of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and sausage. The Moderno Churrascaria restaurant concept has since been added to a few other Norwegian ships, and last month the cruise line announced that it would be rolled out fleetwide this year. The experience is a “specialty restaurant,” and an added cover charge of $20 per person is required.

Southern Cruise, Southern Cuisine

When revamped steamboats start cruising the Mississippi this spring, they’ll take to the river with an appropriately local take on food. The Great American Steamboat Company has tapped Regina Charboneau, a Southern chef and cookbook author who runs Twin Oaks Plantation B&B in Natchez, Mississippi, to be in charge of the food on board. CruiseCritic reports:

As much as possible, the line will be sourcing local ingredients — like farm-raised poultry, sustainable seafood, pecans and produce — from the ports on American Queen ‘s route. A jazz brunch, offered once per cruise, will showcase baked goods, salads, roasted meats (Andouille-stuffed pork loin? Yes, please) and savory dishes like grits in a smoked tomato cream sauce, one of the decadent entrees we sampled. You also won’t want to miss Charboneau’s special captain’s dinner. The Mark Twain-themed meal features a menu of delicacies believed to be the Missouri-raised author and food lover’s favorites, including a “mock” turtle soup (don’t worry, it’s beef).

By Theresa Norton Masek
February 02, 2012 12:42 PM

Here’s a very strong sign that cruise lines are cracking down on participation in emergency drills after the Costa Concordia tragedy: A Holland America Line ship kicked off a passenger for failing to show up for the lifeboat drill.

In a statement, the line said one guest scheduled to sail on Westerdam’s Jan. 29 cruise was “disembarked prior to sailing for non-compliance with the mandatory passenger emergency drill.” The drill included alarm blasts and announcements throughout the ship, including instructions that failure to participate would result in disembarkation.

The drills take place in the port of embarkation before the ship leaves the dock so that guests know where to go and what to do if an alarm is sounded. These drills are mandatory for all passengers, and non-compliance may result in disembarkation, the company said.