By Chuck Boughan, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web, Inc.

On Saturday evening, June 14th,  members of the Cruise Web team participated in a bowling tournament to support  local charities. It was all part of the 10th annual “Ray’s Summer Days” events, where Ray Lewis, and this year Jimmy Smith, put their star power behind an effort to help the community.

Carnival Cruise Lines was a primary sponsor and offered members of The Cruise Web a chance to participate this year, as they have done for several years in the past. The Ray Lewis Foundation uses the proceeds to help local charities, and each year the charities change. In the past they have supported several elementary schools, the Girl Scouts and the Baltimore Department of Social Services.

Although we didn’t win a trophy this year, the event was extremely successful and a great deal of fun for all participants.  There were plenty of food, prizes, raffles, and photo opportunities with Ray Lewis and Jimmy Smith, cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens.

Chuck Boughan
Cruise Consultant
The Cruise Web, Inc.
1.800.377.9383 ext. 418
chuckb@cruiseweb.com

By Rosalind Smith, Director of Business Development, The Cruise Web, Inc.

In the heart of winter (and it’s been a long one) celebrated chefs, individual volunteers and corporate sponsors joined forces to host the 5^th annual Sips & Suppers weekend. Sips & Suppers is an organization founded by Chef Alice Waters to raise awareness and funds to support the programs of Martha’s Table & DC Central Kitchen. These organizations work diligently to feed the homeless within the DC community. They rely on the support of individual and business community donations and volunteer efforts.

The event took place at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. I was there to represent The Cruise Web and one of our preferred cruising partners, Celebrity Cruises, a corporate sponsor. Celebrity Cruises hosted the VIP reception on the sixth floor and recreated the cruise line’s Sky Lounge experience for all guests. In order to get to this lounge you had to cruise via one of three “Partyvators”, otherwise known as elevators. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

As we gather around our holiday tables to share a meal and memories with our loved ones this time of year, it has become very apparent that many people in America’s cities, towns and rural communities are living without the comfort of knowing where their next meal is coming from. That’s why this year The Cruise Web teamed up with the College Park Community Food Bank to provide food for those in our area that need a little extra help this year.

The College Park Community Food Bank feeds roughly 700 people a month. Those families that visit the food bank receive food from each food group, along with other items like clothing. For many of the people who use the food bank, getting this extra help affords families some relief. For one week they may not have to make the choice between buying food or paying a bill. When families come into the food bank, they spend some time picking out their food while their kids are engaged in arts and crafts, or reading an exciting book in the facility’s library.

The organization is always in need of donations, so for the first few weeks of December our Cruise Web team contributed to the drive, bringing in over 100 lbs. of food like rice, peanut butter, canned tuna fish and other non-perishable items. We also contributed grocery store gift cards for the food bank to purchase perishable items. If you are interested in giving to this organization, check out their website: http://www.collegeparkfoodbank.com

The Cruise Web, Inc.
reply@cruiseweb.com
1-800-377-9383

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

This weekend members of The Cruise Web team were given an opportunity to give back, by participating in two fun events held to support The Ray Lewis Family Foundation. The events are part of Ray’s Summer Days, which is a weekend of activities where former Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis hosts and participates in a bowling tournament and paintball challenge.

The money raised during these events has gone to help different organizations in the city of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, including many elementary schools, the city’s Department of Social Services and the Girl Scouts. This year was the 9th year for the event and our Cruise Web team took home 3rd place at the bowling tournament. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Aside from gathering with family and friends, sharing meals and exchanging gifts, the holidays are also a special time to give back. This year, we at The Cruise Web decided to raise funds and help out some local families that seek services from the College Park Youth & Family Services (CPYFS).

CPYFS is an organization that provides many counseling services to the children who live in College Park, MD, which is just right down the road from The Cruise Web’s headquarters in Calverton, MD. At CPYFS, children up to age 18 are able to receive individual counseling as well as family counseling. Parents can also participate in support groups with their children and children can interact with other children through play therapy. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

It was no joke that on April 1, Rosalind Smith, The Cruise Web’s Business Development Manager, prepared 80 servings of macaroni and cheese. All that cheesy goodness was served at an event held by Martha’s Table, which is an organization that seeks to improve the life of Washington, DC’s at-risk population by providing food, clothing and educational and enriching opportunities. [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

The Cruise Web and several members of BNI Prosper Alexandria answered a call for support from Lillian Cheng, President of the Alexandria Jaycees to support the USO program, “Operation USO Care Package.” Duty called early Saturday morning on July 16th at Ft. Belvoir, VA to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Four two-sided assembly lines were in place to fill packages including camouflage bags stuffed with donated supplies and items purchased with donated funds.

In three hours, 5,838 care packages were assembled by volunteers representing companies and organizations in and around the DC metro area. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ “towel animals” – whimsical terry cloth creatures that greet guests as they return to their staterooms each evening – are an iconic element of the “Fun Ship” vacation experience.

For guests who want to make their own towel animals at home, Carnival has published its latest edition of Towel Creations, a helpful how-to guide with step-by-step instructions for creating a veritable zoo of towel origami, everything from frogs, swans and elephants to monkeys, scorpions and rabbits. [Read more →]

By: The Cruise Web, Inc.

While the holidays are a good time to count our blessings and reflect on the past year, it’s important to remember those that may not have been so fortunate. Keeping that in mind this holiday season, The Cruise Web decided to reach out to Bright Beginnings, a local child development center in Washington, DC, and offer a little holiday spirit.  After establishing a company goal for donations, it was exciting to watch our company pull together for a better cause. Altogether, our employee donations, which were matched by The Cruise Web, exceeded our original goal! We used the donations to buy clothing, toys, shoes, diapers, and other much-needed items for Bright Beginnings, their children and families. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Recognizing that even one day of assistance can make a difference, Crystal Cruises introduces a complimentary, participatory shore excursion program that enables its guests and crew to assist with charitable projects in destinations they visit during their cruise.  Beginning in 2011, the line’s “You Care, We Care” initiative is designed to assist a local project and educate participants on local community needs, as well as enhance travelers’ personal growth and their intimate connection with a destination.  [Read more →]