GENERAL INFORMATION - A contract could not be finalized in a timely manner for what we thought was going to be our 2008 reunion in Branson, Missouri. As a result, the Association Executive Committee felt it necessary to cancel that reunion and move forward with other plans. Since time was short to select another location, visit it, select a hotel, arrange for tours, etc, the Committee felt the next best alternative was a reunion cruise. A reunion cruise is something a lot of members have been asking for and a larger than ever attendance is expected.

WHO CAN ATTEND – Any and all current and former crewmembers (including Flag Staffs and Marines) of a U.S. Naval ship named Oklahoma City are invited and welcome to participate in this reunion cruise. This invitation extends to spouses, friends, children, grandchildren, etc, as all are welcome.

TRAVEL COMPANY – The Association is working with Brian Forrester of Cruise Holidays of Scottsdale, Arizona to put this all together for us. Brian is known as “The Cruise Guy”. He has arranged numerous military reunion cruises and comes highly recommended. He will soon be sending out a flyer and your registration form as well as updating everyone as we go along. All deposits, payments and inquires are to be made to Cruise Holidays. Get your registration forms in ASAP as cabin availability and inventory will be on a first come first serve basis and we expect this to be a sellout. All cruise deposits are fully refundable up until final payment which will be in late August 2008. If you need to contact Brian at Cruise Holidays, please call 800-998-1228 or email him at brian@cruiseholidaysaz.com MAIL.

CRUISE LINE & SHIP - Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is headquartered in Miami and by 2010 will have the newest fleet of ships in the cruise line industry. The layout of the Norwegian Jewel is very open and areas flow from one to the other. NCL offers freestyle cruising meaning you don’t have to put on a coat and tie just to go to dinner and you can pretty much eat where you want when you want. However, we will have dinner as a group each evening at 5:30PM. The cost quoted for your cruise is per person based on double occupancy and includes accommodations, all meals, 24 hour room service, nightly entertainment, all taxes, port fees, fuel surcharges, and an Association reunion registration fee. Singles will need to make special arrangements with Brian. You can check out NCL and the ship, go to http://www.ncl.com, click on “ships”, scroll down to the Jewel, click and you’re there.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR COST – All purchases made aboard the ship including but not limited to the duty free shops, daily gratuity charges, soft drinks, beer and alcohol, the casino, photos, auctions, shore excursions, and specialty restaurants.

EARLY BIRDS – Everyone is encouraged to get to Miami on Saturday, November 8th as arriving on Sunday is cutting it real short as you need to be aboard by 3:00 PM. If not, you'll discover where the saying "missed the boat" came from. Cruise Holidays is making arrangements for us to stay at a local hotel the 8th and take a shuttle to the Port of Miami on Sunday. Make sure to mark your registration form if you will need accommodations the 8th. This will be added to the cost of your cruise.

OPTIONAL TOURS – These are called Shore Excursions and NCL will be sending you a booklet of information concerning all the shore excursions available. The Association and Cruise Holidays will not be arranging group excursions.

PASSPORTS – You’ll need ‘em so go get ‘em.

WEATHER & CLIMATE – Expect daytime temperatures to be in the 80’s with lows in the 70’s. Humidity will be high also so expect high heat indices. Water temperatures should still be in the 80’s. Being in the tropics, you can never count out a shower.