Veterans get their due at B&Bs and other locations

Veterans get respect at B&Bs

Applebee’s continues free offer

Traveling

With Bob & Sandy Nesoff

It wasn’t all that many years ago that veterans returning from overseas assignments and combat zones were vilified by other Americans.  That was a very sad period in our history…a history that had always given those who fought for us their due.

Active duty military are once again being afforded an opportunity to get away on a short vacation and take advantage of the second annual Select registry inns free stay.

Last year some 900 inns across America from Florida to British Columbia participated in the B&B For Vets that had been first conceived in 2008.  The inns are offering the free nights stay for both active and retired service members.

To participate service members must show a valid military or Veteran’s Administration ID.  Inns are offering one or more complimentary rooms available to vets and one guest on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Most of the offers are for Nov. 10, the night before Veterans Day in 24 states and Canada. Many of the participants will be offering added perks for the military personnel such as discounts on spa services, romantic dinners and other local activities.

For a list of participating Select Registry Inns check out http://bit.ly/rrP3TR.

Applebee’s, the international restaurant chain, has for several years invited active military personnel and veterans to enjoy lunch or dinner on the house on Veterans Day.

There is a limited menu available but the chain is not stinging on choices offered to the vets.  As with the Select Registry Inns, Applebee’s asks that active duty personnel either be in uniform or present an ID card.  Veterans can produce any identification proving that they’ve served in one of the military branches.

We’ve gone to Applebee’s with a Vietnam vet friend with both wearing old field jackets and carrying ID cards that were first issued in 1956.  Applebee’s wait staff is professional, courteous and comment “Thank you for your service.”

Two other major chains that afford military and veterans a courtesy are home improvement Big Box Stores Home Depot and Lowes.  Both offer about 10 percent and politely request an ID card for proof.

There are other firms and companies that offer such courtesies to military personnel and veterans that we are not aware of.  If they would drop a note to this publication, we’d be happy to give them a pat on the back as well.

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Our first cruise many years ago was aboard the then Norwegian Caribbean Lines (now Norwegian Cruise Lines-NCL) ship Starward.  At the time it was considered a large ship.  We were impressed with the amenities and the professional staff and crew.

We later cruised on NCL’s  Norway, then the biggest cruise ship in the world. 

Today both ships would fall into a category of small and mid-size.  As anyone who has been on a cruise in recent years knows, the current crop of luxury ships carry more passengers, crew and staff that the population of some cities.

These ships are so large that passengers often forget they are aboard a ship and, rather are at a major resort hotel.

The NCL ship, Norwegian Star, is one such vessel.  The ship has recently arrived in Tampa and will be making that port its home through at least the 2012 season.  This is the first time an NCL ship has been based in Tampa rather than its traditional home ports of Miami and Port Canaveral.

Accommodating 2,348 passengers, the newly refurbished ship offers Freestyle Cruising with an itinerary for seven day cruises through the Western Caribbean with stops in Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras, Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel.

The refurbishment included 10 Freestyle dining options, nine bars and lounges, a swimming pool with a kid’s pool and five hot tubs.  There will also be a complimentary kid’s club and teen lounge, a casino, full service spa and salon and a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment.

The ship will be making a play for family vacationers by offering connecting staterooms so that families will be in adjoining cabins.