I am hitting up all my Facebook friends and everyone in my email address book to see if you might want to cruise with me and friends to the Southern Caribbean next September. You don't have to hang with me (or the group). It's your vacation and it's my vacation, and if we decide to hang out, that's OK, and if we don't, that's OK, too! I'd just hate to have you miss out on a good time at a reasonable cost.

My sister-in-law, April Sloan, plans these things all the time, and she's agreed to plan one for me and my husband, Bobby, because we both turn 50 next August.

Right now, we're in the planning stage, and need to know who wants to go and what type of cabin you would like, so April can get the group booked with Carnival ASAP (to lock in the price).

Please let us know if you're interested in going no later than Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, so we know how many cabins to hold.  Once the group is booked, we will have 30 days to make a $250 per person deposit. FYI, the cabin can be held in one person's name for $250 (except for 3- and 4-person cabins, full deposit required). The other person can be added up to the final payment date. That gives you time to find a cabin mate if you don't have one right now. Cost per person starts at $476.

Final payment is due on JUNE 28, 2011. You can make payments at any time. (Yes, people, put this cruise on layaway, LOL. I am!)

READ THE PDF BELOW to get all the details, but it's a 7-day cruise, leaving from Puerto Rico and going to St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.

Please feel free to pass it on to your friends and family.

BY THE WAY, I am completely aware we'll be sailing on the 10th anniversary of September 11. I certainly have no fears or concerns, and hope you don't, either.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best,

Leslie J. Ansley