Travel with Badger Football Coach Bret Bielema!

February 9-14, 2009

Calling all Badger fans — this is your chance to get to know the UW football coaches while on vacation. For the first time ever, our Badger football coaching staff will travel with alumni and friends on a casual Caribbean cruise. You’ll be able to talk with them one-on-one while enjoying a little surf, sand and sunshine.

Space is sure to sell out fast for this exclusive Wisconsin Alumni Association travel offer. Make sure you have a spot on this once-in-a-lifetime cruise!

Questions or want to reserve your spot now? Contact Sheri Hicks via e-mail or toll free at (888) WAA-TRAVEL.

Day 1: Fly to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The warm tropical weather will greet you as you transfer from the airport to the cruise terminal.

Once on board the ship, you will find your home-away-from-home stateroom for the cruise and explore one of the biggest vessels in the world. Our ship sports some of the most amazing features in the world of cruising: a rock-climbing wall, ice skating rink, an indoor mall-like Promenade (longer than a football field), basketball court and in-line skating.

The 11-story Centrum Atrium features a sculpture of 6,000 hand-gilded spheres inspired by the bubbles produced by scuba divers. Check out the Windjammer Cafe on Deck 11 which serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner from serving stations throughout the plaza area, avoiding long lines.

The 1557 staterooms are ocean view, some with balconies, and interior cabins, some with a view of the Promenade. All are tastefully decorated in light wood tones and restful color schemes. Every stateroom has twin beds that can convert to a queen, with a mini bar, hair dryer, television with closed circuit and satellite programming options, phone and individually-controlled air conditioning.

An assortment of bars and lounges range from The Champagne Bar to The Schooner Bar, The Latin Boleros, and the Cosmopolitan Club in the Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 14. The sports bar, The 19th Hole, is certain to attract some Badger fans throughout the cruise.

Day 3: Cozumel: This small island, measuring 28 miles long and 10 miles wide, lies just off the coast of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, and offers incredibly diverse options for the water sports' lover, but also for the shoppers, history buffs, and sun worshipers. A once sleepy fishing village has become a tourist attraction featuring one of the most beautiful scuba diving areas in the world. With a 2,000 year old history of the Mayan civilization both here and on the mainland, you can walk among the temples and pyramids dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. Mexican arts and crafts, like hammocks and leather goods make great souvenirs, along with an impressive selection of premium Tequilas. Don't forget your sunscreen if you are heading to the beaches.

Day 4: Belize City: Bordering on Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean, Belize is the second smallest country in Central America. More than half of the mainland is covered in dense forests with 20% set aside as nature preserves. Belize offers an almost unbroken chain of reefs found in the western hemisphere attracting divers from around the world. A popular snorkeling area is Shark Ray Alley. Belize is a birder's delight, as it is home to more than 500 different species from toucans to egrets. Mayan Heritage sites feature the once major trading and ceremonial centers open for your experience.