Karen Dillon

Karen writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

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Started by travel agents and cruise aficionados Kenny and Lynne Davis, the club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at Harrison's lounge to discuss future trips.

Since its inception in November, the group has taken two cruises -- one nine-day excursion to the Caribbean and a 15-day journey to Hawaii -- with plans for more cruises later this year and in early 2009.

"We did not form [the club] to take advantage of being travel agents," said Kenny Davis. "We became travel agents because we love to travel and we wanted people to take advantage of group rates and to get people involved in something they would enjoy."

There's no fee to join the club. Folks who are interested in becoming members are asked to complete an information sheet with their name, address and phone number, and a questionnaire about their cruising experience. Those who sign up also get a free T-shirt bearing the club's name above a picture of a trio of parrots wearing floral shirts and enjoying margaritas in some far-off island location.

Even though they're considered veteran cruisers, Kathy and Jim Joiner joined the club because they liked the idea of traveling with other couples from the lake area. The couple has taken 34 cruises, seven of which were taken last year.

"The reason we like cruises so much is because you get on board, you unpack once and you can do whatever you want," said Kathy Joiner. "Cruising is a very, very reasonable vacation. And [with the SML Sun Seekers] it's fun knowing somebody else on the ship."

Don and Faith Newton were one of five couples from the lake area who took the 15-day cruise to Hawaii in February and loved every minute of it they said.

"It was incredibly nice," said Don Newton, whose last trip to the island chain was in the 1940s. "It's a lot of fun and it's very relaxing."

At the club's April meeting, the advice the expert cruisers had for first-timers was as plentiful as a late-night cruise buffet. Kathy Joiner recommended that first-timers take at least a seven-day trip and urged novice cruisers to go to the Caribbean first.

"The Caribbean is usually very, very smooth," Joiner explained.

Travelers also should look closely at a trip's itinerary to see if the ports of call appeal to them.

"You look at what you want to do and where you want to go," she added. "If you're interested in getting a snapshot [of an area or region], then a cruise is the way to go."

People who book a trip directly with a cruise line may think they're saving money, but that's not always the case, said Kenny Davis.

"I recommend booking with a professional travel agent," he said. "People think if you skip the middle man and go directly to the source, you'll save money."

He said he's constantly on the lookout for the best possible deals for his clients and has even gotten money back for clients when the prices dropped after they booked a trip.

The best time of year to cruise is usually from mid-August to the end of February, which is also when travelers can get the best deals.

Davis recommended that travelers who take anything less than a seven-day cruise are probably going to find themselves sailing on a smaller ship with fewer activities, public areas and a drop in food quality and quantity.

Armed with a cardboard box filled with slick and colorful cruise brochures, Kenny Davis talked about the different cruise lines and the amenities available on each one.

There's Princess ("in a league of their own," said Davis), Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian and Celebrity, to name a few.

"Out of all the cruise lines though, Carnival is the top value because you get over and above what you pay for," said Davis.

For more information about SML Sun Seekers Club, contact Kenny or Lynne Davis at 297-0923 or islandboy4566@aol.com.