By Jayne Cannon

“You get to meet the players, talk to them, have one-on-one time with them. They’re so nice. I’m excited about the cruise and can’t wait to see which players will come this time.”

Time to huddle, loyal Carolina fans: It’s countdown to kickoff for the third annual AAA Carolinas Panthers Fan Cruise.

The 2008 trip, only available through AAA, is a five-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, with ports of call in Cozumel and Belize. The trip is Feb. 25 – March 1.

The list of Panthers who will make the cut for the cruise hasn’t been announced, but the 2007 roster included fan favorites Dan Morgan, Mike Minter, Brad Hoover, Jordan Gross, Adam Seward, Mike Rucker and even Mick Mixon, the radio voice of the Panthers.

On Board
Sharon Cox of Greensboro has already signed up. A rabid Panthers fan, she hasn’t missed a cruise yet. It’s the perfect getaway, she said.

“Really, the cruise is the icing on the cake,” she said. “You get to meet the players, talk to them, have one-on-one time with them. They’re so nice. I’m excited about the cruise and can’t wait to see which players will come this time.”

Aboard ship, Sharon and other fans enjoy the opportunity to gather with players to discuss plays and possibilities. The trip includes a number of chances to mingle with players in small-group settings, to get autographs and photos – and maybe even gamble with them in the casino.

“I really don’t care which players come,” Cox said. “When I first saw a story about the cruise in Go Magazine, I thought it sounded like something really fun. I’ll be there every year.”

Planned activities for Panthers fans include a welcome reception for fans and players, autograph sessions, even a “mini-training” camp where players chat with fans in small, informal groups.

The ship chosen by for 2008, the 3,000-passenger Navigator of the Seas, provides plenty of non-gridiron diversions. Among those: a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, miniature golf course, basketball court, casino, spa – even a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop.

To get on board with the Panthers in 2008, call (800) 969-CRUZ or visit your local AAA office. Prices start at $718 per person, double occupancy.

AAA Takes You There
To plan your trip on the Panthers Fan Cruise, please call AAA Vacations at (800) 398-0379, visit your nearest AAA branch office or go online to AAA.com/travel.