by Berl Colley
Make your plans to beam into the worlds of Star Trek! The science and science fiction fans group has put together a tour to the Hilton Star Trek Experience that will take place on Thursday, July 7.
You will encounter the alien worlds of Star Trek when you beam into this special tour. You will immerse yourself in the Star Trek Universe as you tour the museum, board a shuttlecraft and aid the crew in fighting the Klingons. You will celebrate the commissioning of the Shuttle Moontype, the first Starfleet fan club dedicated to people who are blind or have low vision and their families and friends. You will also have the opportunity to walk through the museum with a tour guide, ride on a shuttlecraft defending the Enterprise from the Klingons or prevent a Borg capture in the Borg Encounter 4D.
Shopping at the Promenade shops just like on DS9 is a must because you will find a galaxy of Star Trek, science- and space-related merchandise to purchase. We will have our lunch at Quark's Bar, where you will be fascinated with the decor, from the large-sized model of the Enterprise that hangs from the ceiling to the numerous closed-circuit TVs throughout the bar. You can watch and listen to your favorite Star Trek episodes from closed-circuit TVs while you eat at Quark's or tour the exhibits throughout the Star Trek Experience itself. We will dine on a variety of foods named for foods served on DS9 at Quark's. A cash bar will be available. You may see a Ferengi, Klingon or Romulan strolling around the Promenade or serving your food at Quark's Bar.
The Star Trek Experience also has a variety of other attractions, such as having your picture professionally taken in the captain's chair on the bridge of the Enterprise, or you may want to pose with a Ferengi, Klingon or Romulan. Bring your camera so that you can take pictures of the museum displays and at Quark's Bar. Be prepared for surprises as you never know who you might encounter at the Star Trek Experience. Guide dogs are welcome. They will be allowed to accompany you throughout the Star Trek Experience; however, they will not be allowed to remain with you during the motion part of the two rides. Attendants will wait with your dog and return him or her to you immediately after you depart the motion part of the ride, so you might want to bring your cane to use during this short period of time. This tour includes admittance to the museum, two rides (The Klingon Encounter and Borg 4D), lunch at Quark's Bar and bus transportation to and from the Hilton.
Expenses that are not included: alcohol purchased at Quark's, shopping, and your picture in the captain's chair or other novelties sold at the experience. If you have any questions about the Star Trek Experience, the tour, or the use of your guide dog while at the experience, contact Kathryn Johnson via e-mail, [email protected].
Liberace Museum
ACB tours will be visiting the Liberace Museum twice during convention week. The first time, Saturday, July 2, there will be a concert of some of his music. The second time, Tuesday, July 5, there will not be a concert.
Wednesday Night Dinner Cruise
And now for a little bit about the Wednesday night dinner cruise on Lake Mead. The Desert Princess is a double-decker ship that can hold up to 150 people if they are squeezed in. We will have 110 people on our cruise, including volunteers and a tour representative. The eating area is on the lower deck; the lounge is on the upper level. Dancing will take place on the lower deck after eating. Dinner is a sit-down meal and will be conducted in two shifts so that everyone can eat comfortably. The lower deck is wheelchair-accessible, but there are only stairs to the top level. There will be narration about some of the areas of the lake, but with people talking and dancing it probably will be difficult to hear. It is about a 45- minute bus ride from the Riviera to the loading docks.
Seven Pre-Convention Tours
The seven tours that will occur on the weekend prior to this year's convention are:
- July 1 trip to see the London Bridge;
- July 1, an evening baseball game;
- July 2, float trip through lower Black Canyon;
- July 2, Las Vegas city tour;
- July 2, visit to the Liberace museum;
- July 3, repeat of Las Vegas city tour;
- July 3, go to Elvis-a-rama and Ethel M's candies.
Pre-registration forms will be out shortly. Be certain to get your form filled out and sent back before the deadline to give yourself the best chance to get on whatever tours you want. Also make sure you have a room at the Riviera! To make room reservations, call the Riviera Hotel and Casino at 1-800-634-6753. Be sure to tell them that you are with the American Council of the Blind.