Families are being attracted to and responding to the cruise lines who are especially focusing ships and features for the entire family so everyone has a great vacation.
I get calls and comments all the time about cruising and how it must be affected by the difficult economy over the past few years. While there have bee changes in buying patterns and timing overall the cruise lines have been very resilient as both the excerpt below from Maritime Matters indicates, but also the Cruise Line Industries Association has indicated with the occupancy rates.
Its true, Super Bowl 2014 will be in New York City on 2 February. Do you really want to freeze to death to watch it when you can be on a Celebrity Cruise on the Celebrity Constellation for 4 nights, and all their Classic wine and spirits beverage package included and prices for the cruise start at $384 and for ocean view and higher include the beverage package. I think the value of that exceeds the cost of the cruise. And don't forget, pizza is free too! The drink package promo expires on 18 Feb 2013. Plus only $100 refundable deposit through October 2013. can't loose on this super bowl.
Celebrity is adding a new entrant and Oceania is returning to the market. More Options for you!
Sandals announced that they now have the dates for first arrivals to their newest resort on a new island for them, the Sandals La Source Grenada! Looks great and can't wait to get the opportunity to see it.
Viking River Cruises reportedly plans to build a new ship to operate on the Mississippi River, which will be the company’s first vessel on U.S. I hope they will be successful and bring more price competition to the marketplace.
Key events, see statement below.
Grandeur has just arrived to Baltimore, after a total stem to stern refurbishment of $48 million and more.
It is not as much about the money as the complete revitalizatoin and rearrangment of the ships restuarant, meeting space, and the entertainment venues.
We will be on the ship for an inspection on 24 May so check back for some new photos and videos of the ship.
On this ship Royal Caribbean has implemented the new Royal Babies and Tots nursery so you know longer have to be concerned about toilet training and more to get from away time.
Huge 220 square foot movie screen.
Great itineraries to more than just the Bahamas
250,000 cruise passengers used Baltimore for their cruise vacations last year.
Cruise traffic from Vancouver is up over 20% already and when cruise traffic is up in Vancouver that usually means land travel is as well as those are predominantly one way north or south cruises meaning passengers are getting on or off their cruises in mainland Alaska rather then a round trip cruise cruise only. Here some excerpts from the Vancouver Sun.
Even I wasn't aware that online discount sites ( you know the names) and many others do not pass thru CC information as I must do to comply with Seller of Travel laws in various states. The article in today's Washington Post travel section has two reasons to use a real human travel professional such as our agency. In both cases this would not have happened.
We collected 10 reasons to visit Germany and included them in this blog. While I have been to Germany many times, it always surprises me with something new each time. Here though are some classic aspects of why visit Germany. And when you are ready, give us a call.
I am often asked why should I use an agent, I can get a better deal on the internet. I can provide you lots of info and stories as to why an agent can practically always do better for you, but here are several reasons which industry the industry takes as standard. Even if you have already booked your travel on line, talk to us, I may be able to quickly point to some areas of concern or holes. Within the last month, a now client came to me with requests for some tours on a multyicity itinerary she had already booked "online". When I looked at it and saw she was only going to be in one city less than two days and that city was notorius for traffic and very limited access, she was staying at a hotel over 40 miles from the city, great price, great name, but she in essence was going to cut her time available to see that city by more than a 1/2 just getting to and from her hotel. What was the savings really worth? I was able to get her a fee free refund and book her with blocks of where she wanted to be and it was very little more and had air conditioning which she did not realize would make a great difference in comfort this time of year.
Your cruise, tour or vacation can take a year to save for, but only a second to ruin. While you can't do anything to prevent an unexpected storm from closing the airport, you can do something to help cover your travel investment-buy travel insurance.
Although the Italian courts have not yet released their reasoning for the sentences, which they will do within 90 days, do you feel that so far, justice is being served to those under the Captain? Please also know that outside the courts, the IMO has already revoked their licenses to again serve on a cruise ship in an officer capacitiy. The article is excerted from an AP story of this date.
Easy to get confused, I do and constantly have to double check. What is a European Plan (EP) mean in Europe? Can you get a Modified American Plan in France?
Its one of my nightmares at times, even if I am not hosting the tour group, and I am sure that tour directors who do not have the flexibility should be nominated for sainthood. But what would you do if you were in this situation?
Remember the show the Love Boat, and the how it made cruising, and cruise ships romantic. Every wonder what happened to it? Its final days have not come....
Our fellow agents have compiled this list of what we would call the top ten humorous questions ( to us ) about travel to Hawaii? If you need the answers, please send a self address stamped envelope to Don Ho
I am exhibiting at this years Vienna, VA Oktoberfest as I have done for several years now. But who knows the origin of Oktoberfest. In Germany it is mainly celebrated in September, but here we still honor the orginal time framce, and why isn't it celebrated in October in Germany. These cool nights have let us know that fall is officially here and thre are only ten days until Oktoberfest (Saturday October 5th 11am - 7pm - Old chruch St.). But before the food, drink, music, and festivities begin, I thought it would be a good time for a short history lesson....
I don't know and guiness doesn't keep that record as far as I can tell but, but to the best of my knowledge its currently Lucy Mirigian at 107 who keeps her tradition on Princess going. See Lucy and read some of the humerous things that can happen in computers after you turn 100 on a cruise ship. Also some of the things Princess has done to make it so special.
We collected some of the more humorous complaints we've heard from some consumer complaints about countries, tours, and brochures. As is the case most times, its making sure expectations are in alignment with the specific travel being performed. But what would you do with some of these? Granted most of these are Brits so some of these were to be expected.
