Are your sail dates flexible ? Holland America sale

Call to find out where to find list: Samples dates below:

Alaska from $ 349 in June (Vancouver to Seward or vice versa). Select sailings June - Aug on sale. Call

Alaska Cruise Tours from $ 1169 - Aug 9 (CruiseTour 11 - 12-Day Discovery Cruise & Denali Adventure). Select dates June - Aug 23 on sale. Call

Australia & New Zealand from $ 1399 (Jan 6, 2010) Other dates in Jan & Feb on sale. Call

Asia Pacific from $ 999 (16N Sept 23)

Bermuda from $ 699. Select dates May through October. Call

Canada/New England from $ 749 (June 20 & 27). Other dates, June to Oct on sale. Call

Caribbean from $ 549. Select dates October to Dec 12 on sale. Call

Europe from $ 849 (July 2 for 8N Baltic). Other sailings on sale. Call

Hawaii from $ 1399, Select 15N sailings Oct 8 - Dec 7 on sale. Call

Holiday cruises from $ 899 (Dec 19 Eurodam) Dec 26 also on sale. Call

Mexican Riviera from $ 499. Select sailings Nov 21 - Dec 12 on sale. Call

Panama Canal from $ 899. Select sailings Oct 14 - Dec 13 on sale. Call

South America from $ 1199. (Dec 15). Nov 19 & Feb 23, 2010 on sale. Call


Flexible dates ... This is not available for everyone. My schedule for cruising is flexible to a point. What about you ... Are your dates flexible to cruise when you find that great deal ?

Ships coming to Port Canaveral

Freedom of the Seas 2009
Carnival Dream 2009
Norwegian Sun 2010
Disney Dream 2011
Disney Fantasy 2012

Since I am only 12 hours from Port Canaveral, this would be an easy place for me to cruise out of. What about for you ? Is Port Canaveral within your desired driving time

New Ships for Family Travel In 2009

Reported by Family Getaway Agent Magazine:

Ocean-Going:

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream
Celebrity Cruises’ 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox
Costa Cruises’ 2,260-passenger Costa Luminosa and 3,004-passenger Costa Pacifica
MSC Cruises’ 3,300-passenger MSC Splendida
Royal Caribbean International’s 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas
Yachts of Seabourn’s 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey

River Cruising:

Amawaterways’ 148-passenger
ms Amadolce and ms Amalyra
Avalon Waterways’ 138-passenger
Affinity and 140-passenger Creativity
Tauck’s 118-passenger Swiss Jewel
Uniworld’s 160-passenger River Beatrice and 84-passenger River Tosca
Victoria Cruises’ 378-passenger Victoria Jenna
Viking River Cruises’ 189-passenger Viking Legend

Since I am ready for more river cruising, the river cruise choises would appeal to me most. Which will your first choice ? Will your choices be of cruise line choices, size, or new adventure ?

Poll - When do you pack before vacation ? How long does it take you to pack ?

Family Getaay Agent magazine took an online poll. Responses were:
* 47% say they are last-minute packers when packing for a family vacation.
* 36% say they are packed in advance.
* 17% say that they take their time when packing.

Due to many "last minute" needs of others, I try not to wait till the last minute when doing anything ! So I compile what I will be taking on my cruise, 2 weeks prior. And then I place these things in my suite case, the day prior. When do you pack prior to your vacation ? Why this choice ?

Did you know ? Global cruise with Cruise West, is the longest of it's kind in the cruise industry

Cruise West is planning a 335 day circumnavigation of the world, described as the longest of its kind in the cruise industry. This small ship will visit 59 countries over 14 oceans and seas. More details will be available by the end of May.

I've been on 2 Cruise West cruises (Columbia Snake Rivers and to Alaska). If I had the time and the money, I would definately take a 335 day cruise What about you ? I would !