Customers ask Vivian, Why do you suggest cruisers should buy early ?

This question comes up all the time.

#1, When rates first come out, the cruise lines plans, are that these are the best rates that should be offered for that sailing. Rates come out for the next year, around March; For Alaska, it may not be till September. You want to stop last minute sales, support the cruise lines by buying early. If you're going, what are you waiting for ?

#2, Know ... The more cruisers book on a sailing, it "drives the rate up". So as you wait, other cruisers are making the cost of Your cruise go up.

#3, Get the best cabin location. As cruisers buy, they choose the most mid-ship cabins. As you wait, everyone is getting Your well-deserved cabin. Closer to sailing, when you see the "sales", it's meant to be for the cabins that cruisers don't want. Only if someone cancels, who booked early, do you have a chance at getting a mid-ship cabin when buying last minute.

#4, To get in on Cruises Inc special dates, you must buy early. Cruises Inc constantly reserves dates to save their clients money. It's usually given in the form of amenities, like onboard credit, wine, etc. Just remember, since Cruises Inc also provides the cruises to Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, Airline's, and other company's, the space goes quick. Cruises Inc's 1st choice in reserving cruise date, for amenities, is FBO their own clients, not to these internet companies. But Cruises Inc too, is helping to fill the ships, so the space is given, first come first serve. The cruise dates Cruises Inc reserves the most, are Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, and select dates for Royal Caribbean. So if cruisers are buying direct at the cruise lines, they are missing the boat on savings, because the cruise lines can NOT give these offers to their callers (And, if you're buying Carnival Early Saver online, if you don't know all the rules, cruisers could loose all their money; so don't book at the cruise line and do not book these rates online any website ! Call to book direct with a cruise specialist, by phone). See: www.1000CruisSavings.com

#5. In general, the sale rates the cruise lines offer, are usually available to the public, up till final payment (Exception, Carnival Early saver and Princess/Holland America flash programs). Its the other offers, like onboard credit, etc, that you can only have, during the time to promo is going on. So again, the name of the game is to get in on the early pricing and the best cabins ... And Cruises Inc's reserved space. And then "watch your sailing", only up till final payment, and call your agent if rates go down, to see if you can qualify for the lower rate ! If you didn't know cruisers do this, I'm here to remind you ... Everyone does this !

#6. My thing is, if it's on your to-do list, get it done and over with. Don't look up info one day, then a week later, look again, then a week later, look again. Get it over with. Take one day (time management), set aside time, and get it done. It's one more thing off your to-do list. And it's a happy thing. It's something, once done, that you have to look forward to ... Vacation !

Day in and day out ... I notice that clients are NOT paying attention to the offers they receive by email (whether it be from Cruises Inc or from the cruise lines). Know how I know ? Cause one week later, cruisers will call to book that same cruise, AFTER the sail is over. The cruise lines, as well as Cruises Inc, work very hard in making available to clients, savings. My suggestion, even if you think you're not ready to cruise, look at the offers.

And, too many cruisers are buying last minute, and missing out on all the savings Cruises Inc makes available, when you buy early (before Orbits, Hotwire, Priceline, Airline Co customers buy them all up). Do you know the definition of last minute ? Last minute is no longer 6 weeks from sailing; Its 6 months from sailing ! So if you're booking less than 6 months from sailing, you have missed a many a sale offer !

Two more pieces of advice, by way of a questions. When you first think of cruising, why do you ponder over it for a couple months ? Why do you not see your choices online, and call and book right then ? Why waste so much of your time. Don't think about a cruise till you are ready to commit, right then, and then book. Time management. Who has a lot of free time anymore ? You're being pulled here and pulled there. So why not, get this one thing off our back ... Your vacation plans !

The cruise lines and Cruises Inc beg clients to help us save them money. What do they need to do, besides emails, to help remind you ? To help show you that your best interest is at heart, in SAVING ?!

Cruises Inc, helping clients all over the US, sail in 2012 (Loaning clients their deposit, up to $500 per cabin & giving up to $150 to spend)

Click title to see event on facebook, to include dates of event, phone # to participate, and details.

Event for week of March 26 only. Phone calls only.

Customers ask, Vivian's point of view, as to why we need vacations (also, see statistics)

Click title for article - The Importance of Vacations, for Stress Relief, Productivity and Health.

30 years ago, I was in the banking business. Being a work-a-holic, you can understand how banking would be my whole life, at that time. Some people are more into marriage, more into having families, and some, consume their whole life with working. That's me. Add perfectionist to that, and you can have double stress that you put on yourself.

Even with the normal every day stresses of work and work deadlines, I still love work. It keeps my mind going; it actually keeps me out of trouble (mind wonder). However, even a work-a-holic needs a break. Time to regroup; time to refocus; time to have time to think; time to figure out how to put new ideas into play.

At home, if one is like me, a work-a-holic doesn't have time to think, cause they are always working; moving from project to project. And though one loves work, you get burn out or over the top frustrated/stressed.

The sad part is, when a work-a-holic doesn't realize this about themselves. That they too, are not a super person (man or woman). One can't function 24/7, 7 days a week, and not finally burn out or just totally stress out, or even a melt down. For me, the best way to know when that time comes for me, is when I start getting grouchy !

What's even more sad about a work-a-holic, is when they don't realize, that if they're not willing to take the time for themselves, they need to reach out of the box, and think about those around them. Work-a-holics forget, that everyone around them is not like them. And their own work habits, puts stress on others. So when we start getting croucher our ownself, or notice that those around us are getting stressed, it's time for us work-a-holics to give others a break (time off from us).

Luckily, with working at the bank, 20+ years back, I had 6 weeks vacation a year. To survive my own job, i took those 6 weeks off. And once I discovered "cruising", I discovered this was the only thing that truly took me away from work. That's how I got started cruising, out of need, for myself. And the whole reason I went in this business, was to help others "see the same". Not only for the self outcome you receive with a vacation, but the outcome you give to others, as well as, the outcome you receive by choosing a cruise ... A vacation that truly takes you away.

This business is not some money making business; matter of fact, it doesn't even pay the cost of my health insurance. My true purpose for being here, is to remind you that you have not taken your vacation this year, and that sitting home, wasting your vacation away, is "not" a vacation ... But a cruise truly will take you away from it all. You literally stop thinking about work; about life stresses. You actually forget there's home; work. I sit around the pool, not to sunbath, but to allow thoughts to go through my head, even if those thoughts are work related ideas. I even write them down. And when I come home, I feel like a new person. And ready to roll at it again till the next time I can cruise. And, I make sure I have that next cruise planned, so I can see "light at the end of the tunnel".

Vacation is not selfish. Vacation is a need for health. There's a many a doctor who tell their clients to take vacation; why can't they write a prescription !

If you know anyone around you, who does not go on vacation or who do not believe in vacation, they actually need vacation more than you and I. Make suttle hints; leave articles. You may be saving their life ... And what about the stress relief you might receive when they are away ?! Be a winner; be pro-active with your vacation, as well as, reminding others around you. The life you might save, might be your own !

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A global study found that about a third of employed Americans usually do not take all the vacation days that they are entitled to, leaving an average of three days on the table. Article, "Take a vacation, for your health's sake",
By Alina Tugend

British get an average of 26 days of vacation and the French about 37 — compared with 14 days for Americans, Expedia.com said.

According to John de Graaf, executive director of Take Back Your Time, a nonprofit organization that studies issues related to overwork, 137 countries mandate paid vacation time. The United States is the only industrialized country that doesn't.

But really, should you just stay home, relax in front of the television, read a novel, do a few day trips? Well, vacations are not simply a luxury. There is increasing evidence that they really are necessary for good health.

Using information from the Framingham Heart Study, which started in 1948, researchers looked at questionnaires women in the study had filled out over 20 years about how often they took vacations. Those women who took a vacation once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year, said Elaine Eaker, a co-author of the study and president of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises, a private research company.

Another study, published in 2000, looked at 12,000 men over nine years who were at high risk for coronary heart disease. Those who failed to take annual vacations had a 21 percent higher risk of death from all causes and were 32 percent more likely to die of a heart attack. "So forget about cutting down on cholesterol and exercise — Take off the Bahamas !" Even if you don't have heart problems, a vacation of at least one week — and preferably two weeks to really unwind — can help you relax and sleep better. Mark Rosekind, president and chief scientist at Alertness Solutions, a scientific consulting firm, has worked with NASA pilots and astronauts on sleep issues.

Studies have proven, after a few days on vacation — and it usually took two to three — people were averaging an hour more of good quality sleep. And there was an 80 percent improvement in their reaction times. "When they got home, they were still sleeping close to an hour more, and their reaction time was 30 to 40 percent higher than it had been before the trip," Rosekind said.

The trick, these days when going on vacation, is not only to physically remove yourself from your normal routine, but mentally as well. Checking your BlackBerry every few hours or rushing to the nearest Internet café doesn't cut it.

For 10 years, the Faculty of Management at Tel Aviv University has conducted a study looking at what is called "respite effects," which measure relief from job stress before, during and after vacations.

Professor Dov Eden, an organizational psychologist who has conducted the study, found that those who are electronically hooked up to their office, even if they are lying on the Riviera, are less likely to receive the real benefits of a vacation and more likely to burn out.

Studies have proven, "How the body reacts to a lifestyle of stress," she said. "This is real evidence that vacations are important to your physical health."

William Doherty, a professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota, said that "vacations tend to create memories more than any other family activity, and the bad times are some of the best memories."

Do these pictures remind you of anyone ? Hope not you !

Customers ask, Why do I like taking the train to Baltimore, New Jersey, or New York to catch my cruise ?

Click title and view someone else's point of view.

#1, I do not like driving, what so ever ! Send a helicopter for me, from Walmart, and I would go there every day ! #2, I love trains ! I think they are one of the most fun ways of getting around, besides sailing onboard a cruise ship !

Unlike in a plane, I do not feel I am so restrickted to my seat. Just the fact that I can get up and move around, allows me to "not" have that urge of wanting to get up, like I do, when I'm flying on a plane ! Sure, it's some what rocky when traveling to the rest room, but again, I don't seem to get up as much. I feel the seats are more roomier and so are the isles. It's also open seating, so you can sit where you want; Even alone !

When I want to walk around, like go to the dining cart or the snack area, I can do so. Or I can sit and look out the window; or read a book; or get on my cell phone. I feel more freedom when I'm on the train !

Like many do, when traveling my plane, I can bring my food, but more importantly, I can buy my drink in advance, and bring it on the train. And as long as you can handle your luggage, you can bring, just about, whatever you want. Sometimes, you can check your luggage, but you need to be sure of your destination before doing this. You also don't go through all that screening like you do to ride a plane.

Besides the east coast train to get to my ship, I've enjoyed many a train ride. I love all the one in Alaska, and I've repeated them several time (Fairbanks-Denali-Anchorage-Skagway). I'm planning to take the train from Seward to Anchorage in May of 2012. I've also done the trains in Australia ! I've taken trains in Japan. I may not opt to always go by train to get to my destination, but if the island or port I am visiting, offers trains, I usually take this option. I just love them.

I have 2 dream train trips I want. One is the Canadian Rockies, and the 2nd one is above New York, the Andirondacks. Neither have I yet to find time to put in my schedule ! The travel time, just for the Andirondacks is 2 days from LYH to Montreal, and then another 2 days back.

Tell me your love for trains and your favorite journeys !

Customers ask me, What do you carry in your carry-on, on the plane or just onto the cruise ?

Well, I think the best and plan for the words.

For my plane flight. I plan, to carry the bare minimals, that I could get by with, in a week, in case my luggage never shows. I take a pair of shoes I could use all week; plenty of under clothes (to include a pair of shorts); a change of clothes; my PJ's, all my jewelry; camera, all my medications, and other items that may have a higher cost value to it. Some people's philisophy, if you pack this way, then all will work out well, and your luggage won't get lost. But sure enough, you don't think this way, and you luggage gets delayed. Do yourself a favor, plan out of the box.

For getting onboard. I take the clothes I will need for dinner that evening, all my medications, jewelry, camera, and any items of high cost, etc. Many people don't realize, your luggage may not come for several hours, and it may not come till after you go to dinner, especially, if you have early dinner. Remember to plan this way when packing your carry-on, that you take onboard.

Remember, anything you can't do without for 36 hours, don't pack it in your check-luggage !

Customers ask, Why do you not choose to go to All-Inclusives yourself ?

Click title for sample All-Inclusive Resort names.

The first thoughts that come to my mind, when I think, All-Inclusives, that would not cause me to choose an All-Inclusive, are the exact same reasons, why others do choose All-Inclusives.

* Beach
* Fun in the sun
* Non-motorized motor Sport activities
* Staying in one location

Then I think of the more practical reasons, and I can truly understand the value of an All-Inclusive
* Most include r/t transfers from the airport, even if when an hour away.
* Taxes and tips
* All drinks

And of course, the parts I do like, like being on a cruise:
* All meals
* Different dining venues available
* Touring the island


Though I know so many people who love All-Inclusives, the staying in one place, would be the part that least interested me. More importantly, when I hear folks say, they never left the resort, because they were afraid to go into the island, then my question is, why choose that island. You would be better off, just choose an All-Inclusive in the US, and not spend all that money in airfare.

All in all, many people are happy with never leaving the resort and staying in one place, and that's why they have All-Inclusives. And All-Inclusive may be exactly what the doctor ordered for you too ! What ever it takes to truly feel like you are away from work, away from stress, away from daily tasks, is the key to why you get away. Try it, you might love it !

Remember, there are 1000+ choices out there. It's valuable to you, to allow your agent to share with you, the Land Tour Operators they work with. Just like a cruise, name brand companies, who rate the resorts for you, is so important. And it's important that this company stands behind the resort, for your agent ! Remember Trip Cancellation Insurance (often it covers cancel for any reason, which is valuable, in case there is a hurricane that wipes your vacation away).

Have you beem to an All-Inclusive. Please share your experiences.