Friday, June 12, 2015

4 similarities to Vacation Specialists & Insurance ! And YES, BOTH need your investment “before” you need.


You can’t buy car, house, health life, trip insurance “after” you need it !   Same basically holds true with deciding to include a cruise/travel agent with your vacation plans.  You buy insurance because of, “if it happens”, which is the same reason for allowing a travel professional to handle your travel.

Today, because so much “buying travel” is online, folks tend to think, this must mean it’s easy to do.  The opportunity to buy online means nothing of the sort !  For the most part, these are THIRD PARTY INTERNET VENDORS.  They’re not so much specialists in their field … It may be an Internet Company just dabbling into a “piece of the travel pie”. 

A second similarity to Insurance, not all travel purchased are treated equal !  Who reads the “terms & conditions” before buying ?  It’s partly WHY folks get in trouble … They don’t know the rules !  You may not know all the insight to your insurance either … But that’s why you have an insurance agent !  A 3rd similariity ... You don't buy your differnt type insurance on your own (Please tell me you don't !).

For those Internet Sites that are the "true vendor" ... Such as cruise lines & tour operators ... Again, you don't read the terms & condition ... Invest in an agent.  Agents know these vendors, and many, such as "Cruise Distribution Houses", they have a close knit relationship to your name brand vendors.  That's another tip ... Are you looking for name brand vendor for your travel purchases ?  Do you know who the "name brands" are ?  Or just choosing cheap cause you're trusting in the Internet (3rd party vendor ?) ?

If you're only buying airfare & hotel, either buy direct from the vendor or if you are a member of AAA, they should provide this service for free !   Many hotels have told me, if you call them direct, they will match price and if you buy on someone else's site, you're often given one of the least favorite rooms.  As far as airfare ... Notice that it's not cheaper on these other sites ... And if it is, beware ... I've had many a person call me, two weeks down the road, to tell me, they received an email, that either said, the price and/or itinerary is no longer available.  If you bought the flight from the airline, they will work with you if the flight times have changed !
 
I’ve heard some folks say, I’ll call an agent if I have a question.  If you’re calling an agent with a question, then you’re actually NOT handling your vacation on your own.  “On your own” means, you do all the research, asking no one any questions.  So if you are calling Travel Professionals or asking friends/family for answer, then you're only fooling yourself, in believing that you bought this travel on your own !   And if you do call for a question, and do not choose to give that agent the business, then you are in turn, “stealing” information without purchase.  Insight/Information is meant for FREE to “customers, not passer-buyers” !

Travel Writers tell you, if you have one question, you may have more, so choose to buy your vacation through a specialist/agent !  And in essence, a person who doesn’t see that using someone’s expertise without buying, is seen in the travel world, as a person who doesn’t have respect for a person’s time nor takes into consideration that this person too, deserves a pay check like you. 

I’ve heard other folks say, I’ll call an agent if I get in trouble.  For the most part, you’ll be too late for help.  If you’ve already bought your airline ticket or bought a vacation that is already in penalty, there’s not much anyone can do for you.  And if they can, you’re liable to pay lots of money for their time for reaching out them “after” !

I’ve heard folks say, Well I’ve done it before and nothing has happened.  That’s like saying, I’ve gone without buying insurance before and all turned out ok.  Like the 4th similarity to insurance … COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS … WHY WOULD YOU PUSH YOUR LUCK !

I’ve heard folks in the travel industry use the word “Karma”.  I know I don’t like that word, but I’ve sadly seen it happen to folks !  After stealing information or not choosing to put money in the pocket of someone who works in the travel world.

Travel is a tricky world !  Stuff happens !  Though it’s not actually karma, you shouldn’t bank on everything turning out smoothly, when you see things in your own everyday life, take it’s ups-downs.  Like death & taxes, you can’t control what can happen with travel !  But you can control if you don’t want to be, in what “could happen”, alone !

SEEK OUT & INVEST IN A TRAVEL PROFESSION … BEFORE STUFF HAPPENS !  Unless your needs are complicated or what you need isn’t a commissionable part of travel, then the “helping you” is usually FREE !  WHY TURN DOWN FREE ?

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Dynamic Dining on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships is here to stay ! Their other ships, to be announced.


Dynamic Dining is a new dining concept with Royal Caribbean, which began with the Quantum of the Seas in November of 2014.  It is basically an “open dining” type approach, where guest can choose from 4 complimentary restaurants each evening.

Issues took place on the new ship, which has already led Royal Caribbean into refining this new concept.   Many folks still want the traditional set times, where you not only dine with the same folks and wait staff each evening, but you’re not having to be concerned over getting the “dining time” you want to eat.

Beginning April 2015, Royal Caribbean will include Dynamic Dining Classic 1 & 2 on the new Anthem of the Seas. At time of booking, cruisers can not only choose a set time (early/late), they too, will rotate among these same 4 complimentary dining venues.

Classic 1 & 2, will also allow these folks to dine with the same guest each night, as well as, have the same wait staff follow them to each dining venue.  Royal Caribbean will pre-set this all up, and the guest will be notified of their dining venue for the different evenings of the cruise.

Those who still prefer a less restrictive dining time, can opt for just Dynamic Dining, which is simply, “open dining”.  They too can choose to rotate through these 4 venues.  They will not be restricted in dining with the same folks each night and they will have a different wait staff with each venue they choose for the night. 

HOWEVER … Like the Oasis class ships with the current “My Time Dining”, cruisers choosing "Dynamic Dining" are required to reserve their times & dining rooms prior to boarding !  This is available “online” 60-90 days prior to sailing (date is determine by the ship itself; have to continue to look online for availability to make reservations).  If cruisers do NOT reserve in advance, they will have to go to the Guest Services, upon boarding, and choices are based on availability.

So many folks I’ve talked to are very happy that Royal Caribbean decided to add Classic 1 & 2.  They’re excited about having their set times/guest/wait staff, yet at the same time, a new dining venue each night.  A WIN-WIN-EXCITING approach !

Royal Caribbean has delayed the introduction of Dynamic Dining to its two largest cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.  There's no new date when Dynamic Dining will begin, but Royal Caribbean has indicated that this will occur "later this year".

Have you seen Royal Caribbean’s 30 for 30 ?
Book by 6/30/15 for select sailings departing on or after August 1, 2015. Offer excludes China sailings, as well as Anthem of the Seas sailings departing before April 29, 2016. Cruise savings based on stateroom category purchased. Interior - 10% off; Oceanview - 20% off; Balcony and Suite - 30% off. Offer is combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts and NextCruise offers; not combinable with restricted rates or any other offer or promotion. Single occupancy guests paying 200% cruise fare are eligible for offer. Offer open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Offer is subject to availability, capacity-controlled, not combinable with other offers, limited by the cruise line, and may be changed or withdrawn at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.

CALL TODAY and try this new Dynamic Dining experience onboard the Quantum, Anthem, Ovation (begins April 2016) … And the new Harmony of the Seas (June 2016).