Travel Weekly reports, this weeks most Viewed Cruise Ships

Travel Weekly reports, this weeks most Viewed Cruise Ships

• Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
• Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
• Carnival Magic, Carnival Cruise Lines
• Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Cruises
• Carnival Breeze, Carnival Cruise Lines
• Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Cruise Line


I personally have folks on 4 out of the 6 ships names above, so  certainly makes sense !
Go here, view itineraries:  www.BestCruiseSavings.com

 

Carnival puts 15-drink daily cap on alcohol package

Article from Travel Weekly.
http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-puts-15-drink-daily-cap-on-alcohol-package/?a=cruise&cid=eltrcruise
 

Top 5 International Destinations for 2013 - Central and South America on A list

Reported by TravelMole

The survey says unexplored areas of Central and South America like Nicaragua and Columbia will be on traveler's "A" list this year. The site has seen significant surges in Latin America bookings compared to last year, citing Santiago (500 percent), Rio de Janeiro (156 percent), San Jose (145 percent), Buenos Aires (78 percent) and Lima (20 percent) as the most sought-after destinations.


Currently, OneTravel.com's overall top five international destinations for 2013 are Cancun, Manila, San Jose (Costa Rica), Lima, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Package bundling may mean lower seat availability on future flights

Package bundling may be the trend in 2013.  Reported by Travel Mole, buying 2013 flights early may be truly needed by consumers in 2013 !
http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?c=setreg&region=3&m_id=Y!Y!Y!T_dT_d&w_id=8634&news_id=2004801 

Southwest says cut in line for cash

Reported by Travel Mole.  Interesting concept.
http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?c=setreg&region=3&m_id=Y!Y!Y!T_dT_d&w_id=8634&news_id=2004798

 

Cruise Rates for 2013 are most definately climbing and dates selling out

Since before the first of the year, cruise rates are most definately climbing.  Just last week alone, two groups finally put down there deposit, after talking about their cruise, for over 30 days, and rates had gone up by $ 50 per person.

The industry tries to get folks to start booking their next year vacation, as early as September, the year prior, and even available, usually between March and May. Many folks will look at their cruise (why, if you're not going to buy right then), yet, do not plan to confirm plans till first of year.

Estimated, 50%, of many sailings are filled by first of the year.  The more cabins sold on any date, is what drives rates up !  Folks have no idea, unless they looked, many months back, what they could have saved !  So waiting till the first of the year, is actually not the wisest !

The rule of thumb is, those who book early and those who book last minute, most often, get the same rates.  The best value in booking early, is getting the better cabin. 

It's so amazing, to hear folks call, last minute, and some of their first words are, "I want mid-ship".  Understand, if you are a last minute buyer, this can not be part of your criteria.  Your only chance at getting mid-ship, when buying last minute, is if someone bought early, and then cancelled, and then that cabin is there for you.  Matter of fact, when folks call last minute, and I find a mid-ship cabin, my comment is always to them, "looks like someone has cancelled, so there is available, a mid-ship cabin".  Who know if they hear the value in what was there ?

Folks often ask me, what is early and what is last minute.  Early is 9 months to 15 months in advance.  So if folks have booked as early as 15 months behind, those 9 monthers, are already 6 past these other folks (who are getting better cabins).  And what is now last minute ?  If you are booking 6 months or less.  Cruise lines are running their last minute sales now at 6 months prior.  So when you call 3 months prior or even one month prior, you don't realize, but you are banking that folks have cancelled so their is space !

My point is, it's already 2013.  And if you've yet to begin looking, or looking and have yet to confirm, I wouldn't continue to wait.  This is Wave Season.  More cabins are selling right now, for your date, and driving your rate up !

The race is on, with Wave Season !  Will you get in !  Have you picked up the phone and started dialing yet ?

 

Cruises Inc National Conference raised more than $ $60,000 for Make-A-Wish®

Dreams really do come true at Disney^®. And that was the case at this year’s Cruises Inc National conference, as they surpassed their $60,000 fundraising goal for our signature charity, Make-A-Wish.

 

From Oct. 14-21, our Home Based division held their land/sea National Conference themed “Creating Magical Memories” at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and on the Disney Dream. There were more than 760 attendees at the annual event. The money was raised through a silent auction, 50-50 raffle and generous donations.

One anonymous donor gave $25,000 while

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines also gave donations.

 

During the General Session on Monday, October 15, WTH employee, Allison Daly, shared a heartfelt story of how Make-A-Wish helped bring joy to her family over the past couple of years. Allison’s daughter, Caroline, was diagnosed more than two years ago with Leukemia. Today, Caroline is in the final stages of her treatment and is doing well.

“Knowing that the money raised at this year’s National Conference will be able to grant even more wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions is so gratifying,” said Dwain Wall, Senior Vice President of our Home Based division. “It is such a great feeling to see our franchisees and independent agents rally behind our company’s signature charity.”

One of the raffle items was a quilt made out of T-shirts from past National Conferences. Judy Raikes with CruiseOne, the winner of the quilt, so graciously donated the quilt back to the company where it will be proudly displayed in the Ft. Lauderdale office.

 

Last year’s conference raised $53,000, which helped Make-A-Wish grant 21 wishes.

 

A huge thank you to Make-A-Wish representative Ashley Gartland and everyone involved in the CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. National Conference fundraising efforts for Make-A-Wish.

 

 

 

Why Choose a Villa for your next destination. Why Villas of Distinction

Why choose a Villa for your next destination
http://www.villasofdistinction.com/about/why-villas/

Why Villas of Disctinction as your host

Villas of Distinction is a premier luxury villa provider that has helped travelers find their perfect vacation home since 1989. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with a quality product, excellent service, and great value.

Villas of Distinction represents thousands of villas in more than 50 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, France, Italy, Greece, Tahiti, the Bahamas, and the United States. Our villas range in size from 1-20 bedrooms and most are equipped with pools, butlers, maids and chefs. We have villas for every occasion: weddings, vow renewal parties, romantic getaways, golf, tennis, and spa retreats, corporate outings, family reunions, and trips with special friends. Wherever your getaway brings you, Villas of Distinction specialists will provide you with a luxury villa and will take care of all of your accommodations and special requests. Many villas are located near restaurants, bars, nightclubs, casinos, boutiques, tennis courts, golf courses, historic sites, and art galleries.
With over 20 years of experience matching travelers to the vacation rental, our professional villa specialists have an intimate knowledge of not only the destination, but the villas themselves. Our agents will help you select the right villa for you. Our expert team of Guest Arrival Concierges will help you prepare for your vacation by arranging for items such as car rentals, grocery pre-stocking, chef services; they will make sure all the details are set for your arrival. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. We aim to provide great value and service, allowing you to relax and enjoy your villa vacation.

 

CNN Travel Article: Europe's 10 hottest destinations for 2013

Great help in deciding travel for 2013.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/04/travel/europe-top-destinations/index.html?hpt=tr_c1 

New York Times Article - The 46 Places to Go in 2013

Great insight from article:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/10/travel/2013-places-to-go.html?ref=travel

 

Carnival Pricing Becomes Even More Complicated – Possibly angered past guest in the near future

Just when I think, maybe I can talk about a subject, like Hawaii, or another destination, in my blog, another type complication comes up, which I feel, the value in sharing with cruisers.  Again, the topic is Carnival.

Yesterday, I was talking with one of my Top Customers, and explaining, that Carnival now has about 6-7 different rate options.  They in turn, told me, that the sailing they were currently looking at, showed six. 

My thoughts were, great to hear !  I didn’t really know, so many were shown, on Carnival’s site, since our agency doesn’t usually use Carnivial.com to get rates; we have our own computer system.

Of course, once I looked at the sailing with my client, on Carnival’s site, I began to think, Carnival really has more rate options than just 6-7 these days; there are sailings that will also have, senior rates, military rates, resident rates, which only names three more !

My clients topic, in calling me was, the VIFP offer received in the mail.  Of course, my thought was, ok, “past guest rates”, no problem.  Oh no, it was not that at all !  This was a special offer, and it was not in “our sophisticated computer system”.    Oh my !

Decided to look on Carnival’s travel agent website.  Once I put in the customers name and birthday, their past guest number went into place.  There on the right it said, “special offers”.  I opened up the folder and it said, LD4 offer.  I went further into the system and I saw, LD4 offer.  I had not seen this before, upon being in Carnival’s agent site.

Soon learned, if you do not put the past guest number into their system, before looking at rates, this offer will not come up !  OK, great lesson to learn !  Began wondering, how many Carnival past guest, who had bought a cruise from me lately, had not mentioned VIFP and this promo had not presented itself, when giving pricing (later, I went through folks bookings, and found one, and called Carnival and they gave me the offer !).

What I also learned, no matter if, others in your group, have sailed as many times as you had, or even your own partner, may not receive this same offer.  OH, do I see two problems that can take place down the road.

1.      Both husband and wife, or partners, or mates, must have their own past guest number, checked separately, to see if maybe one of them, has a special offered tied to their past guest number (in case the other one does not).  Know, that if each are offered different offers, they can not have both offers if rooming in same room !  Only one promo can be applied !

2.     When friends and family travel together, the same offer, seems to be, most often "NOT" offered, to all parties.  I did call Carnival tech support and asked if there was a way to force the promo LD4 to be offered, and was told No (I also have a call to my Carnival rep and hope to hear back from them soon - 1/18/13  - Heard back. All she suggested was, call the promo desk. FYI, Carnival does not offer their reps much power; not fair to the reps; not the reps fault; sad for the reps).

So … How much more complicated can Carnival make it ?  I hate to ask this, since there is always tomorrow !

Like I discussed with one of my associates yesterday … It’s almost like, such ideas are coming from folks at Carnival, that have most definitely, just have nothing else to do ! 

My feelings, why give some Carnival past guest folks the offer and not others !  I can understand, making the discount larger for cruisers who have cruised more with Carnival; but to not give folks, who have traveled equal, the same discount, to me, is absolutely crazy ! 

Yesterday, I was literally exhausted, from all the explaining of the different rate options, of Carnival, to cruisers calling yesterday !  Though Carnival believe they are doing a great thing, such as with all the promos that are non-refundable, this could be the added stress that agents and clients, just don't need !

I see angry past guest ahead ! 

Why choose a Royal Caribbean cruise as your vacation destination ?

(Posting tonight instead of tomorrow; flying tomorrow)
(Sorry, pictures are not posting on site tonight)

 

Royal Caribbean has many plus features to offer !

Here’s what Travel Weekly’s Official Cruise Guide has to say:

“Royal Caribbean Cruise Line boasts a fleet of the world’s largest ships, with eight of them weighing 135,000 tons or more. Royal Caribbean ships are basically cities at sea, arguably offering the best variety of bells and whistles out of all the mainstream cruise lines. Main competitors are Carnival and NCL. Sails to: Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Central America/Panama Canal, Eastern Seaboard, Hawaii, Inland Waterways, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Scandinavia/Northern Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, and Transatlantic Cruises.”

 

Here’s a Royal Caribbean flyer:

Why RCI ? 

http://www.royalcaribbeanincentives.com/docs/rccl-pdfs/why-choose-royal-caribbean.pdf

10 Reasons:  http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/12027296_Why_Choose_Royal.pdf

For Your next incentive or conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tMKwgFe-PQ

 

Why do I personally love to sail aboard a Royal Caribbean ship ?

As far as their cruises themselves:

Know that my favorite ships of Royal Caribbean are those that are 138,000 tons and larger !  I enjoy their …

·        Fabulous Service

·        Exquisite Beauty

·        24 hour coffee & snack area

·        Walking on the boulevard, several times a day

·        Ice Skating shows

·        Variety of lounge areas

·        Atrium cabins

·        Café on front of ship

·        Variety of food in the café

·        Lounge for Diamond Plus Members (and added service)

·        Crown Royal Lounge

·        Play aboard the Allure

·        Zip Lining & surfing on 158,00 ton, larger ships

·        Jonny Rockets Hamburger

Know, that for agents, we are more interested on how easily we can work with cruise lines at their corporate office.  This truly tells MORE about a cruise line, and gives you a much better heads up, in knowing how their onboard experiences might be for the client:

·        Cruises Inc has their own special telephone to talk with their top notch agents !  Most everything, that is needed, can be handled, right here, in this department, for Cruises Inc agents and our clients !  They are great !  If they do not know the answers, they can find the answers. 

·        Cruises Inc agents are offered DSM’s (what they are called, has changed) that work in the field.  If there is an issues, problem, or something you do not understand, you can rely on contacting these folks !  They really care; they want our clients aboard their ships !

 

It's true that Royal Caribbean can often cost more money, than say, Carnival.  Please know, these two cruise lines, actually can not be compared !  You know the saying, you get what you pay for; also, if everyone could afford, then "anyone" would be onboard !  The cheaper the cruise, everyone can afford !  They are elite !

They have fabulous to look at ships; offering superb service; and their corporate office is on top of things !

WHY NOT CRUISE ROYAL CARIBBEAN ?   

 

Frommer’s 2013 New Year’s Resolution includes tips on travel

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

 

As a person who eats, drinks, and sleeps cruises, I couldn’t help but jump onboard with Frommer’s # 9 & #12 !

 

# 9:  “I will never leave on any trip before spending at least a few hours reading about the history and culture of the place I am about to visit.”
 

If for no other reason, know a little of what you plan to do, before you get to your destination.  If not, you’ll spend half your morning just trying to make a decision.  Besides, half the fun, is anticipating what you will be doing, while in port !

 

#12:  “And finally, in the writing I do and the talks I deliver, I will continue to regard travel not as a mere recreation, but as a serious learning activity, a way of understanding the world, an essential element of a civilized life.”

 

This is so true.  Many folks look at vacation as a luxury.  In essence, it’s a necessity. It’s a time to build a bond with your mate, your family, or if traveling alone, a time in getting to know yourself even more. And until folks realize the value of travel, many are missing out on the nurishment our mind and body receives through taking time off from work … from daily routines … to do something different … challenging !  Rebuild excitement and newness in your life ! 

 

As it even says in the Bible … if you don’t use it, you loose it !  Relationships included !

 

Wave Season or RUSH SEASON is upon us

A couple weeks ago,  Norwegian Cruise Line mentioned, on their facebook page, that “wave season” was about to begin.  I literally got a chuckle, when I saw a reply to NCL’s posting, that said, “Yeah, I know, but I still cruise during this time anyway”.

Realizing that this person, apparently thought wave season had to do with the ocean waves, I figure, there may be other folks that possibly think the same (?), especially with seeing this response.

 

Wave Season is a word used by folks in the travel industry.  They are words to describe a time of year; a season of the travel industry; when most folks plan their next vacation.  Beginning of “wave season” to the industry is January.

The value or purpose in the industry, reminding consumers, of this upcoming season, is to remind them to get ready !  It’s coming !

 

Why ?

Most folks need, even with making a commitment with deciding vacation, need leeway time, prior to, decision making time !

Such as when bosses remind their employees, that their vacation needs to be in by a certain date; or a group leader, reminds their followers, that the new travel date is coming soon.  It’s to let folks know, here’s your date, so be prepared to get this task done.

 

So “wave season” is upon us ! It’s that RUSH SEASON for folks to get their plans in ! However know, in reality, “wave season” is actually for the folks who are LATE in making plans.  Many season travelers have already made their plans; they know better than wait for the RUSH !

Wave Season to me is RUSH SEASON !  Many many consumers are all calling at the same time !  Agents have less time to spend with these folks that wait for this first of the year season; so everyone is rushed.

My philosophy, is plan when everyone else is not.  However, the season is now upon us; so if you have yet to confirm your 2013 vacation, this season is talking to you !

 

In past years, Wave Season began 1^st or 2^nd week of January and goes through mid-March.  By then, most folks have planned their yearly vacation.  Folks who book after this time frame, are considered, late-late planners.

So the season is upon us, that the cruise lines, agents, and the entire industry is about to enter that busy season in helping 60% of the traveling consumers !  Consumers need to be prepared in heavy phone lines and limited space to choose from; it can also mean, higher prices.
 

Remember, the  more who book the date you want, it drives rates up.  So if you have also waited till “wave season” to make your plans, waiting closer to March, could mean higher rates, or even space gone.  Many dates in the summer, are already, yes already, SOLD OUT !


 

Season Greetings Holiday Recipes from SeaDream Yacht Club

Wishing your family happy holidays - (recipes) from SeaDream Yacht Club. http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102732265855-484/Recipes+from+the+yacht.pdf

TripAdvisor has released the results of a 2012 poll of over 2,500 respondents on their favorite airport-area hotels. The poll's results show that 67 percent of travelers surveyed have stayed at an airport hotel and ranks favorite top ten hotels within a two-mile radius of a major US airport.


Two cities, near where ships sail from, were listed for one of the "favorite airport area hotel":

Miami Springs, Florida - Comfort Suites Miami Airport North - Average Nightly Rate: $137+

Seattle, Washington - Cedarbrook Lodge - Average Nightly Rate: $175+



 

Regency Cruises voted best for Luxury

My customers who have switched to Regency Cruises feel the same way !

http://view.rssc-email.com/?j=fe5a167176640c7b7c1c&m=fef81370706300&ls=fdf11c72746c017571117474&l=fe9916717c61057e74&s=fe281d777165057e7d1072&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe1f16717c600c74731372&r=0

 

 

 

 

Remember, ABC's smash hit "Dancing with the Stars" sizzles on board Holland America Line

From Holland America:  See video and write up
http://www.hollandamerica.com/pageByName/Simple.action?requestPage=DWTS&stop_mobi=yes


What a great opportunity for loves of this show, to sail right with the dancers !

Will YOU let them sail without You ?
Space going quickly !

Thankful For Travel. Why ?

Here it is, a week before Christmas.  Thinking of things I’m Thankful for.  Being in the travel business, naturally, I would include travel in my thoughts.

Why Thankful for Travel ?

 

I’m thankful …

We live in a country that allows us to buy a passport, so that we may go outside and visit other countries and experience the cultures !

There’s an opportunity to see how other folks live (and survive); helping to appreciate more of what we have.

A chance to see many of God’s Natural Wonders of the World.

I can invite others to join me, for some quality time together, and to share in some of the same joys.

For time away from work, to regenerate one’s mind.

To be an American and for the opportunities it brings me !

 

 

 

To be alive to form a bucket list !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, my customers, for my thinking of me with your mailed in Christmas Cards

Thank you !

Thank you from MSC Cruises !