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The Scoop on the New Royal Caribbean – ...

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:05:20 +0000

Hello everyone, I wanted to share my feedback with you about the big buzz in the cruise industry these days….the new Royal Caribbean, Oasis of the Seas! She will home-port in Ft Lauderdale all year long. My husband and I had the pleasure to spend two nights onboard during a pre-inaugural travel agent/media familiarization cruise. I have to tell you, I had my doubts about such a large ship….the largest at sea, 225,000 GRT (gross registered tons), up from the Freedom class ships at 160,000 GRT. This ship carries about 6500 passengers plus staff.

I thought, before I cruised…..too big, too many people, a monstrosity I would not really want to cruise on. I thought….why would I every need a ship that large.

Well let me tell you……I was WRONG! This is an innovative ship, she has more to do, more to see, more to experience and more to enjoy then I could in a week. And better yet, she is easy to maneuver (unlike many ships where you must go up and down and all around to get where you want to go).

She has an ice skating rink, basketball court, mini-golf, two flow rider surf simulators, a zip line, a mini-golf course, two rock climbing walls, 5 pools, a spa, a fitness center, a large indoor theater, a comedy club, a jazz club, a piano bar, a pub, a Spanish night club, a Royal Promenade with grand parades, an Aqua Theater, casino, full size carousel, shopping, shopping and shopping (candy store, Pets at Sea store (think Build-A-Bear), kids boutiques, teen boutiques, COACH, Prince and Greene, Willow, etc), two arcades, table tennis, a fabulous kid’s pool area, great kid’s and teen clubs and much more.

This does not even include the two dozen dining venues. Yes, many of them charge a surcharge but what a fabulous selection from the must have cupcake shop on the Royal Promenade, to Johnny Rockets and the Seafood Shack on the Boardwalk, to the Izumi Japanese and Sushi restaurant, to the very upscale 150 Central Park which I hear is absolutely the best with an awesome young chef preparing an indescribable multi-course meal. And, I have never seen a buffet dining area as nice as the one on this ship. The Windjammer Marketplace, as they call it, has windows that face directly out over the boardwalk, the zip line, basketball courts and mini-golf. We sat at the end of the zip line and enjoyed watching the faces of those zooming across the open air zip line 10 decks above the Boardwalk while we ate lunch.

THIS SHIP IS A DESTINATION….

When I am lucky enough to return, I plan to take my kids (15 and 12) although I am sure I will never see them. Did I mention the great teen club? It is located far from the rest of the kid’s clubs and convenient to the sports deck, the Wipe Out cafe (think pizza, hotdogs and soft serve ice cream) and a big arcade. It has enormous bean bags to laze around in (as teen’s like to do), it has a music studio, a gaming area, what looked like a yoga area, and even an outdoor shaded hangout area.

My thoughts on what I will do when I get to enjoy 7 nights….spend a day in each neighborhood. I loved the Boardwalk with the Aqua Theater where they will have shows featuring high divers, synchronized swimmers and much more. The floor of this pool adjusts from being a dry stage to 18 ft deep. How cool is that? I also want to spend more time in Central Park. I didn’t even get a chance to take a ride and have a drink on the Rising Tide bar that floats up and down between Central Park and the Royal Promenade. It looks like a giant new age surfboard! And oh, don’t forget the adults only Solarium with its own pool, two amazing whirlpools that are suspended over the side of the ship, its own “healthy choice” buffet area, lazy lounges and of course, a bar.

And let me mention the accommodations on this ship….you have far more to choose from then every before. Of course, the standard inside, ocean view, balcony and suites but more. How about a balcony that faces the Boardwalk or Central Park, or perhaps an inside overlooking the Royal Promenade. Maybe you prefer a suite…..how about the new 2 level loft suites….they are amazing, especially the Royal Loft suite! I fell in love with the Aqua Theater suite that accommodates up to 8 guests. It has a large balcony that overlooks the ocean on one side and the Aqua Theater and Rock Climbing walls on the other. And there are even a handful of 6 person inside and ocean view cabins for those of you with large families of young children. I think I heard there were 7 onboard so be sure to book these well in advance. They will go fast!

My recommendations when you cruise….book your evening entertainment in advance, before boarding the ship. You can review schedules and options once you have booked. You will be able to do this from your interactive TV in your stateroom but why wait….be sure to get what you want. I especially recommend this for the Comedy club as it only seats about 110 people per show. I also recommend that you don’t wait to book your cruise. This ship is very popular since there is so much buzz and pricing has been going up. If you book early, with Best Cruise Buy, you will get the best selection of cabins, but you will also get the best rates because we keep watching those rates for you on a bi-weekly basis. If the prices drop, we get you the lower rates! No work required on your part to keep an eye out. We are after your best interests because we want to be the agency your refer to your friends and family and the agency you come back to again and again. Don’t forget, we also offer the best available rates Royal Caribbean has to offer and then discount everyone by providing you onboard credit to enjoy on the ship.

Enjoy our pictures by writing to us. We will be happy to send the pics. You can also find our pics on our Facebook page. To link to it, go to the About Us page on our website. Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll be glad to talk about this ship with you anytime. Yes, pricing is kind of high in 2010 but this is like no other ship at sea! It is on my must do list now!

Make Your Next Vacation Cost Less With Last M...

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:40:04 +0000

There has always been a myth behind booking a cruise, and that is you have to book well in advance to get the best deal possible. However the last minute cruise deals are where you save a great deal of money. It just takes a little patience, flexibility, and searching in the right places.

If you possess all three there is no doubt your pocketbook will be feeling the benefits. Cruise lines are setup so that when its time to leave the docks they want to have as many rooms filled as possible. Its just an obvious observation that if a room’s empty, the cruise line is not only losing out on the cost of the room, but also the cost of all the activities, food, beverages, and souvenirs that would have been purchased by people had the room been filled. That is possibly thousands of dollars lost because a cruise line was trying to get full price out of a room? Very unlikely. Its just not going to happen, but at the same time don’t think you are simply going to see an advertisement floating around the web that says, “We Can’t Fill Our Cruise Line Please Come With Us” either, or the search may be for eternity.

You might sitting there thinking, “Well how much of a discount am I going to actually get?”, and the answer to that is it all depends on the cruise you want to take. There are no cost of trip amounts here that can say, “I guarantee you will save X amount of dollars” because what your preference is to another person’s may be totally different. However, you can find several cruise deals that offer anywhere from 50%-80% off your room. If that’s not enough to make you want to start looking now, we may need to take your pulse.

Yes, it all sounds great right? Now all you need to know is where exactly to find these deals and save like everyone else does. Checkout places like bookit.com that give people the opportunity to plan a trip within 1-2 months for unbelievable savings. How does $629 sound to stay in a suite room on the Royal Caribbean during a 4day/3night stay to the Bahamas that port in Cococay and Nassau. Go out and get that same room just hitting the cruise line’s main website and your looking at almost $1,800 for the same trip. That is the type of savings available to consumers, and you can benefit from it just the same, even tailoring it to your specific needs.

There are however several places for you to find last minute cruise deals if you do a little brainstorming. Local travel agents, Google advertisement links, Hotwire, Expedia, and even some cruise line company websites are great places to start. You may even find yourself looking over so many deals that you just can’t decide on which one to take. If that happens here are a few simple tips. Narrow your choices down to 3-5 cruise ships that offer the same departure areas and ports of call you are interested in seeing. Decide on which type of room you would like to stay in on the ship. Then of course the best price between the choices. Good luck and happy cruising!

Last Minute Cruise Secrets

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:35:12 +0000

Be warned, last-minute deals are a bit of pot luck, and you really cannot count on getting the cruise that you want dropped into your lap. With that said, it is also true that some of the best cruise deals are snapped up by those who either reserve early or wait until the last minute. Let me emphasize that quite often, great discounts are available for early birds however, if you are flexible, then cheap cruise deals are an excellent value that can be had at the last minute.

Many of the best cruise deals are those that you buy at the last minute. I would recommend that you Google for “last minute cruise deals” … you are sure to find plenty of options. Also, you can find last-minute deals from the cruise lines themselves and on many online cruise sellers’ websites. You may also want to search directly on different cruise line sites for last minute deals as well. Travel agents can be an excellent resource for finding last minute cruise package deals.

Use These Tips To Start:

Finding last minute cruise deals has never been easier! Here are some tips:

A phone call to your favorite cruise lines on a regular basis will enable you to keep abreast of any last minute cheap cruise deals.

Make sure you check special sections of the major carrier’s sites. All major travel sites and most cruise line web sites have a section for last minute deals.

Vacation sites also have email newsletters that can be delivered to your inbox with current cheap last minute cruise deals.

watch the cruise lines for last minute pricing and update these cruise deals regularly.

Most of the cruise lines have a sign up at their site to get last minute deals. Go and sign up.

(example: nwa.lastminute-packages.com Last Minute Cruises Sign up)

Book one of these last-minute cruise deals and send off in 30 days or less.

Last Minute Cruise Uncertainty?

Last minute cruising may seem a little daunting at first but use this mitigation strategy. Find the cruise lines that suit your desired travel style. Enquire as to the vessels, accommodations, and activities of the many different cruise lines. Research the performance of these lines. Check things like safety records, testimonials, etc. Compile a list of the lines that are suitable to your tastes. Then get searching but only book on lines that are on your list. This way you will have developed a certain comfort level with your cruise in advance.

Who Has Last Minute Deals?

Here are just a few providers of last minute cruise deals:

Get in touch with Transocean Tours and ask about their last minute cruise deals.

AllPointsCruisesAndTours.com – Online travel site featuring air, cars, hotels, cruises, last minute deals at great prices

Vacation Outlet has handpicked the best last-minute cruise deals – from quick getaways to weeklong adventures.

Check out the package deals on FunHolidayTravel.com

last minute deals available on eCruises.com

Co-op cruise lines – for last minute cruise deals and cheap cruise holidays.

Disney last minute cruise deals include three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and seven-night expeditions to the Caribbean.

Last minute cruises can have all of the excitement and fun of a cruise that you booked well in advance. You have to make sure that you identify a cruise line that suits your desired travel style and a destination that suits your interests. If you take care of these details then your options for last minute cruising should be plentiful and inexpensive. At any rate happy cruising!

Last Minute Cruise Deals

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:20:05 +0000

If you are fed-up with your day to day routine then you must plan for a cruise vacation. It is not necessary to have an advance booking for your cruise vacation. You will come across many offers for last minute cruise deals as well. You must know that last minute cruise deals will help you to save some money as well. You will come across many people who would prefer for last minute cruise deals because they can save hundreds of dollars. Majority of the cruise lining companies will make an announcement about the cut off dates for booking. You should know that many people might cancel their tickets as well. Therefore, there are chances to get some discounts on last minute cruise deals.

You should know that most of the cruise lining companies prefer not to have vacant seats. Therefore, chances for getting better last minute cruise deals will increase a lot. You should know that most of the cruise liners would offer discounts at last minute because they can occupy their vacant seats. You can watch out for the announcement to get the best last minute cruise deal. However, you should know that most of the people are waiting for last minute cruise deals. Therefore, it is better to be quick.

It is better to subscribe for the news letters that are forwarded by thousands of cruise agents. It is true that the majority of the cruise agents would prefer to send you the offer with the help of a news letter.

If you got the best last minute cruise deal then do not wait. Try to get the booking as soon as you can. You should know that other people will try to get the deal as well. So, waiting is not advisable. If you do not have time to visit the cruise agent’s office you are also able to book tickets online. This will save you time. At the same time, it will broaden your options as well. Some websites might offer you higher discounts. Therefore, it is better to check four to five different websites. This will assist you to get a better deal because you can compare the rates and the package.

You will be amazed to know that last minute cruise deals will procure you a seat with the lowest possible price. However, you will be receiving the same services, which are offered to those who have paid full payment for the cruise package.

Alaska Cruising – Now It’s a Fam...

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:35:57 +0000

If you’re thinking about a family vacation to Alaska, and you’re wondering if your
kids would enjoy a cruise to “The Last Frontier,” wonder no more. Young family
members from tykes and toddlers through teens have a blast on big ships and small
as their vessels sail through the protected waters of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Aboard
ship or ashore, there are lots of kid-friendly, parent-friendly, and grandparent-
friendly places to see and fun things to do.

It’s true, only a short decade or two ago families with kids aboard Alaska
cruiseships were as scarce as Alaskan Dall sheep lambs in a grizzly bear’s lair. But
the times have changed — big time. Today you will find, in addition to the
traditional hefty contingent of seniors and near-seniors aboard each ship, a growing
number of families. Sometimes these groups are multi-generational, with gramps
and grandmas, moms and dads, and kids that range from gangly teens to babes
literally in arms.

The reason? Word is out that Alaska’s attractions are sure-fire hits for travelers of
any age: attractions like humongous whales breaching full length out of the water,
grizzly bears chasing salmon along forest creeks and rivers, icebergs (sometimes as
big as a tour bus) crashing, splashing, and thundering off the faces of miles-long
glaciers.

Too, there are opportunities to mush in a dog sled behind a team of charging
huskies – after helicoptering to a lofty mountain-top glacier no less! Kids and
parents can ride bikes through towering forests or down mountain paths and trails.
They can also kayak among whales and sea lions. Whole families can fish for lunker
king salmon. Or try their luck at gold-panning in creeks and streams.

Newest craze for the young and the young-at-heart is riding a zip-line
through the upper canopies of towering spruce and hemlock forests in Ketchikan
and Juneau — hanging safe and secure in a harness as they “zip” along a steel cable
some 130 feet or more above the forest floor.

Or, less daunting, while visiting museums up and down the coast families can
absorb the totemic culture and the history of Alaska’s Native peoples. They can
learn about the period when Alaska was “Russian America.” And they can view
mementos of the tumultuous gold stampede to the Klondike during the late 1800s,

No question about it, Alaska has something exciting to offer every family
member, regardless of age.

But what about life aboard the cruiseships? Will young people find the
experience dullsville?

Hardly. The mid- to mega-sized ships in particular are literally resorts afloat
with swimming pools, spas, snack shops, ice cream parlors, outdoor game courts,
video arcades, and movie theaters. Special staff members aboard these vessels —
with one exception — include trained youth counselors. These crew members
arrange age-appropriate social activities, organize games and sports events,
supervise arts and crafts, take youngsters on shipwide treasure hunts, and generally
see to it that cruisers from tykes through teens enjoy their cruise as much as their
parents and grandparents.

Although smallship cruiselines in Alaska do not staff their vessels with special
counselors for young cruisers, the ships are no less family-welcoming. These
vessels can enter small bays and inlets where guests can view wildlife on close-by
forest shores, explore waterways by kayak or in spiffy powered Zodiacs, hike
remote island beaches, perhaps even stop for a natural hot springs dip in forested
surroundings.

One smallship cruiseline even schedules three Alaska cruises each year
especially geared for family travel.

Regardless of vessel size, and with only a couple of exceptions, cruiselines in
the Alaska trade actively court family cruisers. Few such travelers, young or old, find
the experience anything other than “cool.” And they’re not referring to the weather.

Following is a cruiseline by cruiseline summary of family programs and kids’
things-to-do on an Alaska cruise. The information was supplied by the cruiselines
or taken from company websites.

Large and Mega Size Cruiseships

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE’s 2006 Alaska voyages aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival
Spirit offer youngsters age 2 through 17 a variety of continuous supervised activities
as part of the line’s “Camp Carnival” program.

Included in the line’s Alaska sailings are a number of “just for Alaska” projects
where kids can make their own dream catchers and totem poles and learn about the
region’s fascinating Native Alaskan cultures.

The Carnival Spirit offers other kid- and family-friendly amenities as well,
including a spacious indoor play room featuring an arts and crafts center, a 16-
monitor video wall, climbing mazes, an outdoor play area, and a computer lab.

When it comes to dining, says Carnival, “Youngsters get the full ‘Fun Ship’
treatment with expanded children’s menus offering a variety of kids’ favorites as
well as a daily junior special.” The menus are included on the back of a coloring and
activity book featuring word finds, mazes, tic-tac-toe, crossword puzzles, connect-
the-dots, and other games.

Young cruiser age groups include 2- through 5-year-olds, 6 through 8, 9
through 11, and for teens 15 through 17 a program called “Club 02.” (http://
http://www.carnival.com)

CELEBRITY CRUISES’ “Family Cruising Program” offers young peoples’ activities in
four age groups:

On any given day Ship Mates (for 3- through 6-year-olds) may enjoy a clown
party, treasure hunt, T-shirt painting, Legos, talent time, finger painting, dancing
games, summer stock theater, cartoon time, computers, play stations, musical
games, movies, ship tours, and ice cream sundae making.

Many of these same activities are on the agenda for older children as well, but are
undertaken on an older-age level.

Celebrity Cadets (for youngsters 7-9) might also include pool olympics,
scavenger hunts, charades, a fitness program, board games, relays, and team trivia.
Ensigns (for pre-teens 10-12) additionally enjoy karaoke, relay races, ship tours,
and pizza parties.

Admiral T’s takes in two classes of teenagers, 13-15 and 16-17. Members can
frequent the Teen Club, engage in basketball tournaments, enjoy pool parties, and
help put on talent shows.

Celebrity vessels also offer a “Parents Night Out” program. On the two formal
nights of a seven-night voyage, Celebrity treats parents to free babysitting when
counselors take the children to a pizza party for dinner. (http://www.celebrity.com)

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’s “Club HAL” provides a variety of kid-friendly facilities and
age-appropriate activities. Programs for children ages 3-12 may be found aboard
2006 Alaska-bound ships Ryndam, Statendam, Zaandam, Zuiderdam, Oosterdam,
and Westerdam and for ages 5-12 aboard Volendam and Veendam. All eight ships
have a teen program for ages 13-17. (http://www.hollandamerica.com)

Club HAL activities are designed to be age appropriate. For example, daily
activities planned for children ages 3 to 7 may include arts and crafts, face-
painting, camp-out night, candy bar Bingo, outdoor fun, and a pajama party.

“Tweens,” the in-between travelers 8 through 12, may learn golf putting, attend
dance parties and theme nights, compete in on-deck sports events and scavenger
hunts, play arcade games, tie-dye t-shirts, or simply play ping-pong with a friend.

Teens 13-17 enjoy The Loft designed to resemble a New York artist’s loft; there’s
also The Oasis, a private deck where teens can soak up the rays then cool off in a
one-of-a-kind waterfall. The Loft and Oasis are currently available on 2006 Alaska-
bound vessels Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam, and Zaandam. Teens will
especially enjoy the teen disco, dance lessons, arcade games, teen sports
tournaments, karaoke, trivia contests, bingo, play stations, movies and hot tub
parties.

On most itineraries, Holland America provides at least one full-time Youth
Program Director and one or more youth staff members. The ratio of Club HAL staff
to children on board is 1:30.

Additionally there’s a wide variety of kid-pleasing food, including special
sandwiches, tacos, burgers, hot dogs and pizza. For the very young baby food, high
chairs and booster seats may be requested in advance of boarding. Baby-sitting
services are available for a small surcharge and special birthday parties can also be
arranged.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE notes on its web pages that the line’s Kid’s Crew and
Teen’s Crew programs are filled with age-appropriate activities for youngsters 2
through 17. For Kid’s Crew members aged 2-12, NCL offers everything from arts
and crafts to pajama parties. Teens Crew, for cruisers 13-17 provides options like
pool parties, a teen disco, a video arcade, and more.

But don’t, says NCL, think of these programs as “babysitting.” There’s very little
“sitting” involved, notes the cruiseline. The programs are active, energetic,
educational and, most importantly, fun. (http://www.ncl.com)

PRINCESS CRUISES’ junior cruisers (ages 3 to 17) can enjoy a boatload of exciting
onboard activities. All of the line’s Alaska-bound ships have special kids and youth
centers staffed by counselors who put on a program of age-specific activities each
day. Group babysitting is available in the late evenings.

Among a number of programs for youngsters is one specific to Alaska. Produced
with the National Park Service, Princess’ sub-teen “Junior Ranger” program is
designed to bring Glacier Bay and the Alaska wilderness to life for thousands of
children each summer. The program features interactive games, activity books, and
presentation by rangers. The corresponding “Teen Explorer” program features
similar learning activities geared for older youngsters.

In a cruise industry exclusive, the Los Angeles-based California Science Center
provides entertaining interactive activities. Princess youth staff have undergone
extensive training at the center, designed to enthrall young passengers with award-
winning science projects. Whale watching, building and racing sailboats, marine
biology studies and squid dissection are a few of the activities available.

The line’s website notes that preteens are divided into two groups: Princess
Pelicans ages 3-7 and Princess Pirateers, 8-12. Both groups are entertained with
age-rated arts and crafts, discos, movies and cartoons, exclusive kids-only dining,
hunts, karaoke and lip-sync shows, afternoon ice cream parties, pizza parties,
backstage and galley tours, pajama parties, and T-shirt coloring.

Says Princess’ website: “Our astounding teen centers are packed with Nintendo,
movies, karaoke, giant screen TVs, card and board games, ping-pong and juke
boxes.” The site also notes that the Alaska-bound Sun, Dawn, Coral, Island, and
Diamond Princess ships also offer a toddler’s play area. (http://www.princess.com)

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL provides a young peoples’ program called
“Adventure Ocean” serving and entertaining travelers 3 to 17 in five different
categories.

Youngest group (ages 3 through 5) are called Aquanauts and do finger painting,
building blocks, play dough, music activities, dot dancing, and “shape Bingo.”
Explorers (6-8) have a Pirate Night, go on a backstage tour, enjoy nutty nicknames,
and engage in autograph hunts. Nine to 11-year-old Voyagers do karaoke singing,
have a Ga-Ga Ball, enjoy H20 Thunder Races, and do an art walk.

Navigators (12-14) play in sports tournaments, have pool parties, enjoy a college
night, engage in video games, and attend disco dancing sessions as well as a formal
night. Older teens,15-17 and called Guests, also enjoy dancing, pool parties, DJ
training, Battle of the Sexes, plus a formal night and a Survivor Series.

RCI’s Edu-tainment programming offers:

Adventure Science, a blend of hands-on experiments and wacky entertainment
(example: Staggering Through the Stars, and a Wacky Water Workshop);

Adventure Art, the opportunity to exercise creativity with crafts;

Sail Into Story Time and Adventure Family. The latter is a free, onboard program
that allows children 3-11 and their parents to spend quality time together doing
projects that range from shipbuilding regattas to talent shows and scavenger hunts.
(http://www.royalcaribbean.com)

Mid-Size Vessels

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES’ youth program, “Club Mariner,” provides adults who
want to share Alaska’s wonders with their children or grandchildren a
complimentary children’s program. “The program,” says the company, “offers the
opportunity for every member of the family to experience Alaska in a meaningful,
enriching way.”

The cruiseline’s youth program is designed for three age groups: 5-9, 10-13 and
14-17. Throughout each voyage, trained counselors offer young cruisers the
opportunity to participate in a variety of interactive adventures focusing on Alaska.
Children will exercise their creativity with crafts while gaining knowledge about
Alaska’s diverse wildlife, its unique geography, its indigenous crafts, and its rich
artistic heritage.

Kids will learn about whales, salmon, glaciers and totem poles. They might draw
and write about their adventures in their special Club Mariner scrapbook, bake
chocolate “moose” cookies, go whale watching out on deck or learn all about eagles,
dolphins, bears and sea lions.

Notes RSSC: “Club Mariner not only makes it easier for families to travel together,
it helps kids broaden their cultural and educational horizons. And they’ll return
home knowing more about Alaska than all the other 49 states combined!” (http://
http://www.rssc.com)

SILVERSEA CRUISES advises that, due to the sophisticated nature of its cruises and
programs, the company does not encourage travel with young children. (http://
http://www.silverseacruises.com)

Smaller Ships

AMERICAN SAFARI CRUISES’ Kids in Nature (KIN) cruises, include a luxury yacht as
the schoolhouse, an Expedition Leader/Naturalist as the teacher, and the wildlife-
rich waters of Alaska’s Inside Passage as the laboratory. KIN convenes in Alaska
aboard the upscale 22-passenger yacht Safari Quest with the first of two seven-
night cruises from Sitka June 17. The voyage takes in various wilderness sites and
communities throughout Southeast Alaska. and ends in Juneau June 17. Another
seven-night Safari Quest sailing commences July 29 while an eight-night voyage
from Prince Rupert, B.C. to Juneau embarks June 26 aboard the equally luxurious
12-guest Safari Escape.

Activities abound for all ages: kayaking, hiking on a remote island followed by a
full-scale picnic, hopping shore-to-shore by Zodiac, viewing whales directly off the
bow or dolphins right below, collecting shells to study, and more. Kids and adults
alike are accompanied on a variety of personal-choice excursions while their yacht
is at anchor.

At the end of a cruise each child receives a Kids in Nature backpack filled with
mementos of their various explorations: a certificate of achievement signed by the
Captain and Expedition Leader, a tee shirt and cap, a pair of binoculars, disposable
camera and a typed list of all of the flora and fauna observed during the cruise. The
program offers kid-size pricing — two kids under 12 for one adult fare.

Aboard other sailings during the season American Safaris Cruises’ three yachts
offer very upscale amenities and cuisine best appreciated by sophisticated adults.
For these cruises the line normally discourages guests from bringing young children
and does not offer specifically child-oriented services. (http://
http://www.americansafaricruises.com)

AMERICAN WEST STEAMBOAT COMPANY advises, “We tend to cater to mature adults
and therefore offer no special programs to kids and teens.” (http://
[http://www.americanweststeamboat.com])

THE BOAT COMPANY offers special rates for young cruisers traveling with parents:
50 percent off the usual fare if occupying a stateroom with a parent, 20 percent off
if occupying a separate cabin.

The company’s two vessels do not have separate personnel specifically assigned
to youngsters on board, but the line does try to accommodate the desires of each
passenger including kayaking, fishing, beach hikes, and other kid-friendly activities.
(http://www.theboatcompany.com)

CLIPPER CRUISELINE has no specific children’s programs or staff for younger
travelers, but the nature of the company’s routes and cruising areas
(including whale sightings, bears other wildlife, and shore excursions)
make it appropriate for family groups. Cabins can accommodate as many as three
guests; for larger groups two cabins would be necessary. (http://
[http://www.clippercruise.com])

CRUISE WEST offers a children’s travel special aboard the Sheltered Seas Daylight
Yacht Tours. Travelers 12 and under sharing a cabin with an adult save 50 percent
on Family Adventure cruise fares. Youths 13 through 21 save 25 percent.

While many of the company’s other cruises are of considerable interest for
families with children, activities aboard ship are not specifically geared for young
travelers. Cruise West is the largest of the smallship cruiselines serving Alaska and
offers cruising options of family interest from Southeast Alaska with its totems,
glaciers, national park lands and goldrush historical points of interest to
Southcentral’s Prince William Sound and beyond to Arctic waters and even Russia.
(http://www.cruisewest.com)

DISCOVERY VOYAGES advises that cruises aboard the 12-passenger vessel Discovery
are “definitely family friendly” and, in fact, the company offers a 25 percent discount
for children 12 and under.

Notes a company spokeswoman: “Due to the intimate size of our vessel we do not
have specific youth directors but our staff (including Captain Dean Rand’s daughters
Hannah and Heather, who grew up on board the Discovery) is diverse in working
with both adults and children as well as being naturalists and kayaking guides.” The
company often works with agencies and outfitters who specialize in family trips.
(http://www.discoveryvoyages.com)

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS welcomes voyagers young and old. And come September,
Archie Comics illustrator Stan Goldberg will join a shipload of other Lindblad
Expeditions travelers through the Inside Passage from Southeast Alaska to British
Columbia. His mission: to create the second in his “Little Lin” cartoon book series of
educational adventures for young people. (In his first book, Fun and Games With
Little Lin, released in 2005, child explorer Little Lin discovers Peru’s Galapagos
Islands.)

Cruise Deals – How To Get The Best Crui...

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:01:16 +0000

If you’re planning to take a cruise you want to make sure you get the best cruise deal bargain offered. And there are many ways to save a bunch of money on your next cruise if you know what to do. It isn’t hard to learn the secrets travel agents know when you’re looking for the best cruise deal. You can save as much as 65% scouting on your own or from 15-30% from the cruise line brokers and the cruise consolidators as they’re called.

There are many sites that offer clearance specials and last minute cruise deals. Then there are the possibly cheaper but much riskier last minute cruise auctions and classifieds which I won’t go into here. The last minute cruise deals are not hard to find because the cruise lines don’t want to have any empty cabins when they leave port and they make every effort to fill them.

Note that the offers you find on the cruise line sites are NOT going to be as good as those you find elsewhere or from cruise line brokers or the consolidators. So make sure you go to the other sites. Of course you can compare the prices you find with the cruise line’s site.

First of all to get the best cruise deal online you want to look for cruise sites that use the Revelex or OVS cruise reservation systems. This way you can easily compare prices on staterooms for many of the cruise ships at one time. Some of these sites have time limits on their offers so be ready but don’t buy on impulse either. Last minute deals can save you a bundle.

Once you find what you think is a bargain or a good deal you can contact your local cruise travel agent and see if they can meet it or beat it. Some of the cruise lines forbid travel agents to discount their cruises but it doesn’t mean the agents don’t know about already-discounted cruises.

Once you’ve found some good travel websites, sign up for their email alerts so you’ll get fast notice on last minute cruise deals, package deals or clearance cruise deals or any other special offers that might be floating around out there. Sign up at several sites because you want the ones that are going to email you soon and often with the alerts and some of them may be too slow.

You can ask for a discount even on the final price for any cruise. Ask if they have a senior discount, business discount, student discount, health professional discount or AARP discount or AAA for example. There are also resident discounts or special offers if you live in a particular state.

Make sure to visit several sites and compare, don’t just settle on the first one No matter what low rate you find keep searching for a lower rate. The sites that compare several cruise lines at once will often bring up comparisons that make it easy for you to find the best rate.

You want to compare the cruise lines, cruise ships and the itineraries besides the price. You’re looking for a bargain – the cheapest cruise rates. Make sure to read the fine print on any site so there are no surprises later. It’s absolutely necessary.

Remember that some offers may be for the second-rate cabins. This means the cabins that are near noisy service doors or elevators or under the ballroom floor or near children’s activity areas. You don’t want to find out later that the reason your cabin was cheap was due to the location on the ship. Be aware that the last minute cruise deals or clearance cruise specials may be non-refundable. Read the contract closely.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a Carnival cruise deal, Disney cruise deal. Royal Caribbean cruise deal, Crystal cruise deal or any other cruise line, or if you and a partner and/or your family plan to go to Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii or the Bahamas or cruise with celebrities; if you spend a little extra time learning the ropes you’ll not only save yourself a lot of money but you’ll get the best cruise deal online.

Last Minute Cruise Deals – Where To Fin...

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:37:44 +0000

There was a time when scoring last minute cruise deals meant relying on cruise companies and travel agents.

Don’t get me wrong, travel agents are still very much an integral part of finding those last minute cruise deals however, with the internet now well and truly entrenched as a part of our every day landscape, cruise bargain hunters have never had it so good.

Scoring last minute deals is all about planning, patience, being flexible and being kept informed and it’s the latter which we’ll concentrate on in this article.

Being Kept Up-To-Date

Travel agents in general provide a great service; just get on the phone and ask them to find you a great deal on a vacation somewhere at a specific price and more often than not, they’ll find it for you.

Online services let you act as self-serving travel agents in a sense with specialist sites allowing you to enter specific information such as time, date and place of travel and with the click of your mouse, you are presented with any number of choices for your chosen time of travel.

It couldn’t get any easier! But how effective is this in locating last minute cruise deals?

Planning And Flexibility

Good question and this is where planning and flexibility come in. Yes, you can plan for last minute deals and if you have the flexibility in your work schedule to take off at a minute’s notice then finding your cruise online is a great way to go.

Remember, these sites specialize in finding and sourcing specials and one of the best ways to stay informed is by joining their newsletter lists.

This is an extremely effective method of not only knowing what’s on offer but also what’s coming up over the horizon. It’s all part of the planning stage and means you don’t have to “play Russian roulette” and hope there will be a cruise to suit you available when you want it.

Many websites also offer alert services which involves entering some details about the time, place and length of the cruise you’re interested in and when a match is found you are simply alerted. Finding last minute cruise deals has never been easier!

Last-minute Bahamas Cruises

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:57:47 +0000

The Bahamas, well known for their natural beauty, are one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world. Bahamas cruises are an excellent way to enjoy vacations with friends and family. A cruise to the Bahamas offers a wide range of attractions including beautiful beaches, warm weather, turquoise waters, historical sights, and casino gaming.

Last-minute Bahamas cruises are designed particularly for people with flexible work schedules. Most of the cruise liners have a small number of empty cabins just a few weeks or days before sailing dates. As the sailing date approaches, the cruise line reduces the rate of vacant cabins. This is the perfect time to select the cruise line at affordable prices. Bookings for last-minute Bahamas cruises can be made one or two months in advance prior to the scheduled date of sailing.

Some of the available last-minute Bahamas cruise lines include Holland America, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Amadeus, Celebrity, and Viking.

These cruise liners arrange weekend trips to week-long voyages to a number of choice destinations. Huge discounts and savings are available on most last-minute sailings, making last minute Bahamas cruises an ideal option for easy and affordable thrilling vacations.

If your choice is to purchase last-minute Bahamas cruises, it does not mean that you will be allotted inside cabins or cheap accommodations. Most of the last-minute Bahamas cruise lines offer top-quality amenities that include well-equipped accommodations, entertainment programs, fitness facilities, and fine dining at reduced rates. Websites are the perfect place to find last-minute Bahamas cruises, and these sites can assist travelers in booking their cruises online. Travelers can also choose from a wide range of itineraries for last-minute Bahamas cruises.

Last Minute Cruises

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:56:26 +0000

Obviously, if you want to go on a cruise, your best bet is to make the travel arrangements in advance. After all, taking a cruise is not the same thing as taking a spontaneous weekend vacation. Cruises are not usually thought of as the type of vacation that someone prone to spontaneous travel arranging goes for. There are however, deals to be had on last minute cruises if you know where to find them.

Believe it or not, the last minute cruise deals are often better than the “early bird specials” when it comes to travel arrangements. A simple google search for “last minute cruises” will bring up a number of websites all competing for your business. If you are familiar with the various cruise lines, you can also go directly to the cruise line’s website to see if they have any last minute cruises being offered at special deals. Another fantastic source of last minute deals is travel agents. Travel agents are fantastic at putting cruise packages together.

The best way to ensure that you get the best deal possible on last minute cruises is to pay attention to the following advice:

Keep a flexible schedule. If you are tied to your desk, taking off for a few days might not be an option, so if keep your schedule in mind when looking for last minute cruises. The more flexible you can be as to the departure dates and times, the more likely you are to get a deal you won’t be able to refuse.

Sign up for any sort of alert program that a travel agency, website or cruise line has. Often the alert program will email its members when the cost of a cruise has dropped or if there is a special deal going on. Sometimes these alert program members are notified for “first dibs” on sale priced tickets.

You might also want to keep a few of your favorite travel websites bookmarked and check them regularly. Typically last minute cruises deals are posted in the middle of the week for the upcoming weekend. Just by checking in to these sites regularly, you might be able to find something affordable.

Make friends with a good travel agent. Make sure that the agent knows that you are a customer who likes to know about last minute cruises and are always glad to find good deals. This way the travel agent will know to keep you in mind if he or she learns of any sale prices. They might also know other ways for you to save money on your last minute plans.

Some of the best websites to have bookmarked are: Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, SmartTravel and, of course, Lastminutecruises.com.

Taking last minute cruises can certainly be a nice way to relax and get away from the rest of your “normal” world…if you can afford to go on them. After all, your vacation won’t be nearly as relaxing if you know that you paid through the nose for it.

Cruising – Getting the Best Price

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:55:04 +0000

Here are some of our top insider tips to help you get the best deals when it comes to booking your next cruise.

1. Booking your Cruise

It may seem logical to book your cruise directly with the cruise line, but this isn’t always going to get you the best price. You may find a travel agent can offer a discounted price on the same cruise which means great savings for you. But don’t make the mistake of assuming you will get the best quote simply by walking into your high street agent, come on, you have to do a little work to save yourself some money! Which leads me to my next point…

2. Getting Quotes

Accepting the first price you are quoted wont always get you the best deal. The key is to get prices from a few different companies. Travel agents work hard to earn commission on each sale, and the more they have to discount for you, means less money for them. Again, this is where a little hard work now pays off later. It seems just about every travel agent promises to price beat, so, take advantage and hunt around for the lowest price. When you have it, why not go back to the most helpful agent, and see if they can beat it? It’s not always just the lowest price you’re looking for either, P&O, Princess, Cunard and Ocean Village for example will offer onboard credit to selected agents on different dates on many of their cruises.

3. Customer Loyalty

It’s sad but true; loyalty does not always pay off. You may have received a great deal on your last cruise and have gone back to your same agent expecting another. It is still important to be ringing around. As an existing customer, these travel agents know they already have your custom, they also know you are less likely to be ringing other companies for prices. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, some agents will genuinely reward their loyal customers, but it’s always worth checking.

4. Booking Onboard

We have all been there; 13 nights into your fortnight holiday, and it all feels like it’s over far too soon. And, if it’s been really good, all you can think about is when you can come back again. Well, good news – on many cruises you will be given the opportunity to rebook a cruise onboard with the purser or at the future cruise desk. They may be offering discounted prices, onboard spending money and lower deposits to secure your booking there and then. If you do rebook onboard, but feel discounts and onboard credit still isn’t enough, once you get home, why not check a few prices offered by travel agents? If they can offer a further discount, you may be able to get the booking transferred to them. The best part is, you still get to keep any benefits offered to you for booking onboard whilst taking advantage of the lower price.

5. Cruise Only

It is becoming increasingly popular to tailor make your own cruise holiday, this not only gives you the luxury of flexibility with your travel plans, but can be a more cost effective way to holiday.
It may be surprising to hear that when booking your cruise package (flights, hotel stays and transfers) with the cruise line, the flight can cost more than the cruise itself!

The idea is to get “cruise only”. This means you are just taking the cruise from the cruise line and will find alternative flights and hotels elsewhere. Your travel agent can then search around for you to find a suitable flight, transfer and hotel stay as required. This can save you a whole lot of money, and allow you to choose your preferred flight and hotel, too.

It isn’t always advisable to do this, particularly if it is your first cruise, or if you are going to a destination that you are unsure of, but for many popular cruise ports including Miami, New York, Barcelona and even Vancouver it is very easy to do yourself.

Importantly, by booking the flight through your travel agent, you will still be covered by their ATOL license which protects your travel plans, (something to check before booking) and, furthermore, they will be knowledgeable about transfer times and can book a flight that will get you to your destination in good time for your cruise.

6. Shore Excursions

My final tip is to do some research on the ports you will be visiting before you go. Yes, I’m afraid it involves a little work on your part, but its well worth doing.

It is easy to play it safe and go along with the sometimes pricy excursions offered by the cruise lines, and in many cases, an arranged excursion is a great, safe way to see places. However, often the destination is at the port, so you can explore yourself, or you may find it cheaper to hop in a taxi and head to places you really want to see and not the places the cruise lines want to take you. Also, be aware that if you pay for arranged excursions before you go, and they are cancelled, due to weather or a change in port of call on the itinerary, you may not be refunded.

Well there it is, enough inside information to make any travel agent squirm… So go out there, do a little work, and make sure you get the very best deal on your next cruise.