Seven Tips for
Saving Money on
a European
Vacation This
Summer
Peter
Greenberg.com
Travel News -
Studio
City,CA,USA
Cruisedirectonline.com
is a must-click
for searching
for the best
deals.
|
"Travel
agents
who
specialize
in
cruises
can use
their
special
relationships
with
particular
cruise
companies
to offer
their
clients
special
deals
including
free
airfare
or
complimentary
shore
excursions....
Cruisedirectonline.com
is a
must-click
for
searching
for the
best
deals.
Peter
Greenberg
is the
preeminent
expert
on
travel.
He is
the
Travel
Editor
for
NBC’s
Today
show, a
contributing
editor
for
Men’s
Health
and Best
Life,
travel
editor-at-large
for
AARP,
publisher
of
PeterGreenberg.com,
and his
national
weekly
radio
show is
heard on
more
than 140
stations,
XM
satellite
radio
and
Armed
Forces
Radio
Network.
In those
rare
moments
when he
is not
traveling,
he lives
in New
York,
Los
Angeles
and
Bangkok. |
 |
Pick A Cruise,
Any Cruise
Posted by Jim
Gullo
Want to join me for
some armchair cruise
fantasizing? (And
no, that’s not ALL I
ever do). Then click
over to
Cruise Direct Online
and start imagining
where you’d like to
go. The site
monitors the
offerings and prices
from twenty big
cruise operators,
including heavy
hitters like Cunard
and Holland America,
and allows you to
book cruises on a
moment’s notice.
There are also links
for special deals,
reviews on cruise
lines and
itineraries, and
tips on getting the
most out of your
cruise.
For example, I’m
going to Hawaii in
three weeks on
Holland America’s ms
Zaandam, on a 15-day
cruise from San
Diego (sorry, my
sailing is sold out,
so if you’re going,
we’ll have to be
like two 
ships passing in the
night). If you want
to jump on a ship to
the Aloha State,
click on Hawaii and
Cruise Direct pulls
up 77 options for
sailing to the
islands in the
coming months. Want
to visit the
Mediterranean? Click
that region and 89
options come up,
enough for a whole
afternoon of
frittering away your
time reviewing
options (I speak
from experience
here). Should we go
to Nice first, and
then Greece, or the
other way around?
That’s all fine, you
say, but I want to
go cruising NOW, and
I want to pay very
little for it. What
you need, my friend,
is the site’s cruise
deal of the day,
which is updated
daily and discounts
upcoming cruises.
The one that I saw
offered good prices
on 11-day sailings
in the Caribbean
with Regent Seven
Seas Cruises, a
high-end ship on
which I’d happily
travel again. So I
guess I’ll see you
in St. John. See you
on board, and happy
sailing.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/02/19/travelguru/entry3847759.shtml
Promo
Codes The
Key To
Cruise
Savings
Cruise
Traveler
Magazine
Are cruise
lines saving
their best
deals for
their best
customers?
Can you get
a good deal,
even if
you've never
cruised
before?
As the economy
show signs of
slowing down the
cruise
business, most
cruise lines in
recent weeks are
out to win
over past
guests, and to
maintain brand
loyalty in the
face of huge
discounts by the
competition,
they have given
past guests
special
promotion or
discount codes.
These codes, not
available to the
general public,
offer cruise
fares as much as
2 for 1 savings,
onboard spending
credits, free
upgrades, coupon
books, bottles
of wine and
more. They
require you to
mention a short
sequence of
letters and/or
numbers when
booking, and in
many cases
they're the
key to
unlocking rock-bottom
cruise fares.
How do you get a
promo code?
There are three
types of
promotion
campaigns going
on:
• Available
online for
anyone to use,
and promoted at
the cruise lines
web site and/or
through mass
e-mail campaigns
• Individually
generated deals
specifically
targeted to
registered past
guests or
prospects via
e-mail
• Exclusive
promotions
advertised only
through travel
agents.
Recent deals
have included
Princess Cruises
Alaska promo
code sale. 2 for
1 deals on
cruise tours.
That's right ...
half off. In
other cases,
promo fares
signify a
specific
reduction that
can range from
$25 to $300 less
per person. And
in some
cases, the
cruise
lines will allow
you to use your
personalized
code if you
bring
along relatives
or friends in a
separate cabin..
Do you have
to be a Past
Guest To Get
These Deals?
Not necessarily.
Some cruise
lines use their
prospect list
for e-mail
and direct mail
promotions. A
personalized
code is given
and if used,
offer savings or
amenities
similar to past
guest offers.
The trick is to
get on their
list. It's easy.
Visit the cruise
lines official
web site and
register. That's
it. In a few
weeks you will
receive all the
e-mails and
direct mail
promotions you
could ever want.
When it comes to
realizing the
savings of promo
fares, there's a
real catch:
finding them.
They generally
will not appear
on that travel
search site you
visited. One
place to start,
your travel
agent.
One online
travel
provider that
has access to
these codes and
specializes in
discount cruises
and cruise tours
is Cruise Direct
Online. "We're
seeing more and
more of these
cruise promo
fares," says
Marty Trencher,
managing
director. "In
particular,
Princess cruises
has been very,
very aggressive
lately"
Promo code fares
are difficult to
find. A travel
agent's job is
to do the extra
work and keep up
with cruise line
promo fares.
Travel agents
sign up for
cruise deal
alerts
and everyday
their inbox fill
up with the last
cruise line
offers.
A Word
Of Advice
Be sure
to comparison-shop for
a cruise on
travel search
sites and travel
agency sites.
For the cruise
lines, it's all
about
driving guests
back to their
own brand. So,
register and
check your
e-mail often.
Then call your
Travel Agent,
promo code in
hand. The
savings can make
your dream
cruise come true
for less.
Time to get in on 2009 "off-season" Alaska cruise deals.
Cruise rates for 2009 are low, cruise lines are looking to fill cabins now. So you can land a cheap deal. It sounds unreal, but one expert says now you could pick up some good cruise deals if you act fast.
Marty Trencher of Cruise Traveler Magazine says the industry is trying to fill as many cabins as possible for May and September of 2009 now. As early indications show a possible slow down in cruise travel, cruise lines are getting very aggressive in the Alaska market to avoid a weak summer. He says the cruise lines don't want to take a major hit next summer so they're offering lower-than-normal prices to create excitement about the destination by offering great early booking incentives for next year.
"All the cruiselines are offering specials to try and get bookings, as their advanced bookings may not be what they want them to be."
He says the Alaska cruisetour market remains pricey, but good deals can be found if you know where to look. Alaska Cruise tours range from 10-17 nights and include your 7-night Alaska cruise. Most cruisetours feature an inclusive tour into Denali National Park, a 6.3 million acre park, home to Mt. McKinley and one of the largest wildlife habitats in the world. Alaska Cruise Tours accommodate every lifestyle, from mild to wild.
One hotspot to find good deals is www.alaskacruisetoursonline.com
"Alaska cruise tours online is offering a 7 night Alaska cruise, for as low as $569 per person." He says there is a catch. "You will have to pay a fuel surcharge of $126.00, plus government taxes but that's still a good deal." ( Editors note: fuel surcharge update. No longer in effect as of 1/1/09 )
Trencher says don't expect low prices for very long though, once the new year around you may have to spend a few hundred's dollars more than what you would pay right now.
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Travel scene:
ALASKA The view is nothing
but gorgeous
Rochester Post-Bulletin
- Minnesota
Bob Retzlaff travel
editor of the
Post-Bulletin.
March 14, 2008
Alaska cruising
continues to grow as a
popular option for
summer travel, but
apparently at a slower
pace than in the past
several years.
Cruises to the Last
Frontier -- particularly
through the scenic
Inland Passage region
along Alaska's
southeastern coast --
have nearly quadrupled
from 1990 to 2007, with
double-digit growth the
rule rather than the
exception.
This season, or so it
appears, will find
growth only in the 1
percent to 3 percent
range, said officials of
the Alaska Travel
Industry Association in
an interview in Travel
Weekly.
Local travel agents --
representing Bursch
Travel and AAA Travel --
agree with this trend
despite the fact that
more than a dozen large
and small cruise lines
will ply Alaska's waters
in 2008, and more
itineraries and port
stops are being offered
than ever before.
The number of cruisers
who sailed to Alaska
last year was just over
a million, as compared
to 235,000 in 1990, and
that level of increase
has been unmatched by
any cruising region in
the world.
Donna Hoehne, an agent
with Rochester AAA
Travel, said that while
cruise sales to Alaska
are "not as high as
usual," business overall
for summer trips remains
"very high."
Group travel for Alaska
cruises is "about
normal," she said, with
AAA's sponsored trip in
August likely to attract
some 30 to 40 persons,
as usual. "Individual
bookings are not as high
as usual, though," she
said.
Similar results were
noted by B.J. Peterson,
manager of Bursch Travel
here. "While some
persons are booking
cruises to Alaska, many
others seem to be
traveling elsewhere,"
she noted.
Many of the large and
small cruise lines that
will be cruising in
Alaskan waters this
summer will offer
combination land and sea
options -- which are our
favorites. We've cruised
to Alaska four times and
are convinced that the
best ways to enjoy
the
landscapes and
wilderness are to see
them from both ship and
shore.
Giant Holland America
and Princess lines
together attract 90
percent of all
passengers to Alaska and
offer the majority of
cruises and tours there.
There are enough options
with other lines to make
your head spin, notes an
article in the Chicago
Tribune. All told, there
are a handful of ships
with capacities of less
than 100 passengers,
including a
paddlewheeler, while
dozens of vessels carry
well over 2,000.
The larger ships offer a
host of amenities,
dining options and
entertainment, while
smaller vessels go
places where the bigger
ships can't.
"Smaller ships get
closer to the glaciers
and the wildlife," said
Marty Trencher, owner of
Travel Direct and Alaska
Cruisetours, a
9-year-old national firm
specializing in
vacations to Alaska, to
the Tribune.
Depending on the cruise
line, the itinerary and
the shore excursions you
choose, you can explore
any one of 14 national
parks and wilderness
areas, the most
noteworthy of which is
Denali National Park,
between Anchorage and
Fairbanks.
There are several
unusual shore excursions
or land trips that can
be found only in Alaska,
such as fishing off a
seaplane from Ketchikan
or Juneau, river rafting
on the Haines or Skeena
Rivers, joining a
back-country safari or
visiting massive Denali
and towering Mt.
McKinley.
Our favorite off-beat
trips include a
helicopter ride to a
glacier with a champagne
toast on arrival and
another helicopter trip
to a dog-training camp,
again to a glacier miles
in the interior.
Some travel experts
point out that there is
a downside to Alaska's
popularity -- pricing.
"There are no real
bargains in Alaska as
there are in the
Caribbean," Trencher
told the Chicago
Tribune. On average, he
said, a 13-day cruise
tour in a balcony cabin
on a larger ship will
run about $2,700
per-person in the
shoulder season (May or
September) to about
$3,000 in peak season.
Pricing doesn't include
air fares.
In this writer's
opinion, the cost is
well worth it. We'll
likely be sponsoring
another Alaska cruise
ourselves in the future
-- not this summer,
though -- since that
region has a lot to
offer.
Book Alaska
cruises early, ships are crowded
Passengers think first of the
last frontier
Alaska cruises
gaining in popularity
Tourism sizzles
on the "Last Frontier"
Passengers,
cruise lines love Alaska
Alaska cruises
are heating up
BY ARLINE
BLEECKER AND SAM BLEECKER
January 20, 2008
Newsday
Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette
Wichita Eagle
Kentucky Star
Alaska Magazine
Winnipeg Free
Press
February 10, 2008
Chicago Tribune
March 01, 2008
Orange
Country Register ( California )
Hartford Courant
March 02, 2008
Sydney Morning
Herald
South Florida Sun
Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
May 17, 2008
Arkansas
Democrat
The Buffalo
News
____________________________
Alaska is
hot.
If that
sounds
counterintuitive,
hang onto
your
mittens!
As a tourist
destination,
the last
frontier
sizzles and,
consequently,
space aboard
the flotilla
of ships
that call
the 49th
state home
from May
through
September
fill
quickly.
In the 17
years from
1990 to
2007, for
example, the
number of
cruisers
who've
sailed there
has nearly
quadrupled
from 235,000
to a tad
more than a
million,
says Marty
Trencher,
owner and
managing
director of
Travel
Direct and
Alaska
Cruisetours
Online, a
9-year-old
firm
specializing
in vacations
to the "Last
Frontier."
In total, a
dozen large
and small
cruise lines
will ply
Alaska's
waters in
2008 --
Princess
Cruises,
Holland
America
Line, Royal
Caribbean
International,
Celebrity
Cruises,
Carnival
Cruises,
Norwegian
Cruise Line,
Regent Seven
Seas
Cruises,
Cruise West,
American
Safari
Cruises,
Lindblad
Expeditions,
Majestic
America
Line, and
Silversea
Cruises.
According to
Trencher,
Holland
America and
Princess
together
attract 90
percent of
all
passengers
to Alaska
and offer
the majority
of cruises
and tours to
this
wilderness
landscape.
But there's
more to
Alaska
cruising
than just
these two
lines.
Alaska is
awash with
"so many
possibilities,
so many ways
to travel,"
Trencher
says, that
any vacation
"requires
research,
research and
more
research,"
he advises.
In fact,
there are
enough
options to
make your
head spin.
You can
narrow your
options by
choosing
from a
handful of
ships with
less than a
hundred
passengers,
including a
paddlewheeler,
to dozens of
vessels that
carry well
over 2,000.
The players
sometimes
change and a
few lines
occasionally
play musical
chairs with
their
vessels.
Princess,
for
instance,
adds the
2,600-passenger
Star
Princess to
its Alaska
flotilla
this year as
well as
introduces
its
670-passenger
Tahiti
Princess to
the region,
proving that
even
mass-market
lines can
have a
small-ship
offering.
Silversea
Cruises'
382-passenger
Silver
Shadow
returns to
the 49th
state and
Cruise
West's
102-passenger
Spirit of
Nantucket
(renamed the
Spirit of
Glacier Bay)
joins the
line's
Alaska
lineup.
The larger
ships offer
a host of
amenities,
dining
options,
entertainments
and "the
excitement
of crowds,
which is
impossible
on smaller
vessels,"
Trencher
notes. On
the other
hand, "small
ships go
places where
big ships
can't. They
get closer
to the
glaciers and
the
wildlife,"
he adds.
Keep in
mind, too,
that you're
not really
seeing
Alaska
unless you
step off the
ship and get
up close and
personal
with the
wilderness.
Here the
possibilities
seem
endless.
Most cruise
ships not
only sail
Alaska's
Inside
Passage,
featuring
sailing in
either
Glacier Bay
or Sawyer
Glacier, but
also visit
quaint ports
teeming with
people
(although
many of
those people
will be
cruise
passengers
pouring off
of cruise
ships) such
as Juneau,
Ketchikan,
Sitka,
Wrangell and
Skaway, and
lesser known
stops like
Petersburg.
Essentially,
these ports
are gateways
to
snow-capped
mountains
and glacier
riddled bays
and to
wilderness
adventures
that include
whale
watching,
bear
sighting,
and bald
eagle
spotting.
Depending on
the cruise
line, the
itinerary
and the
shore
excursions
you choose,
you also can
explore any
one of 14
national
parks and
wilderness
areas,
including
Kenai
Fjords,
Gates of the
Arctic,
Klondike
(Skagway),
Wrangell-St.
Elias and
Sitka
national
parks, plus
the Klondike
Historic
Site (Dawson
City), Yukon
Charley
National
Preserve,
Kenai
National
Wildlife
Refuge,
Misty Fjords
National
Monument and
Tetlin
National
Wildlife
Refuge.
To
capitalize
on the
majesty of
the state,
many lines
also offer
cruisetours,
which let
you augment
your cruise
with a land
stay.
Holland
America, for
instance,
offers
vacation
packages
combining 3-
or 4-night
cruises with
6-, 8-, or
9-day land
tours. In
all, Holland
America has
29 distinct
cruisetours
ranging from
10 to 20
days and
Princess
offers 24
ranging from
10 to 16.
Celebrity,
Regent and
Royal
Caribbean
also offer
escorted
land tours,
Trencher
notes.
According to
Trencher the
most unusual
shore
excursions
are fishing
off a float
plane from
Ketchikan or
Juneau,
river
rafting on
the Haines
or Skeena
Rivers, a
backcountry
safari and a
visit to
Denali Park,
dog sledding
without snow
and on
wheels in
Whittier,
and heli
hiking,
where
passengers
are flown by
helicopter
to a
mountain top
around Mt.
McKinley and
then hike
down.
The list
doesn't end
there,
however. You
can trek
glaciers,
take a
mile-long
zipline-canopy
tour at Icy
Strait
Point,
Klondike
rock climb
or rappel in
Skagway,
canoe or
kayak almost
anywhere,
and even go
underwater
in
semi-submersibles.
In Campbell
River,
Regent
passengers
can
accompany an
authentic
Alaskan mail
floatplane
making
deliveries.
There is a
downside to
popularity,
however.
Because of
the state's
allure,
Trencher
warns "There
are no real
bargains in
Alaska as
there are in
the
Caribbean."
"Alaska is a
once-in-a-lifetime
vacation and
high
priced," he
says. On
average a
13-day
cruise tour
in a balcony
cabin on a
larger ship
will run
around
$2,700 per
person
without
airfare on
the season's
shoulders
(May or
September)
and about
$3,000 in
peak season.
But book
early and
some deals
emerge. For
example,
Norwegian
sails three
ships
(Norwegian
Pearl,
Norwegian
Star and
Norwegian
Sun) at
published
fares
ranging from
$729 to
$1,399 per
person,
based on
double
occupancy,
for an
inside
stateroom.
Prices drop
dramatically
if you book
early and
range from
$599 to $699
for lower
category
accommodations.
An early
booking
special from
Holland
America will
take you on
a 7-day
Glacier
Discovery
cruise for
$549.
Carnival's
7-day
Glacier Bay
cruises
start at
$879.
Of course,
luxury comes
at a price.
Step up the
gangway on
Regent's
Seven Seas
Mariner and
you'll
lighten your
wallet by
$4,195 to
$16,750 for
7-, 8- or
11-day
cruises
sailing
between
Seward,
Alaska and
Vancouver,
B.C.
 MSNBC |
6 essential sites for planning a
family cruise
Web resources to help you put
together a trip designed for your
clan
It’s been said
that planning a cruise can be more
confusing than filing your own income
taxes. That’s mainly because there are
just so many darn decisions to make.
Consider that
there are nearly 200 different ships,
belonging to over two dozen cruise
lines. Some of those ships have over 20
different stateroom categories, and the
largest ships can have as many as 15
decks. Then there are choices about
itinerary, onboard activities, and
onshore excursions. Some cruise lines
are better for younger kids, while
others are geared to older kids and
adults.
While you’re
sifting through all the options, you may
start wondering if you’ll be able to
find something within your budget.
Never fear.
We’ve tracked down six essential sites
to help you research and plan a family
cruise. As for your taxes — sorry, but
you’re on your own with those.
Dive in
Cruisemates.com
Best
for: Getting your feet wet
Narrow
down the options
CruiseCritic.com
Best
for: News and reviews
Find
comfortable digs
Cruise Deckplans
Best
for: Choosing a cabin
Plan
some fun
ShoreTrips
Best
for: Shore excursions.
Snag a
steal
CruiseCompete
Best
for: Finding an agent with a
great deal
Cruise Direct Online
Best
for: Nabbing a discount
This cruise
booking supersite is chock-a-block with
cruise discounts, shipboard credit, and
other great deals — especially if your
dates or destinations are flexible. The
site is impressively intuitive, letting
you search the deals database by cruise
line, destination, or port.
WeJustGotBack.com is an
authoritative online guide to family
trip-planning. The site features reviews
of kid-friendly hotels and resorts,
expert planning advice, readers' travel
tips, destination insider guides,
vacation deals, and more. Subscribe to
our newsletter to hear about resort
specials and exclusive, money-saving
offers.
Read the entire article: URL:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22201905/
Heard us on the Radio?
WGN Radio 720 - Chicago
Heard in 38 States and worldwide on
the Internet.
The Tom Petersen Show is a news and
travel show that airs on Sunday
evenings and aims to get
the weekend traveler up-to-date on
the latest news. The show features
travel segments from around
the country.
This is the time of year when many
Chicagoans take winter cruises and
plan summer adventures.
Marty talked about what cruises are
popular, where the bargains are, how
to find them and
how this year's prices compare to
previous years, etc. This was a
live, 5-8 minute informational
interview this Sunday, December 3 at
6:20pm CDT with host Tom Petersen.
In case you're not
familiar with WGN, it's heard in 38
states and online.
You can also hear the interview on
the Internet. WGN Radio broadcasts
24 hours a day on the
Internet
___________________
CRUISE DISCOUNTS
FOR TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS,
POLICE
OFFICERS AND MILITARY
Washington Post
March 19, 2007
Attention teachers,
firefighters, police officers and
active duty military personnel.
Travel Direct Corp. has a "
Salute to America's Finest" discount
on more than 150 Holland America
cruises. For example, a
seven-night Caribbean cruise on the
Westerdam departing Fort Lauderdale,
Fla., on Oct. 22 starts at $499 per
person double (plus $71 taxes); rate
usually starts at $673. Book at
800-365-1445.
eMediaWire
Newswire,
March 14, 2007
Travel Direct
Corporation, today announced their
3rd Annual "Salute To America's
Finest" promotion. Travel Direct's
cruise travel consumer web site
www.cruisedirectonline.com is
offering over 150 special Community
Appreciation Fares with cruise
vacations priced from as low as
$179.00 for Teachers, Firefighters,
Police Officers and Active Military.
(including US Coast Guards, Merchant
Marines, National Guard &
Reservists). The promotion is valid
for selected cruises booked between
March 15, 2007 - May 15, 2007.
These special fares are offered for
over 150 select sailings of Holland
America Line to the Alaska, Amazon &
Southern Caribbean, Asia, South
Pacific, Australia & New Zealand,
Canada & New England, Caribbean,
Southern Caribbean & Panama Canal,
West Africa & South America, Europe,
Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, and
South America, There are also a
series of "coastal" cruises from San
Diego to Vancouver starting at $179
per person for a 3 day cruise. Other
cruises vary in length from 7 to 22
days.
Here is an example of how much
Teachers, Firefighters, Police
Officers and Active Military
personnel can save:
October 22 - Westerdam - 7 Night
Western Caribbean was $649.
Community Appreciation Fare: $499
Brochure price $1,544.Saving was up
to 58%, now up to 68% off brochure
price.
Last year the offers were such a
huge success that Cruise Direct
Online has nearly tripled the number
of sailings, ships and destinations
offered. Plus, new for this year,
are a series of 40 Alaska & Yukon
Cruise Tours. Alaska Cruise tours
range from 10-17 nights and include
your 7-night Alaska cruise. Most
cruisetours feature an inclusive
tour into Denali National Park, a
6.3 million acre park home to Mt.
McKinley and one of the largest
wildlife habitats in the world.
Reservations are available by
calling the company at 800.365.1445.
To qualify for the Community
Appreciation Fares guests must show
proof of employment as a teacher by
supplying Teacher's Certification,
union card or letter from principal
on school letterhead with deposit.
Firefighters, Police Officers and
all branches of active military
(including US Coast Guards, Merchant
Marines, National Guard &
Reservists) must show proof of
eligibility by faxing a copy of
official ID. Must be able to show ID
at pier upon request.
The Travel Mom, August 13,
2006
Trip
Bits: Cruisin' Along
Cruise ships
are another natural place to
have a family reunion. They can
accommodate even the largest
families, and most of the bigger
cruise lines offer reunion
planning staffs to help
coordinate a memorable trip. In
addition, there are a variety of
trip prices and lengths to meet
your budget.
The biggest
draw for families is that all of
the major cruise lines --
Carnival , Princess and
Norwegian Cruise Lines -- offer
age appropriate activities for
even the youngest passengers. So
while you and your cousins are
getting reacquainted (or just
relaxing in the sun), your
toddlers, kids and tweens have a
wealth of activities to keep
them happy.
Finally, if
you need help planning your
cruise, go to
Family Cruises Online (www.cruisedirectonline.com/familycruises.htm).
Seattle Times
Tuesday, June 29, 2006
Travel Q&A
What is the best cruise
liner, for your money, out of
Miami, Florida? — David
McBroom, Redmond, WA.
C.P.: Much depends on
where you want to go and how
much you want to spend. A good
place to start is with a Web
site that rates the various
lines and ships. See
www.cruisecritic.com and
www.cruisedirectonline.com,
two sites that list reviews of
cruise lines by individuals,
travel magazines and experts.
Ratings are broken down into
useful categories such as "Best
overall service,'' "Best
computer service,'' "Best ships
for kids,'' etc. |
|
|
CNBC-MSN Money - Travel For Less
May 30, 2004
DollarWise |
|
4 ways to find a
hassle-free vacation |
DollarWise digs up no-stress
getaways that don't require any
arrangements or decisions except
what's next on the fun list.
By
Jennifer Mulrean
Somewhere in our
quest to do more, vacations morphed
into “extreme adventure.”
Traditional all-inclusive vacation
packages were dissed as
unimaginative and unadventurous --
the default territory of blue hairs
and honeymooners.
But the do-it-yourself approach to
vacationing, complete with
jam-packed itineraries, can leave
you needing a vacation to recover
from your vacation. Why not sign up
for a trip where your every need is
anticipated and catered to; where
the goal is to settle in for the
duration and -- gasp -- actually
relax?
All-inclusive vacations are “popping
up all over,” says Kathy Sudeikis,
travel agent and national
vice-president of American Society
of Travel Agents. “It’s really a way
to get your arms around the
pricing,” she says. “Usually they’re
a good value -- they may not be
cheap, but they’re a good value.”
While many of these vacations still
fall into the traditional categories
of cruises and Caribbean beach
resorts, I also spotted caving trips
in Belize, cooking schools in Italy
and dude ranches all over the United
Sates. Turns out that “hassle-free”
need not mean “adventure-free” after
all.
To be sure, “all-inclusive” means
different things to different tour
operators, Sudeikis warns, so read
the fine print and ask questions
about what you’ll be expected to pay
for out of pocket. On cruises, you
can generally expect to pay for
drinks and shore excursions, for
example, while some resorts include
even the tips for hotel staff.
Hassle-free vacations seem to fall
into one of four general categories,
and we've included some resources to
help you start your research. In
most cases, all you really have to
do is show up.
Cruises,
reinvented
The original all-inclusive, cruises
are sometimes disparaged as nothing
more than floating buffets and
extra-long shuffleboard tables. But
the cruising industry has worked
hard to reinvent itself as a venue
for active, adventurous trips
suitable to families and
thrill-seeking young adults.
On Royal Caribbean’s cruises you can
climb an onboard rock wall, work on
your golf swing or become certified
in scuba diving. Disney’s Cruise
Line includes “Mouseketeer
Training,” an underwater playground
and various other Disney-themed
activities for children, along with
spas, wine tastings and cooking
demonstrations for the adults.
And if you’re looking to surround
yourself with likeminded travelers,
cruises offer plenty of smaller
niche-market sails, including those
for gays and lesbians, adults-only
trips and the kids-focused programs
a la Disney and Carnival’s
Paradise.....
No matter which cruise you pick,
travel experts generally agree you
shouldn’t pay full price for your
passage.
“It’s a perishable product,”
Sudeikis says. “Hotels can have
guests arriving any night, but once
a cruise sets sail, that’s it.”
This means cruise companies have a
greater incentive to wheel and deal.
Many of them offer “kids cruise
free” deals, for example. Try sites
such as Cruise
Direct {Online}, which boasts a
searchable database of 12,000 cruise
deals and discounts. The site also
posts cruise reviews, ship ratings
and photos of cabins.... To read the
entire article,
click here...
_________________________________________
Savings Set Sail (
MSNBC.COM
)
A shipload of cruise bargains for
fall travel—plan ahead and save
By Jason Cochran
July 24, 2003 —
With
kids back in school but hurricanes a
minor worry, Caribbean cruises that
cost $1,100 in July go for $500 by
October. Here’s our selection of
several outstanding autumn bargains
at sea, all from the cruise brokers
named for each offer (and only from
them), including all port charges,
per person double occupancy in
inside cabins (outside cabins add
about $100 more).
(
Editors note: among several listings
was this mention of us )
$727
FOR SEVEN NIGHTS IN HAWAII
After
recent convulsions in the industry
(including the bankruptcy of
American Hawaii Cruises), the big
Norwegian Cruise Lines makes Aloha
State cruises affordable again with
weeklong romps on the Star through
the Hawaiian islands (the Big
Island,
Maui,
Kauai, and Oahu), plus a stop in
Kiribati and a day at sea. She’s the
largest cruise ship to sail Hawaii
thus far and does it every Sunday in
November (that’s five departures)
from
Honolulu. Get this deal, which
mixes well with a few days’ stay on
Waikiki Beach, from Cruise Direct
Online (800/365-1445,
www.cruisedirectonline.com)
-----------------------------------------------
ARTHUR FROMMER'S
BUDGET TRAVEL MAGAZINE
December/January Edition — From the
cruise brokers named for each item
below come these bonanzas in
boating, all of them for sailings in
January, February, and March 2003.
Prices are per person, based on
double occupancy in inside cabins,
and unless stated otherwise do not
include airfare.
Checklist! ( Jan/Feb 2003
edition )
(
Editors note: among several listings
were these mention of us )
FROM LOS ANGELES FOR $551
You enjoy a seven-night Mexican
sail for $78 a day, plus $164 in
port charges and taxes, when you
buy this cruise from Cruise Direct
Online (800/365-1445,
www.cruisedirectonline.com).
Your ship: Royal Caribbean’s
Vision of the Seas, heading down
the Pacific Coast to Cabo San
Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto
Vallarta. Departures are Sundays,
January through March 2.
FROM TAMPA FOR $595
Departing Saturdays, Holland
America’s Veendam sails to Key
West, Belize City, Santo Tomás de
Castilla (Guatemala), and Cozumel,
and spends three more days simply
at sea, for a total of seven
nights in the watery Tropics. Add
$80.26 in government fees and port
charges of $119 to the $595 price,
which is valid for the sailings of
January 18, February 1, March 1
and 29, and April 12. Cruise
Direct Online (800/365-1445,
www.cruisedirectonline.com)
gets you the $595 price.
FROM FORT LAUDERDALE FOR
$1271 Enjoy a seven-night
cruise of the eastern Caribbean
aboard the Millennium, a recent
addition to the Celebrity Cruises
fleet, visiting San Juan, Casa de
Campo (Dominican Republic), St.
Thomas, and Nassau. Sailing dates:
Sundays from January 5 to February
16. Source of rate: Cruise Direct
Online (800/365-1445,
www.cruisedirectonline.com
). Add $30.65 in government fees
and port charges of $139 to the
discount price of $1271.
|
Cruise Direct
Online celebrates best year on the net,
sets record for 2002.
Summary:
Year-end Business Report. Revenue: Up
259% Year-to-date, Passengers sailed Up
188% year-to-date, as reported from two of
twenty four cruise lines the company
represents. According to the company,
fourth quarter sales were brisk, due to
aggressive holiday pricing.
January 9, 2003
– Travel Direct Corporation today
announced Revenues up 234% for 2002,
Passengers sailed up 165%, as
reported from two of twenty four cruise
lines the company represents.
“Results for 2002
were exceptionally strong, exceeding our
expectations. During this period, we saw
increased customer adoption of our online
booking systems as well as customers
recognizing the value of our cruise
offerings. Due to robust sales growth
year-to-date for Royal Caribbean
International and Celebrity Cruises, along
with increased Princess and Carnival
Cruise Line offerings, the fourth quarter
outlook looks promising.” According to
Marty Trencher, president of Travel Direct
Corporation, the parent company of Cruise
Direct Online.
The companies
sales growth coincides with the Cruise
Lines International Association's (CLIA)
announcement that it will likely meet
its target of a record 7.4 million North
American passengers in 2002.
For the year, Cruise Direct Online saw
significant revenue growth driven by
strong 7 day or longer cruise sales with
higher price points despite the cruise
industries heavy discounting of stateroom
inventory to fill an ever increasing
stateroom capacity due to new ship builds.
Over the next
few months, Cruise Direct Online will be
expanding it's offerings from 22 departure
ports in the United States and Canada. The
companies "Cruises Close To Home" program
further broaden their retail offerings.
Guests choosing to drive rather than fly
to a departure port can sail round trip
from Baltimore, Boston, Charleston,
Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, New York City,
Norfolk, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Los
Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco,
Seattle, Galveston, Houston, Mobile, New
Orleans, Seward, Honolulu, Maui,
Montreal, or Vancouver, Canada.
---------------------
Suburban Chicago's Information Source
Site allows you to book a discounted
cruise online
Sunday Travel Section
April 21, 2002
Cruise Direct Online,
www.cruisedirectonline.com, has
enhanced its Web site with direct online
cruise booking capability. You can book
online or have a Cruise Travel Adviser
contact you about your choice, and any time
- 24/7 - you can get instant price quotes
and availability.
Offerings include cruises
from two days to 65 days on more than 96
cruise ships representing nine top
cruise-line brands: Carnival Cruise Line,
Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney
Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian
Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal
Caribbean International and Windstar
Cruises.
You can select from more
than 12,000 sailings for 2002-03, departing
from more than 80 ports of embarkation,
including 17 within driving distance of most
residents of the United States and Canada.
You also can see cabin
photos and deck plans on the site. The site
provides a double discount: first from the
cruise line (up to 70 percent off brochure
rates), and then an additional 5 percent to
10 percent extra from Cruise Direct Online.
• Online/ in print, by
free-lance writer Judy Babcock Wylie,
appears Sundays in Going Places. |
