Should You Book Online or Use a Professional?

This is a question that seems to get alot of people in trouble. You start looking for your vacation online, you see a good deal...is it too good to be true? They usually are. MSNBC.com came out with an article regarding the 7 Trips You Should Never Book Online. Take a look at the number 1 trip...cruises. That is why I am here. As an Accredited Cruise Counsellor with CLIA, I know the ins and outs of the cruise industry. What discounts you might qualify for, the best time of the year to travel inexpensively, etc...

Click here to read the entire article.
Call me when you are ready to book your next cruise at 866-568-0022.

Carnival Cruises Plans Expansion

The Carnival Dream has just been introduced to the world and there are plans for another ship just like her. Announced today, Carnival plans to expand their fleet with a new ship that will enter service in 2012.

For the full story, click here.

Land Vacations

We are back from our CruiseOne National Conference with some great news. CruiseOne now has relationships with land vendors. What does this mean for you? You can book your land vacations directly with us and experience the same level of extraordinary service you get when you book a cruise vacation. If you are looking for the all-inclusive options such as Sandals or the Family Friendly Beaches or a Guided Tour through Europe or just a low key land vacation, give us a call!

Carnival Cruise Lines to Operate First Year-Round Cruise Program from Charleston in 2010

Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, will introduce the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston, S.C., with the deployment of the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in May 2010.

Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages to The Bahamas and Key West, Fla., from the Passenger Terminal in historic downtown Charleston beginning May 18, 2010.

On Carnival Fantasy’s new Charleston-based cruises, Carnival is expected to carry more than 140,000 passengers annually from the port. Including Charleston, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 20 North American homeports in 2010, with 12 year-round departure points – the most in cruising.

The new year-round departures from Charleston dramatically expand upon Carnival’s decade-long relationship with the port. Previously, Carnival has operated seasonal voyages from Charleston, including two five-day departures on the Carnival Triumph this year and two on the Carnival Glory next year.

Charleston’s centralized location within the southeastern U.S., as well as the city’s strong appeal as a tourist destination, were key factors in the decision to launch year-round service aboard the Carnival Fantasy.

“Charleston is an extraordinary city within easy reach of millions of U.S. residents who will now have convenient access to Carnival’s fantastic and affordable cruise vacation options year-round,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “Our past experience with the Port of Charleston, which has a very efficient and conveniently located cruise terminal, has been outstanding.”

“Carnival and this vessel fit perfectly with the internationally acclaimed Charleston tourism market, which draws cruise passengers from across the Southeast and beyond,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. “We have enjoyed a successful, long-standing relationship with Carnival, and we are very pleased to significantly expand that relationship with a year-round calendar. This commitment by Carnival underscores Charleston’s cruise development potential.”

New Year-Round Departures from Charleston

On its new Charleston-based program, Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages on a variety of departure days beginning May 18, 2010.

Five-day voyages departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will call at Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. Six-day voyages departing Saturdays will visit Freeport, Nassau and Key West, Fla. Seven-day voyages depart Saturdays and will feature Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

Each of these tropical destinations has a character all its own and offers a wide range of snorkeling, fishing and water sports opportunities, as well as beautiful beaches and a distinctive island ambiance.

Carnival Elation to Mobile

Carnival Fantasy is currently based in New Orleans and is scheduled to transfer to Mobile for a program of four- and five-day cruises that will operate from that port from Nov. 10, 2009 through May 10, 2010.

Replacing the Carnival Fantasy in Mobile will be its sister ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, which will reposition from San Diego to launch year-round service from that port May 15, 2010. In addition to four- and five-day cruises from Mobile, Carnival Elation will operate a series of seven-day Western Caribbean voyages in spring, summer and fall 2010.

Prior to the start-up of its new Mobile-based program, Carnival Elation will sail on a 15-day Panama Canal cruise departing from San Diego April 30. Guests will have the option of debarking the vessel in Tampa on May 14 or in Mobile on May 15. Featured ports will include Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; and Puntarenas, Costa Rica; followed by a Panama Canal transit; and visits to Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Truly a ‘Fun Ship’

The namesake vessel in Carnival’s 70,000-ton Fantasy-class, the Carnival Fantasy offers a host of on-board amenities and facilities: a 12,000-square-foot health spa, extensive children’s facilities for kids in three age groups – Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle “C” (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17), a variety of formal and casual dining options and 12 lounges and bars.

Also featured is Carnival WaterWorks, an expansive, all-ages aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, 82-foot-long dual racing slides and a splash zone. Carnival Fantasy also offers Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat, and a resort-style main pool area.

An Internet café with ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service are also available.

The ship also offers a variety of spacious accommodations, all of which feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

To find out more about Carnival Cruise Lines, contact me at 866-568-0022 or RGerber@CruiseOne.com

Disney Heads for Alaska!

Breaking news from Disney Cruise Line. Disney has decided to cruise it's way into Alaska. The Disney Wonder will sail Alaska from May 3, 2011 through August 30, 2011. The 7-night cruises will call on the ports of Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway departing from Vancouver, B.C.

Bookings will open on September 28, 2009. If you are interested, give me a call at 866-568-0022 or email me at RGerber@CruiseOne.com You know these will fill up fast...after all, it is Disney.

Ruby Princess Swimming Pool Becomes Canvas for Marine Life Artist

Passengers aboard the Ruby Princess were witness to a special treat. Famed Marine Life Artist Wyland painted a mother dolphin and her baby on the bottom of the ship's Neptune Pool as the ship was entering Venice.

Click here for the full article and photos of his amazing work.

This is something, these passengers won't soon forget.

Carnival's Warm Chocolate Melting Cake

If you have ever sailed on a Carnival ship, then you know all about the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake. Now, wipe the drool off your mouth and focus! I am always asked if I have the recipe for this decadent dessert. Well, it is your lucky day!!!

Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (courtesy of Carnival)

8 oz semisweet chocolate

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

7 eggs, divided use

6 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter; cool 10 minutes. In separate bowl, mix four eggs with sugar. Whisk. Add flour and whisk. Add remaining three eggs. Add egg mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour in individual ramekins. Bake until just done, about 15-20 minutes (interior wil be melting). Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Now go ahead and have fun creating a fabulous desserts for family and friends. Enjoy!

Crystal Offers New Destination Programming for Kids (July 14, 2009)

Crystal Offers New Destination Programming for Kids (July 14, 2009)

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Best Ships for Kids- Votes are in!

There has always been talk about whether cruises are a place for kids. We all know that they are definitely a place for kids. There are so many activities to keep them busy (maybe even more than the adults). Since I have a 6 yr old that has been on 6 cruises, I think it is fair to say that cruises are the best vacation for kids (and their parents)!

So, which cruise line is the best? That depends on who you ask. Click here to see the latest article from msnbc.com which shows the "10 Cruise Ships Kids Love."

They are right about the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas as we have been on that one. We will be on the Disney Wonder in December. I believe that will hold up to the number one spot. Many of my clients have loved it!

Read the article and weigh in on which cruise line your kids like best. We would love to hear all about it.

Happy 4th of July!

On behalf of us at CruiseOne, we would like to take this time to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July. If your plans include fireworks, please be careful.

Holiday Question: What is the only cruise line that shoots fireworks off it's ship? If you know the answer, please post your response. Good luck.

Renee

Ship Reviews

Have you been on a cruise lately? Would you like to share your thoughts and opinions with others? Now you have the opportunity. I would love to hear what you think about the various ships. As you know there are well over 200 cruise ships and I have not sailed on all of them yet. Although, one day I hope to tell you otherwise. Sharing reviews of ships helps me to guide my customers and let them know what others have experienced. And yes, I do mean the good and the bad. You can easily post a review to this post. Or, you can go to my website. Simply log onto www.GrandVoyageCruises.com , click on "About Cruising" and then go down to "Ship Reviews". Once there, you will see all the ships listed in alphabetical order. Go all the way to the bottom of the page and it will ask you to pick the ship that you would like to review. As you can see, many others before you have taken the time to share their thoughts. Please feel free to do the same. My and my clients thank you!

Meetings at Sea

Does your company hold an annual conference or meeting? Have they ever considered holding it on a Cruise ship? Meetings at Sea can be a more cost effective way to have a meeting or conference. Here are some things that most people do not know...

• Conference space (meeting rooms) are free for groups to use while on the ship
• The conference rooms have a/v equipment, whiteboards, projectors, etc... for your use
• If you want to have a cocktail hour, that can be included in the group package
• All meals and snacks will be included in the price
• Your spouse can join you and have lots of fun unlike those conferences that are held at a hotel
• You can customize a group team building shore excursion with most cruise lines

As you can see, having your Meeting at Sea can have its advantages. Contact Renee today to discuss your group meeting at sea at 866-568-0022.

How to Find a Good Cruise Travel Agent

As an Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC) with CLIA and an Independent Cruise Specialist with CruiseOne, I understand the importance of using a cruise specialist to book your cruise vacations. Here is an article that states the many reasons why.

Enjoy...

How to Find a Good Cruise Travel Agent
by Kelly Ranson and Erica Silverstein, Cruise Critic - May 12, 2009

So, you've decided to go on a cruise—perhaps your first venture on a vacation at sea—and you're a little overwhelmed. You have to consider how much you're willing to pay, whether to book an inexpensive inside cabin or splurge on a suite, and which cruise line and ship are right for you. Add dinner seatings, shore excursions, and cabin location to the list, and planning a relaxing getaway suddenly seems like a second job.

In the age of the Internet, many people assume that online is the only way to book travel. But, as booking online can often be confusing, a travel agent may be just what you need. In fact, according to the Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) 2008 Cruise Market Profile Study, nearly 75 percent of cruise travelers book their cruises through travel agents.

One of the most important things to know is that agents—in particular, cruise specialists—have been onboard the ships and can really give you first-hand advice about different cruise options. They have done a great deal of research through familiarization trips and cruise-line seminars, so you don't have to do the work yourself. Even better, agents often have access to special discounts or perks—or know best where to find them—and as the cruise lines pay their commissions, you don't pay more for their services and expertise.

Still undecided, or unsure where to find an agent to help you? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Reasons to Consider a Travel Agent

If you're used to booking travel independently, consider these reasons why you might want to make use of a travel agent to book your next holiday at sea.

Choosing a Cruise: For your first cruise, you may need help in matching your lifestyle and budget with a cruise line and destination. Choosing a cruise is not the same as picking a hotel or flight, as there are many more options to consider.

For example, do you want to cruise close to home from ports like New York, Miami, Galveston, or Seattle, or are you willing to fly to Europe for Mediterranean and Baltic sailings? Would you be happier on a large ship—such as Royal Caribbean's 154,407-ton, 3,634-passenger Freedom of the Seas—or on a smaller, more intimate ship—like Seabourn's 10,000-ton, 208-passenger Seabourn Pride? Do you prefer a casual and lively vibe, as is found on Carnival Cruise Lines, or a more formal atmosphere, such as Silversea's?

Remember, you won't just be using the ship as a home base, like you do with a hotel; it will be your home, restaurant, and entertainment venue for a week or more. The right ship and itinerary can make your vacation that much more enjoyable—and an agent can help you determine the best selection for your tastes. In addition, an agent can answer any questions or assuage any apprehensions you might have about taking a cruise for the first time.

Shopping for Great Deals: Contrary to what you might expect, travel agents may actually be able to get you better deals than Internet retailers or even the cruise lines themselves. The best travel agents have access to discounted group rates and exclusive cruise pricing that's not found anywhere else. In addition, agents occasionally give you extra value on your booking—such as prepaid gratuities, a free bottle of Champagne, or onboard credit—to sweeten the deal. And if the price of your cruise drops after you book, a good agent will notice and refund you the difference in fare. Finally, as cruise lines pay agent commissions, you don't have to worry about paying extra for their planning services.

Booking the Trip: Once you've chosen your cruise and, with the agent's help, matched your style with your vacation goals, you've got to book the trip. Again, it's a bit more complex than you might think, but a good agent will make the process go smoothly—from securing the right cabin type and location to booking the dinner seating that will suit you and your party. Your agent will also be able to sort out travel insurance, if required, and will collect payment for the cruise (usually a deposit at the time of booking and the full amount 60 to 90 days before departure). In addition, the agent can help you with the rest of your travel plans, such as pre- or post-cruise stays, airfare, and transfers.

Special Requirements: If you have special needs of any kind—whether it's help in arranging a wedding ceremony onboard, ordering gluten-free or kosher meals, or dealing with accessibility issues—a qualified agent should be able to make the proper arrangements for you or advise you on how to handle the issue yourself.

Establishing Relationships: Booking with a travel agent gives your transaction a personal touch—you have a resource for asking questions and someone to contact if something goes wrong during your travels. But your relationship with an agent doesn't tend to end after one trip. The agent will keep you in his or her database, alert you to deals or sales, and can even suggest future trip ideas.

How to Select a Travel Agent

So how do you find the right travel agent for you? Look for the following:

Training and Credentials: Many agents become accredited cruise counselors through CLIA's Cruise Academy or take courses through the different cruise lines to become more expert at selling their products. Inquire whether the agent has attended any of these training programs. In addition, you can look for affiliations with the National Association of Cruise Oriented Agencies (NACOA), Better Business Bureau (BBB), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), or even the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Cruising Experience and Knowledge: Question the agents on cruising trends or up-and-coming destinations, and ask them to explain the differences between cruise lines. Find out how many cruises they've taken that year and with which lines they've personally cruised. The more knowledgeable an agent is, the better advice you'll get. If the agent has rarely cruised, you might want to take your business elsewhere. In addition, you might want to look for an agent who is a cruise specialist—either at a cruise-dedicated agency or within a larger general agency—to get the best service.

Inventory/Niche: If you're interested in a specific type of cruising (such as river cruising or luxury travel), look for agencies that specialize in the line or type of cruising you prefer. They'll often have more complete knowledge of your choices than a generalist. For example, if you want to cruise one of Europe's rivers in an intimate barge or riverboat, you may not want to book with an agent who specializes in selling holidays on 3,000-person mega-ships.

Interview: The best cruise agents will do a thorough job of interviewing potential clients to find out which ship, line, and itinerary would be the best fit. In that initial interview, they should ask you what kind of vacation you normally take (beach, city, active, for example), who is going (family, couple, singles), your travel style (entertainment and activity preferences, dining habits), and your budget.

Cruise Line Connections: Find out if the travel agent has preferred status with any cruise lines or whether he or she belongs to travel consortiums that would enable him or her to get you better deals, upgrades, etc. But watch out—some agents will push a particular line too aggressively for your tastes. You don't want to get caught in an agent's agenda if the cruise line isn't right for you.

Special Offers: Look for agents offering discounts, free perks, and other incentives. If you don't see a sign or advertisement, always ask—the agent may have fabulous offers the cruise lines won't let him or her publicize. In addition, ask if the agent can meet or beat the best price you've seen elsewhere.

Size: You can book a cruise through a huge travel retailer with branches around the country, a local cruise agency, or even a home-based agent who will talk cruising with you at your local coffee shop. You'll find pros and cons of working with the different types of agencies; for example, you might get more personal service from an independent agent but better deals from a large company with a high volume of bookings. Shop around and see what size fits your needs best.

How to Locate an Agent

If you'd like to book a cruise through a travel agent, you can pop into a downtown storefront or search for cruise sellers online. If you want to look for agents registered with travel organizations, here are some resources for finding agencies near you.

Cruise Lines International Association: You can search for a CLIA-certified travel agent on the organization's website. Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training.

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA): Use ASTA's consumer website to locate a travel agent who has agreed to conduct their business activities in accordance with the organization's code of ethics.

When to Go it Alone

Using a travel agent isn't always necessary. Here's how to determine if it's okay to book on your own.

You're Experienced: If you have cruised before and know exactly what you want—the cruise line, destination, duration, and cabin—booking on the Internet can be quite easy. Most online cruise retailers have comprehensive search functions, as well as pages that list their best or newest deals. Many also offer additional resources, such as deck plans, photos, and reviews. A step-by-step process will guide you through the booking and payment procedures.

You're Independent: If you're a do-it-yourself type, and you have the time and inclination to thoroughly research your own trip using resources like our sister site Cruise Critic, then go right ahead. For many of us, planning is half the fun of taking a trip.

Wedding Bells A Ringing

We are now in full swing of wedding season. These days more and more newlyweds are choosing a cruise for their honeymoon. Why? A cruise has so many advantages including convenience and value. Cruising offers a variety of onboard amenities and activities, fine cuisine, romantic evenings on deck, and relaxation by the pool. There is no place more romantic to spend a honeymoon than at sea on a beautiful cruise ship that will take you to your favorite destination. Instead of going on a land-based vacation and only seeing one place, you can sail away and see several amazing places that you never thought possible. While onboard you can still experience top rate entertainment, the spa (why not try a massage for 2), fitness center and room service.

Another advantage of booking your honeymoon cruise through CruiseOne- Renee & Michael Gerber, is the Honeymoon Registry. It is so simple. The bride and groom pick out the cruise they desire and put down the minimum deposit required by the cruise line. Then we take it from there. We set up the online registry where family and friends can donate money toward the value of the cruise. We don't tell the guests how much the cruise will cost. By doing this, people may donate more than the cruise amount which will leave extra money for the bride and groom for onboard credit or spa treatments.

If you know someone getting married, have them call us to plan their Honeymoon Cruise and set up their Honeymoon Registry. No more receiving 3 blenders and 2 toasters! This will help the bride and groom get what they always wanted...a Magical Honeymoon to remember.

Call Renee at 866-568-0022 or email at RGerber@CruiseOne.com today.

Alaska, Alaska, Alaska

If you have EVER wanted to see the pristine beauty of Alaska, this is the year to take a cruise!!! Prices are unbelievable! Celebrity Cruises is offering an inside cabin for a couple from $799 on select sailing this summer. Or take a family of four from $1,499. Forget the trip to the local beach and call Renee today to discuss your Alaskan cruise. Prices are half of what they were last year at this time.

Swine Flu

So, I'm sure you have heard of the Swine Flu. If you haven't , you must be living under a rock! The outbreak of Swine Flu has reeked havoc on the entire travel industry this week. Cruise lines are doing everything in their power to redirect cruises that were to call on Mexico ports. All I have to say is what a nightmare they must be dealing with. I would not want to be the coordinator for that. This just goes to show how much the cruise lines value the safety of their passengers. As you know there is always hand sanitizer everywhere you go and they ask you to fill out a health questionnaire when you board. All I have to say is Job Well Done and let's hope the Swine Flu goes away just as quickly as it came. Do you have an opinion about the Swine Flu or what the cruise lines are doing to prevent it? If so, please leave your comment here.

Carnival Pride Sails out of Baltimore

If you live in or around Maryland, you probably have heard about the Carnival Pride. The Pride is the first Carnival ship to make the Port of Baltimore its new year-round home. Today was the historic day as the Pride sailed into Baltimore, had its inspections, welcomed the first passengers onboard and sailed off into the sunset. It is great to have a year-round ship in Baltimore. This can only mean bigger and better things for the city. If you are interested in learning more about the itineraries or booking a cabin, call Renee today at 866-568-0022.

To read more about the Carnival Pride sailing from Baltimore, click here.

Official Sponsor of the Baltimore Ravens "Purple" Club

It is official. Celebrity Cruises and CruiseOne are the official sponsor of Purple. Purple is a fantastic club for the female fans of the Baltimore Ravens. On Saturday, April 25, 2009, the Baltimore Ravens held the Spring Football Festival which involved activities on the field of M&T Bank stadium for fans young and old autograph sessions with players and cheerleaders as well as booths for all kinds of vendors. As the official sponsor of Purple, the four CruiseOne franchises that are a part of this great venture (yes, I am one of them!) had a great booth displaying all the wonderful Celebrity Cruises ships, destination and deals. And boy are there some deals out there! It was great meeting the Purple and Lavender ladies that came by to chat. If you are interested in becoming Purple lady or are interested in some great Celebrity Cruise deals, contact Renee Gerber ASAP. After all, I am a proud Purple lady!

GO RAVENS!

Celebrity Century Review

Some of you may have noticed that I have been gone for a few days. I just returned from a wonderful Seminar at Sea on the Celebrity Century. Before you ask...yes, we did have seminars and learned while enjoying the beautiful ship and weather. We couldn't have asked for better weather if we tried. Not a wave in the ocean or a cloud in the sky the entire time we were sailing. An ideal cruise. Now for the ship and the good stuff...

The Celebrity Century was built in 1995. It recently underwent a $55 million dollar refurbishment in 2006. What a difference a little refurb can make! During the refurbishment, Celebrity Cruises added the specialty dining restaurant, Murano, made the Fun Factory larger, added alot of balcony cabins, added the Martini bar and so much more. Having a capacity of just under 1,900 people, makes this ship an ideal size.

Venues- if you are looking for a ship with several venues in which to sit, relax, have a drink or just listen to some music, you will find it on the Century. There are the Rendevoux Square, Crystal Room, Hemispheres Lounge, and the Martini Bar to name a few. They are never fully crowded and the service is impeccable.

Dining and Service- our waitstaff in the Dining Room was the best we have ever experienced. Victor, the waiter, for table 617 is the happiest, most professional waiter I have seen on any cruise ship. I think he goes to bed with a permanent smile on his face.

Staterooms- since this was a Seminar at Sea, we did not have a choice of stateroom categories.
We had an interior cabin, a first for me. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It had plenty of room for the two of us, a flat panel TV, table, chair and makeup area. The bathroom was a nice size. The shower was especially spacious. My only complaint was that the shower had a curtain that tended to cling to you rather than glass doors. I think I can get over this!

Entertainment- we only saw one show. It was not the best entertainment on the high seas but it was enough to keep us entertained. We also experienced a first for us...a member of the Activities Staff proposed to one of the Dancers onstage at the end of the show. She said YES!

Pool- the pool had a decent set up with 4 large hottubs. At times, it seemed like there might not be a chaise lounge for everyone, but that proved to be wrong. It is very relaxing with enough space for those that like it in the sun (me) and for those that like it in the shade (my husband).

Overall, I think this is my new favorite ship. It is not too crowded and has incredible and friendly staff in every department that are ready to serve you at a moments notice. Celebrity has sure done something right here. I can't wait to return to the Century.

I have a group set up on the Century from February 11 to 15, 2010. If you want to join me and are interested in pricing, give me a call at 866-568-0022 or email me at RGerber@CruiseOne.com

Weekly E-Saver Newsletter

Have you wondered what deals are out there for cruising? Where can you find them? Sign up for our Weekly E-Saver Newsletter and you will learn all about the most current deals and news in the cruise industry.

Simply go to http://rgerber.cruiseone.com/travel/cruises/index.do# and sign up today! Don't miss out on anymore cruise news and information.

L.A. to get Disney Wonder Cruise Ship!

Disney has announced that it plans to move the Disney Wonder to Los Angeles in 2011. Los Angeles will become its new home port. This is great news for people that live on the West Coast. It adds a whole new dimension to cruising. The Disney Dream and Fantasy will have their home port in Port Canaveral, Florida in 2011 and 2012. Disney estimates that the Wonder could draw an estimated 250,000 customers to the Port of Los Angeles over five years. Way to go Disney!

New Ship for Baltimore

Royal Caribbean has just announced the Northeast Deployment for 2010. There is exciting news...the Enchantment of the Seas will join the Port of Baltimore sailing an 8-Night New England & Canada itinerary, 5-Night Bermuda itinerary, 9-Night Eastern Caribbean itinerary and a 9-Night New England and Canada itinerary.

Passport Changes in 69 Days!

Did you know that the Passport requirements are changing in 69 days? Starting June 1, 2009, the US Government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of the WHTI. This means that you will now need a valid US Passport to cruise. Don't waste time, get your Passport today. Go to http://www.travel.state.gov/ for the full information and passport applications. Adult passports last 15 years and passports for children last 5 years. It is always a good idea to travel with a Passport. What if you are on an island and get injured, have to stay at a local hospital? How will you fly home if you do not have a passport? It is a lot of hassle and will probably involve a call or visit to the State Department. Get protected now...the processing time of passports will only get longer as we approach the new requirement deadline.

Why Use a Cruise Specialist?

People often ask, "Why should I use a cruise specialist?" There are plenty of answers to that question which is why I thought I should write about it today.

Part of booking a cruise vacation is actually planning. You want someone that "knows the ropes" so to speak and will listen to your needs when helping you plan the right cruise for you. When you call the cruise line direct, the reservation agents work for only 1 cruise line and that is what they will try to fit you into. As an Independent Cruise Specialist, I represent all cruise lines and will match you to the correct cruise line for YOU!

What is the difference between an Internet Discounter and a Cruise Specialist?

Internet Discounter/Cruise Line Agents:

• An internet discounter is available 24/7 and you will only get to "chat" with someone through the computer.
• A lot of the reservation agents may not have any real cruise experience.
• They will reference the brochure for most of your questions. They do not take the time to take individual cruise line trainings or ship inspections.

Cruise Specialist:

• Personal Service, 7 Days a Week- you will always get the same person that knows what you are looking for.
• We advise you based on personal experience.
• We actively look for ways to make your dollar go further.
• We are always taking training, going on Seminars at Sea, conducting Ship Inspections and more.

Next time you decide to cruise, call us, Your Personal Cruise Specialist. We don't charge more to give you our knowledge!

Feel the Motion of the Ocean

It is no doubt that when you are on a cruise ship, you will feel the motion of the ocean beneath you. While some people (myself included) love to feel this, others don't like it so much. Usually you will only feel the gentle side to side motion. On the rare occassion that the waters are a little rougher, you will feel more. The large cruise ships today are built with stabilizers. These are a wonderful invention that helps the ship to correct itself when the waves move the ship.

As you may know, I just got off of the Carnival Imagination last week where I was hosting my second Girly Girl cruise. While on the ship, a few "first time" cruisers had asked me about the motion and what to do. I thought this was the perfect time to discuss some helpful solutions to motion sickness.

• When booking your stateroom, try to get mid ship (front to back)
• The higher you go on the ship, the more movement you will feel
• Take a Dramamine or Bonine before getting on the ship. You want to prevent the onset of motion sickness. Once you feel bad, it is harder to get rid of it.
• Take ginger pills with you. When feeling queezy, take the ginger pills.
• For some strange reason, eating a Green apple will help calm your stomach.

If you stick to the guidelines above, you will have no problem at all. And just remember, you will have your best sleep on a cruise ship. I think it is the gentle rocking at night! Oh, I wish I was on another cruise right now!

Knowledge is a Must!

Did you know that some cruise line reservations agents have never been on a cruise? In that case, how can they guide you in items such as the cruise experience, excursions, best location on the ship if you have motion issues, etc...? The travel industry is ever changing , escpecially cruising. It is vital that your Cruise Specialist understand passport requirements, itineraries, dining options, etc...

We pride ourselves in learning as much as we can to benefit us as well as our valued clients. Most of the cruise lines have training programs for travel agents. In order to complete these programs one must take numerous online classes, tests, and refresher courses to keep your status. Certifications that I have include:

• Princess Commodore
• Cunard Commodore
• Royal Caribbean Expert Level
• Carnival Certified
• Disney Cruise Line
• Celebrity 1-Star Agent

I am in the process of taking the courses for Crystal, Holland America, and Norwegian.

CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) has designations as well. The designations are ACC, MCC, ECC and ECC Scholar. In order to achieve these designations one must complete online courses and exams, complete ship inspections, take a minimum of a 3 day cruise and a 7 day cruise as well as sell a certain number of cabins within a 2 year period. I am happy to report that I have now become an ACC- Accredited Cruise Counsellor with CLIA.

The next time you book a cruise with us, you can be confident in our ability to plan a great cruise that will fit your needs and wants. We look forward to hearing from you. You can reach Renee at 866-568-0022.

Social Networking, Facebook and Cruising

Anyone that is anyone knows the impact that Social Networking has had on the Internet and beyond. Whether you are in your teens, twenties, or seventies, you have heard of Facebook. This Social Networking site has become the place to be. While it is great for finding and keeping up with old friends, there are many other advantages to Facebook. There are a number of very useful applications within Facebook.


We have created two very useful Facebook applications especially for cruising. We would love you to check them out, install them and become a fan!

• My Cruise- allows you to show off future and past cruises, automatically performs Roll Call showing others on your cruise, displays a photo of each ship with links to itineraries, deck plans, etc..., see all of your friends cruises and information about any cruise ship.


• Cruise Puppy- set up your favorite cruise lines with Cruise Puppy and it will automatically fetch the latest big sales that the cruise lines are having and alert you by sending a Facebook notification. The best part is that it does not fill up your inbox with a ton of information.

Check out our applications and let us know what you think!

10 Reasons to Purchase Travel Insurance

One of the most common questions that I am asked on a regular basis is...Should we really purchase travel insurance? Without hesitation, my answer is YES and here are some reasons why.

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling.

1. It's 10pm and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to get everyone home?
2. Your bag was lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?
3. Your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?
4. You're involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?
5. If your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your trip, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?
6. You arrive in Jamaica and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?
7. Your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?
8. You're walking down a street in Rio and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English-speaking physician?
9. Three weeks before your scheduled trip, a fire damages your home. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?
10. You are at a beach resort in North Carolina, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation investment?

I can tell you from personal experience that the insurance pays off. In December 2008, Michael and I took our daughter on the Celebrity Solstice for our annual family cruise. While in San Juan, Ashleigh didn't feel good. She had a fever and was sluggish. We took her to the medical center on the ship. The staff was amazing and the medical center was top notch. It turns out that she had strep throat and needed antibiotics and ibuprofen (which I did not bring with us). So, $127 later, we were back in our cabin pumping her with medicine to get better. She was back to her normal active self within hours. Then we thought about the bill. Wait a minute, we have TravelGuard insurance. As soon as we returned home, I called TravelGuard and they emailed me the claim forms. We filled them out and sent them in. Within 2 weeks, we had a check for $127. What a relief!

Cruise Port Highlight- The Port of Baltimore

One of the most important things about cruising is the cruise port. Where can I go to take a cruise? What cruise lines can I take? And the list goes on. Each month, I will highlight one cruise port and give reviews, cruise line details and news. Since I live in Maryland, I thought it only appropriate to start with my homeport of Baltimore.

Which cruise lines sail out of Baltimore?

• NCL Majesty
• Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas
• Carnival Pride
• Celebrity Mercury
• American Glory, Star, Spirit

When can I sail out of Baltimore?

Carnival Cruise Lines is bringing the Carnival Pride to Baltimore starting April 27, 2009. This ship will sail year-round from the Charm City. American Cruise Lines starts sailing on May 9, 2009 through November 7, 2009. Norwegian Cruise Lines will sail from May 24, 2009 through August 28, 2009. Royal Caribbean sets sail on June 19, 2009 and ends on November 19, 2009. Celebrity Cruises is the latest to join our port with the Celebrity Mercury and will set sail on November 9, 2009 through December 21, 2009. For more detailed information on the 2009 Cruise Schedule visit http://www.cruisemaryland.com/2009Schedule.pdf

Which Itineraries are available out of Baltimore?

• Carnival - Bahamas, Port Canaveral & Bahamas, Exotic Eastern Caribbean
• American Star- Mid Atlantic Inland Passage, Chesapeake Bay
• NCL- Bermuda
• Royal Caribbean- Canada/New England, Caribbean
• Celebrity- Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean

Is it easy to sail out of The Port of Baltimore?

Yes, yes and yes. The port is conveniently located off of I-95 at the South Locust Point Cruise Terminal. The parking is great and the staff is very helpful. But don't take my word for it...The Port of Baltimore Won an International Customer Satisfaction Award from Royal Caribbean. Click here for the full press release.

**American Cruise Lines departs from the Baltimore Inner Harbor.

For more information regarding sailing out of the Port of Baltimore, call me at 410-203-0022.

Live Through the Down Times

For most of 2008, we heard about the economy and how bad things were and how bad they could continue to be. People have even been using the word, Recession. Now that we are almost at the end of January 2009, it is time to move on. Times will continue to be hard but the economy will get better. One thing to remember is that you will survive. This month I have been incredibly busy. As I have been booking cruises (and lots of them), people have been telling me that they still need to live during these hard times. They have saved their money and deserve and need their vacation.

We understand that price is still a concern. Prices now are better than ever and continue to be. However, as the economy starts to show signs of improvement, the cruise lines will take notice and start to slowly increase their prices.

A cruise is still one of the best value vacations for the entire family. Almost everything is included and there is something to do for all ages. The best part is that you don't have to worry about cooking, cleaning or planning things for the family to enjoy. So if it is one, two, three or twenty of you that need a break, consider this the best time to book a cruise vacation.

Change is Here

As we celebrate this historic day, there is optimism that change is here. No matter which side of the election you were on, we are now seeing change. Many speculate that the positive feelings that people have now will carry over for quite some time. In the Cruise Industry, we are definitely seeing a wave of action. Cruise lines such as Princess Cruises have reported Record Breaking Sales over the past week. Our phones have been ringing off the hook and people are starting to book summer vacations and beyond. This increase in cruise sales has prompted cruise lines to consider raising prices. We all knew that these low prices and fantastic deals couldn't last forever. This is the time to secure the cruise vacation you've been thinking about. Call Renee at 866-568-0022 to discuss a cruise for you.

13 Fun Reasons to Cruise

With the weather being so frigid in the majority of the country, people are talking more and more about going someplace warm. When people think about warm weather vacations, they think about cruising. MSN.com had a great article titled, "13 Fun Reasons to Set Sail" that was posted today. Check it out at http://travel.msn.com//Guides/CruiseSlideShow.aspx?cp-documentid=827969&imageindex=1.

You will see many of the same reasons that were mentioned in a previous post. So like Royal Caribbean says... "Get out There". Let 2009 be the year that you try something new and exciting or continue to enjoy the fabulous lifestyle that cruising has to offer.

Group Cruise Advantages

You have a group of friends or family that are thinking of going on a cruise vacation. Now what? Contact your Cruise Specialist to find out the advantages of forming a group. Most cruise lines consider a group to have 8 or more double occupancy cabins that sail together. What are the advantages?

• Special Pricing
• Group Amenities- each sailing with have "points" associated with it. You can use these points to add extras such as a bottle of wine or champagne to each stateroom, onboard credit of various amounts, tote bags. free 1 hour cocktail party, etc...
• All reservations are cross referenced together to ensure that your entire group will sit together during dining.
• One price includes your meals, shipboard activities, entertainment and much more!
• Spend as much or as little time with your group as you want.
• Children have organized activities to participate in allowing adults to have some well deserved free time.
• Accomodations to meet every budget
• Exotic ports of call

Forming a group cruise is easy, just call Renee for information. To see the group cruises that we already have set up, click here. We would love to have you join us.

Tracking a Cruise Ship

Your friends and family are on a cruise. You know they are going to the Caribbean, but where are they at this very moment? To figure out the location of cruise ships, simply log onto http://www.sailwx.info/ . Then click "Ship Tracker" and "select "Cruise Ship Tracker" from the pull down menu. This is a great site that will show you where cruise ships are located at that moment. So, if you can't join your family or friends on that great cruise adventure, you can at least see where they are. Enjoy!

Finding the Best Rate

As a Cruise Specialist, I am trained in finding the best rate possible. There are many options available for people looking to travel. Here are a few of the options that we look for when booking cruises...

1. Resident rates- cruise lines often offer discounts to people that live in certain states. This is why we always ask where you retain residence.
2. Senior rates- if someone is aged 55 or older in the cabin, then you are eligible for the Senior rate.
3. Past Passengers- if you have cruised before, make sure you sign up for the past passenger program. This will enable you to get discounted fares or upgrades.
4. Reduced rates for 3rd and 4th passengers within the cabin
5. Discount for full payment in advance- this is popular with Crystal Cruises.
6. Credit card promotions- use a particular card to pay for your cruise and you could be eligible for reduced fares, onboard credit or upgrades.
7. Group rates- if you can fill 8 or more cabins at double occupancy, you can get lowered rates and added amenities.
8. And many more.

As you can see there are many ways to save on cruises. We try to get you the best deal possible. This is the best time to buy and you have no risk since your deposit is refundable up until the final payment date.

Call today to see if you are eligible for one of the above discounts or others. You could be cruising in 2009 or 2010!

Start the New Year Out Right!

Welcome to 2009! I hope that everyone had a safe and happy start to the year. Most of you probably had the conversation regarding resolutions. How many of you vowed to dedicate more time to yourself or family? What better way to do that than take a cruise.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises want to help you with your resolution. On Tuesday, January 6, 2009, they are having a Sales Event. Many sailings have reduced fares. Take a step toward your resolution and call me to start planning your next cruise. I look forward to helping you!