Next Stop: Global Adventure

I want to share a recent Cruise Critic article with you because it has a lot of important points about the realities of booking a cruise these days. 

Here's my take-away from this article:  don't wait for 'The Deal to Eclipse Any and All Other Possible Deals' when you're ready to book a cruise! 

Why?  There are almost always promotions (early booking incentives!) & great deals to be had if you book your cruise 9-12 months in advance.  If you wait, you risk facing:

-Rising cruise fares (Carnival & NCL raised their in Spring 2010-others will follow!)
-Fewer deals/promotions (the cruise lines WANT you to book early, so they can plan better, so their early booking incentives are generally the best!)
-Losing your preferred stateroom category & location

Cruises are still a great deal for your vacation dollar and a wonderful way to eliminate lots of the hassles of vacationing.  Your onboard activities, meals (including room service!), select beverages, entertainment, and accommodations are all included in the price.  Plus, unpack ONCE, and visit multiple destinations in one vacation!  Generally, you pay a deposit of around $100-300 per person, then your final payment isn't due until 90 days prior to sailing.

Want to sail for free (except for taxes)?  Then organize a group cruise, where generally every 16th berth (bed, so basically half a stateroom) is FREE!  A group is a minimum of only 8 staterooms  at double occupancy, which is perfect for family reunions, couples' getaways, multiple families vacationing together, etc. 

A good deal isn't a good deal if it isn't the right cruise line, itinerary, and stateroom category for YOUR needs!  Let me help! :)

Disney has given you even more time to take advantage of their FREE Dining Plan offer this fall! 

Yes, there are lots of black out dates, but there is still plenty of availability for this promotion.  And remember, you can even use the table service meals in this plan for Character Dining events!

Technically you have to book this Free Dining Plan promotion by 8/14, but keep in mind that there are a limited number of rooms at the Disney resorts available for this offer...

Disney Dining Plans are ONLY available to Disney resort guests, in addition to complimentary round-trip airport transportation and  Extra Magic Hours at the parks. 

Interested in some dates & prices for YOUR family's Disney vacation with this promotion?  Give me a call or shoot me an email soon!

I'm going on a cruise and you can all come along!  But, only if you want to have fun...a lot of fun! 

Join me on The Pleasure Cruise, February 5-10, 2011 on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas!  Bring your spouse, your partner, your significant other, or that special someone in your life and GET THE HECK OUTTA HERE with us! 

The Pleasure Cruise is a one-of-a-kind couple's dream escape from the ordinary.  Because don't we all need that every once in awhile?!

This cruise has been designed by yours truly, the travel expert, and my fabulous friend Melanie, the relationship enhancement specialist (independent Passion Parties consultant), to combine the many benefits of a cruise vacation with secrets guaranteed to ignite a fire in your relationship!

Why The Pleasure Cruise?

-Almost everything you need for your vacation is included:  all your onboard meals (even room service!), most onboard activities and entertainment (movies, live shows, rock-climbing wall, fitness center, pools, & more!), stateroom category of your choice, etc.

-The cruise lines LOVE groups and take very good care of them.  We've arranged for you to have a great rate, bottle of wine in your stateroom, an exclusive cocktail reception, fun samples from Passion Parties, and much more!

-Opportunities for fun excursions in Cozumel and Costa Maya, either with our exciting group or on your own.

Prices for The Pleasure Cruise start at just $613.76 per person and that is INCLUDING taxes & fees for a 5-night cruise vacation!  And kill 2 birds with one stone, because we've scheduled The Pleasure Cruise conveniently close to Valentine's Day...

Book your stateroom by July 31st, 2010 and benefit from Early Booking Incentives, including a discount on Passion Party products!

Kids 17 & under Sail FREE in the same stateroom with 2 full-fare paying adults on most 7-night Mexican Riviera sailings January 23-March 20, 2011!  You just pay government taxes and fees. 

This itinerary sets sail from Los Angeles and visits Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, & Cabo San Lucas, plus spend 3 days at sea to enjoy all of the ship's amenities.
The Disney Wonder was even ranked #1 in Crew & Service in 2010 by Conde Nast Traveler!

Important note:  this is a great promo for these sailings on the Disney Wonder.  However, this is NOT the new Disney Dream arriving in January 2011!  Our family sailed on the Wonder in January 2010 and it is still a wonderful ship-you'll get more nights for your money than the Dream at the moment.   Just fyi! :)

What's included in your fare on a Disney cruise? 
-Your choice of stateroom category (window, no window, balcony, etc.) in staterooms larger than the cruise-industry standard.
-Most onboard meals, including room service, breakfast, lunch, and
dinner in one of 3 themed restaurants (adults-only restaurant Palo is an additional charge).
-Most onboard beverages, including soft drinks (unique to Disney!).  Alcoholic beverages are additional.
-Most onboard entertainment and activities, including 3 live Disney shows, first-run and 3D movies, a variety of pools, and character meet & greets.

As always, there are a limited number of staterooms in each category available for the Kids Sail Free promotion and you must book by July 31st, 2010.  But book early for your preferred category!

Contact me anytime for a quote for this promotion! 

Ah, Royal Caribbean, you are very smart, indeed!

Norwegian Cruise Line has a partnership with Nickelodeon and a new ship (Epic), Disney Cruise Line has a partnership with, naturally, anything Disney and a new ship (Dream) and now Royal Caribbean follows suit with a Dreamworks Animation partnership onboard the Allure of the Seas!

Dreamworks Animation is responsible for such hits as the Shrek movies, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon.  This new partnership with Royal Caribbean means lots of fun character events (meet & greets, photo opps, meals, etc.) and exclusive new onboard shows such as How to Train Your Dragon on Ice and the Madagascar Aqua Show, which features high divers, swimmers, and acrobats.

Please let me know if you're interested in taking a cruise aboard any of these amazing new ships!  But, keep in mind that these same cruise lines are offering great deals on their older-but-still-fabulous ships  because of the new ones! 

Happy Sailing!

Disney speaks...and the world listens!  :)

New cruise ship, new Orlando resort, new Hawaii resort...what next?

The Disney Dining Plan is a good deal even if you have to pay for it.  When you get it FREE--of course that's even better!

Disney just released this promotion today:  book at least 3 nights in a Disney Moderate Resort (e.g. Port Orleans, Coronado Springs) and receive the Disney Dining Plan FREE for all guests!  Travel between August 15th and October 2nd, 2010.

The Disney Dining Plan includes 1 Quick Service Meal, 1 Table Service Meal, and 1 Snack for each guest in your room.  The Table Service Meal can even be used for a ton of different Character Dining options, such as Chef Mickey's Buffet. 

Interested in a quote?  Give me a call or shoot me an email and I'll get back to you right away!  See my contact info to the right.

BTW, did you notice my latest work in progress-the Disney Helpful Hints page?  I'm adding new stuff to it EVERY DAY, so keep checking back for new Disney info!

Then let me help you put a group cruise together! 

BTW, a group is generally considered 8 or more staterooms on most cruise lines.

Why cruise with a group of family members, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, classmates, random people you met on the street, etc.? 

Everyone benefits:
-Receive special group pricing
-Generally every 16th person in the group sails FREE!  (based on 8 staterooms at double occupancy)
-Use group points towards onboard receptions, stateroom gift baskets/wine, or onboard credit (good for spa, beverages, etc.).

Best of all, I can handle ALL of the details for you.  Recommending the best cruise line, ship, and destination for your group, organizing deposits & payments, finding unique & discounted shore excursions, dealing with your cousin Bob so YOU don't have to...

Cruises have something for everyone, so they are great for multi-generational gatherings like family reunions.  But what about a bachelorette party cruise (think of all that quality spa time you could get with your onboard credit!) or a destination wedding cruise (get married on or off the ship for far less than a land-based wedding!).  The possibilities are endless.

Great marketing job, Disney Cruise Line.  Your first new ship in 11 years, the Disney Dream, doesn't set sail until January 2011 and you keep releasing these delightful little tidbits to keep us intrigued and wanting more.

If you have a 30", HD virtual porthole in your Inside Stateroom, expect to have real-time outside views AND catch a glimpse of Mickey, the balloon house from the movie Up, and Finding Nemo's Peach the starish popping in!  These staterooms are actually selling out faster than Oceanview Staterooms and I want one too!

Some may find this shocking, but sometimes parents want to occasionally spend time away from their children while on vacation.  It happens (frequently to me...).  And you may think a Disney ship is one of the LAST places you might find such a kid-free oasis.  Thoughtfully, Disney has provided multiple places to escape Disney on the Dream.  For example, Skyline is an adults-only cocktail bar featuring views of some of the world's most amazing skylines (think Tokyo, Paris, & London) on 'window' screens.  One moment you're looking over the Eiffel Tower, the next you're in Hong Kong! 

Ah, but what to DO with the kiddos while you're sipping champagne in Paris?  As it turns out, the kids will be even more interested in ditching YOU for the Oceaneer's Club, where they can play in Andy's Room from Toy Story, study at the Monster's Academy, or chat with a virtual Crush from Finding Nemo. 

True, the Dream isn't finished yet, but don't let that stop you from booking a stateroom through me now.  It will be taking over the Wonder's route in the Bahamas on 3, 4, or a new 5 night (2 stops at Castaway Cay!) cruise. Interested in how much this adventure would cost you?  Give me a call or shoot me an email and I can let you know!

There is more than just Disney to enjoy in Orlando!  Beginning this spring, you'll be able to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort. 

And pssst...I have an exclusive vacation package to offer you.  This package includes hotel accommodations and admissions to BOTH Universal Orlando theme parks (Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Florida, in addition to some cool perks:

--Early park admission to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
--Traditional British breakfast at the Three Broomsticks, the signature eating establishment within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
--Universal Express ride access to select attractions & shows, allowing you to skip regular lines ALL DAY!

A 4-night Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation package at a Universal Partner hotel starts at $285 per adult.  Children ages 3-9 are just $130. 

A 4-night vacation package at an on-site Universal hotel starts at $645 per adult.  Children ages 3-9 are $130. 

Both packages include 3 nights of accommodations, 3 days Base Park admission to both Universal Parks (like Disney's Base Park Ticket, you may hit one park per day), AND the cool perks mentioned above!

Book now for travel between 5/28/10-12/31/10.

Contact me for more information or to book!