Good News on Trip Insurance!

My clients know that I've long recommended independent insurance rather than purchasing through the travel supplier - better coverage, lower cost, additional protection. However, the standard policy my company offered, a specifically-negotiated policy with TravelGuard, still had some purchase restrictions if you needed pre-existing coverage. I'm happy to announce that's no longer the case!

TravelGuard has long been my preferred supplier, even though I do represent other companies as well. I personally think that their top-rated traveler's assistance is the best in the business. I've liked the policy we had negotiated, but now I love it. As of this past Monday, you no longer need to purchase the insurance at time of booking (or shortly thereafter) in order to cover pre-existing conditions. You can now have pre-existing conditions waived as long as you purchase the insurance by the time of final payment!

While I still recommend purchasing the insurance when you incur your first non-refundable charge (such as purchasing your flight reservations), this gives passengers more flexibility in budgeting and paying for your cruise. You've always been able to schedule when you make payments for your cruise prior to final payment, now you can budget in and schedule your trip insurance purchase as well.

Remember, this provision is not offered in TravelGuard's other policies. It is specific to the policy my company has negotiated. It's one more way that we work to provide more benefit to you, a higher level of service, and the reason I'm affiliated with this particular company.

As always, we will discuss your specific needs, as sometimes a different policy may be better for your individual situation. But I have to say, this standard policy is going to cover most cruisers' needs quite well. I'm thrilled!

Celebrity Takes Over Ownership of Solstice

Some days I struggle to find good newsworthy tidbits for you, other days I'm swamped with them. Yesterday was one of those days with more articles than space! Because I try to add no more than 3 new blog posts a day so that those of you subscribing to the RSS feeds on your newsreaders won't miss anything, a few items were pushed over to today.

In an event which marks the beginning of the next phase of cruising for Celebrity Cruises, Meyer Werft delivered the Celebrity Solstice to Celebrity yesterday in a ceremony in Emshaven, Netherlands, marking the formal transfer of the ship -- the first in a class of five . The ship will begin its trans-Atlantic voyage Oct. 25 and is expected to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Nov. 3.

"With its innovative, half-acre Lawn Club with real, growing glass; the Hot Glass Show offered through our alliance with The Corning Museum of Glass; 10 widely varied restaurants, including four in the specialty category, stylish, spacious staterooms whose design was influenced by a panel of five women with unique travel and hospitality insights; and, of course, the intangible attribute found on every Celebrity ship -- extraordinary service -- Celebrity Solstice is the perfect manifestation of what the Celebrity brand is all about," said Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity president and CEO.

Soon after its arrival in Ft. Lauderdale, the Solstice will serve as the platform for Celebrity Cruises' first Global Sales Meeting, followed by a series of exclusive, two-night preview cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries.

The ship will be named in formal ceremonies on Nov. 14 and will embark on its inaugural season Nov. 23 on a series of seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Lt. Lauderdale. In spring 2009, the Solstice will introduce a series of 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Rome.

Longing to sail on her? Remember I still have a limited number of cabins available on the 2-night pre-inaugural charter cruise to nowhere on November 21, starting at $392/person, including all port charges, taxes, fuel supplement AND gratuities for a balcony cabin!

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Week-Long Happy Hours!

Week-long Happy Hours aren't anything new for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. After all, that's what Celebrity has done the past two weeks. What is unusual this week is that not only is Celebrity continuing their 50% off second passenger Happy Hours (new sailings for next week), but Royal Caribbean's week-long event features Holiday sailings, which are rarely put on Happy Hour, and almost never this early while you still have a chance to obtain semi-decent airfare.

The fares are for both Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year's sailings, which are typically some of the most expensive time periods of the year. In addition to traditional 7-night sailings, there are also some shorter or longer offerings as well.

These are bound to prove quite popular, so let me know if you're interested in any of the offers! While this is a sign of economic fears, it's also your chance to give your family a holiday vacation you didn't anticipate. What a great gift!

Royal Caribbean Holiday Happy Hours/Sales Event for week of October 27-31

Celebrity Happy Hour/Xciting Deals for week of October 27-31

Expedition Cruises for Solo Travelers

Have you longed to do some expedition-style cruises? Sail solo? Been put off by the single supplement pricing? Believe me, I understand! When I'm questioned by my solo occupancy clients (www.singlescruiseresource.com) about the options for solo cruising, we usually focus on the mainstream cruise brands, though I do mention that luxury and river cruising often have much reduced supplements.

Today, small cruise operator CruiseWest sent me notice that they're opening up single share pricing for the following Spirit of Oceanus sailings:

• Grand Asia — 2008 cruises
• South Pacific — Dec 2008 through Feb 2009 cruises
• Japan — Spring 2009 cruises

While a single share does mean that you have the potential of a same-sex roommate, on cruises of this nature, travelers often are more open to that than on a traditional-style cruise. Why? With the small ships, you spend even less of your time in your cabin, there's more a sense of camaraderie onboard, and you're experiencing the environments in an expeditionary mode - all which attract someone who is usually more adventurous and open to the unknown, even in a roommate.

CruiseWest also does offer attractive single supplements for those who wish their own cabins. But this is yet another option, both in terms of line and types of cruises, for you to consider.

CruiseWest is an interesting small-ship company many frequent cruisers are familiar with due to their long history of cruising in Alaska. Because they're smaller, they get more up close and personal with smaller, more out of the way ports, and even water critters. Excursions such as kayaking are a frequent activity on their sailings. What most cruisers don't know is they have world-wide offerings, heading across the Pacific and down to the Sea of Cortez, for example, in the winter months. This is soft expedition, not camping on a ship, offering comfortable accommodations, though more basic than the larger ships.

If this sounds like your style, let me know!

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity & Azamara Eliminate Fuel Supplements

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have announced the elimination of fuel supplements for bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings January 1, 2010 or beyond. This is the easy part, and doesn't take a Wall Street magnate to understand.

For those currently booked for 2009 or 2010, they have created a formula for whether or not you will receive an onboard credit for your fuel supplements. The good news is it's thankfully less convoluted than Carnival's formula, the bad news is it's still up to the markets to determine your refund.

So here's your reading comprehension test for the day. If you understand the following paragraph, you deserve a vacation... on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Azamara, of course.

If you're currently booked on a 2009 or 2010 sailing, they will evaluate and potentially adjust the fuel supplement quarterly, calculated based on the price per barrel of West Texas Crude (good for them for using a US supply), at closing on the New York Mercantile Exchange two weeks prior to the beginning of each quarter. If the price is $65 or less per barrel, then an onboard credit will be given to all applicable bookings the following quarter.

So, for example, if you are traveling in the first quarter of 2009, your "fuel price determination date" will be December 18, 2008. Second quarter 2009's "fuel price determination date" is March 18, 2009. And so on. And if the price on that date is $65 or less, all applicable bookings the following quarter will receive an onboard credit.

Of course, they do reserve the right to reinstate fuel supplements at a future date if market conditions warrant.

Next up, we'll see what formula NCL comes up with to remove or lessen their fuel supplements... I'm much more optimistic in seeing that than I am in the US airlines removing theirs...

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping… for cruises

Thanks to the economy, cruise deals are everywhere. From as low as $99!

Given the current economic climate, what better way to relieve all that stress?

In fact, all you have to do is gather up a small amount of cash to take advantage of some of the best cruise bargains around.

Check out these recent prices....

* A five night Eastern Caribbean cruise for $336 per person.

* Fares as low as $99 per person ( inside cabin ) for a four night Bahamas cruise, the LA times adding, "They're desperate to fill the ship."

* Mediterranean cruises as low as $599 per person, plus airfare, for seven nights.
Even the holidays are shaping up to be different this year.

"Usually, Christmas cruises and New Year's cruises are sold out by now, But not this year."

Cruise lines are throwing in free extras.
Take your pick of cruise lines, and choose between sensational new ships, premium cabins, and the greatest itineraries. Cruise liness are offering special bonuses on select sailings, such as onboard credit, coupon books, or cabin upgrades.

Where to find the deals....
The latest deals from more than a dozen cruise lines can be found at www.cruisedirectonline.com.
Expedia Travel
Travelocity

The price is right. Your timing could not have been better.
Take advantage of some great prices in the marketplace,
before all the great deals are gone!

Final Oasis of the Seas Neighborhood Announced - The Youth Zone

There has been so much information coming out about the Oasis of the Seas that you might have missed the announcement of the seventh and final "neighborhood" which Royal Caribbean made with much fanfare on Wednesday - the Youth Zone.

Continuing the tradition of excellence in programming for children and teens, this zone will encompass over 28,700 square feet, and include Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting dedicated Adventure Ocean spaces and various themed play areas; the cruise line’s first nursery for infants and toddlers six months or older; and state-of-the-art teen areas.

Yes, you read that right. A nursery for infants and toddlers! The Royal Babies and Tots nursery, a first for Royal Caribbean, will serve as a fully-staffed nursery with trained professionals, as well as various playgroups created by Fisher-Price and Crayola. Open daily, the nursery will offer parents drop-off options in the daytime and evening, carefully maintaining an optimum staff-to-child ratio. Free-time play also will be offered daily. This type of facility previously was only found on lines such as Disney and Cunard, and is sure to be popular with young families. While I still caution families to be careful in traveling with very young infants, even at 6 months, as exposure to a large ship, with so many people (and unfamiliar germs) can be difficult for such a young immune system, this is an option for those who want to travel with their younger children.

Within the Youth Zone, Kids Avenue will serve as the main promenade for young cruisers. Arts and crafts activities, scavenger hunts, talent shows and other scheduled and guided age-specific activities will be offered to three age groups, each with its own space: Aquanauts, age 3 to 5; Explorers, age 6 to 8; and Voyagers, ages 9 to 11. In addition, there will be new common play areas, including the Kid’s Arcade for video games; the Workshop, where families can learn scrapbooking skills or create personalized jewelry; Imagination Studio where children can explore through the Adventure Art by Crayola; an Adventure Science Lab; Play, a circular area for sports and games; and Adventure Ocean Theater, a children’s theater at sea complete with a stage and curtains, audience seating and production equipment.

The teen-only spaces will be located one deck above and adjacent to the ship’s Sports Deck, where kids can try out the ship’s two FlowRider surf simulators; the miniature golf-course, Oasis Dunes; or the Sports Court for volleyball and basketball games. The physical separation of the teen-only spaces from younger Adventure Ocean guests is an enhancement recommended by Royal Caribbean’s Teen Advisory Board. Longtime teen-only spaces, Fuel disco and The Living Room, will return aboard Oasis of the Seas, only larger and more state-of-the-art. The Living Room is a hangout for teens with a “mock-tail” bar, which serves non-alcoholic sodas and juice concoctions. It also is the place for Scratch DJ 101 classes and surfing the Internet via the bank of computer stations. An outdoor deck is adjacent.

In addition to these areas, attractions for children will be located throughout the ship’s other neighborhoods. Along the Boardwalk, kids and teens will be able to shop at retail stores tailored to their interests, and infants and toddlers can ride the Carousel with their parents or enjoy the play space modeled after a 50’s style gas station next to the Johnny Rockets restaurant. The Challengers Arcade will return with the latest video games. In the Vitality Spa and Fitness Zone, teens and tweens can enjoy a menu of spa options specially tailored for them.

“The Youth Zone aboard Oasis of the Seas will continue to build on our award-winning Adventure Ocean youth and teen programs, and expand to include dedicated space and programming for our guests as young as six months,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

In case you missed any of the other announcements, the other neighborhoods will include Central Park, Boardwalk with the AquaTheater, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place.

Carnival Returning to Galveston on November 1

In one of the largest steps toward Galveston's tourism recovery efforts, Carnival Corporation yesterday announced they will be returning to the Port of Galveston on November 1. As you may remember, Galveston was hit by Hurricane Ike early in September, and the port facilities required significant repair. In the meantime, the affected ships have been sailing from Houston.

While this is good news for Galveston, I'm sure it serves as a huge disappointment to the Port of Houston, which had an unexpected opportunity to showcase its brand new Bayport Cruise Terminal. By all reports, this new facility functioned beautifully, even with the difficult circumstances and very short notice, and hopefully other cruise lines will take a look at basing a ship here, at least seasonally, in the future. By stepping up in this way, both by building the terminal without a contract with a cruise line, and hosting the displaced cruise ships, Houston has earned a shot at future business.

The Carnival Ecstasy will resume year-round four- and five-day cruises from Galveston with a five-day voyage departing on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Carnival Conquest will begin year-round seven-day service from Galveston Sunday, Nov. 2. Up until that time, the ships will continue to operate round-trip from the Port of where they were shifted temporarily following Hurricane Ike. The Carnival Ecstasy cruises on October 23 and October 27; and the Carnival Conquest cruise on October 26 will operate round-trip from Houston.

“We are extremely pleased to be resuming service from the Port of Galveston and extend our congratulations and appreciation to the port and the Galveston community as a whole for enabling us to return so quickly,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Port of Houston for their tremendous efforts in accommodating our ships and being such exceptional partners. Their support enabled these ships to remain Texas based while Galveston worked through its recovery process,” Cahill noted.

According to Steve Cernak, director of the Port of Galveston, “We took a hit however we rapidly rebounded. We had our first cargo ship in nine days after the storm. Now, six weeks after Hurricane Ike, we are fully operational. The Port, as well as all of Galveston Island, is excited to welcome home both Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest."

Paul Gauguin Remaining in French Polynesia!

As many of you know, one of my favorite ships is the Paul Gauguin, currently operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises in French Polynesia. I think it's the perfect marriage of ship and surroundings, not to mention the fact that Tahiti and all of French Polynesia is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

It was announced a couple weeks ago that the owners of the Paul Gauguin, Grand Circle Travel, were terminating their operations agreement with Regent (Regent to No Longer Operate Paul Gauguin). At the time, it was uncertain the future cruising territory for the Paul Gauguin. No longer!

Gauguin Shipping Ltd., a subsidiary of Grand Circle Corp., will continue to operate the Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia and the region “well into 2010 and beyond,” said Executive Vice President Roy Grimsland. Grand Circle now is setting up a separate company to operate and market the 330-passenger Paul Gauguin, which has operated in Tahiti since 1998. Paul Gauguin Shipping Ltd. recently hired Grimsland, a top sales veteran of several cruise lines, including RSSC.

Grimsland announced the Paul Gauguin’s 2010 South Pacific and French Polynesia itineraries for charter and incentive sales. Rates will be held at 2009 prices for bookings made by Dec. 31, 2008. In 2010, Paul Gauguin will offer its signature seven-night cruises to the Society Islands plus a range of longer cruises throughout the South Pacific. The seven-night cruises operate year-round and depart from Papeete to Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora and Moorea. Itineraries include a day exploring Paul Gauguin’s private island retreat of Motu Mahana and overnight stays at the islands of Moorea and Bora Bora, where Paul Gauguin offers a private beach. In addition to the Society Island itineraries, Paul Gauguin offers several nine- to 17-night cruises visiting Fiji, Tonga, New Caledonia, Australia, Cook Islands, Marquesas, Tuamotus, Australs and the Society Islands.

It does appear that the new operating group may be seeking more charter cruises, and de-emphasizing the traditional individual passenger, but if this iconic ship and itinerary is on your "must do" list, we can still work together to make your dream a reality.

I, for one, am one happy Paul Gauguin lover!

Carnival to Hold “Fun Crowd” Events in Dallas and Philadelphia

Carnival is out to break world records. No, not with their ships - but in two recently-announced "Fun Crowd" events.

The first event is Sunday, October 26th at 12 noon at Pegasus Park in downtown Dallas, where Carnival will be unveiling the World's Largest Beach Ball (35 feet tall or approx 3 stories). In addition to tossing around the humongous beach ball with Carnival's own Senior Cruise Director John Heald and breaking a Guinness World Record®, there will be music, ice cream , and free Carnival Cruise giveaways.

The second event will be in Philadelphia's City Center on November 2, where they will attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Piñata . The event will be at North 20th and Market streets, where the six-story-tall piñata -- filled with 8,000 pounds of candy -- will be unveiled, along with free ice cream, live music, cruise giveaways and a booth of activities that can be shared online with friends. To break the world record, the piñata will be 62 feet tall and 55 feet from nose to tail. Philadelphia was chosen for this event because Carnival launches the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore beginning in fall 2009.

A Guinness World Record adjudicator will be on hand at both events to make the proper inspections and certifications. Those attending the events will have the opportunity to be in Carnival’s new TV commercial being shot on-site, and have the chance to win one of five free Caribbean cruises.