Tag Archives: Cruise vacations

You won’t like this blog, but more cruise lines are banning rebating

Posted on by alanwhitt

I’ve talked about this issue before but it bears repeating.

Clients all the time are asking if we can reduce the rate of a cruise below what the cruise line is charging.

Alan Whitt

This is called rebating, and Allure Quest Travel Experience has long taken a stance against rebating for any reason. We may lose a few clients because of it, but integrity means more than a few dollars.

Rebating was a huge advantage for the big travel agencies, but not so much for the hard-working smaller agencies such as Allure Quest Travel Experience. We just can’t afford to give away our commissions. Would you like it if your employer cut your salary while you’re doing the same amount of work?

Fortunately, in the world of cruising rebating has long been a no-no with many major cruise lines and more are joining in.

Oceania, Regent Seven Seas and Princess cruise lines are the latest to ban travel agents from undercutting pricing by giving part of their commission to the client.

Any travel agent caught violating this rule will be banished and not allowed to book with that line again.

All this just validates Allure Quest Travel Experience’s long standing policy. Integrity downs still count for something.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

New $65 million center to open Dominican Republic to cruising

Posted on by alanwhitt

Been there and done that on a Caribbean cruise? Just be patient little bit longer.

Alan Whitt

If you cruise frequently you know that familiar ports get a little tired after about your 10th visit. Thank God today’s megashios are destinations themselves.

I’m always looking for some place new to sail to, but mostly I sail to the same ports.

Western Caribbean? You can bet that Cozumel or Grand Cayman will be included.

Eastern Caribbean? How about St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

Southern Caribbean? A wider variety … but Aruba or Curacao are virtual certainties.

Bahamas? Nassau … Nassau … Nassau.

Get ready for a new port in 2014.

On Monday ground was broken on the new $65 million Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean’s newest destination.

The new facility – which represents one of the largest cruise industry investments ever made in the Dominican Republic – is scheduled to open in 2014.

The project is designed to re-establish the Dominican Republic’s North Coast as a popular cruise destination. The last cruise ship to call at Puerto Plata was nearly 30 years ago.

The cruise center, a join project between Carnival Corp. and the govenment, will have two berths capable of handling 8,000 passengers a day. More than 250,000 passengers  annualy are expected to be added to the Dominican Republic’s burgeoning tourism industy.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos and the latest travel news.

Your cruising days don’t always have to end because of dialysis

Posted on by alanwhitt

On Mother’s Day I was reminded of my own mom and how seven years of dialysis for renal failure basically ended her traveling ways – one of the genuine passions in her life.

Alan Whitt

I sent my parents on a cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. To do so she held off on beginning her dialysis so that they could take that cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas with another couple celebrating the same landmark date.

They had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, that one taste of cruising had gotten into her blood and to her dying day she wished she was able to take another.

She never made it.

On Mother’s Day I was reminded of my own mom, who was on dialysis for seven years … basically bringing to an end her fascination with travel.

I sent her and my dad on a short cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary and she held off on beginning her dialysis so that she and my dad could take that cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas. That wouldn’t be a problem today. You can now be dialyzed on some Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America ships.

In fact, this has been possible since 1977. Unfortunately, most folks just don’t know about it.

But that dream vacation is possible … even with the three days a week connected to these life-saving machines, administered by a board eligible/certified nephrologist and two or more dialysis nurses … and available 24 hours a day.

My mom loved to travel, but the dialysis put a serious cramp in her plans. Whenever she traveled we always had to plan ahead to make sure a facility was able to accommodate her needs.

In fact, when 9/11 occurred she and my dad were visiting my family in Connecticut, and with airplanes grounded we had a few anxious moments as we worked to get additional dialysis treatment for the extra days she would be with us.

Today … at least on some cruises … dialysis patients have the freedom to exlore exotic ports around the world … in the Caribbean … in Alaska … in the Mediterranean … all the time knowing that their medical needs will be taken care of.

If you want to find out more about being dialyzed on a cruise ship call Allure Quest Travel Experience at 615-818-8241 or 615-336-8580.

Maybe your mother can  have an experience my mother couldn’t.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos and the latest travel news.

Honor Titanic for how disaster changed cruising’s view on safety

Posted on by alanwhitt

You’ve seen the commercials for the re-release of the movie “Titanic” – this time in 3D – just in time to memorialize the most infamous sea disaster in history … except maybe one or two ships that dropped off the face of the earth back when the world was flat.

Alan Whitt

As we draw closer to the 100th anniversary date of April 15, 1912, you can expect to see Titanic references, memorials, acknowledgments and even celebrations.

Two ships – Azamara’s Journey and Fred Olsen Cruises’ Balmoral – have charter cruises that will anchor at the exact spot and exact time the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank off Nova Scotia that fateful night – at approximately 2:20 a.m.

The Balmoral cruise sold out one year in advance, necessitating the addition of Azamara Journey.

Why someone would want to recreate similar circumstances and follow a doomed ship’s path  is beyond me … but (no pun intended) whatever floats your boat.

Other cruises lines have chosen to quietly let the occasion pass and that makes more sense to me, especially in light of the Costa Concordia tragedy. Why remind your customers what could happen – no matter how remote the possibility?

Since “Titanic’ debuted I’ve had a fascination with the ship that at the time was the largest man-made vessel ever built.

I’ve loved cruising for more than 15 years, and to be able to actually see that history and authenticity of the ship on the big screen was captivating. I even purchased two versions – widescreen and letterbox – because each half of the movie is better in one more than the other.

I guess the romance of Jack and Rose also helps make it one of my all-time favorites.

But never for a moment have I considered abandoning cruising since seeing the chilling re-enactment. I know that with my limited swimming abilities, a disaster could spell the end for me. But I’m also aware that a cruising remains one of the safest modes of travel on the planet.

And that’s why avid cruisers like me need to pay a moment of tribute to those who perished onboard Titanic. That disaster helped make cruising what is is today, thanks to changes in safety protocol still in affect today.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

Hurry and get onboard! Soul Train Cruise 2013 is booking fast

Posted on by alanwhitt

You can bet your last money that there will be a Soul Train line on this cruise.

The Soul Train Cruise 2013 is a runaway freight train with people from all over the country – and beyond – coming onboard.

The three lowest-priced category balcony cabins are already filled as folks line up to beat the April 30 early deadline period to save up to $200 per person.

Alan Whitt

The cheapest balcony cabin remaining is $2,875 per person during the early signing and you can expect that to be the next to go. Other balcony cabin categories are priced at $2,925, $2,975 and $3,025.

Those prices include all taxes, fees and gratuities, and guarantee you a seat at each performance.

There remains an abundance of oceanview cabins priced from $2,225 to $2,625, but you can expect the inside cabins ($2,125-$2,175) to fill up before the end of the month.

Suites range from a small suite at $3,575 per person, to the penthouse suites for $7,825.

UPDATE: The lowest category oceanview and small suites are now sold out. The lowest priced oceanview cabin available runs $2,275, and cheapest suite is now $3,625 – both includes taxes, fees and gratuities.

Deposits are non-refundable at $650 per person for a suite, $550 for a balcony or $450 for an oceanview or inside cabin.

Call Allure Quest Travel Experience at 615-818-8241 to book this amazing concert at sea, the brainchild of Entertainment Cruise Productions – the same people who bring you the Jazz Cruise and two individual weeks of the Smooth Jazz Cruise every year.

By the way, we can book those cruises for you as well, including the Smooth Jazz Cruises headlined by George Benson.

The Soul Train Cruise is scheduled for February 17-24 out of Ft. Lauderdale on Holland America’s Westerdam, with stops at San Juan, St. Thomas, Turks & Caicos and Half Moon Cay (private island).

Performers include Patti Labell, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, The O’Jays, Kool & The Gang, War, The Spinners, Jody Watley, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding Sr. & The Main Ingredient, Gerald Alston of The Manhattans and The Intruders.

You can add comedian Alonzo Bodden for comic relief, and a host of surprises sure to bring back vivid memories from those Soul Train days.

Give me Liberty of the Seas, or give me … cupcakes?

Posted on by alanwhitt

I’m just getting off Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas right about now and I’m already missing my home for the last five days.

Alan Whitt

Cruise No. 35 was a wonderful experience because I got to add to my collection of memories and I met some interesting people.

Here are the Top 5 things that stand out most in my mind about this cruise:

5. Dine time. Roasted duck … lamb shank … prime rib and lobster tail. Wow! That’s three of the five dinners being some of the best food I’ve had on a cruise ship. However, they should have served those for breakfast as well … because breakfast in the main dining room was the exact opposite of best.

4. The entertainment. Not only were the signature shows more than worthy, but the secondary acts were as well. Several evenings in the Olive or Twist Lounge on Deck 14 a young lady with a strong voice by the name of Suave sang the the night away, while two passengers used some smooth ballroom dancing moves to entertain us. One night a singer named Kenny Jaymes was a ball of energy singing Motown tunes and more. And the quality of the ice skating shows on Royal Caribbean ships still amazes me after all these years.

3. Super Mario. I got a chance to meet the man who holds the record for sailing on Royal Caribbean cruises. I don’t know exactly how many that is, but Royal Caribbean gives one free cruise for every 50 a passenger sails … and Mario Salcedo has had eight freebies.

2. Diamond class. I have to congratulate myself (since no one else will) because I’ve reached the Diamond level in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor frequent cruiser program and actually got my recognition certificate on this cruise. That gives me added perks that I was happy to collect … including access to the Diamond Club with free drinks and food daily and a Top Tier reception where the ship’s officers line up to welcome you and folks like Mario hang out.

1. Cupcakes. I’m hooked, and I don’t know how I’m going to survive without some of the most scrumptious delicacies I’ve had on land or sea. My God! The cupcakes from The Cupcake Cupboard are amazing. Tasty … moist … gorgeous in presentation. The signature red velvet cupcakes are addictive and I may have to go to cupcake rehab to deal with it.

Safety begins with you and awareness of surroundings

Posted on by alanwhitt

Since Costa Concordia went down off the coast of Italy there has been much debate on cruise ship safety in particular and vacation safety in general.

Alan Whitt

I’ve reassured clients, friends and readers that cruising remains the safest form of transportation anywhere.

The cruise lines know an accident like the one that sank Costa Concordia is one too many. They all suffer when tragedy strikes, and keeping passengers safe is Priority No. 1.

However, when you talk about safety, it really begins with you. I cruise, fly and vacation on a regular basis and it always amazes me how lax we get simply because we’re vacationing.

The Golden Rule of travel is to always be aware of your surroundings … on a ship .. at a resort … a theme park … or the airport.

That includes having some type of knowledge about where you are. Laws and rights differ greatly in other countries than in the USA.

One thing that struck me about the Costa Concordia tragedy is that the muster drill – where passengers go to their lifeboat station for a brief safety education – was scheduled for the next day. I guess they thought disaster would make an appointment.

I consider muster drills a necessary annoyance that I need to attend. I’m not expecting disaster … but I still have to prepare for it.

I tell families to never allow children to roam a cruise ship or a resort by themselves. When you think about it, what are the odds that of the 4,000 people on a ship some not-so-nice people.

When my grandson was young, we would take him to the kids program and he couldn’t leave until we came to get him. As he got older and more mature we would allow him to check in on his own … but he could only leave with a pre-approved person.

Know your kids and their maturity level, and even with that you still have to keep close tabs on them. Royal Caribbean has a program on some ships where parents can GPS their kids through the wrist bands they all receive. You’ll know where junior is at all times.

Being aware of your surroundings begins even before you reach your destination. Always plan for what you would do in a worst-case scenario.

A flight attendant told a friend that when flying she always counts the rows to the nearest exit, just in case smoke fills the cabin.

You never know when that little mental note – and others like it – can save your life.