Tag Archives: cruises

My cruising days won’t end with my death .. I’ve already seen to it

Posted on by alanwhitt

We all hate talking about death, yet we all know it’s coming … sooner or later.

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

While sitting in a funeral home conference room, helping a good friend get through the death of her mother, her 42-year-old sister made the statement that she’s ready to go. She clarified that she wasn’t suicidal, wasn’t going to do anything dangerous and that she was prepared to live on.

Her rationale was that she’s had a great life thus far, and since she’s right spiritually, she has no fear of the great unknown called death.

But I’ll be honest, I’m not ready to call it quits and I doubt if I will be any time soon.

So why does this involve travel?

Because former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver died last weekend while cruising the Caribbean.

And since I absolutely love cruising, I can think of no better place to meet my maker than on a luxurious cruise … preferably right after scarfing down a tasty surf and turf of lobster and prime rib, washed down with a nice glass of White Zinfandel.

I’m sure Weaver didn’t plan on dying on his cruise. He began choking after dinner on Friday night and that was it. Purely by accident.

For years I’ve known where I want my final resting place to be. My loved ones are aware that I want to be cremated and my ashes scattered at sea.

But there’s more to it than that. Instead of mourning me, I want it to be a celebration. The plan is for them to go on a cruise during my birthday week … no matter when I died. If my time comes in January, I still want the ceremony to take place in September. That way they’ll have time to mourn, and then enjoy the rest of their cruise … on me.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Royal Caribbean at it again with four newbuild ships over six years

Posted on by alanwhitt
As Royal Caribbean's enthusiastic fans continue to speculate about the line's new Project Sunshine ship, images such as this one from Falmouth, Jamaica, continues to make the rounds. The vessel on the right is said to be the ship in question, but Royal Caribbean has released nothing to confirm it.

As Royal Caribbean’s enthusiastic fans continue to speculate about the line’s new Project Sunshine ship, images such as this one from Falmouth, Jamaica, continues to make the rounds. The vessel on the right is said to be the ship in question, but Royal Caribbean has not confirmed it.

I’m trying to decide which Royal Caribbean newbuild news excites me more – the fact that they’ve building a third (2016) and possibly fourth (2018) Oasis-class ship … or the new generation Project Sunshine ship scheduled for delivery next year.

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Since I’ve sailed on Oasis of the Seas, I guess the inquisitive side of me is more anxious for the Project Sunshine ship. That’s because I know that Royal Caribbean has to have a few surprises up their collective sleeves for their very enthusiastic fans.

Not much has been released on the Project Sunshine ship. If the ship is successful (and do you doubt it will be) Royal Caribbean has an option for a second ship in 2015.

Right now the message boards are all over the place with speculation as to what will be added … including a ferris wheel! This ship will be slightly larger than the line’s three Freedom-Class ships at 158,000 tons and will carry just over 4,100 guests based on double occupancy.

The new Oasis-class ships will weigh in at 225,282 tons and carry 5,400 passengers just like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

When Oasis of the Seas debuted in late 2009 many wondered if Royal Caribbean was pricing itself out of the range of normal cruise passengers. That theory was immediately rebuked with sold out ships at premium prices.

“The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise experience for our guests,” said RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain. “These ships have consistently generated outstanding guest satisfaction ratings and continue to produce superior financial results. We are thrilled to be adding a sister to this extraordinary class of vessels at a compelling price. Being back building in France just adds to the pleasure.”

The many original amenities have proven so successful that Royal Caribbean is currently undergoing a fleet-wide revitalization program to add those innovations to all of their ships in some form.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Country music is perfect inclusion for a fabulous cruise

Posted on by alanwhitt
Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Hello country music fans!

Since I moved to Nashville seven years ago, I’ve been waiting for someone to put together the definitive country music cruise. Yes, individuals have performed on cruise ships through the years – including Taylor Swift with a single show onboard Royal Caribbean’s magnificent Allure of the Seas.

But it took Entertainment Cruise Productions to create the 2014 Country Music Cruise with the fantastic lineup that makes this voyage one of country music’s signature events of the year.me to Allure Quest Travel Experience!

Since I moved to Nashville seven years ago, I’ve been waiting for someone to put together the definitive country music cruise. Yes, individuals have performed on cruise ships through the years – including Taylor Swift with a single show onboard Royal Caribbean’s magnificent Allure of the Seas.

But it took Entertainment Cruise Productions to create the 2014 Country Music Cruise with the fantastic lineup that makes this voyage one of country music’s signature events of the year.

So far, 10 performers and groups have signed on the dotted line to perform on premium cruise line Holland America’s ms Westerdam, January 19-26, 2014. You can expect more entertainment and events as we draw closer to the sailing date.

Those committed thus far are Vince Gill, Ronnie Milsap, Patty Loveless, Kenny Rogers, Jo Dee Messina, Restless Heart, Andy Griggs, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal and Lorianne Crook.

If you don’t know much about Entertainment Cruise Productions, they’ve been creating music cruises for 12 years – always to full ships. They are indeed the worldwide leader in full-ship charter cruises … including The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, The Soul Train Cruise, The Malt Shop Memories Cruise and new to the mix … Celtic Thunder Cruise and Ship of Fear Cruise.

However, I gotta believe that the Country Music Cruise is going to be one of their most popular – perhaps even topping the first Soul Train Cruise’s 75-day sellout record. Country music is America’s music, and is loved by young and old alike. Although the artists are as human as the rest of us and make just as many mistakes and bad life choices, country music is relatively wholesome and real.

So I sell this cruise with pride and anticipation, knowing that as we sail the Caribbean Sea, the sounds of all these wonderful performer may also have the fish following the ship to our next destination.

To book this cruise and any other vacation contact Allure Quest Travel Experience by phone at 615-818-8241 – or email at alan@allurequest.com.

Here’s your absolute last chance to book Soul Train Cruise 2013

Posted on by alanwhitt

The Soul Train 2013 Cruise has been a sellout for quite awhile, but Allure Quest Travel Experience has one inside cabin available to the first person who wants it.

Alan Whitt

The total cost of this February 17-23, 2013 cruise is $2,250 per person … or $4,500 for two. A deposit of $2,100 gets you on Holland America’s Westerdam for the “The Hippest Trip at Sea.”

The roster for this cruise reads like an All-Star musical team. It includes Patti Labelle, 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.

Soul Train Cruise 2013 will make stops at Turks & Caicos,  St. Thomas, San Juan and Half Moon Cay – Holland America’s private island.

Call us at 615-818-8241 for more information or to book this last available cabin.

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.

Good news: Second Soul Train cruise set for October 2013

Posted on by alanwhitt

OK. So you missed out on the first Soul Train Cruise for whatever reason.

You don’t want to make that mistake again.

Alan Whitt

Unfortunately for those who waited it took just 75 days for the Soul Train Cruise scheduled for Feb. 17-24, 2013 to officially sell out – with a waiting list of more than 100 music lovers searching for cabins.

But there is good news.

The first Soul Train Cruise sold out so quickly that Entertainment Cruise Productions has added a second cruise, scheduled for Oct. 5-12, 2013.

When … where …  and names of performers are unknown. But you can bet your last dollar that the second cruise will be just as hot of a ticket as the first.

Those who are on the wait list will be afforded priority pricing and access to cabins so don’t delay … email alan@allurequest.com or call 615-818-8241 to sign up.

Learn from your mistakes and be prepared to book your cabin as soon as they become available. The first information on the second soulful music cruise will be announced by the middle of July.

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.

The Magic of Disney floats in and out of New York this summer

Posted on by alanwhitt

Look out New York … Mickey Mouse is in town.

Alan Whitt

The Disney Magic will call The Big Apple home for the next three-plus months, sailing eight-night Bahamas cruises, five-night cruises to Canada and unique two-night get acquainted sailings out of Manhattan.

The Bahamas cruises will sail  to Disney’s private island – Castaway Cay; Nassau, Bahamas and Port Canaveral. During the Florida stop guests will receive a one-day Disney World Park Hopper ticket and roundtrip transportation between the ship and resort.

The New England-Canada cruises will call at Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick.

The two-night cruises out of New York offer a quick getaway with a day at sea over a weekend.

Call Allure Quest Travel Experience for dates and pricing for one of these 20 cruises at 615-818-8241 or 615-336-8580.

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 booking a variety of vacations.

Soon-to-be empty nester will embrace adults-only lifestyle

Posted on by alanwhitt

I love kids … as long they belong to someone else. You can enjoy them, but the best thing is that you can usually give them back.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve raised a daughter and a grandson … and with the right person I would happily raise another one.

Alan Whitt

I’ve got my 15-year-old grandson with me for about another month, but when the school year ends he’s off to live with his mother – as it should be.

And for the first time in nearly 30 years … I will truly be alone.

Whoopee!

That will give me an opportunity to experience places I’ve never really considered before – adults-only hotels and resorts.

Of my 36 cruises, my grandson has been on seven of them. We’ve been to Disney World too many times to count .. definitely in the double digits.

For all of his life I’ve always considered where to take him next.

He’ll still be my travel buddy on occasion. That’s what a grandpa will do if he’s smart (that’s me) … creating memories for a grandchild that will last long after you’re dead and gone.

But for now there’s a lot of life left in these not-so-old bones and I want to enjoy life sans kids.

You’ll not see me traveling during spring breaks, holidays or most times when families like to travel.

Instead, I’m heading to popular destinations during the “off season.”

That might be Lake Tahoe between the summer and winter seasons … or Palm Springs during the sizzling hot middle of summer … and definitely a cruise after Thanksgiving’s Day but before Christmas – which happens o be the cheapest time of the year to cruise anyway.

And I may take a 14-day cruise just about any time because most young families can’t afford to get away for that long period … or better yet, a European river cruise that has absolutely no kid’s programs onboard.

All of these times and destinations will reduce the possibility of an overflow of children afoot.

Of course, I can travel anytime I want if I go the adults-only route.

Sandals resorts are couples only … so the only kids you’ll see are in photos in someone’s wallet.

Fast-growing competitor AMResorts has Secrets Resorts & Spas, and there are a handful of adult-only, all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and other places that foot the bill as well.

New to the adults-only arena is the completely renovated Riu Palace Macao in the Dominican Republic, scheduled to ban the little crumb snatchers as of November 1.

Regardless or where I travel and who I travel with I’ll miss my grandson, but I’m going to enjoy my kids-free lifestyle … for as long as it lasts.

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

European river cruises, fine wine make a winning combination

Posted on by alanwhitt

I remember those college days when the only wines I knew about were Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill and Mogan David 20-20 – referred to as “Mad Dog” for a reason.

What a hangover!

Alan Whitt

Today, I drink a much higher class of wine for a different reason and savor the grape just a bit more.

While in the Tuscany hills of Italy a few years back I actually toured a 1,000-year-old winery and was honored with lessons from the owners on the art of wine tasting and fine dining. Each of our seven courses included a different wine designed to enhance and complement the food … so there were many happy guests by the end of the evening.

I’ll never be a wine expert but it’s always good to expand your mind with knowledge. I never drink on land, but when at sea I love a glass of wine in the elegant atmosphere of a cruise ship and conversing with the ship’s sommelier.

Fine wine … and fine ships. Makes perfect sense to me.

Now there’s a way to combine the two in a fashion you may never have thought of.

River cruising through Europe’s historic wine country.

If you’ve never considered a river cruise in Europe or Asia this may be the perfect time. This form of cruising has exploded, going from a niche market to a major vacation player. So many new luxury ships are debuting that it’s hard to keep up.

AmaWaterways has a series of “Celebration of Wine” theme cruises this fall sailing along the Rhine, Danube and Rhone Rivers, timed to coincide with harvest time in Europe.

Each cruise includes special guest hosts, onboard lectures, wine tasting and tours of vineyards and cellars.

River cruising by Americans have increased by 800 percent over the last decade. That growth has spurred a building boom that has resulted in 20 new river cruise vessels over the last three years.

River cruising allows you to visit quaint cities and villages inaccessible by big cruise ships. And many are genuinely all-inclusive … including shore excursions.

There are boatloads of river cruise companies, including AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Avalon, Viking and others.

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

Old friend Carnival Destiny will get a new life … and a new name

Posted on by alanwhitt

It will be the Ghost of Cruises Past.

When Carnival Destiny becomes Carnival Sunshine next year will my memories of her go away with the name?

Alan Whitt

I don’t think so … but it’s still a little sad to see this ship – the first 100,000-ton cruise ship of the big ship era – disappear from the vacation landscape.

Carnival announced on Tuesday that Carnival Destiny will undergo a $155 million do-over that will make it into a brand new class of Carnival ship.

When the ship comes out of its two-month dry dock that begins February 2013, it will have many new dining, bar and entertainment features, as well as a new layout and 182 more cabins.

More important, she will have a new name. Carnival Sunshine.

I don’t know …. but the new name just doesn’t move me at the moment.

Yes, the essence of Carnival Destiny will never go away, but truth is Carnival Sunshine will be virtually a new ship.

Carnival Destiny has a special place in my heart because my first cruise was on her. That single cruise birthed a passion in me that spans 35 cruises over 16 years. In fact, I’ve sailed on this ship more than any other – three times.

But when I sail on Carnival Sunshine I won’t recognize a thing.

“This is our most ambitious ship conversion project to date and it will radically transform the Carnival Destiny into essentially an entirely new ship offering a variety of exciting dining and beverage choices, spectacular outdoor spaces and entertainment options, and onboard innovations not available anywhere else,” said Garry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.

At that point, Carnival Destiny will live only in my memory … and photos.