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New Reasons To Love Cruise Vacations

To regular visitors here it should come as no surprise; cruising is hotter than ever and popular with more travelers than ever before.  After all, by default, visiting here does indeed make you too a Cruise Addict.  But something I have noticed over the last year or so: it seems that visitors are coming for new reasons, and rightfully so. Cruise lines are branching out and going after more different groups of travelers than ever before, building new ships custom designed to appeal to, well, just about everyone.  Let’s take a look at some new reasons to love cruise vacations

  • Cruise CompeteFamily Cruising Is Better Than Ever – Families have found a home on cruise ships for decades now, leaving the old saying that a cruise is for “the newlywed or nearly dead” in the dust.  Diverse childrens programming reflects current, relevant educational standards while still making it fun for everyone. Kids go to safe facilities staffed by qualified crewmembers, many of them degreed teachers.
  • Solo Travelers Finally Catch A Break – Not all that long ago, a solo traveler had few options other than paying nearly double the price per person that two travelers would pay for the same space, occasionally catching a reduced price for singles.  Now, as new ships are rolled out, cruise lines are adding solo accommodations designed with them in mind as opposed to cutting them a break if and only if they really badly need to fill up a particular sailing.
  • Celebrity Chefs Come To Sea – More than simply lending their name to give standard cruise line fare a bit of credibility, celebrity chefs are all in on creating exclusive dining venues with cruise travelers in mind.
  • A Floating Food Court – In house dining options too are more diverse, reflecting the changing tastes of cruise travelers today. Yes, there is no shortage of all-you-can-eat buffets.  Better yet, we are finding more options than ever before with
  • Top Recording Artists – Themed cruise sailings, basically partial or full ship charters, have been around for quite some time.  Today though, in addition to the rock stars of yesteryear (fun to see in the comparatively intimate setting of a cruise ship as opposed to the giant arena we saw them at in 1982), cruise lines are bringing on board top name acts with
  • A Wide Variety Of Accommodations – Not all that long ago, the choice was inside, outside, balcony or suite; four basic choices on a first-come, first-served basis.  Today, those four basic categories have been multiplied many times over as cruise lines learn and deliver more of what individual travelers want.  Still available: an inexpensive inside cabin on just about any ship.  Not as much available: oceanview staterooms which now have more-popular balconies attached.
  • Priced Better Than Ever –  Just for fun, I looked back a bit over ten years in our cruise history and found a November 6, 2005, 4 night cruise on Carnival Fantasy then sailing from Port Canaveral, priced at $1624.29 total for three in what was then categorized as a category 11 mini-suite.  Today, I priced that same ship, sailing a 4 night cruise in the same accommodations on October 31, 2016, about the same time, noting the ‘Halloween factor’ thrown in which one might reasonably expect to be a sailing priced higher than normal.  The price? $1508.14 total for three.  That’s $116.15 less than the exact same ship was ten years ago.  Which brings us to our
  • A Better Value Than Ever – Since that 2005 sailing, Carnival Fantasy has undergone major remodeling two times adding more features for, as we see here, a lower cruise fare than paid over a decade ago.  Is it the newest ship in the ocean? Oh my no, but the comparison here highlights the extreme value cruise vacations offer today; one that is better than ever.

On the horizon, even more options for more travelers as new ships are launched by a number of cruise lines and the universe of cruise vacations continues to expand.   If history has taught us anything it’s that cruise travel is here to stay.  Unlike land-based counterparts that probably won’t increase in options unless a volcano erupts and makes new land, cruising has just begun to explore what the oceans of the world have to offer and you never know what might be coming next.  Case in point: cruise travelers will have a new place to go shortly very close to home in the Caribbean as Cuba opens up for visitors more every day.   Stay right here, we’ll have all that for you too.

Flickr photo- Carlos ZGZ


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River Cruising: Why Right Now May Be The Very Best Time To Book

In spite of worldwide concerns about traveler security and safety, river cruising is hot.   Proof can be found in the fact that new ships continue to be rolled out at a robust pace.  Like their ocean-going counterparts, river cruise ships provide a safe and comfortable way to travel that represents great value.  Cruise travelers like that and do not hesitate to continue their plans to see places around the world where ocean ships just can’t go. Still, it’s a comparatively complicated process to book a river cruise, one that may be well worth the time investigating right now, for three big reasons.

River Cruisers Have The Advantage

Cruise CompeteNot all that long ago, river cruise lines were building ships at record pace, simply trying to keep up with demand.  Ships sailed full with no discounts for anyone because there was no need.  River cruise lines could charge just about any amount they wanted and still they came.  Catering to the 55+ year old age group, the life clock was ticking and now was the time to see the world while they were still healthy enough to do so.

Then hit the 2013 Paris attacks and all of the sudden the tables were turned, putting cruise travelers in the drivers seat.  It’s rather simple really: unexpected terrorist attacks hurt travel in a number of ways. As a result, I’ve seen airport security increased to include armed guards with machine guns, closer scrutiny of passengers before boarding aircraft and far more serious screening of passengers before boarding.  That worked, making flying safer than ever.

Finally, Lower Airfare To Europe

Booked far in advance, cruise travelers enjoyed the best deals on river cruises, a fact that continues today.  Still, good deal on the cruise or not, we had to get there first which required buying a plane ticket on flights that airlines knew would fill up, demanding and getting a premium fare.  Acts of terror affected those flights too, causing empty seats and fare wars as airlines competed for our business. While we’ve never been safer in the air, that fact has still not caught up with the common belief that safety is in question and low fares continue…at least for now.

That’s a reality that won’t continue forever and as bookings increase, so will pricing at some point. It’s a rather complicated process that airlines go through to determine where and when their planes fly and not one that happens overnight.  Long term planning is required to have aircraft positioned to handle demand.  They don’t simply move planes around to where there are demand is today. Rather, routes are scheduled far in advance based on what they think they will need six months or a year from now, creating a short window of opportunity for travelers to cash in on savings.

Destinations Vie For Our Attention

We have a whole lot of choices on places to visit in our great big wonderful world and those who promote those destinations know it.  They want us to pick their popular city over others for pre- and post-cruise hotel stays, what is often an integral part of a river cruise package, driving hotel prices down to fill vacant rooms.  At a given destination, individual attractions too want us to visit, have personnel in place to handle a crowd and desperately need travelers to keep those people employed and their iconic landmark-linked property operating smoothly.

Simply put: if the visitors are not coming, those who work there will eventually not be needed and full employment ceases.  That’s when local governments jump in to help, creating an artificially wonderful situation for travelers who find once-crowded attractions nearly empty but fully staffed.  We saw that first-hand when traveling with luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent in Egypt and Jordan just last summer.  The massive infrastructure that one single travel company had in place to take good care of their guests is not something that can be turned off and on like a light switch.  It takes time and a substantial investment of manpower.

Acts of terror in various places around the world naturally urge caution, prompting would-be river cruise travelers to put plans on hold, and rightfully so. Why leave the safety and security we enjoy in North America to put ourselves in harm’s way? While the typical first-time river cruise may include an itinerary on the safe Rhine or Danube rivers, we have to get there first, passing through airports and public spaces where who knows what might happen.  Still, travelers continue to come, although at a bit slower pace than in the past.  Call it fear or an abundance of caution, reduced traveler interest has created a situation where river cruise lines have more inventory in stock than there is demand, making right now the very best time to book that river cruise.


CruiseCompete-LogoThis article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.

2016 Tom Joyner Foundations Fantastic Voyage, Will Set Sail Aboard Carnival Breeze

Carnival Breeze
Carnival Breeze

Featured Musical Artists Include Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, New Edition, Johnny Gill and Many Others

For the fourth consecutive year, Carnival Cruise Line is partnering with the Tom Joyner Foundation to present the 2016 Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage.

The Ultimate Party with a Purpose®, the voyage will take place aboard Carnival Breeze with a customized eight-day Caribbean voyage departing April 23, 2016, and visiting the beautiful tropical destinations of St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Grand Turk.

The Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage presented by Ford is hosted by renowned radio personality and philanthropist Tom Joyner and serves as a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the Historical Black Colleges and Universities of which Carnival is a proud sponsor.

“This is one of those special experiences that will stay with you forever,” said Tom Joyner. “We sell out every year and our partner, Carnival, takes the event to the next level with a premiere ship and outstanding service.”

The star-studded line-up of artists performing during the cruise includes Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, New Edition, Johnny Gill, and more than 60 entertainers. The ship is programmed from sunup to sundown with exclusive concerts, fitness classes, and inspiration and empowerment seminars. Each night is a colorful party with theme nights including All Black Everything, Denim & Diamonds, #FlashbackFriday, Mardi Gras, Pajama Night, Represent Night, White Night, and a formal Sneaker Ball.  There will also be “Day Parties,” including a special event to honor military veterans.

“We’re pleased and honored for Carnival Cruise Line to serve as the Official Cruise Line of the Fantastic Voyage, supporting the efforts of the Tom Joyner Foundation,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company with a portfolio of 10 of the world’s leading cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line.  “This year’s cruise promises to deliver an unforgettable experience featuring top entertainers, great destinations and exciting on-board activities while supporting students at our historically black colleges and universities,” he added.

Commented Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, “We’re delighted once again to serve as a proud partner of the Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage which provides participants with a lifetime of wonderful memories both on board and ashore, all while raising money for a very worthwhile cause.”

For additional information on the Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage, please visit fantasticvoyage.blackamericaweb.com.

Countdown to Koningsdam Episode 6: Sea Trials

https://youtu.be/LHLaMCrloPQ

Learn more about as MS Koningsdam completes Sea Trials.

Carnival Magic To Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Renovation

In preparation for its Space Coast debut this spring, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar dry dock that will add a variety of exciting dining and bar innovations, including Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Pizzeria del Capitano and the Alchemy Bar.

guysmenu
Guy’s Burger Joint Menu

Currently sailing from Galveston, Texas, Carnival Magic will reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., in April 2016 to begin year-round Caribbean departures from that port.

“Carnival Magic is already a groundbreaking ship – it was the first to feature our popular Cucina del Capitano Italian restaurant, the Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub and SportSquare outdoor recreation facility – and with these new features we’re making this spectacular floating resort even better,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“Following this extensive refurbishment, Carnival Magic will offer even more exciting on-board choices for travel agents to market to their clients,” she added.

The two-week dry dock will take place from Feb. 21 to March 6, 2016, and will add exciting new spaces, including:

  • Guy’s Burger Joint: a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries in an atmosphere that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture
  • RedFrog Rum Bar: a poolside bar offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red
  • BlueIguana Tequila Bar: a fun and festive outdoor watering hole offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool
  • Pizzeria del Capitano: an expansion of the line’s Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian eatery offering five varieties of hand-tossed artisanal-style pizza, all available free of charge 24 hours a day
  • Alchemy Bar: a vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” that’s the go-to spot for guests seeking a unique experience with mixologists who “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients or guests’ own custom-created cocktails

CCL Carnival Brand - 00021All of these new spaces complement the Carnival Magic’s array of on-board features, including the SportSquare outdoor recreation area with a suspended ropes course offering views to the sea 150 feet below; a 22,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa with a thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite and 17 private treatment rooms; the RedFrog Pub where guests can enjoy a frosty brew while soaking up the bar’s Key West meets British West Indies vibe; a massive WaterWorks aqua park highlighted by a 312-foot-long Twister slide; the Punchliner Comedy Club presented by George Lopez offering both family-friendly and adult performances; and a Serenity adults-only retreat.

The ship also offers a variety of family-friendly options, including expansive modern spaces for kids in three age groups:  Camp Ocean (ages 2-11), Circle “C” (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17), along with Seuss at Sea, part of the line’s exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

Carnival Magic will continue its seven-day schedule from Galveston through April 10, 2016 then reposition to Port Canaveral to launch year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning April 23, 2016.  Prior to launching its new seven-day schedule from Port Canaveral, Carnival Magic will operate a special three-day cruise to Nassau April 20-23, 2016.

Carnival Magic will offer two distinctly different week-long itineraries from the Space Coast – a western Caribbean route featuring Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan) and Costa Maya; and an eastern Caribbean option calling at St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk and Nassau or Amber Cove.

For additional information and reservations for Carnival Cruise Line, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

The Process Of Buying International Airfare

Sailing from ports other than those which conveniently serve North America, cruise travelers will need to buy international airfare.  No one drives from Omaha to France, Germany, Italy, Spain or other countries commonly  the beginning points for European cruise vacations.   In North America, we can decide “should we fly or drive to the port?”.  Across the pond, this is not an option.  On buying international airfare, the best strategy is to use multiple sources for pricing research to get an idea on what it costs to go where you want to go.
It’s a process that I look at, very loosely, like this:
  1. Airports- Frankfurt - 00038Where, When and How: Obviously, a destination, flying dates and the airport(s) you will fly to/from are needed to begin the process.
  2. Pick A Ship-So you need to pick a ship and sailing date you might like to go on and check air for it.  Don’t buy yet.
  3. Connection Times For first time International airfare buyers, I suggest at least 2 to 3 hours between connecting flights, just to provided extra time for travel delays that will happen; they always do.  Example: We fly from Orlando to Atlanta then on to Paris on the way to Nuremberg on our December  Christmas Markets Viking River Cruise.  I know that anything less than an hour between flights in Paris is just asking for trouble.  Booking far in advance we can get more generous connection times.  On International airfare, we really need to pay attention to flight times.
  4. Book Cruise Far Out, Air Closer– Booking your cruise far in advance then looking for air gives plenty of time to get it, at a price you like.  While booking 6 months in advance or more is recommended for all cruises, a good amount of time is needed when airfare, especially international airfare, is part of the buying process.
  5. Check with Airfarewatchdog.com – there, flight alerts can be set that will send an email to you when they see good pricing.  That can help get an idea of what pricing will be like
  6. One Source: The Cruise Line -Check with the cruise line airfare too- Traditionally, the cruise line airfare was not a good value.  Today, cruise lines have re-entered the airfare business, often offering competitive prices.    I suggest this check primarily for information purposes.
  7. Cruise CompeteGet What You Want- The down side of booking cruise line airfare is that unless you pay an extra fee, called a deviation fee, you have no control over the airline, flight times or dates….the cruise line just guarantees to get you there.
  8. Ticketed Tickets– Another down side of the cruise line airfare is that they don’t actually buy your tickets until later.  They may guarantee the rate but as soon as you “buy” they try to find better fares, keeping the price difference as profit.   That’s called having the airfare “ticketed” and that has to happen before you can pick seats; something that is way more important to us than it is to the cruise lines.
  9. Cruise First, Air Later– Sooner or later, you will get an idea of what airfare costs, decide on flights and book the airfare.  First, you need to book the cruise though.  Nicely-priced airfare to a cruise that has gone up in price and is no longer attractive is what we are trying to avoid here.
  10. It’s A Balancing Act– Look at airfare, look at cruises, look at airfare, look at cruises; back and forth you go until you have the numbers needed to meet your budget…or not; some times the numbers just don’t align with our budget and we put a trip on hold.
  11. Complementary Hold- Remember- you can hold airline tickets for 24-hours under Federal law.  That 24 hours can give you some critical time to find a better deal.
  12. Got It, Now Forget It- Booking air is not like booking a cruise then a better deal comes along and you can get that.  Once air is sold, you are done.  I strongly suggest forgetting about it for now, other than picking your seats.
  13. But Look Again- Later, take another look at your booked airline reservations from time to time.  Once a week should do it.  Be sure the flight times have not changed.
  14. Use Points-  Another advantage of booking far in advance is the opportunity to use reward miles points to offset or pay for airfare.   Checking for discounts too, senior, resident, or any other discounts can help too.  At least keep that in mind.  British Airways, for example, offers an AARP discount.  Some do, some don’t.

Cruise fares appear to be rather simple but upon closer examination need the educated eyes of a travel professional on your side to see the real value, discounts available, special offers and more.  International airfare can be more complicated than cruise fares, have more critical variables and requires a different thought process.

An Agent Can Do This For You

Travelers can find travel agents who do airfare.  Expect to pay between $50 and $100 more per ticket for this service.  I do not recommend using a travel agent for this though.  Cruise: yes. Airfare: No…unless focusing on a seamless package from door to door is the priority, rather than the best value.  If so, let the cruise line do it all for you, hope for the best and have a nice trip.

Why You Don’t Want An Agent To Do This For You

The number one reason why I am steering you towards doing airfare on your own is for when things go wrong, and that happens.  It’s just part of travel that has probably kept many travelers from making the jump from North American sailings to the rest of planet Earth.  When flights are delayed, missed, rescheduled or canceled, it is going to be YOU and the airline gate agent working out what your next step will be.  Not the cruise line.  Not your travel agent.  It’s how business is done and the recipe for fixing an airfare problem does not include agents or cruise lines as ingredients.

Yes, It’s Worth It

Don’t get me wrong, traveling internationally is very much worth the extra work needed to make that happen.  The world of travel is not a checklist; we do not have to have visited a pre-determined number of North American places before we are allowed to travel internationally.  That you read this far indicates you have already traveled internationally or have made the decision to get serious about trying it.    That’s a good thing.


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How To Enjoy Your International Flight

What to expect on that flight from the United States to someplace across the pond for your first European cruise vacation.

That’s really the focus of this post; to address the concerns of those who have not flown internationally, choosing the safe and convenient Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska or other close-by areas of the world instead.   Not that there is anything wrong with that; being safe.  Safety is good.  Comfortable is good.  Safe and comfortable both are really good, thus the huge popularity of cruise vacations.

We watch on TV as daring adventure travelers climb mountains on the National Geographic Channel.  We see them brave the elements on the Discovery Channel and even watch as Travel Channel hosts cover the globe, all against great odds. But never really think that these are things we might want to do, you and I.   An international flight is a huge, quantum leap from a drive to your local homeport or short flight around the U.S.  Simply put: Taking that leap to international travel can literally open up the entire world for us.

Pre-Flight Musts

Book as far in advance as possible and with as few stops as possible- That just makes the long travel day a bit shorter.  At the same time the booking is made, find out any special documentation you might need to board the ship.  Travelers might be required to satisfy special entry requirements.  Our best source to figure that part out: The U.S Department of State’s Safe Traveler Program which offers all the information needed to enter and experience any given country in the world.

  • Allow Plenty Of Time Between Connections– On domestic flights we want 2 hours between connections to allow for flight delays on either end, especially in the winter and especially if passing through an interesting airport.
  • Protect Your Trip with travel insurance.  Even if you don’t care about the investment made in the travel itself, accidents happen and can add up to $thousands before you know it.
  • Focus on getting plenty of rest and eating right several days before the flight. Sure, maybe we can’t “bank” sleep but starting a long flight with a full tank of rest is always a good idea.
  • Finish packing a week in advance- that offers the opportunity to be sure critical items are packed and allows time to get source those items if they were not packed first time around.  Be sure to identify your luggage with something you will pick out of the sea of luggage seen at airport baggage claim.  Easy for us, bright red leather Viking River Cruises tags come in our pre-cruise documentation package.
  • Charge! Bringing along electronic devices for entertainment on a long flight is a good idea.  Having back up power to charge all those devices is a good idea too.  Some seats may have plugin power available but determining if yours does or not in advance of flying can be hard to do.  For that we suggest the Hyperjuice Magic Box which can power just about anything, multiple times  See Travel Gear Review: HyperJuice Magic Box for more.  This is a topic much more economically handled in advance rather than at the airport.  Caught by surprise, most airlines do include backup power as one of the duty free items sold in flight.

Making It Through The Airport

  • Consider your one personal carry-on item your “flight bag and have everything that might be needed during the flight in it.  Unless flying in business class, space to move around will be limited.  Having everything needed right at hand, under the seat in front of you, is huge and a must-do for all international flights.  Better yet, try traveling with carry-on luggage, see Travel With Only Carry On Luggage: Here’s How for exactly how to do that.
  • Consider a travel vest and make that a ScotteVest.  I have been wearing a travel vest for years; an article of clothing that holds my cell phone, wallet, passport, loose change and just about anything else that might set off a metal detector at airport security checkpoints. Simply take off the vest and run it through the scanner for an easy security check. Better yet, that vest will carry just about everything needed in flight. With a multitude of pockets, my passport is always in one secure pocket, my smartphone always in another, etc.  That’s important when making your way through airports and around places you are not familiar with.   See Travel Gear Review: ScotteVest Travel Vest Has Blown My Mind for more.

Actually Flying

KLM Jet

On the plane, those well-thought out plans will pay off in a more enjoyable flight.  Still, there are parts of flying that can’t be anticipated so flexibility is important  Bring along good ear plugs if kids crying bothers you.  Kids cry, be prepared.  I once had crying kids on both sides of me and in back on a long international flight. Ear plugs saved someone’s life that day.  Need darkness to sleep on a long flight?  The flight crew will do their best to get all the window shades shut, will dim the cabin lights and set the stage for your best chance to get some sleep.  Then there is the idiot who is oblivious to it all and has got to have the brilliant outside light inside.  Eye shades.

  • Protect Yourself from germs with Nozin nasal sanitizer on the plane and plenty of hand sanitizer use throughout the trip, every step of the way.  Also protect your health by making a conscious effort to stay hydrated.  No, you can not bring bottled water from home but an empty sport bottle that holds water will be allowed to go through security checkpoints.  Once through, look for water bottle filling stations, water fountains or just keep it handy so filling can be done in flight.  Be double safe and ignore the high price of bottled water in airports and buy some anyway.  Normally not a problem for flight attendants to fill up, a Delta Airlines crew member refused to fill mine not long ago for fear of running out.
  • Never Pack Anything In A Checked Bag That You Can’t Live Without– After two different airlines on two different trips lost our luggage, I now use carry-on luggage exclusively. Looking forward to a winter Christmas Markets sailing with Viking River Cruises, we will need to check a bag.  But nothing will go in that bag that can not be replaced, quickly, at the destination.

At The Destination

  • If flying in the day of sailing, make no solid plans for the first day.  Have some plans in place but have the flexibility to spend the first day overseas adjusting to the time difference and getting used to new surroundings.  If everything goes well, you may be able to hit the ground running.  If a few parts of your travel plan don’t come off as anticipated, all is not lost, just a bit behind schedule.
  • Better Yet, Come A Day Early- Flying in to the embarkation port a day early is something we commonly recommend for all cruise vacations.  Just getting the sometimes long travel day behind us to wake relaxed on the day of embarkation made sense flying around North America to homeports scattered here and there. When we lived in Kansas, flying in a day early qualified as a good travel practice but was (secretly) really more about getting a head start on our vacations.  Flying ‘over the pond’ for a European river cruise, this is really a good idea.

Coming Home

  • Consider Global Entry-  One of the best travel investments we ever made, screened and cleared travelers skip filling out a customs declaration upon return to the United States, check in via an easy to use kiosk as opposed to standing in a long line and are always approved for the normally-shorter TSA Precheck line when boarding a flight from a U.S. airport.  The $100 per person fee grants these benefits for five years.
  • Space For Gifts and Souvenirs- On the way to our winter river cruise, we’ll pack our cold weather gear in checked luggage to be retrieved and worn upon arrival in Germany.  On the way back, we will wear some of those clothes, making space for gifts and souvenirs picked up along the way.
  • Enjoy the experience that international flights can offer in and of themselves.  Flight attendants or other passengers have wonderful stories to tell when they have some time that can add a richness to our travels.  I have no data to back it up but swear that flight attendants on international flights are more pleasant and approachable than on domestic flights.

Here is a great video all about surviving long flights:


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Updated Luggage And Packing Tips For Cruise Travelers

If you have not traveled for a while you’re in for a surprise or two when it comes time to check your luggage and get on a plane.   While cruise lines still have no restrictions on the amount of luggage you can bring on board, many airlines are charging  fees for checked bags.  Restrictions on carry-on items are tighter too. Many travelers are finding themselves downsizing in the luggage department.   Consider these tips when buying luggage for your next cruise:

  1. Customize Luggage – Consider where you’re going and what you’re packing before you shop for new luggage. This will determine the quantity and size of luggage you’ll need. Also consider that you will probably travel someplace else in your lifetime.   A good way to get an idea of how much luggage space is needed: put everything that might go in luggage in a neatly folded pile on a bed or open space.
  2. Cruise CompeteShop Value, not price – Set a budget before shopping. This will help steer you in the direction of quality luggage brands you can afford. A good luggage store or online distributor that specializes in all types of luggage will give the advice based on individual budget and travel needs.
  3. What Kind? – Decide whether you want soft or hard-case luggage. Heavier, hard-sided suitcases offer far better protection for fragile items. Soft luggage is lighter and bends when smashed up against or rolled over by an airplane.  Regardless of which sort of luggage chosen, roll clothes to get the most out of the space available.
  4. Quality is supreme – Look for quality zippers, latches and locks that are heavy-duty enough to support the weight the bag was designed to hold. Critical seams and attachment points for webbing should be bar-tacked. You should not have to buy luggage again because it wore out.
  5. What Size? – Make sure the bags fits your airline’s approved size for checked and/or carry-on luggage. The cruise line has no limits or restrictions on luggage but less is better here too because we still need to unpack at the beginning of the cruise and unpack at the end. Choose a size that’s appropriate for the length of your trip. Keep in mind the possibility of needing to accommodate unexpected items or expand for a longer trip.

One really good way to buy appropriately sized and equipped luggage is to plan on walking your own luggage on and off the ship.   You’ll save time going both directions and virtually eliminate the possibility of your luggage being lost or handled roughly by porters and cruise ship stewards.

Other Luggage And Packing Tips To Consider

All of the above said, there are some extra steps we can take that affect what luggage we use:


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New Ways To Get More Out Of Your Cruise

Today we mix things up a bit and take another look at the world of cruise vacations, from a passenger point of view, highlighting a bunch of new ways to get more out of the experience.  Like with any mode of travel, it is rather easy to fall into a rut of sorts with cruising.  Becoming complacent about topics they were once on guard about, cruise travelers can gain by taking another, perhaps more focused look.

Interesting conversations Post-Cruise Review – At the end of every cruise vacation, at some point the question comes up among those of us traveling “What was your favorite part of the cruise?”  Everyone has an answer although it might take getting some distance between the ship and you to put it in perspective.  Take that a step or two further and talk about the parts you did not like.  Start your quest to get more out of your cruise by putting your experience on the last one under a microscope.

Pick The Right Ship For You – First-timers will need to do their research basically blind, not having been on a cruise ship before.  A good travel agent can help with that.  As that traveler racks up more ship on their cruise history,  they often tend to go off on their own without an agent to help.  Not really a good idea in and of itself.  Sure, do the research online or via brochures to narrow down the search but get back with that agent before buying.  There are simply too many different fare options to go it alone.

HelpfulBudget, Budget, Budget – …and don’t let that budget scare you off.  Yes, that advertised price looks good and the inclusive nature of cruise vacations gets travelers more for their money.  But the luster of the fabulous deal becomes a bit less shiny when we add on taxes, shore excursions, doing anything on the ship that is not included and more.  One of the most distinct wake-up calls on pricing comes to those who choose Alaska as a cruise destination.  Shore tours there can often equal as much or more than the cruise itself cost.  That’s not a good reason to skip Alaska but maybe reason to plan further in advance to enable a larger budget for the overall experience.

Get A Chase Card With Purchase Eraser – We got one of these a while ago and love the easy way it works.  Basically, after a travel-related charge has been posted to the account, we go in and ‘erase’ the purchase with points that we earn from using the card to buy everything from groceries to clothing.  (see this YouTube video for more)

Good Bye Sailaway - 00083Pledge Your Loyalty, Begin A Conversation – Cruise line loyalty programs have matured right along with the industry as more and more travelers seek to gain the advantages those programs offer.  Nothing new there.  A different way of thinking now: stick with a brand to maximize benefits.  Sleeping around with other brands does look good on a cruise history and may help us appreciate the brands we like best.  Still, there is something to be said for being loyal…which is actually the topic of an upcoming post The Hidden Benefits Of Cruise Line Loyalty.

Engage The Crew – When I walk into a situation where an overly-demanding passenger is rather rudely asking for something that crew member really can’t do anything about (make the sun come out, lower the price of something, etc) I just think ‘stupid’. There is little to be gained and a whole lot to be lost by being on the passenger crew members want to avoid.

Sunsets - 0254Relax And Go With The Flow – There really is nothing to be gained by getting tense and irritable over …well…just about anything that happens when traveling.  We can plan all we want to but if a snow storm hits and closes the airport we were flying out of, no one is going anywhere.  Pick the best backup option and go with that, serenely.

Avoid The Negatives -…and by that I mean the negative people for the most part.  There will be some on every ship and all they do is drag down what might have otherwise been a memorable part of the experience.

Try, Try Again – Not normally a fan of evening entertainment?  Have not been to a show on a cruise ship in years?  Give it another try now. In the last half-decade cruise lines have taken a serious look at what had been a tiny part of the overall experience.  You might like it now.

Cruise CompeteTravel Some Other Way –  Lost a bit of the excitement you once had for the whole notion of travel via cruise ship?  Try a land trip where not so much is included.  The allure of being in one place for the entire trip can wear off pretty fast for some travelers, especially children.

The whole notion of taking another look really amounts to nothing more than verifying the value offered by cruise vacations in the first place.  Value may indeed have been a major factor in our decision to give our business to any particular cruise line…but that just gets us on the ship.  What happens after that is something to enjoy as it happens but take a serious look at after the fact.


CruiseCompete-LogoThis article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.

5 Cruise Discounts You Might Not Know About

It seems like there is always a ‘sale’ going on at most major cruise lines, and for good reason: there is. Price continues to be a driving reason to book your favorite cruise line now rather than later. While comparing line to line has become more difficult in recent years as cruise lines continue to differentiate themselves from one another, we still do; at least when it comes to price. Looking beyond the front-page website banner ads, television commercials and direct mail offers though, there are some other cruise line discounts available that you might not know about.
  1. Resident Discounts – Many major cruise lines target specific states or geographic regions for a couple reasons. In far in advance of sailing, cruise lines analyze where passengers who have booked so far on any given sailing are located, targeting areas where few are coming from for a discount to encourage booking. Close to sailing, offering a discount to Florida residents for sailings that depart from Florida ports can help fill up ships with passengers who find it easier to sail because they can drive, rather than fly, to the embarkation port.
  2. Discounts For Kids – Like other discounts, this one comes and goes too, in a variety of forms. Look for family-friendly discounts at times when families don’t normally sail like the Fall and Winter. When kids are normally in school, prices for third or fourth guests in a stateroom are at their lowest and availability is at its highest. On the flip side, travel during the popular summer months or any time when kids are normally out of school and the price of third/fourth passengers in a stateroom soars. On some ships and sailings the price of the fourth can even be more than that of the third.
  3. Past Guest Discounts – The topic of past guest discounts, in general, is well-known. Not so well-known is that the past guest element often affects other promotions as well. In addition, a past guest’s status within the cruise line loyalty program often reaps more rewards as they sail more. Savvy cruise travelers know this is one of the very best reasons to use a travel agent who is aware of their cruise history and works it to their best advantage.
  4. Discounted Upgrades – Closer to sailing, as cruise lines are making their best efforts to fill up ships, they may offer those already booked a discounted upgrade opportunity. While someone just entering the booking arena at that time might have a $1000 difference in price between a standard balcony cabin and a suite, the existing booked passenger might be offered an upgrade from their booked balcony to a suite for half that price. These offers are normally time-sensitive and on a first-come, first-served basis.
  5. Specific Group Discounts – Discounts for active or retired military members are offered on a variety of lines and are often one of the best pricing options. Still, knowing the rules can reap even greater rewards as cruise lines occasionally sweeten the deal, extending that military discount to more than one stateroom or make it a better value by adding some bonus extra. Firefighters, teachers and those who work in support industries like airline, shipping and freight company employees also might have an available discount.

How To Take Advantage Of These Cruise Discounts

Consider your booking a work in progress rather than a line item to check off the list of things to do. It’s a mistake many, if not most, cruise travelers make that is easily avoided by continuing to research pricing and value periodically between the time the booking is made and sailing.

Yes, it’s a good reason to use a proactive travel agent who will do this for you. Travel agents have access to all offers, all the time; a distinct advantage over consumers. Still, we can do this ourselves too if time permits. Just be sure to pay extra special attention on cruise line websites that all qualifiers for discounts are checked before searching, if using the cruise line web site booking engine. Even then, its a good idea to double check that booking with a live person to be sure the price is an accurate reflection of what you qualify for. It might not be.

The best of both worlds happens when passengers take ownership of their booking and continue to look for the best offers while working with a travel agent who can more efficiently confirm (or prove not applicable) offers that come up along the way.