|
Travel Blog
We are Going to China Again - Join US 2/29/2008 9:24:46 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment We now have reserved group space on the 12 Day Viking River Cruise to China. This is our second group to China. The first group said it was their best trip EVER.
By paying in full by May 30 you can save $600 per person. This makes this trip a great value. The exchange rate in China is GREAT.
Call or email us now to reserve your cabin.
**************************************************************************
Imperial Jewels of China Beijing to Shanghai
Beijing
Welcome to Beijing, China’s former imperial capital whose rich history dates back to more than 1,000 years B.C. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.* After check-in, you have free time to relax or explore.
Beijing
This morning visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people. Then, tour Beijing’s Forbidden City. Nearly 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms make up this amazing site. As you walk its grounds, marvel at the elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens within its walls. After lunch in a local restaurant, you visit the Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of gardens and elegant buildings. Its Chinese name means Garden of Nurtured Harmony, and it was frequented by the Imperial Court to escape the bustle of Beijing. Walk its landscaped grounds, considered among the finest Chinese architectural gardens. This evening, enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner. Then, you are treated to a performance of the Peking Opera, a fascinating cultural experience.
Beijing
After breakfast, travel to the Badaling Hills to see one of the most impressive and best-preserved sections of the fabled Great Wall of China. Walk along its winding pathways and marvel at the excellent views. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the Sacred Way, a tree-lined avenue guarded by massive sculptures of elephants, lions and camels. Tonight, taste some local specialties at dinner. (B, L, D)
Beijing & Xian
Today tour Old Beijing’s hutongs (narrow alleys) via rickshaw.† Discover the sights and sounds of traditional Chinese life. Visit a silk carpet workshop for a demonstration of this ancient art. After lunch, fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty. From 618 to 907 A.D. this dynasty presided over one of China’s most glorious cultural periods. Tonight, experience its grandeur as you dine surrounded by the historic song and dance of this colorful era. (B, L, D)
†Rickshaw hutong tour only available on Beijing to Shanghai itinerary direction.
Xian & Chongqing
After breakfast, tour the mausoleum where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. See the more than 6,000 life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors, archers and infantrymen that were buried with him, from the walkways that provide a bird’s-eye view. Each man and horse is molded with his own distinct features. After lunch fly to Chongqing, gateway to the Yangtze. You are welcomed aboard the Viking Century Sky with a Western meal, and your ship sails this evening. (B, L, D)
Shibaozhai
This morning, you visit Shibaozhai Temple, a 12-story pavilion built in 1650 and perched high above the Yangtze. Climb up to the top for breathtaking views of the river below. Return to your ship and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges
For the next 150 miles, you travel the most scenic stretch of the Yangtze as it forces its way through a spectacular series of limestone ridges known as the Three Gorges. During breakfast, cruise through Qutang Gorge, the shortest, narrowest and most spectacular of the three large gorges. Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the Lesser Three Gorges. Sail through these remarkable canyons flanked by towering cliffs. Along the way you see ancient sites including the hanging coffins of the Ba people and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside. Enjoy lunch at a scenic stop overlooking the gorges. After, return to your ship and sail through Wu (Witches) Gorge, renowned for its magnificent scenery. Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)
Three Gorges Dam
This morning, you disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam. You learn all about this immense engineering masterpiece—first conceived by Sun Yat-Sen in 1919—and how it will affect the Chinese people and the Yangtze. Then, you return to your ship and traverse the 5-stage locks of the Three Gorges Dam. Lunch and dinner are served aboard while you cruise through the night. (B, L, D)
Three Gorges & Yueyang
This morning, cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. Then arrive in Yueyang, where you visit an elementary school sponsored by Viking River Cruises in this rural village. You will be warmly greeted by the children and enjoy a performance. Return to your ship for meals and scenic cruising. (B, L, D)
Wuhan & Shanghai
After breakfast, disembark in Wuhan. Visit the Wuhan Museum. Then, fly to Shanghai, China’s largest city and one of the world’s most important ports. Here, you can see the modern metropolis of the financial district juxtaposed with the other sections of the city. Check in to your hotel. (B, L, D)
Shanghai
This morning, tour Old Shanghai and travel along the Bund, the city’s elegant riverfront promenade. After lunch in a local restaurant, tour a silk carpet workshop for demonstrations of this ancient art form. Then visit the Shanghai Museum, featuring displays of ceramics, bronzes and paintings. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant and a Chinese acrobatic show. (B, L, D)
Shanghai
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and we will take you to the airport for your return flight.*
| Ten tips for San Francisco tourists 2/28/2008 10:00:22 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment By Bonnie Wach, Special to USA TODAY
It happens every year: 16 million eager, wide-eyed tourists arrive at the Golden Gate—Tony Bennett crooning on their iPods, visions of Rice-a-Roni dancing in their heads, asking things like, "Which exit do I take to get to Alcatraz?" Never fear — the following tips will help you navigate Bay Area waters like a sourdough-eating, 38 Geary-riding pro.
1. Whither the weather. Yes, you're in California. No, you're not in Los Angeles—a lesson many a hapless tourist has learned the hard way, after arriving in town wearing tennis shorts in July and freezing his heinie off when the fog blows in. The city's famously finicky microclimates change from hour to hour and neighborhood to neighborhood, so the rule of thumb is: wear layers. Bring a t-shirt for lunch on sunny Potrero Hill; bring your down parka for sunset at Ocean Beach. And remember, if you're really dying for that balmy summer weather, just head over the Golden Gate Bridge, where the fog dares not go, and temperatures are easily 10-15 degrees warmer.
2. Where parking is an Olympic event. Depending on your frame of mind, downtown San Francisco's labyrinth of one-way streets can either be a Bullitt-style thrill ride, or a motorized Sisyphean hell. But there's only one way to look at the parking situation: She stinks. Street parking anywhere in town can be challenging, but in tourist-heavy areas such as Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf, it's an Olympic event. If you have the stamina to find a legal parking meter, it will cost you a quarter every 10 minutes, with limits enforced by meter maids who prey on the unsuspecting like starving seagulls at a corndog stand (tip within a tip: we're not kidding about the seagulls; guard your snack food with your life anywhere within eyeshot of the ocean).
Your best bet is a parking lot: The Stockton-Sutter Garage is a good value in the downtown area; the Pier 39 garage offers discounted validated parking near Fisherman's Wharf. Another option—don't drive. There is nary a crevice of this city that can't be reached by efficient public transit (bus, streetcar, cable car) at any time of day or night. One-, three-, and seven-day municipal transit passes offer unlimited rides on buses and streetcars (an additional $1 to ride cable cars). You can also buy an all-day passport ($11), which offers unlimited rides on cable cars until midnight. Both are available at the Visitor Information Center at Powell and Market streets and at the cable car termini.
3. Thank you for not smoking. You can hook up to the Internet everywhere from the ballpark to your hotel bathroom, but if you're looking for a legal place to light up a cigarette in San Francisco, good luck. Flick your Bic in the wrong spot and you're likely to get slapped with a $100 fine. For those who haven't kicked the habit, be forewarned that smoking is not allowed in restaurants, shops, bars, and in the seats at baseball or football stadiums. It is not allowed in parks, public squares, city-owned outdoor spaces, or within 25 feet of many office buildings. And as of January 1, it is not allowed in your car anywhere in California if you have passengers under the age of 18.
4. Scoring a top table. San Francisco's hopping restaurant scene draws foodies from around the world, but all that adoration can mean long waiting lists for dinner at current "it" spots such as Spruce, SPQR, and The Slanted Door. If you're on a tight schedule and you want to do more than feast your eyes at one of the city's hot properties, think about lunch. Many top restaurants are open during the week for lunch (including those mentioned above), when reservations are much easier to come by. Another option is bar seating. Restaurants such as Postrio, Absinthe, and Citizen Cake keep seats at the bar open for walk-ins, and you'll find many of the same offerings as the dinner menu.
5. Cable cars, no crowds. Most newcomers (and even many locals) think that the only way to ride a cable car is to stand in an epic line at Ghirardelli Square or on Powell Street. Insiders know that if you walk a few blocks, you'll usually find yourself standing solo at any one of the cable car stops further up the route. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines both start at Market Street near Union Square and end at Fisherman's Wharf. But if your goal is just to hear the clang, clang, clang of the bell as you hang off the running boards, Doris Day-style, catch a ride on the California Street line, where you'll rarely encounter a wait—even at rush hour.
6. Alcatraz is worth the trip. America's most infamous penitentiary is also one of the most visited attractions in California, and a must-see for any first-time visitor. Even though tours are offered regularly throughout the day, ferries fill up fast, so make a reservation ahead of time (you can do it online through www.alcatrazcruises.com, or go to Pier 33 first thing in the morning). For extra creepiness, consider the night tour, which leaves from Fisherman's Wharf at 4:30 p.m.; and make sure to spring for the cellhouse audio tour ($8), a fascinating narration that features tales of "The Rock" told by former guards and inmates.
7. Don't call it Frisco, and other helpful hints. Tempting though it might be, resist the urge to call it "Frisco" or "San Fran" or basically any cutesy abbreviated moniker. There's really only one acceptable shorthand name for San Francisco and that's "The City" – a title that never fails to get under the skin of Los Angelenos.
Here's some more local language and knowledge to help you navigate:
• There is no beach in North Beach – that part of the bay was filled in long ago with soil and the hulls of Gold Rush ships.
• Monster Park is not a scary theme park for kiddies or a place where they hold truck rallies, but the name of the city's football stadium.
• Cioppino (chu-peen-o) is a brothy seafood stew made with Dungeness crab and other shellfish purportedly invented at Fisherman's Wharf.
• SoMa is an acronym for the area South of Market Street.
• Junipero Serra is pronounced Hoo-nip-a-ro Serra; it's Gough Street, as in cough; and Ghirardelli is said with a hard "g," as in go.
And if you really want to fit in with the locals, don't:
• Toss your water bottle in the trash (not only has the city banned single-serving bottled water at local government offices and agencies, but recycling is practically a religion in these parts).
• Drink Starbucks (Peet's is the original hometown coffeehouse).
• Buy your crab from a stand at Fisherman's Wharf (you can get it cheaper and fresher by bellying up to the counter at Swan's Oyster Depot on Polk Street).
8. F Line Streetcars. You can shell out the big bucks for a Grayline bus, or you can hop on one of San Francisco's vintage F-Line streetcars, and for $1.50 take a grand tour of downtown and Fisherman's Wharf by rail. The historic and colorful ?eet that toddles up and down Market Street originally hailed from places like Hamburg, Blackpool, Milan, Philly, and Paris. The cars have been lovingly restored and each still bears the markings and design details of its native city. It's like a rolling lesson in mass-transit history.
9. In search of the best views. There are many fabulous vantage points from which to take in the San Francisco skyline, but if you head to the right ones, you get the views without the camera-toting hordes. Just north of Twin Peaks, Tank Hill is a secret spot for panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown and the Bay. Start at the top of Stanyan Street, go left at Belgrave Park, and hike up the dirt path. Then be prepared to gasp.
On the western side of town, Grand View Park is a spectacular windswept knob that is rarely visited, save for the errant triathlete in training. Tucked at the top of a set of steep stairs at 14th Avenue and Noriega Street, the park boasts show-stopping vistas of both the Pacific and the Bay.
10. Easy-access wine country. The world-renowned Napa and Sonoma wine regions lie just an hour north of San Francisco, but if you're planning an afternoon of wine tasting—and you can only remember the first four of the five S's in "See, Smell, Sip, Swirl, and Spit"—you might want to think about a designated driver. A number of local operators (Beau Wine Tours; SFO Limousine; California Wine Tours) offer limousine tours of wine country; most will pick you up from your San Francisco hotel, or the ferry terminal in nearby Vallejo.
For guilt-free indulging, consider a walking tour with Wine Country Trekking, which offers multi-day inn-to-inn and winery-to-winery hiking tours in Sonoma. Treks include stops along the way for sightseeing, private wine and cheese tastings, and gourmet lunches and dinners.
| US Airways joins airlines charging for second bags 2/27/2008 11:40:56 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment SURPRISE! Another airline now charges for checking a second bag. Am I alone in thinking this is going to make the carry on mess even worse?
**************************************************************************
US Airways Group (LCC) said Tuesday it will start charging fliers $25 to check a second bag, the company's latest effort to raise revenue and deal with rising costs.
The charge will begin May 5 for tickets bought after Tuesday, the company said.
The announcement follows a similar policy change by United Airlines (UAUA).
US Airways spokesman Morgan Durant said the charge is expected to generate $75 million in revenue and cost savings each year.
About 8% of US Airways customers check more than one bag, Durant said.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: US Airways | United Airlines
Under the program, fliers will get one checked bag free plus their carry-on bags. US Airways already charged customers who checked three to nine bags $80 per extra bag, and they are now boosting that charge to $100.
Those in the company's frequent-flier programs who reach preferred status won't have to pay the new fee for a second bag, nor will those flying first class. The charge also will be waived for active military personnel, unaccompanied minors and customers checking assistive devices.
"Some critics may call this another example of airline customers being 'nickel and dimed' for services that used to be provided as part of the flying experience," US Airways President Scott Kirby said in a statement to employees. "But the airline industry of 2008 is very different from the industry of 1998 or 1988, and we have to be realistic — and innovative — about our product."
The airline earlier this month changed provisions of its frequent-flier program to award miles based on the actual mileage flown rather than a preset minimum, as part of an effort to offset higher costs.
UAL's United said it expected $100 million a year in new revenue and cost savings from the baggage charge. United said its research showed a quarter of its customers check a second bag.
| That’s sick! 8 ways to avoid the bug 2/26/2008 1:04:07 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment I just wish I could afford Mr. Elliott's recommendation #4. However, if you are like me and must fly economy class, be sure to walk around as much as possible, especially on those long over-water flights.
**************************************************************************
Learned lessons from travelers’ experiences and current events
By Christopher Elliott
Travel columnist
MSNBC contributor
It’s virus season, and that means you’ll probably be enduring a lot more stories like these:
• Passengers on a recent 16-day Canary Islands cruise aboard Cunard’s brand new megaship Queen Victoria were infected by a norovirus-type bug whose symptoms included diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The British press called it the “Curse of Camilla” in honor of the Duchess of Cornwall, who christened the vessel.
• Health officials recently confirmed 83 cases of a highly contagious stomach virus, also thought to be the norovirus, at Hilton Singer Island Resort in Palm Beach, Fla. There’s no word on the source of the contagion.
• An Iowa couple has sued Trostel’s Greenbriar Restaurant and Bar in Johnston, Iowa, after county officials determined the man who prepared the salad served at their wedding rehearsal dinner that night had stomach flu. Five members of the wedding party were rushed to the emergency room after dinner. The official cause was determined to be — you guessed it — norovirus.
Ahh, virus season. Never a shortage of gut-wrenching stories with which to shock you, dear readers.
But I don’t bring up these barf-fests in order to embarrass Cunard, Hilton or the owners of the Greenbriar, or to leave you feeling queasy and reluctant to travel anywhere, but to underscore the First “never-ever” of travel: Never forget to wash your hands.
Wash them real good. Health experts say you should lather up with a generous squirt of antibacterial soap, warm water and sing “Happy Birthday” all the way through — twice — to nuke the germs. Got that? Happy Birthday.
While we’re at it, here are eight other things you should never do when you’re traveling, courtesy of this column’s readers and the lessons current events have taught us:
1. Never order tea or coffee on a flight
The water your airline uses comes from municipal water stored in the aircraft’s water tank, according to my colleague, flight attendant James Wysong. A recent test by the Environmental Protection Agency found dangerous levels of bacteria on about 15 percent of planes. Better stick to bottled water.
2. Never eat what the natives don’t
Unless you’re Andrew Zimmern, the Travel Channel host who is on a quest to find the world’s most bizarre foods, this is a rule you’ll probably thank me for following. Stay away from fried fire beetles when you’re in Thailand (a man died several years ago after he consumed the poisonous insects). Ditto for blowfish. A woman in Mito, Japan died recently after the local fish market forgot to remove the poison. Why take your chances?
3. Never dine at a restaurant recommended by someone with fewer teeth than a two-year-old
That’s the advice of Randy McCleary, a project coordinator from Grand Rapids, Mich., which is a no-nonsense way of saying you shouldn’t ask for dining tips from someone you wouldn’t be comfortable sitting next to in a restaurant. They might recommend an establishment that is on the verge of being shut down by the health department.
4. Never fly in economy class
“The lack of leg room will bring your knee into your face — or the face of the person in front who leans his seat all the way back,” says Irvine, Calif.-based travel agent Tommie Imbernino. That can be hazardous to your health. Cramped seats raise your risk of developing a potentially fatal blood clot. A British parliamentary committee recently called for the minimum space between seats to be increased by at least two inches for health reasons. If you’re stuck in a small seat, don’t forget to get up and stretch. Your life could depend on it.
5. Never forget to sleep
That’s an easy thing to do when you’re jet lagged or excited about your vacation. But lack of sleep is thought to make you more susceptible to illness — not to mention a little loco. In one study of 350 soldiers who were deprived of sleep for 4 ½ days, more than two-thirds complained of auditory and visual hallucinations and seven men had to be removed from the study because of bizarre psychotic behaviors, according to the British Medical Association. Sleep deprivation may be the best explanation for what Fadhel al-Maliki, an Iraqi national living in the U.S., did last year when he inserted (kiddies, cover your eyes please) a magnet in his rectum before boarding a flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. Officials discovered the (no peeking, kids) butt magnet, but after a thorough investigation, determined there was “never a threat.”
6. Never use the hotel bedspread
The thing that most people forget about their hotel is that someone slept in the bed before they did. And hotel beds — from the roadside motel to the five-star resort — can be a real germ confab. Bedbugs, cockroaches, infectious diseases — they’ve got it all. Bedspreads are a likely hideout, but so is the TV remote control and the phone. Esther Perica, a retired librarian Arlington Heights, Ill., takes it a step further. “I never sleep on the phone side of the bed,” she says. “That’s the most used spot of the bed.”
7. Never assume the weather will be fine (it could be your last mistake)
This can be particularly hazardous to your health in extreme weather, says James Little, a frequent traveler who used to live in a cold climate, and speaks from experience. “In winter, carry enough blankets, sleeping bags or outdoor clothing to survive a traffic jam of long duration, or a fuel outage,” he says. Confession time: I’ve made winter road trips in short sleeves, and this unfortunate couple made their final journey along a snowy road in eastern Utah last year. (“Assume nothing” is also one of the cardinal rules of journalism, and that I happen to be really bad at following — but more on that some other time.)
8. Never wait to call for help.
“If there is a disturbance outside your room, call 911 right away,” says Jim Daniel, a salesman based in Stockton, Calif. “The hotel staff wants to hush it up with as little fuss as possible, but you need to assure your own safety and that of other travelers. The local police will do that. Waiting for hotel security to do anything is usually a wasted effort.” He’s right. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve spoken with hotel guests who have had a crime dismissed or covered up by hotel “security” — and I use that term loosely — while they were on vacation.
Staying healthy while you’re traveling really boils down to one thing: use your common sense. If you don’t have any — and really, there’s no shame in that — you might consider staying home, or traveling with someone who does.
| The Florida Keys - What to See and Do 2/25/2008 10:39:53 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment The Draw
• Caribbean-style island getaways within driving distance of Miami
• Some of the best protected marine reserves in the U.S.
• A party-hearty atmosphere with an escape route, via plantation-style inns and far-flung island daytrips
The Scene
More than 400 islands make up the 150-mile-long Florida Keys, which trail off the continent on their way to the Caribbean. The more easily accessible Upper and Middle Keys attract the weekend crowds, which drift in to deluxe hot spots like longtime celeb-magnet Cheeca Lodge as well as Hawk's Cay, which sits on its own 60-acre island. Make the commitment to the Lower Keys to find more environmentally protected turf filled with turtles, fish, deer, and hundreds of bird species. And let's not forget that anomaly at the end of the line: Key West (aka "The Conch Republic"), with its anything-goes vibe tempered by a mellow-as-molasses tropical atmosphere.
To Be Seen
• The Overseas Highway. The three-hour drive from Miami to Key West is a must-do road, passing over 159 miles of oceans and islands on its way to The Conch Republic.
• Spiegel Grove shipwreck. In 2002, the U.S. Navy sunk this 510-foot vessel near Dixie Shoals in Key Largo, making it the largest craft ever intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef. Most of the ship is easily accessible at depths from 50 to 85 feet.
• Fort Jefferson. On Garden Key in the undeveloped Dry Tortugas (70 miles west of Key West) stands a huge, six-sided 19th-century fortress that acted as an Alcatraz-type prison in the 1800s. Take a day trip to this impressive, eerie fort that looks like it's floating above the Atlantic.
• Hemingway House, Key West. Stroll through Papa's residence, filled with his furniture, typewriters, photos and cats; more than 60 of the varmints roam the place (many with extra toes), descendants of Ernest's own six-toed feline.
• Key West National Wildlife Refuge. This 200,000-acre preserve (most of it made up of ocean) was established in 1908 and remains one of Florida's premier unspoiled underwater attractions.
For The VIP
• Charter a tall ship schooner. Key West is home to two of the finest examples of traditional tall ships: the 80-foot Schooner Liberty and the 125-foot Liberty Clipper. Take either boat out on a fully crewed banquet under the stars or a champagne sunset sail, all to yourself.
• Jules Undersea Lodge. In Key Largo, this one-of-a-kind exclusive accommodation requires you to scuba dive (no training required) into a furnished two-bedroom underwater apartment, with hot showers, TV, DVD player, phone and fully stocked kitchen.
• Stay in a tropical estate. Avoid being cooped up in a hotel or B&B by renting an entire classic plantation-style home or oceanfront deluxe cottage through one of the area's real estate agencies.
Overrated
Key lime pie. You'd think every restaurant would have a drop-dead version of this classic dessert, but most taste like rip-offs made to round out the menu. The bona fide thing can be found at the very local Seven Mile Grill on Marathon Key.
Underrated
The Waterfront Playhouse, Key West. At $30 a ticket, you can catch surprisingly first-rate productions, thanks to the island's talented arts community. You may even catch part-time island resident Kelly McGillis on stage.
Don't Miss
Little Palm Island. This private-isle resort with just 30 bungalows was once one of Harry Truman's favorite hangouts. But you don't have to stay here to enjoy its privileged atmosphere: Make a reservation at the restaurant (with tables directly atop the beach), and a private shuttle boat will pick you up from Little Torch Key.
When To Go
High season can last from December all the way to spring vacations in April, and summer is becoming a second high season (the Keys are much cooler and breezier than mainland Florida). For the thinnest crowds, go in late spring or fall -- just watch out for fall hurricanes and weekend traffic on the Overseas Highway.
| Big Pin Hunting at Disney 2/22/2008 1:29:34 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Ask any Disney Pin enthusiast and they'll confess there's no sweeter jackpot than scoring that elusive, must-have pin from the most magical place on Earth -- Disney Theme Parks. The amazing camaraderie and community amongst collectors just adds to the fun.
Though souvenir pins aren't new to the Company, Disney's 1999 Millennium Celebration introduced the pin-trading concept to collectors wanting to share their ardor for all things Disney. Now pin-trading events and artist signings draw fans from all over the world. And like the Park churro, you can't only eat (er, trade) just one. Seasoned enthusiasts buy hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of pins. No doubt about it, pin trading's hot.
Steven Miller, Project Manager at Disney Pin Trading, agrees. "Now in its eighth year, Disney Pin Trading continues to grow annually. For many, it's become a quest to acquire specific pins depicting the characters, movies, events, or attractions they love. I've been with the Pin Team over four years and am constantly amazed!"
Which pin's for you? True value depends on an individual collector, who may focus on specific pin types like lenticulars, light-ups, or sliders. Others base collections on Characters they've met during Park visits. Some purchase pins for sheer trading power -- anything to help future trading quests. But most simply follow their hearts and collect what they love.
Specialty collections -- those focused on a favorite Character or property -- are in a class of their own. Collector extraordinaire Terry Higgins's passion for The Haunted Mansion was showcased at Mickey's Pin Trading Night this past October at Walt Disney World Resort. His extensive collection and unusual display - complete with props that included a lanyard-bearing skeleton - won rave reviews.
True enthusiasts will do anything to nab highly sought-after pins, like limited editions, boxed sets, and other exclusives. Steven recalls when he and colleague Timm Lundeen, Pin Trading Project Manager at Disneyland Resorts, designed pins for the PinBassador Inspirations collection. Guests -- some who traveled hundreds of miles from Las Vegas and San Francisco -- began congregating Saturday night for the next morning's pin release and artist signing. As the ink was drying on their pins, they hopped in their cars and drove home.
Disney Design Group's Senior Character Artist Monty Maldovan remembers a similar experience. First to design a "Featured Artist Pin" in 1999, Monty found that Guests began lining up six hours before the signing of his Disneyland Storybook Pin, commemorating the Park's 50th Anniversary in 2005. Monty's designed thousands of pins and appeared at countless signings. His favorites? Holiday pins -- particularly Christmas. Meet Monty this June at Disneyland Resort as he signs his latest pin, celebrating the Enchanted Tiki Room's 45th Anniversary. And if you're pining for pins before June, another member of Disney's Design Group - Graphic Artist Alex Maher - will be at Disneyland Resort on February 23, signing his Featured Artist Jumbo Pin commemorating Peter Pan's 55th Anniversary. Hurry -- it's a limited edition of 500!
Ready to play with the big pins? Enthusiasts worldwide will flock to Epcot September 5-7 for the event of the year -- Disney's Pin Celebration 2008: Pin Trading University. Miller, Maldovan, and the design team are busy planning new releases guaranteed to keep fans chomping at the bit. The Insider pulled some strings for a sneak preview of never-before-seen concept art from one of the unique collections created specifically for the event -- check it out!
Determined traders don't have to visit the Parks to participate. New York City's World of Disney Store and Disney Cruise Lines both hold pin trading events. Or the advanced search feature at www.DisneyPins.com allows you to track pins in your pajamas by edition size, release date/location, special features -- even by artist.
According to Miller, "pins bring people together by giving them something in common. It's a way of expressing themselves. One Guest calls herself 'Tigger Sue' and always wears something from her extensive Tigger collection. Another, nicknamed 'Belle,' sports a full-length jacket to each event -- covered with pins from Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast.' Over the years, I've collected a book of letters from Guests around the globe wanting to share their personal experiences, which further illustrates the magic of Disney pin trading." From Mickey to the Magic Kingdom, Disney Pin Trading appeals to kids of all ages... happy hunting!
| For fliers, cash-back cards make cents 2/21/2008 9:20:57 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment Are you among the many folks having trouble getting what you want with your credit card frequent flyer miles? Read this article. Maybe there is a better way.
By George Hobica
If you're feeling let down by frequent flyer programs, join the club.
Several times in the past few months, airfarewatchdog.com staff members have tried to cash in frequent flyer miles to buy both economy class and business-class flights within the U.S.
Each time we’ve tried, seats either were unavailable or were available only for point-redemption levels higher than the standard 25,000 miles that airlines typically “charge” for an economy- class ticket, or the 50,000 miles that a standard business-class ticket goes for. Instead, most of the time, we were offered seats at twice those mileage levels, because the lower award levels were “sold out.”
Even worse, in many cases, even though the airline in question flew our desired routes nonstop, nonstop flights weren’t on offer even at the elevated redemption levels, forcing us to take connecting flights instead.
And consider this. We often have to travel with little notice, as do many travelers — everyone from business travelers to expectant grandparents — and the airlines charge us up to $100 for mileage redemptions with what they consider insufficient notice (fewer than 21 days in some cases), even though these tickets are issued electronically by computer programs in a matter of hours. Should our plans change, and we need to redeposit those miles, some airlines charge another $100.
All this got me thinking: Are frequent flyer miles really worth collecting? Let’s say that, instead, I acquired a cash-back card (which I currently do not have).
Cash-back card rewards
The American Express Blue Cash card, for example, pays 5 percent cash back on purchases at groceries, drugstores and gas stations, and 1.5 percent cash back on everything else charged to the card. I spend about $200 a week on groceries, maybe $25 a week at my local CVS, and $50 a week on gas. I’m no math genius (just ask my accountant), but on a yearly basis I’d earn $500 for the food, $65 for the shampoo and razor blades, and $130 at the pump.
Let’s say I charge another, oh, $15,000 in the “other” category to the card over the course of a year. That’s another $225 at the 1.5 percent rate. My total winnings: $920 per year on purchases of $28,900.
Considering that on a site like airfarewatchdog.com, you can often find coast-to-coast fares for under $200, that’s enough for almost five round-trips. But in frequent flyer terms that would be 28,900 miles, barely enough for a domestic coach ticket, assuming you’re not told that you need 45,000 or 50,000 for a “mileage buster.”
Unlike frequent flyer miles, the cash I get from my cash-back card doesn’t expire, no matter how long I take to buy a ticket. Sure, inflation kicks in at some point, but miles suffer inflation too, and don’t be surprised if the airlines start charging even more mileage points for redemptions this year, especially when consolidation gets into full swing — after all, if there are just three major airlines, who you going to complain to?
The 'No' factor
And, unlike miles, there’s no “No” factor. There's no, “Sorry, frequent flyer seats to Honolulu are not available on that flight. Or, hey, any flight for the next decade.”
I know some of you are thinking that you never use miles on domestic coach tickets anyway. Rather, you save them up (200,000, or 250,000, or however many miles your airline charges) for international business-class and first-class fares, which can cost $5,000 to $10,000 or so round-trip were you to purchase them.
If you’re earning those miles purely by spending on a credit card, however, you need to charge $200,000 to your British Airways Visa or Delta Amex card in order to earn those 200,000 miles (at a dollar a mile), unless my math is fuzzy.
I think you’re better off getting 5 percent cash back on $200,000 of groceries, gas, and Gillette Foamy, which could earn you $10,000 in cash back, and then you can take it to any airline, any time — the one with the best service or the best schedule, not just the airline you’ve earned the miles on.
You can even stretch your earnings by using a business/first-class specialist like Planetamex.com or 1stair.net rather than buying it from the airline directly. These discounters often offer business and first class fares at up to 50 percent off what the airlines charge.
Trading miles for upgrades
I do agree that using miles for upgrades from economy to first class can be a worthy way to spend them — assuming, again, that you can find seats. And that’s primarily what If first class from New York to L.A. is running $2,400 round-trip, and I can upgrade a $400 or $600 fare using 30,000 or so miles on some airlines (upgradeable fares vary from airline to airline and depend on your fare class), then to my mind it’s wiser to spend those miles on an upgrade that would have cost me $1,800 rather than on a coach ticket that costs $400 to $600, or even worse, one costing $179.
Ultimately, what you do with your hard-earned miles and cash is your business. But cash-back cards just might be worth a closer look the next time you can’t spend your frequent flyer miles or they’re on the verge of expiring.
| Be on Time - Don't Miss Your Cruise 2/20/2008 2:53:09 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Are you going cruising? Make sure you arrive and check in on time. The Dept. of Homeland Security is requiring the cruise lines to provide them with a written manifest no later than 60 minutes prior to departure. All major cruise lines now require you to be checked in and on board NO LATER THAN 90 minutes prior to the published departure time. If you do not meet this deadline, you are considered a no show and your booking will be cancelled and you will be assessed the cruise line's published penaties for cancellation at that time. Generally this means you lose all your money. No amount of crying, yelling, or threatening will get you any relief.
You are advised to use the cruise line's on line check in to speed up the process. This is a good idea in any event. | Airline mergers could mean bigger cattle cars 2/19/2008 11:11:16 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment The wave of much-publicized airline mergers could mean turbulent skies ahead for passengers who might find higher tickets prices and fewer options for travel, according to news reports from analysts and consumer groups.
"Those predictions come as Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are believed to be inching closer to a merger agreement that could create the world's largest air carrier and spur other domestic carriers to combine," said The Houston Chronicle.
At the same time, Houston's Continental Airlines is also in talks with both United and American airlines, a person familiar with the situation told the newspaper.
Analysts see a United-Continental merger as the most likely deal to follow a Northwest-Delta agreement.
"The crux of the matter is whether they will try refocusing on customer service or on gobbling up money and just push you into a bigger cattle car," said Shaman Mallick, vice president of Travel Lifestyles Corp., a travel agency in Houston.
Airlines considering mergers may want to strike deals soon to increase the odds of winning antitrust approval under a business-friendly Bush administration, analysts said.
If both Delta-Northwest and United-Continental mergers go through, the number of major hub-and-spoke domestic air carriers would go from six to four, with the new Delta-Northwest and United-Continental giants controlling about 37% of the domestic air travel market between them.
American Airlines, the nation's largest, owned 15% of the domestic market as of November, according to the US Transportation Department.
Merger advocates say consolidation will help airlines reduce soaring costs, become more efficient and offer consumers more options.
"The case for change and a case for consolidation in this industry in this country is inarguable," United CEO Glenn Tilton said this month during a presentation to investors.
Proponents of deals say the free market would keep merged carriers from taking advantage of consumers.
Low-fare carriers, including Dallas-based Southwest Airlines and New York's JetBlue, have had aggressive growth in recent years, forcing major carriers to keep ticket prices low to compete.
But consumer groups say merged airlines would gain the upper hand because they would control more gates at airports, effectively limiting competition in certain markets. Regulators, if they approve any deal, must force merged carriers to relinquish control of some of those gates, they said.
In addition, consumer groups say past airline mergers not only have made customer service worse, they have failed to keep the airline industry from slipping back repeatedly into periods of turmoil.
Last month, nearly 75% of corporate travel managers said in a Business Travel Coalition survey that they expect higher fares, and more than half believe service will decline if airline mergers go forward.
Report by David Wilkening
| 10 Tips for Visiting New York City 2/18/2008 10:14:52 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment Here are some tips for visiting New York City by the author of USATODAY.com's New York City Guide
By Liz Humphreys, special to USA TODAY
Don't be intimidated by the big crowds and bigger buildings. New York can be a friendly and manageable city for visitors if you heed some of this time-tested advice.
1. Don't be afraid to wander. Start spreading the news: New York is the safest big city in the United States. Gone are the days when people were warned not to venture into Alphabet City or the Lower East Side. Pretty much nowhere in Manhattan is off-limits – though it's still an urban area, so do use your common sense (for instance, you may not want to walk around at 3 a.m. by your lonesome). Most of Manhattan, with the exception of a few downtown neighborhoods like the West Village, the Lower East Side and Battery Park, is laid out on a grid system with very few hills, making it extremely easy to find your way around. In fact, a highlight of your trip will likely be strolling the streets gazing at the fascinating people, buildings and sights that pop up on every corner.
2. Take the 'A' (and the 'B' and the 'C'…) train. Though the New York subway system is ancient – the first underground line started running in 1904 – the trains are well-marked and surprisingly fast, often a better bet than cabs if you're trying to cross the city from east to west or vice versa, or traveling during the morning or evening rush hours. The subways do run 24 hours a day, but if you're alone, you may feel more comfortable taking a taxi after midnight, though you'll find many people still riding the rails. Try HopStop.com to figure out which subway line will help you reach your destination fastest, but keep in mind that there can be a lot of routes re-routed or closed for maintenance, especially on weekends, so also check the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's website for the latest subway route updates. Tip: The 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard is usually a good deal so you don't spend $2 on MetroCards each time you hop on the train.
3. Eat dinner early – or late. When New Yorkers eat out, they like to take their dinner between 8 and 10 p.m. If you want to eat at the same places they do, it's best to make a reservation in advance – at least a week ahead of time for most places and a full month ahead for perpetually booked favorites such as Daniel, Babbo and Le Bernardin – and to go for an evening between Sunday and Wednesday rather than the always-crowded Thursday through Saturday. But if you've left things till the last minute, try calling a day or two ahead and reserving a table either for before 7 p.m. or after 10:30 p.m., which exponentially increases your chances of getting seated, even at the hottest spots in town. Of course, this tactic won't work at the handful of trendy restaurants that don't take reservations in advance, like Momofuku, Boqueria and Bar Jamon. There, you'll have to queue up with the rest of the ravenous foodie masses.
4. The world on a menu. New York City houses so much diversity of cuisines that it's a shame to stick to tourist neighborhoods or chain restaurants you probably have at home. Travel to some of the city's ethnic enclaves to sample delicious, cheap and authentic fare. In Queens, an easy subway or cab ride from Manhattan, there's renowned Indian food in Jackson Heights (the area's Jackson Diner is regularly rated some of the best Indian food in NYC) and hard-to-find Egyptian cuisine in the "Little Cairo" neighborhood of Astoria. Astoria is also home to many old-time Greek restaurants, primarily situated on Broadway or Ditmars Blvd. You can have a more authentic Italian meal on Arthur Ave. in the Bronx than in the tourist-clogged streets of Manhattan's Little Italy, and it's hard to beat the soul food found in Harlem, including the famed, family-run Sylvia's. Consider expanding your boundaries with a guided neighborhood food tour, such as one offered by Savory Sojourns and run by Addie Tomei, mother of Marissa.
5. Scout out the smaller shops. It's nearly impossible to visit one of the fashion capitals of the world and not drop some dough on clothes, shoes and other goodies (unless you have a lot of willpower!). But don't just confine yourself to the shopping meccas of SoHo and Fifth Avenue, though each does have its own New York charm — SoHo for its beautiful 19th-century cast iron buildings and Fifth Avenue for its elegant department stores and proximity to Central Park. Head to the Lower East Side to check out intimate boutiques that feature local designers as well as trendy new and vintage pieces that you can't find anywhere else. You'll also find special shops sprinkled throughout the downtown neighborhoods of the West Village, the East Village and Nolita, as well as across the East River in artsy Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
6. Buy-buy Broadway. With the opening of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein last year, the top price of a Broadway ticket reached $450 for the first time ever. Though this is an extreme case, it's difficult to find a seat at a popular Broadway show for less than $100 nowadays. A couple of options can save you money: Sign up for the free discount ticket listings at www.theatermania.com and www.playbill.com, which offer savings on advance ticket purchases for select Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Or get in line at a TKTS Discount Booth on the day you want to see a performance to save up to 50% on a variety of plays. (Tip: The South St. Seaport location is usually a lot less busy than the Times Square one, and only there can you purchase tickets the day before for matinees.) That said, if there's a particular Broadway show you've set your heart on, buy tickets as far in advance as possible (and be prepared to spend top-dollar). If your show's sold out, check out the online ticket brokers such as www.stubhub.com or www.razorgator.com, where people sell extra seats or re-sell ones they won't be using.
7. Hear the music. It's tough to claim boredom in New York. Every night of the week you can listen to world-class musicians of all types in venues across the city, from classic settings like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall to gritty downtown (or, increasingly, Brooklyn) rock clubs to traditional jazz bars (though the era of the traditional smoky bar is over, since smoking was banned at bars and clubs in 2003). You can find indie rock events listed at www.ohmyrockness.com, classical music events at www.classicaldomain.com and jazz at www.gothamjazz.com. Best of all, some of these concerts are free of charge, especially in the summer months.
8. Pack your running shoes. On the weekends, Central Park closes to traffic and becomes a huge open-air running (and biking and inline skating) track. Enjoy the prime people-watching as you exercise, or opt for other scenic paths along Riverside Park on Manhattan's Upper West Side, along the Hudson River heading downtown to Battery Park, on a trail next to the East River, or across the Brooklyn Bridge. Though it's more comfortable to run in the spring or fall, you'll find many hardy New Yorkers braving the extreme heat and humidity of summer or the bitter chill of winter for their outdoor fitness fix.
9. Don't crowd yourself out. A lot of tourists (and relatives visiting local family members) who come to NYC can't get over how crowded the city is. The crazy secret about New York is that many locals can't stand crowds – which is why they stay away, at all costs, from Macy's anytime except weekday evenings, holiday store windows and Rockefeller Center between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Times Square whenever humanly possible (except when they must venture over there to work or to catch a show). While you may want to see these iconic parts of New York City, consider planning your visit so that you're not hitting the big department stores, say, the week before Christmas – unless you think that braving hordes of pushy people is part of that old-fashioned New York City charm. (And it really isn't!)
10. Mind your city etiquette. Unfortunately, tourists have a reputation for doing a few things that drive New Yorkers crazy: taking up the entire sidewalk so that other walkers can't pass; coming to a complete stop at the top or in the middle of the subway stairs, thus blocking the way down; looking over a shoulder or down at a guidebook while ambling straight ahead, thus sideswiping people walking toward them. New Yorkers like to walk quickly with a purposeful strut and are often in (or appear to be in) a hurry. Respect their sense of purpose and be mindful of the space around you – and you'll win renewed respect for tourists from the world over! On the other hand, if you need directions or if you drop something on the subway or sidewalk, New Yorkers will be the first to run after you, offering their assistance. They really are nice folk, after all.
Liz Humphreys is the author of USATODAY.com's New York City Guide.
| News: Europe may start fingerprinting visitors 2/17/2008 8:59:16 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed mandatory fingerprinting for all foreign visitors to most states in the European Union. Americans and other visitors who don't need visas may have to touch fingerprint scanners on their way through immigration, says the Wall Street Journal.
What's more, even though we still will not need to apply for visas, Americans may have to fill out an online form with their name, destinations, and how their travel ticket was paid for, before departing for a E.U. country, says the International Herald Tribune. The info would be checked against EU visitor blacklists.
Eventually, the EU may require digitalized facial images, too.
The plan is expected to be approved this year. But it will not go into effect until 2015—if approved as expected, says Reuters.
Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria might opt out of the plan.
The U.S. already requires Europeans to submit fingerprints (for all 10 fingers) when crossing our borders. Japan already requires fingerprints and photos of visitors, says The Washington Post.
Data systems in the U.S. and Europe will store passenger data for 13 years, including e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and the credit card info you used to purchase of flight tickets, says Time.
| Alaska offers many ways to see wildlife 2/16/2008 9:45:29 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment Beth Harpaz an AP Travel Editor gives us some tips on viewing wildlife in Alaska. Isn't that one of the main reasons for going there?
By BETH J. HARPAZ, AP Travel Editor
DENALI NATIONAL PARK, Alaska - It was near the end of a six-hour bus tour of Denali National Park that we got a good, long look at a bear eating his way through a field of berries.
Elsewhere in Alaska, my husband, two sons and I had watched whales spouting near Juneau, eagles along the Chilkat River, and waterways in Ketchikan and Skagway so full of salmon they could barely move.
But we'd headed to Denali knowing that the park's 9,400 square miles are home to just 350 brown bears. We hoped to see them, but we were prepared for the possibility that we might not.
And therein lies an important point to keep in mind if you're planning a trip to Alaska this summer. There are no guarantees you'll see wildlife, but you can improve your chances if you're patient and if you put yourself in the right place at the right time.
"People go to Alaska to see wildlife for a reason, but you see it in many ways and in many circumstances," said Holland America Line spokesman Erik Elvejord. "Don't expect a line-up of bears when you hit the pier, or pods of whales everywhere the ship goes."
If you're cruising to Alaska between May and September, you're probably starting to weigh tour options now. "Talk to the shore excursion manager about your expectations so they can help out," said Elvejord. "They won't promise anything they can't deliver, but they have to take all the tours, so they know what happens on them."
The Sea Otter Quest from the town of Sitka is one of the tours recommended by Robert Blythman, director of tour operations for Carnival Cruise Lines. "It's a 100 percent guarantee that you'll see the otters," he said.
Whales are also relatively easy for summer visitors to spot. "The time the cruise ships are up there is when humpbacks and orcas are feeding, so there's a good chance you'll see them," said Blythman.
Whales are so plentiful that some excursions come with money-back guarantees, like the Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest in Auke Bay, offered through Holland America Line.
On a whale-watch tour near Juneau, booked through our Royal Caribbean cruise, we saw so many humpbacks that we lost count. They spouted, surfaced and dove all around our boat, their black Y-shaped tails at a perfect 90-degree angle as they went down.
In contrast, Blythman said, "bears are more hit or miss."
As if to underscore that very point, an excursion we took from the port of Icy Strait Point was called a "bear search" tour rather than a "bear watch." The tour description clearly states that wildlife "sightings cannot be guaranteed." As it turned out, we did see bears, so we felt we'd gotten our money's worth.
Besides, the $100 per person we paid for the "bear search" was modest compared to the $300-$1,600 pricetags for fly-in tours to remote areas like Pack Creek on Admiralty Island or the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. Bears reliably congregate in these places and others, like Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, to feed on the salmon runs in the summer.
Keith Courtepatt, his wife Diana and daughter Alexa cruised Alaska last summer on Royal Caribbean and saw bears twice during shore excursions. "My advice would be, particularly on a trip like a cruise to Alaska, choose your day trips carefully," he said. "And once you choose them, don't worry about the money as it is a once-in-a-lifetime deal."
Among the steps you can take to improve your chances of viewing wildlife: Bring binoculars, be quiet on trails, and remember that early morning and dusk are the best times to see many types of animals. Yes, sign up for the 7 a.m. bear tour, not the 11 a.m., and drag yourself out of bed early on your vacation. The bears are up catching salmon for breakfast first thing, and you don't want to miss it.
Know the right season. According to the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, bears can be seen in Denali from May to September, but July through late August is the best time to see them at the Anan Wildlife Observatory in the Tongass National Forest.
And you'll probably see some eagles if you take the lazy float trip on the river through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near the Haines Highway. But to see the thousands of eagles that the preserve is famous for, you'll want to visit in October.
Recognize the role that serendipity plays. "The strange thing is that I've seen more wildlife just driving or walking around than on tours," said Elvejord. "I tend to do the active things so wildlife is secondary but I've seen moose and bear in towns, goats on the side of roads, wolves by rivers and eagles will always hang out by the rivers to catch the salmon."
One of Blythman's favorite trips is a fly-in to the Taku Glacier Lodge, where you're treated to a salmon bake. But he said there's also "a good chance that you'll see bears because they live close by. I've actually been there when the bear came up to the grill."
Opt for longer tours if you have time. You'll go deeper into Denali on the six-to-eight hour Tundra Wilderness Tour than on the three-to-four hour Natural History Tour. (A third Denali bus tour, the Kantishna Experience, is even longer at 12 hours.)
The Tundra tour buses also come equipped with high-powered video cameras hooked up to screens throughout the bus so you can get close-up images of animals that are far away. You can even purchase a DVD afterwards with footage from your trip.
Some cruises will provide ground transportation to Denali from their first or final port of call, and they'll include the bus tour in your cruise package. But you can also book the bus tour on your own and rent a car for the 250-mile trip to the park from Anchorage.
Once you get to Denali, though, you can only drive your car 15 miles into the park before you must turn around; individual access is limited in order to help preserve the wilderness. That's why 300,000 of Denali's 400,000 annual visitors take the bus tours, which are allowed farther into the park. The Tundra tour travels 54 miles in the park, and it's reasonably priced at $93.50 (children, $46.75).
On the bus tour we took, we saw moose, caribou and Dall sheep in addition to the bear. We were so captivated by the park's landscape, animals and history that we decided to return the next day on our own, even though we knew we'd only be able to drive in those 15 miles.
We were rewarded with an unforgettable moment that rivaled our observation of the bear the day before. We spotted a magnificent owl perched in a treetop by the side of the road, so we pulled over and rolled the car window down so my teenage son could take pictures.
Just then, the bird suddenly stretched its wings wide and shot out of the tree, swooping straight for us. It swerved at the last moment as we rather hastily closed the window.
For a family from New York, where the only birds we see are pigeons, it doesn't get any more exciting than having an owl remind you that you are indeed where the wild things are. Six months later, we're still talking about that owl, along with all the other creatures we encountered in Alaska.
| Themed cruises range from nude to Norwegian 2/15/2008 1:04:46 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Seatrek, a Star Trek-themed cruise, and SlayerCruise for television's "Buffy the Vampire" fans, set sail for the last time in 2007 but there's no shortage of unusual themed cruises being offered again this year. For example:
Ø Fans of Norwegian food, scenery and music can combine their passions on Hurtigruten's "Gastronomy in a Musical Framework" cruise, which promises to explore Norwegian culture while passing through the North Cape, the Lofoten Islands and, of course, fjords.
Ø The same line offers the Norwegian National Costume Cruise. On this seven-day excursion, cruisers meet experts on Norwegian folklore and soak up historical lectures under the long summer sun. Local folk crafts and costumes will be on display at the various ports of call.
Ø For pure decadence, chocolate-lovers can indulge for a week or two aboard one of two Regent Seven Seas vessels, which set sail from Ft. Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean and from Rio de Janeiro to Ft. Lauderdale. On board the Seven Seas Voyager and the Seven Seas Navigator, passengers can sample fine Valrhona concoctions on a ship packed with cocoa bean experts and pastry chefs.
Ø Geek Cruises offer "Chess Moves," which includes tournaments and classes on topics such as "The Art of the Exchange Sacrifice."
Ø Even nudists can have their day in the sun. Bare Necessities has chartered ships for clothing-optional outings since 1991, and the naked truth is—they're incredibly popular, according to cruise line officials.
Report by David Wilkening Travel Mole
| Themed cruises range from nude to Norwegian 2/15/2008 1:04:21 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Seatrek, a Star Trek-themed cruise, and SlayerCruise for television's "Buffy the Vampire" fans, set sail for the last time in 2007 but there's no shortage of unusual themed cruises being offered again this year. For example:
Ø Fans of Norwegian food, scenery and music can combine their passions on Hurtigruten's "Gastronomy in a Musical Framework" cruise, which promises to explore Norwegian culture while passing through the North Cape, the Lofoten Islands and, of course, fjords.
Ø The same line offers the Norwegian National Costume Cruise. On this seven-day excursion, cruisers meet experts on Norwegian folklore and soak up historical lectures under the long summer sun. Local folk crafts and costumes will be on display at the various ports of call.
Ø For pure decadence, chocolate-lovers can indulge for a week or two aboard one of two Regent Seven Seas vessels, which set sail from Ft. Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean and from Rio de Janeiro to Ft. Lauderdale. On board the Seven Seas Voyager and the Seven Seas Navigator, passengers can sample fine Valrhona concoctions on a ship packed with cocoa bean experts and pastry chefs.
Ø Geek Cruises offer "Chess Moves," which includes tournaments and classes on topics such as "The Art of the Exchange Sacrifice."
Ø Even nudists can have their day in the sun. Bare Necessities has chartered ships for clothing-optional outings since 1991, and the naked truth is—they're incredibly popular, according to cruise line officials.
Report by David Wilkening Travel Mole
| Carnival Debuts Onboard Program for 12- to 14-Year-Olds 2/14/2008 1:13:48 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Carnival Cruise Lines has introduced a new onboard program called "Circle C" aimed specifically at the 12- to 14-year-old age group, with new clubs, scheduled activities and trained staff. The "Circle C" program complements the line's other youth-oriented programming, including "Camp Carnival" for younger kids and "Club O2" for 15- to 17-year-olds, which combined are expected to host 600,000 kids this year. In conjunction with the launch of "Circle C" Carnival is offering rates for third and fourth guests in a stateroom from $199 per person for three-day cruises and $329 per person for seven-day cruises on select dates. These rates are featured at www.carnival.com/family, which also contains information on Carnival's youth programs.
Circle C" facilities are already in place on Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride, Carnival Victory and Carnival Valor. Scheduled to be retrofitted by the end of the year are Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Glory. The balance of the fleet is expected to be completed by 2010. The focal point of "Circle C" activities is custom-designed clubs with a dance floor with high-tech sound and lighting systems, 42-inch plasma-screen TVs displaying movies and music videos, and a touch-screen jukebox stocked with the latest hits. Also featured are gaming pods with video games and consoles, with 20-inch plasma-screens positioned throughout the room and used exclusively for video gaming. The facilities offer a sleek modern design with oversized picture windows, and plush seating.
The "Circle C" program also offers a schedule of activities, which include sports such as basketball, volleyball, ping-pong and water games to late-night movies and pool parties. "Circle C" activities are listed in a special edition of Carnival Capers printed daily. A new logo and branding campaign incorporating the "Circle C" theme of "cruise.chill.connect" has also been created. Also new is Carnival WaterWorks, an aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long twister water slide, dual-lane racing slides and water spray apparatus, currently rolled out as part of the "Evolutions of Fun" refurbishment program on select ships. Carnival Splendor, set to debut in July, will boast Carnival's largest play area to date and a water spray park. Other fleetwide features include babysitting services, stroller rentals, children's menus, and dozens of inter-connecting cabins.
| Frustrations grow with frequent-flier programs 2/13/2008 1:38:00 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Do you have problems using your frequent flyer miles? If so you are not alone. Read this writeup from USA Today.
*************************************************************************
That's the assessment of Crain's Chicago Business, which writes "there are now too many frequent-flier miles chasing too few seats" as U.S. airlines reduce domestic capacity while boosting restrictions on seats put up for award travel. "Basically your miles are worth half as much," frustrated frequent-flier Ryan Rassin, a director at an Illinois private-equity firm, tells the publication. He complains that frequent-flier miles are "just impossible to use when you want to go. For pleasure, for upgrades, they're harder to use than they used to be."
Some suggest that the frustration voiced by some frequent-flier programs is overblown. Advance-planning and realistic expectations can go a long way toward making mileage plans more rewarding, those folks say. Still, the chorus of complaints regarding loyalty programs seems to be growing louder, with complaints ranging from unavailable seats to new fees to an upward creep in mileage thresholds for free travel. And if fliers' frustrations do grow over the programs, that could prove problematic for the airlines. Crain's writes U.S. carriers risk having their loyalty programs lose "value in the eyes of customers at a time when airlines are seeking to capitalize on the programs as never before."
Several big carriers have discusses the possibility of raising cash by spinning off their frequent-flier programs. The estimated value of those programs could also come into play during airline merger talks. But could the value of those programs suffer as fliers' complaints mount? "If I was an investor in a spinoff of a frequent-flier program, I'd be awfully nervous that it's at the maximum value it's ever going to get," FareCompare.com CEO Rick Seaney tells Crain's.
The number of miles going into frequent-flier accounts also could continue to surge, even as airlines keeping trimming domestic capacity. Take credit cards companies, which have especially been drawn toward using airline miles as a way to lure customers. While credit-card promotions offered as little as 2,500 bonus miles in their early days, now "there are some offers out there at almost 40,000 miles," says frequent-flier guru Randy Petersen, publisher of InsideFlyer. But padding accounts with those miles without good options to use them may simply alienate customers. "When you have the miles and can't use them, it's like having cash that you can't spend," Chicago frequent-flier Jennifer Hayob says to Crain's.
| Exploring the Beauty of Grenada 2/12/2008 10:49:53 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment I found this article about Grenada. Not the usual place one thinks of for a vacation, but according to the author definitely a place to consider.
By James Ruggia
Published on: February 11, 2008
With its rugged mountain skyline and long stretches of beach that suggests a Caribbean Bora Bora, Grenada deserves better luck than it's had in its recent past. The people here grow spices in their backyards and flower bushes around their front doors. Between the soft aromatic breezes, which blow scents of spice and flower, to color schemes that seem to tumble out of a Crayola Box, it's a place that always compels you to stop and breathe in the beauty.
Grenada isn't the sculpted beauty of the fairway and the green. Instead, it's a rough, natural beauty that just keeps coming at you. With a 97 percent literacy rate and a highly evolved work ethic, Grenadians are a proud people who work hard, keep appointments punctually and are genuinely hospitable. They're also quick to express their gratitude for the U.S. military intervention that put a stop to an atypically chaotic political situation.
In 2004, Hurricane Ivan also showed them that nature could wield a brand of chaos that made that military intervention seem mild. Though 80 percent of the island was ruined, in less than four years the people here rebuilt their homes, cleaned the streets and put freshly renovated hotels back in business. For example, La Source, one of the island's luxury hotel icons, re-opened on Feb. 1. Grenada received about 270,000 cruise visitors last year, and 135,000 overnighters bringing it almost back to where it was before Ivan.
New developments are gathering steam as arrivals return to nearly what they were before the storm. For example, in 1953 the young Peter de Savary, on vacation with his family from England, fell in love with the cliff top view of the Islander Hotel. From there he could look across at the serene harbor and old Fort St. George. That fort, where the British wrestled control of the island from France in 1763, became the scene of the infamous execution of former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and his cabinet by the revolutionaries in the coup d'etat in 1983. During the subsequent intervention the Islander Hotel became a fortress for the Cuban military and it was leveled by American bombs.
As you walk around that windy peak, you can still see the tiling of the old Islander Hotel as you look out across at Port Louis, where de Savary is building what promises to be the island's coup de grace. Much of Port Louis lay under tons of scrap metal and waste before de Savary arrived to reclaim the landscape of his fondest memory.
De Savary has a long track record of developing luxury properties like the Abaco Club in the Bahamas and the St. James chain in Antigua. The project, one of two he is developing in Grenada, is rising around a 350-slip marina that will be managed by Camper & Nicholson and will dock the mega-yachts preferred by the wealthiest travelers. Two five-star hotels, high-end villas, duty-free designer retail outlets and a state-of-the-art spa will give Grenada that St. Tropez-like scene it needs to compete with other high-end Caribbean nations.
De Savary's style is to create the larger opportunity matrix that attracts investors who then build and manage specific venue components. Expect the top-end brands to come in and manage the venues. He has a strong relationship with Ritz Carlton, which is likely to end up managing at least one of the properties.
De Savary's other Grenada project, Mount Cinnamon, located just a short drive from Port Louis, overlooks expansive Grand Anse Beach. The project, now in the first of five phases, is already home to 21 luxury villas (20 more will be built), most of which have been sold at prices ranging from $500,000 to $800,000. The restaurant Savvy's offers the villa owners quality dining when they don't feel like cooking. The folks at Mount Cinnamon and at Port Louis will serve as rental agents for the villa owners. A 125-room boutique hotel will be built on the grounds as well.
Of course, De Savary isn't the only developer at work in Grenada. A 110-room Four Seasons is under construction on 80-acre Hog Island. The resort, which will be connected to the mainland by a bridge, will also most likely feature an 18-hole golf course.
The island's current high-end property is the 64-suites Spice Island Beach Resort (www.spicebeachresort.com), which straddles Grand Anse Beach with her sister property the Blue Horizon Garden Resort (www.grenadabluehorizons.com) situated behind it on the hills. The owner of the Spice Island, Sir Royston Hopkins, a man who began as a kitchen staffer at the hotel and who now belongs to the British peerage, became "Sir Royston" based on all he did to establish modern Grenadian tourism.
"People come here because the island hasn't lost its environmental or cultural integrity," says Hopkins. "It's still a one-on-one relationship between visitors and the people here and we will keep it that way by avoiding high volume tourism. Low density, eco-friendly development is our direction. Less is more."
The waters of Grenada feature more than 30 dive sites and I tried out five of them with Aquanauts (888-446-9235, www.aquanautsgrenada.com). They range from easy to difficult, making it a great place for new as well as experienced divers. The Aquanauts' team puts divers at ease and inspires confidence through their gentle but assertive manner, and in this regard, they are perhaps the best I ever dove with.
My most compelling dive in Grenada was the one that looked least interesting in the brochure. The Marine Park's series of underwater sculptures tells the story of Caribbean slavery through several moving tableaux of slaves. Besides these sculptures Grenada's dives also feature exceptional reefs and some wonderfully preserved wrecks.
The center of the island is home to fine rainforest parkland, which covers 13 percent of the island, including Grand Etang National Park, replete with monkeys, iguana and plenty of birdlife. At 2,750 feet, Mount St. Katherine is at the center of the rainforest region. Tours of the island also visit the Rivers Rum Distillery, which has been at work filling bottles since 1785, not too long after the French introduced sugar production. Rivers Rum produces a 150-proof bolt of white lightning that clears the sinuses and cleanses the mind.
Though only 12 by 21 miles, Grenada offers a lot beyond its beaches and fine diving. Fortunately, things are looking up for the island, which is more than a little due for some good luck. It's been a long journey from coup d'etat to coup de grace, and you can be assured that your clients would love this place.
For more information, call-566-581-8176 or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com.
| Britain - Common Misunderstandings A Common Language Leads to Some Uncommon Misunderstandings
George Bernard Shaw, the early 20th-century Irish playwright, once described the United States and England as two countries divided by a common language. For some travelers, these differences in language and culture may come as a surprise. For many, it adds charm and intrigue to a journey to the British Isles. After all, travel is about discovering the diversity of the world’s cultures while being amazed at the similarity of its humanity.
To help your clients navigate the familiarly foreign cultural landscape of England, we’ve taken a closer look at the differences between the “Brits” and “Yanks.”
Language
While technically the same language, travelers will find the Queen’s English varies greatly from the less royal American version. Some of the differences are good for the savvy traveler to keep in mind. Here are a few phrases that get lost in translation: “mind the gap” means “watch your step”; “peckish” means “hungry”; “queue up” means “get in line”; and when you need a bathroom, be sure to ask for a toilet or a water closet. One visitor to the UK recalls an embarrassing episode when she asked a mall employee to point her to a restroom. He took her to a room full of couches and chairs so she could rest. From then on, she remembered to call it by the British moniker instead.
Another red-faced moment happened when an American businessman asked his English counterpart if a female co-worker had come down for breakfast. The Englishman replied, “No, but I knocked her up this morning!” The misunderstanding was cleared up when the Brit explained that “knocked up” in England simply means to knock on someone’s door.
The misinterpretations go both ways. Americans may be unaware that sports metaphors common in the States aren’t universal -“I’ll touch base with you” and “give me a ballpark figure” don’t translate in cricket country.
Food & Drink
After picking up a few new British phrases, the next thing to tackle is the dinner table. Here, a good rule of thumb as an American is to mind your manners. In fact, finger foods are rare in Britain. French fries and hamburgers (unless ordered at a fast-food joint) are eaten with knife and fork in hand. How very civilized!
In the Commonwealth, it is normal to tip your server in a restaurant 10 percent, rounded to the nearest pound. Tipping usually doesn’t happen in English pubs, but if travelers are so inclined, they can offer to buy the bartender a drink.
The two English-speaking cultures are also very finicky about hot drinks. Americans generally like their coffee “just so” while the British show hospitality with a spot of tea. While instant coffee is quite acceptable in England, iced tea is quite unthinkable.
As in eating styles, eating times also differ greatly between the two countries. While American diners tend to eat the evening meal between 5:30 and 7 p.m., most British restaurants don’t open their kitchens until 6 p.m. and continue serving past midnight. When visiting friends in their homes, most American couples will leave between 9 and 10 p.m. while it is considered rude in Britain to leave before midnight.
| Deluxe Singles Travel 2/8/2008 11:33:31 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment I found this article in ForbesTravel.com by Alexander Zaitchik. Just because you are single does not mean you must stay home. He provides some good information.
**************************************************************************
Alexander Zaitchik Wed Feb 06 13:30:00 EST 2008
Expert picks for the solo tourist
The same old images still adorn the walls and windows of your local travel office: Smiling nuclear families discovering Disney World and well-tanned, hand-clasped couples honeymooning on the white sand shores of a Caribbean paradise.
While families still go to Disney World and couples still honeymoon in the Bahamas, these images are increasingly anachronistic representations of the typical American traveler. Millions of people today travel with neither families nor mates, but alone—as unattached singles.
In the last decade, the number of single travelers has exploded to reach more than a quarter of the entire industry—a percentage that continues to rise along with divorce rates and the average marrying age. According to Connected: Solo Traveler’s Network, a leading online singles travel community, one-third of the adult population is single and travels that way. “We're divorced, widowed, married to spouses who don't care to travel, or we're just plain single,” say Cstn.com’s editors. “The one thing we have in common is that we are all looking for comfortable and economical ways of traveling alone… without paying expensive single supplement fees.”
Whether these single travelers are looking for an open-bar hook-up scene, or just a way to avoid those bummer “single supplements” at hotels, there’s no shortage of travel companies offering to help.
In the '70s, Club Med and an outfit called Single World (long since defunct) were the only real options for stag travelers looking for trips that catered to their particular situation. Today, nearly two-dozen major tour operators offer tailored service to the growing singles travel market. These companies are a diverse lot, offering everything from traditional party cruises to rugged backwoods adventure trips. To help buyers find the right company, there are also singles travel message boards and newsletters galore, suggesting the arrival of a full-blown subculture.
But what, exactly, is “singles travel”? The variety of services offered under the term is a source of frequent confusion, say industry leaders, exacerbated by cross-promotional activities often linking singles travel agencies to internet dating sites.
Mark Braunstein, CEO of Singles Travel Service, estimates that a "small percentage" of customers are looking for love when they book a trip through his company. “But when guests do meet, the relationships tend to last because it is often based on a strong common interest. For example, guests who have met on our ski trips are already in love with winter sports and skiing.”
Braunstein’s company has been a close witness to and participant in the boom in singles travel. Since Singles Travel Service began posting trips on the internet four years ago, he says, sales have more than doubled each year. In 2007, his firm saw a 245 percent increase in bookings for his Caribbean party cruises and singles heritage tours of Central America and Asia.
Where singles travelers go depends on what they’re looking for, notes Tammy Weiler, a former flight attendant who founded Singles Travel International in 1995. “At the moment the hottest singles trip ‘party’ destination is Miami, hands down,” she says, “followed by Las Vegas, Chicago, Madrid, London, Dublin and Prague. And of course Caribbean cruises are still popular.”
Singles cruises aren’t the one-size-fits-all party boats of yore. Today’s single travelers have plenty of choice when it comes to how they spend time between shore excursions. And, with whom. There are salsa dance cruises, senior and baby boomer cruises, gay and lesbian cruises, even religious-themed cruises.
Single travelers also face a choice of adventure travel companies that now specifically service the solo-traveler market. The World Outdoors, Adventures for Singles and Back Roads are just three of the biggest operators who take small groups of singles deep into jungles and mountain ranges around the world.
But even when far from the world of double-occupancy cruise cabins, global loners can’t always escape the curse of the singles supplement charge. For example, the World Outdoors’ Alaskan wilderness tour tacks on a $650 single supplement if you choose not to be matched with another member of the group. On the upscale Australia tour offered by the Singles Travel Service, the additional cost of bunking alone is $1,500—a 40 percent mark-up over the double-occupancy package price.
To sidestep this surcharge, most singles travel companies offer a pre-trip match-up. For example, Vacations to Go will pair same-sex, independent travelers and give them the standard couples rate. If they can’t match you before the date of departure, they’ll cover the penalty. Some companies are also able to secure a limited number of single occupancy rooms.
Another way to beat the singles supplement is to avoid package tours entirely and find a traveling partner through sites like Mango-Tree.com, which allow users to peruse traveler profiles of people heading to the same places and who share similar interests and traveling styles.
These days, whether you’re heading to the Bahamas or Belarus, you don’t have to be alone just because you’re single.
| United Airlines Announces New Checked Bag Policy United Airlines has just announced a charge for checking a second bag. Notice that their press release touts this as a move to improve "customer choice". I hope they don't believe their own PR.
**************************************************************************
CHICAGO – Feb. 4, 2008 – As part of its continuing effort to offer customers choice, flexibility, and low fares, United is announcing a new, simplified checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. United’s new checked bag policy is available at united.com/baggage.
For customers who have at least Premier status in Mileage Plus or Silver status with Star Alliance, there are no changes to the number of bags they can check for free.
Customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets and do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee.
For all customers, the cost to check a third or fourth bag, depending on their status, will be $100 per bag. Previous charges ranged from $85-$125 per bag. The cost to check items that require special handling because they are large, overweight or fragile will now be either $100 or $200, depending on the item.
“This change enables us to continue offering customers competitive fares, and it fits with our overall strategy to tailor our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for, as we have with our popular Economy Plus seating,” said John Tague, executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “Our customer research shows that only about one in four customers check a second bag, and with this new policy, customers who check extra bags may continue to do so for a service fee, which enables us to offer competitive fares to everyone.”
United estimates that this change will generate more than $100 million annually for the company in cost savings and new revenue.
This new checked bag policy applies for travel beginning on May 5, 2008, within the U.S. and to/from Canada, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, and the service fee to check a second bag only applies to tickets purchased on or after Feb. 4, 2008. Customers may pay this service fee at an airport Easy Check-In Kiosk with a credit card or at the check-in counter with a credit card, check or cash.
For itineraries that include international flights (except Canada), checking a second bag will continue to be free and the cost to check more than two bags or items that are overweight or require special handling varies by destination.
| Is Cruising Right for You? 2/6/2008 12:23:13 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment Here is a article from MSN.com by a travel columnist Anita Dunham-Potter that I think new cruisers will find helpful and interesting.
**************************************************************************
Want to know if you'll get seasick, or gain weight? Answers for newbies
By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist
I get a lot of e-mails from people asking if a cruise vacation is right for them. It's a fair question. After all, once the ship leaves the dock, you're pretty much stuck until the ship turns around and comes home. Here are answers to the most common questions I've received from cruise newbies in the past six months:
1. What should be my first cruise?
There are two ways to go here. Most first-time cruisers choose a short cruise with lots of port calls; they do this because they're afraid they'll go crazy if they're stuck aboard ship. While this is a good strategy if you just want to get your feet wet, I recommend looking for a longer itinerary with some "sea days." That way you can relax and enjoy the ship's facilities. It's really the only way to find out what "cruising" is all about. So, look for a cruise with some balance between sea days and port days. My recent cruise aboard the Crown Princess from New York City had a great balance: four sea days and five port days.
2. What about seasickness?
It may have all the amenities of a shoreside resort, but a cruise ship does travel on open water. Your body will register that motion no matter how big the ship is or how well it is stabilized. Therefore, if you experience severe motion sickness on land or on airplanes then cruising may not be for you.
Ordinary motion sickness can be relieved by remedies like Dramamine and acupressure bands. (If you forget to pack them, don't worry; they are always available in the ship's store.) If you're susceptible to motion sickness, book a cabin on a lower deck in the middle of the ship where motion is minimized. Even better is a balcony cabin in the middle of the ship; fresh air really does help with motion sickness. If the going gets rough, you can get a motion sickness shot in the ship's medical center, but understand you'll be charged a fee ($75 on up).
3. Do I have to get dressed up every night?
If you love dressing up, then by all means do so. But cruising has become less formal in recent years, so fancy dress is optional. In fact, many new ships offer several informal dining venues (e.g., sushi bars, pizzerias, buffets and snack bars) where you needn't dress up at all. Still, most ships continue to offer two formal nights in the main dining rooms: the Captain's Welcome and the Farewell Dinner. Formal-night attire ranges from tuxedos to dark suits for men; for women, formal dress ranges from long gowns to dressy pantsuits. More casual dress is appropriate in the dining rooms on other occasions, but most ships do not allow jeans, shorts or sleeveless men's tops in any dining venue.
4. Do I have to sit with strangers at dinner?
One of the best parts of cruising is getting to meet people from all walks of life. But if you are uncomfortable sitting with people you don't know, you can arrange a table change with the maitre d' - but you must do so as soon as you get on board. If you wait too long, the staff may not be able to accommodate you. Understand that tables for two are scarce aboard ship except on luxury cruise lines like Silversea.
5. What about tipping?
Except on a few luxury cruise ships that have "no tipping required" policies, passengers are expected to tip their cabin steward, dining room waiter and assistant waiter. Many lines recommend that each passenger tip about $10 per day, as follows: cabin steward, $3.50; dining room waiter and assistant waiter, $5.50 (shared); and bistro service waiter and cooks, $1. Bar bills are automatically charged a 15 percent gratuity for the bartender. Special service personnel such as the maitre d', deck stewards and bellmen should be tipped as service is rendered.
Some cruise lines offer to add the suggested gratuities to your shipboard account; the accounting office then distributes the tips at the end of the cruise. On other ships, you leave cash in an envelope on the last evening of your cruise. Understand that ships' crews work very hard to make your cruise top-notch. Unless the service has actually been poor, tip the recommended amount. For outstanding service, add a little more. To get an idea of how much to tip, visit Cruise Tip Calculator, a nifty Web site that lists tipping amounts for each crew member on most cruise lines.
Here's a tip from me to you: Get your cash tips in order before your cruise and have them organized in separate envelopes for each crew member. Believe me, there's nothing worse than waiting in a long line at the cruise desk on the last night of the cruise to get all your cash tips in order.
6. Will I gain weight?
Cruising is the ultimate "see food" diet — you see food, you eat it. Yes, most passengers end up with more to love after a cruise. But you don't have to become a sloth in a deck chair; there are plenty of active pursuits to enjoy aboard ship. Most ships have exercise rooms, pools, jogging tracks and fitness classes covering everything from aerobics to yoga. Newer cruise ships like Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas offer boxing, rock climbing and surfing classes, while traditional ships like the Queen Mary 2 offer walk-a-mile deck-lapping sessions and aerobics.
7. Can I do my laundry on board?
Most ships have self-service laundry rooms with ironing boards. On most mainstream and premium cruise lines, you'll have to pay to use the washers and dryers. On luxury lines like Crystal, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea and Regent, the self-serve laundry is complimentary. Don't want to waste valuable vacation time doing laundry? Then send your clothes to the ship's laundry or dry cleaner; there will be a per-item charge. During the cruise, many ships offer a "laundry bag special": For a set fee (usually $10-$20), laundry crew will wash everything you can cram into the laundry bag.
Cruising is a vacation like no other. It offers vast open seas, and the scenery changes every day. The food and service are better than in a resort hotel, all food and entertainment is included in the price, and you have to unpack only once. Believe me, once you try cruising, you will be hooked for life.
| Cruising with Kids | Shipping out with the teens 2/4/2008 10:02:31 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment The Miami Herald ran this helpful article on cruising with your kids
BY DIANE BAIR
It was one of those rare, perfect moments:
My husband, Paul, and I were stretched out in lounge chairs on the ship's deck, holding hands under a star-lit sky, a bag of popcorn between us. (Well, maybe our hands were touching while in the popcorn bag, but still!)
On the Jumbo-tron, one of our boys, Connor, 16, was whaling away on a faux Guitar Hero guitar and looking like a baby rock star. Next up was Jarrett, 14, waiting for his moment to be a guitar god.
And it hit me: Everybody was having fun. At the same time! On vacation!
I flashed back to other vacations: My husband and I, begging our teenagers to get out of bed and hit a museum, or trying to entice them to do some sightseeing. (``But, Mom, it's London! It'll be here tomorrow!'')
Finally, we'd found a vacation that two relaxation-deprived adults and two action-craving teenagers could enjoy.
Aboard a cruise ship, we could find the right balance of togetherness and privacy. Everybody could get up late (them) or early (us) without worrying about schedules or transportation. We'd go to sleep and wake up someplace new and fun.
Our only plan, on days in port, was to get out and play -- maybe go snorkeling or hike in a rain forest -- excursions the boys had selected, so they'd be keen to participate.
And if, come nightfall, they chose to hang in the teen center, it was fine with us. We had nightclubs to visit.
We thought we'd never go on one of those giant cruise ships with our kids, but when we did, it turned out to be our best vacation ever.
Here's our advice for making a family cruise fabulous:
• Match the cruise to the kids (rock walls and surfing and hot tubs, oh my!) Pizza and ice cream, 24/7. Loads of other kids. Freedom.
These ships are great for kids who like to socialize. They also offer sporty shore excursions with lots of teen appeal. Our boys were concerned that they'd be too cool for the cruise line's teen activities. Connor and Jarrett had had enough of ''lame'' teen programs offered at resorts. At the mere mention of this, Jarrett hooted, ``Ooh, boy! Let's decorate a T-shirt!''
At many places we've stayed, little kids get star treatment, while teens get a basketball hoop and an obsolete video game. Not on these ships.
On the Crown Princess, the teen center is big, and done up like your teen's Dream Living Room, with gaming consoles, air hockey, a teens-only hot tub and pool deck. (You don't want to share the hot tub or pool deck with them, anyway. They look 'way better in their swimsuits than you do. Who needs that?)
NCL's Norwegian Gem offers the Leopard Lounge for teens, with plasma TVs, a dance floor, a climbing wall, and a (very groovy) four-lane, 10-pin bowling alley.
Carnival is introducing aqua parks on their Fantasy-class ships, featuring four-deck-high twister waterslides and 82-foot-long racing waterslides -- great for kids who'd rather not get out of the pool. Ever.
Royal Caribbean's newest and largest ships, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, offer surfing. Some of Royal Caribbean's larger ships have ice-skating rinks. Rock walls seem to be de rigueur these days. And the activity-of-the-moment seems to be Wii games competitions, with mammoth screens so that everybody can watch the action.
(Parents: Please resist the temptation to ''Dance with the Stars'' on the big screen. All the coolness points you've gained by taking your teens on this trip will vanish in one bad boogie moment.)
Cruise expert Linda Coffman, of www.cruisediva.com, advises that you look closely at teen facilities when choosing a ship -- the better they are, the more likely other teens will be aboard.
''Be aware of your teen's feeling about a family vacation (parents are not cool), and pick a ship that has facilities tailored for their interests, like gaming, surfing, basketball or other sports, and a teen center,'' Coffman says.
Aboard the Crown Princess, the organized activities for teens really got rolling at 9 p.m. or so, with many of these designed to break the ice, like karaoke, talent shows and a goofy take on the Dating Game. Makeovers, sports tourneys, and a bank of video games quickly attracted hordes of kids.
Our boys loved it -- too well, we discovered by the end of Day Two, when we realized we'd barely seen them. That's when we decided to . . .
• Schedule face-time with the kids. On days at sea, you won't see them much. Your teens will likely choose to sleep in, roll out of bed for a late (huge) lunch at the buffet, and head to the teen center or the pool.
How to get some face-time with them? Plan a time to touch base each day and make them stick to it. We had dinner every night with Connor and Jarrett, always at the same time, so they couldn't ditch us and claim ignorance.
Surprisingly, the boys were happy to accompany us to the ship's entertainment venues, so we saw plenty of comedians (with PG-13-rated material), a mentalist who could mind-read people's cell phone numbers (Connor thought this was a handy skill), and some cheesy-but-energetic stage shows.
Most nights, the boys headed to the teen center after we caught an early show en famille. That was fine with Paul and me. We boogied our way through the ship's various nightclubs. Badly.
• Schedule kissy-face time with each other. We happily club-hopped until the wee (for us) hour of 11 p.m. We also discovered a way to ditch our own teens -- and everyone else's: the adults-only pool area. Ahhh! We grew to love that peaceful spot.
After the first day or so at sea, we got into the rhythm of shipboard life and, wonder of wonders, quit worrying about the kids. We even had some, ahem, romantic moments, and enjoyed other grown-up pleasures, like relaxing in the hot tub and winning a little cash in the casino.
That's when we realized what we like best about cruising -- the happy balance of couple time and family time.
• Let them pick the shore excursions. Did you come all this way to hear your teens moan about going on ''another stupid hike?'' You did not.
Give them the list of shore excursions, clarify your budget, and let 'em have at it. Yes, this means you will be riding dune buggies and banana boats instead of visiting forts, charming villages and duty-free shops, but so be it. You will do things you never thought you'd do, like ultimate power snorkeling, helmet diving and zip-lining through a rain forest.
You will have a fabulous time. So will your kids. And you'll earn loads of street cred simply for agreeing to all this.
Visit your cruise line's website where you can preview shore excursions and pre-book your favorites. We didn't do that, alas, and some activities that sounded great to us were filled by the time we boarded the ship.
• Set the ground rules early. Deal with expenses right away. If your kids are soda drinkers, many ships offer unlimited drink cards you can buy. You can opt not to give them bill-signing power with their cruise cards. Agree beforehand on cell phone use so they don't run up huge roaming charges for calls and text messages.
If the ship's curfew sounds late to you, or your teens are youngish, set your own curfew. This is especially important if you're sharing a cabin and don't want to hear rowdy kids crashing into the room after midnight. Which brings us to . . .
• Opt for as much space as you can afford. Face it, your kids aren't little anymore, and they take up a lot of room. They also hog the bathroom. Splurge on a family suite, or two rooms, instead of sharing a stateroom.
A suite works really well if you're earlier risers, like we are, and your kids like to sleep until noon, like ours do. With two connected rooms, early birds and night owls can co-exist happily, and (bonus) you'll still know when they roll in at night. That super-sensitive parental radar will kick in, even if you're 1,000 miles out to sea.
• Pick the right week. Even if you're Posh and Becks, your kids do not think you're fabulous. They'll spend time with you, sure, but 'round-the-clock togetherness won't cut it. They need to be with their own tribe. To make that happen, pick a vacation week sure to be jam-packed with other teens -- summer vacation, spring break, Easter week, and the week between the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The ship will be more crowded, for sure, but what would you rather have: happy teens or a better shot at a poolside lounge chair?
Also, stick with shorter cruises, a week or so in duration. Longer cruises tend to draw an older crowd. And stick with the less-exotic locations. If you cruise the Baltic, say, or the Mediterranean, you'll get an older, sophisticated crowd, and not as many families. Save the exotic destinations for your vacations à deux. The Caribbean routes are always tops with families.
• Pick a big ship. Everybody sings the praises of the posh little ships. For romantic getaways, sure. But if you're cruising with teens, you want lots of teens. Bigger ships mean more passengers, and bigger, more tricked-out teen centers.
• Savor the small stuff. Some things you just can't plan. We all wandered out to the deck one night and realized the lounge chairs had been covered with blankets, and an almost-first-run film was playing on the ship's giant movie screen. We found four chairs, pulled them together, and watched a movie under the stars, complete with goodies. We had a wonderful, cozy time -- as a family. It doesn't get better than that!
________________________________________
| How to find the best all-inclusive resorts Here is a good analysis of what you can find in All Inclusives now and is it right for you. I found this on CNN.com by Andrea Bennett
Story Highlights
If you use everything a resort offers, a pricey package can be a great value
Figure out if you'll desire more than what the deal gives you
Ask pointed questions and know what's included before you book
My first experience with an all-inclusive resort was a decade ago during a freezing February in New York City. I was easy prey for this promise: a startlingly low price for a trip to Cancún, which included airfare, four nights in a double room and meals at any of three "exciting, international" restaurants.
What I got: an insipid buffet; a filthy, crowded beach; and many extra fees. Though piña coladas were included, bottled water wasn't. The only unexpected "extra" was the resort's own porn channel, blaring on my TV when I arrived. I would have settled for maid service.
These days, all-inclusives are going upscale with the same type of promise, but better delivery. At the Royal Hideaway Playacar, in Mexico, for example, a nightly rate starting at $850 per room includes meals by chef Sergi Arola -- from Madrid's Michelin-starred La Broche restaurant -- Spanish classes and scuba lessons. You can find good deals at various price levels by asking yourself these questions:
Will I use what's included?
If you think you'll use everything a resort offers, even a pricey package can be a great value. Curtain Bluff, in Antigua, might seem expensive at $950 a night, but if you take advantage of the extras -- scuba diving, waterskiing lessons, sailing and drinks -- the resort is a bargain. And large all-inclusive chains, which have improved their services, can be surprisingly affordable: I found a six-night stay for two in April at the Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa, in Jamaica, including airfare from Charleston, South Carolina; all meals; tennis; scuba diving; and laundry service, for $683 per night.
Will I want what's not included?
Figure out if you'll desire more than what the deal gives you. The Meliá Cabo Real, in Los Cabos, Mexico, is next door to a Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course. Stay in a links-view room for $460 per night in late February, and the all-inclusive rate delivers everything except golf, which is $252 per round. If you plan on playing a few rounds, wouldn't staying at an actual golf resort end up costing less, even at a higher nightly rate? Definitely.
How big a hassle will it be to cash in?
The appeal of an all-inclusive is lost if you have to spend time jockeying for what you've been promised. In order to avoid the buffet at the 355-room Caribe Club Princess, in Punta Cana, you must queue up before 3 p.m. to get reservations at one of the five restaurants. Other red flags: water sports that are actually at a different location; "unlimited" sports where equipment rental is extra; or being confined to nine holes of an 18-hole course. To avoid these undesirable scenarios, know what's included with the hotel before you book.
| |
 |
Travel Blog
