Fairmont and Raffles are exquisitely prepared to pamper their guests with the finest service, cuisine and accommodations. And whether you prefer to explore the shores of Maui, shop in New York City or take in the History of London, you'll do it with this exclusive discount: one free nights' stay. To make sure every detail is handled with confidence, contact your Virtuoso travel advisor today!
Complimentary 3rd Night
Enjoy a complimentary third night at the following locations:
• Fairmont Waterfront – Vancouver, British Columbia
For stays through September 30, 2011; book by July 31, 2011
• The Fairmont Banff Springs – Banff, Alberta
• The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – Banff, Alberta
• The Fairmont Chateau Whistler – Whistler, British Columbia
• The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – Jasper, Alberta
• The Fairmont Olympic Hotel – Seattle, Washington
• The Fairmont Royal York – Toronto, Ontario
• The Plaza – New York, New York
For stays through September 30, 2011; book by September 30, 2011
• Raffles Hotel Singapore – Singapore
For stays through August 31, 2011; book by August 31, 2011
• Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor – Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Raffles Hotel Le Royal – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
For stays through September 30, 2011; book by September 30, 2011
Complimentary 4th Night
Enjoy a complimentary fourth night at the following locations:
• Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – Québec City, Québec
• Fairmont Mayakoba – Riviera Maya, Mexico
• Fairmont Pacific Rim – Vancouver, British Columbia
• Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth – Montreal, Québec
• Fairmont Vier Jarheszeiten – Hamburg, Germany
• The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii – The Big Island, Hawaii
For stays through September 30, 2011; book by September 30, 2011
• Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square – San Francisco,
California
• Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa – Sonoma, California
For stays through December 31, 2011; book by December 31, 2011
• The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel – London, United Kingdom
For stays through September 6, 2011; book by September 2, 2011
• Raffles Beijing Hotel – Beijing
For stays through September 30, 2011; book by September 30, 2011
Complimentary 5th Night
Enjoy a complimentary fifth night at the following locations:
• Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui – Maui, Hawaii
For stays through August 14, 2011; book by August 14, 2011
• Fairmont Southampton – Southampton, Bermuda
For stays through August 31, 2011; book by August 31, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Cruise Notes from Mary - June 17, 2011
Celebrity Solstice Summer Sale – ONE DAY ONLY – June 21, 2011
One day sale –
Onboard credit offer & 50% reduced deposit All sailings (except Expedition in the Galapagos) from Oct. 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012 Onboard credit values: $50 per cabin – Inside & Oceanview $100 per cabin – Veranda, Concierge and Aqua Class $150 per cabin - Suites Important Information: · applicable products – All except Galapagos · applicable ships – All ships except Expedition · applicable categories: All · Booking window: 06/21/11 only · New Individual bookings only. Not applicable to existing bookings or Group Bookings. · Booking instructions: Offer will be applied after booking is made.
Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy. Government taxes and fees are additional. Bookings must be made 06/21/11. All prices and offers are applicable to new individual bookings only, subject to change without notice, and subject to availability. Offer is not applicable to groups. Offer is not combinable with other offers. Onboard credit is per stateroom, applicable to cruise only, has no cash value, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. Certain restrictions may apply. © 2011 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry Malta and Ecuador.
RCL Radiance of the Seas Renovations
Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas will sail away from the Victoria Shipyards in British Columbia today after a $20 million renovation which adds many of the features found on Oasis and Allure of the Seas.
Radiance will end up with the same number of restaurants as Oasis and Allure, but without 150 Central Park and Johnny Rocket’s. This includes Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse, the casual Park Café, the Asian Izumi, Rita’s Cantina, Quill & Compass Pub, Giovanni’s Table, the Boardwalk Doghouse and the upscale 16-seat Chef’s Table.
Royal Caribbean was careful to balance the number of restaurants that charge service fees and those that don’t. For example, the Boardwalk Doghouse, which is free, serves up to 1,200 hot dogs a day on Allure of the Seas. The most upscale experience is Chef’s Table, which serves 16 people a five-course dinner paired with wine for $95 per person.
Also being added to Radiance are three inside single staterooms, an oversized outdoor movie screen, enhanced Wi-Fi throughout the ship, and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, where certified staffers care for children age 6 to 36 months, often until midnight. It seems parents are eager for a night out while on vacation.
Princess, Carnival, and Holland America Cruises Change to Onboard Smoking PolicyAs part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every passenger has a comfortable onboard experience, Princess Cruises will be introducing more restrictive smoking policies, and will prohibit smoking in passenger staterooms and balconies for all voyages departing after January 15, 2012
Thought for the Month
Wishing all the Dads and those who serve as dads a HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
Love and Hugs
Mary Engram,
Your Personal Travel Consultant
Like my Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/MaryEngramTravelConsultant
One day sale –
Onboard credit offer & 50% reduced deposit All sailings (except Expedition in the Galapagos) from Oct. 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012 Onboard credit values: $50 per cabin – Inside & Oceanview $100 per cabin – Veranda, Concierge and Aqua Class $150 per cabin - Suites Important Information: · applicable products – All except Galapagos · applicable ships – All ships except Expedition · applicable categories: All · Booking window: 06/21/11 only · New Individual bookings only. Not applicable to existing bookings or Group Bookings. · Booking instructions: Offer will be applied after booking is made.
Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy. Government taxes and fees are additional. Bookings must be made 06/21/11. All prices and offers are applicable to new individual bookings only, subject to change without notice, and subject to availability. Offer is not applicable to groups. Offer is not combinable with other offers. Onboard credit is per stateroom, applicable to cruise only, has no cash value, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. Certain restrictions may apply. © 2011 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry Malta and Ecuador.
RCL Radiance of the Seas Renovations
Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas will sail away from the Victoria Shipyards in British Columbia today after a $20 million renovation which adds many of the features found on Oasis and Allure of the Seas.
Radiance will end up with the same number of restaurants as Oasis and Allure, but without 150 Central Park and Johnny Rocket’s. This includes Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse, the casual Park Café, the Asian Izumi, Rita’s Cantina, Quill & Compass Pub, Giovanni’s Table, the Boardwalk Doghouse and the upscale 16-seat Chef’s Table.
Royal Caribbean was careful to balance the number of restaurants that charge service fees and those that don’t. For example, the Boardwalk Doghouse, which is free, serves up to 1,200 hot dogs a day on Allure of the Seas. The most upscale experience is Chef’s Table, which serves 16 people a five-course dinner paired with wine for $95 per person.
Also being added to Radiance are three inside single staterooms, an oversized outdoor movie screen, enhanced Wi-Fi throughout the ship, and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, where certified staffers care for children age 6 to 36 months, often until midnight. It seems parents are eager for a night out while on vacation.
Princess, Carnival, and Holland America Cruises Change to Onboard Smoking PolicyAs part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every passenger has a comfortable onboard experience, Princess Cruises will be introducing more restrictive smoking policies, and will prohibit smoking in passenger staterooms and balconies for all voyages departing after January 15, 2012
Thought for the Month
Wishing all the Dads and those who serve as dads a HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
Love and Hugs
Mary Engram,
Your Personal Travel Consultant
Like my Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/MaryEngramTravelConsultant
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Princess Change to Onboard Smoking Policy
As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every passenger has a comfortable onboard experience, Princess Cruises will be introducing more restrictive smoking policies, and will prohibit smoking in passenger staterooms and balconies for all voyages departing after January 15, 2012
Friday, June 10, 2011
Cruise Notes From Mary - June 10, 2011
Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
June 10, 2011
Holland America's Maasdam renovated
Holland America Line's 1,258-passenger Maasdam has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation under its Signature of Excellence program. Maasdam is HAL's fifth ship to receive the enhancements. Upgrades already have been made to the Veendam, Statendam, Rotterdam and Ryndam. The Maasdam refit added 29 lanai staterooms, plus 16 staterooms near the spa were converted into spa staterooms. The ship also received new stateroom furnishings, bathroom upgrades and Canaletto, a complimentary Italian restaurant. The Mix lounge area with three bars (Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales) replaces the Maasdam's piano bar and casino bar
Legend of the Seas to resume Japan calls this summer
Royal Caribbean International's Legend of the Seas will resume port calls to Japan, starting with its seven-night July 30 sailing from Hong Kong to Tianjin, China. Calls will be made in Okinawa and Fukuoka. Legend of the Seas is the cruise line's only ship dedicated to the Far East year-round. Most guests are from the region. The line noted that the Chinese government lifted its travel ban to Japan earlier this month, after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation on March 11
With the Chinese market booming, Royal Caribbean adds big ship
Royal Caribbean International demonstrated its confidence in the Chinese market on Wednesday, announcing that the 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas will reposition to Shanghai in June 2012. The Voyager and the Legend of the Seas will both serve the Chinese market. The 2,076-passenger Legend will return to Shanghai in March 2012 for its fourth season. The Voyager will come to Shanghai from Europe and offer four- to 10-night sailings to ports in Japan and Korea throughout summer 2012. The ship will depart for Sydney in October. Royal Caribbean said it plans to offer a wider variety of tailored onboard products next year to Chinese guests, including more Chinese language services, authentic Chinese food and “culturally appropriate” recreational activities and duty-free items.
Azamara Club Cruises Offers Upgrades, ChoiceAir Credits, Savings
Azamara Club Cruises is offering complimentary stateroom upgrades, ChoiceAir credits and savings on combined voyages on departures from October through December. In addition, single-occupancy fares have been reduced to 125 percent.
Up-market travelers can enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a Club Veranda stateroom when they book an Ocean-view stateroom aboard one of 16 autumn voyages aboard Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest. Additionally, Azamara is offering ChoiceAir credits of $500 per guest with a new booking in a Club Ocean-view, Club Veranda and Club Continent Suite stateroom. Travelers making a new booking in the higher category Club Ocean Suites and Club World Owner’s Suites receive $1,000 ChoiceAir credit per guest.
Additionally, travelers who book two or more consecutive voyages will get double Extended Voyages savings of $600 per stateroom, per voyage, for eight-night or shorter itineraries and $800 savings per stateroom, per voyage, for nine-night or longer itineraries.
The offers are valid for all new U.S. and Canadian individual bookings with departures from October through December, excluding Azamara Journey’s Oct. 25 and Nov. 8 voyages. Bookings must be named, deposited and created between June 1 and July 31. The code “SEN5” must be used at time of booking. Offers are subject to availability
Carnival to sail short Canada cruises from Boston and NYC
Carnival Cruise Lines will operate a series of short Canada cruises from Boston and New York in the summer of 2012. The 2,974-passenger Carnival Glory will sail four- and five-day cruises from June 10 to July 26 from Boston, and from Aug. 1 to Sept. 3 from New York. The four-day cruises will visit Saint John, New Brunswick, and five-day sailings will call in Saint John and Halifax, Nova Scotia. There will be one seven-day cruise departing June 3 that will call in the two Canadian cities plus Portland, Maine.
Princess Cruises Offers Sought-After Zumba® Classes FleetwideZumba® Fitness, the exhilarating dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music and contagious choreography, is rolling out to the entire Princess Cruises fleet. Since December, passengers on many Princess ships have been joining in the hip-shaking fun with complimentary classes taught by licensed Zumba instructors. The classes quickly became among the most popular activities on board, and now additional staff members will complete the official training to become licensed Zumba instructors as the program expands fleetwide
Norwegian Epic to Offer Dual Embarkation Ports in Western Med
Norwegian Cruise Line will offer a second embarkation port to the Norwegian Epic’s seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from April 29 through Oct. 17, 2012. Guests can board the cruise in either Barcelona or in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. The cruise that starts in Civitavecchia will call on Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; Provence (Marseille), France; and Barcelona. The cruises from Rome are now open for booking with balcony staterooms starting at $1,299 per person, double occupancy
Crystal Cruises Launches New “Private Adventure Option”
Crystal Cruises is introducing a private shore excursion alternative for guests. Crystal’s new “Private Adventure Option” lets guests take already-organized excursions for small groups.
Beginning this August/September, parties of two, four or six can opt for a personal guide and private vehicle to tour Ephesus, Pompeii or the city of Barcelona, for example, on a shore-side itinerary crafted by Crystal’s land programs team and its worldwide tour operators.
Launching Aug. 14 and Sept. 13 on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, respectively, the Private Adventure Option can be pre-reserved at least one week prior to embarkation by emailing crystaladventures@crystalcruises.com. Prices will be at least 25 percent more than group tour fares, but vary depending on excursion length, vehicle size, guide costs and sites visited
Delta and United Continental raise bag fees
Delta and United Continental have upped their baggage fees for checking a second bag on transatlantic flights. The first checked bag on both airlines remains free of charge, but checking a second bag on United Continental now costs $70. Delta now charges $60 for a second bag if checked online and $75 if checked at the airport. The fee previously had been $50 for both carriers for a second checked bag to Europe. Delta no longer will carry second checked bags free of charge on flights to Mexico and Central America. The fee is now $30. Delta also has done away with its discount of $2 or $3 for domestic customers who checked bags online. The fees remain at $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second, whether checked in online or at the airport.
Kids Sail Free to the Mexican Riviera
Great news! Kids 17 and under sail FREE* when traveling with two full-fare Guests in the same verandah stateroom in Categories 4A-6A on most Mexican Riviera sailings Oct. 30 - Dec. 18, 2011. Government Taxes and Fees not included.
Thought for the Month
If money and time weren't issues, where and how would you cruise?
Love and Hugs
Mary Engram,
Your Personal Travel Consultant
Like my Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/MaryEngramTravelConsultant
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
June 10, 2011
Holland America's Maasdam renovated
Holland America Line's 1,258-passenger Maasdam has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation under its Signature of Excellence program. Maasdam is HAL's fifth ship to receive the enhancements. Upgrades already have been made to the Veendam, Statendam, Rotterdam and Ryndam. The Maasdam refit added 29 lanai staterooms, plus 16 staterooms near the spa were converted into spa staterooms. The ship also received new stateroom furnishings, bathroom upgrades and Canaletto, a complimentary Italian restaurant. The Mix lounge area with three bars (Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales) replaces the Maasdam's piano bar and casino bar
Legend of the Seas to resume Japan calls this summer
Royal Caribbean International's Legend of the Seas will resume port calls to Japan, starting with its seven-night July 30 sailing from Hong Kong to Tianjin, China. Calls will be made in Okinawa and Fukuoka. Legend of the Seas is the cruise line's only ship dedicated to the Far East year-round. Most guests are from the region. The line noted that the Chinese government lifted its travel ban to Japan earlier this month, after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation on March 11
With the Chinese market booming, Royal Caribbean adds big ship
Royal Caribbean International demonstrated its confidence in the Chinese market on Wednesday, announcing that the 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas will reposition to Shanghai in June 2012. The Voyager and the Legend of the Seas will both serve the Chinese market. The 2,076-passenger Legend will return to Shanghai in March 2012 for its fourth season. The Voyager will come to Shanghai from Europe and offer four- to 10-night sailings to ports in Japan and Korea throughout summer 2012. The ship will depart for Sydney in October. Royal Caribbean said it plans to offer a wider variety of tailored onboard products next year to Chinese guests, including more Chinese language services, authentic Chinese food and “culturally appropriate” recreational activities and duty-free items.
Azamara Club Cruises Offers Upgrades, ChoiceAir Credits, Savings
Azamara Club Cruises is offering complimentary stateroom upgrades, ChoiceAir credits and savings on combined voyages on departures from October through December. In addition, single-occupancy fares have been reduced to 125 percent.
Up-market travelers can enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a Club Veranda stateroom when they book an Ocean-view stateroom aboard one of 16 autumn voyages aboard Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest. Additionally, Azamara is offering ChoiceAir credits of $500 per guest with a new booking in a Club Ocean-view, Club Veranda and Club Continent Suite stateroom. Travelers making a new booking in the higher category Club Ocean Suites and Club World Owner’s Suites receive $1,000 ChoiceAir credit per guest.
Additionally, travelers who book two or more consecutive voyages will get double Extended Voyages savings of $600 per stateroom, per voyage, for eight-night or shorter itineraries and $800 savings per stateroom, per voyage, for nine-night or longer itineraries.
The offers are valid for all new U.S. and Canadian individual bookings with departures from October through December, excluding Azamara Journey’s Oct. 25 and Nov. 8 voyages. Bookings must be named, deposited and created between June 1 and July 31. The code “SEN5” must be used at time of booking. Offers are subject to availability
Carnival to sail short Canada cruises from Boston and NYC
Carnival Cruise Lines will operate a series of short Canada cruises from Boston and New York in the summer of 2012. The 2,974-passenger Carnival Glory will sail four- and five-day cruises from June 10 to July 26 from Boston, and from Aug. 1 to Sept. 3 from New York. The four-day cruises will visit Saint John, New Brunswick, and five-day sailings will call in Saint John and Halifax, Nova Scotia. There will be one seven-day cruise departing June 3 that will call in the two Canadian cities plus Portland, Maine.
Princess Cruises Offers Sought-After Zumba® Classes FleetwideZumba® Fitness, the exhilarating dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music and contagious choreography, is rolling out to the entire Princess Cruises fleet. Since December, passengers on many Princess ships have been joining in the hip-shaking fun with complimentary classes taught by licensed Zumba instructors. The classes quickly became among the most popular activities on board, and now additional staff members will complete the official training to become licensed Zumba instructors as the program expands fleetwide
Norwegian Epic to Offer Dual Embarkation Ports in Western Med
Norwegian Cruise Line will offer a second embarkation port to the Norwegian Epic’s seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from April 29 through Oct. 17, 2012. Guests can board the cruise in either Barcelona or in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. The cruise that starts in Civitavecchia will call on Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; Provence (Marseille), France; and Barcelona. The cruises from Rome are now open for booking with balcony staterooms starting at $1,299 per person, double occupancy
Crystal Cruises Launches New “Private Adventure Option”
Crystal Cruises is introducing a private shore excursion alternative for guests. Crystal’s new “Private Adventure Option” lets guests take already-organized excursions for small groups.
Beginning this August/September, parties of two, four or six can opt for a personal guide and private vehicle to tour Ephesus, Pompeii or the city of Barcelona, for example, on a shore-side itinerary crafted by Crystal’s land programs team and its worldwide tour operators.
Launching Aug. 14 and Sept. 13 on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, respectively, the Private Adventure Option can be pre-reserved at least one week prior to embarkation by emailing crystaladventures@crystalcruises.com. Prices will be at least 25 percent more than group tour fares, but vary depending on excursion length, vehicle size, guide costs and sites visited
Delta and United Continental raise bag fees
Delta and United Continental have upped their baggage fees for checking a second bag on transatlantic flights. The first checked bag on both airlines remains free of charge, but checking a second bag on United Continental now costs $70. Delta now charges $60 for a second bag if checked online and $75 if checked at the airport. The fee previously had been $50 for both carriers for a second checked bag to Europe. Delta no longer will carry second checked bags free of charge on flights to Mexico and Central America. The fee is now $30. Delta also has done away with its discount of $2 or $3 for domestic customers who checked bags online. The fees remain at $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second, whether checked in online or at the airport.
Kids Sail Free to the Mexican Riviera
Great news! Kids 17 and under sail FREE* when traveling with two full-fare Guests in the same verandah stateroom in Categories 4A-6A on most Mexican Riviera sailings Oct. 30 - Dec. 18, 2011. Government Taxes and Fees not included.
Thought for the Month
If money and time weren't issues, where and how would you cruise?
Love and Hugs
Mary Engram,
Your Personal Travel Consultant
Like my Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/MaryEngramTravelConsultant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
