August 19 - Cruise Note from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
August 19, 2011

Happy Friday Everyone

Mandatory Documents Needed to Go On a Cruise
Passport or
Original birth certificate or
Certified copy of birth certificate
Visa, if applicable

Failure to provide proper documentation may result in refusal of entry onto the ship. In addition, a valid passport must expire no less than 6 month from the date of debarkation

Visa for Panama Canal Cruise
U.S. citizens transiting the Panama Canal as passengers, regardless of their intention to disembark from the ship or not do not need to obtain visas, or pay any fees. For more information visit this website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_994.html

Ask me about the February 3, 2012 Panama Canal cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego. I have some great prices, but cabin availability is limited.

Effective Aug. 28, 2011 a Tourist Tax applies to all visitors staying in Venice.
Hotel guests are required to pay the tax directly to the hotel. The charges must be paid directly by the guest and cannot be "covered" or pre-paid by the tour operator.
The tax does not apply to children 9 and younger and the maximum number of taxed nights per stay is 5. Children 10 - 16 receive a 50% discount. The amount of tax varies according to the category of hotel along with some other parameters.

Cash Accounts on Cruise Ships
If you set up a cash account, it is your responsibility to monitor the remaining balance as the cruise line may not send you notification until the morning of debarkation. As a general rule, regardless of whether you set up a cash or credit card account, it is a good idea to check your account balance every couple of days to resolve errors when they occur.

12 days Europe Mediterranean cruise sailing Oct 15, 2012, $900 deposit
For full details on this vacation highlight the blue text, click Ctrl key, and re-click the blue text:
12 days Europe Mediterranean cruise sailing Oct 15, 2012.

UPDATE- The good cabins are beginning to sell out. Secure your space with a $900 per cabin deposit by September 9, 2011. In addition, ask me about cruise air from your particular airport.

January 15-22, 2012 – The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 ... Everyone Will Be There
Join Bill and I on this cruise. We went last year and in one word “FANTASTIC”. There is a reason why The Smooth Jazz Cruise has been dubbed "The Greatest Party at Sea."

Where else in this world can you see these stars, all on the same stage: Attached is a link (http://youtu.be/7naZfuzyMAo) to a video to give you an idea of the entertainment included.

David Sanborn Marcus Miller Jonathan Butler
Gerald Albright Candy Dulfer Boney James
Alonzo Bodden Larry Braggs Rick Braun
Brian Culbertson Eric Darius DW3
Jeff Golub Euge Groove Rahsaan Patterson
Patrice Rushen Joe Sample Brian Simpson
Kirk Whalum Peter White Ellis Hall
Chance Howard Tom Braxton Andre Berry
Randy Jacobs Nate Phillips Ron Reinhardt
Dwight Sills Patches Stewart Jay Williams
Ramon Yslas Selina Albright Jodie Butler
Randy Butler Dane Butcher Pat Prescott

This is an unprecedented list of A-list artists and top-drawer musicians and singers. And they are each on the ship for multiple performances, personal meet-and-greets and other activities! Hope you will join Bill and I onboard Holland America Ms. Westerdam

Thought for the Month
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." - Innocents Abroad

Wishing you a great weekend

Mary Engram,
Your Personal Travel Consultant
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