Friday, September 16, 2011

Sept 16 Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
September 16, 2011

Happy Friday Everyone
We have some really good specials going on. And the best of them is a special Cruise with Mary 12 Med Cruise in 2012. Details are shown on the last page. Hope you can join us.

Regent Seven Seas 3-Day Event
Sail Date Nights Itinerary Ship Fare OBC
Nov 12, 2011 - 16 Luxor to Barcelona Seven Seas Voyager $6,999 $500
Nov 28, 2011 - 21 Barcelona to Dubai Seven Seas Voyager $7,299 $350
Dec 16, 2011 - 11 Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale Seven Seas Mariner $4,599 $200
Jan 6, 2012 - 17 Singapore to Sydney Seven Seas Voyager $8,799 $350
Jan 20, 2012 - 24 Lima to Buenos Aires Seven Seas Mariner $14,199 $500
Jan 23, 2012 - 15 Sydney to Auckland Seven Seas Voyager $9,599 $500
Feb 7, 2012 - 15 Auckland to Sydney Seven Seas Voyager $9,599 $500
Apr 2, 2012 - 10 Barcelona to Istanbul Seven Seas Mariner $3,599 $200
Apr 12, 2012 - 7 Istanbul to Rome Seven Seas Mariner $2,299 $200
Apr 16, 2012 - 7 Athens to Istanbul Seven Seas Voyager $2,299 $200
Apr 23, 2012 - 7 Monte Carlo to Barcelona Seven Seas Mariner $2,799 $200
Apr 23, 2012 - 10 Istanbul to Venice Seven Seas Voyager $4,099 $200
Apr 30, 2012 - 10 Barcelona to Istanbul Seven Seas Mariner $3,999 $200

All rates include; complimentary Unlimited Shore Excursions in all ports of call, complimentary beverages throughout the ship, Complimentary in-suite mini bar replenished daily, complimentary 24-hour room service, No additional charge for specialty restaurants and No gratuities required. Just mention the "3-Day Event" at time of booking to apply the shipboard credit.

Norwegian’s New Ships Named Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway
Norwegian Cruise Line has selected the final names for our two new ships: Norwegian Breakaway, Launching in April 2013, and Norwegian Getaway, Launching in 2014.

Breakaway is defined as "a departure or break from routine or tradition" and Getaway is defined as "a place where one escapes for relaxation, vacation, etc."

October-December Room-Only Offer at the Disneyland Resort
Now, you can save up to 30%* on a stay at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, for arrivals most nights Oct. 2 – Dec. 24, 2011.

Offer Details:
Save up to 30%* off a room-only reservation at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
Save up to 25%* off a room-only reservation at the Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa. Please note that this offer is not available for travel Nov. 23-25, 2011, and travel on this offer must be completed by Dec. 25, 2011.

Booking & Travel Windows:
Book this offer Sept. 13 – Oct. 15, 2011, for a broader selection of travel dates, with arrivals most nights Oct. 2 – Dec. 24, 2011.

Book this offer Oct. 16 – Dec. 10, 2011, for arrivals most nights Nov. 1 – Dec. 24, 2011.

YOU ARE INVITED ON A
CRUISE WITH MARY
12 Night Mediterranean Venice Cruise
Onboard Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas
October 15 – 27, 2012

Do you love the unbridled romance of Italy? Then, savor a late afternoon in Venice's magnificent St. Mark's Square, which Napoleon once called "Europe's greatest drawing room." Or behold the breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples from cliff-top, pastel-colored Positano, where our ships often spend the night. If you're a Francophile, bask in the glamour of Monaco on the sun-splashed French Riviera, wander Provence's genteel countryside, and shop for timeless treasures in Bonifacio, Corsica's famed "antique city". The Mediterranean unleashes a land of gems ready to be discovered.

15 Oct 12 (Mon) Barcelona, Spain -- 1700
16 Oct 12 (Tue) Cannes, France 0900 1800
17 Oct 12 (Wed) Livorno, Italy 0700 1900
18 Oct 12 (Thu) Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy 0700 1900
19 Oct 12 (Fri) Naples, Italy 0700 1830
20 Oct 12 (Sat) At Sea -- --
21 Oct 12 (Sun) Venice, Italy 1400 --
22 Oct 12 (Mon) Venice, Italy -- 2030
23 Oct 12 (Tue) Ravenna, Italy 0700 1800
24 Oct 12 (Wed) Split, Croatia 0700 1700
25 Oct 12 (Thu) At Sea -- --
26 Oct 12 (Fri) At Sea -- --
27 Oct 12 (Sat) Barcelona, Spain 0600 --
• Royal Caribbean International reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel exceeds $65.00 per barrel. The fuel supplement for 1st and 2nd guests would be no more than $10 per guest per day, to a maximum of $140 per cruise; and for additional guests would be no more than $5 per person per day, to a maximum of $70 per cruise.

* Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, for cruise only on select sailings and stateroom categories. Government taxes and fees are additional. For new reservations only. Subject to availability. Certain restrictions apply. May not be combinable with any other promotion and may be withdrawn at any time. "Deals" pricing reflects the special rate(s) you may be eligible for. Proof of eligibility required. If eligibility cannot be validated, you will be charged the standard rate or denied boarding. All prices are quoted in US Dollars. All itineraries and prices are subject to change without notice. Ships' Registry: Bahamas. © 2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Jr. Suite $2,813.52 per person (based on availability)
Balcony $1,963.52 per person
Oceanview $1,633.52 per person
Inside $1,333.52 per person

Insurance is highly recommended. Airfare from LAX is available for an optional cost of $1,270.60
$900 per cabin deposit due at time of booking
Final Payment due July 1, 2012

Providing Better Customer Service
Is there a particular Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise that you have your eyes on? If so, I will be escorting a group on Royal Caribbean October 1-9, 2011 and can book it onboard for you. Great way for your booking will qualify for onboard credit.

Thought for the Month
There are no foreign lands. It is only the traveler who is foreign – Robert Louis Stevenson

Wishing you a great weekend
Mary Engram, Your Personal Travel Consultant

Friday, September 9, 2011

Sept 9 Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
September 9, 2011

Happy Friday Everyone

People mover at Miami's airport set to open
The MIA Mover, an elevated train opening Sept. 9 at Miami Airport, will transport passengers between the airport and the rental-car center. The MIA Mover, which can carry 3,000 passengers per hour, will replace shuttle-bus service between the airport and the rental-car center. Travelers renting a car will take moving walkways on the terminal’s third level to the MIA Mover’s airport station and board one of eight train cars to the rental car facility.

Royal Caribbean’s 2012 Asia cruises deployment schedule for Voyager of the Seas
The ship’s inaugural Asia season will start on May 26, 2012, in Singapore, followed by sailings from Shanghai (Baoshan) and Tianjin in China.

Voyager of the Seas will offer vacationers a wide range of short cruises – three-, four-, five- seven- and eight-night itineraries in Asia – to longer, 14- to 18-night cruises in the South Pacific to New Zealand and Australia.
Voyager of the Seas will start its Asia 2012 season with a sailing from Singapore, followed by itineraries out of Shanghai (Baoshan) and Tianjin, to ports including Fukuoka and Kobe in Japan, and Busan and Jeju in Korea until October. Voyager of the Seas will begin 14-night sailings from Sydney, Australia on Nov. 24, 2012, to ports in Australia and New Zealand, while itineraries in early 2013 will include stops in Tasmania and the South Pacific.

Cruises will include the seven-night “Pearls of the Orient” and “Jewels of Asia” sailings, calling at various destinations in Japan and South Korea. Vacationers also can choose a repositioning cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas from Singapore to Fremantle, Australia, departing October 22, 2012, and returning on March 9, 2013. Voyager of the Seas will reposition to begin its winter season from Sydney on November 5, 2012.

Royal Caribbean Set to Charter Legend of the Seas to Chinese Group
Royal Caribbean will charter Legend of the Seas to the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises (CWC) for four months in 2012. During the four-month charter, Royal Caribbean will operate and market 21 three- to eight-night sailings from Xiamen, as well as Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong, to ports of call in Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. The inaugural five-night charter sailing will depart from Hong Kong on March 20, while the first departure of guests from Xiamen will be on March 26.

NORWEGIAN UNVEILS MORE PROJECT BREAKAWAY STATEROOMS
Norwegian Cruise Line announces the balance of stateroom designs for Project Breakaway. Each of the 144,017 gross ton vessels will have approximately 4,000 passenger berths including Studio, Spa Balcony, Spa Mini-Suite, Oceanview, Family Mini-Suite, and Inside staterooms.

The ships will have 59 Studios on each ship which are specifically designed and priced for the solo traveler. These rooms also have private keycard access to the Studio complex and exclusive two-story Studio Lounge with a bar.

The ships will also have 28 Spa Baclony and 20 Spa Mini-Suite staterooms featuring tranquil spa décor and have easy access to the adjacent spa and fitness center, as well as complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suite during operating hours.

The Family Mini-Suites will feature all the attributes of the Mini-Suite and are located in close proximity to the children's facilities, making it convenient and easy for families.

Each Ship will have 158 Oceanview staterooms. There are approximately 42 Family Oceanviews that sleep up to five guests and have a bathroom similar to the Mini-Suite and a modern double sink, bath tub and a second wardrobe for added storage.

There will be 449 Inside staterooms that feature two lower beds that can be converted to a queen-size bed. Many are connecting and sleep up to four guests. They are located on various decks throughout the ship and some are adjacent to the children's facilities.

Passenger Services Act (PSA) – Incorrectly referred to as the ‘Jones Act”
Many times guests want to link back-to-back cruises and may wonder why this is prohibited in some cases. Here is some interesting information about a law that restricts the combination of some cruises. Please note that the "Jones Act" governs cargo, not passengers.

The Passenger Services Act (often inaccurately/incorrectly referred to as the "Jones Act") prohibits ships of non-U.S. registry from embarking and disembarking passengers at two different U.S. ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S. ports, a practice prohibited on foreign flagged vessels.

An exception to this general rule allows passengers to be transported between two U.S. ports if the cruise itinerary includes a port call at a "distant foreign port". Distant foreign ports do NOT include Canada, Mexico, Central America, Bermuda and most Caribbean islands. South America and the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) do qualify as distant foreign ports.


Deals of the Week

Celebrity Cruises - Experience Modern Luxury with Exclusive Extras
Book an Oceanview stateroom or above between September 12 – 18, 2011 on one of many select 2011 and 2012 Celebrity Cruises® voyages and receive up to $100 Onboard Credit plus an Onboard Value booklet with $350 of onboard savings, compliments of your Virtuoso® travel advisor. Plus, suite guests enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine on select sailings!

BONUS OFFER: Book a Veranda or above stateroom between September 12 - 18 on any 2011 sailing and enjoy complimentary specialty dining for two!

Specialty dining for two is available for veranda staterooms and above on any sail date in Q4 2011. The specialty dining credit will be available to guests once onboard. Credit cannot be used to pre-book specialty dining reservations prior to boarding the ship. Onboard Credit offer is in U.S. dollars and is not redeemable for cash. This offer is not transferable. Offers are only valid for new individual (FIT) bookings, made September 12 - 18, 2011 and are not combinable with any other offers, excluding Reduced Deposit. All unrestricted and select restricted promos (Reduced Air AR**, Resident RES, Seniors SRS, Military, Police & Firefighter, Outside special or gty, Balcony special or gty) can be combined with this program offer. Offers cannot be applied to deep discount promos, off-tariff price promos, or agency phone # driven promos. Offers also cannot be combined with other offers or promotions. OFFERS DO NOT APPLY TO INSIDE STATEROOMS. Offer is applicable to Ocean View staterooms and above. Singles paying 200% are entitled to full face value. Bottle of wine is applicable only to suite bookings and will be combined with the featured onboard credit offer. No redemption form is needed. Onboard Credits will be applied by Celebrity Cruises to those applicable bookings prior to sailing. Onboard Value Booklets will be mailed to agency for distribution prior to sailing. ©2011 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships registry: Malta and Ecuador. Fares, schedules, Virtuoso exclusives, events and amenities are subject to availability and blackout dates and may change without notice. Restrictions may apply. See your Virtuoso travel advisor for more details and applicable restrictions. Virtuoso is not responsible for any errors in pricing. The trademarks VIRTUOSO, the Globe Swirl Logo and SPECIALISTS IN THE ART OF TRAVEL are registered trademarks of Virtuoso, Ltd. Virtuoso, Ltd. has a U.S. copyright registration for the Globe Swirl Logo, ©2000. All rights reserved. Virtuoso CST#2069091-50 351184 09/11

Island Princess - Pacific Coastal - 4-day - September 21, 2011
Inside from $199 – Outside from $299 - Balcony from $449 – Mini-Suite from $549

Sapphire Princess - Mexican Riviera - 7-day - November 19, 2011
Inside from – Outside from $599 – Balcony from $649 – Mini-Suite from $899 -

January 15-22, 2012 – Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 ... Everyone Will Be There – 95% sold out
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

Thought for the Month
I recently returned from a trip to Alaska. Although I’ve done two previous cruises, this was my first trip that included Fairbanks, Alaska. I hope this little story explains why I love to travel.

Our flight out of Fairbanks did not leave until 10:20 pm so we had the whole day without a car to explore the city. We decided to do the Riverboat Discovery tour which I highly recommend. As we were walking through the village, we heard someone behind us say “I’m trying to catch up with this lovely couple” and that chance meeting shaped our experience in Fairbanks. We introduced each other and before I knew it, 4 enjoyable hours had flown by. During this time, I learned the following:

• They had been married for over 45 years
• They had lived in Fairbanks for over 40 years
• They came to Fairbanks when the husband got a job on the Alaska pipeline
• They had a garden that the moose liked to raid, although the wife did not like to cook
• Although the wife had a larger fish mounted on the wall, the husband actually won money for the fish he had mounted
• They took us to the North Pole and Salmon Bake for dinner (yes we got in the car with a couple who showed us their guns and let Bill hold a bow and arrow used to hunt caribou.

Although we only knew this lovely couple for less than 5 hours, we had a wonderful time with them and our visit was the highlight of our trip to Alaska. You can SEE every destination in the world, but you can not EXPIERENCE the destination until you meet the people..

Wishing you a great weekend

Love and Hugs

Mary Engram
Your Personal Travel Consultant
Like my Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/MaryEngramTravelConsultant