Aug 10 2012 Cruise Notes from Mary

Cruise Notes from Mary
Mary Engram, CTA/MCC Travel Consultant
August 10, 2012

Happy Friday Everyone

                                                                                                                       

Royal Caribbean Will Eliminate Luggage Tags

Effective for all guest documents issued on, or after, August 8, 2012, Royal Caribbean will eliminate the ability to order Luggage Tags through the mail.  The exception with be Crown & Anchor Pinnacle members and Suite guests (Grand Suites and above).

For all other Royal Caribbean International bookings, luggage tags will now be included in the  eDoc ticket booklets.At this time, these changes do not impact guests/bookings on either the Celebrity Cruises or Azamara Club Cruises brands                                             

Carnival 3 day Sale

Carnival’s 3 Day Sale starts Thursday, August 9th through Saturday, August 11th – offering your clients Fun Select rates, up to $50 Cash Back per stateroom and a 50% reduced deposit – all on our 3 to 5 day sailings through May 2013. If their past guests of Carnival, they’ll receive Past Guest Rates and Best Available Upgrades.

That’s not all! If your clients are looking to cruise this holiday season, we’re offering Fun Select rates, up to $100 Cash Back per stateroom and a 50% reduced deposit on select 3 to 5 day sailings between December 20, 2012 and January 1, 2013.

The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.

Terms and Conditions: General Offer

Cruise rates are in U.S. dollars, per person and based on double occupancy. Cash Back offer is non-transferable. Cash Back is provided as a refundable credit to your Sail & Sign account of up to $25 per person up to a maximum of $50 per stateroom for 3-5 day sailings. Cash Back amounts may vary based on availability, ship and sail date. If your Sail & Sign account has a cash balance at the end of the cruise after all authorized purchases have been applied to the account, any remaining unused portion of the onboard credit will be delivered in check form to your stateroom on the morning of debarkation with your final Sail & Sign statement. Cash Back may not be applied to cruise fare or government taxes and fees.

Offer is capacity controlled and is not combinable with any other discount or promotional offer. Combinable with Fun Select rates only. Government taxes and fees are additional for all guests. Rates are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Category restrictions and exclusions apply. Minimum purchase of category 4A is required. Valid on new bookings only. Reduced deposits are based off the full per person deposit amount and may vary by ship and sail date. Offer is applicable on select 3-5 day sailings through May 2013. Must book between 8/9/12-8/11/12. Please request fare code OCB or OCF. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama and Malta.

Terms and Conditions: Holiday Sailings Offer

Cruise rates are in U.S. dollars, per person and based on double occupancy. Cash Back offer is non-transferable. Cash Back is provided as a refundable credit to your Sail & Sign account of $50 per person up to a maximum of $100 per stateroom for 3-5 day sailings. If your Sail & Sign account has a cash balance at the end of the cruise after all authorized purchases have been applied to the account, any remaining unused portion of the onboard credit will be delivered in check form to your stateroom on the morning of debarkation with your final Sail & Sign statement. Cash Back may not be applied to cruise fare or government taxes and fees.

Offer is capacity controlled and is not combinable with any other discount or promotional offer. Combinable with Fun Select rates only. Government taxes and fees are additional for all guests. Rates are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Category restrictions and exclusions apply. Minimum purchase of category 4A is required. Valid on new bookings only. Reduced deposits are based off the full per person deposit amount and may vary by ship and sail date. Offer is applicable on select 3-5 sailings between 12/20/12-1/1/13. Must book between 8/9/12-8/11/12. Please request fare code OCH. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama and Malta.

Terms and Conditions: Past Guest Offer

Cruise rates are in U.S. dollars, per person and based on double occupancy. Offer is capacity controlled and is not combinable with any other discount or promotional offer. Government taxes and fees are additional for all guests. Rates are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Category restrictions and exclusions apply. Minimum purchase of category 4A is required. Offer is valid for past guests and a valid number is required. Upgrades available on like to like categories (interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view and balcony to balcony) and are based on availability. Valid on new bookings only. Offer is applicable on select 3-5 day sailings through May 2013. Must book between 8/9/12-8/11/12. Please request fare code DD3. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama and Malta.

Early-boarding service will be tested on Select Carnival voyages
Carnival Cruise Lines says it will begin a test program this month for a service that will allow passengers to board a ship ahead of other cruisers. The "Faster to the Fun" plan costs $49.95 for the privilege to enter a booked stateroom as soon as it is cleared. Luggage will also be delivered straight to passengers' staterooms ahead of arrival.

Norwegian Cruise Line Now Charges Passengers Under 2

Norwegian Cruise Line will no longer gives kids under two years of age a "free" ride. The line now charges the same cruise fare for all children, no matter how young

The Truth About Cruise Upgrades

If you're sitting by the phone, waiting for the upgrade fairy to call, there are a few basic things to know about upgrades. First off, understand that cruise lines deem certain cabins better than others, even within the same cabin type (inside, outside, balcony, suite).

An upgrade means you're moved to a cabin in a better category than the one you originally booked. Does that mean you will relocate from the lowest inside cabin on the ship to a balcony suite?   More likely, you'd be moved to a cabin that's very similar to the one you booked but is somehow better in the eyes of the cruise line (on a higher deck, in a more convenient mid-ship location, etc.). You might not notice a difference, but you can brag about being upgraded later.

Second, free upgrades -- where your cabin is relocated to a better one at no additional cost -- are fairly rare.  More common are "upsells," or upgrades for a reduced cost.

But if you're still yearning for that upgrade, how do you get one? We contend the best way to land an upgrade offer is to hope and pray, because for the most part, there's little rhyme or reason to who gets a bump. Keep in mind that if there was something you could do to ensure an upgrade, everyone would be doing it.

There are no magic buttons, so my best advice is to book the cabin and location you know you will be happy with and hope that the upgrade fairy pays you a visit. 

Royal Caribbean Set to Install Self-Serve Fountain Soda Machines

Royal Caribbean is installing some fancy self-serve soda machines on its ships, which allow guests who buy a fountain soda package to refill their own drinks rather than ordering from a bartender. The Coca-Cola Freestyle machine allows guests to select from more than 100 drink choices, such as Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke Lime, Sprite Peach, Mello Yello Grape, Barq’s Vanilla, Powerade Fruit Punch and Dasani Orange.

The new Coke machine is already onboard Majesty of the Seas and will be installed on Explorer of the Seas in August, Freedom of the Seas in September, Oasis of the Seas in October, Allure of the Seas in November, and Enchantment of the Seas in December..

Guests who buy the fountain soda package will get a souvenir cup with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip embedded in it. The chip communicates to the machine that the holder can fill the cup, but glasses without the RFID will not be able to draw soda.

The cost of the fountain soda package is $6.50 per adult age 18 and older per day, plus a 15 percent gratuity, and $4.50 per day for those age 3 to 17 years, plus the gratuity. The package allows unlimited refills throughout the cruise of fountain beverages, but does not include sodas from the mini bar.

Soul Train Cruise 2013 Fall Sailing
The next sailing of the Soul Train Cruise is Oct. 5-12, 2013! We will sail on Holland America's m/s Westerdam, the same ship that we are using for the spring cruise. This new sailing will leave from San Diego, visit the ports of Cabo San Lucas, with an overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta, and include scenic sailings along the Mexican coast.  Early booking ends Sept 4, 2012.

Lineup of Performers
Earth, Wind & Fire        Gladys Knight                           The Bar-Kays

Confunkshun                Sugarfoot's Ohio Players           The Mary Jane Girls
The Dazz Band                         The Original Lakeside              Jody Watley    
A Taste of Honey featuring Janice Marie                       DJ Biz Markie
Comedian Alonzo Bodden                                             Party band DW3

We are close to adding other amazing performers, but you know the lineup will be spectacular.  All of our main Artists perform at least twice during the cruise, which allows each and every Guest an opportunity to see and hear them all.

Carnival to Double Deposit for Solo Travellers

Heads up, solo cruisers. Starting August 30, Carnival is doubling the amount required as a booking deposit.   The policy change applies to new individual and group bookings made on or after August 30, 2012.  Bookings made prior to August 30 are not affected. 

Cruise with Mary from the Far East to Dubai

If you are interested in sailing with me from Singapore to Dubai on April 5, 2013, prices are starting to increase.  To take advantage of group pricing, your deposit is due September 15, 2012 instead of October 1, 2012  In addition, if you are a member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society, savings coupons are also available for this sailing.

Price is based on double occupancy and includes all government fees/port charges

Jr. Suite           $2,576.35 per person (only 1 cabin left at this price)

Balcony             $1,676.35 per person
Oceanview        $1,336.35 per person               
Inside                $1,006.35 - $1,066.45 per person

NOTE:  A Visa is required for entry into India  Indian visas may be obtained in the U.S. through Travisa Visa Oursourcing (www.travisa.com ), the Government of India’s visa contractor.

$900 per cabin deposit due by September 14, 2013

Final Payment due January 10, 2013

Insurance is highly recommended. 

Airfare fromis available for an optional cost

LAX - $1,649

ATL - $1,819
DTW - $1,779

The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013 Now 88 Percent Sold
With our special Cozumel excursions and first-time cruise performances by George Benson, Bob James and Ken Ford added to an already amazing lineup, it should come as little surprise that we have already sold more than 85 percent of our cabins for The Smooth Jazz Cruise. If you want to be a part of this amazing event, the time to act is now!

Special Excursions Planned in Cozumel for SJC '13
our 27-hour stay in Cozumel provides us with a special opportunity to provide some exciting excursions we could not otherwise offer. Enjoy sailing with Candy Dulfer, go scuba diving with Richard Elliot, or play tennis with Brian Culbertson.

Alitalia Airlines New Infant Seat Policy

 
Alitalia is introducing a new policy that will allow an infant to occupy a seat. Starting August 06, 2012 reservations can be made permitting an infant to occupy a seat on board an Alitalia aircraft.

Highlights:

• Clients wishing to purchase a seat for an infant, must use an approved car seat that conforms to specific requirements.
• Infants occupying a seat will be permitted only on AZ operating flights.
• Only one infant per adult is permitted.
• The airfare charged for the infant occupying a seat will be equal to 75% of the applicable adult fare. Infant ticket will be annotated with the ticket designator CH25.
• Reservations can be made only by Alitalia Customer Center, Special Procedures  800-223 5730.  Reservations are subject to a specific procedure.

Thought for the Month –
I often hear the comment “I’ve already been there/”  But have you really?  If someone from another country wanted to see the United States so they booked a trip to New York.  After their visit, will they be able to say they saw the United States or can they merely state that they visited New York?  Just something to ponder.

Wishing you a great weekend

Mary Engram, CTA/MCC

Your Personal Travel Consultant