Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas West Coast Debut
Feb. 20-22, 2009 saw the re-inaugural sailing of the Mariner of the Seas, the largest and most beautiful ship to sail from a west coast port. Mariner will be sailing from Los Angeles (San Pedro) on a 7 night Mexican Riviera itinerary, including ports of call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.
Mariner, one of the Voyager class ships from RCI, features an ice skating rink, a miniature golf course, an in-line skate track, basketball court, and the signature rock climbing wall. This showpiece of technology is 1,020 feet long, weighs 138,000 toms, and has a guest capacity of 3,114. Yet it doesn’t seem crowded, due to having one of the highest space-per-guest ratios on the cruise market. The 3 story dining room is absolutely elegant, complete with chandelier.
Kelly and Carol Watts of Cruise Port Travel had the privilege of sailing on the Mariner’s west coast debut, and were completely awed by the ship’s Royal Promenade, a 5 story open area complete with specialty and gift shops, a wine bar and pub, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream parlor, and Seattle’s Best Coffee shop. The promenade is also used for parades and special gatherings. The buffet area, Windjammer Café, is huge, and does not have the congested traffic of other buffets at sea. Royal Caribbean really does deliver the WOW with this new to the west coast ship.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Small Ships, not for everyone
Small Ships: Advantages and Disadvantages
Many times we get requests from people who are tired of the lines, crowds, and formality of the larger cruise lines, namely those holding more than 2,000 passengers. While we normally choose these lines because it is the mass market that we sell to, I do admit to sometimes feeling like cattle herded into the chute. Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, set to debut in December 2009, will have the capacity of over 5,400 passengers, and that does not count the crew! While the ship is huge, there are some people who would consider that number of passengers as just “too many fellow travelers”.
For this article let’s look at ships with a guest capacity of 500 or less. (Princess does have 3 ships that they call small, holding from 670 - 710 passengers.)
Small ships come in many classifications, such as expedition cruising, coastal and river cruising, sailing ships, soft-adventure cruises, freighter, and barge cruises. Because of their smaller size, these ships and get into smaller ports that are often gems as far as experiencing the native culture. One example that comes to mind is Petersburg, Alaska. It is a small fishing port that retains much of the Norwegian heritage of its founders. It is located in the Wrangle Narrows of Alaska’s Inside Passage, and the main stream larger cruise lines just don’t fit.
Small ships can also get closer to shore for wildlife viewing. You’re not going to see a bear when your large ship is several miles off shore. Many small ships are equipped with inflatable zodiacs, which can get you ‘”up close and personal” with whales, sea otters, and seals. Indeed the emphasis on small ships is more toward outdoor activities, nature and wilderness exploration. There is often a naturalist on board, and your evening “entertainment” is his lecture and slide show. No Broadway production shows or poker tournaments of these ships. The food is usually very good, often specializing in local cuisine, always fresh, and there is no assigned seating. There is also only one seating, and no room service. Also no grill by the pool, no pizza or ice cream parlors, and no place to buy your espresso mocha-chino latte. Most of the small ships are not suitable for families. There are no quad cabins nor children’s programs. Often there is no TV in your room, much less wi fi service.
Then there’s the “ride”. There are no stabilizers on these small ships, and when they get in the open seas, like the gulf of Alaska, they do bob around a little. Most do not have a doctor or nurse on board should you get sea sick or worse, but since they sail close to land they can put you off for any medical treatment needed. Cabins are simple, and there usually is not a large choice of cabin style, so if you’re the penthouse type, you won’t find any on the small ships. Very few small ships are equipped with elevators, or have handicap cabins, and are decidedly wheelchair unfriendly. Also, there are not a lot of activities to fill your day, since the emphasis is on the world beyond the ship.
The biggest advantage to small ship cruising: the personalized treatment you receive from the staff, who will know your name and preferences within a few days. The atmosphere is casual and intimate. Think bed and breakfast versus mega resort.
The biggest disadvantage: the price. Why are small ship cruises so expensive? Despite their size, large ships are often more fuel efficient. It costs almost as much to push a large ship through the water as a small ship. The fees that the ship pays for docking in a port of call are the same, regardless of the size. But on a small ship you have fewer people to divide that cost into. And if you have ever cruised before, you know the pitfalls to your pocketbook that exist on large ships: the casino, the spa treatments, the photographs, the bingo games, the art auctions, and the shore excursions. Remember that on many small ships, like Cruise West, the shore excursions are included in the cruise price.
So whether you want a barefoot windjammer cruise, where you actually become part of the crew, or more of an expedition experience, a coastal, river barge, or Great Lakes cruise, or even a freighter cruise (now that’s really roughing it), we can find the cruise and destination to fulfill your expectations.
Many times we get requests from people who are tired of the lines, crowds, and formality of the larger cruise lines, namely those holding more than 2,000 passengers. While we normally choose these lines because it is the mass market that we sell to, I do admit to sometimes feeling like cattle herded into the chute. Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, set to debut in December 2009, will have the capacity of over 5,400 passengers, and that does not count the crew! While the ship is huge, there are some people who would consider that number of passengers as just “too many fellow travelers”.
For this article let’s look at ships with a guest capacity of 500 or less. (Princess does have 3 ships that they call small, holding from 670 - 710 passengers.)
Small ships come in many classifications, such as expedition cruising, coastal and river cruising, sailing ships, soft-adventure cruises, freighter, and barge cruises. Because of their smaller size, these ships and get into smaller ports that are often gems as far as experiencing the native culture. One example that comes to mind is Petersburg, Alaska. It is a small fishing port that retains much of the Norwegian heritage of its founders. It is located in the Wrangle Narrows of Alaska’s Inside Passage, and the main stream larger cruise lines just don’t fit.
Small ships can also get closer to shore for wildlife viewing. You’re not going to see a bear when your large ship is several miles off shore. Many small ships are equipped with inflatable zodiacs, which can get you ‘”up close and personal” with whales, sea otters, and seals. Indeed the emphasis on small ships is more toward outdoor activities, nature and wilderness exploration. There is often a naturalist on board, and your evening “entertainment” is his lecture and slide show. No Broadway production shows or poker tournaments of these ships. The food is usually very good, often specializing in local cuisine, always fresh, and there is no assigned seating. There is also only one seating, and no room service. Also no grill by the pool, no pizza or ice cream parlors, and no place to buy your espresso mocha-chino latte. Most of the small ships are not suitable for families. There are no quad cabins nor children’s programs. Often there is no TV in your room, much less wi fi service.
Then there’s the “ride”. There are no stabilizers on these small ships, and when they get in the open seas, like the gulf of Alaska, they do bob around a little. Most do not have a doctor or nurse on board should you get sea sick or worse, but since they sail close to land they can put you off for any medical treatment needed. Cabins are simple, and there usually is not a large choice of cabin style, so if you’re the penthouse type, you won’t find any on the small ships. Very few small ships are equipped with elevators, or have handicap cabins, and are decidedly wheelchair unfriendly. Also, there are not a lot of activities to fill your day, since the emphasis is on the world beyond the ship.
The biggest advantage to small ship cruising: the personalized treatment you receive from the staff, who will know your name and preferences within a few days. The atmosphere is casual and intimate. Think bed and breakfast versus mega resort.
The biggest disadvantage: the price. Why are small ship cruises so expensive? Despite their size, large ships are often more fuel efficient. It costs almost as much to push a large ship through the water as a small ship. The fees that the ship pays for docking in a port of call are the same, regardless of the size. But on a small ship you have fewer people to divide that cost into. And if you have ever cruised before, you know the pitfalls to your pocketbook that exist on large ships: the casino, the spa treatments, the photographs, the bingo games, the art auctions, and the shore excursions. Remember that on many small ships, like Cruise West, the shore excursions are included in the cruise price.
So whether you want a barefoot windjammer cruise, where you actually become part of the crew, or more of an expedition experience, a coastal, river barge, or Great Lakes cruise, or even a freighter cruise (now that’s really roughing it), we can find the cruise and destination to fulfill your expectations.
Groups Groups, we love Groups
Groups: a win-win proposition
What constitutes a Group? What are the benefits of group travel? These are all questions that come to mind when talking about group space, whether it's on a cruise or a land tour.
A general definition of "a group" is people traveling together who have something in common. Actually, a group can be almost any combination of people that cruise or tour together. It could be a family reunion, bridge club, church group, country music lovers, Harley riders, scrap-bookers, the list is endless. It may be as simple as people who want to travel to Alaska, or any other destination.
Group travel has many benefits: socialization with friends, meeting new people with common interests, and a feeling of safety and security that comes with traveling with people you know.
There are also monetary benefits. Almost everyone has heard about a group leader traveling for "free". The technical term is tour conductor, and that particular person may do all the work of organizing the group, or may do very little, just acting as a "figurehead". The most common example that comes to mind is a clergyman who travels with people from his church, and who receives a "discounted" rate. (If there is no designated tour conductor, the TC credit can be divided among the group.) Some tour conductor ratios are as low as 1 free for 9 full fare bookings, but most common is 1 free for 15 full fare.
But what about the other members of the group? Some cruise lines offer discounted rates for groups. Additionally, there are Group Amenity Points that vary from sailing to sailing. They can be enjoyed by everyone in the group, and might include a bottle of wine, a fruit basket, an on-board credit (money that can be used for any onboard purchases), cocktail parties, activities that are limited to the group, such as private concerts, and "meet and greet" with the performers; even special shore excursions can be organized for groups.
So it's more fun, safer, and beneficial to travel in a group. It may even be less expensive. It's enjoying free little extras and a feeling of camaraderie. The nice thing is, you can be as "together" or apart as you want. Nothing says you have to spend every waking hour with your group.
You may be thinking, o.k., where do I find a group? You can get a group of people together yourself, OR, you can join one of our "ready made" groups.
How about the "3rd Annual Remembering the King" 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise leaving August 30, 2009 from LA? That happens to be the 32nd anniversary of Elvis's passing. Mahwey Productions provides cruisers with a full Elvis experience, with several tribute performances from the many decades of Elvis's career. Additionally there will be Sing Like a King Talent Night, Elvis trivia contests, and Elvis "sightings" around the ship.
Is Country music more to your taste? Then join us for the first annual Riders on the High Seas, featuring the legendary Doo Wah Riders, a country group with a Cajun flair that has been performing in California, Arizona, and Texas for 30 years. This is a 5 day Mexican Riviera cruise from San Diego on Nov. 16, 2009. You can hear their music at www.thedoowahriders.com.
There's a Whodunit Mystery Cruise from San Diego on Oct. 29, 2009. This 4 night Mexican Riviera cruise to Cabo San Lucas. Clues will be revealed at dinner until the guilty party is identified.
For crafters, we have a Quilters Cruise scheduled for Oct. 19, 2009, which is also a 4 night cruise from San Diego to Cabo. Classes and kits will be available for purchase.
Veteran cruisers know that the bargains are on "repositioning" cruises, that is in the Fall when a ship leaves Europe and moves to the Caribbean for the winter months. And yes, we have group space booked on the Nov 29, 2009 sailing from Barcelona, Spain to Galveston, TX on Royal Caribbean.
Finally, there's the trip of a lifetime: Imperial Jewels of China, a combination Yangtze River cruise with side trips by air to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai, starting Sept. 28, 2009.
For information on any of the above scheduled groups, or to create your own, call 472-7878, or stop in at Cruise Port Travel, 408 S. Beeline Highway, Payson. Please see our web site at www.travelpayson.com.
What constitutes a Group? What are the benefits of group travel? These are all questions that come to mind when talking about group space, whether it's on a cruise or a land tour.
A general definition of "a group" is people traveling together who have something in common. Actually, a group can be almost any combination of people that cruise or tour together. It could be a family reunion, bridge club, church group, country music lovers, Harley riders, scrap-bookers, the list is endless. It may be as simple as people who want to travel to Alaska, or any other destination.
Group travel has many benefits: socialization with friends, meeting new people with common interests, and a feeling of safety and security that comes with traveling with people you know.
There are also monetary benefits. Almost everyone has heard about a group leader traveling for "free". The technical term is tour conductor, and that particular person may do all the work of organizing the group, or may do very little, just acting as a "figurehead". The most common example that comes to mind is a clergyman who travels with people from his church, and who receives a "discounted" rate. (If there is no designated tour conductor, the TC credit can be divided among the group.) Some tour conductor ratios are as low as 1 free for 9 full fare bookings, but most common is 1 free for 15 full fare.
But what about the other members of the group? Some cruise lines offer discounted rates for groups. Additionally, there are Group Amenity Points that vary from sailing to sailing. They can be enjoyed by everyone in the group, and might include a bottle of wine, a fruit basket, an on-board credit (money that can be used for any onboard purchases), cocktail parties, activities that are limited to the group, such as private concerts, and "meet and greet" with the performers; even special shore excursions can be organized for groups.
So it's more fun, safer, and beneficial to travel in a group. It may even be less expensive. It's enjoying free little extras and a feeling of camaraderie. The nice thing is, you can be as "together" or apart as you want. Nothing says you have to spend every waking hour with your group.
You may be thinking, o.k., where do I find a group? You can get a group of people together yourself, OR, you can join one of our "ready made" groups.
How about the "3rd Annual Remembering the King" 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise leaving August 30, 2009 from LA? That happens to be the 32nd anniversary of Elvis's passing. Mahwey Productions provides cruisers with a full Elvis experience, with several tribute performances from the many decades of Elvis's career. Additionally there will be Sing Like a King Talent Night, Elvis trivia contests, and Elvis "sightings" around the ship.
Is Country music more to your taste? Then join us for the first annual Riders on the High Seas, featuring the legendary Doo Wah Riders, a country group with a Cajun flair that has been performing in California, Arizona, and Texas for 30 years. This is a 5 day Mexican Riviera cruise from San Diego on Nov. 16, 2009. You can hear their music at www.thedoowahriders.com.
There's a Whodunit Mystery Cruise from San Diego on Oct. 29, 2009. This 4 night Mexican Riviera cruise to Cabo San Lucas. Clues will be revealed at dinner until the guilty party is identified.
For crafters, we have a Quilters Cruise scheduled for Oct. 19, 2009, which is also a 4 night cruise from San Diego to Cabo. Classes and kits will be available for purchase.
Veteran cruisers know that the bargains are on "repositioning" cruises, that is in the Fall when a ship leaves Europe and moves to the Caribbean for the winter months. And yes, we have group space booked on the Nov 29, 2009 sailing from Barcelona, Spain to Galveston, TX on Royal Caribbean.
Finally, there's the trip of a lifetime: Imperial Jewels of China, a combination Yangtze River cruise with side trips by air to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai, starting Sept. 28, 2009.
For information on any of the above scheduled groups, or to create your own, call 472-7878, or stop in at Cruise Port Travel, 408 S. Beeline Highway, Payson. Please see our web site at www.travelpayson.com.
Monday, January 12, 2009
What a Travel Agency is and isn’t
Before I get to the "meat" of this offering let me Thank you for your support in this past year; we look forward to serving your travel needs in the coming year.
There is a popular TV show called “Myth Busters” that explores myths and urban legends, so this time I decided that I would correct some of the ones associated with travel agencies.
Cost to use; No matter how many different times and ways we deliver the message, the common mis-conception still exists that it costs you to use our services. 99.9% of the time we DO NOT CHARGE you for our services. We are paid commission by the travel companies, hotel chains, car rental agencies, etc. The only time we are not paid commission is for booking air travel. In that case we charge a modest booking fee to cover our time. In most instances that is included in the price we quote you for your ticket, however, if your travel happens to be on an airline that we so not book through our consolidator, we will charge you an additional fee above the ticket price. That includes air travel booked as part of a cruise.
What happens if I cancel? In the case of land based travel or cruises there may be penalties imposed by these travel partners depending on how far in advance you cancel. In the case of airline tickets, they do not refund your ticket cost, but in most cases will issue a credit for a future flight. Of course then the airlines will charge you a “re-booking” fee for their time. In the event of cancellation any booking fee we charge is not refundable. With cruise lines and most land tour operators any cancellation within their penalty period means you will lose part of your money, we do not receive any compensation in that case.
The price, what you see is NOT what you pay: Cruise lines are notorious for this little bit of deception. They will advertise a “lowball” price for a cruise, and then when the customer comes in we have to give them the bad news. Prices advertised DO NOT include such things as taxes, port charges, fuel surcharges, transfers, airfare and are based on double occupancy in a stateroom. There are exceptions, but they are rare.
Shore excursions: These add to the quality of any trip, and often we are asked by our customers to either recommend shore excursions or book them for the customer. However, we are not paid commission by the travel companies or cruise lines. We do have other travel partners that market shore excursions and pay us for our effort, but should you be delayed in returning to the ship when not on a cruise line shore excursion, you are on your own. Since booking shore excursions involves quite a bit of time on our part, we will be charging a modest fee for our time involved.
Airport Transportation: Everyday we receive calls asking us about shuttle service to Sky Harbor or Mesa-Williams Airports. There are several different companies that operate a variety of transportation from vans to limousines. We do not recommend or book with any particular company or service however we will give you their numbers and you make your own transportation arrangements. The exception to this rule is if you have a group of 8 or more we can arrange special transportation to an from Payson to either airport.
Certifications: Occasionally we see other travel agents appearing on the scene. What concerns us is the quality of service you may receive from them and the prices and advice they may dispense. We spend a lot of time an effort to keep current on all the latest offers, rules and regulations, itineraries, etc. Do we make mistakes, yes, after all we are only human, BUT we always try to be up front with our customers. To be certain, any business has people who are not satisfied with the service they receive. However there usually is far more to the story than you hear from the dis-satisfied person.
There is a popular TV show called “Myth Busters” that explores myths and urban legends, so this time I decided that I would correct some of the ones associated with travel agencies.
Cost to use; No matter how many different times and ways we deliver the message, the common mis-conception still exists that it costs you to use our services. 99.9% of the time we DO NOT CHARGE you for our services. We are paid commission by the travel companies, hotel chains, car rental agencies, etc. The only time we are not paid commission is for booking air travel. In that case we charge a modest booking fee to cover our time. In most instances that is included in the price we quote you for your ticket, however, if your travel happens to be on an airline that we so not book through our consolidator, we will charge you an additional fee above the ticket price. That includes air travel booked as part of a cruise.
What happens if I cancel? In the case of land based travel or cruises there may be penalties imposed by these travel partners depending on how far in advance you cancel. In the case of airline tickets, they do not refund your ticket cost, but in most cases will issue a credit for a future flight. Of course then the airlines will charge you a “re-booking” fee for their time. In the event of cancellation any booking fee we charge is not refundable. With cruise lines and most land tour operators any cancellation within their penalty period means you will lose part of your money, we do not receive any compensation in that case.
The price, what you see is NOT what you pay: Cruise lines are notorious for this little bit of deception. They will advertise a “lowball” price for a cruise, and then when the customer comes in we have to give them the bad news. Prices advertised DO NOT include such things as taxes, port charges, fuel surcharges, transfers, airfare and are based on double occupancy in a stateroom. There are exceptions, but they are rare.
Shore excursions: These add to the quality of any trip, and often we are asked by our customers to either recommend shore excursions or book them for the customer. However, we are not paid commission by the travel companies or cruise lines. We do have other travel partners that market shore excursions and pay us for our effort, but should you be delayed in returning to the ship when not on a cruise line shore excursion, you are on your own. Since booking shore excursions involves quite a bit of time on our part, we will be charging a modest fee for our time involved.
Airport Transportation: Everyday we receive calls asking us about shuttle service to Sky Harbor or Mesa-Williams Airports. There are several different companies that operate a variety of transportation from vans to limousines. We do not recommend or book with any particular company or service however we will give you their numbers and you make your own transportation arrangements. The exception to this rule is if you have a group of 8 or more we can arrange special transportation to an from Payson to either airport.
Certifications: Occasionally we see other travel agents appearing on the scene. What concerns us is the quality of service you may receive from them and the prices and advice they may dispense. We spend a lot of time an effort to keep current on all the latest offers, rules and regulations, itineraries, etc. Do we make mistakes, yes, after all we are only human, BUT we always try to be up front with our customers. To be certain, any business has people who are not satisfied with the service they receive. However there usually is far more to the story than you hear from the dis-satisfied person.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Travel This And That
The Constellation:
This time I really have a laundry list of things to tell you about so let’s get started. Regardless of popular opinion travel agents do not get many if any “freebies.” Even training is not free. Most recently I had the opportunity to participate in a “Seminar At Sea” on the Celebrity Constellation sailing a 12 night itinerary cruising New England and the St Lawrence River. These seminars consist of classroom training, and a look behind the scenes of the operation of the ship. The Constellation is the newest of Celebrity’s Millennium ships and was launched in May of 2002. I had been on her sister ship, The Summit, three times and since the ships are almost identical it was easy to find my way around . The “Connie’ is rated #`1 in several categories by the readers of Conde’ Nast Traveler Magazine, and after my experience I can easily see why. The food was superb, service outstanding, and the ship was in great shape. To be sure there were a few signs of wear here and there, but I did notice the maintenance crew was busy while we were at sea and in port. The itinerary included Prince Edward Island, Portland and Bar Harbor, Me, Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. In a future article I will talk in more detail about each of those ports of call. One of the neat things that I got to do was spend some time on the Navigational Bridge. This is someplace that not a lot of people get to see, so I was very pleased when the District Sales Manager who coordinated the Seminar arranged the tour. Being a fan of “high tech” stuff I was impressed by the fact that a ship of this size, 91,000 tons, and some 953 feet long, could be controlled by a 4” joystick. Yes they still do have a wheel; I almost wondered if it was for show. Modern ships have adjustable propulsion pods and bow thrusters that can actually move the ship sideways in port, which the Constellation did several times during the cruise. While I was on the bridge ,the ship was on auto pilot, and I watched as the ship adjusted course and speed as necessary. For the benefit of my friends, no, they did not let me play with the controls as the Second Officer was with our group all the time.
.
This time I really have a laundry list of things to tell you about so let’s get started. Regardless of popular opinion travel agents do not get many if any “freebies.” Even training is not free. Most recently I had the opportunity to participate in a “Seminar At Sea” on the Celebrity Constellation sailing a 12 night itinerary cruising New England and the St Lawrence River. These seminars consist of classroom training, and a look behind the scenes of the operation of the ship. The Constellation is the newest of Celebrity’s Millennium ships and was launched in May of 2002. I had been on her sister ship, The Summit, three times and since the ships are almost identical it was easy to find my way around . The “Connie’ is rated #`1 in several categories by the readers of Conde’ Nast Traveler Magazine, and after my experience I can easily see why. The food was superb, service outstanding, and the ship was in great shape. To be sure there were a few signs of wear here and there, but I did notice the maintenance crew was busy while we were at sea and in port. The itinerary included Prince Edward Island, Portland and Bar Harbor, Me, Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. In a future article I will talk in more detail about each of those ports of call. One of the neat things that I got to do was spend some time on the Navigational Bridge. This is someplace that not a lot of people get to see, so I was very pleased when the District Sales Manager who coordinated the Seminar arranged the tour. Being a fan of “high tech” stuff I was impressed by the fact that a ship of this size, 91,000 tons, and some 953 feet long, could be controlled by a 4” joystick. Yes they still do have a wheel; I almost wondered if it was for show. Modern ships have adjustable propulsion pods and bow thrusters that can actually move the ship sideways in port, which the Constellation did several times during the cruise. While I was on the bridge ,the ship was on auto pilot, and I watched as the ship adjusted course and speed as necessary. For the benefit of my friends, no, they did not let me play with the controls as the Second Officer was with our group all the time.
.
North To Alaska Part 2
When people talk to us about booking their “Alaskan Experience” we are often asked about the different ports of call. This time I thought I would highlight favorites from my customers and myself.
With the 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood next year I fully suspect that all the ports of call will be rolling out the red carpet. After all, each time a cruise ship docks there is the potential of 1,800 to 2,500 people coming ashore. .
My two particular favorite cites were Juneau, the capital and Skagway. Both are easy to navigate and offer a variety of on shore activities. There are of course some tourist traps along the way but in general the shore excursions are a decent value
In Juneau we opted to use the Mt. Roberts Tramway, located adjacent to the docks. This takes you 1,800’ above the harbor to the Nature center. There are ample viewing locations for a spectacular view of the harbor. The Nature Center has a gift shop, wild life sanctuary, restaurant, and a short historical movie amd there are also many hiking trails on Mt. Roberts. There is a fee of course to use the tramway but the pass is good for all day. While we were there we also took advantage of the replica trolley tour of the city, the driver was knowledgeable and you can get on and off the trolley at your leisure. Many of our customers have taken the Mendenhall Glacier excursion, quite impressive in size at over 1.5 miles wide and six miles long.
Skagway is a “Gold Town.” When the Klondike Strike of 1896 happened, it was gripped by “Gold Fever, now the only prospecting is by visitors hoping to find a souvenir nugget or two. I highly recommend the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. This narrow gauge line follows trails that first were used by pack animals supplying the miners. The approximate 3-½ hour round trip is narrated and the scenery is spectacular. Also along the way you will see several waterfalls, and abundant wild life. I found the tour guide on the train to be very knowledgeable and entertaining. You are allowed to step out on the platform of the cars to take pictures. For the more adventuresome you might wish to take a Helicopter trip to one of the glaciers.
Other ports of call you will find interesting are Sitka once part of the Russian Empire, Ketchikan, the Salmon Capital of the world, Icy Point Strait home of the Tlingit Indians, and a great whale watching location, and Seward, the gateway to the Kenai Fjords wilderness.
Depending on your particular itinerary you may also have ports of call in Vancouver, BC and Victoria, both are lovely cities and afford a lot of sightseeing possibilities. Also popular with our Alaskan adventurers is the Cruise/Tour package that can include Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna, and Anchorage. The land portion of the cruise tour can be added as either a pre or post cruise experience and range between 3 and 7 nights.
Now is a great time to plan your Alaskan Adventure for 2009. Plenty of good travel dates are still available and a good selection of cabins can be found on all the cruise lines. Ship size varies from the smaller ships operated by Cruise West and Princess, to the larger ships of Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, and N.C.L. Regardless of your choice of ship and excursion, or land based vacation, a trip to Alaska is one to remember.
If you don’t want to cruise there are also several different companies that have land packages, rail tours, and even R.V. rentals. Stop in and we will be happy to offer suggestions.
OVERHEARD FROM A CRUISE LINE CALL CENTER: The caller asked IF the crew stayed on board at night when they were off duty.
With the 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood next year I fully suspect that all the ports of call will be rolling out the red carpet. After all, each time a cruise ship docks there is the potential of 1,800 to 2,500 people coming ashore. .
My two particular favorite cites were Juneau, the capital and Skagway. Both are easy to navigate and offer a variety of on shore activities. There are of course some tourist traps along the way but in general the shore excursions are a decent value
In Juneau we opted to use the Mt. Roberts Tramway, located adjacent to the docks. This takes you 1,800’ above the harbor to the Nature center. There are ample viewing locations for a spectacular view of the harbor. The Nature Center has a gift shop, wild life sanctuary, restaurant, and a short historical movie amd there are also many hiking trails on Mt. Roberts. There is a fee of course to use the tramway but the pass is good for all day. While we were there we also took advantage of the replica trolley tour of the city, the driver was knowledgeable and you can get on and off the trolley at your leisure. Many of our customers have taken the Mendenhall Glacier excursion, quite impressive in size at over 1.5 miles wide and six miles long.
Skagway is a “Gold Town.” When the Klondike Strike of 1896 happened, it was gripped by “Gold Fever, now the only prospecting is by visitors hoping to find a souvenir nugget or two. I highly recommend the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. This narrow gauge line follows trails that first were used by pack animals supplying the miners. The approximate 3-½ hour round trip is narrated and the scenery is spectacular. Also along the way you will see several waterfalls, and abundant wild life. I found the tour guide on the train to be very knowledgeable and entertaining. You are allowed to step out on the platform of the cars to take pictures. For the more adventuresome you might wish to take a Helicopter trip to one of the glaciers.
Other ports of call you will find interesting are Sitka once part of the Russian Empire, Ketchikan, the Salmon Capital of the world, Icy Point Strait home of the Tlingit Indians, and a great whale watching location, and Seward, the gateway to the Kenai Fjords wilderness.
Depending on your particular itinerary you may also have ports of call in Vancouver, BC and Victoria, both are lovely cities and afford a lot of sightseeing possibilities. Also popular with our Alaskan adventurers is the Cruise/Tour package that can include Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna, and Anchorage. The land portion of the cruise tour can be added as either a pre or post cruise experience and range between 3 and 7 nights.
Now is a great time to plan your Alaskan Adventure for 2009. Plenty of good travel dates are still available and a good selection of cabins can be found on all the cruise lines. Ship size varies from the smaller ships operated by Cruise West and Princess, to the larger ships of Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, and N.C.L. Regardless of your choice of ship and excursion, or land based vacation, a trip to Alaska is one to remember.
If you don’t want to cruise there are also several different companies that have land packages, rail tours, and even R.V. rentals. Stop in and we will be happy to offer suggestions.
OVERHEARD FROM A CRUISE LINE CALL CENTER: The caller asked IF the crew stayed on board at night when they were off duty.
North To Alaska (part 1)
“North to Alaska, North the rush is on”, so goes a lyric line form the great Johnny Horton song out of 1960. Our 49th state has gained a lot of attention in the national Media because of the selection of its Governor Sarah Palin as a Vice Presidential Candidate.
In the travel business Alaska is one of our most popular destinations, with a wide variety of things to see and do. Of course this has not gone un-noticed by the many cruise lines we represent, with scores of trips during the short cruise season from May to September. Every major cruise line and several smaller lines operate cruise trips from 7 to 14 days, and combination cruise and land trips that range in length from 11 to 14 days, with the opportunity to add even more time with pre or post cruise or tour stays.
Alaska cruises can be divided into roughly three different itineraries, North Bound, South Bound, or Round Trip. The questions we are asked is which do you recommend. There is no easy answer to that question as each itinerary has its own strong points. North Bound Cruises typically depart from either Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC and for the most part end in Seward where you will be taken by motor coach to either Fairbanks or Anchorage for your flight home. South Bound, just the reverse. And roundtrip cruises leave from San Francisco, Seattle or Vancouver. The Cruises from San Francisco typically are 10 days long and include stops in Vancouver and Victoria, BC.
On any Alaskan cruise adventure you will have the opportunity to take in the view of some of Alaska’s beautiful glaciers. Hubbard Glacier is the biggest, covering an area 25% bigger than the State of Rhode Island. Hubbard Glacier “calves” off icebergs as tall as a ten story building. You will get an idea of the tremendous size if you look at the ice cave in one of the accompanying pictures. The bow of our 985’ long cruise ship would easily have fit in the opening. When a glacier “calves” the sound is like thunder, BUT, because you are for the most part one mile away, you do not hear the sound till the iceberg is in the water. However, a careful eye will allow you to catch this awe inspiring sight, if you are lucky you may get a picture or video, something you will want to see again and again. All the cruise lines get you as close as is safe and most will turn the ship 360 to allow you to see this amazing site. Other cruises will allow viewing of Tracy Arm Fiord, and Mendenhall Glaciers, and while I have not seen those personally, our customers tell me they are extremely impressive. In addition to viewing one of Alaska’s “giants”, many itineraries include cruising through the Inside Passage, Alaska’s summertime playground for a wide variety of whales and other aquatic animals.
In addition to the big ships that travel to Alaska , Princess and Cruise West also operate some smaller ships that are able to explore beyond the everyday cruises.
So what trip is right for you? Stop by and see us, we have the 2009 brochures and we will help you decide just what cruise, or cruise tour is right for you.
Next time I will look at some of the Ports of Call and shore excursions you might want to add to enhance your “Alaskan Experience”.
REPORTED: from a major cruise line call center, a potential cruiser asked “if all the balcony cabins were above the water line.”
Till next time, remember local travel agencies do more than just sell you a cabin. We help you plan your trip and are there to answer all your questions, for the same price, and sometimes less than you would pay on the internet.
Happy Traveling!
In the travel business Alaska is one of our most popular destinations, with a wide variety of things to see and do. Of course this has not gone un-noticed by the many cruise lines we represent, with scores of trips during the short cruise season from May to September. Every major cruise line and several smaller lines operate cruise trips from 7 to 14 days, and combination cruise and land trips that range in length from 11 to 14 days, with the opportunity to add even more time with pre or post cruise or tour stays.
Alaska cruises can be divided into roughly three different itineraries, North Bound, South Bound, or Round Trip. The questions we are asked is which do you recommend. There is no easy answer to that question as each itinerary has its own strong points. North Bound Cruises typically depart from either Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC and for the most part end in Seward where you will be taken by motor coach to either Fairbanks or Anchorage for your flight home. South Bound, just the reverse. And roundtrip cruises leave from San Francisco, Seattle or Vancouver. The Cruises from San Francisco typically are 10 days long and include stops in Vancouver and Victoria, BC.
On any Alaskan cruise adventure you will have the opportunity to take in the view of some of Alaska’s beautiful glaciers. Hubbard Glacier is the biggest, covering an area 25% bigger than the State of Rhode Island. Hubbard Glacier “calves” off icebergs as tall as a ten story building. You will get an idea of the tremendous size if you look at the ice cave in one of the accompanying pictures. The bow of our 985’ long cruise ship would easily have fit in the opening. When a glacier “calves” the sound is like thunder, BUT, because you are for the most part one mile away, you do not hear the sound till the iceberg is in the water. However, a careful eye will allow you to catch this awe inspiring sight, if you are lucky you may get a picture or video, something you will want to see again and again. All the cruise lines get you as close as is safe and most will turn the ship 360 to allow you to see this amazing site. Other cruises will allow viewing of Tracy Arm Fiord, and Mendenhall Glaciers, and while I have not seen those personally, our customers tell me they are extremely impressive. In addition to viewing one of Alaska’s “giants”, many itineraries include cruising through the Inside Passage, Alaska’s summertime playground for a wide variety of whales and other aquatic animals.
In addition to the big ships that travel to Alaska , Princess and Cruise West also operate some smaller ships that are able to explore beyond the everyday cruises.
So what trip is right for you? Stop by and see us, we have the 2009 brochures and we will help you decide just what cruise, or cruise tour is right for you.
Next time I will look at some of the Ports of Call and shore excursions you might want to add to enhance your “Alaskan Experience”.
REPORTED: from a major cruise line call center, a potential cruiser asked “if all the balcony cabins were above the water line.”
Till next time, remember local travel agencies do more than just sell you a cabin. We help you plan your trip and are there to answer all your questions, for the same price, and sometimes less than you would pay on the internet.
Happy Traveling!
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