Signature Collection

The CruiseOne/Cruises Inc family is proud to announce a new ensemble of vacation experiences targeted to the traveler who is looking for something more intriguing and special than the normal cruise. Launching first is the Signature Collection Western European Ensemble for 2012. These packages blend products like Azamara Club Cruises and Avalon Waterways river cruises with Monograms land packages, packaging them with private exclusive excursions, private tour guides/hosts, and special parties.

Love to garden or simply appreciate the best in horticultural expertise? Coming up next May 14 is an Azamara Journey cruise from Amsterdam to London that begins with two nights in Amsterdam to include a private excursion to the Chelsea Flower Show. You'll have a chance to explore the 2012 World Horticultural Expo, Floriade, taking place in a stunning park in Venlo, the Netherlands, which is known as the world's most famous flower show. In addition, you’ll have a private excursion to the Flower Auction and Keukenhof Gardens. The non-horticulturist won’t be left behind, either, with stops in the world diamond capital of Antwerp, Belgium, and in the charming Dutch port town of Vlissingen where the Schelde River, here more than two miles wide, flows into the North Sea. Need more? Check out the cruise itinerary itself by clicking here.

Ben and I are already leading a group through Provence next May on the AMA Waterways Amadagio, but if the August timeframe works better for you, check out the Provence to Paris Signature package August 17. You will begin with two nights in Monte Carlo and then cruise seven nights from Cote d’Azure-Port St. Luis to Chalon-sur-Saone, France. En route you’ll enjoy an exclusive tour and Beaujolais wine-tasting event, as well as an exclusive tour of Cormatin Palace, built by the Marquises of Huxelles in the early 17th century. Upon disembarkation, your motorcoach will transport you to the City of Light for two nights in magical Paris.

My favorite of all, however, is the 11-night French & Italian Riviera cruise on the Azamara Journey, beginning in Monte Carlo and calling on the ports of Portofino; Porto Venere (Cinque Terre); Florence/Pisa; Sorrento/Amalfi (overnight!); Taormina, Sicily; Capri (overnight, with a private full-day tour of Capri and the Blue Grotto); and Rome. The package includes two nights pre in Monte Carlo and one night post in Rome with guided sightseeing.

Let us know if we can provide additional information on these or any of the packages listed.

Speaking of “Signature” collections, Ben and I are pleased to announce that we were recently selected as members of the elite Circle of Excellence out of over 1300 agents in our company, an honor bestowed only to those at the highest sales level. We thank you for continuing business!

My next blogs will come to you from Italy and then from our Holy Land cruise on the Norwegian Jade. Ben and I are escorting groups on each event and looking forward to visiting both new and familiar places in Italy and seeing Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, and Alanya (Turkey) for the first time.

Ciao until then!

GOOD-BYE TO CRUISE WEST

The cruise industry has been abuzz the last two weeks about the apparent demise of Cruise West, a small-ship company that for almost 40 years provided a loyal client base with up-close-and-personal visits to ports of call. Earlier this year, the line announced plans to add a Great Lakes itinerary next summer, and just a couple of months ago teased all of us with its intentions to bring back Mississippi River cruising starting next spring.

However, word arrived about a week ago that CW suddenly ended a world cruise this month about halfway through its 10-month journey. In addition, the Seattle Times reported that 65 Cruise West employees were recently laid off and the reservations center shut down.

Although hopes had been held out for a purchase and/or restructuring, prospects have apparently not worked out at this point. As a matter of fact, the Times article goes on to quote the text from a bulletin issued by the Federal Maritime Commission:

“West Travel, Inc., doing business as the cruise line Cruise West, has notified the Federal Maritime Commission that it is canceling all cruises that were scheduled to begin this past Saturday, September 18, and on all dates that follow, with the exception of the September 22 Danube Cruise (in Europe). It completed cruises of the Spirit of 98 and Spirit of Endeavour that ended in Portland and Seattle on Saturday, September 18.”

We are saddened by this news. Cruise West cruises were never cheap, but they were, after all, on US ships operated by US crew. We’re not talking about less expensive international crew and operations here. But every client we have booked on Cruise West became a fan, especially those cruising to Alaska. Ship captains exercised their freedom to alter itineraries a bit, take a little longer en route for a wildlife sighting, and get much closer to glaciers than the big ships could for better views. The dress code was casual, and passengers numbered 80-130, not 1500-3000.

Moreover, we continue to receive inquiries about cruises on US rivers like the Mississippi and Ohio and hope financial backing will one day open the doors to such an operation. In the meantime, I fear we must bid farewell to a first-rate, family-run operation--felled, it would seem, by the tough economy and increasing fuel costs.

CRUISE LINE SALES
On a much brighter note, many lines are in the midst of sales and special offers right now. In my
September 7 posting, I mentioned the Royal Caribbean offer, but there are more: Carnival has a cash-back sale, and several upscale lines (Azamara, Oceania, Crystal, and Silversea) are offering onboard credit and/or prepaid gratuities and/or two-for-one pricing on select itineraries.

HOLY LAND 2011
We still have space on our Holy Land cruise October 15-26, 2011, on the NCL Jade roundtrip from Rome. We always have a great time on the cruises we personally escort and invite you to consider joining us and the many others who have already deposited. Call or email us for pricing and details.

AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES

Azamara Club Cruises continues to raise the bar. The latestest news announces the addition of wine with meals, sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees, and even gratuities to the list of items included in the price.

Although the news was not welcomed by those who don‘t like paying for liquor they don‘t drink, most we spoke to look forward to less nickle-and-diming on this premium line.

This category ship walks a thin line: not quite in the deluxe category like Regent Seven Seas or Silver Sea that have traditionally included these perks in the base price, but certainly not a standard contempory line like Royal, NCL, or Princess, which long ago made all of the above optional and at additional charge. With this change, however, it‘s definitely edging upwards.

Like its competitor Oceania Cruises, Azamara includes extended stays in some of the most popular ports. Overnight in Sorrento, anyone? Ahhhh.

So, readers, what do you think about Azamara, the new “inclusives,“ and these extended port visits?

My next post will come to you live from Lisbon. With this posting, I have begun the process I will employ then of typing on my Freedom Pro Universal Keyboard and uploading via my Blackberry Bold. I look forward to playing with my new toys! Take a moment to subscibe.

CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCE PRICE HIKES AND 2011 ITINERARIES

Upscale line Regent Seven Seas is the latest to announce upcoming rate hikes. After March 31, prices will increase on many of the line’s voyages, although the free air offer and free unlimited shore excursions offer may still be available. Azamara’s 2-for-1 savings and $500 onboard credit offer will also expire the end of this month.

 

RSSC’s announcement follows on the heels of similar notices from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Carnival. That should tell you that cruise bookings are going very well, thank you very much, and ships are beginning to fill. Get those vacations booked now!

 

We’re also seeing the first of 2011-12 itineraries opening up now. NCL, Princess, and Oceania just announced Europe itineraries. Capacity is expanding in that region, too. Royal Caribbean, Princess, and NCL will all send more ships to Europe in 2011, with more ports of all and overnight stays—music to many a traveler’s ears. Alaska isn’t gaining any more ships, however, so plan to book that Alaska cruise as early as possible. Fewer ships mean fewer berths—and prices increase as ships fill.

 

As a matter of fact, this is a great time in general to get your 2011 vacation on the books! Remember, unless you’re booking under Carnival’s Early Saver Fare with its nonrefundable deposit (but at a big savings), your cruise deposit will be fully refundable if your plans change. We can move you to a different date or cancel you completely.

 

Please don’t buy into the notion that you’ll get a better deal by waiting until the “last minute.” Does that work occasionally? Yes, if you live near the departure port, keep a flexible schedule, and aren’t picky about cabin choice or location.

 

The risks?

• Cabin choices relegated to leftovers at the very front or back of the ship or near a noisy location
• Dining choice relegated to late (after 8 pm), when you prefer to dine early (around 6)
• Higher priced airfare to your embarkation port
• Prices were actually much cheaper 9 months out!

Four weeks from today, Ben and I will be on our way to Portugal for our AMAWATERWAYS river cruise. Watch for live blogs coming your way!