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!

NCL Epic--Final Post

Now for a bit more about cabins on the Norwegian Epic. In addition to those “new wave“ balcony cabins, NCL also broke the mold in designing accommodations for single travelers, a long overlooked segment of the cruising population. Instead of paying a single supplement for the privilege of booking solo in a double occupancy cabin, singles can choose studio cabins instead--smaller and more compact in size than standard inside cabins, but still equipped with TV, private bath and adequate storage space--and much less expensive.  For example, on the May 22 sailing of the Epic's round-trip Barcelona itinerary, a studio would cost a single $979 for the cruise/port charges while a standard inside with a single supplement costs $1718.  That's quite a savings--and these prices are based on Cruises Inc's current group rates.

Down the hall is a communal lounge area where travelers can relax, read, enjoy bar service in the evenings, and meet up with other singles if they wish. We spoke with one woman who had previously sailed 21 times as a single on various lines and especially liked the Epic‘s setup. She would book it again.

NCL‘s suites and villas are some of the best at sea among contemporary lines. Competition in this category in comes only from Royal Caribbean‘s Oasis and Allure of the Seas. That‘s what makes these three ships (and NCL‘s Jewel Class ships) such a good choice for both luxury and budget clients alike. Although the ships may be larger than luxury clients prefer, they can relax in style while their grandchildren enjoy more activities and entertainment than any luxury liner afloat offers.

USA Today’s Gene Sloan recently posted an excellent photo site of Allure of the Seas cabins in his Cruise Log.

Which brings me to that topic of discussion. In previous posts, I've written about the broad range of things to do on the Oasis and her amazing entertainment (Hair Spray, AquaTheatre shows, ice shows). The Epic takes a different approach with a different audience in mind: Blue Man Group, The Second City improv, Fat Cats, Legends in Concert, and Cirque Dreams and Dinner in the Spiegel Tent (at an extra fee), etc. We didn‘t have enough time to see it all during conference, but did make a Blue Man show. A lot of folks seemed to really enjoy it.  Frankly, I don‘t quite get it.  (Am I showing my age?)  Again, however, lots of mold-breaking options never before offered on a cruise ship.

On the other hand, we really did take the Epic Plunge in the largest water park at sea. If that‘s not your thing, you can bowl for a small fee, or play ping pong or rappel down a 33-foot wall for free.

All of these new ship innovations go to prove that cruising isn‘t what it used to be, nor is as regimented as in days gone by. Admittedly, for some of our long-time cruise clients, this new approach is not welcomed. They like being pampered by the same waiter all week long and appreciate a more traditional schedule, along with the anticipation of formal nights. There are cruise lines for them, too.

For today‘s generation preferring a more flexible, less dictated mode of travel, however, cruise lines are listening to you!