Cruise Honeymoon

Many dream of a perfect wedding; exchanging vows at the beach, drinking champagne at an exotic place, and enjoying the special moment with family and love ones. So after the ceremony comes the best part: the honeymoon. Well, it is not a personal statement. If you ask most couples what type of honeymoon is the best, many would answer, "cruise honeymoon".And why not?Imagine you and your wife travel anywhere in the world and enjoying the calmness of the sea and enjoying each other's company together with nature at its best. Imagine you have all the time in the world, sleeping at any hour of the day, watching the stars in the sky and relaxing in a luxurious ship that seems to be designed for both of you. Imagine you get all the luxury in the world while witnessing the beauty of it all at the same time and at the same place.Yes, all these you can get if you take the honeymoon cruise.If you can imagine it, then you can get the real sense of it. Booking for a honeymoon cruise is easier and much cheaper nowadays. Many ships have given special attention to newlyweds to enjoy their first days of married life. This result to honeymoon cruise packages. These packages include everything you need; dinner for two, luxurious suite, champagne, and other on-board amenities you need to fully enjoy your honeymoon.Cruise ships are much easier to locate. With the help of the internet, you can locate cruise liners that offer honeymoon cruise. Here are some cruise lines that offer honeymoon cruises and honeymoon packages: Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Costa Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Holland America, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Orient, Royal Caribbean, Radisson, SeaBourn, Windstar and SilverSea. All these provide the best honeymoon experience you expect.If in case you want to get married on board, there are several honeymoon cruises that offer this service. Some of these are Disney Cruise, Princess Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.And if you think of destinations, honeymoon cruises offer a worldwide vacations that suite your desire. You can have tropical cruise, Caribbean cruise, European cruise, Hawaii cruise, and more.The bottom line here is, whenever you want to go, whatever kind of luxury you need, and whatever experience you desire, honeymoon cruise could satisfy every single nerve in your body that would make this once in a lifetime experience worthwhile.

Living On A Cruise Ship Is Catching On

Well, living on a Cruise Ship is catching on.Quite a few couples are now subscribing to world cruises and it is affecting the Cruise Ship industry.In 2006 the Holland America Line is experiencing a 20 percent increase in the number of cruises longer than 12 days. For 2007, the demand for world cruises for Cunard is so great the company is having two world cruises, including the Queen Mary 2's first voyage around the world, an 80-day journey. Silversea Cruises, a very, very exclusive Cruise Line has just launched a series of voyages of 34 to 123 days and is having its first around-the-world cruise in 2007. And Crystal Cruises Inc. spokeswoman Mimi Weisband said that they saw a record number of bookings for this year's 106-day world cruise. Why is this happening?Nobody likes flying anymore. It is not relaxing, you are stuffed like sardines in a tin can, you have to bring your own lunch, and have to take off your shoes.Now think about cruising.You've got your house with you, wherever you go, just like a turtle.You get taken care of, whatever you need. Medical Care is close by, so are 10 bars and 4 restaurants open 24 hours a day in most cases.You don't have to pack and unpack every day as with regular vacations, you can spend leisurely days playing pingpong and shuffleboard and relaxing with longtime friends. The key selling theme for these long cruises is COMFORT.You can see and do exotic things from 10 AM to 12 PM, go for lunch, and do more exotic things from 2 PM till 7 PM and then have a 10 course supper.After supper there is a free show every night.Perfect lifeRather than sitting in a summer cottage staring at the walls, on a cruise you have your social life built in, with 2000 possible friends. Cruise lines say another key attraction is that now you can visit plenty of far-flung destinations - such as Hawaii and Tahiti- without dealing with airport security and other hassles. The funny thing is that these Cruises are no longer exclusively populated by retired Seniors, but are becoming populated by entrepreneurial 40- and 50-people, who can turn the ship into a virtual, floating office. You can successfully run a business from being on a ship, because of Wireless Internet Access worldwide available on these Cruise Ships.Destinations are also being changed by the Cruise Ship industry; more and more exotic itineraries are being visited, because people like change, and if you have never seen the Pyramids, now is your chance on a 12 day Cruise.The costs of a world cruise are no longer prohibitive, in 2005 a 100 day cruise could be had for $16,000 per person, that is $160 a day for travel, food, guided tours, shows and companionship.Some people do this in their 30's, saying that they want to enjoy this while they can.Others do this after they get a divorce, as a consolation prize to themselves.As the demand for World Cruises increases, at some point in time entrepreneurs are going to buy a Cruise Ship at a reasonable price and are going to turn it into Condominiums.

Carnival 2 Day Cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines have shorter cruises available that last from 2 to 5 days. They run the largest short cruise program in the cruise industry. You can take a short cruise on one of 12 ships from 12 North American home ports. A short cruise gives passengers a good idea of what cruising is about so they like it. Carnival has a short New York Cruise to know where you can enjoy excellent service in a relaxing atmosphere. You'll be back to the New York City Port in a few days. A Carnival 2 day cruise is perfect if you don't have time to take a longer cruise. This means you can take a short cruise over the weekend and be home or back at work by Monday. Smelling the sea air, eating fantastic food and watching great entertainment for two days is a nice way to refresh yourself from the routine of every day life. You can exercise at state-of-the-art fitness facilities, go swimming in the pool or get pampered at the spa.Another benefit of taking a Carnival 2 Day Cruise is the low cost. You may have to pay for extra things like spa treatments, games or shore excursions. Carnival has an affordable short cruise that leaves from Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida. There's also a Carnival cruise that departs from Long Beach, California and heads to Ensenada, Mexico. Always, plan a head of time when you schedule a short cruise. Ask about the different kinds of ships. You wouldn't want to go on a ship with partiers if your family is with you or you want to relax.Sometimes, a Carnival 2 day cruise can take you to the same worldwide destinations as the 17 day cruises. You can travel to New England, Alaska, Europe, Caribbean and other places. The Carnival Miracle has short cruises from places like to New York to the Caribbean. On one of these cruise you can experience a little of the things that offered on a longer cruise. There's many international cuisines and the option of made to order at the Carnival Miracle Lido Restaurant. You can dine in the Carnival Miracle Bacchus dining room. Other highlights on this ship are shows at the Phantom, Mad Hatter's Ball, a sing along at Sam's piano bar and Raven Library and Internet Cafe.Book a Carnival 2 Day Cruise early since these types of cruises are popular and fill up quickly. Generally the times of year that short cruises are offered are in the spring and summer. Dress is mainly casual for short cruises but you may have to dress formal for the dining room. If you're a regular cruiser, you may want to take a short cruise between longer cruises. If you're a new cruiser, then you may be able to see one or two destinations on a mini or short cruise. You won't need to worry about lots of luggage or being away to long. It's best not to try to do too many things on a short cruise so you don't become overwhelmed.

For more great information on a Carnival 2 Day Cruise visit our new website www.allmytraveltips.com. And for more great articles visit www.pens-and-pencils.com today.

Singles Travel International Celebrates New Years 2005 on Caribbean Cruise to Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Nassau

Lockport, IL September 20, 2004 -" Welcome New Year 2005 at sea while savoring the luxurious offerings of Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas, Singles Travel International New Year's Caribbean Getaway, December 27, 2004 - January 3, 2005. Departing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, this getaway cruise includes visits to Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Nassau. A Welcome aboard Singles Only cocktail party features hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. Sumptuous dining is yours during each of the six meals a day. The Breakfast Club offers fine food and fun as new friends make plans for each day of adventure. And of course the New Year's Eve party features epicurean delights and champagne to toast new friends and a bright future. This is a cruise with the amenities seasoned travelers have come to expect from Singles Travel International. In fact, Travel and Leisure magazine in its April, 2004 edition named Singles Travel International The choice for singles traveling worldwide. Rates for this New Year's Caribbean Getaway are $1,125 plus tax and airfare.*Step aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas in Ft. Lauderdale and you are swept away to the laid back rhythm and warm, sun-drenched shores of the western Caribbean. Key West beckons with Margaritaville! Home to Jimmy Buffet, Ernest Hemingway and modern day artists, a stroll through its charming Old Town refreshes the senses. The next port of call is Cozumel, Mexico with its underwater treasures. Its reef is considered the second best in the world. Take a dive, or snorkel above and experience the varieties of wildlife teaming just below the surface. Or hunt for gold and silver treasures in the shops of San Miguel. While at sea the pools and Jacuzzis are made for relaxing as is the Ocean View Spa & Fitness Center. And the Casino Royale offers slots, blackjack, roulette and poker for your pleasure. Next Grand Cayman's upscale island shops, unparalleled diving and long stretches of sugar white beaches await you. Nassau, Bahamas is the last stop. The Straw Market, a tour in a glass bottom boat, duty-free shopping or private time on a secluded beach are all possibilities. Singles Travel International escorts show singles the way with informal tours and activities in each port at no additional cost.* Rates are per person based on double occupancy.Singles Travel International: With over 20 years of experience in travel consulting, Singles Travel International provides worry-free travel that meets the unique needs of solo travelers. Every group is accompanied by at least one Singles Travel International escort who is available 24 hours a day to provide assistance or answer questions. Although a Singles Travel International trip is a terrific way to meet people, travelers can be as involved as they would like in their tour activities, spending their time with the group or relaxing and exploring on their own. Singles Travel International takes the risk out of having to pay a single supplement by offering a roommate guarantee program.Singles Travel International Contact: Tammy Weiler, (877) SOLO-TRIP,(877) 765-6874 or www.singlestravelintl.com.Media Contact: Beth Peterson, (708) 383-5989 or beth@petersonmktg.com

Thinking About Traveling?

Warmer weather and long school vacations are ahead. This is the time when everyones thoughts turn to holidays, if not abroad, then definitely closer to home. However, two new threats to your travel plans are creating consternation worldwide. They are, of course, the recession and swine flu. How real are these threats and how long will they last?Looking at the recession first, leaders in the travel industry are already seeing reduced numbers of people moving around the world.Giovanni Bisgnani, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says: Like the rest of the economy, recovery in the air transport sector rests on a rise in consumer confidence and consumer spending. Shedding debt will be a major headwind. US households, for example, are leveraged at 130 percent of annual income. Even bringing this down by five percent erases $500 billion in consumer spending. The challenge for governments is to turn stimulus funds into spending that fuels trade."Recovery also depends on putting people into seats of planes, coaches and trains. To that end, there are some great deals to be had if you want to travel and know where to look. For example, Vacationstogo (vacationstogo.com) is currently offering 75 per cent off some Alaskan cruises, with special deals for those aged 55 and over, firefighters, police, military " even teachers. This may be a great time to consider visiting those snow-capped mountains, enormous glaciers, bottomless fjords and wildlife like whales, bears, eagles, and seals.There are some good deals about in accommodation as well. Orbitz (orbitz.com) will find deals in large hotels internationally. EuroCheapo (eurocheapo.com) is a good site to look for accommodation if you are planning to travel in Europe. Check out their budget specials and dont forget to look at the online recommendations of people who have actually stayed in the places you are considering. Remember too that many places will be happy to do a deal if you suggest one (seven nights for the price of six, for example).The threat of contracting swine flu may mean you are rethinking travel plans. Certainly, Mexico would seem a place to avoid just now, but the World Health Organization has not suggested travel restrictions to any country " including Mexico. Keiji Fukuda MD, who is assistant director-general for health security and environment at the WHO, says countries can set their own policies, but general travel restrictions would not be any use in stopping the spread of the virus.Unless you are elderly, already unwell, or suffer from conditions like diabetes, heart or lung disease, general advice is that its okay to travel so long as you carry out normal everyday health precautions like handwashing. And it may be a good idea to pop that packet of Tamiflu into your hand luggage as well.Travel companies are tending to stay away from worst hit areas: Carnival Cruises has already cancelled stops at Mexican ports for three ships and Transat AT, a tour operator from Canada, has postponed flights to Mexico for the next month.This may just be a time to wait and see. Oil companies share prices, closely linked to the travel industry, have taken a tumble. When they start to move up again, we will know the world economy " and peoples health " are also trending upwards.

SearchPooch.com

Trends In The Travel Industry, Take Advantage Now

If your passion is travel, imagine going it first class for much less then what you are paying for now. Imagine receiving upgraded accommodations, VIP treatment and much more as you travel the world's most exciting destinations.Travel is the largest and one of the fastest growing industries in the world.- Over US$6 trillion is spent on travel annually.- The travel industry is growing 23% faster then the world's economy.- Travel is the number one product sold on the internet.- Approximately 80% of all vacations are booked via word of mouth recommendations from friends, family and co-workers.An explosion is taking place in the travel industry. More luxury cruise ships are being built now then ever before. Resort builders, hotels and other vacation properties are building more properties to accommodate the boom in the travel and vacation market.The travel industry is exploding because of a group of people born between 1946 and 1964 known as the baby boomers. The baby boomers are a billion people worldwide and have been shaping the world's economy for decades. When the were young, they put up companies and factories as they got older. The baby boomers are beginning to retire. In fact one in every eight seconds for the next 20 years to come, giving them their desired freedom.And now the baby boomers are beginning to inherit the wealth of the previous generation, "savings generation". What do you think they will do with the money?Industry analysts state this money will be spent in record amount on travel. There is never been a time for you to get involved in the travel industry.The world is changing and the number of traditional "brick and mentor" retail travel agencies declined worldwide by 11% in 2002 and 19% in 2003, while on-line travel continued to prosper. Travellers are now making bookings at the comforts of their homes as independent travel agents. Being an independent travel agent, you will enjoy fantastic lifestyle benefits. The fantastic discounts you will receive will allow you to travel more then you thought possible. Whether you are traveling the world or journeying on business, as an independent travel agent you will get a world of discounts and savings which include:- Upgrades to first class on airlines.- Get travel agents discounts on hotels.- Save on car rentals.- Discounts on world cruise ships. - VIP attention.- Vacation packages and many more travel perks.- Profits by getting commissions when booking on your own travel, family travel and colleagues travel. And also just by introducing them to be independent travel agents.

Singles Celebrate Valentine's Day on Queen Mary 2 Caribbean Cruise February 12-19, 2005

Lockport, IL September 20, 2004 -- The opulence of the grandest ocean liner ever built can be yours for an entire seven-day Valentine Holiday cruising favorite ports of the Caribbean. Enjoy San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Marteen while you lavish in the luxury of the world's grandest ocean liner. Gourmet cuisine created by celebrity chef Daniel Boulud is served to Singles Travel International guests in the Britannia Dining Room for each of the six sumptuous meals served daily. Or perhaps you prefer one of the seven alternative specialty restaurants. Master Chef Todd English's Mediterranean Restaurant fashions flavors sure to satiate your appetite and your senses. Exotic Asian cuisine awaits at Lotus. Italian specialties of regional cuisine are served at La Piazza. Then take a culinary spin through the British Style Carvery, The Boardwalk Caf, The Golden Lion, which offers traditional pub fare, and finally the King's Court Buffet is sure to please for breakfast and lunch. Rates for this seven-day Valentine Holiday Caribbean Cruise aboard Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2 start at $1,399 plus tax and airfare.* Of course elegance and excitement are what the seasoned traveler has come to expect from Singles Travel International. In fact, Travel and Leisure magazine in its April, 2004 edition named Singles Travel International The choice for singles traveling worldwide. Of the many elegant amenities aboard Cunard's new Queen Mary 2, a spacious stateroom for your comfort is most important. Then, an amazing world at sea provides for your enjoyment. Jacuzzis, sauna and a Fitness Center offer relaxation. Or try the Canyon Ranch SpaClub for exotic treatments. Entertainment abounds! The Royal Court Theater creates brilliantly staged musical productions. The stylish Empire Casino offers Craps, Slots, Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. Stargaze at the first seagoing planetarium. Or celebrate a fantastic voyage in the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, Sir Samuels Wine Bar and G32 Dance Club. Finally, captivate your senses with panoramic views and music at the Commodore Jazz Club. Add to this a full day in port at San Juan, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and the incomparable St. Marteen and this Valentine Holiday Cruise can be your cruise of a lifetime!*Rates per person based on double occupancy.Singles Travel InternationalWith over 20 years of experience in travel consulting, Singles Travel International provides worry-free travel that meets the unique needs of solo travelers. Every group is accompanied by at least one Singles Travel International escort who is available 24 hours a day to provide assistance or answer questions. Although a Singles Travel International trip is a terrific way to meet people, travelers can be as involved as they would like in their tour activities, spending their time with the group or relaxing and exploring on their own. Singles Travel International takes the risk out of having to pay a single supplement by offering a roommate guarantee program.Singles Travel International Contact: Tammy Weiler, (877) SOLO-TRIP, (877) 765-6874 or www.singlestravelintl.com .Media Contact: Beth Peterson, (708) 383-5989 or beth@petersonmktg.com .

'Personal Choice Cruising' Aboard Princess Cruise Lines' Love Boats!

From its modest beginnings in 1965 with a single cruise ship traveling to Mexico, Princess Cruise Lines has grown to become one of the world's premier cruise lines. Its fleet carries more than 800,000 passengers each year to nearly 260 ports-of-call worldwide! Princess Cruise Lines prides itself in striving to evolve to meet the desires of today's cruise vacationers.One of the most recognized lines in the world, Princess Cruise Lines was catapulted into the limelight in 1977 when the cruise ship Pacific Princess was given the starring role in the television show "The Love Boat". This television series was instrumental in introducing the millions of viewers to the "new" concept of vacationing on the seas. Even today when many people think of cruises they think of the "Love Boats".The Princess Cruise Lines fleet has grown considerably from its humble beginnings. The well known "Seawitch" logo is now sported on fifteen magnificent cruise ships with more to come.The Princess Cruise Lines' Grand class includes six cruise ships. With seating for over 2,600 guests, this class features some of the most innovative amenities to be found on cruise ships.When debuted in 1995, the Princess Cruise Lines' Sun class set a new standard in cruise ships' designs. Seating over 1,950 guests, the five vessels offered a host of onboard choices.For a small ship atmosphere coupled with today's modern amenities, the Princess Cruise Lines' Explorer class is the choice. The four cruise ships in this class offer seating for about 670 discerning guests.Princess Cruises is one of the dozen or more lines included in the Carnival Corporation. Offering one of the widest number of destinations, they offer more than 150 itineraries that range from seven to seventy-two days. The fabulous cruise ships travel to all seven continents.Today, Princess Cruise Lines' signature emphasis is on "Personal Choice Cruising". Each vessel in the fleet offers its own version with multiple dining choices, varied entertainment selections and a wide range of activities and amenities. Princess guests can create their own personal vacation experience suited to their special preferences and needs.Want to enhance your Princess Cruise Lines experience? All you have to do is take advantage of the lines' "Adventure Ashore" program which features more than 1,500 port excursions. The company is also expanding its cruise/tour itineraries which offer passengers a seamless vacation package adding a full land tour to their cruise.The Princess Cruise Lines has won numerous awards and accolades. Many cruise magazines have awarded them with titles like "Best Cruise Line", "Clients' Favorite", and "Cruise Line of the Year". The individual ships have won many awards as well. Other winning award categories for Princess include Environmental, Safety, Access, Medical, Onboard Features, Itineraries, Marketing, Website and Reservations.Princess cruises offer wonderful itineraries aboard fabulous ships. But are Princess cruises the right choice for your? With so many cruise lines marketing fantastic cruises and cruise ships, how can you be sure? Are you somewhat confused as to which cruise line may be best for your cruise vacation? If you have any questions or concerns, please drop us a note at info@a1-discount-cruises.com, add "cruise question" in the subject line and we will try to help.Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount-cruises.com your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com to book your fabulous cruise vacation! For more interesting articles visit our Article Map pages.

Top Caribbean Destinations For Cruise Vacations

With hundreds of islands to visit, the Caribbean has been a favorite cruise destination for many years. However, the Caribbean is far more than just one destination. In fact, within the "Caribbean" label, there are literally hundreds of islands and many ports of call from which to choose. Each of the destinations has a different and unique flavor, and many cruises want to show you what they are all about. If you are considering a Caribbean cruise for your vacation, take a look at these top Caribbean destinations for cruise vacations.The BahamasThe Bahamas are among the most popular Caribbean cruise destinations of all. The Bahamas offer an international flavor without being too unfamiliar to English-speaking tourists. While you will need a passport to travel to the Bahamas, once you get there the environment will be comfortably familiar. Many Caribbean cruises anchor at Grand Bahama Island, where visitors can take advantage of shopping at Freeport and the casinos and opulent resorts of Nassau.BermudaBermuda is a pastel confection of an island, famous for its pink sand beaches and pastel colored cottages. It is a favorite port of call and Caribbean cruise destination with several cruise ships a day anchoring at St. George's for memorable shore excursions. Visitors to the island can enjoy a round of golf or take a cruise on a glass bottom boat to view the astounding undersea life around the island.ArubaIf you are looking for nightlife with an international flavor, Aruba is the best place to visit. The little island is one of the more developed in the Caribbean, with top-shelf luxury resorts and flashy nightclubs and casinos. Daytime activities include wind-surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and lying around on their beautiful beaches. At night, the resort comes alive with discos and nightclubs for those who want to party all night long.The Cayman IslandsGrand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands, is the best spot in the Caribbean for spectacular scuba diving and snorkeling. Just offshore, the land drops away creating some of the most amazing and awe-inspiring underwater venues in the world. Grand Cayman is a haven for shoppers who will find dozens of duty free shops lining the streets. For those who want to enjoy the underwater world, there are cant-miss shore excursions that include snorkeling, swimming with the sting-rays, or touring around in a glass-bottom boat, so that visitors can enjoy the scenery without getting too wet.The U.S. Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, the major city on St. Thomas, is easily the busiest port of call in the Caribbean. The pretty little town is one of the most developed in the islands, offering wonderful shopping, lovely resorts and excellent restaurants. Charlotte Amalie features nearly 400 duty-free shops, making it the stop of choice for those with serious shopping addictions. While St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is far less developed, and shore excursions to St. Croix often visit historic sites or enjoy eco-tours and bike excursions around the island. The third island, St. John, is the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, and generally considered the most scenic of all the islands. A large portion of St. John is set aside as the Virgin Islands National Park, making it an ideal destination for hikers and those who love nature.Montego BayPopularized by the catchy song, Montego Bay, Jamaica remains one of the most famous ports of call in the Caribbean. Montego Bay is the second largest city on the island of Jamaica, famed for its white sand beaches and cosmopolitan flair. It offers luxury resorts, world-class restaurants, golf courses and rowdy nightlife that are famed worldwide. One visit to Montego Bay, affectionately called M-Bay in the islands, and you will be singing along with Bobby Bloom in his homage to the hypnotic island town.Trinidad and TobagoThe tiny island nations of Trinidad and Tobago often get short shrift when discussing Caribbean destinations, but they are full of tropical flavor and fun. Trinidad is the home of the steel drum, that quintessentially Caribbean musical instrument with an unmistakably tropical sound. Both Trinidad and Tobago offer long stretches of beautiful beachfront for sports and leisure, as well as tropical rain forests for hiking and sightseeing. Trinidad is famous for its party carnival atmosphere while Tobago is more relaxed and famed for its island nature tours.The cities and islands on the list above are by no means the only destinations for vacation cruises in the Caribbean, but they should definitely be on your short list of ports of call to visit. There are many other islands and cities that your cruise may visit so take time to check over your cruise itinerary and choose shore excursions at the cruise destinations you most enjoy.

Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing, often discussing a specific kind trip such as cruise vacations.

Seeking Discount Vacation and Travel Packages? Book Deep Online Travel Discounts Year-Round

Discount Travel and Vacation Packages are abounding in the recession and There are all sorts of deals offering deeply discounted travel packages, vacation packages, cheap airline tickets, and low-priced hotels. You can save a lot of money on your travel destinations worldwide if you know where to book.Online Travel Discounts are allowing people who were unable to fly before to actually take advantage of popular destinations worldwide using travel packages and vacation packages. These online companies are offering deep discounts and if you ever wanted to travel, this is an excellent time. You would think the prices would rise through the roof, but the effect has been completely opposite thanks to the recession. Prices must be slashed in order to get customers to take a trip using vacation packages, discount airfare, cheap hotel prices and cruises. The entire travel industry is fighting desperately for you to use their travel accommodations so that they do not go bankrupt. This is the best time to travel and the best deals are in the form of vacation packages. This is where you will get the most out of your money.What happens is that when not enough people book regularly priced tickets, the airlines, cruise lines and hotels make deals with online companies to offer the tickets at a discount. That is why you may have found that you can get excellent last minute travel deals sometimes. Usually, the closer to the date of travel you are booking your trip, the higher the price is. If you know which sites have these agreements with the companies, you will find the prices to be very affordable on vacation cruises, vacation packages, low airfare, and cheap hotels if you book it right away. One day can make a huge difference!So, save money on a Discount Travel Reservation Site so that you can have more fun spending what you have saved from discount travel arrangements. Take a trip to relax and revitalize yourself while the discount specials are hot!Enjoy your trip!

Online Travel Discounts Here

Merry R, Author

Travel Consultant

Virtually Work

Can Cruising Survive the Credit Crunch?

One of the most obvious changes in the international holiday market of late is the boom in the numbers of cruise passengers. An increasing aversion to flying; the growth in personal wealth from rising property values; a greying population; all are factors that have helped to fill newspapers' travel pages with adverts for cruises.Cruise lines now have about 40 new ships under construction and ready to come into service by 2012. Many of the new ships are bigger and better than anything that has ever floated before. But is the boom about to go bust with this extra capacity arriving just as the worldwide recession has hit travellers' finances and confidence?The biggest operator is Carnival Corporation. Their chairman says soaring fuel and steel costs, combined with a weak dollar, have made it virtually impossible to put together a new ship building project beyond 2012 for any of the corporation's North American cruise brands Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess, and Holland America Line. This gloomy prophecy was made, ironically, at a press conference for the launch of Carnival's latest ship, Carnival Splendor.Carnival's biggest competitor, Royal Caribbean International, appears more optimistic. The company, which includes Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara, has placed orders for the largest, most expensive ships ever to be built. Yet it's hard to imagine that cruise bosses are as positive now as they were when they placed the orders.Judging by the cut-price offers now being made to entice passengers aboard, over-capacity may already be a big issue. It remains to be seen how long the current economic woes will continue and how deep the recession will become. How will cruise passengers react to all the economic bad news? Will those with money to spare stick with their newly acquired enthusiasm for cruising? Or has much of the recent growth been fuelled by credit that's running dry?In mid-2008, the body that represents the leading cruise companies in Britain, the Passenger Shipping Association, forecast around 1.5 million Britons would take a cruise that year. They expect over 2 million British passengers to be cruising by 2012 and point to an increasing number of affluent older people as the key reason for the growth. Those figures may well have to be revised.The sheer number of cruise passengers has been causing problems in some ports with large cruise ships arriving at the same time, swamping the facilities. Cruise visitors to Barcelona have virtually doubled in the past five years. Figures from MedCruise show a rise from 398,948 in 2002 to 789,409 in 2007. Fortunately, Barcelona, the second most popular Mediterranean port after Naples, is much better placed to deal with the growth, being a large city with good port facilities.In contrast, the Venice Port Authority has announced plans for a new cruise ship berth costing 75 million. It is needed to accommodate 1,000 foot monsters such as Genesis, operated by Royal Caribbean, which can carry 6,000 passengers.Ship numbers and sheer ship size, have brought other problems. Local businesses often do not benefit as passengers have less time to roam around thanks to the longer time spent disembarking and re-embarking. In addition many passengers now go on organised pre-booked tours which means less chance of local shopping and fewer meals taken at local restaurants.Over the next year or so these are the type of concerns that cruise operators would probably love to be dealing with. But filling these monster ships in a recession might be a much bigger problem. There could be some real bargains on the market very soon.

Bob Cartwright writes for TravelSavvy Europe - independent city guide for tourists. For more information visit: short breaks in Europe.

The Travel Guide

Make your vacation the best one ever by checking out everything you need in the "Travel Guide." Here you will find hundreds of choices for the exact destination you need. Find out what is hot with reviews on your favorite attractions.Wondering which cruise would be best for you? Look no further you will find it all here at the "Travel Guide." Make use of our forum to find the best airline, car and hotels. Booking is fast and convenient. You can book airline travel, a cruise, your car rental, and even your hotel here at the "Travel Guide." Find out the best restaurants, hotels and cruises with our in depth reviews.Flight search: Find and book your flight here. Book your flights using our convenient "Flight Search." You can find your destination, see what flights are available at the time and day you want, and then book with just a click of your mouse. You can choose your airline, order any special meals you may need and be on your way within minutes.Before you go, don't forget to check your travel insurance! Part of the fun of a vacation is never knowing what to expect, but the unexpected is not always a good thing. Don't risk destroying your holiday by forgetting to get that vital insurance. There are a variety of insurance options available, so pick the one that best suites your particular case. Bear in mind everything you think might happen, and get an insurance that plans for every emergency. Remember, when you buy insurance, you are buying peace of mind, to save you worrying about anything going wrong.Apart from the insurance, you are also going to need transport when you get to your destination. And that means a car, unless you're going on a cruise! Car rental is one of the most annoying parts of vacationing, and you want an easy way to have a car ready and waiting for you when you arrive at your holiday. The best way to do this, of course, is to arrange it online. Just look up the travel guide, and check out the worldwide car rental options.After you have your car arranged, you still need somewhere to stay. guideoftravel.com offers you a large database of hotels in from many different countries, so have a look there and see if you can find one that's right for you. Just be sure you book everything before you leave, you don't want to be stuck with nowhere to stay!If you are looking for a cruise, you might try guideoftravel.com - they can link you to a number of different cruises to different places, ranging from the exotic to the peaceful. Great deals, tips on how to get the best from your cruise, as well as in depth reviews, makes it an excellent resource. Pick and exclusive cruise for yourself, or a more family-oriented one- the choice is yours.Vacations from guideoftravel.com, get the vacation you deserve: We offer vacation tips, great deals and insider reviews. It doesn't matter where you want to go, you can find your perfect vacation here. So let the "Travel Guide" help you make this holiday your best ever. You have saved up all year for your vacation, now is the time to relax and enjoy yourself.

Crystal Cruise Lines Receive Top Cruise Ship Vacations Award

Twelve years ago the Travel and Leisure Magazine created a 'World's Best Award for various categories of the travel industry. The winner of the awards is decided according to the votes by the readers of Travel and Leisure magazine. Every year there are several new winners in different travel categories with one exception - the 'World's Best Large-Cruise Line'Award. Crystal Cruises is the only cruise line, resort ,or hotel to have won this prestigious award each and every year since the award's inception.Thousands of world travelers and subscribers rated cruise lines on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value. Not only did Crystal Cruise win the award for 2007, but also surpassed it's winning rating for 2006.Crystal Cruises' luxurious, award-winning fleet consists of the 940-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Symphony and 1,080-guest, 68,000-ton Crystal Serenity, which cruise worldwide on itineraries of seven to 108 days. In the past year, the luxury line completed a stylish and sophisticated redesign of Crystal Symphony.What are the special features that have made Crystal Cruises so outstanding for a cruise ship vacation? Crystal Cruises' President Gregg Michel attributes their success to their extraordinary staff, and the companies attention to detail. Crystal Cruise line have also focused on providing personalized experiences for their travelers ashore with an increased collection of boutique Crystal Adventures(R) and thoroughly customized Crystal Private Adventures throughout the world. Earlier this year, Crystal's spas were singled out for their service, facilities and treatments, while its Creative Learning Institute was given special recognition for its inspirational programs. The line's glamorous casinos, array of evening entertainment and creative culinary venues and menus -- such as the cuisine of master chef, Nobu Matsuhisa -- rate high among those seeking quality choices on their floating luxury resort.Crystal Cruise lines offer superior service, choices, space and quality, for all their passengers. This has proved to be a winning combination for them to win the World's Best Large-Cruise Line' Award for the last twelve years. If you are looking for a dream vacation, then Crystal could be the right choice for you

Oceania Cruises Onboard with WillowCSN for Reservation Services

August, 2003 -- WillowCSN, the pioneer provider of virtual contact center staffing solutions, is expanding its Travel and Hospitality Services Division with the addition of Oceania Cruises to its client roster, the company announced today."Unparalleled customer service is paramount to the Oceania Cruises experience - from the first initial phone call with the travel agent to the final day of disembarkation, Oceania guests expect and receive stellar service, stated Bob Binder, senior vice president of Marketing and Passenger Services for Oceania Cruises. We partnered with WillowCSN because their commitment to exceptional quality and personalized service compliments the Oceania philosophy. Binder continued, The Cyber Agents handling our program are experienced travel industry professionals who will make the reservation and customer service experience enjoyable and memorable for our valued guests and travel agents."Beginning later this month, WillowCSN's CyberAgents will handle reservations as well as the overflow of other in-bound customer service and sales calls for Oceania. The newest of the luxury cruise lines, Oceania Cruises is geared to sophisticated travelers looking for a distinctly different approach to casually elegant vacationing. WillowCSN is the leading and pioneer provider of flexible, virtual staffing solutions for the contact center industry, utilizing proprietary technology to link clients with CyberAgent CSRs, highly-trained individuals who operate as customer service representatives from their home offices and are paid on a performance basis. Willow is thrilled to be working with Oceania Cruises, said Basil Bennett, president and chief executive officer of Willow CSN Incorporated. Like Oceania, we consider ourselves to be an innovator in the customer service industry. Our virtual agents are a natural match for companies such as Oceania, which hold themselves to the same high standards of quality and personal service.The addition of Oceania Cruises is significant for WillowCSN's expanding travel and hospitality services division. In addition to providing ongoing assistance to several AAA Motor Clubs across the country and Alamo Rent-A-Car, Willow's CyberAgents recently provided outbound calling services for the membership drive campaign of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, a 93-year-old federation of state lodging associations which provides its members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, and lobbies on Capitol Hill.About WillowCSNFounded in 1997 and based in Miramar Florida, WillowCSN is the pioneer of a flexible, virtual staffing solution for organizations seeking to address the staffing, cost and quality control issues associated with conventional contact centers. Companies route portions of their call volume to Willow's CyberAgent CSRs, who operate as customer service representatives from their home offices. Clients and CyberAgent CSRs rely on Willow's patented StarMatic technology for its scheduling, reporting, and communications functions. More information can be found at www.willowcsn.com.About Oceania Cruises Oceania Cruises features two intimate and luxurious 684 passenger ships, REGATTA and INSIGNIA, which sail to such intriguing destinations such as Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Black Sea, Central America and the Caribbean. Oceania Cruises is setting a new, worldwide standard for luxury cruising with the finest cuisine at sea, exceptional personalized service, grand style, and luxurious accommodations offered at an affordable price. For more information visit: www.oceaniacruises.com.

HOTEL DATA SYSTEMS EXPANDS INTO TRAVEL ASP RESERVATIONS SERVICES

WESTPORT, CT. October 23, 2003 " Hotel Data Systems, Inc (HDS) announced today the launch of its new services company, Magellan Reservation Services (Magellan). Using the far reaching networking abilities of the Internet, Magellan Reservation Services provides channel distribution services for Hotels, Car Rental Companies, Tour Operators and Cruise Lines worldwide.Magellan specializes in providing services that will incorporate leading edge business practices with a worldwide distribution network which includes the Global Distribution Systems, (GDSs), and travel booking engines consisting of major Web portals as well as specially marketed consumer travel sites. In addition to these reservation processing services, Magellan also offers value added services to it clients such as: Revenue Management Strategies, Yield Management Strategies, Customer Retention Management, Source of Business Strategies, Dynamic Packaging and all complimented with a full staff of experienced travel executives.Using the dynamic Magellan Source of Business practice combined with Magellan's Channel Distribution platform, Magellan clients are assured of obtaining the highest possible yield per reservation.Magellan offers companies extensive help in the transfer, acquisition and management of GDS codes. Companies can also be listed as affiliates under Magellan's proprietary chain code. Tour operators and cruise lines can benefit from Magellan's reservations booking engine and channel distribution services to grow their businesses.The introduction of our Magellan subsidiary was a natural transition for us, given our considerable experience in the development of CRS technologies. We have had many requests from travel companies around the world for these ASP reservation services, stated Paul Firos, President of Hotel Data Systems, Inc. Magellan Reservation Systems is in fact the world's first reservations circumnavigator!About Hotel Data Systems (HDS) and Magellan Reservation Services:HDS, headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, is a software firm dedicated to the development of enterprise level reservation solutions customized for hotel central reservation call centers worldwide. Hotel Data Systems, Inc. can be located on the Internet at www.hoteldata.com. Magellan Reservation Services, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hotel Data Systems, Inc., and was formed to provide a managed enterprise level CRS platform for hotels & resorts, time share, cruise and dinner boats, tour operators and car rental companies. This new service, offered by HDS, specializes in providing self-administered tactical reservation solutions for Voice, GDS, and Web including GDS representation and Alternative Distribution Systems (ADS), with emphasis on channel marketing based on leading edge technology.

Cruise Critic and NLG Sign Content Licensing Agreement

PENNINGTON, NJ May 19, 2004 -- Cruise Critic the Internet's leading consumer information-based online cruise travel site, and NLG, one of the nation's largest online and offline leisure travel companies, have signed a content licensing agreement. As a result, NLG will distribute select Cruise Critic content " including cruise reviews, port of call profiles and feature stories " across a host of travel sites. Specifically, Cruise Critic will furnish reviews of nearly 200 ships, cruise line profiles of more than 45 cruise lines, and destination-oriented features on 18 regions and 100 ports worldwide. NLG will supply the content to its owned brand websites including CruisesOnly and Vacation Outlet, as well as to its licensed brand partner sites. Our new partnership with NLG further solidifies our position in the marketplace as the objective industry source for cruise features and reviews, says Sandy Haberman, Cruise Critic's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Cruise Critic already has licensed content agreements with travel agency web sites such as Travelocity, Expedia and Cruise411.NLG is intent on extending our award-winning cruise shopping and booking experience. The depth of information Cruise Critic provides plays a significant role in that, said Tom Gerace, Senior Vice President - Marketing at NLG. A more convenient, informative online shopping experience breathes life into cruising and leads consumers to start dreaming about that perfect trip far in advance of their travel, helping our customers select the cruise vacation that is right for them. About Cruise CriticCruise Critic, launched in 1995, is an interactive community of seasoned and first-time cruisers who enjoy the fun of planning, researching and sharing their love of cruising.The site has been honored by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) with its Lowell Thomas Award. Cruise Critic owns the most heavily trafficked cruise message boards on the Web, with over 110,000 registered members. Cruise Critic is part of an online travel network owned, operated and published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a privately held New Jersey Corporation. Cruise Critic's sister site is The Independent Traveler. About NLGNLG is one of the nations largest online and offline leisure travel companies. The company enables consumers to plan and purchase their vacation or cruise online using industry-leading dynamic packaging technologies or offline with highly experienced travel consultants.The company interacts with millions of consumers through a portfolio of leading brands that it owns or licenses, including Vacation Outlet, CruisesOnly, Cruises.com, Orbitz (Nasdaq: ORBZ), SAM'S CLUB (NYSE: WMT), Yahoo!, Hotwire, priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN), AAdvantage Cruise, and many others. NLG is headquartered in Woburn, Mass. For outstanding vacation and cruise deals, visit Vacation Outlet, CruisesOnly, or one of many other partner sites.

Compare Cruise Insurance - You Often Get What You Pay For!

When planning a travel vacation or cruise vacation, the last thing that one wants to think about is trouble or cancellation. Thus travel and cruise insurance is often left on the back burner. However, when the time comes to purchase your vacation insurance, be sure that you compare cruise insurance and travel insurance policies to ensure that you are getting what you expect. As always, it's "buyer beware"!That's not to say that all insurance policies and companies are out to deceive you or hide the terms of insurance pay-outs. In fact, most are very reputable. The problem comes when trying to economize while buying insurance. You really do "get what you pay for" in most cases - especially when you compare insurance policies.There are often so many variables when purchasing cruise insurance or travel insurance that we can become somewhat complacent with what we are purchasing. Again, "Buyer Beware!" Make sure you know what's available and what's included in your insurance policy package. As an example, insurance companies like Travel Guard International, America's largest provider of travel insurance offers a wide range of benefits with their Comprehensive Coverage. Included in Travel Guard's packages are the following benefits:Trip Cancellation - Providing reimbursement of 100% of trip cost if the trip is cancelled under the terms of the insurance policy.Trip interruption - Providing reimbursement of trip cost if the trip is interrupted as covered by the insurance policy such as evacuation due to hurricane.Trip Delay - Providing reimbursement for additional accommodations or travel expenses if the traveler is delayed for more than several hours.Lost, Stolen or Damaged Baggage and travel documents - Providing reimbursements if luggage is lost, damaged or stolen while the insured is traveling, or if travel documents are lost or stolen.Baggage Delay - Providing reimbursement for the purchase of essential items if your bags are delayed more than 24 hours.Medical Expenses - Providing reimbursement for necessary medical expenses up to one year after the illness or injury providing the insured traveler sought medical treatment while on the trip.Emergency Medical Transportation - Covering the cost of evacuation and transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility.Travel Guard Assistance - A 24 hour hotline for emergency assistance, medical referrals, prescription replacement assistance, replacing travel documents and more.Livetravel - Travel Guard's round the clock travel agent service for emergency or last minute travel changes such as rebooking flights, arranging hotels and ground transportation and tracking lost luggage.Concierge - 24 hour worldwide access to restaurant referrals/reservations, event tickets, tee times, floral services, ground transportation and more.As well, in many cases, travelers purchasing Travel Guard insurance within 15 days of making their initial trip payment also receive at no additional cost:Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver - protection if pre-existing medical conditions force cancellation or interruption of a cruise or trip.Default Protection - providing reimbursement of trip cost if the tour operator, cruise line, airline or other travel supplier declares bankruptcy more than seven days after the effective date of the policy.Change Your Mind - protection against cancellation fees when a trip is cancelled for any reason.Please keep in mind that these benefits are subject to change, but at the time of this printing, are available. The above describes a comprehensive cruise or travel insurance policy. However, as they say, one size dose not fit all. You need to match your coverage requirements and budget restraints. Again, dealing with Travel Guard International, some of their popular products include:Cruise, Tour and Travel - Travel Guard's most comprehensive travel insurance plan.ProtectAssist - Solid travel insurance for the budget-conscious traveler - and Travel Guard's most popular plan.Cruise Guard - Travel insurance designed to surpass the protection plans offered by the cruise line.Air Ticket Protection - Protects air ticket investment against change fees, adds other assistance services.Student Travel Guard - A portfolio of student travel insurance plans protecting students on virtually all types from Spring Break to Semester Abroad.We have identified, through the use of Travel Guard International's plans and policies a vast number of cruise insurance options. We have stated before, but at the risk of being too repetitive, I think that it is important to re-iterate. "You get what you pay for. Buyer beware!"If you would like more information regarding Travel Guard International or would like to get a quotation for cruise or travel insurance, check out our article "Travel Guard International Cruise Insurance." You can find the link on our Article Map listed below.You've researched for your special cruise. You've found a fantastic cruise deal on-line. You've booked that cruise on-line. You've protected your cruise vacation investment by booking your insurance on-line. Now all that's left to do is to get excited!Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount-cruises.com your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com to book your fabulous cruise vacation! For more interesting articles visit our Article Map pages. If you have any general or specific questions regarding choosing a cruise line contact us at info@a1-discount-cruises.com using the subject line "Questions".

Compare Cruise Insurance - You often get what you pay for!

When planning a travel vacation or cruise vacation, the last thing that one wants to think about is trouble or cancellation. Thus travel and cruise insurance is often left on the back burner. However, when the time comes to purchase your vacation insurance, be sure that you compare cruise insurance and travel insurance policies to ensure that you are getting what you expect. As always, it's "buyer beware"!That's not to say that all insurance policies and companies are out to deceive you or hide the terms of insurance pay-outs. In fact, most are very reputable. The problem comes when trying to economize while buying insurance. You really do "get what you pay for" in most cases - especially when you compare insurance policies.There are often so many variables when purchasing cruise insurance or travel insurance that we can become somewhat complacent with what we are purchasing. Again, "Buyer Beware!" Make sure you know what's available and what's included in your insurance policy package. As an example, insurance companies like Travel Guard International, America's largest provider of travel insurance offers a wide range of benefits with their Comprehensive Coverage. Included in Travel Guard's packages are the following benefits:Trip Cancellation - Providing reimbursement of 100% of trip cost if the trip is cancelled under the terms of the insurance policy.Trip interruption - Providing reimbursement of trip cost if the trip is interrupted as covered by the insurance policy such as evacuation due to hurricane.Trip Delay - Providing reimbursement for additional accommodations or travel expenses if the traveler is delayed for more than several hours.Lost, Stolen or Damaged Baggage and travel documents - Providing reimbursements if luggage is lost, damaged or stolen while the insured is traveling, or if travel documents are lost or stolen.Baggage Delay - Providing reimbursement for the purchase of essential items if your bags are delayed more than 24 hours.Medical Expenses - Providing reimbursement for necessary medical expenses up to one year after the illness or injury providing the insured traveler sought medical treatment while on the trip.Emergency Medical Transportation - Covering the cost of evacuation and transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility.Travel Guard Assistance - A 24 hour hotline for emergency assistance, medical referrals, prescription replacement assistance, replacing travel documents and more.Livetravel - Travel Guard's round the clock travel agent service for emergency or last minute travel changes such as rebooking flights, arranging hotels and ground transportation and tracking lost luggage.Concierge - 24 hour worldwide access to restaurant referrals/reservations, event tickets, tee times, floral services, ground transportation and more.As well, in many cases, travelers purchasing Travel Guard insurance within 15 days of making their initial trip payment also receive at no additional cost:Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver - protection if pre-existing medical conditions force cancellation or interruption of a cruise or trip.Default Protection - providing reimbursement of trip cost if the tour operator, cruise line, airline or other travel supplier declares bankruptcy more than seven days after the effective date of the policy.Change Your Mind - protection against cancellation fees when a trip is cancelled for any reason.Please keep in mind that these benefits are subject to change, but at the time of this printing, are available. The above describes a comprehensive cruise or travel insurance policy. However, as they say, one size dose not fit all. You need to match your coverage requirements and budget restraints. Again, dealing with Travel Guard International, some of their popular products include:Cruise, Tour and Travel - Travel Guard's most comprehensive travel insurance plan.ProtectAssist - Solid travel insurance for the budget-conscious traveler - and Travel Guard's most popular plan.Cruise Guard - Travel insurance designed to surpass the protection plans offered by the cruise line.Air Ticket Protection - Protects air ticket investment against change fees, adds other assistance services.Student Travel Guard - A portfolio of student travel insurance plans protecting students on virtually all types from Spring Break to Semester Abroad.We have identified, through the use of Travel Guard International's plans and policies a vast number of cruise insurance options. We have stated before, but at the risk of being too repetitive, I think that it is important to re-iterate. "You get what you pay for. Buyer beware!"If you would like more information regarding Travel Guard International or would like to get a quotation for cruise or travel insurance, check out our article "Travel Guard International Cruise Insurance". For more informative articles, check out our Article Map. If you are looking to choose or book a cruise, our main Discount Cruises pages have plenty of merchant links with great cruise pricing. You've researched for your special cruise. You've found a fantastic cruise deal on-line. You've booked that cruise on-line. You've protected your cruise vacation investment by booking your insurance on-line. Now all that's left to do is to get excited!

Discounted cruises - things you should know

What is the same thing did 11 million people worldwide do in 2004? They took a cruise. Of course, some extremely rich people did not take a cruise technically but they used their yachts and spent days in opulence in the midst of the ocean. But for people like you and me, we have to be content with a cruise package offered by various travel agencies. If you think cruising is for old people or your parents, than you are wrong, my friend. Before you hurry up and buy your discounted cruise tickets advertised in the Internet or one of those travel magazines, you should be aware of the reality. Cruise prices are going up every year. Rooms are filling up very fast. So, bargains may not always be available. However, bargain prices can be found just before or after the holidays, or in shoulder seasons. Shoulder seasons vary from region to region, for example September for Alaskan cruises.Get ready for some unexpected problems in a deep discounted cruise ship. But, hey, don't forget that you also saved a bundle by purchasing a discounted trip. Engine problems are very common and some port of calls may be cancelled due to engine problems. If a port of call is cancelled you may have little recourse for a partial refund because your discounted ticket may have small prints that say that the cruise line can change their itinerates at their discretion.Imagine thousands of people in close proximity in a cruise ship. What do you expect? Well, how about viruses? Yes, a cruise ship is an idle breeding ground for all those nasty viruses. Check the CDC (center for Disease Control) web site for worldwide virus outbreak. But that should not dampen your cruise going spirit. Just stay healthy, exercise, wash your hands frequently with disinfecting soap and you will be fine.Don't pay a premium for airfare purchased through the cruise lines even if they promise you that they will hold the ship if your flight is delayed. Shop for your own airfare and the connections you prefer. Most of the time you will be ahead of the game and you don't have to fly red eye or use lousy connections.If the cruise line is promising an all-inclusive fare, try to understand their language. They are saying, hey, we will cover your foods, non-alcoholic drinks, and entertainment. You are on your own if you want to get intoxicated. But that should be fine because there is not much opportunity to spend a fortune in a discounted cruise ship.Don't fall for the gourmet food hype. Realize that it is a buffet style food, plenty, good but definitely not gourmet. There may be alternative restaurants besides the buffet style food. Sometimes, you have to pay in those restaurants. So be prepared for that. When the ship arrives at a port of call, either you can purchase their excursion tour or explore on your own. These excursion tours are money maker for cruise lines. If you want to purchase travel insurance, shop at insuremytrip.com and try to avoid the insurance offered by the cruise line. Don't get upset, if you find beer and pretzels, instead of, champagne and caviar. Enjoy your cruise and be happy that you are not spending a fortune for your vacation.

Helpingourhomeless.com Announces New Online Travel Booking Service

April 7, 2004 -- Helpingourhomeless.com invites you to discover our new online travel reservation system designed to save time and money. Now visitors to helpingourhomeless.com can shop 24x7 for the best possible travel deals on hotel rooms, car rentals, cruises, airline tickets, golf vacation packages and travel insurance, which 100% of all net profits goes to local homeless organizations all over the country.Select from over 57,000 hotels and resorts worldwide including 8,000+ Hot Rate hotels, 28 car rental companies, all major cruise lines, hundreds of airlines, 500 golf vacations and the leading travel insurance companies to book travel services instantly and securely.The helpingourhomeless.com hotel booking engine offers the high quality of over 200 major hotel brands in nearly 10,000 diverse destinations worldwide at discounted rates and features full color hotel brochures and interactive mapping. To accommodate the needs of global customers the hotel booking engine is available in 12 languages and can book hotel rooms in over 160 currencies.Vacation seekers can log on to helpingourhomeless.com to review the latest Hot Travel Deals specials, which include the latest and hottest deals on hotels, cruises and golf vacation packages with our specially negotiated rates. These specials are updated weekly and allow travelers to take advantage of deep discounts that they won't find anywhere else on the Web.Spend less time getting the travel information you need with our extensive details on each hotel and destination, and review our Family Friendly Travel Guide with a choice of hotels or resorts that cater to families with young children or pets.Helpingourhomeless.com provides online cruise availability and booking in real time, allowing you to compare several different cruise line packages at once. Visitors can take 360-degree virtual tours of cruise ships, plan whole cruise vacations and book discounted cruises via telephone, web or e-mail.Through broad choices, low prices and excellent customer service, helpingourhomeless.com can take you to where you want to go.Now you can have the joy of giving, while at the same time, getting deep discounted rates on all of your travel needs.For any organization that would like to get approved to receive donations from Helpingour homeless.com must fill out the form located on our website.

www.TRAVELFAD.com ANNOUNCES NEW ONLINE TRAVEL BOOKING SERVICE

ORLANDO, FL July 27, 2004 -- www.travelfad.com invites you to discover our new online travel reservation system designed to save time and money. Now visitors to www.travelfad.com can shop 24x7 for the best possible travel deals on hotel rooms, car rentals, cruises, airline tickets, golf vacation packages and travel insurance.Select from over 57,000 hotels and resorts worldwide including 8,000+ Hot Rate hotels, 28 car rental companies, all major cruise lines, hundreds of airlines, 500 golf vacations and the leading travel insurance companies to book travel services instantly and securely.The www.travelfad.com hotel booking engine offers the high quality of over 200 major hotel brands in nearly 10,000 diverse destinations worldwide at discounted rates and features full color hotel brochures and interactive mapping. To accommodate the needs of global customers the hotel booking engine is available in 12 languages and can book hotel rooms in over 160 currencies.Vacation seekers can log on to travelfad.com to review the latest Hot Travel Deals specials, which include the latest and hottest deals on hotels, cruises and golf vacation packages with our specially negotiated rates. These specials are updated weekly and allow travelers to take advantage of deep discounts that they won't find anywhere else on the Web.Spend less time getting the travel information you need with our extensive details on each hotel and destination, and review our Family Friendly Travel Guide with a choice of hotels or resorts that cater to families with young children or pets.www.travelfad.com provides online cruise availability and booking in real time, allowing you to compare several different cruise line packages at once. Visitors can take 360-degree virtual tours of cruise ships, plan whole cruise vacations and book discounted cruises via telephone, web or e-mail.Through broad choices, low prices and excellent customer service, travelfad.com can take you to where you want to go.

The History Of Celebrity Cruise Lines

The Chandris Line was the precursor of Celebrity Cruises. One of the ships operated by Chandris was the beautiful Liner America previously owned by the United States Line and initially captained by Demitrios Challioris who had been in charge of a crude oil tanker in Southampton.Chandris bought the largest passenger liner ever in Greece called the Australis. The Australis had served extensively as a troop ship during the second world war so underwent a major refit and became a one-class configuration geared to carry 2300 passengers.The aft promenade decks were extended, a swimming poolwas added, and air conditioning was installed.She made 3 month voyages around the world from Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Southampton, Casablanca, Las Palmas, Cape Town,(or through the Mediterranean via Gibraltar, Naples, Malta, Piraeus, Port Said and Aden), Freemantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Tahiti, Acapulco, Balboa, Cristobal, Port Everglades and return to Southampton.Chandris Lines also had the Australian Government's prized immigrant contract bringing tens of thousands of new immigrants out to major ports in Australia.The ships were always sold out so that there were 3 sittings for dinner and special sittings for kids. P&O, a rival cruise line, had ceased the line voyage business to Australia so that the Australis was now known as "the world's largest express liner" .In 1977 Australis tried a new itinerary from the South Pacific to points in South America to Portugal. Interest in Sea Travel at that time was low and Australis and became the sole remaining liner on the trade. New Immigrants now traveled by jet.In November of 1977 Australis was laid up. In 1978 she was sold to US investors. They mismanaged the ship and their company, Venture Cruises, was declared bankrupt.Guess who bought the ship in bankruptcy court? Chandris Lines. For $4 million less than the amount for which they sold her four months earlier!The ship was laid up and sold in 1992. Celebrity Cruises was created by Chandris Lines as a separate luxury cruise line, initially using Chandris's Galileo, which was renamed Meridian after she was rebuilt. She was joined by the new ships Horizon and Zenith in 1990 and 1992.In 1989 there was a need in the Cruise Industry for a luxury product at a decent price. Chandris wanted to establish a worldwide standard for cruising by The company was determined to set a new, worldwide standard for cruising.Exceptional Cuisine and all its facets became the mainstay of the Celebrity Cruise experience. Master Chefs serve as the line's revered culinary and wine consultants since its founding.In 1995 Celebrity introduced the so called Century Class Fleet with an Industry first: Luxurious Spa Experiences. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises merged with Royal Caribbean International, bringing together two extraordinary cruise brands within one corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Today Royal Caribbean uses 29 Cruise Liners.Cruising has become so popular that from 2000 to 2002 Royal Caribbean doubled its passenger capacity. Its newest ships use gas turbine engines reducing exhaust emissions by 95% and have become traveling art shows as well. They boast original paneling and artifacts from famous transatlantic luxury liners.In 2001, building on the strengths of both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands,Royal Celebrity Tours was started to offer truly unique vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe, combining outstanding cruises with exceptional pre- or post-cruise land tour packages now known as "cruisetours."Frank Vanderlugt loves Celebrity Cruise Lines.http://www.celebrity-cruise-now.info and http://www.2qz.com/condo-cruise-ship and http://www.condo-cruise-ship.com

Celebrity Cruise Lines History

The Chandris Line was the precursor of Celebrity Cruises.One of the ships operated by Chandris was the beautiful Liner America previously owned by the United States Line and initially captained by Demitrios Challioris who had been in charge of a crude oil tanker in Southampton.Chandris bought the largest passenger liner ever in Greece called the Australis. The Australis had served extensively as a troop ship during the second world war so underwent a major refit and became a one-class configuration geared to carry 2300 passengers. The aft promenade decks were extended, a swimming poolwas added, and air conditioning was installed. She made 3 month voyages around the world from Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Southampton, Casablanca, Las Palmas, Cape Town,(or through the Mediterranean via Gibraltar, Naples, Malta, Piraeus, Port Said and Aden), Freemantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Tahiti, Acapulco, Balboa, Cristobal, Port Everglades and return to Southampton.Chandris Lines also had the Australian Government's prized immigrant contract bringing tens of thousands of new immigrants out to major ports in Australia The ships were always sold out so that there were 3 sittings for dinner and special sittings for kids. P&O, a rival cruise line, had ceased the line voyage business to Australia so that the Australis was now known as "the world's largest express liner".In 1977 Australis tried a new itinerary from the South Pacific to points in South America to Portugal.Interest in Sea Travel at that time was low and Australis and became the sole remaining liner on the trade.New Immigrants now traveled by jet.In November of 1977 Australis was laid up.In 1978 she was sold to US investors.They mismanaged the ship and their company, Venture Cruises, was declared bankrupt.Guess who bought the ship in bankruptcy court?Chandris Lines.For $4 million less than the amount for which they sold her four months earlier!The ship was laid up and sold in 1992.Celebrity Cruises was created by Chandris Lines as a separate luxury cruise line, initially using Chandris's Galileo, which was renamed Meridian after she was rebuilt. She was joined by the new ships Horizon and Zenith in 1990 and 1992.In 1989 there was a need in the Cruise Industry for a luxury product at a decent price.Chandris wanted to establish a worldwide standard for cruising by The company was determined to set a new, worldwide standard for cruising.Exceptional Cuisine and all its facets became the mainstay of the Celebrity Cruise experience.Master Chefs serve as the line's revered culinary and wine consultants since its founding.In 1995 Celebrity introduced the so called Century Class Fleet with an Industry first:Luxurious Spa Experiences.In 1997, Celebrity Cruises merged with Royal Caribbean International, bringing together two extraordinary cruise brands within one corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.Today Royal Caribbean uses 29 Cruise Liners.Cruising has become so popular that from 2000 to 2002 Royal Caribbean doubled its passenger capacity.Its newest ships use gas turbine engines reducing exhaust emissions by 95% and have become traveling art shows as well. They boast original paneling and artifacts from famous transatlantic luxury liners.In 2001, building on the strengths of both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands,Royal Celebrity Tours was started to offer truly unique vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe, combining outstanding cruises with exceptional pre- or post-cruise land tour packages now known as "cruisetours."J Shipper loves Celebrity Cruise Lines. http://www.celebrity-cruise-now.info and http://www.2qz.com/condo-cruise-ship

The History Of Celebrity Cruise Lines

The Chandris Line was the precursor of Celebrity Cruises.One of the ships operated by Chandris was the beautiful Liner America previously owned by the United States Line and initially captained by Demitrios Challioris who had been in charge of a crude oil tanker in Southampton.Chandris bought the largest passenger liner ever in Greece called the Australis. The Australis had served extensively as a troop ship during the second world war so underwent a major refit and became a one-class configuration geared to carry 2300 passengers.The aft promenade decks were extended, a swimming pool was added, and air conditioning was installed.She made 3 month voyages around the world from Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Southampton, Casablanca, Las Palmas, Cape Town,(or through the Mediterranean via Gibraltar, Naples, Malta, Piraeus, Port Said and Aden), Freemantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Tahiti, Acapulco, Balboa, Cristobal, Port Everglades and return to Southampton.Chandris Lines also had the Australian Government's prized immigrant contract bringing tens of thousands of new immigrants out to major ports in Australia The ships were always sold out so that there were 3 sittings for dinner and special sittings for kids. P&O, a rival cruise line, had ceased the line voyage business to Australia so that the Australis was now known as "the world's largest express liner" .In 1977 Australis tried a new itinerary from the South Pacific to points in South America to Portugal.Interest in Sea Travel at that time was low and Australis and became the sole remaining liner on the trade.New Immigrants now traveled by jet.In November of 1977 Australis was laid up.In 1978 she was sold to US investors.They mismanaged the ship and their company, Venture Cruises, was declared bankrupt.Guess who bought the ship in bankruptcy court?Chandris Lines.For $4 million less than the amount for which they sold her four months earlier!The ship was laid up and sold in 1992.Celebrity Cruises was created by Chandris Lines as a separate luxury cruise line, initially using Chandris's Galileo, which was renamed Meridian after she was rebuilt. She was joined by the new ships Horizon and Zenith in 1990 and 1992.In 1989 there was a need in the Cruise Industry for a luxury product at a decent price.Chandris wanted to establish a worldwide standard for cruising by The company was determined to set a new, worldwide standard for cruising.Exceptional Cuisine and all its facets became the mainstay of the Celebrity Cruise experience.Master Chefs serve as the line's revered culinary and wine consultants since its founding.In 1995 Celebrity introduced the so called Century Class Fleet with an Industry first:Luxurious Spa Experiences.In 1997, Celebrity Cruises merged with Royal Caribbean International, bringing together two extraordinary cruise brands within one corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.Today Royal Caribbean uses 29 Cruise Liners.Cruising has become so popular that from 2000 to 2002 Royal Caribbean doubled its passenger capacity.Its newest ships use gas turbine engines reducing exhaust emissions by 95% and have become traveling art shows as well.They boast original paneling and artifacts from famous transatlantic luxury liners.In 2001, building on the strengths of both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands,Royal Celebrity Tours was started to offer truly unique vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe, combining outstanding cruises with exceptional pre- or post-cruise land tour packages now known as "cruisetours."

Cruises Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Fighting cancer is now as easy as booking a Disney cruise thanks to a new program from CI Travel called Pink Ribbon Cruises. CI Travel has partnered with breast cancer survivors and cruise lines to create a program through which a portion of the company's commissions on any cruise booking will be donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. While the program is valid for virtually any cruise booked through the program, one of the most popular cruise ships is the Disney Magic, so CI Travel has created a special seven-night cruise aboard the ship in September 2003. In addition to helping the fight against breast cancer, Pink Ribbon cruisers will get invitations to special gatherings, have opportunities to meet special guests, and receive a number of gifts and amenities.Joining the cruise will be leading independent Disney expert (and breast cancer survivor) Deb Wills, the creator of AllEarsNet and the highly rated Disney resource site www.wdwig.com. Deb Wills' site has been acclaimed globally as one of the leading independent Disney resources on the worldwide web, and she is an unabashed fan of the magic that Disney creates. Also joining the cruise will be Chuck Wagner (www.ChuckWagner.com) , a well-known Broadway musical actor who has starred in over 1,200 performances of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Chuck will be joined by his wife, Susan, also a breast cancer survivor.According to CI Travel's Elizabeth Foss, the goal of the program is to offer a great vacation, a competitive price, and outstanding customer service, while also supporting the fight against breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. CI Travel is to be commended for creating Pink Ribbon Cruises, says www.wdwig.com's Deb Wills. Not only are they giving back to the community, but they're making it easy to do good " while having a good time. Unfortunately, one in every eight women will be diagnosed with this disease, now the leading cause of death in women ages 35 to 54.CI Travel is a $160 million company with more than 50 locations and is an affiliate of TRAVELSAVERS, INC., one of the leading international marketing organizations. TRAVELSAVERS now represents more than 2,500 independently owned travel agencies generating more than $13.5 billion dollars in annual sales. CI Travel is recognized as one of the top 50 travel companies in the country according to Travel Weekly. In 1996, CI Travel established an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). In doing so, CI Travel joins the growing list of companies whose employees are stockholders, although they are still rare in the travel industry.Pink Ribbon Cruises may only be booked through the program's website, PinkRibbonCruises.com. Only new bookings are eligible for Pink Ribbon Cruises benefits.

Six-Star Cruising on Luxury Cruise Lines

A luxury cruise is just what the name implies, a cruise at the upper end of the spectrum, not just five stars but a six-star cruise. There are six cruise lines that are in the luxury class: Crystal Cruise Line, Cunard Cruise Line, Radisson Seven Seas, The Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea Cruise Line, and Windstar Cruises.Crystal Cruise Line has received numerous awards for excellence. For the last nine years, Conde Nast Traveler has named Crystal "Best Large-Ship Cruise Line". Also for the last nine years, Travel + Leisure magazine has given Crystal the status of "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line". And for service, a Travel + Leisure reader's poll voted Crystal "World's Best". Crystal Cruise Line operates only three ships: Crystal Harmony, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. These ships carry approximately 1,000 passengers each and Crystal Cruise Line boasts the greatest passenger space per guest of any cruise line.Do you recognize the ship names Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth? These great ships come from Cunard, a name long synonymous with luxury and elegance in cruises. "With Cunard, the journey may be even more magnificent than the destination" states their promotional literature. Cunard operates just two award-winning luxury ships. The Queen Mary 2, launched in January, 2004, is known as the longest, tallest and largest ocean liner and carries 2,620 passengers. It is replacing the Queen Elizabeth 2 for transatlantic crossings but the QE2 will still be available for cruises.Radisson Seven Seas is a small luxury cruise line. Small here means that the ships carry a small number of passengers. Fewer than 700 fortunate passengers per cruise are pampered by attentive staff. Radisson Seven Seas has been named by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines to be the "World's Best Small Cruise Line". Radisson Seven Seas appeals to the sophisticated traveler.The Yachts of Seabourn cruise line advertises that they provide "Ultra Luxury" by "delivering the highest levels of personalized service to an exclusive group of guests aboard intimate, elegant ships that could visit the most enticing destinations worldwide." Seabourn sails three identical all-suite ships that cater to only 208 passengers each. Of course, dining and service is world-class.Silversea Cruises is a new company, founded in 1994, for the express purpose of providing an ultra-luxury cruise experience aboard small and intimate ships with all the features of a large cruise vessel. The Silverseas ships Cloud, Wind, Shadow, and Whisper provide all-suite accommodations that between 250 square feet and over 1,300 square feet in size. Silversea vies with Radisson Seven Seas and Crystal Cruise Lines for the accolades of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure in the world's best categories. Silversea Cruises has also has been named by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines to be the "World's Best Small Cruise Line" many times since its inception.Windstar Cruises offers a totally different sailing experience. Windstar Cruises offers motor-sail-yachts instead of cruise ships. Yes, their ships actually have sails that are computer-controlled with the latest in technology. Windstar's four ships carry just 148 to 308 passengers in staterooms or luxurious suites, giving the feel of being aboard a personal yacht. Even with such a small fleet, Windstar Cruises sail to over 47 countries around the world.If you're in the market for a luxury cruise, there are a number of excellent cruise lines to chose from.Looking for information about cruises?Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com'What Cruises' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises!Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Stratton Travel Attends Exclusive Luxury Travel Conference

Mahwah, NJ September 24, 2004 -- Over 2,000 top luxury travel agents from North and South America, the Caribbean and Australia " all part of the by-invitation-only Virtuoso travel network " recently convened in Las Vegas at the Bellagio for the ultimate summit of industry leaders. Thousands of individual meetings were conducted over a week between agents and top executives from the world's best cruise lines, hotels, resorts, airlines, tour operators and other travel-related companies. Mahwah, New Jersey-based Stratton Travel Management and parent company, VTS Travel Enterprises, were among the attendees.It was an amazing week of new information, updates and relationship building, said Robin Marcus, CTC, a Master Cruise Counselor at Stratton Travel, and we are honored to be among this elite group of travel professionals. Marcus continued, A personal connection is invaluable in this industry, and our clients truly benefit from this high-level networking as well as the most up-to-date knowledge of what's new, improved and on the horizon in luxury travel.To be considered for membership in Virtuoso, a travel agency must maintain a certain annual sales threshold with Virtuoso's elite travel industry partners, including hotel groups such as Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and St. Regis, as well as top cruise lines such as Crystal, Cunard, Silversea and Seabourn. Leveraging its $3 billion annual buying power, Virtuoso holds exclusive agreements with the world's leading hotels, resorts, spas, cruise lines, tour companies, rail lines, airlines and ground operators. Utilizing a Virtuoso specialist (such as those at Stratton Travel) to arrange upscale leisure travel automatically entitles clients to complimentary upgrades, amenities, privileged access opportunities and private events at many top international and domestic destinations. To find out more about top vacations worldwide, contact the following travel specialists: Tamsin Allpress at 888-697-0588 for exotic destinations; Robin Marcus at 888-456-9195 for luxury cruises, tours and spa vacations; Benita Herman at 888-488-0445 for expert cruise, tour and family travel guidance or call 800-223-0599 to find general information about Stratton Travel and its resources within the Virtuoso network of luxury travel agencies. About Stratton Travel ManagementStratton Travel Management is a Mahwah, New Jersey-based corporate and leisure travel agency with more than 35 on-site locations in the United States. Senior Stratton Travel agents work with corporate clients to consolidate purchasing power, leverage the latest travel technology and achieve cost savings through corporate travel policy enforcement and negotiated travel rates. As a Virtuoso agency, Stratton Travel's leisure division focuses on upscale, luxury travel for clients interested in traveling worldwide. Dedication to service and a superior understanding of each client's needs make Stratton Travel a great choice for all travelers, business or leisure!About VTS Travel EnterprisesVTS Travel Enterprises, Inc. is a leading travel management company located in Mahwah, New Jersey, specializing in managed corporate and leisure travel. Established in 1980, VTS Travel has grown through a program of strategic acquisitions and partnerships, increasing the number and quality of corporate, consumer and technology services offered. During this time, VTS Travel has become a leader in many aspects of the travel industry with over $500 million in current annual revenues, an employee base of over 400 national travel agents and 120 onsite representatives working within leading U.S. corporations. With services that range from telephone-based air, hotel and leisure reservations to Internet-based managed travel and reporting, VTS can supply an end-to-end travel solution for less.

Taking A Vacation Without Being Taken In By A Travel Agent

The travel industry reports profits in excess of $5.4 trillion worldwide. Travel agents earn a large amount of this money by receiving commissions on flights, hotels, cruises and even rental cars from coastal vacations. Consumers pay these travel agent commissions through hidden fees or other costs for their coastal vacation.The high costs of travel ground many people who dream of taking a coastal vacation to forget their troubles and everyday life.Eliminating the commission paid to a travel agent can make a vacation more affordable and attractive to almost anyone. A consumer can save 10 to 25 percent on a coastal vacation if they do not use a travel agent.Most major airlines eliminated travel agent commissions in recent years. Many travel agencies now make money by charging for their advice for coastal vacations. This "advice" costs anywhere from $60 to $80 an hour.Yet most consumers still choose this costly option when planning a coastal vacation. According to the American Society for Travel Agents, travel agents book:* 87 percent of cruises* 81 percent of tours* 51 percent of airline tickets* 47 percent of hotelsConsumers seeking coastal vacations can find an affordable option on their own, without using a travel agent. With money and time, consumers beat travel agents at their own game and enjoy a great coastal vacation!1. Good research equals good coastal vacations. The adage, "Location, location" rings true when traveling. A room with an Oceanside view means different things at different hotels and travel agents know this. A travel agent knows the best hotels for travelers seeking coastal vacations.The consumer who looks out his or her window with a clear view of beautiful beach during his or her coastal vacation will return to the hotel annually.If litter, nudist, dirty water or other unsightly views cloud the vision from the hotel, the consumer remembers this about their coastal vacation (and not too fondly) and will tell the travel agent. Travel agents do not want to hear this kind of news.Consumers can research their destinations for their coastal vacation and their hotels without paying a travel agent. Online travel sites provide detailed information about destinations, hotels and attractions and these sites do not charge consumers. Consumers act as their own travel agents for their coastal vacations save money.2. Money means everything! Unfortunately, most people lack the resources to take the coastal vacation they really want and should not give any of their money to a travel agent. Many airlines, hotels and online travel sites list great deals on vacations around the world on their websites. Anyone can take advantage of these coastal vacation deals without calling a travel agent.3. Travel agents do not know consumers as well as consumers know themselves. Would a conservative Christian want to visit a nudist beach for his or her coastal vacation?Would an avid angler prefer a beach where that prohibits fishing? Travel agents often make crucial mistakes when booking coastal vacations for consumers because they do not know their clients.4. Consumers can take advantage of travel agent business opportunities. Consumers with a home-based travel agent business receive discounts they pass on to friends and family.This gives the consumer the opportunity to take a dream coastal vacation and explore a new career. A home-based travel agent business gives a consumer financial and personal freedom to take as many coastal vacations as they like.

Carlson Leisure Travel Services Scores Extraordinary ROI and Highest Customer Satisfaction as Re-certification to the COPC-2000 Standard is Completed

Amherst, NY May 3, 2004 -" Carlson Leisure Travel Services is among the top services providers for credit card companies, financial institutions, and fulfillment loyalty programs. Driven by the demand for highest quality customer service, Carlson Leisure Travel Services clearly demonstrated World Class distinction while implementing the re-certification process across multiple contact centers. The re-certification audit was completed in less than one week with Carlson Leisure Travel Services meeting 100% compliance requirements immediately.Carlson Leisure Travel Services continues to make history as the first " and to date, only " travel fulfillment provider worldwide to achieve re-certification, and again, among mid- to large-size companies, achieving re-certification in the shortest time period. The re-certification process clearly demonstrates our continued commitment to Contact Center Excellence, ensuring our clients the highest quality customer service, stated Eric Burdon, Executive Vice President of Minneapolis-based Carlson Leisure Travel Services, which operates customer contact centers in Boise, Idaho and St. Louis, Missouri. Recognizing the critical importance of exceptional and consistent customer experience, the COPC certification process aligns perfectly with the Best-in-Class vision of Carlson Leisure Travel Services. Understanding the operational impact of quantified measures has driven both customer satisfaction and increased revenue. In fact, over 80% of recent, dramatic cost savings have been directly attributed to the COPC-2000 Standard implementation. COPC has been instrumental in our efforts to improve our business " and the results speak for themselves. They have helped us combine the best of the COPC-2000 Standard framework, Six Sigma and COPC Registered Coordinator training, enabling us to successfully grow our revenue, dramatically reduce operating costs, while delivering the highest level of quality and customer service, declared Mark Steinweg, General Manager. These efforts not only help to provide peace-of-mind to our clients and their customers, but it also strengthens our reputation as a great and secure place to work.Since its inception in 1996, Carlson Leisure Travel Services has evolved into the prominent service provider in the field of leisure travel award redemption programs and continues to enhance its valued level of customer service.About COPC Headquartered in Amherst, New York, Customer Operations Performance Center, Inc. (COPC) is the leading authority on customer contact center operations. COPC is authorized to issue certification to the COPC-2000 Standard, a comprehensive operations performance standard that specifies minimum operational requirements in critical functional areas. COPC services clients on a worldwide basis, and has representatives in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States.The COPC Standard was developed in 1995 by individuals from Microsoft, Motorola, Dell, American Express, L.L. Bean, Intel, and other customer-focused companies who were concerned with the level of service quality provided by Customer Service Providers (CSPs). Several hundred locations in 30 countries are using the Standard to improve performance, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. Users include firms in e-commerce, computer hardware and software, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications and consumer products. For additional information about COPC, visit www.copc.com, email info@copc.com or call us at 512-250-3412.About Carlson Leisure Travel ServicesCarlson Leisure Travel Services, a division of Carlson Travel Group, Inc. (wholly-owned by Carlson Companies), provides corporate clients with employee leisure booking tools, including TripForce.com, in addition to providing financial institutions and credit card reward programs with travel award redemptions. Through its customer contact centers, Carlson Leisure Travel Services currently assists more than 6.5 million active members of client credit card loyalty programs.Carlson Travel Group, Inc, is a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies. Among the names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: Carlson Marketing Group, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Carlson Destination Marketing Services, Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn hotels, Results Travel, Cruise Holidays, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, and T.G.I. Friday's and Pick Up Stix restaurants.

Discover A New Concept In A Travel Business - Cruise To Cash

The Travel Industry generates approximately 7 trillion dollars in revenue every year. Obviously, from these numbers, a travel business is an extremely lucrative niche business. Although much of these dollars are spent with large companies, such as airlines, hotels and resorts, with such a huge amount of revenue there is plenty left over for the "little guy" with a unique product as well. The Global Abundance Program has taken advantage of this and introduced a totally revolutionary travel business model - Cruise to Cash.Cruise to Cash is a travel business that provides a unique set of features including unlimited vacation vouchers that can be used personally and as promotional tools for other product offerings. It also provides an opportunity for the average person to start a travel business at a reasonable entry price. As the numbers would indicate, not only is the market large but the interest is also great amongst the population. Who hasn't dreamed of going to exotic locations and "living the good life"? Getting into travel as a business touches that "dream" aspect in everyone.Fred Siller, Chief Operating Officer of Cruise to Cash has had previous experience as an owner of a Multi-lines Insurance business and as a Top Leader in Home-Based Businesses. From this experience, Fred knows what will and what won't. Fred has had the opportunity to teach and train thousands in the game of "Free Enterprise" and plans to continue with this new endeavor. Cruise to Cash is G.A.P.'s newest business addition. It includes all types of travel - cruises, airfare, hotels, etc.For many folks flocking to the Home-Based business arena, Cruise to Cash may be the company they are looking for. It is an affiliate of a successful, innovative company run by experience Internet Entrepreneurs - the Global Abundance Program. G.A.P. is a company with social awareness and a commitment to global abundance - a portion of all sales are given to charities worldwide. Cruise to Cash is a unique business model with a very attractive and tangible product and a lucrative compensation plan that can be reached by most people wanting to get into a home business. All of these will contribute positively to the proliferation of the program and success of the members.