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.