Showing posts with label cruises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cruises. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2009

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.



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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.



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Saturday, October 3, 2009

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.




Tuesday, September 29, 2009

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.