One reason (the first of many) to use a travel agent

Why a Travel Agent? reason #1:

I often hear "I use the same Booking Agent at the cruise line all the time" and my reply is always "Yeah, I used too also."  Last year I finally broke away and decided to give this a serious look.  I love, Love, LOVE to help people, I know about travel and I love to plan travel....sometimes to the point where every little minute is planned.  

I have planned out land vacations to Alaska, Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Portland, Quebec, Niagara Falls with Cedar Point and Put-in-Bay, New York City and numerous ski trips, to name a few. When it comes to cruising, I have booked a "ba-gillion".

Don't get me wrong....there are TA's who are in it just for the money and just because it is a job.  Also, there are even more TA's who are in it just to save money on their own vacations.  I want to help people who have the same attitude and the same dream as myself.  I want my clients to strive to get everything they can out of their week or 10 days or more.  I want to save them money and make sure they have seen what they set out to see ..and more!

Travelers have the option of scoping everything out on the internet today.  But still there are ideas out there waiting to be shared.  There are also dangers out there that a TA can help you battle, especially today when booking a cruise.  Once I discovered the differences in using a TA over just booking it over the internet or even over the phone with the cruise line....it was a no brainer...I just had to step out and learn how to do this! Let us start with the "book while cruising" issue.

The most common booking issue when you don't use a TA, is the "pre-sale" contract. These "saver" plans make a lot of extra revenue for the company.  By hooking people into booking early and on-the-spot they make back the dollars of the discount by charging change fees. A lot of travellers get caught in the hype of booking while on the ship because of the onboard credit they are offering.  When they return home and find out they cannot go, not only is the OBC gone, but they are usually charged per person to change their itinerary. 

I find it is best to book under a different promotion being offered and then "follow" the sales.  Reserve the cabin you want but change the promotion code later.  Switch to the rate for "early bookings" after you make sure you can go.  You have time...don't get drawn in.

Example:  Linda is on a cruise and they announce "if you book while on the ship you will get a future cruise onboard credit of $100".  Linda is loving her cruise so she books one for next year for her and her husband.  It is usually booked under a promotion that has a change fee of $50 per person.  Linda finds out after returning home that her chosen week to cruise will not work at her job.  Changing two people at $50 per person just ate up that OBC!  Remember the OBC is per cabin...if you book with children your penalty for changing could cost you more than the OBC you were going to get.

Meanwhile.....Sue calls me and wants to book a cruise.  Even though there is a early rate sale for reserving this cruise so far out...there is also a Past Guest rate with no penalties for changes or even cancelling.  This is the rate we use. Two months later when Sue is sure they are going, we check the current promotions and switch to the early rate.  In addition...I have a group booking on that same cruise and she is still getting a OBC!

What am I saying?  Don't rush, don't react and check into options.  Sometimes there is a better way!

Follow my blog and let us journey together.  I will try my best to help you and save you money.  Share this with your friends!

Since I was three...that's right since 1962

Since I was three...that's right since 1962

While cleaning out my parents home, I came across some old cruise photos and paperwork.  My parents always took us because they refused to leave us with people while they travelled.  We would be the only children on the ship most time.  Many times we would be fussed over and sometimes even used as part of the entertainment. We would get really bad looks from other adults who seem disappointed that there were children onboard.  I find this funny now..... because I prefer to travel when school is IN session for the same reasons.... I suppose!

I remember one cruise, the main entertainment was a puppeteer named Victor Charles.  He used marionette type puppets and his partner played the piano for sound effects.  That was the main show, no kidding!  No Broadway shows or dancers, no singing.  He performed two nights and I got called up to the stage both nights to assist him. Definitely no babysitting services...our parents had to take us everywhere or switch off.  

Once, when my dad was in charge of me, I feel asleep in the top bunk and he slept below.  When my mother returned from her shopping excursion she thought I had left the cabin. She had the Captain stop the ship and everyone was looking for me.  You see, I had fallen inside the wall where the bed went, behind the mattress, while sleeping.  No one could see me.  Thankfully I woke up after causing a commotion and 30 minute delay!

The ships would hold hundreds, not thousands.  There were not mega cruise lines with multiple ships. I also remember real wood staircases, red velvet drapes and the Purser was always a very good looking young man.... that I would have a "crush" on every time.  Now, we see a lot of stainless steel instead wood and hardly any drapes at all.

I recently sailed a "throwback" cruise.  I missed the auctioning off of the "horses" for the race.  It is sad that I was told they don't do it because passengers abused it.  I missed the "flaming" Baked Alaska but I was told the due to insurance they cannot offer it.  Oh, how I wish, we really could go back in time.

I am attaching some photos.  Imagine this today?????  They won't even give out a cabin number now because they have to protect us from twisted people.  SAD!

1. Imagine... not only are our names listed, but our cabin numbers...and we children have our OWN cabin...no adult assigned.
2. I did a count and there is 140 passengers on this sailing of the Cabo Izarra and our Captian was Jesus.  
3. Can you imagine now if they listed this?  All the people rooming with someone they maybe shouldn't be?  LOL
4. Although I miss so much...I still love to cruise!

New Port Review - Amber Cove

Amber Cove

I recently visited a new port....which is getting hard to do these days. Amber Cove was developed by Carnival for their brands: Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Costa and is also hosting bi-weekly Fathom "social impact" cruises from Miami.  They spent a lot of money and really did a good job on making this port fun for all.

Thankfully, Amber Cove is not a tender port.  That is the first great thing  The second thing I noted is.....IF you were on a budget or tired.....this port has enough to do to just "chill" out.

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful place so I want to make sure you don't misunderstand me.  I am not saying that you should just hang out at the port and not take an excursion or see the island.  There are wonderful tours offered by the cruise line as well as independent tours for those like me who dare to find my own.  In fact, I am scheduled to go there again in soon and I must take the Waterfall Tour! 

You will find: shops, a huge pool with a swim up bar, a restaurant, waterslide, cabanas for rent, a zipline over the pool area, cultural center, another "sky" bar and more.

Rental Cabanas are seen as your ship docks.  There are actually 4 types of cabanas at the port:  Grand Cabana for a larger group, ocean side, pool side  and hill side. Although I recommend reserving in advance through the ship, when we were there cabanas were available to rent still. This is a picture of the Grand cabana and several ocean side cabanas.

This is the back of the Hill side.  The front porch area hangs over the hill with a great view of the port and pool below. 

Each cabana has it owns shower as seen here.

The pool area is huge with an abundance of lounge chairs, Swim-up bar and plenty of music. If you look closely  you can see the restaurant behind the bar.  Unlike Half Moon Cay, the employees at this port are NOT from the ship and you do NOT use your Sign and Sail Card to make purchases.

Ziplining is purchased as a daily add-on and guests may "zip" as much as they want.  It is perfect for teenagers!  The waterslide is enjoyed by just about anyone !

Shhhhh...be careful what your share

Shhhhh...be careful what your share

We, ourselves....you and I .... our friends, family and fellow cruisers, have created the monsters that we complain about now.

We have gone on social media and cruise websites posting pictures, likes and dislikes, hints and secrets.  We have no right to criticize a cruise line for making changes based on supply and demand or popularity.  After all, they are businesses and they want to make a profit right?

Yes, us ...the privileged ones who get to cruise all the time...are now mad because:

• loyalty programs have changed their benefits
• cabins now have more categories and cost more in certain areas
• privileges such as getting on early can be bought
• secret areas are now exposed
• and even.....alcohol can no longer be sneaked on it water bottles
• and many other ideas

We love to cruise and we have told everyone what a great deal you can get.  Cruising has even become a family tradition.  Now we are upset that there are too many loyal cruisers and program benefits have needed to be altered.  They can't possibly put 1800 in the lounge at one time, or 500 on the first tender.  We need to be real here and stop thinking we are the only ones who cruise a lot. And...God forbid that they will only wash my undies twice in 8 days!  Have we really gotten upset over this?  What other vacation do you go on that does your laundry for you?

We have gone on Cruise Critic and have started "debate" conversations about how great aft balconies are...and surprise, they are now more expensive.  We have told countless stories about putting vodka in mouthwash bottles, water bottles and more. We have written to cruise lines offering our suggestions to have benefits we are willing to pay for.  And when this causes more passengers to do it, it becomes limited.

If you don't think (or know) that cruise lines are smart enough to have employees search and follow the internet, you should think again.  I recently chatted with a cruise line executive who put me in contact with an employee who does just that.  This employee shared and discussed with me about what was being reported on a cruise that was rerouted due to a storm.  He explained how his team was monitoring the comments on Cruise Critic.

There is a big difference with telling your friends your ideas or hints than posting it on the internet.  Next time you log onto a site like Cruise Critic take note of just how many people have a birthday today!  You are sharing your special secret with:

    Todays stats - Threads: 2,189,748, Posts: 47,883,300, Members: 1,402,754

I am not telling you to be mean...lol.  Remember shopping at Christmas for your kids?  There was always a toy or two that became hard to get because it was reported to be "the toy of the season".  We create these situations.

If you are a nice person who likes to share hints (and I am not saying you shouldn't) then you should also be a nice person and accept to fact that cruise lines are a business and they are out to make a profit, build new ships and stay afloat.  

I would much rather have a cruise line make enough money to stay in business then to lose the privilege of sailing with them.

That was then......the Dining Room

That was then...... the Dining Room

Yes...cruising has changed...

It amazes me to hear some of the comments made by passengers on a cruise.  They are all over the place and I always feel like I have to come to the defense of the cruise line.

You will hear such things as "No matter what  - it is still better than being at work"... to... 

"I am never cruising this line again because they have taken ------ off the menu".

It seems that lately seasoned cruisers are comparing cruising today with cruising 10 years ago.  These of course are sometimes the same people who do not want to pay anything more for their vacation then what they paid back then.

Let me take you down memory lane.  I am 57 years old and my first cruise was when 

I was only 3.  I do not remember that one of course, but I can remember back to over 40 years ago.  

• My father had to wear a dinner jacket for supper and shorts were never allowed no matter what meal it was.  Even a little, I had to wear a dress.
• The dining room doors were locked after 15 minutes and you were not allowed in after that point.
• They played a little 6 note xylophone over the intercom when it was time for dinner.    I think that is where "Close Encounters" got their tune from...lol
• You choose a appetizer, soup, salad and one entree off the menu.  Vegetables were served table side. Desserts were good but not masterpieces.
• You ate at your assigned table and assigned time for all meals.  
• There was no 24 hour food, ice cream or room service.. but there were midnight buffets!

Slowly, dress codes have disappeared.  Dining options have flourished and alternate venues have become ordinary. Just as family dinner tables have been reduced across the country, so have our manners and wanting to make cruise dinnertimes special.

Let's fast forward to May 2007.  We were on the Carnival Legend and it was formal night.  A gentleman in the dining room (in his ordinary clothes) has just boasted about breaking his lobster tail record.  This cruise he has made it to eight!  

Meanwhile, his waiters are watching as he throws away all his side dishes.  Some he ordered just to "taste".  I think to myself:  these waiters have got to be hurting inside. They leave their families behind for months at a time, they watch us make pigs of ourselves and throw food away foolishly and still continue to smile and take our verbal abuse.  I wonder what they really would like to say to us?

Have you been to a department store lately?  In 1977, I worked for Sears in the Sporting Goods department.  We had three employees in that department at all times. We actually helped customers pick out their merchandise and answered questions. My point is...businesses all across America have discovered that Customer Service is a thing of the past.  They have cut manpower hours to keep costs down.

Guess what?  Cruise lines have done the same thing.

And in the department store you don't hear people complaining rudely in the center of the store...and you certainly don't see people mistreating someone who is "just an employee" doing as they are told.

Try to think about the positives of cruise line changes! 

We are always dieting these days...by having less waiters in the dining room the service is slower.  If we eat slower we will be full faster, thus eating less.

The cost of cruising is still about $100 day...for all that food, lodging, fun and relaxation

The food onboard didn't not involve menu planning, shopping or cooking.

My point is:  Enjoy your cruise...things have changed....but you work hard to earn vacation and you need to relax.  Chill out cause....it really is the best way to enjoy your time!

Why should you make a Packing List?

Why should you make a Packing List?

So....on our last cruise....yes, me the seasoned cruiser and organized one, forgot my one and only prescription medicine.  This was the one time I didn't print my list and cross off items as I went.  

I take a high blood pressure pill each day along with some calcium, fiber and low dose aspirin.  I must have got side tracked as I was putting the pills in my little daily boxes.  Of course the only one I left out was the one I am needing.

Did you know that if you are traveling in the islands, some places will give you a 5 day emergency order of medicine?  As long as it isn't some restricted medicine or super duper pain killer that is going to send you into la-la-land.....

So, I paid $37.60 for FIVE pills that I usually pay $15/90 pills.....such is life.  My husband has paid $6.00 for deodorant before and that was back when it was $2.00.

So here is my packing list...I am thinking I will use it again, next time and every time!

in your Carry-On Bag:

Passport or Birth Certificate
Cruise Documents and Boarding Pass
Driver's License
Gift Cards or Onboard credits
Cash/Traveler's Checks (including plenty of "ones and fives" for tipping)
Credit/Debit Cards
Cellphone & Charger
Pens
Highlighters
Sticky Notes
Camera, Case, Charger, & Memory
Addresses For Postcards and/or Emails
Eyeglasses & Case/Contact Lens Needs
Sunglasses & Floatable Cord
Jewelry for security reasons
Bathing Suit (in case you want to swim before bags reach cabin)Change of Clothes
Prescription Medications
Lanyard 
Wine (if your cruise line allows)
Door Decorations (you can do this while awaiting your suitcases)
in your Checked Luggage 
Ibuprofen/Aspirin
Toothache Remedy, sleeping pills if he snores,etc.
Seasickness Prevention/Remedy
Antibiotic Ointment
Cold & Allergy Medications
Lip Balm/chap stick
Adhesive & Liquid Bandaids
Indigestion/Gas Medication
Aloe Vera Gel
Sunscreen (check that expiration date)
Insect Repellant
Cosmetics
Feminine Hygiene Products
Deodorant/Antiperspirant
Moisturizer
Hairbrush and/or comb
Hairspray, Styling Gel/Mousse
Hair Accessories and ponytail holder
Hair Styling Appliances
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Denture Care Items
Dental Floss
Mouthwash
Cotton Balls/Swabs
Razor and Shaving Cream
Shampoo
Hair Conditioner
Odor Neutralizing Spray
Disinfectant Spray or Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Two Gallon Ziplocs
One Quart Ziplocs
Travel Sized Toilet Paper (for use in ports)
Toilet Seat Liners (for use in ports)
Travel Sized Laundry soap (works for hand & machine washing)
Wrinkle Release Spray
Safety Pins
Scissors

CLOTHES

Formal wear..don't forget socks, belts, slips, etc!

Bathing Suits (at least two so one can dry while the other is being used)
Cover-ups
Sun Hat
Water Shoes
Sandals
Walking Shoes
MORE SHOES
Backpack, tote bag, or Fanny Pack to use in Ports
Mesh Beach Bag
Cheap Plastic Watch (to attach to beach bag strap)
Drink Snugglies/Coozies
Large Thermal Mug(s) and water bottles
Inexpensive Rain Ponchos
Collapsible Cooler
Bubble Wrap (for breakable souvenirs)
Reading Material
Underwater Camera(s)
Over the door Shoe Holder (not for shoes…helps keep cabin uncluttered)
Extension Cord & Power Strip/Surge Protector (sometimes there is only one outlet)
Music (on your phone or other device)
Walkie-Talkies (or rent onboard)
Duct Tape (too many uses to list)
Clothes Pins
Bungee Cord (for balcony cabins to hold door open)

and for me......Flavored Coffee Creamer and favorite pillow

 

Getting Started!

Getting Started :)

Okay here we go....this is all Kathleen's fault.  She mentioned on the Carnival Valor Girl's Cruise in April that I should start a blog. 

• I love to help people book their cruises, get them a deal and watch for sale prices
• I am available to help find them things to do in port.
• I like to make Door Signs for everyone's Cabin door
• I love booking groups and making them goody bags!

But most of all.....I understand how cruising has changed and why it has changed.

I am a Cruise Cheerleader!

A little about me....

I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and have lived here all 57 years.  I am married and we have two grown children.

I have been cruising since the age of three (3) and I love it.  I like cruising with my husband or with a group...any ship, any itinerary!

I have been an Travel Agent less than a year but my immediate boss (Jay Getman) has been in the industry for "like-a-bajillion-years".  Jay's home office is Cutting Edge Travel in St. Petersburg, FL.  After helping friends book their cruises, he said "you should do this" and he signed me up.  I am very grateful for the opportunity and training he is giving me.