Top Summer Travel Destinations
by Tim Larison
According to a recent poll of travel agents by American Express, many of the family friendly U.S. and international destinations continue to hold strong for families this summer.
Read more
Author: Tim
Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line goes liquor all-inclusive for 2007
by Tim Larison
Beginning in 2007 all sailings of the Regent Seven Seas cruise line will include all the liquor you can drink in the cruise price. In an interview with Travel Weekly Christian Sauleau, vice president of operations for Regent, said that the policy would cost the company somewhere between $12 and $16 per person per day, but that the increased cost per day to guests would be less than that. He estimated between $9 and $10 per day. Regent already has a “liquor inclusive” policy on its World Cruises and that has worked well. “Customers always say ‘include the beverage’ because we can meet in the bar and there is a better atmosphere. They don’t have to think about who’s paying and who’s not paying and worry about offering someone a drink,” said Sauleau.
Staying in touch with home while on a cruise
by Tim Larison
Carnival Cruise line recently announced it will outfit its fleet of 22 ships to enable guests with any cell phone service to make and receive calls at sea or send and receive text messages on their phones and hand-held devices. Carnival says their entire fleet will be outfitted with this technology by the 1st quarter 2007. Calls will be charged at international roaming rates, and will be billed directly to the passenger’s cell phone bill.
When traveling carry medications in original containers
by Tim Larison
If you travel with medications, it’s a good idea to carry them in their original prescription containers. Recently customs officers at the Palm Beach airport in Florida detained radio host Rush Limbaugh after they discovered medication in his luggage without his name on the bottle. (Apparently, Limbaugh’s doctor prescribed the pills in the doctor’s name for Limbaugh “for privacy purposes.”)
Travel Insurance is a good thing!
by Tim Larison
Imagine that you’ve been planning a magical Disney cruise for your family for 18 months. Then 6 days before your cruise you are rushed to the hospital for an unexpected surgery, and you are unable to go on the cruise!
Watching your weight on a cruise
by Tim Larison
As a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, I always find it a challenge to avoid gaining weight on a cruise. On my first few cruises I found I would gain 7 to 10 pounds each with each trip! Since then I have done much better, and I offer a few tips below to keep the cruise weight gain in check.
Carnival Liberty 12 Night Mediterranean Cruise (2006)
I have sailed on many cruises in recent years but in May 2006 I was to take my family on our greatest adventure yet – a 12 night Carnival Liberty Mediterranean sailing! This was to be a special trip for me – a 50th birthday celebration (I turned 50 on May 19th, the day we got off the cruise and stayed in Rome). With many fabulous and new experiences this was a trip we will all long remember.
A tip for saving space in your cruise stateroom
One of my first cruise customers back in 2002 came back from her trip telling me how much space her family saved in their stateroom by getting an “over the door” shoe organizer. I have since recommended this to many of my cruise clients, and I have had many positive replies.
Rick Steves talk: Tips For European Travel
Recently I attended a talk by European Travel expert Rick Steves. Rick’s popular “Europe Through the Back Door” book is one of the best selling guides to European travel. Rick is also well known for his series of programs on Public Television. This talk was of special interest to me since me and my family will be visiting Europe for the first time in May 2006! Below I will give some of the highlights of Rick’s talk.
Caribbean Princess Eastern Caribbean Cruise (2006)
My family really enjoyed our 7 night Caribbean Princess cruise in February 2006. We were joined on this special cruise by Anne’s parents, Paul and Barbara McShane, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Our cruise was very relaxing with great dining, fun entertainment, interesting ports to visit, and all this on one of the newest, most modern ships sailing today. Below I will discuss some of the features of the beautiful Caribbean Princess and the ports we visited. Anne will contribute her comments on various parts of the trip preceded by the words “Anne’s take:” At the end of the report Andrew and Josh have contributed what they enjoyed most about the cruise.