Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the Quantum of the Seas, will start sailing out of her home port of Cape Liberty, New Jersey in November 2014.  While the inaugural cruise date has not been set yet, we’ve learned that we can start booking clients on this innovative new ship on these dates: May 28th: Diamond, Diamond …

Thanks to our client Sharon from Georgia for sharing this trip report on her and her husband’s Eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas. The Independence of the Seas (IOS) was a beautiful ship – our stateroom was lovely.  It was my first time having a Promenade view room and I was …

(thanks to our client Julie from Michigan for sharing this trip report on her family’s Disney cruise from the port of Miami) We enjoyed all of our shore excursions.  We went on a bike tour of Key West, and it rained all day! We still managed to have a great time and the guide was …

(thanks to our client Julie from Wisconsin for sharing this trip report from her family’s Disney Fantasy cruise in April 2013) We had a great cruise.  The Fantasy is beautiful!  However, I really think I prefer the size of the smaller ships, and I think the (Disney) Wonder is still my favorite.  I think the …

This September I was fortunate to stay at the Alyeska Resort near Anchorage on a travel agent tour of the area.  What a resort this is!  Our guide said it was the best resort in all of Alaska, and it did not disappoint. For starters, I liked the mountainous setting of the Alyeska.  Only 40 …

Thanks to familytravelgurus.com travel consultant Karen Waldman for contributing this report of her family’s Hawaiian luau experience. Feast at Lele Luau in Lahaina, Maui June 2012 As the sun set in an array of colors, we enjoyed Harore Kumara from New Zealand (roasted mushrooms with sweet potatoes) and reflected on how we got here. It …

Did you know you can renew your passport by U.S. Mail?  You can renew your passport by mail if: Your passport is undamaged and can be submitted with your application. Was issued when you were age 16 or older. Was issued within the last 15 years. Was issued with your current name or you can …

Now Jade, Riviera Cancun, Mexico December 2012 Over the Holiday season, Karen’s clients from Colorado spent a wonderfully relaxing 10 days at the Now Jade all-inclusive resort just outside Puerto Morelos, Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Following is a review of the trip, from the perspectives of both the Mom and Dad. Also along for …

by Tim Larison, co-owner familytravelgurus.com/Larison Travel LLP In January 2012 we took a terrific helicopter tour of the island of Kauai (Hawaii) with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.  It was our first time in a helicopter and we enjoyed the experience very much! Our veteran pilot spoke to us throughout the flight on his microphone, describing the …

by Tim Larison, co-owner Family Travel Gurus/Larison Travel LLP In September 2012 I sailed on a wonderful day cruise out of Seward, Alaska touring the Kenai Fjords National Park with Major Marine tours.  This was my second experience with Major Marine, I had taken my wife and 11 year old twin boys in 2005 on …