Family Travel Gurus

Alicia Steuart from Carnival Cruise Line (2010)

Since we last interviewed Alicia Steuart from Carnival Cruise Line there has been lots of changes – a new ship, a return to Europe, and more! We recently talked to Alicia to get up to date on the latest offerings from Carnival.

Renovated Pool Area on the Carnival Sensation

FamilyTravelGurus: We are excited to read about the new Carnival Magic and Carnival’s return to Europe in 2011! We had a wonderful Mediterranean cruise with Carnival back in 2006 – tell us about the Carnival Magic and why Carnival is a good choice for someone considering a European cruise in 2011.

Yes, we are so excited to be back in Europe next year and the Carnival Magic is going to be such a great option for your customers! First of all, we will be sailing round-trip out of Barcelona, Spain, which gives wonderful pre and post opportunities in that spectacular city while also making the transfer time much shorter from the airport to the ship…approximately 30 minutes VS 90 minutes when sailing from the outskirts of Rome. We have air available now for those who choose our air/sea program. We will be offering a variety of itineraries ranging from 7-12 day Mediterranean cruises visiting up to 5 different countries, the best of the Med. Further, they will get to sail on one of the newest ships in the world with so many NEW and popular features like…Red Frog Pub including in indoor/outdoor Caribbean dining, Cucina del Capitano offering an upscale dining experience with Italian fare, the Prime Steakhouse along with all of the other award winning dining options available on Carnival.

The Carnival Magic will also have our first Sport’s Square complex surrounded by an eighth-mile jogging track, including the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, Carnival’s first two-level miniature golf course, a Vita exercise rope’s course, a lighted multi-purpose court for basketball, volleyball and soccer, along with ping pong and foosball tables with an outdoor gym and sport’s bar.

She will also have our beautiful Cloud 9 Spa, a 27,000 square foot facility with a soothing thalassotherapy pool, steam rooms, saunas, special treatment & relaxation rooms as well as a full gym, beauty salon and specialty classes like yoga, pilates, spinning & more! Then of course, for the ultimate in relaxation in the sun will be our complimentary Serenity area on deck for adults only.

And of course we will continue to shine for families with expansive family-friendly space offering more than 19,000 square feet of space catering to kids and families, including Camp Carnival, Circle “C” for tweens and for the teens Club O2, all with dedicated activities, game rooms, computer rooms and more! Further, the WaterWorks Aqua Park on the Magic will offer even more thrills with an exhilarating “Twister” spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 500-gallon “dump bucket” and a host of other wet ‘n wild features. Plus the resort-style pool area with live music, activities, and our very popular seaside theater.

FamilyTravelGurus: Where will the Magic sail from when she returns from Europe?

After her European season, she will offer a transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Galveston, TX, which will become her new home port. From Galveston, the Carnival Magic will offer a variety of 6-8 day Caribbean cruises in the fall and winter of 2011 before she begins her regular 7 day Western and Bahamas itineraries departing every Sunday from the historic port city of Galveston, TX. Reservations are open right now through April 2012.

FamilyTravelGurus: Many of our clients and readers have sailed with Disney out of Port Canaveral. What does Carnival offer out of Port Canaveral?

Carnival offers 2 ships with 4 itineraries out of Port Canaveral. We have the Carnival Sensation which offers 3 & 4 day cruises to the Bahamas as well as the new Carnival Dream sailing every Saturday offering alternating 7 day Eastern itineraries to Nassau, St.Thomas/St.John, St.Maarten and 7 day Exotic Western itineraries to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. These ships offer tremendous value and fun for everyone in the family. Carnival is known for specializing in multigenerational travel by providing a wide variety of entertainment, activities and dining to make every age happy! We provide an environment that allows families to enjoy their time together whether taking in a family movie on deck, watching a production show, dancing, playing bingo, splashing at the water park, playing miniature golf, going to a family comedy show or simply having a great meal. Then we also provide an opportunity for adults to have a little “adult time” at the Cloud 9 Spa, Serenity Deck, adult comedy show, a bit of gambling in the casino, enjoying an adult’s only comedy show or having a 5 star meal at the Carnival Steakhouse while knowing their children are having the time of their lives participating in Camp Carnival, Circle C or Club 02 wih our experienced youth counselors. It truly is what we promise, “Fun for All.”

FamilyTravelGurus: We toured the Carnival Sensation and Dream earlier this year and we were impressed! Those two ships often price less than what Disney and other cruise lines offer out of Port Canaveral, too.

Carnival is also known for sailing out of many U.S. ports that people can drive to. We were impressed with the Carnival Pride when we saw her in a ship inspection in Baltimore earlier this year. What other home ports does Carnival have in the U.S.? Which of these have proven to be popular?

Carnival offers 19 home ports in all providing easy travel to get to our ships all across the country…we call it our “home port strategy”! We have multiple home ports on the West coast, Gulf coast as well as 8 up and down the East coast from New York to Miami with our latest in Charleston, South Carolina opening up lots of new cruise opportunities. Galveston has been one of our most popular home ports. The growth in Galveston has come from cruisers residing in states within driving distance, but also from the mid-west and West coast where guests can take a relatively short and inexpensive flight to enjoy more itinerary options without having to travel to Florida.

FamilyTravelGurus: We have had our Carnival clients come back with rave reviews of some non-traditional ports you visit in the Caribbean. Tell us about some ports you visit in the Caribbean that are unique and exciting.

One of the exciting things we are doing at Carnival is investing in the ports we call on to make unique and exciting experiences. For example, I recently got to sail on the Carnival Liberty and experience the beautiful ports of Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk, some of our most popular stops.

At our private island of Half Moon Cay there was terrific snorkeling, great kid-friendly beach areas with a play area, waterslide and so many activities to choose from like massages on the beach, horseback riding, water sports and beach ball just to name a few. Further, they has a wonderful complimentary barbeque that was provided for all of the guests.

In Grand Turk, we had a fabulous time! The ship literally pulls right up to one of the prettiest beaches you have ever seen with complete facilities and plenty of beach chairs for all. Once again, there is great snorkeling (my husband’s favorite) and the new flowrider attraction that allows you to surf and boogie board with experienced trainers. Both my husband and my 8 year old son did it and had the time of their lives! There is also a Margaritaville there with an endless pool and activities galore! We had an excellent meal, participated in a dance contest and got to do some fabulous shopping before we had to leave. It is truly a wonderful experience!

We have also created one of the coolest experiences yet in Roatan called the “Magic chair lift.” For only $5 guests can walk off the ship and hop on the chair lift (similar to a chair lift at a ski resort), which takes you up for a scenic view of the island and drops you right at Mahogany Bay for a spectacular beach day where you can also participate in world-class snorkeling or scuba diving if you desire.

You will find that we are constantly working on new port development to enhance the experience for our guests in all of the ports we call on…more fun to come!

FamilyTravelGurus: Do you have any plans for Alaska in 2011?

We do very well in Alaska and I think we have the best product for families hands down. The Carnival Spirit will be in Alaska in 2011 and we are open for business…book early to get the best rates as space moves fast! This ship offers 80% ocean view cabins with 80% balconies, so definitely the right ship in Alaska. Further, we offer 7 day Alaska cruises round-trip from Seattle making airlift more reasonable for our guests, your customers. We also make a point in being in port with very few ships so our guests can take advantage of experiencing these intimate towns without thousands of other cruisers…it makes a big difference!

FamilyTravelGurus: Anything else new with Carnival that you would like to tell our readers about?

We always have new experiences for our guests. For example, just within the past year we have added new entertainment options like laser tag, Behind the Scenes tours, Super Karaoke where our guests get to sing with the band and back-up singers and Punchliner Comedy Clubs where we offer up to 6 comedy acts nightly. We have also created new dining option called Chef’s Table whereby 12-16 guests can join our Executive Chef for a private galley tour during dinner service where they will be given delicious hors’ de oerves and champagne then shown how we make our addictive Warm Melting Chocolate Cake. They are then escorted to a private dining area where they are served a 7 course meal with free flowing wine and then given a complimentary cookbook and mementos to remember the experience. It is truly a meal of a lifetime and the cost is only $75. It is a don’t miss for you “foodies” out there!

What you will find on Carnival is great fun, great value and memorable experiences for you and your family that will last a lifetime! We hope to welcome each and every one of you on a FunShip cruise in the near future!

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Alicia. We are excited about all the new Carnival offerings!

Travel Tips Interviews

Travel Tips From Professional Organizer Debbie Brinkman

Last year Professional Organizer Debbie Brinkman did some amazing work for us in helping us get our home offices organized. We recently asked Deb for her ideas on keeping things organized for a vacation.

FamilyTravelGurus: Often we find the difference between a great and not so great trip is in the planning. What tips do you have for organizing travel materials before a trip?

Start early. Weeks before your trip you will begin noticing things around the house that you will want to pack. Designate a single place to put these (a large shopping bag, box, etc.) and as you run across these items just deposit them in the bag/box. When it’s time to pack you won’t have to run through the house looking for these things.

Another tip is to start a list in each bedroom a couple weeks before the trip – place it on each persons bedroom door (bathrooms are a good place, too) and add to it as you think of things. If you have kids, ask them to write things down on their list. When it’s time to pack you will already have a good start.

Most travelers have a system for remembering what to pack. Some use the head to toe method (start with shampoo and end with socks) others prefer the daily method (what will I wear on Monday, etc.) Whatever method works for you is the one you should use. If isn’t working write down why and then consider alternatives.

FamilyTravelGurus: How about during the trip? What suggestions do you have for staying organized during travel?

To stay organized during travel try to duplicate the same system you have at home. If you hang it at home, hang it on the trip; if you keep it in the bathroom at home, keep it in the bathroom on the trip. Not having to remember where you put things will make it easier to find things – your mind is already trained don’t reinvent the wheel while your on vacation!

If you have a tendency to leave things behind on your travels make a list of everything in your suitcase and tape it to the inside top of your case – pack the suitcase by checking off the items on the list. When everything is crossed off, you’re packed!

One last idea for those who may take day trips away from their hotel, ship, etc. Have a day bag that does not need to be re-packed or organized from your primary suitcase. The day bag should be 100% independently stocked. It may mean buying doubles of some items (sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks, etc.) but you will not have to remember to transfer them back and forth and you won’t forget anything because it’s already packed!
FamilyTravelGurus: As travel agents we receive a ton of material in the mail about different vacation destinations. Many of our readers and clients, too, have lots of travel related materials around their homes. Do you suggest a separate area in the home for travel related publications?

If you are planning a trip you will want to keep all related papers together and accessible. I recommend a zippered plastic pouch (you can get at Container Store for about $2). This system allows you to keep it all together and sealed and it easily stores odd shaped brochures, CD’s, maps, photos, etc. You can toss it in a bag, purse, briefcase and not worry about anything falling out.

If you need a more detailed filing system I would suggest an accordion file with as many dividers as you need. Break your filing down by large categories; Travel Expenses, Tour Information, Lodging & Transportation, Notes & Communications. Don’t get too narrow or you will over-organize your information. This system would also work if you are planning multiple trips at the same time – break it out by trip; Grand Canyon, Mexican Cruise, Disney Land.

Of course, any time you can store information electronically you should.

FamilyTravelGurus: You provided an invaluable service to us in helping us get our home offices organized. What general suggestions do you have for organizing a home office?

Here are my top five tips to organizing a home office:

Pile or File? Decide if you are a piler or a filer and don’t fight against your natural tendency – both have organizational systems that work.
Location. Location. Location. Design your files so that items you need daily are within arms reach, items you need once a week or a couple times a month are within easy access (same room) but not arms reach, and items you access less frequently (last year’s tax returns, old client files) should be out of the office space but still on premise.
No cross contamination. If you are running a home business you need to keep the business of the home (electric bill, school schedules, mortgage bill, etc.) separate from the running of the business. This can be as easy as a file drawer designated for “the home” paperwork and a basket for papers waiting to be filed in the drawer.
The Weekly Thirty. This is a 30 minute check-up where you look at your desk from the 30,000 ft. level; file what needs to be filed, toss or shred the trash, put away random office supplies, straighten, stack, etc. Don’t do any work just put the desk in order.
F.A.T. Treatment. Remove piles of “good intentions”. Either do it or toss it. F.A.T. -File, Action, Trash. EVERY piece of paper falls into one of those categories. If it is an Action then once completed it turns into either File or Trash. EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER IN YOUR OFFICE NEEDS TO GET THE F.A.T. TREATMENT!

FamilyTravelGurus: How can people get in touch with you for their organizational needs? What geographic area do you service?

Email: deb (at) simpleorderdesign.com
Office: 303-797-3427
Cell: 720-224-1314
Website: www.simpleorderdesign.com

I serve the entire Denver metro area. I have also done work in Vail, Beaver Creek, Boulder, Castle Rock, Parker and Castle Pines.

FamilyTravelGurus: We also have many readers who live outside of Colorado – if they are looking for help with organization what do you recommend?

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) provides an on-line Organizer locator for anyone who is looking for an Organizer in their area. The web site is www.napo.net and the service is free. An organizer must be a member of NAPO to be on the site.

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Debbie. These are some great tips!

Travel Tips Interviews

Mark Winters from RideMax

If you spend too much time in line at Disney World or Disneyland, the RideMax software may be just for you! One of our clients, Mark Winters, developed Ridemax and talked with us recently about his time saving product.

FamilyTravelGurus: How did you come up with the idea for RideMax?

Early in our marriage, my wife (who is a HUGE Disney fan) and I visited Disneyland fairly often, even though we didn’t live in California. I was familiar with some of the “canned” touring plans that you see in guidebooks, but as a software developer, I thought it would be cool if there was a software program that could create a CUSTOMIZED plan just for me — a plan containing the attractions *I* wanted to visit, with the start time, stop time, and meal times I wanted as well.

As a result of that desire to create a custom plan, I knew any software would also need some estimates of the wait times at the various attractions as the day went on, so I started collecting wait time statistics at different seasons of the year, and at different times of day.

I think one of the first “breakthroughs” occurred a couple of years later, after I had developed a “beta” version of RideMax. My wife and I decided to see if we could visit every single attraction in one day at Disneyland (with the exception of those that were closed that day and perhaps the vehicles on Main Street, if I recall). We used RideMax to map out a plan for us. We visited the park on a busy Saturday in October, starting right when the park opened at 8am, and finished the attractions on the plan by 11:30 or so that night. We were even able to ride some of the attractions twice, and we also had enough time for a long “rest” break in the afternoon. Most of our waits were 10 minutes or less, so I considered that pretty successful!

I think the cool thing about that trip was that as we were going through the day, we felt like the park had given up some big “secret,” that only we were privy to, on how to visit everything with minimal waiting, and that was pretty exciting. We could SEE the crowds, but hardly ever FELT them.

So, from that point I added some polish to the program, including several enhancements, and then released the Disneyland version commercially. In 2006 we moved to the Orlando area to help move along the Disney World version of the software.

FamilyTravelGurus: What are some challenges for getting the most out of your time at Disneyland? At Disney World?

Regardless of whether you’re visiting Disneyland or Disney World — or even regardless of whether you’re using a RideMax plan or not — one key to helping reduce your wait is to arrive at the park early, before the gates open for the day. The lines can be very short during the first hour or two the park is open, and early arrivals can also gain a huge FASTPASS advantage over those arriving later.

At Disney World specifically, an additional challenge is working the various shows into your day, and I think this is especially challenging at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is where I believe RideMax can really help, since the show times are built in to the software, and you can let the computer help figure out how to fit these in, rather than having to do this planning all by yourself.

FamilyTravelGurus: Do you make updates to the program as new attractions are introduced or from feedback you get from users?

Each time you start the software, RideMax downloads our latest data, which can include new attractions that have recently become available, or changes to show times, etc.

With regard to feedback from customers, when we first released the Disney World version of RideMax, it didn’t include specific show times for the fireworks, parades, or the various shows at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Feedback from customers was overwhelmingly in favor of adding these shows to the software, and we responded by adding this capability to the Disney World version of the software in late 2008.

FamilyTravelGurus: You have booked a few Disney cruises with us – when you take a Disney cruise do you come up with a detailed plan for your time like you do at Disney World?

I look at a cruise differently than a visit to the theme parks. For me, a cruise can be a time to relax and get away from the “schedules” of daily life. So from that standpoint, I haven’t had anything like a “RideMax plan” when I’ve been on a cruise. Having said that, on a Disney cruise there are a couple of things that I have tried to be “focused” about. One is obtaining reservations for Palo, and the other — on Castaway Cay day — is disembarking early enough to claim a decent spot on the beach.

And, by the way, thanks for your help in planning our Disney cruise vacations. You weren’t the first company we tried, but the fact that we’ve relied on your help now for several vacations speaks well of the work you’ve done!

FamilyTravelGurus: We appreciate the cruises you’ve booked with us, too! What is the current price for RideMax? What’s the best way for people to get in touch with you for more information or to order the RideMax software?

RideMax comes in two separate versions, one for Walt Disney World, and the other for Disneyland. We currently offer both 90-day and full-year subscriptions for both products. The price depends on the version and subscription length, but currently ranges from $14.95 for the 90-day Disneyland version, which supports both Disneyland and California Adventure, up to $29.95 for the full-year Disney World version, which supports all of the four major Disney World parks. The 90-day Disney World version, suitable for planning a single visit, is $18.95.

Details and more information are available at the RideMax website:

http://www.ridemax.com

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Mark. We often hear from clients that they didn’t get a chance to see everything they wanted to when visiting Disney World or Disneyland. Your software is a great tool for families to get the most out of their limited Disney vacation time.

Tour Interviews

Melissa Kreuger from Travel Impressions

A variety of interesting destinations, reliable customer service, and great insurance options – these reasons and more are why we like to work with Travel Impressions when planning trips for our clients. In this interview Melissa Kreuger gives us a behind the scenes look at why Travel Impressions is a good company to trust your vacation to.

FamilyTravelGurus: We can book vacation packages to many areas of the World through your company. How does Travel Impressions differ from other tour companies?

We at Travel Impressions know that working with a Travel agent like yourself is the best way for people to book vacations. When planning a trip, a good travel agent can help find the best value, and value is defined not necessarily as least price, but the best fit by maximizing what is important for the client. Our company provides the best tools so that an agent can do this thoroughly and expeditiously and make your client’s vacation that much more memorable.

The service level provided by our company is top notch, backed up by our financial stability. Travel Impressions is a subsidiary of American Express. No Matter where in the World you go Travel Impressions will get you there with confidence.

FamilyTravelGurus: We especially like to sell your packages because of your
Comprehensive “cancel for any reason” insurance option – one of the best we’ve seen. Tell us about this “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Unlike other travel protection plans that provide reimbursement ONLY for cancellations due to medical reasons, the Travel Impressions Plan provides enrolled clients with a full refund in the event they need to cancel for any reason, right up to the originally scheduled flight departure time. The complete package is covered, including airfare, regardless of ticketing penalties or airline regulations, if canceled prior to departure. Inclusive in our program is reimbursement coverage for trip interruption, reasonable additional expenses in the event of weather or other covered delays, lost or stolen baggage, delayed bags, and more. As a pretty savvy consumer, I use to never purchase insurance that covered what I considered personal, retail purchases. Now, I would never think of not purchasing. I encourage anyone who purchases travel insurance to please read the fine print. We at Travel Impressions are proud to boast a protection plan that is easy to read, straight forward and a good investment for the buyer.

FamilyTravelGurus: We specialize in family vacations. What are some of the top packages you offer for family getaways?

We specialize in family travel with exclusive offers and an extensive collection of certified family-friendly hotels and resorts featuring benefits designed specifically for families. Whether a family is looking for one room or connecting rooms, have toddlers, teens or no kids at all, and want to chill by the beach or be part of the action, we have a package to fit their needs. A sample of what we can offer at participating hotels , for on-site family benefits:

Kids stay and/or eat free (age depends on hotel)
Benefit of the hotel*s choice (includes offers like 50% off second room, resort credit, free daily kid’s club admission, free nights, etc.)

FamilyTravelGurus: We also specialize in Honeymoons – do you offer special features for honeymooners? What honeymoon destinations are the most popular?

As a tour operator, we understand how important this trip is; the trip that everything is taken care of and nothing is left out, so a couple is free to create those moments they dream of, and memories they’ll have forever. Our staff is well versed and can support your agency in finding the ideal resorts for your client’s honeymoon and/or destination wedding. We offer many packages with complimentary weddings in Mexico as well as resorts that offer bride and groom resort credits. Our most popular honeymoon destinations are the all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, Tahiti and Hawaii.

FamilyTravelGurus: Two destinations that we love to sell to our clients through Travel Impressions are Hawaii (beach front properties) and Mexico (all inclusive). What types of packages do you offer in these areas? How can a traveler know they are in good hands with a Travel Impressions package?

As a tour operator, we can book for your clients just a hotel, a hotel and air, or as we like it best the entire experience – which includes hotel, air, car or transfers and the top excursion/sightseeing activities in your chosen destination. We have long standing relationships with these partners and feel confident that the traveler will experience the best service based on our 30+ years of relationships.

As for promotions, I always love when I am asked these questions as it encourage me to go to our award winning website and see what’s new! So I did, and I found dozens of promotions. A sampling follows: For Hawaii

“FREE Nights, Daily Breakfast Buffet and Room Upgrade in Hawaii at Hyatt Resorts”
“Five nights in Hawaii starting at $555”
“Reduced Rates & More at Starwood Resorts Hawaii. 4 Nights from $309!” “Reduced Rates and More at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach”

Then when I dug further into our website under “Hawaii” and under “promotions” and I found dozens more promotions, all designed to fit the needs and style of the variety of consumers that have their travel agents book through us. Some offer Kids Eat Free, some offer Free Golf…it is what best suits you, and is designed by your travel agent finding out your needs and definition of a dream vacation and then matching it with our pairings.

As for Mexico, the promotions and added value at our all inclusive’s are too many to mention. In a quick review some of our favorite all inclusive resorts are offering: Air Credits, of up to $500 for Cancun and participating hotels. Kids 17 and under Stay, Play and East free this summer Sp and Golf Credits and great percentage savings off your entire package price, even into 2010 packages

Other more specific promotion:
Savings up to $100 per Family at Crown Paradise Club Puerto Vallarta! Save Up to $565 per family plus 2 kids stay, eat & play FREE at Velas Vallarta! Save Up to $495 per couple in Riviera Maya at Hacienda Tres Rios!

Travel has never been a better value. We encourage people to book now, for best rates and value. If people are concerned about the economy and unforeseen changes that you may take personally, then DO book our insurance which protects them and their loved ones should any unforeseen changes take place on the home front.

FamilyTravelGurus: What are some other popular vacation spots offered through Travel Impressions?

Caribbean is, of course, a big seller for us – with its vast array of islands, and cultures within these islands. Popular this year is Europe where we offer a full (customizable) program with added twists that make your vacation more of an experience. We offer many closer to home packages including Canada, from west to east (and everything in between), California, Las Vegas, New York, Florida, New Orleans and skiing in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah. We offer great programs in Central and South America and have just recently added South America and Dubai.

FamilyTravelGurus: Finally, what has been your favorite Travel Impressions vacation package for your own personal travel?

Oh, that is such an easy one for me! My favorite place in the entire world is French Polynesia, also known as Tahiti and her Islands. I have traveled there alone, as a romantic getaway and most recently as a family – with my husband and our three young daughters. It is not often thought of as a family destination, but I must say, I am sold on this as the perfect place for a family that wants to go on vacation and really be together. My idea of a perfect destination includes one where my husband’s Blackberry will not work, where there is a sunny beach, good food, a casual environment, engaging culture and no surf to worry about so that the children can play in the water from sun up to sun down.

Bora Bora is a must see, and the staff at St. Regis could not be kinder to the children. Swimming with the sharks and the rays is a great experience and the Lagoonarium excursion is delightful. As a family owned business these guys do a great job of educating you on the culture, entertaining you every step of the way and keeping you safe with the sea life.

Huahine is one of my favorite islands for its very rural feel…something so often missed on a beach vacation. The Pearl Beach Resort is a little piece of heaven. Very different from other islands. Doing a complete island tour is a must – it is so dense, and so beautiful. And The Intercontinental on Moorea is a slice of heaven – while the island itself offers so much in the way of culture and beauty. I hope you go, and I hope you enjoy. Pack light….as you need so little there, for the grandest of vacations.
See Melissa’s French Polynesia pictures here

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Melissa. I hope our clients and readers now understand why we like working with Travel Impressions – you have so much to offer!

Tour Interviews

Shannon Stitt from Collette Vacations

Collette Vacations is a quality tour company we work with that offers some unique trips. For one Collette has an exclusive relationship with the Smithsonian in providing educational trips. We recently talked with Shannon Stitt from Collette Vacations.

FamilyTravelGurus: Collette offers escorted tours all over the World – how does Collette differ from other tour companies?
Collette Differs from other companies in many ways, we are a family owned and operated company that is going on 91 years now. We are also a debt free company. We offer vacations to over 170 different destinations offering 4 star accommodations. Collette Vacations offers centrally located hotels, includes many meals as well as entertainment on all of our vacations.

FamilyTravelGurus: One tour that especially looked attractive to us is your “Spirit of Washington DC” Educational Trip in conjunction with Smithsonian Journeys. Can you tell us more about this tour and Collette’s partnership with the Smithsonian?

Collette’s relationship started after 9/11. The New York Times posted an article about our company and how we were able to refund over 30 million dollars in cash to customers due to our insurance policy. The Smithsonian Institute came to us and asked us to partner up with them and of course we said yes. Today the Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures is our fastest growing product lines offering over 17 different destinations all over the world. Washington D.C. is an amazing place to visit and being able to travel with Collette and the Smithsonian makes the trip unforgettable. With extensive tours of the Smithsonian Museum’s as well as lectures about our U.S. history will leave travelers with unforgettable memories.

FamilyTravelGurus: What other types of Smithsonian adventures do you offer?

My favorite Smithsonian trip that we offer is our Splendors of the Nile trip. Not only do we stay in magnificent hotels we have a professional Egyptologist with us the entire time. The food is unbelievable and the natives are so kind and are very welcoming to Americans. This trip by far is one of Collette’s best tours we offer.

FamilyTravelGurus: We understand you have some unique packages with the Oberammergau Passion Play: 2010. What makes the Oberammergau Passion Play a special event? What types of Oberammergau tours are you offering?

The Oberammergau Passion Play is truly once in a lifetime event. The play performance dates back to 1634. During the Thirty year War, the village of Oberammergau was spared the black plaque and for this reason, the villagers vowed that every ten years they would give a play to honor the live of Christ. The Performers are native Oberammergauers. Collette Vacations is now offering 9 different tours that start from $1999. We have a package for everybody out there.

FamilyTravelGurus: As our name implies, we specialize in family travel. Are Collette tours suitable for parents and kids? What tours are especially good for families?

Collette Vacations is a perfect trip for families. We actually have an age limit of 12 years old. But our Explorations product line is perfect for families of all ages. These trips are for small groups only and have a maximum limit of 24 passengers on each trip. A great trip that we have to offer is Italy’s Treasures. This is a wonderful way to see this beautiful country with your whole family.

FamilyTravelGurus: What is your personal favorite Collette tour? What made this trip extra special for you?

My favorite trip that Collette has to offer is Reflections of Italy. I was able to experience this destination first hand and I have memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime. The food in this country is so rich in flavor and has the freshest ingredients. The wine will send your taste buds soaring and asking for more. The history that is still visible is mind-blowing. And the architecture that is there is unbelievable and there is no way to explain its beauty unless you see it with your own eyes.

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Shannon. These tours sound amazing!

Cruise Interviews

Carolyn Szekeres from Princess Cruises

Summer is Alaska cruise season and we feel Princess offers many outstanding Alaska itineraries. We recently talked with Carolyn Szekeres from Princess about Alaska and Princess Cruises in general.

FamilyTravelGurus: We’ve been to Alaska two times in recent years with Princess and we were very pleased! Tell us about your Alaska cruise offerings and what makes Princess a good choice for an Alaska cruise compared your competitors.
I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed your Princess Alaska cruises! It is
such a pleasure to represent Princess because we do have so many happy
customers like you, that love our Princess product.

At Princess, we consider ourselves to be the Alaska leaders. We have invested so much in our Alaska product that we think we really offer the very best Alaska experience. First: on board the ship you will be able to Escape Completely with the Consummate Host! We offer warm, welcoming service, personal choice dining, a variety of quality entertainment options, a fabulous on board spa, affordable balconies, wonderful food with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients, a top notch casino, our popular art auctions, and fabulous shopping on board.
We have added some Princess exclusives to our on board product: The
Sanctuary, our adults only pool area in a pampering spa setting; Movies under The
Stars – the giant screen entertainment center that offers a variety of movies,
music and sports day and night; In Alaska our guests will have the added benefits of an on board naturalist.

We have been named Best Cruise Line in Alaska 4 of the past 5 years by
Travel Weekly. In 2010 the Golden Princess and the Sapphire Princess will sail the 7 day round trip Seattle Inside Passage itinerary. The Sea Princess will sail
the Inside Passage 10 days round trip San Francisco for the season. The
Diamond, Coral and Island Princesses will sail the Voyage of the Glaciers-
7 days between Anchorage and Vancouver alternating northbound and
southbound. These are the cruises that link with the 4 – 7 days on land to form our
spectacular cruisetour offerings. We also have our Small Ship Cruising
experience (700 passengers) on the Royal Princess 14 days round trip
Seattle on the Alaska Connoisseur Voyage. Our Full Alaska 2010 brochure will be out in July.

FamilyTravelGurus: We’ve stayed in some of your beautiful lodges in Alaska. Why is it a good idea to plan a Princess “cruisetour” (Alaska land tour in addition to a cruise) when visiting Alaska?

A cruisetour is the only way to see all the best of Alaska: Glaciers with
Glacier Bay are included on every cruisetour, Mountains with at least 2 nights
at one or both Princess lodges in the Denali area, and Wildlife. We offer our exclusive Direct to the Wilderness rail program that takes our passengers on the domed rail car directly from the ship to Denali on the same day.

Our Princess lodges are unsurpassed. We have five: the Fairbanks Princess Lodge (where you can arrange for a wake up call if the northern lights come out! ),the Denali Princess Lodge (we include a tour into Denali National Park on every cruisetour, and you can select the tour length that you prefer), The McKinley Princess Lodge, The Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.

We offer 10 – 13 day Direct to the Wilderness Alaska cruisetours, 13 -14 day
Explorer cruisetours, and 13 – 15 day Deluxe Escorted cruisetours.

FamilyTravelGurus: We specialize in family travel – what about a Princess cruise makes it a good choice for families?

We have an excellent kid’s program on our Princess ships with 3 separate
age specific areas: Princess Pelicans age 3 – 7, Shockwaves ages 8 – 12 and
Remix ages 13 – 17. We offer lots of fun and educational opportunities
for kids and a welcome opportunity for parents to enjoy some alone time too!

FamilyTravelGurus: We’ve also had some excellent meals on our past Princess cruises (we especially liked Sabatinis, your Italian speciality restaurant!). What types of dining do you offer on your ships?
We offer Personal Choice Dining. Guests can choose traditional dining
(assigned times and tables for dining) or Anytime Dining from 5 – 10 PM in
our designated Anytime Dining restaurants which feature the same great
menu and service as the traditional dining venue. We continue to offer Sabatini’s,
your favorite Italian restaurant; The Crown Grill or Sterling Steakhouse for
fabulous steaks and seafood; Vines featuring wine and seafood; the Horizon
Court 24 hour bufffet; the Cafe Caribe informal dining, the 24 hour bistro
style International cafe; our Pizzeria (pizza delivery to staterooms is
now available), and hamburgers and hot dogs on the pool deck. We also now
offer a pub lunch and we always have an afternoon tea experience. Our menus have changed a bit recently to reflect an emphasis on fresh local ingredients
and recipes.

We also offer the Chef’s Table – exclusive dining with the executive chef
available by reservation only on board and Ultimate Balcony Dining –
available both for breakfast and dinner. In Alaska we offer Glacier Bay Balcony Dining, and a Grand Alaskan Seafood Buffet.

FamilyTravelGurus: Tell us about the onboard activities and entertainment on a typical Princess cruise – any chance a passenger will have nothing to do?

We offer MANY choices on a Princess cruise and we like to think that
guests will be able to make their cruise an individual and personal experience by
choosing the activities they like. From dance classes, spa treatments, Scholarship at Sea, Art Auctions, Movies Under the Stars, musical productions, intimate lounges, the Lotus Spa, exercise classes, wine tasting and the casino – the chances of being bored are slim to none! Of course, relaxation is important too – our guests are free to choose their own perfect escape.

FamilyTravelGurus: Princess offers cruises all over the World. Besides Alaska, what are some of your favorite Princess cruises that you can recommend to our readers?

We offer a variety of destinations around the world. We have many varied
offerings in the Caribbean including a 7 day round trip Ft Lauderdale ship all
summer in 2010, South America, Asia, Australia/ New Zealand, the Amazon, Canada, New England, Panama Canal and lots of Europe itineraries. We are very
destination focused and our cruises bring out the best in a region and
allow guests to explore in depth with a range of itinerary choices of both
cruises and cruisetours. Some of my personal favorites (and also among our most
popular destinations) are the Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries
featured on the Crown, Ruby, and Star Princesses in 2010. Theses itineraries
are so well thought out to make the cruise enjoyable for our guests as well as
show them the maximum amount of places possible on their cruise vacation.

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Carolyn. We are always amazed at the number of destinations Princess sails to. We’ve enjoyed our four Princess cruises and we look forward to sailing with Princess again!

Cruise Interviews

Kathleen Kavanagh from Avalon Waterways

In 2008 Family Travel Gurus co-owner Tim Larison took an Avalon River Cruise on the Danube through parts of Hungary, Austria and Germany. It was a fantastic trip! Tim was fortunate to have sailed with a river cruise “expert” on that voyage – Kathleen Kavanagh from Globus. We recently talked with Kathleen about river cruising and what’s new with Avalon Waterways.

FamilyTravelGurus: Many of our readers have cruised on the big ocean ships – what about a River Cruise is different and would appeal to people who like cruising?

River Cruising is a much more intimate cruising experience. Think of it as similar to a huge hotel versus a boutique hotel. Our largest ship holds only 180 passengers and our newer ships only hold 132. River Cruising takes you into the villages, towns and major cities on the rivers versus commercial shipping ports. In many instances, you walk to the city center and truly can experience the area. River Cruising appeals to the more experienced traveler who looks to combine the unpack once concept but experience the different destinations. River Cruise ships are dry docked every year for two months for cleaning and updating versus the dry docking of larger vessels is every 2-3 years for upkeep so our vessels maintain their ‘newness’ for much longer than ocean vessels.

FamilyTravelGurus: The prices for a River Cruise are often higher than an Ocean Cruise, why is that and what is all included in an Avalon River Cruise?
Avalon Waterways build in a lot more than deep ocean cruises. First we include all local sightseeing. In every port stop, you experience the destination with a local guide who takes groups of 15-20 people around their town. We use head sets so you can hear the local guide give tips on what makes their town so special. Also, we include wine with dinner every night until dessert is served to the table. The biggest expenses on an ocean cruise are the bar and the sightseeing – with Avalon, we include both.
FamilyTravelGurus: Do you allow children on your river cruises? Do you have staterooms that hold more than 2 people?

The age for children on Avalon is 12 years of age. The pace of a river cruise is much slower. We don’t have children activities or a children cruise director. If you would like to take a child, I would recommend one of our Rhine River Cruises or Danube cruises as they often visit two villages/towns daily. We take up to three people in a cabin. Unlike some of our competitors that use upper and lower berths, all our staterooms have twin beds on the floor with fluffy duvets to cover with. Our suites hold three people and have a beautiful marble bath.

FamilyTravelGurus: Tell us about the new ships Avalon has coming out, and what new features those ships will have compared to your existing fleet.
Instead of increasing passenger size on our vessels, we are going with the smaller designed vessels. The average age of our fleet is 2.6 years. Our oldest ship is the Artistry in 2004 and the newest vessels in 2009 are the Affinity (April, 2009) and the Creativity (July, 2009). We like this design so much (132 passengers), we have ordered two more for 2010 – the Felicity and Luminary. The smaller vessels are great because they enable us to stop at many more unique towns along the rivers in Europe. The new ships all have an area that hold up to 40 passengers for a private reception or meeting. These ships also have broadband, wireless connections as many of our guests bring along their laptop computers.

FamilyTravelGurus: What River Cruise itineraries does Avalon have planned for 2010?

We are focused on all the major rivers in Europe but our new 2010 itineraries are:

Paris to the Normandy Beaches on the Seine

Grand France – combines the Paris to the Normandy Beaches with our Flavors of Paris and Provence (sister ships used so the cabin number remains the same)

A Taste of the Danube – 3 or 4 night cruises that can be combined with cities like Vienna and Budapest

Castles on the Rhine to the City of Music – from Zurich to Vienna

Christmastime in Germany and Austria – Frankfurt to Vienna

PLUS we have specialty cruises including

Jazz Festival

Classical Music Festival

Wine Festival and

Oberammergau Passion Play

FamilyTravelGurus: Finally, what has been your favorite River Cruise and why?

My personal favorite is Rhine and The Moselle because I like wine and the smaller towns. The Moselle has over 150 vineyards and the villages are like pictures from fairy tales. The castles on the Rhine are a must but the trade off is the Danube because everyone equates the Danube with Vienna and music so it depends on the type of person you are. I would personally love to take our North Sea to the Black Sea which is a 21 night cruise that goes all the way from Amsterdam to the Black Sea. That way, I would sail every major river in Europe on one vacation.

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Kathleen. We are excited to take more river cruises with Avalon in the future!

Tour Interviews

New Zealand Vacation Expert Margot Nahay

Earlier this year we published an interview about Australia Vacations with Down Under Answers (DUA), one of our favorite companies to work. We received such a good response to that interview that we asked Margot Nahay from DUA to give us insight into another very popular vacation destination, New Zealand.

Road from Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook

FamilyTravelGurus: In your brochure the New Zealand section is titled “New Zealand It’s just different!” What makes New Zealand a unique tourist destination?

Everything! It truly is just different.

The adventure activities that New Zealanders have created are probably the most well known reason why New Zealand is known as being a “different” destination. The first one that comes to my mind is zorbing. The activity of zorbing is the recreational practice of humans rolling downhill in a sphere, generally made of transparent plastic. Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope. Some zorbs are constructed for a single rider, whereas others are designed to hold two or three. The longer runs are approximately half a mile. Zorbing is very popular in New Zealand and the very first Zorb site was in Rotorua, located on the North Island of New Zealand.

New Zealand is also home to hundreds or species of native wildlife, flora and fauna, one of the best (and little known) places to see these things is Stewart Island. Stewart Island is located off the southern coast of the south island. Stewart Island is New Zealand’s ultimate eco-tourism destination. Its densely forested hills, and untouched coastline of rocky outcrops and creamy golden sand beaches make it a haven for native marine and bird life.

These are only two of hundreds of “different” experiences a traveler can experience while in New Zealand.

FamilyTravelGurus: New Zealand has a North Island and a South Island – do you recommend visiting both for a first timer? What are the highlights of each Island?

If a traveler has at least two weeks to spend in New Zealand then I would suggest seeing both islands. If a traveler only has one week then I would suggest sticking to the South Island.

On the North Island I think the biggest highlight is Rotorua. Rotorua is the home to New Zealand’s geo-thermal activity. You can smell Rotorua before you can see it. This volcanic area is filled with geysers, mud pools and a strong Maori influence and population. This is also home to numerous adventure activities and you can also catch a fun sheep shearing show while you are there.

Also on the North Island is New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. This is also known as “the city of sails”. It has a very large sailing culture. For someone staying in Auckland I would suggest taking a cruise of the harbour. You can do these either as a tame lunch or dinner cruise, or you can take a trip on one of the America’s Cup sailboats where you can be an active participant in the sailing. Although it may sound as though you need sailing experience to take part in this, no sailing experience is required.

The other highlight of the North Island is the capitol of the country, Wellington. Wellington is the home to the national museum Te Papa. The museum is free and is located in the city centre. It is filled with information about this country’s history and culture. Wellington is also a chic and sophisticated metropolitan area and would be an ideal destination for those interested in food and shopping. Besides being the country’s capitol, it is also known as the country’s food and culture capitol as well.

The South Island is filled with must sees. The biggest highlight and a must see for any traveler to New Zealand is Queenstown. This is the home to adventure activities such as the Shotover Jet – a 20 minute high speed jetboat ride down the Shotover River, suitable for any age or fitness level. If high speed is not your style a traveler can take the Dart River Safari instead. This includes a much longer jetboat ride on the Dart River but at a lower speed and is more about the scenery than the adrenaline. Of course anyone traveling to Queenstown must take the full day trip to Milford Sound, home of Metre Peak. This is a spectacular trip full of New Zealand’s most idyllic scenery. However, it is a very long day, I generally suggest taking the bus trip to the sound with a return flight back to Queenstown to shorten the day up a bit.

Christchurch is the major city on the South Island, here one can visit the Antarctic Centre, go punting on the Avon, visit the church in the town square. There is also a train called the Tranz-alpine which departs from Christchurch and takes you through the Southern Alps. This can be done as a day tour, or can be used as a means from traveling from the east to west coast of the South Island. It is a great way to see some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery.

FamilyTravelGurus: I see you offer both motor coach tours and self drive tours. What type of traveler would enjoy the motor coach tour? The self drive
tour?

Motor coach tours are great for a client or a couple who would like the comfort of having everything planned out for them. It is also great for those who want to meet other travelers and want to share this experience with others and make new friends. Motor Coach tours also have a local guide who travels with them throughout the trip and is there to answer questions. There is a wide range of motor coach tours available in New Zealand from small group to large group, inexpensive to the very upscale trip. It is a great way to see all of the highlights. This is also a great option for those who are uncomfortable driving on the opposite side of the road from what we drive on here in the US.

A self drive is for those who want the freedom to stop whenever they want, and for those who want the privacy of not traveling with a group. This is someone who is a little more adventurous and wants to see some things off the beaten track. New Zealand offers a wide range of vehicles for hire, from compact cars to large campervans.

FamilyTravelGurus: Are your tours “family friendly”? Is New Zealand a good destination to bring kids?

New Zealand is a great place to bring kids, but I would suggest if you are bringing a child to do a self drive rather than a motor coach tour. I think a traveler there with a child would enjoy the freedom of being able to stop as they want and stop and explore different places as they run across them. I also feel that the driving distances on a motor coach tour can be to long for a child on some days.

Some activities that are great for kids would be the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, zorbing in Rotorua, the luge in Rotorua or in Queenstown, the Shotover Jet, many of the Lord of the Rings tours, visiting the glowworm caves outside of Rotorua in Waitomo. For those families who enjoy skiing and other winter activities there are numerous skiing areas located in Queenstown and Wanaka. New Zealand is a great destination for families, I would just be conscious of the driving times between destinations. A great itinerary for someone bringing children would be 2-3 nights in Auckland, then driving to Rotorua stopping at Waitomo Caves along the way. I would then suggest that after 2 or 3 nights in Rotorua flying to Christchurch for 2 nights, then driving to Queenstown and staying there for the remainder of the stay.

FamilyTravelGurus: Do you have any tours that visit the scenic sites filmed in the Lord Of The Rings movies? Have you seen an upswing in New Zealand touring since those movies were released?

There are a large number of Lord of the Rings tours offered at all of the different areas in New Zealand where the movie was filmed. Over the time period where these movies were released there was a significant upswing in the number of travelers to New Zealand, but since the movie hype has subsided tourism to New Zealand has decreased slightly as well. For a traveler interested in Lord of the Rings, must see places to visit would be Hobbiton, located outside of Rotorua, Wellington has numerous Lord of the Rings tours which include tours of the movie studios and of course a traveler would have to go to Queenstown and Wanaka to see all of the beautiful sites where these movies were filmed.

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Margot. New Zealand is definitely on our “must see” list for a future vacation!

Cruise Interviews

Michelle Van Deusen from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the largest passenger ship afloat, will be making her debut sailing in 2009. A sister ship, the Allure of the Seas, will be coming out in 2010. We recently talked with Michelle Van Deusen about these exciting new ships and what else is new with Royal Caribbean.

Drawing of the Aqua theatre on the Oasis of the Seas

FamilyTravelGurus: Tell us about your two new ships and what unique features they will offer passengers.

The Oasis of the Seas will be having her inaugural sailing the end of 2009, and the Allure of the Seas around the same time in 2010. What is unique about them is that they will be destinations unto themselves with seven different “neighborhoods”. This neighborhood concept gives the passengers many areas to explore, relax, drink and have fun.

There will be Central Park which will be the ship’s town square, a great gathering space for dining, entertainment and street performances. Central Park will open to the sky with live trees, plants and flowers to make it truly “outdoors”.

The Boardwalk is a neat area dedicated to families with an old fashioned Carousel at sea, amusements, games, and attractions like Madame Zamara’s psychic reading and tattoo parlor (henna dyed). This area opens up to the one-of-a-kind AquaTheater which will have daily water performances by aerialists and divers.

Like our Voyager and Freedom class ships, these two new ships will also feature our signature “Royal Promenade” which is a great place to shop, eat or just people watch! The Rising Tide will be a focal point – it’s a levitating bar that ascends & descends over three decks!

For those passengers that like to unwind, another neighborhood is the “Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness” area. They can enjoy a relaxing massage, restore their bodies in our “Themal Suites” or rejuvenate with a spa treatment. This area will also boast the largest floating state-of-the-art fitness center with work out equipment, classes like Pilates, yoga & something new called Kinesis – a full body, no imact workout. There’s even a Vitality Cafe there with healthy snack,entrees, smoothies and juices.

Another neighborhood will be the “Pool and Sports Zone” with multiple pools, the H2O Zone – a water park, two FlowRiders, our rock climbing walls and a lot more.

Can you believe these ships will even feature a Zip Line nine decks high? Even the entertainment areas will be kicked up a few notches – besides our large theater for Broadway-like shows and our Studio B ice skating shows, there will be many small, intimate venues such as Jazz on 4 and Comedy Live. Something really unique is our “Loft Suites” – 2,000 square feet of multilevel living space with floor-to-ceiling windows. Can you believe that many of the inside staterooms will have balconies? These will be open to the sky.

FamilyTravelGurus: Wow! We can’t wait to sail on one of these ships! You had mentioned to us that the two new ships will each have an onboard nursery – from what age will you take infants in the nursery and how is time in the nursery pre-reserved??

We will take infants ages six months and older (which is the minimum age requirement to board our ships). The nursery will be first of its kind on the seas. We are still working out all the details regarding how passengers will reserve time for their children.

FamilyTravelGurus: We specialize in family travel – what else about a Royal Caribbean cruise makes it a good choice for families?

Royal Caribbean is great for families, especially multi-generational because we have something for everyone. For kids we have 5 different programs based on their ages at Adventure Ocean. These are fun and include education at the same time. They can learn about oceanography, theater, art and more. We even have supervisored programs for teenagers and many areas of dedicated space for them such as “Fuel”, their own nightclub and “The Living Room”, a day time gathering area. We are partnered with Fischer Price (so there are lots of toys for the little ones), Crayola, Mattel, Lowes. Oh, and we now have Wii and Guitar Hero.

For the adults, did you know that we have over 200 activities they can participate in daily? Everything from the expected “Bingo”, to seminars on a variety of topics, art auctions, culinary demonstrations. For joint family activities, I love the miniature golf (a real challenge), and there’s the sports area, the swimming pools and our flexible restaurant venues. I guess what I’m saying is that some family members can decide to climb the rock wall, while others can enjoy a book in our library or quiet adults only Solarium. Yet, they can enjoy lots of activities together.

FamilyTravelGurus: Tell us about the new Royal Caribbean vacation packages that include a stay at Universal Studios Orlando

We have recently teamed up with Universal to offer our guests “Way More Than a Cruise” by combining their 3 or 4 night Bahamas cruise aboard the Monarch of the Seas or their 7 night Freedom of the Seas cruise with 3 or 4 night stay at Univeral Orlando. The packages include everything – hotel, park entrance, all transfers and the cruise. Our passengers will be picked up at the airport and hotel/pier, between hotel and theme parks and between Port Canaveral and hotel/airport. There are 3 themed, AAA 4-diamond hotels that we work with. An extra benefit is the “Universal Express” which allows them to skip the lines at the theme park! There’s also a more economical option our passengers can choose from three nearby hotels that aren’t located in the park. So, this package is affordable to everyone’s budget.

FamilyTravelGurus: What are your plans for Europe in 2009 and 2010? How do your European cruises differ from your competitors?

Royal Caribbean continues to have more ships in Europe than any other cruise line. That means that consumers have more options of itineraries to pick from and more flexibility with their schedules. Some unique destinations for us will include Dubai and also Iceland.

FamilyTravelGurus: What are you offering in Alaska in 2009 and 2010? Do you recommend a Royal Caribbean “cruise tour” for Alaska visitors?

This season will offer the Radiance of the Seas doing seven night Hubbard Glacier itineraries (Seward to Vancouver or Vancouver to Seward), the Rhapsody of the Seas offering seven night Sawyer Glacier cruise (round trip Seattle) and the Serenade of the Seas seven night Sawyer Glacier (round trip Vancouver). For people with a little more time, Radiance does have two 11 night sailings starting in San Diego and finishing in Vancouver. Also Serenade of the Seas has a 14 night Ulitmate Alaska which starts in San Francisco and ends in Vancouver.

I definitely recommend a Royal Caribbean cruise tour! I did a Cruisetour four years ago and it was a great way to see the interior parts of the state and get up close and personal to the wildlife. Our Wilderness Express train cars are the best; they have see-through, glass-domes cars with 360 degree views. Really comfy reclining and rotating leather seats. Also a great outdoor viewing platform. The tour is 100% escorted by our Adventure Specialist and they are your personal tour guides, historian, archeologists and all around “hosts” . You don’t have to worry about a single thing.

FamilyTravelGurus: We understand you have some exciting new cruise options sailing from the West Coast. We recently sailed on the Mariner of the Seas out of L.A. – will that ship be sailing 7 night cruises year round? And what do you have planned for the Radiance of the Seas?

Yes, the Mariner of the Seas will be cruising year round from Los Angeles. The Radiance of the Seas will be sailing from San Diego starting this fall. We’re very excited about this because first of all, San Diego is such a fun city that many people will decide to stay in San Digo pre and post their cruise. Also we have added some longer itineraries that include some destinations we haven’t visited before such as Manzanillo, Ixtapa and Acapulco. There’s going to be 4/5 night cruises for those with limited vacation time and also.

FamilyTravelGurus: Finally, what has been your favorite Royal Caribbean cruise and what made that cruise special?

My favorite cruise was an eight night Mediterranean Cruise on the Brilliance of the Seas that my husband and I took two and a half years ago. It started in Barcelona which is a beautiful, friendly city. We visited Marseille , Ville Franche (and took the local bus into Nice for lunch), also the island of Corsica, Rome and Naples and also Tunis (North Africa). My husband was celebrating a special birthday and we met some really great people on the cruise; including a couple from Scotland and another from Spain who we spent time with. We had never visited these countries before and the cruise allowed us to sample all in a short period of time. Most memorable destination was the excursion we took to Sorrento and Pompeii (from Naples). Sorrento was postcard pretty. The cruise made us decide that we’d definitely like to visit Italy again.

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Michelle. We look forward to sailing on your new ships and to some of these new itineraries soon!

Tour Interviews

Scot and Rina from Loving Italy

In our travels we often meet with private tour guides that we later recommend to our clients. Scot gave our family a terrific tour of the Vatican when we were in Rome in 2006. Scot and his wife Rina now offer personalized custom tours in Italy. We recently chatted with Scot and Rina about Italy and the services they offer.

FamilyTravelGurus: Many of our readers only have a short time to visit places in Italy on a cruise. What types of cruise tours do you offer and how are these tours different than what the cruise line may offer?

Let me answer the second question first. With us there is no such thing as a fixed itinerary. All of our tours are customizable; you can change them to include your favorite restaurant or store, or anything else you’d like to do. Time is short and our priority is fitting in as much as we can to make your trip memorable.

You guys at “FamilyTravelGurus” know how much you can see if you plan things right or put yourself in the hands of someone who “knows the ropes”.

A lot of our “cruisers” are seeing Italy for the first time, so they want to see as much as they possibly can in 7 hours. We always try to find a balance between the different aspects of what an excursion can offer — art, history, geography, food, local traditions — so regardless of individual tastes everybody will find something for them.

FamilyTravelGurus: Tuscany is a popular area with Americans (the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” was a hit!) What tours do you provide in Tuscany? Can you help with places to stay?

Tuscany’s popularity grows every year, and we can’t complain about that! It’s an easy place to keep coming back to for so many reasons, from the breathtaking countryside drives to the great food to the fact that it’s well connected with Florence and Rome by train and road. We have plenty of thematic tours for tourists with an interest in a particular face of Italy: wine tours (guided visits to exclusive wineries, lunches in historic castles etc), tours that focus on the Etruscan culture, or ceramics, or Renaissance gardens and villas. And, of course we have
tours to all the great art cities of Tuscany and Umbria: Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, Pisa, Assisi, Perugia….

Can you help with places to stay? sure, you can stay with us! ( really. we have a guest bedroom here in Chianti and clients have stayed with us in the past). We also have a list of charming relais, boutique hotels, castles and historic villas, many of which are not available to the general public. With a little advance notice we can find a perfect match for almost any family.

FamilyTravelGurus: When we think of Italy I think of wine and food! Do you have tours that feature wine tasting and wonderful meals?

We’re focusing more and more on “slow food”. We do a lot of research to find exceptional food that doesn’t appear in the guidebooks, little restaurants and trattorie which are a great value because you’re eating incredibly fresh and well-prepared food, in a beautiful setting, that you wouldn’t have found about otherwise. We also do a lot of tours that focus on wine and food products — Brunello, Chianti, the “Supertuscans” of the Tuscan coast, olive oil pressings, honey and cheese making. Many of the wine tastings and cellar visits are at renowned producers, and often include lunch.
FamilyTravelGurus: Italy is a popular Honeymoon destination – what services do you provide for newlyweds?

Most of the Tuscany and Amalfi Coast tours are already so romantic in and of themselves that we don’t need to do much to adapt them for newlyweds. There are also lots of fun things that are perfect for honeymooners: a drive through chianti in a vintage car and lunch in a castle, ballooning or horsebacking riding in the Tuscan countryside. And we’re happy to help with hotel and restaurant reservations to make the trip even more special.

FamilyTravelGurus: As the name of our website implies, we specialize in family vacations. Is Italy a good destination to bring the kids? What areas are especially good for families to visit?

Of course it is! if you remember, the italian constitution is founded on the idea of the nucleus of the family, so won’t be surprised how central the idea of family is. italians love children so travelling with small children is a delight. many of the cities have museums that are geared to children and much of what you’ll want to do is outside, which means that it’s “climbable” and walkable. in general, the bigger cities like Rome and Florence and Siena, and the coast, with its beaches, offer the most for children.

FamilyTravelGurus: How are your tours different than what your competitors offer?

1. Commitment is the word that comes to mind first. we love people and making sure that everyone has a great time is our main goal. it’s easy for us because we do more than 90% of the tours personally, so we can handle things “on-the-fly” where a big company doesn’t have that flexibility.

2. we don’t try to offer too much; instead we focus on what we’re best at, and if
it’s outside of what we do we hand it off to someone else.

3. and, since most of our business comes from referrals, we tend to attract clients who have similar tastes to ours. i’ve always been a big believer in building business around happy clients.

FamilyTravelGurus: How did you get started in providing tours in Italy?

Rina:by chance! I had just taken my major in Foreign Literature and Language
at the University of Florence, and was so ready to face the “New Brave World”
either as teacher in the secondary school or as whatever job gave me the
opportunity to share my knowledge and be with the people. Well, of course,
one other thing I had always be dreaming about was traveling..
I started at the information desk for the Toyota group at the Excelsior hotel.
The result was so successful that my second job, from the American Company
in charge of the organization of the Toyota, was a..TOUR of EUROPE as tour
guide onboard of a 50 seat tour bus!!! And, incredible but true, saying “yes”
was the most natural thing for me to do in the world. That was in 1995.

Scot: I grew up in an Italian neighborhood and had always been fascinated by the
art and food, so I took a leap and moved herein 2000. I discovered that it was
easy to find fellow english speakers who wanted to know more about the same things that I was excited about, so I started by giving walking tours of Rome, and things just snowballed from there.

FamilyTravelGurus: Finally tell us some of your favorite places to visit in Italy?

Scot: for me Rome is at the top of the list, unconquered and unconquerable.it’s the most beautiful city in the world and has so many layers and colors facets that you’ll never see it all. rina and i both love the amalfi coast, that magical stretch of cliffs and cobalt waters between positano and ravello is one of the most dramatic in the world. where we live in chianti is a favorite, or else we wouldn’t be here. man and mother nature really collaborated here to create harmony and balance in just about everything.

Rina: I totally agree with Scot about Rome and the Amalfi Coast. In my list there is Sicily too because it is impossible to visit that island without falling under the spell of its varied charm: natural beauties, centuries of history piled up in the shape of hundred civilizations who added more and more splendor and richness to it. The food is the best, the people so warm and welcoming and all seems like an orchestra directed by a single excuisite “maestro”. (once we got rid of the mafia, exporting it a few years ago..!)

My love for Tuscany is too obvious to need an explanation: it’s my second home! Some other places I love in my Country are Bellagio, Bergamo, the Isola Bella, the little “promontories” called 5 Terre, and last but not least, Sardinia.(is it so obvious that for me choosing is a problem??)

FamilyTravelGurus: Thanks Scot and Rina. We may just take you up on that offer to stay with you on our next trip to Tuscany!