As promised, I will be compiling my list of Good News contributions.
Please feel free to add yours by adding a comment at the end!
GOOD NEWS ONLY PLEASE!
1. Got a call from my son today and we are going to have another grandchild due at Christmas!!!!!!!! Yipeeeee. That's number 6.
Valerie DeGray
2. My son, Ryan, just took his 1st driving lesson today and did a fantastic job! He’s a cautious kid and he will be a great driver.
I booked a wonderful trip to Spain recently for 3 family members traveling together at the end of June, 2008. I have an inquiry in a villa/vacation rental in Ireland for one of my past clients. I wrote an article for an adventure travel company that was sent out to their data base of hundreds. Hopefully, this will give me some business.
I returned from my Italy and Greece vacation about a month ago and had a fabulous time. I look forward to giving you all a short presentation at our next TPV meeting so I can share everything about it with you. In our industry – there’s nothing like first hand experience to then impart to your client’s….Just remember…don’t give away the farm – you are a consultant and you deserve to get paid for your time and knowledge of destinations.
I gave my 10 minute presentation to my business networking group yesterday and created interest from one member wanting to go to Australia and another member requesting help for his daughter’s honeymoon next year.
Every week I try to call at least 10 past clients just to ‘touch base’ and keep my name in front of them so they will remember me next time they are ready to go on vacation.
That’s my good news for now. More next time!
Jan Mauer
3. What a great idea to have something good to read instead of the usual depressing stuff.
I am continuing to recover nicely from my spinal fusion surgery (March 5) and have been back to my full time job at the high school for a month now. My son got married on May 17th!!! It was an absolutely beautiful garden ceremony and the reception was so much fun. Now my full attention is on my daughter's upcoming wedding which is planned for March 28, 2009.
Once again I was elected to be a NJ representative for the National Education Association. Each year our annual meeting is hosted by a different state, this year it is in Washington, DC. It lasts for a week and is always over the Fourth of July. I am going to go a day early so that I can try to sightsee a bit while there.
I have 2 small groups cruising on RCCL this month. I am working currently working on putting together some excursions for my annual November cruise group. I am planning the Pre-cruise party and transportation for this group as well. Although I escort this group each year, which is work, it is lots of fun, too.
Cathy Pietras
4. Good News from the business front:
a. Michael Jordan Travel is ceasing operations. Guess they couldn’t recruit enough minority franchisees to make it work
b.. Carnival is reducing their Personal Vacation Planner Program, therefore leaving more open for travel agent sales.
5. Good news........I only have to work one day at my other job next week because the doctor will be on vacation (normally I work Wed and Thurs).........tomorrow Tommy and I are going to the city to see "Young Frankenstein", matinee, and we will walk around, have dinner, probably find an Irish pub like Kennedy's or the Pig 'n Whistle (he can only handle one Guinness, maybe two, poor boy)...........we got a new washer and dryer, front loaders, hopefully we'll save on water and electric..........even though my usual clients are not booking now, it has given me time to devote to other things..........I am thankful for air conditioning and ceiling fans............Tommy and I are going to St Lucia the end of July because I won 6 nights there............these may seem trivial (maybe not the last one) to some, but they are important to me!
--
Mary McGrath
6. On a personal note: Praise God my stitches from the Carpal Tunnel Surgery came out Tuesday. The doc said if I keep exercising the way I have, I will not have to go to physical therapy. Yeah! Each day or two, I get a little more movement & strength in my hand. The really cool news is that the pain is gone from my right hand. That is truly amazing! (and I have not had to wash a dish in a few weeks.) I am scheduled for my left hand's surgery on the 26Th of June. Then I will really be out of commission. Oh no! Erin will really be in trouble. Anyone for the beach? Let me know. I will be ready by July 1 and don't have to return to work til August. Come on down! Erin graduated from Stockton College with her Bachelors in Social Work. She is off to Stony Brook University on Long Island in August to work on her Masters in Social Work.
On a business note: Since I have been home on disability I have booked 4 cabins on Carnival for August. They are past clients who enjoyed their cruise and are looking forward to going this year. Last time they cruised, one person in the group won the BINGO Jackpot. I also have been approached to do some meeting planning work. Who says people aren't traveling? I am looking forward to the October Sail Promotion TPV will be putting out. I am getting my client mailing list cleaned up and ready to go.
Karen Haber
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Review of the Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
Tommy and I stayed at the Fairmont Mayakoba from May 12 - 17th. When we arrived we were given a beach bag filled with two large beach towels, sunscreen, and a one time use digital cameras. We were escorted to our casita suite which has large sliding doors which open to a corner balcony overlooking the swim-up pool bar. Room amenities include comfortable Fairmont beds and expansive bathrooms, each with a soaker tub, double sinks, and a separate glass-walled shower stall. There were robes and slippers for our use, and a refrigerator in the room.
There was a hospitality suite set up and if there was anything we needed, all we had to do was ask. The hospitality desk was set up each day for us and staffed by the members of Gray Consulting which is a travel agency located in Pennsylvania that specializes in meetings such as this. Their staff arrived about 3 days prior to our arrival and they had people who stayed until the last of us left. Many people had either arrived early or stayed a few days later. This was a top notch company and they worked hand in hand with "Destination Mexico" , a local company that helped coordinate our stay and excursions.
The property is beautiful with the buildings set amidst the lush greenery with winding pathways throughout. To get to the beach guests can take a ride in one of the golf carts that services the resort, ride a bike provided by the Fairmont, or walk, however, the walk was about 25 minutes from our room. There is also boat service on the resort property.
This trip was a company trip for Tommy, so we were with 100 other sales reps and their guests. The first night we had dinner on the open grounds, buffet style, with a band playing in the background. The next morning's breakfast was at the same place. Tommy's company always has something planned so they can give back to the local community. We received bandanas in our rooms Monday night with instructions to bring them to breakfast Tuesday morning. When we arrived to breakfast, we were told to find our tables by matching our bandanas with the one displayed on the tables. There were twenty tables in all, with ten people at each table. We had breakfast and enjoyed meeting other people whom we had never met. After breakfast we were given instructions that we would be having a scavenger hunt. Each couple had a particular mission and when we were finished we were to gather back at our tables. The point of this was that we were all finding parts to a bike which we then had to assemble and decorate. There would be a contest at the end to see which bikes would win for the decorations. We also had a time limit. It was early in the morning when we started, but around 10 am when we finished. Boy, did it get hot!! Our bike came in second place for the decorations. But here is the best part...the bikes were being donated to a local orphanage and they had brought all twenty orphans there to receive their bikes. It was very heartwarming to see how happy they were to get their brand new bikes.
Tuesday afternoon we each had a stone massage at the Willow Stream Spa. The spa is 37,000 square feet and features 20 treatment rooms including a unique couple's suite in the treetops, plus two mineral pools and steam rooms. There is also a full-service fitness center, complete with classes, and a beauty salon. The spa was beautiful, with a separate men's and women's area, as well as a co-ed area. Our massages were great, very relaxing, and afterwards we had some tea while relaxing by the large picture window overlooking the outdoor area to the spa. Remember to get your massage early in your stay before getting sunburned!
There is an 18 hole par 72 golf course on site as well. Our excursions were paid for - we had three that we could choose and there was quite a variety from which to choose.
Tuesday evening we all went to the awards dinner held in a cave at Xcaret Eco Park. When we arrived we were greeted with mango cosmos, beer, or soda, and hors d'oeuvres. We were treated to a Mayan ceremony complete with the Mayan costumes and body painting. Then we made our way down to the cave which is just above the underground river. Dinner and the awards were very nice, and there was also a band that played for the evening. We were bussed back to the resort afterwards,
Wednesday we spent most of the day at the beach after breakfast. There are four restaurants on the property as well as a lounge in the main building and a small cafe where you can get a sandwich or a snack. The property is not an all inclusive like most of the resorts in the Riviera Maya. Breakfast was wonderful each day. You had a choice of the breakfast buffet or ordering off the menu. The buffet included an omelet station, made to order waffles, and many Mexican specialties as well as the traditional breakfast fare Americans are used to eating. The wait staff are very eager to learn your name and very pleasant to get to know. The entire hotel staff couldn't have done more for us. One woman who ran one of the restaurants made reservations for us in Playa del Carmen.
The beach is very large; the Fairmont owns acres and acres of property and the beach is very private. The sand was soft and very white, not hot at all although it was about 93 degrees each day (avg temp in May is usually mid-80s). The staff comes around to you while you are on the beach and sets up chairs, brings you drinks and food. The water was a bit rough most of the week. We went in the water but not too far. There is an infinity pool right by the beach as well. Along the beach there are large villas with their own plunge pools. The villas are larger than our house!
Wednesday evening we took a catamaran sunset sail followed by dinner when we returned. The boat was nice, and it was a fun ride with the water as choppy as it was. We had drinks on the boat with some small snacks. Two mackerels were caught while we were out to sea. The crew cooked dinner on the grill when we returned.
Thursday we spent the day back at Xcaret Park. This was our second time there during the day and we still haven't seen it all. You can swim with the dolphins there as well as visit the butterfly farm, tour the graveyard, see a show during the day and at night, swim in the underground river, visit the aquarium, see the animals (tapirs, jaguars, deer), snorkel and snuba, or just relax and enjoy! There are several restaurants and entertainment while dining. In the evening, we all went to the beach dinner where we were served traditional Mexican cuisine.
Friday we went to the beach again and in the evening ten of us went in to Playa del Carmen for dinner and to just walk around. It was about a 15 minute ride from our hotel. This was our last night there and we were so sorry to see it end.
There was a photographer named Ken who spent the week with us taking pictures. Each night when we returned to our room we had some sort of treat: chocolate tower; margarita mix and chips with salsa and guacamole, and two souvenir margarita glasses; a shirt for Tommy and a pareo for me. The last night we came in to our room and there was, already set up, a digital picture frame showing all the pictures of us that had been taken during the week.
Good thing there was a scale in the bathroom because we weighed our luggage and had to rearrange a couple of times so we would not be over the 50 lb limit.
I would highly recommend this property. It is not for someone who wants an all inclusive. It is for someone who wants to get away from all the hustle and bustle of daily life, who wants to be treated like royalty. There were children there, but I would not really consider this a resort for children. Most children would probably be bored because there weren't many others to play with and there is no formal kids club. This is a great resort for couples, honeymooners, those who like privacy and luxurious accommodations.
(Pictures coming soon!)
There was a hospitality suite set up and if there was anything we needed, all we had to do was ask. The hospitality desk was set up each day for us and staffed by the members of Gray Consulting which is a travel agency located in Pennsylvania that specializes in meetings such as this. Their staff arrived about 3 days prior to our arrival and they had people who stayed until the last of us left. Many people had either arrived early or stayed a few days later. This was a top notch company and they worked hand in hand with "Destination Mexico" , a local company that helped coordinate our stay and excursions.
The property is beautiful with the buildings set amidst the lush greenery with winding pathways throughout. To get to the beach guests can take a ride in one of the golf carts that services the resort, ride a bike provided by the Fairmont, or walk, however, the walk was about 25 minutes from our room. There is also boat service on the resort property.
This trip was a company trip for Tommy, so we were with 100 other sales reps and their guests. The first night we had dinner on the open grounds, buffet style, with a band playing in the background. The next morning's breakfast was at the same place. Tommy's company always has something planned so they can give back to the local community. We received bandanas in our rooms Monday night with instructions to bring them to breakfast Tuesday morning. When we arrived to breakfast, we were told to find our tables by matching our bandanas with the one displayed on the tables. There were twenty tables in all, with ten people at each table. We had breakfast and enjoyed meeting other people whom we had never met. After breakfast we were given instructions that we would be having a scavenger hunt. Each couple had a particular mission and when we were finished we were to gather back at our tables. The point of this was that we were all finding parts to a bike which we then had to assemble and decorate. There would be a contest at the end to see which bikes would win for the decorations. We also had a time limit. It was early in the morning when we started, but around 10 am when we finished. Boy, did it get hot!! Our bike came in second place for the decorations. But here is the best part...the bikes were being donated to a local orphanage and they had brought all twenty orphans there to receive their bikes. It was very heartwarming to see how happy they were to get their brand new bikes.
Tuesday afternoon we each had a stone massage at the Willow Stream Spa. The spa is 37,000 square feet and features 20 treatment rooms including a unique couple's suite in the treetops, plus two mineral pools and steam rooms. There is also a full-service fitness center, complete with classes, and a beauty salon. The spa was beautiful, with a separate men's and women's area, as well as a co-ed area. Our massages were great, very relaxing, and afterwards we had some tea while relaxing by the large picture window overlooking the outdoor area to the spa. Remember to get your massage early in your stay before getting sunburned!
There is an 18 hole par 72 golf course on site as well. Our excursions were paid for - we had three that we could choose and there was quite a variety from which to choose.
Tuesday evening we all went to the awards dinner held in a cave at Xcaret Eco Park. When we arrived we were greeted with mango cosmos, beer, or soda, and hors d'oeuvres. We were treated to a Mayan ceremony complete with the Mayan costumes and body painting. Then we made our way down to the cave which is just above the underground river. Dinner and the awards were very nice, and there was also a band that played for the evening. We were bussed back to the resort afterwards,
Wednesday we spent most of the day at the beach after breakfast. There are four restaurants on the property as well as a lounge in the main building and a small cafe where you can get a sandwich or a snack. The property is not an all inclusive like most of the resorts in the Riviera Maya. Breakfast was wonderful each day. You had a choice of the breakfast buffet or ordering off the menu. The buffet included an omelet station, made to order waffles, and many Mexican specialties as well as the traditional breakfast fare Americans are used to eating. The wait staff are very eager to learn your name and very pleasant to get to know. The entire hotel staff couldn't have done more for us. One woman who ran one of the restaurants made reservations for us in Playa del Carmen.
The beach is very large; the Fairmont owns acres and acres of property and the beach is very private. The sand was soft and very white, not hot at all although it was about 93 degrees each day (avg temp in May is usually mid-80s). The staff comes around to you while you are on the beach and sets up chairs, brings you drinks and food. The water was a bit rough most of the week. We went in the water but not too far. There is an infinity pool right by the beach as well. Along the beach there are large villas with their own plunge pools. The villas are larger than our house!
Wednesday evening we took a catamaran sunset sail followed by dinner when we returned. The boat was nice, and it was a fun ride with the water as choppy as it was. We had drinks on the boat with some small snacks. Two mackerels were caught while we were out to sea. The crew cooked dinner on the grill when we returned.
Thursday we spent the day back at Xcaret Park. This was our second time there during the day and we still haven't seen it all. You can swim with the dolphins there as well as visit the butterfly farm, tour the graveyard, see a show during the day and at night, swim in the underground river, visit the aquarium, see the animals (tapirs, jaguars, deer), snorkel and snuba, or just relax and enjoy! There are several restaurants and entertainment while dining. In the evening, we all went to the beach dinner where we were served traditional Mexican cuisine.
Friday we went to the beach again and in the evening ten of us went in to Playa del Carmen for dinner and to just walk around. It was about a 15 minute ride from our hotel. This was our last night there and we were so sorry to see it end.
There was a photographer named Ken who spent the week with us taking pictures. Each night when we returned to our room we had some sort of treat: chocolate tower; margarita mix and chips with salsa and guacamole, and two souvenir margarita glasses; a shirt for Tommy and a pareo for me. The last night we came in to our room and there was, already set up, a digital picture frame showing all the pictures of us that had been taken during the week.
Good thing there was a scale in the bathroom because we weighed our luggage and had to rearrange a couple of times so we would not be over the 50 lb limit.
I would highly recommend this property. It is not for someone who wants an all inclusive. It is for someone who wants to get away from all the hustle and bustle of daily life, who wants to be treated like royalty. There were children there, but I would not really consider this a resort for children. Most children would probably be bored because there weren't many others to play with and there is no formal kids club. This is a great resort for couples, honeymooners, those who like privacy and luxurious accommodations.
(Pictures coming soon!)
US Airways Vacations Letter Regarding Commission Structure
Dear Travel Professional:
As the airline industry continues to face unprecedented increases in fuel expenses year over year, we find ourselves in a position where we must make changes to the commission structure at US Airways Vacations. Effective for all bookings beginning July 1, 2008 regardless of travel date, the new US Airways Commission Structure will be as follows:
Package Type
Domestic: International: Groups:
Call-in...4% 9% 10%
Electronic...7% 12% N/A
Commission-Choice Call-in...11% 16% 17%
Commission-Choice Electronic...14% 19% N/A
Please note that US Airways Vacations still offers full commission on all US Airways air components booked as part of a package and we treat all air segments as “bulk air” with no caps or specific classes of service needed to receive commission. Included with this change, we are realigning our product commissions. All domestic destinations including Hawaii are now part of the domestic product commission schedule and all international destinations will be paid on the international product schedule.
Along with the commission change, we will be extending the reach of our call center booking fee to include travel agents. This fee has been in effect for direct consumers for over a year now. As of July 1, 2008 any FIT booking that originates from our call center will be assessed a $25 per person commissionable fee for domestic bookings and a $35 per person commissionable fee for international bookings. Groups of 10 or more will not be charged a fee.
US Airways Vacations recognizes the travel agent community as a vital part of our business and we have resisted making these changes for as long as we possibly could. We continue to need your support and will continue to offer great Travel Agent oriented programs such as:
Exclusive All-Bulk Air – full commission on all US Airways air components booked in our packages, with bulk air terms and conditions all the time.
Commission Choice – the ability to build in a slight increase to your package price and reap the benefit of commissions up to 19%.
Exclusive WaiverPlus– our exclusive WaiverPlus protects your clients in the event of cancellation for any reason up until midnight prior to departure. Access America then takes over for issues on the day of travel and during travel. And, since we have all-bulk US Airways air, this waiver protects the US Airways air component all the time, every time!
Exclusive US Airways Vacations Certified program – Visit tauniv.com and take our exclusive training course so you are eligible for bonus commissions, product incentives and even our annual $25,000 Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt! All of our special incentives are only open to our certified agents.
Information on these and other US Airways Vacations travel agents programs are posted at usvtravelagents.com. Please check back regularly for the most up-to-the-minute news about USV specials and travel agent incentives.
Again thank you for your continued support, we look forward to more prosperous times ahead.
Cheers,
Chris AmesSenior ManagerUS Airways Vacations
Jackie MinchukNational Sales ManagerUS Airways Vacations
If you have any questions, call us at 800-455-0123.
As the airline industry continues to face unprecedented increases in fuel expenses year over year, we find ourselves in a position where we must make changes to the commission structure at US Airways Vacations. Effective for all bookings beginning July 1, 2008 regardless of travel date, the new US Airways Commission Structure will be as follows:
Package Type
Domestic: International: Groups:
Call-in...4% 9% 10%
Electronic...7% 12% N/A
Commission-Choice Call-in...11% 16% 17%
Commission-Choice Electronic...14% 19% N/A
Please note that US Airways Vacations still offers full commission on all US Airways air components booked as part of a package and we treat all air segments as “bulk air” with no caps or specific classes of service needed to receive commission. Included with this change, we are realigning our product commissions. All domestic destinations including Hawaii are now part of the domestic product commission schedule and all international destinations will be paid on the international product schedule.
Along with the commission change, we will be extending the reach of our call center booking fee to include travel agents. This fee has been in effect for direct consumers for over a year now. As of July 1, 2008 any FIT booking that originates from our call center will be assessed a $25 per person commissionable fee for domestic bookings and a $35 per person commissionable fee for international bookings. Groups of 10 or more will not be charged a fee.
US Airways Vacations recognizes the travel agent community as a vital part of our business and we have resisted making these changes for as long as we possibly could. We continue to need your support and will continue to offer great Travel Agent oriented programs such as:
Exclusive All-Bulk Air – full commission on all US Airways air components booked in our packages, with bulk air terms and conditions all the time.
Commission Choice – the ability to build in a slight increase to your package price and reap the benefit of commissions up to 19%.
Exclusive WaiverPlus– our exclusive WaiverPlus protects your clients in the event of cancellation for any reason up until midnight prior to departure. Access America then takes over for issues on the day of travel and during travel. And, since we have all-bulk US Airways air, this waiver protects the US Airways air component all the time, every time!
Exclusive US Airways Vacations Certified program – Visit tauniv.com and take our exclusive training course so you are eligible for bonus commissions, product incentives and even our annual $25,000 Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt! All of our special incentives are only open to our certified agents.
Information on these and other US Airways Vacations travel agents programs are posted at usvtravelagents.com. Please check back regularly for the most up-to-the-minute news about USV specials and travel agent incentives.
Again thank you for your continued support, we look forward to more prosperous times ahead.
Cheers,
Chris AmesSenior ManagerUS Airways Vacations
Jackie MinchukNational Sales ManagerUS Airways Vacations
If you have any questions, call us at 800-455-0123.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
RCI Oasis of the Seas- WOW
Royal Caribbean Debuts New "Neighborhoods" on Oasis
Published on: June 19, 2008 -- advertisement --
Royal Caribbean International introduced its latest amenities planned for its newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Launching in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the world's largest and most revolutionary ship, with a total capacity of roughly 6,300 passengers (third and fourth berths included). The company, which in April debuted a Central Park running down the center of the ship, yesterday unveiled the Boardwalk, a space for families inspired by the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear, plus the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, which will celebrate water with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship offering a full spectrum of activities and performances for guests. Central Park, the Boardwalk and AquaTheater will all be located on one deck, with AquaTheater in the stern. In addition, a new version of the Royal Promenade will allow guests to have a physical connection with the neighborhood above, Central Park, as natural light cascades down from the sky through the Crystal Canopy sculptured glass domes.
Reminiscent of the piers that dot the coast of England and amusement parks such as Coney Island, the elements of Boardwalk will engage the entire family in classic fun with eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. An original, handcrafted carousel -- the first at sea -- will be the centerpiece of this neighborhood. Two rock-climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea will be suspended nine decks above the Boardwalk. AquaTheater, created to offer two unique experiences, will allow guests to swim in the theater's magnificent kidney-shaped pool, relax on sun loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding the pool, and even take Scuba lessons in the afternoon. At night, the venue will deliver a complete sensory experience playing on the element of surprise as audience members witness the area come alive with theatrical performances featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving, as well as elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.
Royal Caribbean also introduced a series of industry-first loft suites offering expansive ocean views and luxury amenities. The 28 contemporary two-level loft suites will feature vibrant, ocean-inspired colors in a sophisticated and spacious setting. The lofts will feature spectacular views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows. The signature lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of accommodation options, many with views unique to Oasis of the Seas, such as Central Park and the Boardwalk. "We are particularly excited about the neighborhood concept, which gives guests compelling choices and the ability to flow seamlessly throughout the ship to meet their individual desires and preferences," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, will include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The Royal Promenade will be home to a vast array of shopping, dining and entertainment options including the Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea, which will traverse three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe, and Atlas Pub, which will "crack open" to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests, as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances. Other options include the Schooner Bar and Champagne Bar; the new Mondo Coffee Bar; Focus, a photo shop and gallery; and the Boleros Latin dance club.
"Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of industry firsts on a level and scale that the world has never seen before," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.
When she launches in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. She will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Published on: June 19, 2008 -- advertisement --
Royal Caribbean International introduced its latest amenities planned for its newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Launching in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the world's largest and most revolutionary ship, with a total capacity of roughly 6,300 passengers (third and fourth berths included). The company, which in April debuted a Central Park running down the center of the ship, yesterday unveiled the Boardwalk, a space for families inspired by the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear, plus the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, which will celebrate water with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship offering a full spectrum of activities and performances for guests. Central Park, the Boardwalk and AquaTheater will all be located on one deck, with AquaTheater in the stern. In addition, a new version of the Royal Promenade will allow guests to have a physical connection with the neighborhood above, Central Park, as natural light cascades down from the sky through the Crystal Canopy sculptured glass domes.
Reminiscent of the piers that dot the coast of England and amusement parks such as Coney Island, the elements of Boardwalk will engage the entire family in classic fun with eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. An original, handcrafted carousel -- the first at sea -- will be the centerpiece of this neighborhood. Two rock-climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea will be suspended nine decks above the Boardwalk. AquaTheater, created to offer two unique experiences, will allow guests to swim in the theater's magnificent kidney-shaped pool, relax on sun loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding the pool, and even take Scuba lessons in the afternoon. At night, the venue will deliver a complete sensory experience playing on the element of surprise as audience members witness the area come alive with theatrical performances featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving, as well as elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.
Royal Caribbean also introduced a series of industry-first loft suites offering expansive ocean views and luxury amenities. The 28 contemporary two-level loft suites will feature vibrant, ocean-inspired colors in a sophisticated and spacious setting. The lofts will feature spectacular views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows. The signature lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of accommodation options, many with views unique to Oasis of the Seas, such as Central Park and the Boardwalk. "We are particularly excited about the neighborhood concept, which gives guests compelling choices and the ability to flow seamlessly throughout the ship to meet their individual desires and preferences," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, will include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The Royal Promenade will be home to a vast array of shopping, dining and entertainment options including the Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea, which will traverse three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe, and Atlas Pub, which will "crack open" to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests, as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances. Other options include the Schooner Bar and Champagne Bar; the new Mondo Coffee Bar; Focus, a photo shop and gallery; and the Boleros Latin dance club.
"Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of industry firsts on a level and scale that the world has never seen before," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.
When she launches in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. She will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
NCL's new nightlife on their F3 ships
From Miami chic and Ibiza style to Las Vegas flair and the luxury of the Rivera, the nightclubs on the new F3 ships will create never-before-experienced nightlife at sea.
There are five new nightlife venues on F3, including the industry’s first true Ice Bar, inspired by the original Ice Bars and Ice Hotels in Scandinavia, it’s the ultimate chill; POSH Beach Club, a first of its kind beach club at sea that offers an exclusive, adults-only setting on the ship’s highest deck; Halo, the Uber Bar, an exclusive private lounge with Mediterranean flare combined with the sizzle of South Beach and the luxury of the Rivera in the ship-within-a-ship villa complex; Bliss Ultra Lounge – hailing the return of the only bowling alley at sea, this hotspot is more than a lounge, it’s simply striking; and Spice H20, our adults-only complex, located at the back of the ship on decks 15 and 16, features a huge screen displaying vibrant video images combined with dynamic music to create a truly unique experience, day or night. With these signature outlets, NCL’s nightlife experience will rival even Vegas’ energy and passion for nighttime entertainment.
Every experience on board will be completely unique. What’s unconventionally extraordinary about these spaces is that they will have multiple uses – sunning, bowling, dining and of course, party playgrounds.
There are five new nightlife venues on F3, including the industry’s first true Ice Bar, inspired by the original Ice Bars and Ice Hotels in Scandinavia, it’s the ultimate chill; POSH Beach Club, a first of its kind beach club at sea that offers an exclusive, adults-only setting on the ship’s highest deck; Halo, the Uber Bar, an exclusive private lounge with Mediterranean flare combined with the sizzle of South Beach and the luxury of the Rivera in the ship-within-a-ship villa complex; Bliss Ultra Lounge – hailing the return of the only bowling alley at sea, this hotspot is more than a lounge, it’s simply striking; and Spice H20, our adults-only complex, located at the back of the ship on decks 15 and 16, features a huge screen displaying vibrant video images combined with dynamic music to create a truly unique experience, day or night. With these signature outlets, NCL’s nightlife experience will rival even Vegas’ energy and passion for nighttime entertainment.
Every experience on board will be completely unique. What’s unconventionally extraordinary about these spaces is that they will have multiple uses – sunning, bowling, dining and of course, party playgrounds.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
American to charge for 1st checked bag, cut flights
By DAVID KOENIG, Associated Press Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off possibly thousands of workers as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.
American plans to cut domestic flight capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the fourth quarter, after the peak summer season is over. That's more than double American's previous plans to cut flying by 4.6 percent in late 2008.
In a further sign of the problems facing the industry, Southwest Airlines Co., the most consistently profitable U.S. carrier, won't earn as much the rest of this year as it did in the same period of 2007, Chief Executive Gary Kelly said.
American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.
Last month American announced it would join other carriers in charging $25 for second bags checked for some passengers, but it wasn't immediately clear how Wednesday's announcement would affect that.
Its proposed fee for a first checked bag would exempt people who belong to elite levels of its frequent flyer programs, those who bought full-fare tickets and those traveling overseas.
Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the Atlanta-based airline has no current plans to match American's fee for the first checked bag, but is considering all options with oil at $130 per barrel.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard J. Arpey said he expects the new or raised fees will raise several hundred million dollars for American, but that was the best estimate he would give.
The changes were being made to adapt to "the current reality of slow economic growth and high oil prices," Arpey said. He said the fees are an effort to get customers to pay for services they want.
Arpey didn't put a figure on the layoffs, but when asked whether he expected the figure to be in the thousands, he said yes.
Arpey said he wants to cut overhead and costs about 7 to 8 percent but declined to say whether layoffs would equal a similar percentage of parent AMR Corp.'s work force of about 90,000.
American Airlines expects to retire 45 to 50 planes, most of them gas-guzzling MD-80 aircraft. Those were the plane grounded for faulty wiring last month. AMR regional airline American Eagle also plans to retire planes.
American said rising oil prices have increased its expected annual fuel costs by nearly $3 billion since the start of the year.
FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off possibly thousands of workers as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.
American plans to cut domestic flight capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the fourth quarter, after the peak summer season is over. That's more than double American's previous plans to cut flying by 4.6 percent in late 2008.
In a further sign of the problems facing the industry, Southwest Airlines Co., the most consistently profitable U.S. carrier, won't earn as much the rest of this year as it did in the same period of 2007, Chief Executive Gary Kelly said.
American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.
Last month American announced it would join other carriers in charging $25 for second bags checked for some passengers, but it wasn't immediately clear how Wednesday's announcement would affect that.
Its proposed fee for a first checked bag would exempt people who belong to elite levels of its frequent flyer programs, those who bought full-fare tickets and those traveling overseas.
Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the Atlanta-based airline has no current plans to match American's fee for the first checked bag, but is considering all options with oil at $130 per barrel.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard J. Arpey said he expects the new or raised fees will raise several hundred million dollars for American, but that was the best estimate he would give.
The changes were being made to adapt to "the current reality of slow economic growth and high oil prices," Arpey said. He said the fees are an effort to get customers to pay for services they want.
Arpey didn't put a figure on the layoffs, but when asked whether he expected the figure to be in the thousands, he said yes.
Arpey said he wants to cut overhead and costs about 7 to 8 percent but declined to say whether layoffs would equal a similar percentage of parent AMR Corp.'s work force of about 90,000.
American Airlines expects to retire 45 to 50 planes, most of them gas-guzzling MD-80 aircraft. Those were the plane grounded for faulty wiring last month. AMR regional airline American Eagle also plans to retire planes.
American said rising oil prices have increased its expected annual fuel costs by nearly $3 billion since the start of the year.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tip of the Day
Words of Wisdom from Agent to Agent
What's Your USP?
A company's USP is its Unique Selling Point - something that makes it different from all other companies of its type. Is there something about your business that is so unique that customers would do business with you based on that one quality alone? If so, you have located your USP and are on the way to better understanding how to build a smart marketing campaign based on that uniqueness.
Fortunately, most travel agencies do indeed have a very valuable asset that distinguishes them from all other retail travel companies or online travel agencies - people. Your travel agency's human resources are not duplicated anywhere else. Somewhere in your personnel - whether you are a 500 person agency or a one person home based business is very likely your Unique Selling Point.
Sit down and list the things that make you as a travel consultant unique. Is it your passion? Is it the number of years you have been in the business? Is it the destinations you have visited? What about your destination specialist training? Perhaps your unique insight into a particular niche market qualifies as a Unique Selling Point.
Once you have determined your USP, distill it down into a few coherent sentences. Continue to work on your USP until you can reduce it to a tag line. Now integrate your USP into all of your marketing collateral - make it a central focal point of your brand. Once you find your USP, hold it out for the world to see and you will have fashioned for yourself a unique positioning in your client's eyes.
What's Your USP?
A company's USP is its Unique Selling Point - something that makes it different from all other companies of its type. Is there something about your business that is so unique that customers would do business with you based on that one quality alone? If so, you have located your USP and are on the way to better understanding how to build a smart marketing campaign based on that uniqueness.
Fortunately, most travel agencies do indeed have a very valuable asset that distinguishes them from all other retail travel companies or online travel agencies - people. Your travel agency's human resources are not duplicated anywhere else. Somewhere in your personnel - whether you are a 500 person agency or a one person home based business is very likely your Unique Selling Point.
Sit down and list the things that make you as a travel consultant unique. Is it your passion? Is it the number of years you have been in the business? Is it the destinations you have visited? What about your destination specialist training? Perhaps your unique insight into a particular niche market qualifies as a Unique Selling Point.
Once you have determined your USP, distill it down into a few coherent sentences. Continue to work on your USP until you can reduce it to a tag line. Now integrate your USP into all of your marketing collateral - make it a central focal point of your brand. Once you find your USP, hold it out for the world to see and you will have fashioned for yourself a unique positioning in your client's eyes.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
When Airlines Go Belly UP
This is taken from today’s Wall Street Journal.
THE MIDDLE SEAT
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY
When Airlines Fail, Fliers Have Few Protections
Law's Lapse Leaves Carriers With Little Incentive to Honor Tickets From Defunct Rivals
April 8, 2008; Page D1
Airlines have a new attitude toward customers of failed carriers: It's your loss, not ours. With more airlines folding these days, the impact on consumers can be severe.
Passenger carriers are no longer required to honor tickets of failed competitors because Congress let a government protection for travelers expire in 2006. So when Aloha Airgroup Inc., ATA Airlines Inc. and Skybus Airlines Inc. all shut down last week, some airlines, including the nation's two biggest, refused to accept stranded ticket-holders.
That is a big change for consumers. They used to be able to buy tickets on struggling airlines with reasonable expectations that either the airline would keep flying if it went bankrupt, or other airlines would honor tickets for a small fee. Now, consumers need to be far more careful in picking airlines, especially for tickets bought months in advance.
AMR Corp.'s American and UAL Corp.'s United, struggling themselves under high oil prices, said they would accommodate Aloha, ATA and Skybus ticket-holders only if they purchased a new ticket for their travel.
The carriers said they did offer tickets at discounted prices rather than full-fare, last-minute purchase prices. United said it offered a one-way fare of $275 from Honolulu or Maui to Los Angeles with no advance-purchase requirements, for example, and $475 from Honolulu to Chicago. American said it waived advance-purchase requirements so Aloha, ATA and Skybus ticket-holders could get discounted inventory if available.
But the reality is that at least some customers paid very steep prices. The Maui News reported several customers at Maui's airport said they had to pay $900 each for one-way tickets from Maui to Los Angeles on American. A spokesman for American, Tim Wagner, says it is possible there was no advance-purchase inventory left when those customers called.
"We didn't have a code-share relationship of any kind with any of these airlines, so anything we do to offer people a discount is basically out of the 'goodness of our hearts,' " Mr. Wagner said. "Any discount we give is revenue lost, and we won't be getting anything out of their bankruptcies. So in a $100-a-barrel oil environment, anything that any airline does is generous."
Other airlines, including Delta Air Lines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp., Continental Airlines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc., have been offering standby seats to stranded ticket-holders, but only if travelers pay fees that could run up to $400 or more for round-trip travel with connecting flights.
And those standby offers -- $100 per flight segment -- won't be around very long at all. US Airways limited its offer to flights during the first week after ATA's shutdown. For travel after this Thursday, travelers have to buy new tickets.
Hawaiian Airlines offered free standby service for Aloha ticket-holders -- but only for travel over the first four days after Aloha's March 31 shutdown. Hawaiian, a unit of Hawaiian Holdings Inc., didn't make the same offer to ATA customers, largely because it didn't have any empty seats left to offer. The carrier did add some extra flights for ATA customers, but required the purchase of new tickets. For a San Francisco-Honolulu one-way flight, the fare for ATA refugees was about $320, a spokesman said.
The lack of government safeguards, coupled with more-frequent failures, makes struggling airlines riskier for consumers. Carriers that run out of money are finding no new cash is available to keep flying during a restructuring because of the credit crisis and lack of airline investors. So they have to shut down.
Maxjet Airways, Aloha, ATA and Skybus have all folded. Champion Air, a charter carrier, says it will cease operations in late May. Others may be circling the drain as well.
Congress had protected airline passengers against disruptions such as these shutdowns, but that ended in November 2006, according to the Department of Transportation. Now, a DOT spokesman says, "We encourage other airlines to honor tickets when they can."
That's something airlines have historically done. But when tough times threatened to kill that tradition, Congress wrote it into law. In November 2001, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Congress required airlines to rebook passengers from failed airlines for a handling fee, which the DOT set at $25 one-way and raised to $50 one-way in 2005. The law also gave consumers 60 days to ride standby at $50 each way.
But after lobbying by airlines, Congress let the requirement expire. Airlines argued they shouldn't have to suffer financially from failed competitors. Carriers that accept tickets from failed airlines can file claims in bankruptcy court for reimbursement, but they rarely collect anything on those tickets. And by protecting passengers from risk, Congress propped up dying airlines, hurting competitors who either had to match fire-sale prices or lose customers.
Travelers who bought tickets on now-failed airlines with credit cards do have some protection under the Fair Credit Billing Act. If the airline doesn't deliver the service you bought, your credit-card company has to refund the ticket purchase -- you must dispute the charge within 60 days. Credit-card companies are prepared for refunds -- they require troubled airlines to maintain cash reserves so there is a pool of money available to cover refunds.
Travelers who bought tickets through code-share arrangements have more options -- the airline that sold the ticket should accommodate you. If you bought a United ticket for travel on its partner Aloha, United will rebook you free (but not if you bought the same flight from Aloha). Southwest Airlines Co. sold tickets for flights actually flown by ATA, its code-sharing partner, and promised to re-accommodate customers holding Southwest tickets on Southwest or other airlines.
The Hawaiian islands took a double hit with the recent shutdowns because both Aloha and ATA fly there from the West Coast. Indeed, some of the airline stinginess in accommodating customers results from the fact that most of the routes where ATA and Aloha overlapped with competitors were on long trips to the islands. With limited seats and long flights, airlines were loath to give seats away cheap to bankrupt-airline customers.
Many travelers will undoubtedly pay more as a result of the collapse of two discounters to Hawaii. The cheapest price offered yesterday for a San Francisco-Honolulu non-stop trip this coming weekend was $1,404 round-trip on United, according to Orbitz.com. For the first weekend in May, the cheapest non-stop price available was $789 round-trip on Hawaiian.
Other carriers could eventually add capacity in those markets -- Hawaiian has already said it will begin flying to Oakland from Honolulu on May 1, jumping in on a route flown by both ATA and Aloha. But prices are likely to remain at least marginally higher.
Storrs Warinner, a retired airline captain from Las Vegas, had ATA tickets to Hawaii for December, and now he isn't sure what to do. He did call his credit-card company and was told the ATA charge would never even appear on his bill. As for replacing the tickets, he had hoped other carriers would step in and offer good deals to build new loyalty, or at least cheaper prices to fill new flights. But so far, prices are high, and no carrier has stepped in to replace ATA's non-stop Las Vegas-Honolulu service.
"I'm torn. I think probably people [airlines] will move into the market, but I don't know if I have guts enough to see what's going to happen," Mr. Warinner said.
THE MIDDLE SEAT
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY
When Airlines Fail, Fliers Have Few Protections
Law's Lapse Leaves Carriers With Little Incentive to Honor Tickets From Defunct Rivals
April 8, 2008; Page D1
Airlines have a new attitude toward customers of failed carriers: It's your loss, not ours. With more airlines folding these days, the impact on consumers can be severe.
Passenger carriers are no longer required to honor tickets of failed competitors because Congress let a government protection for travelers expire in 2006. So when Aloha Airgroup Inc., ATA Airlines Inc. and Skybus Airlines Inc. all shut down last week, some airlines, including the nation's two biggest, refused to accept stranded ticket-holders.
That is a big change for consumers. They used to be able to buy tickets on struggling airlines with reasonable expectations that either the airline would keep flying if it went bankrupt, or other airlines would honor tickets for a small fee. Now, consumers need to be far more careful in picking airlines, especially for tickets bought months in advance.
AMR Corp.'s American and UAL Corp.'s United, struggling themselves under high oil prices, said they would accommodate Aloha, ATA and Skybus ticket-holders only if they purchased a new ticket for their travel.
The carriers said they did offer tickets at discounted prices rather than full-fare, last-minute purchase prices. United said it offered a one-way fare of $275 from Honolulu or Maui to Los Angeles with no advance-purchase requirements, for example, and $475 from Honolulu to Chicago. American said it waived advance-purchase requirements so Aloha, ATA and Skybus ticket-holders could get discounted inventory if available.
But the reality is that at least some customers paid very steep prices. The Maui News reported several customers at Maui's airport said they had to pay $900 each for one-way tickets from Maui to Los Angeles on American. A spokesman for American, Tim Wagner, says it is possible there was no advance-purchase inventory left when those customers called.
"We didn't have a code-share relationship of any kind with any of these airlines, so anything we do to offer people a discount is basically out of the 'goodness of our hearts,' " Mr. Wagner said. "Any discount we give is revenue lost, and we won't be getting anything out of their bankruptcies. So in a $100-a-barrel oil environment, anything that any airline does is generous."
Other airlines, including Delta Air Lines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp., Continental Airlines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc., have been offering standby seats to stranded ticket-holders, but only if travelers pay fees that could run up to $400 or more for round-trip travel with connecting flights.
And those standby offers -- $100 per flight segment -- won't be around very long at all. US Airways limited its offer to flights during the first week after ATA's shutdown. For travel after this Thursday, travelers have to buy new tickets.
Hawaiian Airlines offered free standby service for Aloha ticket-holders -- but only for travel over the first four days after Aloha's March 31 shutdown. Hawaiian, a unit of Hawaiian Holdings Inc., didn't make the same offer to ATA customers, largely because it didn't have any empty seats left to offer. The carrier did add some extra flights for ATA customers, but required the purchase of new tickets. For a San Francisco-Honolulu one-way flight, the fare for ATA refugees was about $320, a spokesman said.
The lack of government safeguards, coupled with more-frequent failures, makes struggling airlines riskier for consumers. Carriers that run out of money are finding no new cash is available to keep flying during a restructuring because of the credit crisis and lack of airline investors. So they have to shut down.
Maxjet Airways, Aloha, ATA and Skybus have all folded. Champion Air, a charter carrier, says it will cease operations in late May. Others may be circling the drain as well.
Congress had protected airline passengers against disruptions such as these shutdowns, but that ended in November 2006, according to the Department of Transportation. Now, a DOT spokesman says, "We encourage other airlines to honor tickets when they can."
That's something airlines have historically done. But when tough times threatened to kill that tradition, Congress wrote it into law. In November 2001, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Congress required airlines to rebook passengers from failed airlines for a handling fee, which the DOT set at $25 one-way and raised to $50 one-way in 2005. The law also gave consumers 60 days to ride standby at $50 each way.
But after lobbying by airlines, Congress let the requirement expire. Airlines argued they shouldn't have to suffer financially from failed competitors. Carriers that accept tickets from failed airlines can file claims in bankruptcy court for reimbursement, but they rarely collect anything on those tickets. And by protecting passengers from risk, Congress propped up dying airlines, hurting competitors who either had to match fire-sale prices or lose customers.
Travelers who bought tickets on now-failed airlines with credit cards do have some protection under the Fair Credit Billing Act. If the airline doesn't deliver the service you bought, your credit-card company has to refund the ticket purchase -- you must dispute the charge within 60 days. Credit-card companies are prepared for refunds -- they require troubled airlines to maintain cash reserves so there is a pool of money available to cover refunds.
Travelers who bought tickets through code-share arrangements have more options -- the airline that sold the ticket should accommodate you. If you bought a United ticket for travel on its partner Aloha, United will rebook you free (but not if you bought the same flight from Aloha). Southwest Airlines Co. sold tickets for flights actually flown by ATA, its code-sharing partner, and promised to re-accommodate customers holding Southwest tickets on Southwest or other airlines.
The Hawaiian islands took a double hit with the recent shutdowns because both Aloha and ATA fly there from the West Coast. Indeed, some of the airline stinginess in accommodating customers results from the fact that most of the routes where ATA and Aloha overlapped with competitors were on long trips to the islands. With limited seats and long flights, airlines were loath to give seats away cheap to bankrupt-airline customers.
Many travelers will undoubtedly pay more as a result of the collapse of two discounters to Hawaii. The cheapest price offered yesterday for a San Francisco-Honolulu non-stop trip this coming weekend was $1,404 round-trip on United, according to Orbitz.com. For the first weekend in May, the cheapest non-stop price available was $789 round-trip on Hawaiian.
Other carriers could eventually add capacity in those markets -- Hawaiian has already said it will begin flying to Oakland from Honolulu on May 1, jumping in on a route flown by both ATA and Aloha. But prices are likely to remain at least marginally higher.
Storrs Warinner, a retired airline captain from Las Vegas, had ATA tickets to Hawaii for December, and now he isn't sure what to do. He did call his credit-card company and was told the ATA charge would never even appear on his bill. As for replacing the tickets, he had hoped other carriers would step in and offer good deals to build new loyalty, or at least cheaper prices to fill new flights. But so far, prices are high, and no carrier has stepped in to replace ATA's non-stop Las Vegas-Honolulu service.
"I'm torn. I think probably people [airlines] will move into the market, but I don't know if I have guts enough to see what's going to happen," Mr. Warinner said.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Egyptian 14 day tour to Egypt with Viking River Cruises
From Marion Klakis:
I booked a very expensive Egyptian 14 day tour to Egypt with Viking River Cruises. I reviewed all the tours to Egypt, but wanted to go with the best.I was very disappointed, I did not consider this trip or the ship to be a 5star tour.The trip was about $11,000. Please have anyone with clients who want to see Egypt to talk to me first. The trip was grueling, up very early (5am), a lot of walking & so many people got sick.My husband got bronchitis, I got Ramses Revenge & pneumonia. Egypt air was terrible. Gave away our reserved seats coming home. It was wonderful to see the sites of Egypt, but the "price" was high. I have been in contact with the powers that be at Viking. Have been waiting 5 weeks to see if they will do anything for me & my clients on the trip. Let me know if I can be of any help to anyone.
Marion Klakis (email: mdk2@optonline.net )
I booked a very expensive Egyptian 14 day tour to Egypt with Viking River Cruises. I reviewed all the tours to Egypt, but wanted to go with the best.I was very disappointed, I did not consider this trip or the ship to be a 5star tour.The trip was about $11,000. Please have anyone with clients who want to see Egypt to talk to me first. The trip was grueling, up very early (5am), a lot of walking & so many people got sick.My husband got bronchitis, I got Ramses Revenge & pneumonia. Egypt air was terrible. Gave away our reserved seats coming home. It was wonderful to see the sites of Egypt, but the "price" was high. I have been in contact with the powers that be at Viking. Have been waiting 5 weeks to see if they will do anything for me & my clients on the trip. Let me know if I can be of any help to anyone.
Marion Klakis (email: mdk2@optonline.net )
Monday, March 31, 2008
Carnival to refund some fuel surcharges
March 31, 2008
Dear Travel Agent:
We wanted to advise you that Carnival Corporation & plc has announced a voluntary refund of the company’s fuel supplement for applicable U.S. bookings that were made prior to November 7, 2007 under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General’s Office. The fuel supplement, announced November 7, 2007, was applied to all U.S. bookings for voyages departing on or after February 1, 2008 for cruises on Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.
The company will now refund the fuel supplement for those guests who were already booked at the time the supplement was announced. Refunds for affected guests will be implemented based on cruise departure date according to the following schedule:
For cruises departing on or prior to April 4, 2008, guests will receive a refund in the same form they used to purchase their cruise;
For cruises departing from April 5, 2008 through June 23, 2008, guests will receive an on-board credit;
For cruises departing on or after June 24, 2008, guests’ bookings will be adjusted to eliminate the fuel supplement.
The fuel supplement remains in effect for all bookings made on or after November 7, 2007. The $5 per person per day fuel supplement applies only to the first and second guests in a stateroom and will not exceed $70 per person per voyage. Also, at the time the fuel supplement was announced, travel agents whose clients had existing reservations were offered $10 per booking in administrative compensation for notifying those clients of the supplement and that compensation will continue to be provided.
We also want to thank you for your continued support for all our brands.
We appreciate your business and look forward to providing your clients with great cruise vacations.
Sincerely,
Jack Anderson
Vice President – Corporate Marketing
Bill Harber
Director of Corporate Marketing
Dear Travel Agent:
We wanted to advise you that Carnival Corporation & plc has announced a voluntary refund of the company’s fuel supplement for applicable U.S. bookings that were made prior to November 7, 2007 under an agreement with the Florida Attorney General’s Office. The fuel supplement, announced November 7, 2007, was applied to all U.S. bookings for voyages departing on or after February 1, 2008 for cruises on Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.
The company will now refund the fuel supplement for those guests who were already booked at the time the supplement was announced. Refunds for affected guests will be implemented based on cruise departure date according to the following schedule:
For cruises departing on or prior to April 4, 2008, guests will receive a refund in the same form they used to purchase their cruise;
For cruises departing from April 5, 2008 through June 23, 2008, guests will receive an on-board credit;
For cruises departing on or after June 24, 2008, guests’ bookings will be adjusted to eliminate the fuel supplement.
The fuel supplement remains in effect for all bookings made on or after November 7, 2007. The $5 per person per day fuel supplement applies only to the first and second guests in a stateroom and will not exceed $70 per person per voyage. Also, at the time the fuel supplement was announced, travel agents whose clients had existing reservations were offered $10 per booking in administrative compensation for notifying those clients of the supplement and that compensation will continue to be provided.
We also want to thank you for your continued support for all our brands.
We appreciate your business and look forward to providing your clients with great cruise vacations.
Sincerely,
Jack Anderson
Vice President – Corporate Marketing
Bill Harber
Director of Corporate Marketing
Aloha Airlines Goes Bankrupt
Aloha Airlines Halts Passenger Service
By AUDREY McAVOY,AP
Posted: 2008-03-31 06:21:02
HONOLULU (March 30) - Aloha Airlines said Sunday it will halt all passenger service after Monday, signaling the end of an airline that has served Hawaii for more than 60 years.
One of Aloha Airlines' last passenger flights takes off at the Honolulu International Airport Sunday. The carrier, which has served Hawaii since 1946, is halting all passenger service after Monday. About 1,900 employees are affected.
Aloha, which filed for bankruptcy for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 21, was a casualty of fierce competition and rising fuel prices. The airline said it will stop taking reservations for flights after Monday.
"We simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business," said Aloha President David Banmiller in a statement. "We had no choice but to take this action."
Aloha has suffered since Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. launched a new interisland carrier called go! airlines in 2006, triggering a local airfare war.
Banmiller didn't mentioned go! by name in his statement, but did blame the company's demise on rival companies.
"Unfortunately, unfair competition has succeeded in driving us out of business," he said.
Rising fuel prices, which have forced other airlines to raise fares and look for ways to cut expenses, also made it difficult for Aloha to operate.
Aloha said tickets for flights after Monday will not be honored. It said it is working to have United Airlines accommodate passengers with tickets for Aloha's mainland to Hawaii flights. It hopes to seat those with interisland tickets on Hawaiian Airlines.
Aloha has canceled Monday flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and between several cities in California and Nevada. It's last day for interisland travel will be Monday.
Aloha advised passengers who don't want to fly another airline and who want a refund to contact their travel agents or credit card companies. Those who paid by cash or check may file a claim in bankruptcy court.
The shutdown will affect about 1,900 employees. The company said air cargo services are to continue.
A Seattle company on Thursday offered to buy Aloha's cargo operations for an undisclosed amount. But Saltchuk Resources Inc. said it wasn't interested in taking over Aloha's passenger business.
Aloha Airlines was founded in 1946.
By AUDREY McAVOY,AP
Posted: 2008-03-31 06:21:02
HONOLULU (March 30) - Aloha Airlines said Sunday it will halt all passenger service after Monday, signaling the end of an airline that has served Hawaii for more than 60 years.
One of Aloha Airlines' last passenger flights takes off at the Honolulu International Airport Sunday. The carrier, which has served Hawaii since 1946, is halting all passenger service after Monday. About 1,900 employees are affected.
Aloha, which filed for bankruptcy for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 21, was a casualty of fierce competition and rising fuel prices. The airline said it will stop taking reservations for flights after Monday.
"We simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business," said Aloha President David Banmiller in a statement. "We had no choice but to take this action."
Aloha has suffered since Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. launched a new interisland carrier called go! airlines in 2006, triggering a local airfare war.
Banmiller didn't mentioned go! by name in his statement, but did blame the company's demise on rival companies.
"Unfortunately, unfair competition has succeeded in driving us out of business," he said.
Rising fuel prices, which have forced other airlines to raise fares and look for ways to cut expenses, also made it difficult for Aloha to operate.
Aloha said tickets for flights after Monday will not be honored. It said it is working to have United Airlines accommodate passengers with tickets for Aloha's mainland to Hawaii flights. It hopes to seat those with interisland tickets on Hawaiian Airlines.
Aloha has canceled Monday flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and between several cities in California and Nevada. It's last day for interisland travel will be Monday.
Aloha advised passengers who don't want to fly another airline and who want a refund to contact their travel agents or credit card companies. Those who paid by cash or check may file a claim in bankruptcy court.
The shutdown will affect about 1,900 employees. The company said air cargo services are to continue.
A Seattle company on Thursday offered to buy Aloha's cargo operations for an undisclosed amount. But Saltchuk Resources Inc. said it wasn't interested in taking over Aloha's passenger business.
Aloha Airlines was founded in 1946.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Carnival's new, more casual dress code for dinner
Is there a dress code for the dining room?
Effective 5/19/2008, this is the new Carnival dress code.
Depending on the length of the cruise, either formal dress or casual resort wear is required in the Dining Room. The dress requirement for children is the same. For those not wanting to dress up, the Lido restaurants are open nightly (with the exception of the last evening of the cruise), and have a casual dress code.
Cruise Casual Dining Dress Code: Gentlemen - Sport slacks, khakis, jeans (no cut-offs), dress shorts (long), collared sport shirts; Ladies - Casual dresses, casual skirts or pants and blouses, summer dresses, Capri pants, dress shorts, jeans (no cut-offs). Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Casual dinner for ladies and gentlemen: gym shorts, basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, and sleeveless shirts for men.
Cruise Elegant Dining Dress Code: Gentlemen - Dress slacks, dress shirts. We also suggest a sport coat. If you wish to wear suits and ties or tuxedos, by all means we invite you to do so. Ladies - Cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses; if you‘d like to show off your evening gowns, that's great too! Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Elegant dinner for ladies and gentlemen: shorts, T-shirts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, jeans, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear, and baseball hats.
Effective 5/19/2008, this is the new Carnival dress code.
Depending on the length of the cruise, either formal dress or casual resort wear is required in the Dining Room. The dress requirement for children is the same. For those not wanting to dress up, the Lido restaurants are open nightly (with the exception of the last evening of the cruise), and have a casual dress code.
Cruise Casual Dining Dress Code: Gentlemen - Sport slacks, khakis, jeans (no cut-offs), dress shorts (long), collared sport shirts; Ladies - Casual dresses, casual skirts or pants and blouses, summer dresses, Capri pants, dress shorts, jeans (no cut-offs). Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Casual dinner for ladies and gentlemen: gym shorts, basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, and sleeveless shirts for men.
Cruise Elegant Dining Dress Code: Gentlemen - Dress slacks, dress shirts. We also suggest a sport coat. If you wish to wear suits and ties or tuxedos, by all means we invite you to do so. Ladies - Cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses; if you‘d like to show off your evening gowns, that's great too! Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Elegant dinner for ladies and gentlemen: shorts, T-shirts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, jeans, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear, and baseball hats.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
What will the airlines think of next?
Delta to charge for bags at curb
By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
Published Friday, March 28, 2008 10:29 PM
Three more days, and Delta Air Lines customers will start paying for the convenience of curbside check-in service.
The airline will charge $3 per bag to check luggage at curbside, Delta said Friday in a story first reported on the St. Petersburg Times' Web site, www.tampabay.com. The fee goes into effect Tuesday at Tampa International and 10 other major airports, then rolls out at 75 more cities nationwide April 15.
"It's a business decision that reflects today's competitive landscape and cost pressures," said Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott. "In many cases, it will make us more competitive."
Delta and Continental Airlines are the only major network carriers that don't charge for curbside check-in. Delta's new fee will be $1 per bag higher than those charged by American Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways.
The fee will be waived for Delta's most prized customers: elite Medallion-level fliers, first-class and business-class travelers. Passengers who check in online also won't be charged.
Will the fee drive regular curbside customers to the ticket counter, where checking one standard-size bag is still free?
"With the baby, probably not," said Peggy Braitsch, flying home to Cincinnati from Tampa on Friday with her granddaughter, Mary, 1, in a stroller. "For me (alone)? It probably would have."
Record prices for oil and refined jet fuel are forcing airlines to find more ways raise revenue. Fare increases haven't been enough to cover the bills, they say, and don't stick if a competitor refuses to match them. More carriers are turning to higher luggage fees.
Northwest said Friday it would start charging customers $25 each way to check a second bag, following the lead of United, US Airways and Delta. The airline also boosted fees from $80 to $100 for three or more checked bags and from $25 to $50 for luggage more than 50 pounds.
One group certainly won't like Delta's new curbside fee: Prospect of Tampa skycaps working for Delta. Like other airlines, Delta will pocket what it's calling an "administration fee'' on signs posted at curbside counters. Signs will note that tips aren't included in the $3 charge.
Skycaps, who make most of their money on tips, say the disclaimers don't help. Many travelers still refuse to pay a tip in addition to the fee. A group of skycaps recently sued American Airlines, seeking restitution for lost tips since the fee began three years ago.
"We are looking for fairness for the hardworking employees who every day help passengers,'' said Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney representing the skycaps.
"Some of the guys have worked 20, 30, 40 years as skycaps. This is their profession. These guys' lives have been devastated by this.''
By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
Published Friday, March 28, 2008 10:29 PM
Three more days, and Delta Air Lines customers will start paying for the convenience of curbside check-in service.
The airline will charge $3 per bag to check luggage at curbside, Delta said Friday in a story first reported on the St. Petersburg Times' Web site, www.tampabay.com. The fee goes into effect Tuesday at Tampa International and 10 other major airports, then rolls out at 75 more cities nationwide April 15.
"It's a business decision that reflects today's competitive landscape and cost pressures," said Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott. "In many cases, it will make us more competitive."
Delta and Continental Airlines are the only major network carriers that don't charge for curbside check-in. Delta's new fee will be $1 per bag higher than those charged by American Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways.
The fee will be waived for Delta's most prized customers: elite Medallion-level fliers, first-class and business-class travelers. Passengers who check in online also won't be charged.
Will the fee drive regular curbside customers to the ticket counter, where checking one standard-size bag is still free?
"With the baby, probably not," said Peggy Braitsch, flying home to Cincinnati from Tampa on Friday with her granddaughter, Mary, 1, in a stroller. "For me (alone)? It probably would have."
Record prices for oil and refined jet fuel are forcing airlines to find more ways raise revenue. Fare increases haven't been enough to cover the bills, they say, and don't stick if a competitor refuses to match them. More carriers are turning to higher luggage fees.
Northwest said Friday it would start charging customers $25 each way to check a second bag, following the lead of United, US Airways and Delta. The airline also boosted fees from $80 to $100 for three or more checked bags and from $25 to $50 for luggage more than 50 pounds.
One group certainly won't like Delta's new curbside fee: Prospect of Tampa skycaps working for Delta. Like other airlines, Delta will pocket what it's calling an "administration fee'' on signs posted at curbside counters. Signs will note that tips aren't included in the $3 charge.
Skycaps, who make most of their money on tips, say the disclaimers don't help. Many travelers still refuse to pay a tip in addition to the fee. A group of skycaps recently sued American Airlines, seeking restitution for lost tips since the fee began three years ago.
"We are looking for fairness for the hardworking employees who every day help passengers,'' said Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney representing the skycaps.
"Some of the guys have worked 20, 30, 40 years as skycaps. This is their profession. These guys' lives have been devastated by this.''
Latest and perhaps last passport ruling
Yesterday, the Departments of Homeland Security and of State issued the final rulemaking concerning the requirements of passports for land and sea border crossings under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. After years of development following 9/11, this ruling is the end of the process and can be considered FINAL when helping your clients ensure they have the proper identification when traveling.
Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:
U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship* and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category.
*Documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State
All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. For a list of accepted documents, see www.travel.state.gov.
The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.
Effective June 1, 2009, the following rules take effect for cruise passengers:
U.S. citizens on cruise voyages that begin and end at the same U.S. port (closed-loop itineraries) must show proof of citizenship* and government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). A passport will not be required for passengers that fall into this category.
*Documents include: Original or certified copy of birth certificate; Naturalization papers; Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State
All other passengers and/or itineraries (such as cruises which begin in one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port or any cruise that begins or ends in a foreign port) will require a passport or other recognized document. For a list of accepted documents, see www.travel.state.gov.
The good news for a majority of cruise passengers – American citizens that leave and return on their cruise from the same U.S. port – is that the travel document requirements will remain largely unchanged from how the industry is operating today.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Review of Grotto Bay Beach Resort in Bermuda
I had the opportunity to stay at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort in Bermuda for 3 nights in mid March on a travel agent familiarization trip courtesy of the Bermuda Tourism Board.
At first, I was a bit disappointed to hear that we were staying at Grotto Bay since I never considered it one of the top hotels in Bermuda but after we stayed there, I can honestly say that I would return without hesitation to Grotto Bay and I would send clients there in a minute.
The hotel is located very close to the airport, in fact, you can see planes landing from the pool and beach area. I was never once disturbed by the noise and the fact that it is a 5 minute cab ride from the airport makes it very easy and, inexpensive, to get to Grotto Bay.
The first thing that I noticed about the resort was the truly friendly staff. I wasn’t allowed to touch my suitcase once it was removed from the van. It was made very clear that we are guests and we are going to be treated as such during our stay. We left our luggage at the front of the hotel until our rooms were ready and we immediately started on a tour of the resort guided by Anthony, the food and beverage manager.
This hotel is not huge, which really adds to the beauty of it. It is on over 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds but it is relatively easy to navigate. When I say relatively easy to navigate, what I mean is---- all beachfront hotels in Bermuda are built on higher grounds so is order to get to the beach and some of the beach front rooms, you are going to be walking up and down some pretty steep hills and steps. For those who have walking difficulties, you will want to request rooms closer to the lobby and there is always someone to drive you around the property if needed.
One of the unique features of Grotto Bay is that they have their own crystal caves where they hold weddings and private dinners for two, story telling for the kids and swimming in the ice cold waters. It is an interesting place to hold a wedding- I think I would prefer the beach but it is different.
Speaking of the beach- it is private and lovely- not huge but certainly large enough for the hotel guests. Honeymoon Beach is an ideal spot for a wedding. It is set off a bit from the main beach for privacy. They also have a water sports area that offers non motorized water sports, as well as a boat launch for fishing excursions, etc. There is a nice pool and Jacuzzi as well, that I didn’t use. This was definitely a working trip- not a vacation- so there was no time to relax by the pool.
Grotto Bay is the only resort in Bermuda to offer an all inclusive plan which makes it very affordable. Unlike most all inclusive resorts, you don’t need a bracelet to indicate that you are on the all inclusive plan. You can order off the regular menu and there are no buffets for dinner. The food was GREAT! We had dinner 2 of 3 nights at Grotto Bay and we ordered right off the same menu as the rest of the restaurant patrons. I had steak one night and fish the next, with appetizers, salad and dessert. You could have rolled us out of there. The raisin bread was to die for. The chocolate dessert (can’t remember the name) was heavenly. Wait staff efficient and friendly. The all inclusive plan offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and unlimited alcoholic beverages. Another nice feature is the plan also includes unlimited Bermuda transportation passes. This is definitely a plus for an island where dining tends to run a bit high.
New to the all inclusive plan- the menu will be changing frequently for those who want more variety. New to the resort will also be a spa. Right now, massages can be arranged but there is no actual spa on the resort. There is a small fitness center but I really didn’t look at it since I got enough exercise walking back and forth from our rooms. Also, the entire resort was going to be set up for wireless internet soon.
Rooms--- we were in the newly renovated deluxe beach front rooms. Bed- super comfortable. Mini fridge in the room with a coffee maker was a nice touch. There was no tea in the room so I took some from the afternoon tea and brought it back with me. The bathroom amenities were very nice. My only suggestion was that I would have liked some more hooks or towel racks and the newly renovated bath could have used more storage shelves. The view was sensational. Even though it was mid March, I sat out on the balcony to relax and enjoy the view.
Internet service was spotty at best and currently only available in the main lobby or by the pool. One of my associates could never log on so her internet fee was refunded. I can’t remember the rates completely but I think it was $6 per hour or $30 for 4 days. I took that plan since it seemed to make more sense.
I do have some pictures of Grotto Bay as well as the 9 other resorts we visited (Cambridge Beaches, Pompano Beach, Elbow Beach, Fairmont Southampton, Fairmont Princess, Pink Beaches, Newstead, Tuckers Point and Rosedon.) If you have any specific questions, please email me.
As a travel agent, I am typically more critical of resorts than the average traveler but I was truly impressed with Grotto Bay Beach Resort and would have no hesitation recommending it to clients who want a nice beachfront resort in Bermuda that offers good value and great service.
At first, I was a bit disappointed to hear that we were staying at Grotto Bay since I never considered it one of the top hotels in Bermuda but after we stayed there, I can honestly say that I would return without hesitation to Grotto Bay and I would send clients there in a minute.
The hotel is located very close to the airport, in fact, you can see planes landing from the pool and beach area. I was never once disturbed by the noise and the fact that it is a 5 minute cab ride from the airport makes it very easy and, inexpensive, to get to Grotto Bay.
The first thing that I noticed about the resort was the truly friendly staff. I wasn’t allowed to touch my suitcase once it was removed from the van. It was made very clear that we are guests and we are going to be treated as such during our stay. We left our luggage at the front of the hotel until our rooms were ready and we immediately started on a tour of the resort guided by Anthony, the food and beverage manager.
This hotel is not huge, which really adds to the beauty of it. It is on over 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds but it is relatively easy to navigate. When I say relatively easy to navigate, what I mean is---- all beachfront hotels in Bermuda are built on higher grounds so is order to get to the beach and some of the beach front rooms, you are going to be walking up and down some pretty steep hills and steps. For those who have walking difficulties, you will want to request rooms closer to the lobby and there is always someone to drive you around the property if needed.
One of the unique features of Grotto Bay is that they have their own crystal caves where they hold weddings and private dinners for two, story telling for the kids and swimming in the ice cold waters. It is an interesting place to hold a wedding- I think I would prefer the beach but it is different.
Speaking of the beach- it is private and lovely- not huge but certainly large enough for the hotel guests. Honeymoon Beach is an ideal spot for a wedding. It is set off a bit from the main beach for privacy. They also have a water sports area that offers non motorized water sports, as well as a boat launch for fishing excursions, etc. There is a nice pool and Jacuzzi as well, that I didn’t use. This was definitely a working trip- not a vacation- so there was no time to relax by the pool.
Grotto Bay is the only resort in Bermuda to offer an all inclusive plan which makes it very affordable. Unlike most all inclusive resorts, you don’t need a bracelet to indicate that you are on the all inclusive plan. You can order off the regular menu and there are no buffets for dinner. The food was GREAT! We had dinner 2 of 3 nights at Grotto Bay and we ordered right off the same menu as the rest of the restaurant patrons. I had steak one night and fish the next, with appetizers, salad and dessert. You could have rolled us out of there. The raisin bread was to die for. The chocolate dessert (can’t remember the name) was heavenly. Wait staff efficient and friendly. The all inclusive plan offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and unlimited alcoholic beverages. Another nice feature is the plan also includes unlimited Bermuda transportation passes. This is definitely a plus for an island where dining tends to run a bit high.
New to the all inclusive plan- the menu will be changing frequently for those who want more variety. New to the resort will also be a spa. Right now, massages can be arranged but there is no actual spa on the resort. There is a small fitness center but I really didn’t look at it since I got enough exercise walking back and forth from our rooms. Also, the entire resort was going to be set up for wireless internet soon.
Rooms--- we were in the newly renovated deluxe beach front rooms. Bed- super comfortable. Mini fridge in the room with a coffee maker was a nice touch. There was no tea in the room so I took some from the afternoon tea and brought it back with me. The bathroom amenities were very nice. My only suggestion was that I would have liked some more hooks or towel racks and the newly renovated bath could have used more storage shelves. The view was sensational. Even though it was mid March, I sat out on the balcony to relax and enjoy the view.
Internet service was spotty at best and currently only available in the main lobby or by the pool. One of my associates could never log on so her internet fee was refunded. I can’t remember the rates completely but I think it was $6 per hour or $30 for 4 days. I took that plan since it seemed to make more sense.
I do have some pictures of Grotto Bay as well as the 9 other resorts we visited (Cambridge Beaches, Pompano Beach, Elbow Beach, Fairmont Southampton, Fairmont Princess, Pink Beaches, Newstead, Tuckers Point and Rosedon.) If you have any specific questions, please email me.
As a travel agent, I am typically more critical of resorts than the average traveler but I was truly impressed with Grotto Bay Beach Resort and would have no hesitation recommending it to clients who want a nice beachfront resort in Bermuda that offers good value and great service.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Open Skies Ruling may reduce prices to Europe
This article was printed in the NY Times
AIR travel to Europe is about to undergo a significant change, one that is likely to spell more choices and cheaper fares for travelers.
Skip to next paragraph
Multimedia
Graphic
New Routes to Europe Readers' Comments
What new flights would you like to see open up to Europe?
Post a Comment »
Read All Comments (4) »
On March 30, the so-called open-skies agreement goes into effect, allowing airlines based in the United States and Europe to fly across the Atlantic between any two airports in each region. Before the pact, trans-Atlantic flights were governed by separate agreements between the United States and individual European nations. The pacts required airlines to take off or land in their native countries, and limited which airlines could serve certain airports.
For example, British Airways flights bound for the United States had to originate in Britain. And only two United States carriers were permitted to land at Heathrow Airport, near London: American and United.
When the open-skies agreement kicks in next week, those restrictions will be lifted, essentially letting the open market dictate all trans-Atlantic routes between the United States and Europe. For instance, Continental, Delta and Northwest will be able to serve Heathrow for the first time.
This year, San Francisco, Orlando and Washington all received their first scheduled nonstop flights to Dublin on Aer Lingus under a related transitionary arrangement. And Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, the Irish no-frills carrier, has said he plans to start a new airline that will fly from secondary European markets like Liverpool or Birmingham to a half-dozen American cities like Baltimore or Providence, R.I., for a base fare as low as 10 euros, or about $16 at $1.59 to the euro.
“We don’t even begin to get a glimmer of the possibilities of open-market competition yet,” said Jerry Chandler, who writes Cheapflights.com’s travel blog and has been tracking the new open-skies flights. “There could be a lot of flourishing of routes in markets that currently don’t exist, especially from smaller U.S. cities to European hubs.”
The new pact is expected to be game-changing for Europe-bound travel. More routes are expected to open, and prices could fall thanks to the new competition. The agreement is also likely to encourage European carriers to compete more aggressively with one another across the Continent. Lufthansa, the German airline, for example, could set up a hub in Paris; or Air France could set up a hub in Frankfurt.
So far, though, most United States airlines are simply looking to open service to Heathrow — a strategic hub that offers connecting flights not just across Europe, but to the Middle East, Africa and Asia, too. Flights from the United States to Heathrow are expected to increase 31 percent, to 2,932 flights in July from 2,233 this month, according to OAG Back Aviation Solutions.
Northwest plans to add daily service later this year to Heathrow from Detroit, Minneapolis and Seattle. Beginning on March 29, the New York area will get four new flights a day to Heathrow: two from Continental out of Newark and two from Delta out of Kennedy Airport. Travelers in Atlanta will have a new direct flight to Heathrow aboard Delta (as opposed to connecting through Chicago or some other city), as will travelers out of Dallas-Forth Worth and Raleigh-Durham — both aboard American by March 30.
European carriers like KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are also getting into the act with new service between Dallas-Fort Worth and Heathrow. Likewise, Air France will begin operating a daily flight between Los Angeles and Heathrow on March 30. And Virgin Atlantic is starting a daily Heathrow-Chicago route and will expand its popular Heathrow-New York service to six flights daily.
For many travelers, a direct flight to Heathrow is long overdue. For instance, there are currently no nonstop flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Heathrow, forcing many passengers to land at other London airports — like Gatwick or Luton — even if they have a connecting flight to catch in Heathrow. “It has been an absolute nightmare,” said Terry Denton, president of Main Street Travel, a Carlson Wagonlit agency in Forth Worth that specializes in missionary trips to Africa and elsewhere that usually require a connection through Heathrow.
Getting from Gatwick to Heathrow involves hauling luggage through passport control, taking a bus or cab across town and going through check-in and security anew — a process that could take three hours. The new routes will allow travelers to bypass that ordeal.
It’s not just Heathrow, however, that’s getting new service. British Airways is planning a subsidiary called OpenSkies that will skip London altogether, beginning with Brussels-New York and Paris-New York service as early as June. And some airlines, anticipating increased competition, are expanding their trans-Atlantic networks. Delta will begin flying from Kennedy Airport to Paris Orly on June 2, cutting out a three-hour-plus layover in Madrid, Nice or elsewhere.
KLM will start a daily flight between Dallas-Fort Worth and Amsterdam on March 30. Previously, Dallas passengers had to change planes in Memphis, New York or another city before arriving in Amsterdam. The new flight will cut at least two hours off the total flight time.
Besides saving time, the new competition should put pressure on airlines to reduce fares. A 2002 study by the Brattle Group, a consulting firm, estimated that an open-skies agreement between the United States and the European Union would generate a 10 percent increase in passenger traffic in formerly restricted markets, which could reduce fares 4 to 10 percent.
Routes to watch include Denver-Heathrow and Seattle-Heathrow, which were previously served by only one nonstop carrier: British Airways. But thanks to the open skies agreement, United will begin flying between Denver and Heathrow on March 30, with introductory fares starting at $570 round trip for travel before May 15. British Airways, by contrast, has been offering that same route for $1,461, according to an online search.
And Northwest Airlines will start flying between Seattle and Heathrow on June 1, with fares for $1,288, compared with $1,302 on British Airways, based on a recent online search.
But don’t expect a full-on fare war just yet. With the price of fuel so high, pricing on trans-Atlantic travel has been “pretty brutal,” said Rick Seaney, the chief executive of FareCompare. “Base prices are at an all-time low, but fuel surcharges are up.”
AIR travel to Europe is about to undergo a significant change, one that is likely to spell more choices and cheaper fares for travelers.
Skip to next paragraph
Multimedia
Graphic
New Routes to Europe Readers' Comments
What new flights would you like to see open up to Europe?
Post a Comment »
Read All Comments (4) »
On March 30, the so-called open-skies agreement goes into effect, allowing airlines based in the United States and Europe to fly across the Atlantic between any two airports in each region. Before the pact, trans-Atlantic flights were governed by separate agreements between the United States and individual European nations. The pacts required airlines to take off or land in their native countries, and limited which airlines could serve certain airports.
For example, British Airways flights bound for the United States had to originate in Britain. And only two United States carriers were permitted to land at Heathrow Airport, near London: American and United.
When the open-skies agreement kicks in next week, those restrictions will be lifted, essentially letting the open market dictate all trans-Atlantic routes between the United States and Europe. For instance, Continental, Delta and Northwest will be able to serve Heathrow for the first time.
This year, San Francisco, Orlando and Washington all received their first scheduled nonstop flights to Dublin on Aer Lingus under a related transitionary arrangement. And Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, the Irish no-frills carrier, has said he plans to start a new airline that will fly from secondary European markets like Liverpool or Birmingham to a half-dozen American cities like Baltimore or Providence, R.I., for a base fare as low as 10 euros, or about $16 at $1.59 to the euro.
“We don’t even begin to get a glimmer of the possibilities of open-market competition yet,” said Jerry Chandler, who writes Cheapflights.com’s travel blog and has been tracking the new open-skies flights. “There could be a lot of flourishing of routes in markets that currently don’t exist, especially from smaller U.S. cities to European hubs.”
The new pact is expected to be game-changing for Europe-bound travel. More routes are expected to open, and prices could fall thanks to the new competition. The agreement is also likely to encourage European carriers to compete more aggressively with one another across the Continent. Lufthansa, the German airline, for example, could set up a hub in Paris; or Air France could set up a hub in Frankfurt.
So far, though, most United States airlines are simply looking to open service to Heathrow — a strategic hub that offers connecting flights not just across Europe, but to the Middle East, Africa and Asia, too. Flights from the United States to Heathrow are expected to increase 31 percent, to 2,932 flights in July from 2,233 this month, according to OAG Back Aviation Solutions.
Northwest plans to add daily service later this year to Heathrow from Detroit, Minneapolis and Seattle. Beginning on March 29, the New York area will get four new flights a day to Heathrow: two from Continental out of Newark and two from Delta out of Kennedy Airport. Travelers in Atlanta will have a new direct flight to Heathrow aboard Delta (as opposed to connecting through Chicago or some other city), as will travelers out of Dallas-Forth Worth and Raleigh-Durham — both aboard American by March 30.
European carriers like KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are also getting into the act with new service between Dallas-Fort Worth and Heathrow. Likewise, Air France will begin operating a daily flight between Los Angeles and Heathrow on March 30. And Virgin Atlantic is starting a daily Heathrow-Chicago route and will expand its popular Heathrow-New York service to six flights daily.
For many travelers, a direct flight to Heathrow is long overdue. For instance, there are currently no nonstop flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Heathrow, forcing many passengers to land at other London airports — like Gatwick or Luton — even if they have a connecting flight to catch in Heathrow. “It has been an absolute nightmare,” said Terry Denton, president of Main Street Travel, a Carlson Wagonlit agency in Forth Worth that specializes in missionary trips to Africa and elsewhere that usually require a connection through Heathrow.
Getting from Gatwick to Heathrow involves hauling luggage through passport control, taking a bus or cab across town and going through check-in and security anew — a process that could take three hours. The new routes will allow travelers to bypass that ordeal.
It’s not just Heathrow, however, that’s getting new service. British Airways is planning a subsidiary called OpenSkies that will skip London altogether, beginning with Brussels-New York and Paris-New York service as early as June. And some airlines, anticipating increased competition, are expanding their trans-Atlantic networks. Delta will begin flying from Kennedy Airport to Paris Orly on June 2, cutting out a three-hour-plus layover in Madrid, Nice or elsewhere.
KLM will start a daily flight between Dallas-Fort Worth and Amsterdam on March 30. Previously, Dallas passengers had to change planes in Memphis, New York or another city before arriving in Amsterdam. The new flight will cut at least two hours off the total flight time.
Besides saving time, the new competition should put pressure on airlines to reduce fares. A 2002 study by the Brattle Group, a consulting firm, estimated that an open-skies agreement between the United States and the European Union would generate a 10 percent increase in passenger traffic in formerly restricted markets, which could reduce fares 4 to 10 percent.
Routes to watch include Denver-Heathrow and Seattle-Heathrow, which were previously served by only one nonstop carrier: British Airways. But thanks to the open skies agreement, United will begin flying between Denver and Heathrow on March 30, with introductory fares starting at $570 round trip for travel before May 15. British Airways, by contrast, has been offering that same route for $1,461, according to an online search.
And Northwest Airlines will start flying between Seattle and Heathrow on June 1, with fares for $1,288, compared with $1,302 on British Airways, based on a recent online search.
But don’t expect a full-on fare war just yet. With the price of fuel so high, pricing on trans-Atlantic travel has been “pretty brutal,” said Rick Seaney, the chief executive of FareCompare. “Base prices are at an all-time low, but fuel surcharges are up.”
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Ireland
I took this trip at the end of October and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a fam trip with Isle Inn Tours. Ireland is very pretty and the people are friendly. We were kept fairly busy inspecting the hotels but they were very classy. There were a combination of modern and traditional styles. The prices will floor you. $300-1000 Euros a day. The food on the trip was absolutely fabulous. To be honest I thought this would be a dieting trip. I was expecting Corned Beef & Cabbage, stews, potatoes etc, none of which I care for. Quite the opposite was true. Wonderful meats and fish with delicious sauces. The desserts blew me away. So much for the diet. Ireland is a completely different country since it joined the European Union. Some facts the guide shared with us:
1) Half the people in Ireland are under 27 years old
2) They have finally opened an immigration office-previously no one moved to Ireland.
3) The economy is booming.
If you have clients that have the money to spend, I would recommend it. I wouldn't go at the time we did, because summer was ending and not too many flowers were in bloom in the Arborterium er visited. One of the highlights were the Cliffs of Mohr; definitely worth seeing
1) Half the people in Ireland are under 27 years old
2) They have finally opened an immigration office-previously no one moved to Ireland.
3) The economy is booming.
If you have clients that have the money to spend, I would recommend it. I wouldn't go at the time we did, because summer was ending and not too many flowers were in bloom in the Arborterium er visited. One of the highlights were the Cliffs of Mohr; definitely worth seeing
Celebrity Infinity Sout America
This was an interesting but not spectacular trip. First, the ship. The ship was fine, the staff was very accommodating. I wound up in a handicapped cabin which was huge. This was my third Celebrity cruise in the past 2 1/2 years and once again I was very disappointed in the food. It was mostly bland. I don't know if Michel Roux's departure is the reason for this. The beef dishes were very good. I ate once in the S.S. United States and it was wonderful. It had the kind of food which used to be standard on Celebrity. I had a Goat Cheese Souffle that was scrumptious, followed by a delicious Steak Diane and then finished with an out of this world Chocolate Souffle and a specialty coffee. Of course with wine it cost almost $80 for my date and I. We lingered for almost 3 hours.
Life on the ship was good. Plenty of activities e.g. trivia, enrichment seminars, dance lessons. The music throughout the ship was fantastic. I was very impressed. The shows were just O.K.
The ports were not very memorable except for seeing the penguins, but this required a 2 hour bus ride through barren countryside. All of the "better" excursions were 6-8 hours and usually upwards of $100 with lots of bus time. The buses were modern.
Montevideo was nice and the trip to the winery for tasting and lunch was good, although the beef was stringy. We went through the fjords and around Cape Horn. We had been told it could be rough but we had smooth sailing all the way. Our view of the glaciers was poor. From our viewpoint they looked like beginning ski slopes in Vermont. Nothing comparable to Alaska. The other ports were little towns and each had the town square which were enjoyable. We docked in Valparaiso and then took a tour up the coast to Santiago where we drove around the city. The ride up the coastline was the prettiest part of the trip. Riding along the Pacific and seeing the waves smash against the rocks. Many condos along the way.
All in all I would say that I wouldn't recommend this to my clients
Life on the ship was good. Plenty of activities e.g. trivia, enrichment seminars, dance lessons. The music throughout the ship was fantastic. I was very impressed. The shows were just O.K.
The ports were not very memorable except for seeing the penguins, but this required a 2 hour bus ride through barren countryside. All of the "better" excursions were 6-8 hours and usually upwards of $100 with lots of bus time. The buses were modern.
Montevideo was nice and the trip to the winery for tasting and lunch was good, although the beef was stringy. We went through the fjords and around Cape Horn. We had been told it could be rough but we had smooth sailing all the way. Our view of the glaciers was poor. From our viewpoint they looked like beginning ski slopes in Vermont. Nothing comparable to Alaska. The other ports were little towns and each had the town square which were enjoyable. We docked in Valparaiso and then took a tour up the coast to Santiago where we drove around the city. The ride up the coastline was the prettiest part of the trip. Riding along the Pacific and seeing the waves smash against the rocks. Many condos along the way.
All in all I would say that I wouldn't recommend this to my clients
Monday, March 3, 2008
Selling Travel Insurance
from TravelSafe:
Some Advice To Help You Succeed
How do you approach travel insurance with your clients? What do you say to them?
We sometimes hear from agents who tell us they don't know what to say. It can be difficult to find that delicate balance between just mentioning that travel insurance is available, to ramming it down their throats.
The key is to relate to your clients in terms with which you and they are most comfortable. Do you have any experiences from other clients where travel insurance saved the day? Have you heard about any travel nightmares where insurance was not purchased, and the traveler ended up losing their trip and paying thousands of dollars out of pocket in situations which would have been covered? (We have plenty!)
Sometimes, selling a travel insurance policy can be (gasp!) real work. But travel insurance is part of what a full-service travel agent provides for their clients. Remember that TravelSafe is always available to provide advice or answer any questions you may have.
And most of all, if your client chooses not to purchase insurance, make sure they sign a waiver. You don't want to be held legally responsible when something goes wrong and they contend that travel insurance was never offered.
Some Advice To Help You Succeed
How do you approach travel insurance with your clients? What do you say to them?
We sometimes hear from agents who tell us they don't know what to say. It can be difficult to find that delicate balance between just mentioning that travel insurance is available, to ramming it down their throats.
The key is to relate to your clients in terms with which you and they are most comfortable. Do you have any experiences from other clients where travel insurance saved the day? Have you heard about any travel nightmares where insurance was not purchased, and the traveler ended up losing their trip and paying thousands of dollars out of pocket in situations which would have been covered? (We have plenty!)
Sometimes, selling a travel insurance policy can be (gasp!) real work. But travel insurance is part of what a full-service travel agent provides for their clients. Remember that TravelSafe is always available to provide advice or answer any questions you may have.
And most of all, if your client chooses not to purchase insurance, make sure they sign a waiver. You don't want to be held legally responsible when something goes wrong and they contend that travel insurance was never offered.