GOT THE HOLIDAY BLUES? GET OVER IT!

YIKES!! THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST HERE. WITH THANKSGIVING, CHANUKAH, CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR FAST APPROACHING, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT GIFTS AND FAMILY?

With that thought, most of us are probably saying to ourselves, “Please don’t remind me, it’s the worst possible time to think of buying gifts. With the economy down, I’ve got the ‘I can’t bear to look at my 401k Blues’, and I can’t bear listening to Uncle Earl yak on about politics and who won (or didn’t win) the election. I don’t want to even think about the Holidays.”

O.K. Brace yourself, take deep breaths and lets face the reality that we need to do something for ourselves and our families for the various upcoming holidays. So lets look at the advantage of giving the Gift of Travel.

Most people that have been polled by groups within the travel industry have indicated that vacations and travel are not the areas that they have opted to eliminate from their budgets. This is understandable since Travel has some very distinct advantages that should not be overlooked:

You can give a gift that would be “redeemed” at a future date - For many destinations you can purchase your cruise or land packages up to 18 months ahead, with a minimal deposit to hold and lock in a preferred price, and the ability to make payments along the way to ease the one-time payout at the final payment date.


It’s a great way to escape for R & R and relief from stress. Dance lessons, anyone?


The ability to build relationships with family and friends – many multi-generational opportunities. Uncle Earl can be on board and with all there is to do, he’ll forget about politics for a while and, if he doesn’t …… well, it’s a big ship. Know what I’m saying?

Lots of options at mealtime – everyone can find something they like to eat.

Strengthening our immediate family ties - Opportunities for bonding between parents and children – having that precious “Quality Time” together.

Take advantage of fun, yet educational experiences, particularly with travel to places like Alaska, Europe and the like. Ever see a whale breach or visit the Eiffel Tower?

It’s a great way to expand our awareness of the environment and the world around us.

Important - Cruise lines provide you with a security staff that looks out for your safety.

It’s a wonderful way to bring lasting memories that are there long after the latest gadget has lost its glitter or become obsolete.

A great opportunity to relax and experience such US destinations as Alaska and Hawaii

Children’s programs are available on all but a few luxury lines, allowing for families to be together, but also some time for adults to enjoy some precious moments alone.

For us grown ups – no dishes to wash, beds to make, meals to prepare – WHOO HOO!!

Lets also look at the value of travel, particularly Cruise Travel or Land Tour packages:

Most of your expenses are included and paid for up-front, even before you travel. The price of a cruise is almost always considerably lower than the price of independent land travel arrangements.

If you are traveling to Europe, you will be paying for your trip and even your shore excursions in US dollars so there is no need to worry about currency fluctuations.

Lots of entertainment included for all family members at no additional cost.

The ability to easily arrange family reunion or other group cruises at affordable prices with less time spent on your part – your time is worth money.

Knowing that each family has different budget constraints, there are a large number of options available starting with 3, 4 and 5-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera for West Coast folks or the Caribbean and the Bahamas for our East Coast families. For those that can afford a bit more, there are the traditional 7-night cruises or land packages (Have you thought about Disney?). Of course there are numerous opportunities for longer cruises on contemporary carriers or resorts, premium lines and the upper premium and luxury ships and villas.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

WE’VE GOT MANY MORE GREAT IDEAS.

LETS TALK!

Alaska - 2009 (Part One)

We recently had the privilege to join top travel industry executives on an 8-night sail from Vancouver to Alaska as part of the 13th annual CruiseOne National Conference. Celebrity Cruises hosted us with more than 300 other travel agents aboard the Celebrity Mercury for this unforgettable experience.

The Celebrity Mercury sailed September 14, 2008 for Ketchikan, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Hubbard Glacier; Sitka, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington. The conference, themed “Xperts in Cruising,” offered extensive training opportunities for in-depth training in luxury, group and particularly Alaska travel. The trip also included a check presentation and $6,000 donation to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska, courtesy of CruiseOne and Celebrity Cruises. Executives from all major cruise lines, as well as destination convention and visitor bureaus and tour operators, attended this highly regarded event.

If you have not ever been to Alaska you are missing the trip of a lifetime and if you have already been to Alaska, now is the time to think about going again.

Alaska is one of the premier destinations in these United States. The combination of breathtaking scenery, fabulous wildlife and friendly Alaskans, make this state a must-experience for residents of the “Lower 48” and Hawaii. And you can’t forget the abundance of fresh wild salmon and halibut. Do you like to fish? Fishing licenses are easily attainable on-line or at certain fishing sites and you can use it the same day. There are opportunities to pack and ship your fresh catch back to the states or even, in some cases, have them cooked and served while you are there. How about whale watching, seeing salmon swim upstream or a trip on the Alaska Railroad? Ever see Bald Eagles in their natural habitat? How about learning the history and hearing the stories that are communicated through the totem poles? Wouldn’t it be fun to pan for gold? These are but small tastes of the many activities and experiences that you can come into contact with, not to mention a taste of the local history and heritage. Bored? Never! – Young and Old will savor this experience!

Most people begin with a 7-night cruise and that is a great way to start. So many cruise ships make Alaska their home during the summer months and you can choose from just cruising to places such as Juneau, the state capital, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. You will also visit sites such as Glacier Bay State Park or the Hubbard Glacier where people cheer as they witness the spectacle of glaciers calving. Cruises traditionally start from Seattle, Vancouver or Seward/Whittier.

Better yet is to add a cruise tour that will take you to Anchorage or Fairbanks before or after the cruise and then to wonderful locations such as Denali National Park, Mount McKinley, Copper River, Talkeetna and other sites not available from the cruise ship. The “high season” is summertime, between June and August but May and September are also great times to visit. Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Lines are amongst those with a steady presence in Alaska and commitments to the ecology in that region. We will be happy to walk you through the many alternatives for travel to that region. This is a wonderful opportunity for a fun, but also educational family experience. Children love it! Itineraries are available for 2009 and filling rapidly as interest in Alaska continues to grow.

For those of you who wish to experience even more options at different times of year, there are also ample opportunities for land excursions before, during or after the cruise ship season.
The State Sport is Dog Mushing. Per Wikipedia, “Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow.” On the first Saturday of March, the most famous dog mushing race with which we are probably familiar, the Iditarod begins. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual sled dog race in Alaska, where mushers and teams of typically 16 dogs cover 1,161 miles (1868 km) in eight to fifteen days from Willow to Nome. Why not visit Anchorage in early March and expereince the ceremonial start that occurs in the city every year. Spend a week and enjoy the many attractions in that area. The average high at that time of year is about 34 degrees with very little precipitation (that is why the Iditerod does not start there). Living in the desert of Arizona, you can imagine that I am not someone who likes cold weather but it’s really worth the trip and I’m ready to go. (Brad wants to know “who am I and what have I done to his wife?”)

As I mentioned earlier, a cruise allows you to get just a small taste of this magnificent state but there is so much more. After three trips to Alaska, we can’t wait to return to see more.

After several presentations at conference that immersed us in the many options available in our 49th state we have seen a wealth of possibilities for travel there by land or sea. So what do you want to experience on your next vacation and what are you waiting for? I’ll be willing to bet that Alaska is for you and we are here to make your dream a reality.