Thursday, February 28, 2008

A New Disney Scam

I just heard about a scam going on in Disney World.

Guests who are staying at Disney property hotels are being called,caller stating guests have won a discounted dinner,the caller then asks for clients credit card to hold the reservation. Disney is putting placards in all guest rooms warning of this scam, so if you have any clients heading this way you may want to warn them. So far 9 families have fallen for this scam.
Disney states that no Disney employee will ever call and request cc info over the phone from its guests.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

2nd Airline to charge for 2nd checked luggage

You all know how much happier I would be if I never had to deal with an airline ever again BUT- such is life.......

After United announced a $25 charge to check a 2nd piece of luggage, US Airways just announced the same thing.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. Airways (LCC:US Airways Group Inc News, chart, profile, more
) said Tuesday it would begin charging passengers $25 for checking in a second bag. The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier said the new fee would begin May 5, and would apply to all customers except certain Star Alliance members, first class and Envoy passengers, and all Dividend Miles Preferred members. Earlier this month, United Airlines implemented a similar policy, widely expected to start a new trend in an industry struggling for a way to pay for higher fuel costs. U.S Airways said it would also exempt active military personnel, unaccompanied minors and those checking in assistive devices. U.S. Airways shares were up 1.5% to $13.91 while United parent company UAL Corp.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Get married at sea!

LOVE SETS SAIL: AZAMARA CRUISES AND CELEBRITY CRUISES CAPTAINS TO HELP GUESTS TIE THE KNOT AT SEA
MIAMI – February 13, 2008 – The sailor’s knot is known for being easy to tie but hard to break. Now, guests who wish to be married at sea by captains of Azamara Cruises’ and Celebrity Cruises’ ships will soon be able to “tie” their own steadfast “knot” at sea, when the lines launch legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies later this year to complement their existing vow renewal and in-port wedding offerings. “While many of our guests come onboard seeking a once-in-a-lifetime wedding or vow renewal location, and we’ve been happy to provide them with in-port weddings led by a local official, their number-one request is for captains to perform the ceremony,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Azamara Cruises and Celebrity Cruises Vice President of Hotel Operations. “Now, we’re able to fulfill that wish, while sailing the open waters of the world.”

Celebrity has long partnered with The Wedding Experience to offer onboard vow renewals at sea and in-port wedding ceremonies, and with the recent re-registration of seven of Celebrity’s eight ships in Malta, where Azamara’s two ships also are registered, government regulations have changed to allow for captains to perform legal marriages while the ships sail the seas of the world. Guests being married at sea by Azamara and Celebrity captains will be offered a variety of packages that include anything from private receptions in their ship’s specialty restaurant to
cake, champagne, and more. Basic captain-performed wedding packages begin at $2,500.
Guests should book their wedding in advance of their sailing in order to allow time for the processing of licenses and other legal documents.

Guests who wish to take their love to new heights may also delight in Celebrity’s unique offering on its cruisetours to Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and The Hotel Alyeska. There, guests can be married or renew their vows amidst the breathtaking hanging glaciers of the Girdwood Valley, or with stunning views of Mt. McKinley as a backdrop. These ceremonies can take place from June to September, as part of a Celebrity Cruises pre- or post-voyage cruisetour.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Princess announces easier disembarkation process

Ending your cruise has usually involved waiting until you heard the color of your disembarkation tags to be called so you could get off the ship and proceed to collect your luggage. Princess is changing the way that is being done on their ships. Please read their announcement.

Princess Bids Farewell to Traditional Disembarkation Process;
Rolls out New, Streamlined Experience for Passengers

Now Line Offers Most Gracious Passenger Welcome and Farewell with
Easy and Comfortable Arrival and Departure

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (January 31, 2008) - The traditional "hurry up and wait" disembarkation process that has long been a cruise industry tradition is now history aboard Princess ships, as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers.

Contrasted with the typical end-of-cruise departure where passengers listen to public address system announcements for their luggage tag color to be called signaling the staggered times they will disembark, Princess has debuted an efficient, more relaxed process for passengers leaving the ship. Passengers are each given an assigned time and place to assemble on the final morning and are personally escorted to the gangway by a member of the ship's staff, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will be disembarking.

"We've been praised for our innovative embarkation program that enables passengers to board the ship without long delays, check into their cabins early, and begin enjoying the cruise amenities including meals and beverages," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service. "Now with the addition of this new disembarkation process which gives our passengers a more gracious send-off on their final morning with us, we believe we're offering the best passenger experience both at the start and end of their vacation."

The new program is in the process of being rolled out fleetwide, and has already been met with enthusiastic response from passengers. The new system eliminates loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded departure groups, and instead provides passengers with a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. There they will be met by a member of the ship's staff who will wait with them until departure time, when they will be personally escorted to the gangway.

The revised system enables passengers to easily plan their morning without the uncertainty as to when they should prepare to depart the ship. It also eliminates passengers congregating in the ship's atrium near the gangway, plus creates a more relaxed flow for morning breakfast.

"Passengers have told us that they're enjoying their final morning on board much more since we've started this program," noted Swartz. "It gives the departure a much more personal touch and creates a great beginning to their onward travels."

In addition to the enhanced disembarkation program, in many ports departing passengers can also take advantage of an express disembarkation option in which those who choose to carry their own luggage off the ship can elect to be part of the first group exiting the ship, allowing them to get an early start on their post-cruise travel plans.

The new disembarkation process complements Princess' innovative early embarkation program, which makes staterooms available to passengers immediately upon boarding. Arriving passengers can also enjoy a full dining room lunch in addition to the ship's Horizon Court buffet.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent.