Newsletter Summer 2009

From the scenic coastlines of Eastern Canada and New England to the pink sand beaches of Bermuda, this issue of Departures brings you ideas for your next getaway—including last-minute bargains to help you stretch your vacation dollar. Everybody loves a good deal, so we’ve highlighted some of the best travel values available during the upcoming months.

As professional travel planners, we know today’s vacation requests are as varied as today’s travelers. That’s why we take the time to help you find the cruise, tour, or vacation package that best meets your needs. Also, we pride ourselves on attention to detail—which makes the difference between a good vacation and a spectacular one.

Wherever in the world you want to go, we’re here to provide you with expert advice that will save you time and money. As you peruse this issue of Departures, we encourage you to sit back, relax, and start planning your next getaway.

Last-Minute Summer Vacation Bargains

When budgets are tight, a summer getaway may seem like an unaffordable luxury. But this year, with the economy still soft, even hotels and cruise lines typically beyond most people’s budgets are offering reasonable rates and deals on dining and activities. Here’s just a sampling of some last-minute bargains available now:

• Home-port Cruises – You don’t have to fly to South Florida to take a cruise. There are dozens of cruises from ports of call that are convenient to various regions of the U.S. For instance, Carnival Cruise Lines offers sailings from Port Canaveral (near Orlando), Tampa, Jacksonville, Mobile, New Orleans, Galveston, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

• Las Vegas – Summer days in Vegas are hot, hot, hot—and so are the deals in this fun-filled playground. Getaways such as those available from Pleasant Holidays and Travel Impressions offer the ultimate in savings through packages that include air, accommodations, and airport transfers. You can even purchase show tickets in advance, ensuring you won’t miss out on your first choices.

• Hawaii – This year, Hawaii is more affordable than ever, with great deals on airfare and hotels. Pleasant Holidays, for example, is featuring packages from Los Angeles that include air and a 3-night hotel stay from $299 per person, based on double occupancy. And Travel Impressions has reduced rates, free nights, and more at some of the most popular resorts in the Hawaiian Islands.

• Alaska – If you’ve ever dreamed of cruising through one of the most scenic areas in the world, take advantage of the tremendous bargains that are still available on Alaska cruises this summer. Princess Cruises has 2-for-1 fares on select cruises as well as free upgrades on a variety of Alaska sailings. Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises also have money-saving promotions on Alaska cruises and Cruise tours.

• Barbados – Known for its beautiful beaches and its warm Bajan welcome, Barbados offers options for visitors on tight budgets. It’s not difficult to find moderately priced hotels, dining, and nightlife. And the island’s extensive bus system—just 75 cents per trip—makes getting around Barbados easy and convenient. This summer, both Travel Impressions and Pleasant Holidays have specials on packages to Barbados.

• Escorted Tours – Tour operators such as Trafalgar and Central Holidays feature fully escorted vacations, with guaranteed departures, that save you time, money, and hassles.

Discover the Scenic Coastlines of Eastern Canada and New England

Eastern Canada and New England provide the perfect combination of charming villages, picturesque seaside landscapes, and brilliant fall foliage. One of the most enjoyable ways to experience the captivating beauty of the Canada/New England coastline is from the deck of a modern cruise ship. Once strictly a fall foliage market, the Canada/New England cruise season now lasts from mid-May through October.

Canada & New England cruises offer something for every traveler. These voyages are perfect for family vacations because they feature convenient homeports, historic seaports, exciting cities, and outdoor activities for all age groups. History buffs will enjoy seeing the treasures of the Titanic while visiting Nova Scotia and tracing the path of American independence in Boston. For nature lovers, Acadia National Park offers over 120 miles of ocean and mountain trails. And everyone will enjoy the pleasant summer weather and the spectacular fall colors.

Cruises range from four days to two weeks, so even if you have a limited amount of time, you can still visit delightful towns like Portland, Maine and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Triumph, for example, does 4- to 9-night cruises from New York through the first of October. Holland America Line sails from Boston to Montreal (and the reverse) on 7-day cruises, as well as from New York on longer itineraries. You can even cruise from Quebec to Ft. Lauderdale on a 13- or 14-day sailing in September or October. Norwegian Cruise Line features Canada/New England cruises ranging from 5 days to 14 days. Embarkation cities include New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Quebec City.

If you prefer a land-based vacation, Trafalgar has several tours from which to choose. The 8-day Autumn Colors Discovery Tour, for instance, departs from Boston and visits Bar Harbor, Maine, Acadia National Park, Pinkham Notch and North Conway (New Hampshire), and Woodstock and Killington (Vermont) before arriving in New York State. Highlights in New York include Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Placid, and Albany. The tour ends in Massachusetts, with stops in Springfield plus Lexington and Concord.

Trafalgar also has a 12-day tour called Enchanting Maritimes Discovery Tour that begins in Boston and continues along the New England Coast through New Hampshire before heading inland through the woods of Maine. After crossing the boarder into Canada, you’ll enjoy the sights and sounds of the Maritime Provinces. Highlights include famous landmarks in Halifax, Cabot Trail—one of the most scenic drives in the world—Bay of Fundy, Saint John in Newfoundland, and Bar Harbor, Main, where you can visit the shoreline, mountains, woodlands, and lakes of Acadia National Park.

However you decide to explore this exquisite coastline, we’re here to help you plan a memorable vacation.

Spotlight on Bermuda

Located about 600 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and known for sparkling blue water and pink sand beaches, Bermuda is a sophisticated island with gorgeous scenery and plenty of British charm.

One of the most relaxing ways to visit Bermuda is on a cruise ship, and there are several options available for cruising late April to October. Most cruises to Bermuda are for seven nights, and ships typically spend three nights at the island. Some ships stay in one port, while others may visit up to three Bermuda cruise ports. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, sails to Bermuda from Boston, Charleston, Philadelphia, and New York City. Most NCL seven-day cruises spend 3 nights at St. George’s Island, the oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in the Americas.

On St. George’s Island, you can explore Bermuda’s beautiful reef, which is home to more than 300 shipwrecks. And because of Bermuda’s laws and ordinances protecting these areas, the sites and the marine life around them are immaculately preserved. Another popular shore excursion on St. George’s is the Bermuda Triangle Nightlife Cruise, where underwater spotlights illuminate and bring the undersea world to life.

If you have less than a week, Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas can take you to Bermuda on a 5-night cruise departing from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey or Baltimore. These cruises, which operate May through November, overnight at King’s Wharf, where you can visit visit Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse for breathtaking panoramas of the island and the Crystal Caves to admire glistening stalactites and stalagmites. Popular shore excursions include a deep-sea fishing charter, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a kayak adventure along the beautiful shoreline, with views of uninhabited islands and beaches.

For those who prefer a land-based getaway, Bermuda offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy pristine beaches, golfing, tennis, swimming, diving, fishing, and snorkeling. Travel Impressions, one of our trusted suppliers, offers packages to Bermuda that include air, accommodations, and a choice of optional activities that can be pre-booked. From the charming capital city of Hamilton to the most secluded and romantic getaway nook, you’re never far from outstanding dining, interesting shopping, lively nightspots, and quaint historic attractions.

Whether it’s a cruise to Bermuda or a getaway to one of Bermuda’s lovely resorts, we’ve got just the ticket for you. Give us a call today, and one of our knowledgeable travel consultants will be happy to help you.

Repositioning Cruises Provide Rest and Relaxation

If you enjoy leisurely days at sea and are looking for a bargain, consider a repositioning cruise. “Repo” cruises are available when cruise lines move their ships from one part of the country or world to another to take advantage of the changing seasons. For example, ships that are now in Alaska and Europe will move to warmer waters in the fall.

These unique voyages provide an affordable opportunity to see the world at rates considerably lower than those charged for cruises that embark and disembark in the same port. And because most repo cruises are usually longer than a week and include several sea days, there is ample time to unwind and relax. When the ship does make a port call, you can explore destinations that are frequently off the beaten path.

In addition to unique itineraries and low prices, guests on repositioning cruises can take advantage of the additional activities, entertainment, and themed events that are offered during the cruise. Choose from options such as cooking classes, wine tastings, and lectures by experts in their fields.

Following is just a sampling of repositioning cruises available this fall:

Holland America Zuiderdam – Explore Central America from both the Pacific and Caribbean sides on Holland America’s 18-night Panama Canal cruise. Depart from Vancouver September 26, 2009, and, in addition to cruising the Panama Canal, visit Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Puerto Quetzal, Corinto, San Blas Islands, Santa Marta, Half Moon Cay, and Ft. Lauderdale.

Norwegian Spirit – Take the long route from Boston to New Orleans with a tour of the Caribbean, stopping in Samana, St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, Santo Tomas del Castilla, Belize City, and Costa Maya. This 16-night cruise departs October 23, 2009.

The Ruby Princess - On October 7, 2009, the Ruby Princess departs for Ft. Lauderdale from Venice, with port calls in Naples, Rome, Florence, Marseille, Barcelona, Lisbon, and the Azores Islands in Portugal.

Celebrity Constellation – a 14-night cruise on the Celebrity Constellation departs from Harwich, England, and stops in Le Havre, Cherbourg, Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Reykjavik, St. John’s (Newfoundland), and Saint John (New Brunswick), before arriving in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

Carnival Dream – Cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) on October 27, 2009 to New York on the Carnival Dream’s 16-day transatlantic cruise. Ports of call include Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Las Palmas, and King’s Wharf in Bermuda.

For details about the above cruises, or for more repositioning cruise options, contact us today.