posted by Joyce on Jul 21
Tomorrow I’m off to Kenya. If you’ve read my “About Me” page, you know that I’m a missionary there. Preparation to return has taken a great deal of time so I haven’t written any blog entries for quite a while. And this will be my last for a while yet, until I find the right ISP and get back online over there.
In the meantime, check out this feature cruise deal:
posted by Joyce on Jul 10
Short luxury cruises are often more commonly referred to as mini cruises and will last for a period of four or five days. These cruises are the perfect solution for you to try a cruise for the first time in order to get a feel for what it is all about.
Certainly, there are many advantages to be had from booking such a cruise over the more traditional kind of weekend or short break.
—–
Take a Luxury Vacation Without the Luxury Price Tag —–posted by Joyce on Jul 7
The two key factors that can have a huge impact on the cost of your vacation are the destination and the time of year. In fact, the single biggest saver is likely to be when you travel, not how successfully you manage to haggle for that last minute hotel bargain!
Don’t overlook the importance of considering these two factors together. Some destinations will be extremely cheap at one time of year yet finding a bargain four months later may be impossible. Traveling to a popular destination at a peak time will never be cheap. For example staying at a luxury hotel in a party city on New Year’s Eve is not likely to be a budget holiday; however, traveling to a traditional summer resort over New Year’s may be a very different story.
One thing that is very important to realize is that low seasons are low for a reason. A classic example of this is hurricane season in the Caribbean and Florida. Other low seasons to be wary of are the extremely hot areas such as Egypt during the summer months, when the heat can be so oppressive that it makes the holiday less enjoyable. Summer resorts are often so quiet during low season that there is quite literally nowhere open. This can be great for a retreat, but when it comes to a raging nightlife you may be sadly disappointed!
Shoulder season is the perfect time to be trying to travel for those who want to find a happy medium between low and peak seasons. Identifying locations that are in shoulder season when you want to travel or when your favorite destination is in shoulder season can save you literally hundreds of dollars.
Take a look at the guide books. Whilst they will not tell you when the shoulder season is, they will tell you when peak and low seasons are. The time in between, is, by definition, the shoulder season.
With almost every resort there is a period where the prices become low, not because the location is now poor but because all of the hotels and flights are still servicing the area but the demand is simply not there. Examples of shoulder seasons are Europe in the fall and the Caribbean during late spring.
Winter is an interesting time of year to travel. Before Christmas, most individuals are trying to make last minute shopping trips. After Christmas, people are dealing with their credit card bills. As such, holidays on far off beaches are often incredibly cheap during the winter period.
A wonderful destination for the winter months is Asia. Flights are losing popularity, however, availability is still good, meaning that there are plenty of discounts on offer. Weather is variable in Asia during the winter which could mean that you are surrounded by snow one minute and then basking in glorious sunshine. This lack of dependability is something that puts a lot of visitors off and can mean that there are some excellent bargains for those prepared to take the risk!
If you are looking to travel to Europe, this is the time to do it! Flights are a lot cheaper during the spring months when temperatures are still relatively low.
Mexican beaches and the Caribbean islands start to see their prices drop from mid April as the weather becomes hotter. However, during the spring months, the water and air temperatures are still pleasant and the resorts less crowded.
During later spring, for example May, the traditionally hot and dry countries are not in their peak seasons but have not yet become intolerably hot. So if you want to visit Morocco, Jordan or Egypt, plan a spring vacation.
You should also check out delightful destinations close to home that offer lots of fun and excitement.
Finding a bargain in summer is tricky. Americans, Japanese and Europeans are all on the move and this is also the time of year that most weddings take place, so honeymoon destinations are in a great deal of demand.
During the early part of summer, through June and July, Caribbean destinations are still good to get a deal, provided you try to book before the Europeans start to flood in during their school holidays at the end of July.
Flights and hotels are still quite reasonable in Southeast Asia during the summer months, but temperatures can be quite hot, so if you can’t stand the heat, avoid this destination during the summer months.
This is the time to head to Europe. Flights to most major European destinations will be cheaper from October onwards, mainly because the schools are no longer on holiday and families are not traveling as much. Temperatures are normally perfectly pleasant until mid November, so grab yourself a fall bargain in Europe.
posted by Joyce on Jul 4
Just want to wish my American friends and family a very happy, relaxing 4th of July weekend! Be safe and be blessed.
posted by Joyce on Jun 27
Let this be a warning to all cruisers to keep checking the cruise line’s policies right up until the time of departure. Policies change, and it’s up to you to stay current.
Take a look at this CNN video.
posted by Joyce on Jun 24
Cruise Direct’s featured deal this week is a 7-Night NCL Bermuda Cruise from $649, round trip from Philadelphia calling on St. George’s.
They are also offering Free Onboard Credit when you book today!
And just imagine if you could save even more money by saving on onboard incidentals and shore excursions.
Before you go on your cruise, you’ll need to decide how much money you need, or can, bring along.
You’ll probably find this easier on a cruise than for other vacations because of the all-inclusive cruise programs. The cabin, onboard entertainment and food are generally always included. A short list of some things not included would be:
• Beverages
• Specialty Ice Cream & Coffee
• Gratuities
• Medical Treatment
• Shopping
• Shore Excursions
• Spa
Other necessities of a personal nature can add up as well.
For more specific information on extra on-board costs and how you can cut those costs, get a copy of Luxury Cruising:How to Save Money Without Sacrificing Fun!
You can also save a bundle on your next cruise with hidden, insider techniques to save up to 50% on quality shore excursions.
posted by Joyce on Jun 23
A luxury cruise is the vacation you can only dream of. Right? Wrong!! With a little careful planning and saving, your dream cruise can become the vacation of your dreams.
While dramatic drops in cost have made cruising an affordable vacation alternative for almost everyone, “all-inclusive cruises” don’t necessarily mean “ALL inclusive.” Extra charges for on-board items or activities or shore trips can put what sounded affordable out of reach. Does that mean your dream cruise is only a dream again?
What if you could just cut down on all the extra on-board and on-shore costs, above and beyond the actual cruise fare? You could not only take that cruise, you could take a cruise more often. Sounds great! So what’s the catch?
No catch. It’s the KEY– knowing where to save money WITHOUT sacrificing fun or rest and relaxation.
So where do you find this key? There are hundreds of money-saving tips out there from family, friends, the internet, or your local travel agent. But what are the best tips? And how do you remember them all?
You don’t have to. Luxury Cruising: How to Save Money without Sacrificing Fun has taken the best tips and put them all right here in one convenient place! Armed with these tips, almost anyone can take a cruise vacation that’s everything you’ve dreamed. Enjoy The Bahamas, Hawaii, Mexico, and even Alaska aboard luxury cruise ships with all the amenities of a resort on land.
You deserve to enjoy your dream cruise and all that comes with it, and you CAN do it within your budget, without breaking the bank! What could be better than that?
With this book, you are already on your way to planning your cruise and making that dream cruise the cruise of your dreams!
posted by Joyce on Jun 16
Everyone knows the Caribbean is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. And, during hurricane season the prices are usually very low to attract visitors.
The problem is there is always the risk that your vacation will be disturbed by severe weather.
So what is the safest option and one that will pretty much guarantee you won’t have your vacation interrupted or cut short because of a hurricane?
A Cruise!
With today’s sophisticated technology, cruise ships can monitor tropical storms and hurricanes and change course to other ports of call so that you completely avoid the bad weather.
Now, I can almost hear you saying… “It’s too late to plan a cruise for this summer! What are you thinking, Joyce?!?”
And others are thinking, “A cruise! That’s way too expensive.”
The reality is that there are some super last-minute cruise deals available right now. Cruise lines don’t want to sail with empty cabins, so they are offering discounts at the last minute to fill up space.
Not only can you get a last-minute cruise, you can get it at a price you can afford.
The problem is not usually the cruise fare, but the extra money spent on all the incidentals on board. Cruises are generally considered all-inclusive because accommodation, food, entertainment, and port charges are included in the fare.
However. . .
All-inclusive doesn’t necessarily mean “ALL-inclusive”. There are extra charges for incidentals on board as well as activities and shore trips that can add up very quickly if you’re not careful.
The good news is… you can be prepared.
Luxury Cruising: How to Save Money Without Sacrificing Fun is your complete guide to planning your cruise vacation and saving big.
Just think about it… You can take a luxury vacation without the luxury costs and without sacrificing fun.
Maybe it’s too late for this year, but it’s not too late to start planning and budgeting for next year. For many people, vacation is during the summer when the kids are out of school. That’s also hurricane season.
Are you beginning to see how you can take a vacation to one of the most popular destinations in the world in spite of the season? A cruise is a safe, affordable vacation alternative.
posted by Joyce on Jun 14
The last few days I’ve read several blog posts about whether or not to take a vacation in hurricane-prone areas during hurricane season.
It’s certainly very wise to consider the season when planning your vacation destination, but today I’d just like us to consider what’s happening at home. You don’t have to be in the Caribbean to experience severe, destructive weather.
————————-
I want to offer my sincere sympathy to the families of the boy scouts who were injured or lost their lives because of the tornado Wednesday night.
And to the thousands of others who have been injured or who have lost property as a result of the recent severe storms and flooding throughout the United States.
My prayers are with you.
posted by Joyce on Jun 9
For most of my life I believed that a cruise vacation was something I couldn’t even dream of.
Then, I heard about some friends who were taking cruises every summer. One summer I even heard about 4 different groups (family & friends) who had gone or were going on a cruise that summer.
I was totally surprised. What did they know that I didn’t?
Talk about being green! I was like Angela Brown in her blog post, Diary of a First-time Cruiser, when she wrote that there was so much she didn’t know, she didn’t know what to ask.
It was time to start finding out how these friends and family members were able to do it, and what they did on the cruises.
First, I did some reading up on cruising so I could appear a little intelligent, then asked a friend about the cruise she and her husband took. Here’s the short version of that interview.
Joyce: What cruise line did you use?
Connie: We went with Princess Cruise Line.
Joyce: What documentation did you need? (ID, passport. . .?)
Connie: We needed a valid passport.
Joyce: Were you required to have any vaccinations?
Connie: You should phone your local health district concerning vaccinations.
Joyce: Did you book an air/cruise package?
Connie: I booked our own air but you can buy the air ticket with the cruise line.
Joyce: Why did you chose to get your own flight?
Connie: I got our flights because we wanted to go in early and go to Sea world.
Joyce: Did the cruise line provide transportation to the ship and back again?
Connie: The cruise line does provide transfers to and from the airport at a cost.
Joyce: What was the check-in process like?
Connie: The security to get on the ship is much the same as airport security. They do not go through your bags but your bags do go through an x-ray machine to see what is inside them. You have to show your boarding pass and they put it under a scanner and you show id to make sure that you are the right person and on the right ship. Once you receive your key, you can go to your room.
Joyce: How many restaurants on board?
Connie: There were 7 restaurants on board.
Joyce: Were the meals at set times?
Connie: You can book set times for eating or you can go to the buffet, the grill or do anytime dining. There is one restaurant that is set time for dining and the rest is as you come.
Joyce: Were you required to dress formally for dinner?
Connie: They do have formal nights while you are on the cruise. They also have casual nights. You can dress formal if you like or you can go to the buffet or one of the other restaurants.
Joyce: What kind of clothes did you need?
Connie: We took dresses and capris for me and suit and tie and then casual clothes for Terry.
Joyce: Was your cabin like a closet or did it have some space? Were you inside or outside, and would you book the same next time?
Connie: Our cabin was an inside cabin. It had a queen bed, a 9-drawer dresser and a large closet. It also had a bathroom with a shower and vanity. We preferred the inside because it was nice and dark and there was no clock so we did not know what time it was and we could sleep in if we wanted to.
Joyce: Were you expected to tip or was the service charge included in the cost?
Connie: Tipping was added onto your bill at the end of your cruise. We were charged 10.50 per day per person in the cabin for everyone. The only one that we tipped extra was our cabin steward because he did whatever we asked.
Joyce: Did you sign up for any of the scheduled activities at ports of call?
Connie: We did not sign up for any excursions.
Joyce: How easy is it to do your own thing rather than pay for the scheduled excursions?
Connie: There are lots of things to do without doing excursions. We went walking and exploring on our own. There are a lot of cabs and buses waiting for people to get off the ship.
Joyce: Were the port charges included in your fare?
Connie: You receive one price from the cruise line and it includes taxes, port charges and the cruise.
Joyce: What did soda cost on board?
Connie: A can of soda was $2.03 taxes included.
Joyce: What extra amenities were available?
Connie: There was an exercise room, salon, spa, tuxedo & dress rentals, Broadway type shows, comedians, specialty coffee shop, library, Art Auction.
Joyce: What was the security like on board?
Connie: The security was very noticeable because we went during spring break.
Joyce: Anything else you want to ad?
Connie: Cruising is very good because you unpack once and never have to move. But, you also get to explore different locations and see if you like them and maybe go back for longer stays.
That interview was just the tip of the iceberg. My interest was piqued and I was on a mission to learn how to get a luxury cruise vacation at an affordable price.
I found out how! And today I’m sharing my findings with you!
My ebook, Luxury Cruising: How to Save Money Without Sacrificing Fun, will show you how to plan YOUR cruise, and how to save thousands while doing it.
It is your complete cruise vacation learning package. 22 chapters covering every aspect of your luxury cruise. It explains things you’ve never thought to ask.
Don’t just dream about taking a cruise vacation. Take action. Find out how it’s possible for you, and start planning.
