Oceania Cruises - Chef Jacques Pe'pin

Oceania Cruises is at the top of the list of my favorite cruise lines. Their special attention to detail make for a more intimate, more personal, cruise atmosphere aboard their lovely mid-size
ships. Check out this special departure with Jacques Pépin Cruise.

World-renowned master chef and Oceania Cruises' Executive Culinary Director, Jacques Pépin hosts a 10-day culinary odyssey, sailing from Barcelona to Athens on April 17, 2007. Guests will delight in exploring Europe's most celebrated ports of call and draw upon the experiences of one of the world's most acclaimed chefs. You will be treated to specially designed menus, culinary demonstrations, engaging lectures, wine tastings and much more. This cruise will present you with an up-close and personal glimpse into the epicurean world of Jacques Pépin and Europe's most glorious ports.

Europe - Inside and Out

Europe is often a "dream vacation", that some people wait a lifetime to experience. Our American heritage is so heavily influenced by European roots that it remains our number one international destination for vacation travelers.

You can't experience all of Europe in a single trip, even if you spend an entire year trying. The continent is simply to0 large and too diverse to "see everything" in a single vacation. To introduce my kids to Europe we drove from Germany through Italy, Switzerland, and France. We covered diverse highlights such as Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Monte Carlo, Lucerne, Paris, and Strasbourg. Not to mention local, authentic, and out of the mainstream stays such as a Tuscan farm, Portofino, and friends homes in Bavarian Alps. From first glance it might appear that we pretty much covered the bases. But, having traveled Europe for a quarter century, I know we barely scratched the surface.

So, what is the best way to experience Europe? That would depend on what is important to you. We begin by asking what you want to see, what you want to do, what you want to feel? Since you can't do it all we need to focus on the experiences that are most important to you. Pace is important. My itinerary above was an action packed adventure, which is really appropriate for making the most of it for teenagers. Personally, I'd be happy with an entire summer of lounging around a small Mediterranean village - and I'm not too picky about which one. Here again, your preferences are the most important thing to consider.

If you have a longer list of "must do" and "must see", you should consider visiting Europe on a cruise. This is truly the most efficient way to have a lot of stops on an itinerary. Your "hotel" (aka ship) moves with you so you only unpack once. Land based vacations use a lot of time getting from one point of interest to the next. These itineraries are designed for time intensive visits in port, and transportation at night. Moving from one town to the next while you sleep affords a lot of time for visiting the places you came to see.

There is an abundant variety of cruise itineraries. What is right for you? Western or Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, Adriatic, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Baltic, Russia, Black Sea... oh my there are a lot of choices. Quality and amenities also vary considerably among cruise lines. You might know a lot about what you want, but how do you know you are making the right choice?

Not to worry - we are here to help. Our experts have expansive knowledge about all the nuances. That is what we are here for - to make sure you get the right vacation for your individual needs.

Afraid you might miss something in the Heart of Europe if you choose a cruise? Pre and post cruise packages can add that extra special element to make sure your European experience is complete. Want to spend your entire vacation in Central Europe? If that is right for you, we have your best interests in mind when we help you choose from our wide selection of first class tours. Group tours, motorcoach, independent... you name it, we have it.

If your next destination is Europe, we're there. Let us help plan your dream vacation and we guarantee your experience will be the very best for YOU.

Cruise Values are Relative

Even when it is my relatives who are cruising.

I received a pre-dawn telephone call this morning. I was happy to see the caller ID was contact from my wife's sister and her husband. They had been on a 5-day Carnival Cruise to celebrate my brother-in-law's 50th birthday, and were scheduled to return this morning. Sure enough, this call was from them, on board, in those idle hours prior to debarkation.

We receive such great client feedback that selling cruises is a joy. Client satisfaction rates are so incredibly high that any complaint must be taken very seriously. So, I was disappointed to hear that my relatives were not 100% satisfied with their cruise. The definitive statement was: "We'll never go on Carnival again".

In this case the disappointment was focused on service. These folks felt that the on board staff was not personable, and not attentive. We are in the top 1% of all agencies selling Carnival, so we get a lot of input regarding their performance. This is not our usual client response.

It is possible that this particular cruise underperformed, but I suspect that our true cause for concern was mismatched expectations. That is our responsibility. We are suppose to match: budget - product - expectations. I take full responsibility for their disappointment.

My relatives got a super fantastic low price on this cruise. That was a priority in the initial purchase because they wanted an inexpensive quick getaway. That is all fine, until we consider that they have some pretty good cruise experiences in their history. Their natural assessment would be to expect the level of service and attention they had previously experienced, but got lucky with a bargain price. Truth is, cruise values are relative.

We should have been more diligent at qualifying the quality of the purchase for this super fantastic low price. It was our responsibility to set expectations to the realistic level of this product. Or, vice versa, if expectations are for higher service levels we should insist on adjusting the budget to a product that will deliver to those expectations.

Carnival really does deliver food, service, and accommodations that are a good value relative to the fares. We simply can't expect Hyatt performance at a Howard Johnson price. I'm committed to making sure we deliver more than just a cheap price - we must also define value relative to expectations. That goes for all of our thousands of clients each and every year.

Alaska Cruise and Tour

Alaska is my favorite place to visit. I have only been there in the Summer, so maybe that is why I love it so. ALASKA IS NOT COLD, at least not in the Summer. I'm a Florida boy, so this is an especially important issue for me. I cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would voluntarily choose to be an a cold place. I don't "do cold", but I most definitely do Alaska.

Alaska is a land of many extremes. The far north latitude causes a rapid shift from Winter to Summer, with a very very short Spring that lasts about 2 weeks. Summer runs from mid-May to mid-September, with little variation in weather. You can expect about the same weather all summer long. What kind of weather you have depends more on where in Alaska you happen to be.

Alaska is BIG. I mean really really really big. If you superimpose a map of the state of Alaska over the "lower 48" (as they like to call us) it stretches across two-thirds of the contiguous states. Ketchican would be in Florida, the Aeultians run to California, and Prudoe Bay in Minnesota. The enormous size of Alaska has an influence on neary everything we consider in vacation planning.

The weather is not consistent across such a large land mass. During the summer it is rainy and damp in the southeast - Ketchican gets a lot of drizzle, like Seattle. The interior can get quite warm - Fairbanks often runs into the 90s and occasional over 100 degrees. The high elevations are always cooler - altitude does that. The temperature drops when you approach a glacier - well, it is a big wall of ice. So, the summer weather in Alaska depends on where you happen to be. We know what is what, where is where, and we know what to expect with the weather.

What do you want to see and what do you want to do in Alaska? The scenery and the attractions vary across the great state. Do you want to see the fantastic mountains? Alaska has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in North America including Mt McKinley. Do you want to see wildlife? Alaska is home to moose, caribou, grisly bear, and much more. Do you want to see the vast open wilderness? The Alaskan Railroad provides a luxury ride through pristine scenery from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Glaciers are a fascinating phenomena that provide active intrigue as enormous sheets of ice "calf", or fall away, into the sea right in front of your Cruise ship.

So, how do you fit all these experiences into the vacation of a lifetime? That depends on you and your personal lifestyle. There are many different ways to visit Alaska; Cruise, Tour, Train, Lodge, Hotel. There are many different companies to choose from: Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Tours, Royal Caribbean International, Premier Alaska Tours... oh boy, this list goes on, and on, and on...

Sure there are lots of choices, but you don't need to be intimidated. We think variety is a good thing. That is how we make sure you get exactly what is right for you. Let our experts help you plan your vacation of a lifetime and you will experience Alaska as it was meant to be - just for you. 800-440-3267

The Gift of Travel

Cruise Gift Certificates


Great gift for:Parents,Relatives,Close Friends,Business Acquaintances,Employees,Holiday Party Giveaways or a Special Unexpected Holiday Surprise!

Our Certificates are available in any amount, good for travel on any cruise line.

Don't you know someone who deserves a cruise vacation next year? This holiday you can help make that vacation dream come true. Just call our office, and we'll get you set up. 800-440-3267.

What is the Easiest - Fastest way to book a Cruise?

CALL A COUNSELOR Let's look at this. I spend a fortune providing you an opportunity to book on line (this website is expensive). It's right there - if you are a " do it yourselves" you can jump right in and book yourself on any cruise you want. So why would I advise calling a Counselor?

What does our site offer? This is the exact same live inventory you would find on the big box stores like Expedia or Travelocity, at the exact same rates you would find at the discount outlets like CruisesOnly or Cruise411. If you know for certain exactly what you want to book, you are the rare individual who should book on line. In fact - if you book it yourself and write "Andy says" in the comments field, I'll put $50 on board credit on your booking.

Why not book direct on the Cruise Line's site? 1) We are cheaper. The cruise lines direct booking protects the highest price in the market, but our high sales volume entitles us to special discounts. 2) Our site is a great place to shop. Want to compare Royal Caribbean vs Carnival? Why access each line separately when our site compares them side-by-side.

What is the fastest way to book? Call a Counselor. Our experts book cruises all day long, every day. They each make thousands of bookings every year. Do you really think you can jump on line, find the best inventory at the best price faster than these experts? Of course not. In fact, I challenge you to try. If you race one one of our Senior Counselors, and can complete your booking faster than they can, I'll pay for your cruise. I'd love to set up that contest!

What is the BEST way to book your cruise? Again, call a Counselor. By "best" I mean getting the right vacation for your particular needs and desires. There is much more to "best" than making a quick and cheap booking. Which cruise line suits you best? Our Counselors know...but you probably don't. That is true because even an avid cruiser has only a few, maybe a dozen, cruise experiences on which to base their insight. But, our Counselors have thousands of cruise experiences as related through our clients. What changed on your favorite line since your last cruise? We know. Which cruise line's food continues to drop in quality? We know. Which cruise line has surprised the industry with an entire renaissance of their cuisine? We know....but chances are you do not.

Let me ask you this? If you decided to do something that you had little experience with, what is the probability that you could "out master" an expert? Let's say you want to remodel your kitchen, and you are pretty handy. Think about the effort necessary to replace all your cabinets and appliances. Put a price on buying the materials, but you are going to supply the labor. What if I told you that I had a carpenter who could provide superior materials and do all the work for you, but it would cost you the same as simply buying the materials yourself. Would you turn down an offer to get a better kitchen, installed by an expert, at the same price as "do it yourself"?

I hear a lot of people say "I got it on the internet" with an infliction that suggests they are a more savvy buyer. Me too! I haven't been to a music store for years, but I continue to buy my favorite songs online. I bought my last car with an internet deal because a new Ford Explorer is the same item no matter where you get it. I even bought the woodflooring for my living room from an online distributor - they sent me samples before I purchased. So - why not buy your cruise online?

If you know exactly what you are going to buy, there is no reason not to. If you are joining "Aunt Helen" on her 70th Birthday celebration cruise, the decision has been made. You already know which ship and departure date. If you have a super favorite cruise line and ship, and this is one more of the same for you, chances are you can handle it yourself on line. Feel free - go ahead - book it right here on our site. In fact - if you book it yourself and write "Andy says" in the comments field, I'll put $50 on board credit on your booking.

But - But - But... if you are assuming cruise lines are similar, if you don't know why there are 16 categories for prices, if you don't already know the name of the on board specialty restaurant, if you can't answer the 10 reasons why this is the best departure to meet your vacation desires, then you are just guessing and you should definitely call a Counselor.

I have a friend who thinks he is pretty smart about "online buying". We have similar successes as I mentioned above. He recently booked a cruise directly with a cruise line. When I asked him why he did it he said: "It was a last minute thing, and it was a good deal". When he returned from the cruise I asked him how he liked it. He said it wasn't much fun: "I don't drink, I don't gamble, and I am on a diet. I don't even know why I was on there".

I had to explain to my friend that it wasn't a "bad cruise", it just was not the right one for him. There are plenty of cruises that fit his lifestyle, but not the one he chose. He didn't know the difference, but we do. A last minute bargain isn't much of a deal if you don't enjoy the experience. My friend has asked us to help plan his 20th Wedding Anniversary celebration in Hawaii. I can promise, he'll like that a lot more, because we know what is right for him.

Your comments are very much encouraged. Think I'm right - please let me know. Think I'm wrong? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Oceania European Cruises: From $2199

I just found this beautiful cruise from Oceania cruise line. It is on the Insignia ship and it leaves from Rome and goes to Barcelona. Oh, my! Those are the words I have available for this one. Click on this link before time runs out:

Romantic Rivieras Cruise, 10 Day Rome to Barcelona