Deluxe Cruise for $649? RIGHT!

You all know that I have always been a big proponent of cruise vacations. They continue to be a very good value when compared with "land-based" touring.

But cruise lines' pricing has become a total joke. First Class lines like Royal Caribbean (just to name one) are showing us and you "special offer" prices like $649 for an ocean view cabin on a 7 night cruise. In reality, this cabin costs you almost double that figure... about $1,000 not including airfare. The simplified explanation is that all their costs of "parking" at the various stops are referred to as "taxes"... and the price you saw does not include taxes or fees.

This is more than deceptive! If you paid $70 to park your car at the airport (government parking facility) for 4 days, is it a "tax"? Port costs are a normal cost of operation the same as their payroll costs or provisioning costs. So why is that not included when they determine what they need to sell that cabin for in order to make a nominal profit?

I have always defended the cruise industry against moronic criticisms. Look at my post "Travel Writers are Dinks" from two years ago for a good example!

Cruises are wonderful... but a good 7 day cruise with airfare is going to cost you at least $1,400 per person even with the great specials that are out there now.

Cheers,

Dick

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Here's Why You Need a Travel Agent

My agency's most popular Sun Destination is the Riviera Maya. If you look at our web site (and I really hope that you do!) you'll see that we claim to feature 3 or 4 different resort groups along this fabulous Mexican "sun coast".

Every one of them is 4-Star or better; and every one of them is very high quality. So, why do we "specialize" more than one? The answer is simple: Every client has a little different set of interests.

For example, our personal favorite has the very best cuisine and a fabulous spa. And, we love fine dining as well as nice spa facilities and service. But, we are not beach people! We prefer being around the resort's pools. This particular resort does not have a particularly great beach. In getting to know our client, we learn that they love walking the beach and playing in the ocean. Further, they are not spa people. So, for them, our favorite is not right for them. We recommend another resort that does have a gorgeous beach.

Another element: A client matching the desires noted above may have been to XYZ Resort seven years ago, loved the beautiful beach and want to go back. What was a beautiful beach before the last hurricane is now gone. We know that... but do they? Will that resort honestly point out that their beach is gone?

Now, if you look them up on-line, the pictures and descriptions are lovely. The price for each is about the same. But these nuances are not contained in the information. That's why you need a professional!

We've been there. And, we get constant feedback from the clients we've sent. Rely upon a good travel agent!!! I would hope you choose us, but there are many good ones out there!

(One final note: Many people think that reviews on TripAdvisor will guide them. But, it is becoming increasingly evident that many reviews are skewed. Resort owners and managers posing as past guests are making glowing comments AND people connected with competing resorts also posing... this time to unfairly criticize a resort. Beware!)

Cheers,

Dick