We've come to the End of the Road...

Summertime is time to park the Tumi in the closet - for awhile! As we begin the glorious summer season at our Minnesota lake place, it's time to stay off airplanes for a few months. In the past several months, I and my wife have enjoyed some marvelous trips - Panama & Costa Rica, Riviera Maya, New Orleans and South Florida. But, now it's time for summer weekends at our lake place in northern Minnesota and to catch up on the golf game! For those of you fellow Minnesotans (and Wisconsinites), you know that there is no greater place to be during the summer than home!!!

So until our next trip to Europe (a Silversea Cruise through the Adriatic Region from Venice in September) our Tumi luggage resides in deep storage!

Speaking of Cruises in Europe, we are seeing the biggest season ever for selling European Cruises at our travel agency - both Ocean cruises and River Cruises. There are more ships in Europe than ever before - and they are largely sold out already. The cruise lines have already opened booking for 2015 - the earliest that the industry has ever come out with future sailings.

Take a look at my previous post on River Cruising… this is a segment of tourism that is white-hot these days! Of particular interest is sailing the Rhine and Danube during the Holiday Markets season throughout Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.

If you are interested in explanations for this phenomenon, go to Cruise News at www.gatewayexpress.com.

Cheers,
Dick

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A "Not-So-Great" Cruise Vacation...

Piggybacking on my last post, all cruises should not be painted with the same brush. There are huge differences between cruise lines, cruise ships and itineraries. 

A client of our travel agency just returned from a cruise vacation a bit less than pleased. They have enjoyed a couple cruises in the past and have loved the experiences. This one? Not so much.

Having previously sailed on 1,500 to 1,800 passenger ships of a cruise line that we feel good about selling, this trip was on a 3,000 passenger ship of a line that we don't typically recommend. They said the service was slow and not nearly as cordial as with their previous cruises. And, the dining was - well, let's just say that the Buffets were the best part of their dining all week.

These clients had specifically asked for the ship & line they went on. Our mistake was that we assumed that they knew what they wanted. Rather than trying to persuade them to consider other choices, we "took their order". 

They stressed that they had a good time and that, all in all, they had a nice vacation. Their final comment in telling us about the pro's and con's of this experience was that, "we learned that 1,500 passenger ships are much better than mega-liners that are twice that size". They now believe that maintaining quality food and personal service on these floating islands is impossible. We agree, but need to point out that some cruise lines are more capable than others. 

People rely upon travel professionals to guide them to the best choice and the best value. This time, we didn't perform to our own expectations.

Dick

River Cruising in Europe - On the Road Again!

Well, after a nice summer dangling my feet off the end of the dock (when not working of course!) it's time again to break out the Tumi luggage and hit the road!

Those who know me or follow this blog know that we head for Europe this time each year. For 8 or 9 years, we have cruised the Mediterranean, Adriatic & Aegean Seas. This year we are following the hot trend toward river cruising with a 7 day trip on the Rhine and Mosel rivers from Amsterdam to Luxembourg followed by 3 days in Paris.

My travel company, Gateway Express Travel, has seen incredible growth in this type of vacation... and we seem to be the perfect client for river cruises - people who love the ease and pampering of life on a cruise ship - but who have run out of itineraries and need a change of pace. 

We love ocean cruising and are wondering if we'll like the river cruises as much. I'll let you know along the way! 

Cheers,

Dick

Good Deals on Cruises!

Anyone concerned with "truth in advertising" should have a ball with the cruise industry.
My travel agency, Gateway Express, sells a lot of cruise vacations - and, I personally, "heart" cruising. BUT! Although the value of cruise vacations is awesome, the pricing policies are very dishonest.
Gateway Express gets "sale bulletins" almost hourly pitching the unbelievable deals. Just taking one example, I just saw a number of 7-night Caribbean sailings through the winter where the "advertised" price for an Oceanview cabin ranges from $699 to $749 per person. Good deal, eh?
Well, the whole industry conveniently excludes taxes and port usage costs from their advertised prices. Those items can add up to almost as much as the advertised price. So, your $749 cruise is really $1,294.  
For comparison, suppose the airlines (who have their own set of issues) deducted all their airport usage costs and the myriad of taxes they must pay from the published fares. The $478 fare includes all this although the fine print on your ticket does break out the taxes. So you are well aware that the actual fare on that $478 was $392 and the rest was tax. But, suppose they excluded all their airport usage costs and advertised an airfare of $310.
So, if they advertised like the cruise industry does, you would see a fare of $310 when the actual price of your ticket will be $478. Totally dishonest.
Don't get me wrong... $1,294 for the afore-mentioned cruise is a terrific value. I just wish they could be honest about it!


Cheers,
Dick

Traveling Happy

It's all about the "expectations"!

Those of you who know me are aware that we focus on quality experiences rather than numerous experiences. We don't travel very often, but when we do go, we go "in style".

As veterans of about 10 luxury cruises on Silversea, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas as well as numerous stays at Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton resorts & hotels one might say that we're horribly spoiled. And one might be right.

But this is a story of a short 5 night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean Lines' Radiance of the Seas. We did this trip with friends on a bit of a lark back in March. I must admit that, although I was greatly looking forward to spending time traveling with people we enjoy, my expectations were fairly low. Traveling with 3,000 people didn't sound like our cup of tea. And, we knew that the food would be far below that to which we have been accustomed.

But, I'm happy to report that we came home with a fond memory of a great trip. Dollar for dollar, it could not have been better!

The key, of course, is to have realistic expectations. Even with the "high-end" products, you are well-guided to understand that perfection is not typically part of the world we live in. Bumps in the road are to be expected - and if that is your attitude you will rarely be disappointed with the experience. Travel Happy; Be Happy!

Cheers,

Dick

Booking Your Vacation On-Line

Here's some free advice for those who enjoy combing the websites for their vacation package...

There are many perils to on-line booking unless you absolutely know the destination and the resort from from personal RECENT experience. So, if you are going to shop for yourself, here are some things be mindful of:

First, do you know WHERE you want to go? We've seen so many instances of people going to an absolutely wrong destination for their personal interests and lifestyle.

Second, (assuming you have chosen the right destination) different resorts (or cruise lines) may "look" similar on the websites but there are distinct differences in their ambiance, their quality and their clientele. These can make or break your vacation experience!

Third, trusting the pictures and information found on web sites can be a fatal mistake. Photoshopped pictures, very old pictures, bogus testimonials on Trip Advisor and other such sites and deceptive pricing are the major areas of concern.

For more detail, here is a paper I wrote on this subject.

Go ahead and have fun searching... but then, why not enlist a travel professional to review your selection before you hit the "Buy" button. 99% of the time, they will be able to book the very same vacation for you at the same price - and no additional charges. Some agencies now provide a "Trip Validation Service". For a nominal Advisory Fee (my agency charges $75), they will "validate" that you have made a correct choice - and that the price shown is valid (no tricks or hidden charges). With a professional opinion supporting your selection, you can go ahead and "Buy" with confidence.

Cheers,

Dick

Istanbul to Athens with Silversea Cruises

Well, another wonderful Silversea Cruise is in the books... our 6th with Silversea. And what a journey it was! We repeated an Istanbul to Athens itinerary that we did with Seabourn Cruise Line in 2001... just 7 weeks after 9/11. Not knowing if our travel agency would survive the aftermath of 9/11, (Our 4th quarter sales that year was a 'negative'... we sold little and refunded much of what had been sold that summer.) this journey was not exactly comfortable for us... most of it became a blur very quickly. (To put our nervousness on that first trip in perspective, the bombing in Afghanistan began as we sat in the World Club lounge waiting to depart for Istanbul!)

So this "do-over" was almost like a first time! Actually, this itinerary included two very interesting new port stops for us... Haifa, Israel and Alexandria, Egypt.

Adding to the intrigue, we sailed to Haifa from Limosol, Cypress - the very route taken by that ship that the Israeli Security Force intercepted last summer... the supposed "relief supply" ship that turned out to be terrorists smuggling arms to Gaza!

Arriving Haifa, we experienced Israeli security measures as officials came aboard to interview every single passenger - even those who would not be disembarking - before allowing anyone off. Our day trip to Jerusalem was one of the most meaningful days we've ever spent. More on that next time.

Our next stop would be in Egypt and we learned that if one has an Israeli stamp in their Passport they will not be allowed into Egypt - ever, not just on that trip. As result, Israel stamps a separate, unattached page.

Sometimes, your travels are intriguing in that you learn how awful certain places in the world can be. Enter Egypt! I've been in some pretty scurvy places in my 40 years of traveling, but Alexandria, Egypt is the dirtiest city (3 million people crowded into a shoe box!) we've ever seen. Garbage lined the streets everywhere. Filth reined supreme!

Our long day trip through Cairo (not as disgusting as Alexandria, but close) to the Pyramids and The Sphinx was less than comfortable - but seeing those sites is a must... truly awesome! Each tour bus had an armed security guard on board. And the buses stayed together in caravan mode. We were on the bus for 4 hours without a rest stop because they don't dare stop and let tourists roam. The bus had a "restroom" but you wouldn't want to go in it until it would become an "emergency"!

After seeing the sights and riding camels, we stopped at a shop in Cairo. During the stop, the armed guards stood outside the bus with rifle in breach position... so comforting!!!

Our cruise ended in Athens which has, on previous visits, not been among our favorite cities. This time, after a day in Egypt, Athens seemed like a garden spot. We enjoyed Athens much more than ever before.

Despite these comments, I would heartily recommend this experience to anyone!

Cheers,

Dick

Silversea Cruises Rock!

Our annual bicker-fest with 6 relatives is well-underway! (Just kidding... our party of 4 couples get along great on these European Cruises!!!)

I’ve sung the praises of Silversea Cruises many times in the past - and here I go again! This time it’s more Asia than Europe though with 3 days in Turkey, a day in Israel and 2 days in Egypt... along with some Greek Isles and Athens.

This one is about as exotic as we’ve done... Istanbul, Kusadasi (Ephasis), Jerusalem, Haifa, Alexandria, Cairo (and the Pyramids) and Cypress.

I can’t think of a possible way the Silversea staff could be any more perfect in anything they do. How easily we can get spoiled!

Talk to you later... it’s cocktail time!

Dick

Cruising through the Aegean Sea

Well, we're 8 days from our luxury cruise from Istanbul to Athens aboard Silversea Cruise Line. Can't wait... in my business, we constantly see our clients off as they depart on their grand adventures while we just stay and work. Now, it's our turn!!!!!

We were puzzled over the State Department comments a couple weeks ago regarding increased terror threats in Europe. They really didn't warn Americans to rethink traveling abroad - they just said we should be more aware of our surroundings and be vigilant and careful.

Sounds like common sense to me... even if one is downtown Minneapolis at night after ball game, theater or dinner.

Cheers,

Dick

Cruising through Southern Europe

Those of you who know me are aware that I'll do anything to stay off the road during Minnesota summers. But, as the leaves start to turn color it's time to start thinking about breaking out the Tumi.

Our annual Autumn sojourn to southern Europe is just 5 weeks away. Again aboard Silversea Cruise Line, this year we'll be starting in Istanbul and ending 11 days later in Athens. Shortly after 9/11 2001, we did a similar itinerary but with a fair level of anxiety given the times. This "do-over" will be considerably more relaxed - and we are making our first-ever visits to Israel and to Egypt.

We have been urging our clients at our travel agency to "move up to luxury cruising" because the bargains are truly ridiculous! (Check back to my blog post on this.)

Cheers,

Dick

Listen to your Travel Advisor!

... and, if you don't have one, get one!

At Gateway Express Travel, we always advise cruise clients to get to the port city one day prior to sailing. Last week, a client embarking on an Athens departure declined our suggestion... after all, their KLM flight was arriving at 10:00 AM and the ship wasn't sailing until 6:00. What could go wrong, eh? Well, their 3:00 PM Delta flight to Amsterdam was two hours late departing Minneapolis meaning that they would miss their KLM connection.

Two of our agents worked well past our 5 o'clock closing time trying to get them to the ship in time. The best option, given the new arrival time in Amsterdam had them arriving Athens at 3:30 PM. The problem was that the cruise port is 2 hours from the airport - and there was the matter of waiting for luggage upon deplaning.

Without a Travel Agent, you're on your own!

Here is what we did for these poor souls:

• Protected them on a new flight to Athens.
• Notified the cruise line of the problem.
• Rearranged the transfer with the transportation company.
• Begged the cruise line to hold the ship (good luck).
• In the event that they would not make it, we booked an Athens hotel and booked flights to the next port.

Because we made sure the cruise line knew exactly where our clients were, they were able to determine that holding the ship for 15 minutes would be enough - and that, they were willing to do.

Even though they made it, it probably took 3 days to relax and enjoy their cruise. Don't let this happen to you!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Note #1: Even without the flight problem, having a day in Europe to rest away the jet lag is the way to go. Board your cruise ship refreshed!

Note #2: This is the second such horror story in two weeks. A nearly identical problem occurred with Alaska-bound cruise clients.

Follow Up to my last Post...

I wanted to add updates on two topics in my last rambling... first, many have heeded my earlier urging to seize upon the value opportunity and visit Europe in 2010. My travel agency's Europe bookings this summer have exceeded those of any of our previous 24 years in business! Travel in October and November is very strong... in fact much is already sold out!

Secondly, I mentioned that we feel very safe in having cruise stops in Israel and Egypt in October. One of the great things about cruise vacations is that you can plan many months in advance and know that IF something "hits the fan" later on, the cruise line simply alters their itinerary to avoid civil disturbances or severe weather.

Go for it!!!!!!

Dick

Europe, Here We Come!

Strike while the iron's hot! If you have putting off a trip to Europe in the last couple years because of our weak economy and the lousy exchange rates which make things very expensive for Americans, the dawn has come!

Sure, we have our issues here at home. And you have all had a steady diet of news about the problems with the Euro - mostly due to the economic troubles of Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. What you may not have surmised is that your buying power in Europe now is nearing all time highs.

We, at Gateway Express Travel, actually had a couple clients who had previously booked trips to Greece for late summer call us to cancel because of all the news of turmoil in Athens. We pointed out that this is absolutely the best time to see Greece because of the value. (Note: We are returning to Greece and Turkey in October so we are, in a sense, putting our money where our mouths are!) The other issue bothering people who see the constant clips of civil unrest on the network news is safety.

While a large portion of the Greek citizenry is upset over cuts to government goodies, the more terse agitation is the work of a small number of anarchists - the same ones that cause trouble whenever the G-8 meets... the same ones that caused trouble in St. Paul during the Republican Convention two years ago. These more violent demonstrations are localized around the capital building in Athens. But that's what the news industry loves... so that's what you see over and over!

Go for it! There are always reasons to hesitate: Volcanoes, Floods, Oil Spills, Hurricanes (the mere threat of), Economy, etc. Don't be dissuaded!

Cheers,

Dick

Another Note: I mentioned our October trip... included in our 10 day cruise are stops in Israel and Egypt. Despite all the news, we feel totally safe and are greatly looking forward to these visits! Of course, safe travels anywhere require a great deal of good old common sense! In 2001, we left for Istanbul on the very day the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan. Nothing bad happened to us.

On-Line Travel Booking is FUN!

A speaker at an annual Travel Industry Conference in Las Vegas asked the room full of agency owners and managers why people book their trips on-line. We came up with several theories which all seemed to point back to a common theme: Because they think it's cheaper. We were all "close, but no cigar". At least according to this market research analyst.

He said their findings conclude that they do so because it's fun! Well, you could have heard a pin drop in the room! To travel professionals who spend 40 to 50 hours a week doing this for a living, it is anything but fun. I started to think through some of our experiences...

A close relative who buys everything on-line including meat and tropical fish called me a year ago as he was researching a cruise vacation for 2 couples. They settled upon a great deal on a given Princess sailing. We checked into it and found a price that was $172 per person lower for the very same cabins! In addition, through our affiliation with Vacation.com, each couple got a complimentary bottle of wine and two plush robes to take home.

Last week he emailed me again... this time because he had just discovered that airfares have risen considerably. Best he could find to Fort Myers or Tampa for a week at their timeshare in December was $537 per person. We found and booked them on an air & car package for $496 per person including a luxury class car for the week!

Maybe you can buy commodities such as tropical fish or DVD's cheaper online but travel is NOT cheaper on the net. The net is great for "kicking tires"... we all look around online. But, our mantra is "Look, but Don't Book"!!!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

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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