Cruise & News Update

In today's economy the prospect of booking a vacation might seem like quite an indulgence when everyone is preaching sacrifice! But getting away from the television and the doom and gloom might just be the ticket to give you a different outlook. Whatever is going to happen will, whether you sit home and worry about it or not -- it won't change the outcome. The wheels for this downturn in the economy were set in motion long ago. So, know that you have protected yourself as best as you could, you diversified your investments and ride the roller coaster-it will get better.

The Grand Turks Cruise Center reopened on October 8, 2008 with the arrival of Carnival' s Destiny. This was the first call back at the Turks & Caicos port after it was hit by Hurricane Ike on September 6, 2008.

On October 10, Carnival Corporation announced that it will drop the fuel supplements for 2010 cruises booked on or after October 31, 2008. Don't get too excited though, in lieu of fuel supplements they will be raising ticket prices for all 2010 cruises on it's Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn brand cruises. I do applaud them for actually coming out and admitting that they need to raise prices instead of trying to masquerade the extra charges as a fuel supplement. Isn't the cost of fuel part of their cost of doing business??

In keeping with their quest to live up to the "international" part of their name, Royal Caribbean International has announced that they will reposition the Brillance of the Seas to Dubai for the first quarter of 2010. The Brillance of the Seas will be sailing 7 night itineraries from Dubai from January through April of 2010. Royal Caribbean repositioned ships to Southeast Asia and the Pacific rim in January of this year.

Okay, that's my two cents worth for now...talk to you soon!

Disney Announcements

I just finished attending a Disney live web cast from Aquavit Restaurant in NYC. The Big Announcement is that Disney Cruise Lines will add 12 night Northern Europe itineraries for the 2010 Season. Disney will spend 5 months a year in Europe. In addition to the Northern European sailings in the Baltic, they will be adding new Mediterranean itineraries to include ports in Malta, Tunis and Corsica. Reservations for these exciting new itineraries will open for sale on October 14, 2008! In other Disney news, you will now be able to spend your Birthday at a Disney Theme Park for free! Exciting updates and announcements for Disney fans. Sign up at DisneyParks.com!

"CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR CLOSE UP"

Juneau

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR CLOSE-UP

We arrived in Juneau for a full day of activities. First we were off to a Salmon Brunch. We were treated to fresh, hot off the grill Silver Coho Salmon - it was sooooo good! The highlight of my trip was yet to come. I am an animal lover and I could spend days at a time at Sea World watching the whales. Although it was not Orca season, it was still humpback season. We had pre-arranged a whale watching trip with Orca Enterprises. We were lucky enough to have the internationally renowned Captain Larry Dupler, Sean and naturalist, Dirk as our crew. Their knowledge of the environment and wildlife was amazing. Before we knew it, Dirk tapped me on the shoulder and said get that camera ready there are 2 bald eagles coming up.

Next were Stellar Sea Lions and then on to the main event, the humpback whales. They are able to identify the whales by the coloring on their bellies.

It was wonderful to see that our crew has great respect and admiration for these amazing creatures even though they do this trip everyday in the season. Captain Larry also has been vice-president of the Marine Education and Research of South East Alaska, a non-profit whale support group based in Juneau. He has been recognized for his work dealing with rescue and rehab, naturalist and whale watching operator training and has been a guest speaker in the Humpbacks' winter home of Maui. I have been to Maui many times but have never seen the amazing show put on for us by the humpbacks on this trip. My finger could not press the shutter fast enough-maybe I should have taken those photography lessons I never got around to this past winter. I just prayed that I got a few good shots out it--I had to watch this beatiful ballet in front of me and not worry about the pictures. I didn't want to miss this as it unfolded--it was the most amazing, entertaining spectacle I could have hoped for. There were three whales just frolicking in front of us. They were playing and breaching and splashing. It was the most wonderful experience - to be able to witness these amazing creatures in their natural habitat, enjoying themselves. I wonder if they have any idea at how amazing a show they put on. It was as if they knew there was a boat full of travel agents there and they were going to give us a show for us to bring back to our clients--it certainly was the best memory I brought home with me.

Captain Larry and Dirk advised us that we were seeing a once in a lifetime show - we were watching and since I have been to Maui many times and had never seen anything close-I knew that this was a very true statement--I will never forget this amazing afternoon-it is a memory I will have forever-the reason that I travel every chance I can.

Alaska

I just returned from out National Conference which was of course, held on a cruise ship. This year we sailed to Alaska for an intense week of immersion in everything Alaska. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this beautiful area and will definitely go back for more. We started our cruise from Vancouver and experienced one of the smoothest embarkations I have ever had. The staff was smiling, friendly and efficient.

As I tell my clients, if you are going to Alaska you must have a balcony cabin. (I do practice what I preach, although since I started out in a balcony cabin I won't go back.) Even though I spent most of my inside passage time in seminars and classes, having the view from your balcony is not to be missed. Watching dolphins, whales and eagles fly by was a jaw dropping experience!

Our first port was Ketchikan where we visited the Totem Pole Park, watched salmon swim upstream and toured the town. A town rich in native Alaskan history, it was interesting to learn of the stories told by each totem. You could take a floatplane to Misty Fjords, walk along the infamous Creek Street, watch a lumberjack show or glide above the rainforest on a zipline. A great intro to our 49th state which will celebrate it's 50th anniversary in 2009.

Our next day was viewing Hubbard Glacier. As we started up the fjord toward the largest calving glacier on the North American continent, it was a foggy, eerily quiet ride through icebergs ranging from pristine to dirt covered. The glaciers were shrouded in fog until we got closer and right on queue the fog lifted and the skies brightened just in time for an amazing show. It sounded like great claps of thunder as chunks of the glacier cascaded into the water. It was an absolutely amazing sight. And once again I must emphasize the reason you must have a balcony--both sides were given equal time for great views and pictures. And then it was time to glide back down the fjords through water that was as still as glass.