All Inclusive Cruising

Back in the day most cruise lines offered amenities on board at no charge much like the airlines offered free meals.  In today’s world that just doesn’t happen.  On my last cruise my wife and I averaged well over a hundred dollars a day on those amenities, and some days much more.

After doing a little math and comparing fares with cruise lines that offer all-inclusive cruising, considered luxury category, you would be surprised how close they are in price when you crank in the onboard expenses.  For those of you that are not familiar with all-inclusive cruising, it includes your adult beverages i.e. fine wines, premium spirits, soft drinks, and all your gratuities.  Some luxury lines even throw in shore excursions.  Something to think about for your next cruise, and remember I am available to help you make those decisions!

Cruising with Herm

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/DanaGaston

VALUE ADDED EXPERIENCE

Today I would like to address the value I offer over the booking sites available on the internet.

One business practice that I follow is the 3R’S that you won’t find online!

• RESPOND—You can be sure that I will be in contact with you from your first request.  I will get the necessary information from you so I can supply you with the information you have requested.  I will offer my expertise and suggestions on whatever vacation, cruise or destination you have selected.
• RESEARCH---Before responding back with pricing you can guarantee I have researched the products available, destination and pricing, and will be able to offer best value for your request.
• RELIABILITY---I am not confined to set hours of operation and generally work when there is work to be done 24/7.  I will respond to your request as quick as possible and you can be sure that any information given to me is safe.

In today’s environment with the online tools we all have available, I’m confident that you have done some research as well.  I hope my expertise will stand out, and you feel comfortable working with Cruising with Herm.

Cruising with Herm    

Profile For a typical Cruising with Herm Customer

I want to address the profile of a typical Cruising with Herm customer in today’s blog.  I am very fortunate to have the customer base that I do.  Maybe it is because of my age (not sure), but I couldn’t ask for a better group of folks to be associated with.

My typical customer is between 45 and 65 years of age, they are either retired or getting close and they have a good income. They generally know what market they want, or at least have a good idea, and know the experience they are looking for.  Most seek some adventure and sightseeing, but enjoy the relaxation and pampering experience that cruises offer.  They are clearly tech savvy and know how to shop online.  That is why it is important to be affiliated with Expedia CruiseShipCenters and the competitive pricing they offer.

Thank you to all of you,

Cruising with Herm  

Final Port of Call

We dreaded this morning – having to leave the ship for the last time.   Last evening we made sure we spoke with new friends we made on the trip to get them e-mail addresses and phone numbers.   We met really nice folks from Chicago, Las Vegas, Vancouver Island, Canada, Minneapolis, and Manteka, CA.   It’s amazing how you bond with the folks on a 12 day cruise.

As the Royal was not going to be leaving port again until the next day, we were able to leave our bags on the ship and take an excursion around Papeete for a couple of hours.   We got back on board for our final meal with the Royal Princess and grabbed a cab to the Radisson.  For the remainder of the day we just relaxed by the pool, had dinner and listened to the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore as we went to sleep.   This truly is paradise.  

Cruising with Herm

Weekend in Paradise

Saturday morning early we were in Raiatea birthed alone again in the bay.   Following another rainfall, the sun broke through and we were off the ship to explore the island.  There were many local people selling arts and crafts and tour operators explaining the tours they wanted the passengers to go on.   One of the things we wanted to do on this trip was to snorkel, and had been told this was the island to do it on, so we found a tour operator that was offering a snorkel trip to a small nearby island surrounded by a coral reef.  And what an amazing afternoon we had – we saw so many different kinds of beautiful fish and coral pieces.   We didn’t see any stingrays, but we were told there were over 700 varieties of fish in those waters and it felt like we saw most of them. 

At the end of the afternoon, our ship was visited by a Polynesian children dance group – The Children of Raiatea --- kids 5 years old to 17 danced for the passengers on deck – it was really great – the dances each showing a story with their movements.  And they all had local costumes with beautiful fresh flower leis and crowns.  

After dinner, we had another group of adult dancers from Raiatea entertaining us out on the deck.  They really rocked the place!!!

Sunday morning we again were moored in the bay and tendered into Moorea.   I think this has been my favorite island so far.   After getting off the tender we were welcomed by dancers and an amazingly beautiful island.   We rented a car and drove around the island at our own pace.  We stopped at beautiful white beaches – in fact, many of the scenes in the movie South Pacific were actually filmed on Moorea.   We ran across community festivals along the beach complete with local musicians.   And we stopped at the Green Pearl Golf Course – if I would have known it was as nice as it was – and a public course, I would have liked to have played a round in the morning!   We also drove to the top of Le Belvedere Look Out with it’s many switch backs and saw breathtaking views of the island.   They were views that will be remembered for a long time.

After getting back to the ship it was time to repack our bags as the clock was ticking down on our most excellent adventure.

Cruising with Herm

Birthday in Bora Bora

Friday morning brought us in contact with dry land again.   Early morning we stood on the sun deck to watch the ship maneuver into Cooks Bay on Bora Bora.  What a sight to see – a lush green that is hard to explain.  We shared the bay with another cruise ship – the Aurora, a P & O ship holding 1800 passengers, so it was over twice as large as the Royal.   Both ships were too big to come near shore, so we tendered again from the ship to the shore.  

This was a great place to spend a birthday!  After tendering to the shore, we walked through a little shopping area with handmade arts and crafts and fresh local fruits.  We then looked at tours sponsored by local tour guides.   We decided on one that would take us around the entire island – which actually didn’t take too long as it is only15 square miles.  But there were several stops along the way – the first at the very famous Bloody Mary’s – home of the Bloody Mary – so of course we had to partake of one!!!  Then it was off to Matira Beach – a beautiful white sand beach overlooking turquoise blue clear water.   We went to some amazing look-outs to view Bora Bora and surrounding islands.  

Then it was back to the ship for a great birthday dinner at the Sterling Steak House followed by a cabaret show in the lounge and then we ended the night with an island tropical deck party – more food and a cascading champagne waterfall that used 100 bottles of champagne for the passengers.   What a wonderful way to end my birthday.  I truly recommend a cruise for your next birthday!!!

Cruising with Herm

Last day on the open sea!

We have been at sea now for the last five days, and it has been a great experience.  I thought I would become bored especially on the small ship, but that hasn’t been the case at all.  In fact I wish we had a couple of more days before we went on land again.

In the morning we start our day with lattes from our barista on board.  Next on the list is a workout in the spa and maybe a couple of miles around the track.  After cleaning up and enjoying breakfast, it is time for our first seminar.  We have attended a series on NASA and all their projects including plans for the future.  We have also attended a series on French Polynesia and the Society Islands by a historian that is a hoot.  The stories this guy tells are incredible.  He also does a lecture on astronomy, and did you know today at precisely 12:47 at 13 degrees we were directly under the sun casting no shadows at all.  A highlight for Jan today was a cooking demonstration by the Executive Chef and a tour of the galley (and of course a new cookbook for her to bring home).

Of course there is also bingo every day, ballroom and line dancing lessons, book clubs, bridge lectures and lessons, wine tastings, ping pong, golf chipping, and arts and crafts.   If anyone says there is nothing to do, then I don’t feel sorry for them.  Besides soaking up the sun, there have been more than enough choices of things to do.

We’ll be up on deck later this afternoon trying to get our first glimpse of Bora Bora.  Until then, I need to close because our afternoon tea just arrived in our stateroom!

Cruising with Herm

Eating Your Way through Paraidise

When you think about cruising, of course you think about exotic ports of call – but of course, the other thing you think about is EATING!   So I thought that this day at sea would be a good time to tell you about the venues and types of food that are available on this small ship.

Breakfast can be done in the Club Restaurant – making your choice on the menu in this elegant dining room on the ship, or go you can go thru the Panorama Buffet with it’s omelet station, freshly made pastry, and every piece of fresh fruit known to man!  So you can eat breakfast from 7:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Lunch starts at 11:30 and goes until 5:00 – again in the Club or Panorama --- and if you can’t find something you like there, there is always the pool barbecue bar – great chicken, hot dogs and burgers until 7:00.   Oh, did I mention you can also go to the pizzeria and have a slice of pizza from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

A traditional afternoon tea is served in the Club Restaurant from 3:30 – 4:30.  This is a tradition at sea.

Now let’s talk dinner --- first seating in the Club Restaurant is at 6:00 and the second seating is at 8:15.  There is of course the Panorama if you’d rather do something more casual.   And if that wasn’t enough there are two specialty dining options – Sabatini’s (an authentic Italian experience) and the Sterling Steakhouse (everything you could imagine in beef).

Ok, I think this means you can eat straight from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.  And Jan just reminded me that room service is actually 24 hours a day.   The food truly is amazing, and I believe the biggest staff specialty is in food and beverage.   We have the same waiters at our table in the restaurant every night and they know what the best item of the evening is and they do take good care of us.

More later—we’re off to a 5:00 cocktail party.

(Now I know why the work out room is so large!!)

Cruising with Herm

Cruising in Paradise, a Special Day at Sea

Jan and I today have moved from pollywog to shellback!  So what is a pollywog or a shellback?  And how do you move from one to another?  Seafaring tradition maintains that all sailors who cross the equator during a nautical voyage must undergo rites of passage initiating them into The Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep!  These rituals date back to the Middle Ages, though the current ceremonies are most likely derived from Viking traditions.   Those who have never “crossed the line”, or pollies, are subject to the initiation performed by those who have made the journey before.    That’s what we did today.  We crossed the equator at latitude 00 00’0 longitude 153 degree 22.0’ west.   Don’t you wonder how Captain Cook felt when he crossed the equator hundreds of years ago and what he did to his crew???  Hmmmm…

Cruising with Herm

Cruising in Paradise Day 4

There were two things I had never done before this trip, and that was to experience small ship cruising and the other was to cross the Pacific by ship.  We have five days at sea now with nothing but water in view, no land for 500 miles and no other ships on the radar for at least 50 miles.   And when we were told that the water was about 3 miles deep, it did give us pause for a moment!

The small ship experience is fantastic!  The folks you get to know are great and on this trip are from over 20 countries.  We even have another couple on board from Boise, and wouldn’t you know it, I know him!  The crew for the most part is wonderful. The Royal Princess has 680 passengers and about 300 plus crew members.  (That’s an amazing ratio!)  The staff has seemed to have adopted Jan and me, and act like they have known us for a long time.  They were calling us by name on the second day. The pool area, (Jan’s favorite) is a great meeting place.  People gather in the warm tropical sun and its amazing the things you learn about the folks on an afternoon in the pool.

And this ship is 592 feet in length where the Princess big ships are 952 feet in length with up to 3,080 passengers.  It’s definitely easier to find your way around the ship and know where you are (which Jan really likes as she says she is directionally challenged!).   We’re traveling about 16 knots so we’re feeling the sway of the ship, but everyone looks like they have had too much to drink, so we’re all in the same shape!!

Cruising with Herm

Cruising in Paradise Day2-3

As we left the Hawaiian Islands last night, heading south for our 2,000 mile journey to Bora Bora, my last image was that of Mt. Kilauea and the lava flow glowing in the night as it reached for the ocean.

The last two days were spent in Lahina, Maui and in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii.

In Maui it was necessary to take a tender as we anchored off shore.  Plans were to rent a car, however that didn’t happen so shopping, gallery hopping, and lunch were in order.  Being from Idaho a highlight was a visit to a Pub that was all about Moose except for the beer.  They had never heard about Moose Drool.

In Hilo we took a free bus to the downtown area where we attended a Chinese New Year Celebration and Festival, open air farmers market with gorgeous $8 orchids, and little shops with Hawaiian arts and crafts.

Both days were beautiful, so after our visits on shore, we spent as much time as we could around the pool soaking up the incredible Hawaiian sunshine.  Now that’s paradise!

Cruising with Herm     

Royal Princess Cruise-Day 1

We woke up to a very rainy day. Kauai is the rainiest spot on the planet with over 600 inches a year.  It is a true statement when they call it the Garden Isle – it is truly lush and green.  A point of interest – Kauai is the fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, and one of the most isolated.  Kauai was never conquered by King Kamehameha and it retains its unspoiled flavor to this very day!

It was kind of a recovery day for us with ship inspection, workout, a swim in the pool and of course a Jacuzzi.  Went in to Kihoe for some shopping, and back onboard for a cocktail reception, dinner and a show.  This could get pretty redundant.  We’re going to need to up our activity level.

Today we will spend the day in Lahaina, Maui. We tender from the bay as it’s too shallow near the shore.  Weather, sunny and about 84 degrees, sun block for the solar panel!  

Until tomorrow,

Cruising with Herm  

Royal Princess 12 Day Cruise to Paradise

      

I told my wife when we got married; “marry me and fly for free!”  For the most part that is true, but not all trips.  This one so far is “only” $500.00 just to get to the ship!  The flight filled up from Salt Lake City to Honolulu so we bought tickets to Los Angeles, left Boise 13 hours ahead of schedule  (glad we had packed early), had to spend the night in L.A. (hotel cost) and then spent 7 hours in the LAX airport because of a mechanical delay – you get the picture. But we arrived in time to (barely) make the ship.  Needless to say we were pretty exhausted so after a quick walk around the ship to “get the lay of the land or should I say ship,” dinner at the Panorama Buffet and a martini, we went to bed to the gentle rock of the ship as we sailed from Honolulu to Kauai, tired, but extremely excited to begin our adventure to French Polynesia!

Cruising with Herm

Dining at Sea

Dining on your favorite cruise ship has come a long way over the years.  Most lines offer 24-hour room service, Kosher meals, late night buffets, specialty restaurants, casual and formal night options without the need for a black tie unless you want to.  There are coffee shops, hot dog stands, ice cream parlors and just about anything you desire.  They are all found on the cruise ships of today.

I will only comment on my last four experiences on three different cruise lines, and I must say they were all flavorable.

• Holland America   I experienced the cuisine prepared on the ms Oosterdam while on a four day cruise San Diego to Vancouver.  As a group participant on this sailing I chose to eat dinner when assigned with the folks attending our meeting.  The experience was delightful, food always excellent, and the service was hard to match.  On my next cruise with HAL, I will not miss out on the opportunity to dine at the Pinnacle Grill; I heard nothing but praise from the folks that experienced it.
• Princess Cruises   The venue I liked the most on the Golden Princess was the Sterling Steakhouse.  This Southwestern style restaurant specializes in choice cuts of beef; however you won’t want to miss out on their Mexican favorites as well.  The Golden has three main dining rooms, and the menus are identical, I sampled each one with clearly no complaints.  She offers 24 hour room service for those of you that like late snacks or perhaps breakfast in bed.
• Royal Caribbean  I spent time on both the Oasis and the Allure, the two biggest cruise ships afloat, and I assure you, you will need more than a 7-day cruise to eat your way around either ship.  For the most part they are the same with many fun places to eat.  Without breaking down each venue I experienced, not one was a disappointment.

Bon Appétit

Dana Gaston

Expedia CruiseShipCenters

http://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/danagaston

Twitter: @cruisewithherm

Blog: Cruisingwithherm@blogspot.com

        

Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Review

At 220,000 ton, and carrying 5400 passengers, the Allure is the largest cruise ship afloat. Thanksgiving 2010 I had the pleasure to experience her many wonders first hand and I assure you I wasn’t disappointed.

With her many neighborhoods, 26 dining options, more bars, lounges and nightclubs than a small city, a fitness center bigger than the one I belong to, and complete with zip line, rock climbing wall, and two flowriders, there is something for everyone.  In order to see and experience it all, one must have a plan of attack, and when you have accomplished this, getting to know your way around couldn’t be easier.  There are interactive screens throughout the ship to map your way to virtually anywhere you want to go.

I had the opportunity to inspect almost all cabin categories including the Loft Suites.  Being a new ship of course everything was in great condition, the décor was fine and the cabin sizes were adequate with inside cabins starting at 172 sq ft to a two story Aqua Theater Suite at 823 sq ft.  She has 2700 staterooms in all and rises sixteen decks.  While I didn’t get to experience all the dining options, what I did sample was fine.  Johnny Rockets’ has one of the best burgers at sea!

The Allure of the Seas is sailing in the Caribbean, alternating 7-day Eastern & Western itineraries’ starting at $963.00 per person. 

Dana Gaston

Expedia CruiseShipCenters

herm@cableone.net

Cruising in 2011

As a travel agent who specializes in cruises, I follow the news and trends in this niche closely, and the future is bright for 2011.  Cruise Lines International Association, Inc. (CLIA) predicts a 6.6% increase in cruise passengers in 2011, and with about 15 million folks cruising in 2010 that is a nice increase.  Fourteen new ships will be launched in 2011 with over half heading to the rivers of the world.

River cruising has become very popular not only because of the wonderful experience, but the product upgrade from years past as well.  The new ships coming online in 2011 are amazing.  Uniworld River Cruises’ “River Antoinette” will launch in March on the Rhine and feature a 20-by-13 foot heated swimming pool.  Viking River Cruises new “Viking Emerald” will launch in March on China’s Yangtze River boasting two Presidential Suites that measure 840 Square feet.  Russia will see a needed improvement with the launch of the 206-passenger refurbished “River Victoria” on the Volga River along with AMA Waterways “Amakatarina” which is also a rebuild.

Who knows maybe this is your year to experience that vacation of a lifetime, Cruising!

Dana Gaston

Expedia CruiseShipCenters

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/DanaGaston

WHAT'S ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST

Most people have a Travel Bucket List so Princess Cruises decided to conduct a poll to learn what destinations and travel experiences were on the top of the list for 2011.  Over 25% of the folks responding said Alaska was their #1 destination followed by the Caribbean at 15% and Europe #3 at 14%.  As a qualified expert selling Alaska, and having experienced a great deal of what Alaska has to offer, I’m not surprised.

In my opinion the best way to experience Alaska is by ship.  Experiencing the Inside Passage on a 7-day cruise from Seattle is awesome with port calls in Juneau, the capital of Alaska; Ketchikan, with its quaint waterfront and fishing culture; Skagway, a once bustling Gold Rush town, and a day cruise in Glacier Bay National Park.  For the folks that want more, a Cruisetour may be in order by extending the experience with a land package.  Take in the beauty of Mt McKinley, the wildlife in Denali National Park, experience the Kenai Peninsula or maybe a trip to Fairbanks and take a cruise on the Chena River aboard a Sternwheeler Riverboat.  If it is wildlife, gold mines, glaciers, or just to take in some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet, there is something for everyone! 

Dana Gaston

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/DanaGaston

Why I got involved in the cruise industry

After completing over 40 years in the travel industry, and working in most aspects of travel I decided to get involved in a segment that was new to me.  The cruise industry had always been of interest to me after taking a three day Alaska cruise in the 70’s, I had a burning desire to cruise again.  Three years ago I was able to satisfy that desire experiencing why cruising is such an attractive way to vacation.  The value is great, the fact that you only have to pack and unpack once and the pampering alone got me hooked!

Cruising has something for everyone offering a huge variety of events, activities, and meals fit for a king.  You may choose to take a shore excursion or just snooze by the pool; there is something for all ages and life styles, and what a perfect vacation to share with the entire family.

Dana Gaston

Expedia CruiseShipCenters

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/DanaGaston