Cruise Travel

Sarah Martin asked:


Are you looking for the most luxurious 5-star around the world cruise at the very lowest price? You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for that five star treatment. Instead you can go onto web sites that specialize in online travel auctions and get a real bargain. These web sites are ideal for finding the vacation of your dreams, because they all collaborate together in order to present the very best in vacation deals and rates for their clientele. Although they are in direct competition with each other, they also in a sense help each other out by comparing prices, causing each travel site to drop their prices in order to have the cheapest rates.

An online travel auction is basically just another type of market or bazaar. The only difference is that the product sold is a 5-star around the world cruise (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/world-cruises.html). As is true of any auction sellers, these 5-star around the world cruise packages will be sold just one offering at a time. If more than one 5-star around the cruise travel auction is sold at a time then the travel auction is called a Dutch or English auction.

On almost all travel auction sites the seller of the package can set a minimum bid. This is called the reserve price, which is the lowest price that the seller will accept for the deal. Some auction travel sites disclose the reserve-bidding price during the auction and others don’t. Lots of times you can get an incredible deal for a 5-star around the world cruise by just bidding the reserve price.

The bidding for each travel auction both opens closes at a scheduled time. You’ll be alerted via e-mail if someone outbids you, and then its decision time.

The key is to not get too carried away. Decide in advance on the maximum amount you’ll spend on your 5-star around the world cruise travel auctions, and stick to it. Getting swept away by the competitive spirit that is generated by online bidding has led many people to pay more than market value for what is supposed to be a discounted vacation cruise package!

After the bidding closes it is automatically disclosed who the highest bidder is. In the case of sales of multiple lots, the participants with the highest bids at the close of the auction are obligated to buy the cruise that was bid on .

At the close of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate, usually by e-mail, to arrange for payment and information about the 5-star world cruise you have won. It is usually at this point that it is revealed exactly where you are going along with any caveats such as blackout dates for travel, fees, taxes and site charges.

Most travel auction sites offer all types of different payment options including credit card, debit card, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, cash on delivery and escrow services. Payment methods are usually thoroughly explained in the FAQ, help or fine print sections on the auction travel web site that is offering the 5-star around the world cruise.



Jayda

franklincoveycoach asked:


I am a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Coach. I have lots of experience presenting on a variety of self-improvement and parenting topics.

Brent

Stuart S. Travel asked:


Absolutely!  Not only will all inclusive travel deals save you money (most of the time) but they will also save you time and stress, leaving you with nothing to do but enjoy your travel adventure.

There are many types of all inclusive packages and the trick is to figure out just what they do and don’t include. Every person is different and has separate needs for their travel plans, but all inclusive travel plans are so varied these days that most people can be catered to. Once you know how you want to travel and where, what type of accommodations you want to stay in and what attractions you want to visit, it’s relatively easy to get it all put into a total package deal. Let someone else do all the leg work in finding great deals for you. 

An on-line travel agent is probably the best place to start to get a great package deal. Using all their knowledge and experience, they can prepare your travel package right down to the smallest detail. They will take care of all your worries and they have the benefit of using their buying power to get you some excellent deals and packaging them all together and your food and beverages would be included (includes your adult drinks as well.)

All inclusive travel is popular with families. It takes a lot of hassle out of organizing the holiday. Resorts offer all inclusive packages, as do cruises. Once again you need to check, before you go, what the package does not include. For example, resort packages do not include the cost of some activities such as motorized water sports, golf, horse-riding and fishing charters. Childcare in some places is at an additional cost. If you take a cruise package expect to pay for alcohol and day trips around shore stops.

 

Some inclusive package deals offer things like ‘Kids Stay for Free’ or even better ‘Kids Stay and Eat for Free’. Remember to check exactly what these claims mean. If it says they stay for free, that’s all they get for free. You still have to pay for airfare and food for your little ones. And it may mean they only get free lodging if they share the parents’ room

 

Buying a package all ready put together can mean big savings. But remember taking a package deal might not get you to all the places you want to enjoy. It may not take you off the tourist track but leave you permanently stuck on it. If this is not what you’re after, then perhaps a package deal is not for you. For some people, half the fun of traveling is planning the trip themselves. You may be able to organize your travel plans for a cheaper deal and you may have the time to do it. For those of you that don’t have the time and want all the worry taken out of organizing your trip, buy a holiday package deal. 

 

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com



Malik

Stuart S. Travel asked:


You are going traveling. You have lots of expenses to cover. You need to pay for your air fare, your accommodation, your food, your travel while away, cultural experiences and the list goes on. You want to save money so you decide not to bother with travel insurance. You are going on the trip of a lifetime so nothing will go wrong. It’s an unnecessary expense so you don’t need it. Wrong. Very wrong. Traveling with out insurance can be the biggest mistake you make when organizing your trip and a very costly one.

 

What is travel insurance? Well there are two kinds of insurance to look at when traveling.

1. Travel insurance, (sometimes called trip insurance) which covers cancellations, delays, lost baggage and emergencies.

2. Travel medical insurance protects you against any medical expense while traveling.

 

Ideally, you need a combination of the two when traveling. 

 

Imagine these scenarios:

You are in Darwin, Australia when a cyclone hits the area. The city is devastated by the cyclone and all services shut down. You have to be evacuated and sent home. Your travel insurance will cover you for this. You do have travel insurance don’t you?

 

Your luggage goes missing in India. You need to buy new clothes and fast. Can you afford it in your budget? Of course you can, you took out traveler’s insurance – didn’t you?

 

Or what if you go surfing in Hawaii and take a big wipeout? You are so severely injured you need surgery and major medical assistance, and then are airlifted home. But that’s okay – your travel medical insurance covers all that. You have got it, haven’t you?

 

Travel insurance is there to protect you in case bad things happen on your trip. It is a necessary expense. Overseas medical costs can be astronomical if you are not insured. And if you are injured in a developing country, medical attention may not be as good as at home. If you are insured you can get flown home and attended to at no cost.

 

Every year the government deals with thousands of cases of travelers being injured, falling ill or dying overseas. This is a distressing situation for all involved, but made even worse when the travelers are not insured, often leaving them with huge bills to pay. Hospitalization in other countries can cost over one thousand dollars a day. Medical evacuations can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and if you die in Europe, it can cost over ten thousand dollars to bring your body back home. If you do not have travel insurance you have to cover these costs yourself (or your family will have to find the money).

 

Travel insurance is a cost you need to budget for. If you don’t take it out, your medical expenses could cost a whole lot more. Insure yourself and travel safe.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com



Josiah

don_megaWC asked:


I’ve found a specific cruise that I want and every single “discount” travel website offers the same exact fare $549.00 as the actual cruise ships website. This seems as though the discount websites aren’t discounts at all. So my question is, can I get a better price than carnival has on their site by going to a brick and mortar travel agent?
Also, we plan to cruise at the end of June or early July of 07

Anya

Stuart S. Travel asked:


 

Well you won’t be traveling to Monaco and staying at a five star resort on a budget, will you? Maybe so!  Mostly, traveling on a budget means finding the cheapest price for the experience you want.

 

When traveling on a budget it’s best to keep in mind the following points:

1. Travel in the off-peak seasons. You can save up to as much as fifty per cent off air flights and accommodation costs if you plan to travel in low season times.

2. Stay away from popular tourist spots (unless they are on your ‘must-see’ list). If you can go off the beaten track with your destinations, things can be cheaper to see and do and your cultural experiences will be richer.

3. Try camping. Not only is it the cheapest form of accommodation it’s a great way to get up close and personal to nature. It’s the best way to see National Parks and Heritage listed areas. 

4. Look for special travel offers (or packages). But make sure you check everything that they include - and don’t include.

5. Invest in a travel pass where you are able. Most developed countries have a rail or bus transport system where you can obtain day, week or monthly passes that will get you around cheaply.

6. Get a work permit if you aim to gain employment while traveling overseas. Working can help subsidize places that aren’t so cheap, such as Europe and Australia.

7. Look for good exchange rates on the dollar. This may help you decide which country to travel to.

8. Think about shortening your visit to destinations that are expensive and increasing your length of stay in cheaper places.

9. Where possible use your credit card. The exchange rate is better.

10. When staying in a hotel, avoid paying for ‘extras’. Don’t touch anything from the honor bar. Don’t watch the in-house movies and don’t use the hotel phone. And try not to use room service too much!

 

On the world scene there are some great places to travel on a budget for under thirty dollars a day. In Asia you can try India, Laos, China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sumatra and Burma. In Central and South America you can visit El Salvador, Bolivia and Ecuador. If you are after a budget experience in the Pacific, try Fiji or New Zealand. Over in Africa there are some great budget destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Don’t forget the Middle East where places like Iran, Syria and Turkey provide excellent value for money and wonderful experiences for the budget traveler.

 

There is no ‘best place’ to travel on a budget. Just be prepared to look around, avoid the pitfalls of unwanted costs in package deals or hotel bookings. If you want to travel and your budget doesn’t meet your expectations, be flexible and see if there is somewhere cheaper you might like to experience. You could be pleasantly surprised with your stay in India or Iran, when you thought you wanted to go to Tahiti.

 

 

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com



Larry

Stuart S. Travel asked:


There are loads of fantastic ways to get free entertainment when traveling. All you need is a bit of research before you go and to think a bit laterally. Whether you get your entertainment from music, theatre, lectures, walks or museums there are free experiences all over the globe. Here are some ideas to consider when traveling at home or abroad:

 

1. Go for a hike or a bushwalk. Remember to pack enough food and drink and sunscreen. Enjoy the country’s scenery for free.

2. Gallery openings are a way to see local art and you might even get free wine and food thrown in!

3. Art walks and garden tours are where you visit local art galleries or homes with gardens for show. You get to meet locals and find out about the local art and garden scene.

4. Free nights at museums. Some museums are even open free all the time (for example The British Museum).

5. Visit the local churches. There is so much history and local culture to be experienced in places of worship and you’ll find a large majority of these have no entry fee, although some may ask for a donation.

6. Open mic nights at pubs where new musicians perform for free to an audience willing to listen. You never know which up-coming star you’ll get to hear.

7. Volunteer to be an usher at a concert, play or movie. Volunteer to help out at a conference or show. You’ll get to experience what’s on offer for no admission cost.

8. Visit the local library. Apart from getting to read books for free you get a different cultural experience in every library you visit. Libraries often have author visits and visiting speakers for generally free admission.

9. Find out if there are any free lunch time concerts. 

10. Visit the local television station and see if any shows have live audiences for taping. Join in!

11. Go to the beach for the day.

12. Is there a local fair or festival on where you are visiting? If so you will probably find lots of free attractions there as well as paid ones. 

13. Visit the local botanical gardens. In most countries these are free to visit and enjoy.

14. Walk around the city with your eyes open taking in all the sights. It’s amazing what sort of ‘free entertainment’ this will bring you!

15. Window shop. Some people can do this for hours! And it doesn’t cost you a cent.

16. And don’t forget, you can always purchase a local Entertain coupon book which will get you discounts on plenty of activities and entertainments, but can also offer some freebies such as “visit one day, get the second for free” or “pay for one person and the second visits for free”

 

Enjoy your free entertainment while traveling. There’s plenty of it around.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com



Ethan

Lauren B asked:


A group of friends and I want to plan a cruise and we are all 19… However, most cruise lines require people under 21 to travel with someone who is over the age of 25… Are there any cruise ships that travel to the Caribbean’s that will allow my friends and I to travel alone?

Alivia

MIKE SELVON asked:


There are many people who would not ever consider taking a cruise unless they were able to find some hot deals that would save them a bundle of money. But, in most cases, those who are experienced cruisers know that the cost of one provides quite a nice, pampered vacation when compared to other types of travel. Even with that in mind, it is always a thrill to find discount cruises because everyone loves to save money, plus have more spending money while away.

The cruise lines take special care to design their itineraries so that they are providing the best value possible to their customers and with the many amenities aboard ship, most feel well taken care of and pampered. Discount cruise travel is often available on these floating resorts, which makes them an even better value. Remember that your trip not only includes the ability to float care-free from one exotic port to the next, but you have your sleeping accommodations, your food, and your entertainment all wrapped into the price of admission.

Even though you can think of these romantic, fun, and exciting getaways as discount vacations at any price, the good news is that often the companies will go out of their way to offer discounts during certain seasons. This can end up saving the traveler hundreds of dollars on a quick trip or even thousands of dollars on longer travel vacation packages.

There are two main windows of opportunity to finding hot deals on discount cruises. Often, when the cruise line first opens up booking for a new season or when launching a new ship, they will offer discount cruise travel packages in order to get a portion of the ship’s capacity filled up early.

Usually, once they have reached a certain percentage of reservations for a particular voyage, the rates will return to their standard level. This is a good case for booking your vacation early.

The other time that discount cruise travel is often found is for last minute travel. When a cruise line finds that they have a ship that will be leaving port with a number of empty staterooms, they are eager to get those cabins filled with paying customers, even if they have to offer deep discounts. Most of the costs of the voyages are fixed, so making sure that the ship is filled to capacity helps the company make a profitable voyage.

However, if you want to take advantage of last minute discounts, then you need to be on as many notification lists as possible from various cruise lines and travel agencies. You also must be ready to set sail at a moment’s notice because you may have very little time between receiving an alert for a hot deal and when you need to board. If you have a lot of flexibility and can have your bags packed and ready to go, then this strategy can get you exceptional discounts.

If you have taken a cruise vacation before, then one to get discount cruises for future trips is by watching for special announcements, either by email or regular mail. In many cases the special discount cruise travel packages that are offered to previous passengers are not available from travel agents or from online booking services. The cruise lines do this to encourage their previous customers to continue enjoying their services.



Shawn

Joe Ewart asked:


1. Maximum flexibility = Maximum savings – Most travelers have some flexibility in their travel dates, especially if planning ahead of time. Let your cruise specialist know that you can consider alternate departure dates that may have lower rates available. Keep in mind cruise lines will offer better prices and perks on sailings that are not nearing capacity. Tip: Shoulder or off peak sailings offer the deepest price cuts. For example, the departure right after the New Year cruise might be substantially lower.

2. Ask if “guarantees” are available. This requires that you have a little gambling spirit. Many cruise lines will offer a rate on a particular cabin category instead of an actual stateroom number and in effect “guarantee” that rate to you. Then the cruise line has the option of assigning you a stateroom in either that category or better. Sometimes you win and end up in a cabin several grades higher and sometimes you end up in exactly the category you were guaranteed. Remember, there is both an upside and downside to this program. Tip: Completely understand the process before booking a guarantee.

3. Upgrade programs. Often, your cruise specialist may offer a cruise line upgrade program. This means that you book and pay for category “X” and will be moved to a higher category “Y”. Again, there is an element of risk here. The fact that a stateroom may be in a higher category does not always mean it will be a more desirable cabin. For example, you might be in a nice mid ship balcony stateroom on Deck C and get an upgrade to a balcony stateroom on Deck A. While your new assignment may be the same size and have identical amenities you might end up in a less desirable location such as near an elevator or at the extreme end of the ship. And there are outside cabins that have views partially blocked by lifeboats or other equipment. On the other hand there are many instances of guests being upgraded several categories to wonderful staterooms. Tip: Advise your cruise specialist that you will “consider” upgrades offered but you want to have final say on any changes before they happen.

4. Special Fare Eligibility - One of the reasons that savvy cruisers find a knowledgeable cruise specialist and stick with them is the fact that there are many special fare programs that may or not be visible to cruiser’s doing casual research on the web. These include things like regional fares that are made available to residents of selected states. Caution: If you are offered a regional fare and you don’t live in that area and can’t prove residency, don’t do it. Cruise lines have the right to check you eligibility on sailing day and charge for the difference before you board. It does happen. Some of the other special fares being promoted today include active duty and retired military fares, union member fares, police and public safety discounts, airline or hospitality rates and more. Tip: If your cruise partner is a member of any of the these groups, the discounts usually apply to everyone traveling in the same stateroom.

5. Past Passenger Specials - Virtually every major cruise line has a loyalty club for its members with different levels and benefits. Joining is free and entitles you to special perks and discounts when you book on that line. For many commonly owned cruise lines such as Carnival Corporation, the offers extend across all the brands – Carnival, Princess, Holland America etc. Ditto for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Tip: Many cruise lines started operation before computers become common and can not easily retrieve date for cruises you may have taken several years ago. However, if you send a letter to the cruise line listing the ships and cruises you have been on, most will take your word and credit you with those unrecorded sailings. This might have the effect of moving you from Gold to Platinum level and significantly improve the benefits.

6. Check for Group Rates: Many cruise agencies hold what is known as “block space” on ships. That means that they have reserved space at group rates, which can be up to 20% lower than individual rates. Many agencies that reserve space for groups hold aside several cabins for individual clients who might be able to depart on this date. While you may be traveling as a “group”, your cruise experience will be as an individual traveler. The downside might be that your dining time or section is affected by the “group program”. The upside is that you might benefit from some group amentias such as an onboard credit, free shore excursion etc. Tip: If your cruise specialist offers group rates, understand the features, benefits and limitations completely before you book. From the cruise line’s perspective you are a member of the “group” and fall under the policies and procedures for groups.

7. On board re-booking – Most cruise lines know allow you to book your next cruise with that line while on board. They may have what is known as an “on board sales consultant” or even a desk. This is usually a great opportunity to save. Generally, the cruise line will throw in some strong perks to retain your loyalty to their brand. Onboard credits on the future cruise can be quite substantial. Upgrades and other benefits are usually significant. Tip: Many cruise lines realize that you may not be sure when and where you want to cruise while on your current voyage. Not to worry, because most have a program where you can book on board with the flexibility to change to other sailings and ships via your cruise specialist when you get home and keep all the benefits. This is a truly a win win for you!

8. Seek out “Value Adds” – Over the past few years, cruise lines have instituted something known in the trade as The Level Playing Field. This was instituted to attempt to control the rampant rebating and discounting that occurred in the post September 11 travel slump. Basically, now the cruise lines have been partially successful in putting the genie back in the bottle by requiring cruise agents to all use the same pricing feeds. Because cruise agents do not purchase and re-sell the cruises but are paid a commission, the cruise lines themselves totally control published rates. One of the unintended side effects of Level Playing Field pricing is that the cruise lines had to find a way to promote “challenged” sailing dates. And they did this by creating Value Added features. They can include benefits ranging from dollars off certificates, on-board credits, pre-paid gratuities, free spa treatments, specialty dining experiences, casino credits to a free bathrobe or camera. Tip: Ask your cruise specialist to seek out sailings that offer value adds. They can significantly impact your bottom line.

9. Arrange your own airline tickets. If you need to fly in to your embarkation port most cruise lines have flight programs known as Air/Sea arrangements. The good news is that includes the flights and often meet and greet and transfers. The bad news is that in order to publish these add-ons the cruise lines have negotiated the fares far in advance and try to set the rates on a cost average basis. To you, it generally means that these add-ons may be up to 50% higher than the fares you can get by arranging the flights yourself. The one exception to this in many cases are Europe cruises where many lines maintain bulk contract fares. So it is always a good idea to comparison shop. Most lines allow you to purchase just the transfer package so you are able to create your own air/sea package at significant savings. And of course if you have several thousand airline miles collecting dust, this might be a good time to try to use them. Tip: If you are arranging your own flights, make sure to allow plenty of time for flight delays etc. Savvy cruisers will often invest in a pre-cruise hotel the night before the cruise so that they can avoid the stress caused by late arriving flights. Remember, if the airline leaves you on the tarmac for 7 hours and you miss the ship, that voucher for a free flight will not seem very appealing. And unfortunately, the airline will not compensate you nor will the cruise line refund your money as you are counted as a “no show”.

10. Travel Insurance: What’s the one thing you must bring on your cruise that you hope never to use? Trip Insurance! As you can see in #9 above things can and do go wrong. An affordable comprehensive trip insurance policy can cover many of these contingencies including, lost baggage, trip interruption, medical evacuation and more. Your cruise specialist can explain the various programs available as there are several. Mark sure you understand fully the coverage and limitation before accepting coverage and keep in mind that you can not get coverage retroactively. It’s a small, but absolutely vital part of your vacation expenditures. Keep in mind very few medical insurance polices cover you while out of the country and basic homeowner’s policies often do not compensate for lost luggage or other events. Just as in land based trips, the carriers responsibility to you is extremely limited by their contract and should a medical emergency arise on board or ashore you are responsible for all expenses incurred. Tip: Cancellation coverage is very specific. Understand what is covered and not covered. You can’t just decide not to go at the last minute without incurring substantial cancellation charges. And if you have any pre-existing health issues, this may or may not be a covered event. That is why it is important to actually read the coverage.



Lily