Weekend Getaways, Just some Thoughts.

            I know I talk a lot about cruise vacation.  I guess it’s because I really love to cruise, it’s the clear blue water, fresh air, the ports, the food, the entertainment… there is so much to do.  I can do it all or I can do nothing, just nap by the pool or in my comfortable stateroom.  This last week I met with a new member of my team.  She is going to upgrade my website and she gave me some great marketing ideas.  But one thing she said to me that got me thinking, “you know, have you ever through about short trips where people could just get away for a day or two?”  Well, I hadn’t really.

 But what about it?  What would be a great short trip, just a couple days where you could unwind just a bit?  Well, of course there is the beach.  I love the beach, I love the water, I love to fish, I love to watch people… but I don’t love the sand.  For days after I get back, I’m finding beach sand everywhere!  How about a nice quant Bed & Breakfast.  Now there is a recipe for romance.  I have to admit, I have never stayed at a B&B, I’ve always wanted to, but it just never seems to work out.  I think it would be fun to do a murder mystery weekend, I think my wife Shirley would enjoy it, it’s defiantly something work exploring more.   Another great idea, weekend in New York City.  The “City that Never Sleeps.”  I don’t know how much rest and relaxation there would be, but it’s a chance to just forget about the daily work grind.  Take in a Broadway Show, do some shopping, visit the great sites… The possibilities are endless.

A couple years ago, we actually went to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It was a lot of fun, the night before we went to Central Park and watched them blow up the world famous balloons.  Visited all the unique stores in Times Square. We had Thanksgiving Dinner at a local restaurant that was very tasty.  It was great to spend time with family and friends, we had a good size group.  I would love to do it again, very fun weekend.  But how could you not have fun in NYC, there is always something going on.

I guess one of my favorite places to visit is Washington D. C.  From the 1^st time I visited I was hooked.   All the National Museums are free and there is so much to see and do.  Every time I have been there, I have tried to see and do too much.  I think in D.C. one should pick out something you want to see or do and just focus on that.  For instance, if you wanted to visit the Air and Space Museum, there is so much there just spending a few hours there, you miss so much.  That would be a great weekend trip, just focus on Air and Space.  I think it would take about a week to read and view all the displays, but all day Saturday and most of the day Sunday you could hit the highlights.  But the other’s like the National Museum of Art, National History Museum, The National Museum of Natural History, any of the Smithsonian museums are a good weekend trip, just focus on one, you can always go back.  One thing, many of the monuments are fun to visit in the evening and they are not as crowded.

And of course there is always a baseball weekend.  Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta… whatever MLB team is near you, baseball is always a fun weekend.  It’s a great time to get way with the family or just a father/son trip.  These times are always thought about throughout your lives.  Spending a day at the ball park, with a hotdog, nachos, and someone you love just can’t be beat.  I encourage my readers to take the time, even if you say, “I never have time!” you must take the time to live, not just work.  The people around you, your spouse, son, or daughter appreciate your work for the family, but they appreciate your time.  Please, set aside some time for them and yourself.   Steven Covey in his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” list the 7^th habit, “Sharpen the Saw.”  Think about it.. You’re going to cut down a tree, would it be better to just grab the axe or saw and just start cutting with a dull blade?  Or would it be better to take 30 minutes and sharpen the edge?  When we get away and sharpen our saw, we are able to cut through life a little easier.

Rick

Want more value for your vacation dollar? Take a cruise!

I know what many of you out there might be thinking: Taking a cruise sounds like a great time, but it’s just not an option for me. After all, plenty of people still believe cruising is expensive and something older people do in their retirement years.

It is true that a cruise can be expensive if you sail on a luxury cruise line; companies such as Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Cunard Line, Azamara Club Cruises, and Holland America Line, just to name a few, but the service they offer is well worth the cost. (They offer longer cruises and cater to those who have the means to really splurge. Someday, I hope to get a sample of some of these cruise companies—someday!) But with a little research and some planning, there are some great deals on well-known cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. (Though I would put Princess’s regular prices in the “premium” category, their sales make them very comparable to the others.) Other cruise lines such as Norwegian, MSC Cruises, and Disney would also fall in this category. Disney is one of those everyday cruise lines, but they can be a bit expensive for some families, However, my friends and clients who have tried the Mouse say the service, food, and experience is worth every penny, so it’s definitely worth considering.

Many ask me, “Do I need a travel agent?” Well, actually, you don’t. But why spend your time in the evenings or your entire lunch break at work sifting through an overwhelming mountain of travel options? A travel agent like myself is a great resource to help you plan your vacation, making sense of what will work for your family and offering suggestions you might not have thought about. I’m not your typical travel agent. I feel my job is to get you the best price and vacation that fits your needs and wants, not pressuring you into spending more than you can afford. I don’t charge a “service fee,” like some agencies do; I get paid commission from the cruise lines and hotels for booking travel for a client, so I’m not going to ask you to pay any more than you need to. If your current travel agent charges you a service fee, hang up the phone and call me instead!

When you call Agape Travel, I just need to know a few things:

·         Where would you like to go, see, and do?

·         How many will be in your party?

·         What is your budget?

·         When do you want to go? (Consider how flexible you can be, since prices can vary greatly between the peak and off seasons. For example, September and October are usually the least expensive months to cruise, while June through early August are the most pricy.)

With this information I can start working.

But you still might not be convinced that cruising is for you. After all, you’ve gotten really used to having your feet on solid ground! Well, the 94% return rate on cruise ships means they are doing something right. There are tons and tons of helpful reviews online from past guests of all cruise lines. One good source is cruisecritic.com; you have to sign up to read the reviews, but they don’t bombard you with constant email blasts. There you can read reviews from travel professionals and real passengers, which will tell you a lot more about the experience than a pretty picture you might see on TV does. Having taken 25+ cruises myself, that’s another place where my experience as a travel agent comes into play. My clients are well prepared for their cruises; I try to give them the ins and outs, just enough to be prepared without spoiling the surprises!

Still not sure? Here’s a great way or two to find out. For your first cruise, take a short one to see how you like being at sea. Take 3 or 4 days to one nearby port, or check out a 2-day “cruise to nowhere.” Another way to ease into the cruise experience is to go with an organized group. (Check my website to see some groups I’ve got coming up.) With others around to help guide you, it takes some of the stress out. Believe me, there is a 94% chance you will have a great time.

One huge draw of cruising is that after you’ve paid for the cruise, most of everything is included. Once you’ve boarded your ship, you can have an awesome time without dropping another dime!

1)      Food: Whether you choose the dining room, the buffet, or room service, it’s all you care to eat! Some ships have specialty restaurants with a cover charge, offering premium cut steaks and seafood along with out-of-this-world desserts.

2)      Non-carbonated drinks, such as tea, coffee, and juices. (Sodas and adult drinks are extra. Some cruise lines offer unlimited soda and drinks for a price: about $7 per day and $50 per day respectively, depending on the cruise line and ship.)

3)      Entertainment: Free, free, free, and there is a LOT of it! I get frustrated because I can’t do it all. But if your idea of fun is to do nothing instead, just lay by the pool all day and relax.

So, what is extra?

1)      Tips: $12.50 per day per person is suggested. They can be prepaid before your trip or added to your bill at the end of the cruise. The crew works very hard to keep you happy, and you will see that, so the tips aren’t that big of a deal. If you get truly exceptional service or feel a bit let down, you can have them adjusted at the information desk.

2)      Shore Excursions: If it’s your first time to a port of call, I would take one of the ship-sponsored excursions. The prices range from $40 per person for a basic snorkeling adventure or city tour to $250 per person for once-in-a-lifetime adventures like swimming with the dolphins or taking a scenic helicopter ride. There are private tour companies that can be found online or at the port, and the prices might be a bit cheaper, but the quality of the tour is not guaranteed by the cruise line. (And if you don’t make it back to the ship on time, all you’ll be left with is a great picture of the ship sailing into the sunset while you’re left on shore!)

3)      Money you “donate” to the casino. Yes, there is a full casino on most ships, though not on Disney or some sponsored voyages. Play the slots from $.01 up to $5.00, or choose a table game like roulette, craps, and card games with minimums of $5.00 up to $500. (Just don’t expect free drinks while playing like you’d get in land casinos.)

4)      There are some extra charges for specialty coffees and some exercise classes (yoga and spin), but all the other activities are include in the price.

So you see, there is lots of value in the price of a cruise! Ready to try your first one? Give me a call, and we can talk about any other concerns you might have about cruising—or any other vacations, for that matter. I’m a big fan of cruises because I feel they are the best value for your money, but if you have other destinations you would like to explore, give me a call or shoot me an email.

Thanks, and happy traveling!

Rick

Do I really need Travel Insurance?

            Well, most of the time, no.  You only need travel insurance when something unexpected happens… but isn’t that a little too late?  I offer travel protection insurance to my clients and less than 25% of them purchase the coverage.  Most of my clients that elect to invest in the travel insurance are those with some medical problems, seniors, or occasionally younger travelers.  Many of my clients are either driving to their port of departure or are flying in the day before and feel they have plenty of time and nothing is going to happen.  We all think that, until it does, then we wish we had spent the little extra.

            Travel insurance is offered in several ways.  The first is through the trip provider, such as the cruise line or supplier.  The second is through independent insurance companies that list a whole rain of coverages some companies specialize in travel insurance.  Additionally, some major credit cards offer some type of free protection, but it’s very limited.  Also, like the number of companies, the types of coverages cover a wide range of needs.  For example, Carnival’s Travel Protection cost between $69.00 per person to about $179.00 per person.  This will cover you for almost anything from a medical issue to just changing your mind.  With this plan, there is a deductible and for medical coverage, you pay the cost upfront and then Travel Protection will reimburse you.  Something that you should consider is that some medical insurance that is purchased through your employer may not cover you outside the United States.  So on a cruise ship in international waters, you’re outside the United States and may not be covered.  It is best to check with your medical insurance carrier before you go.  Other travel insurance covers the entire trip, not just the cruise or resort, but from the moment you leave your house and sometimes even before you leave.  These coverages vary from the obvious illness or injury and cover job loss, a personal life emergency, natural disasters, and even terrorism.

            The premiums, depending on the company, use various ways of calculation of the cost.  With the cruise lines, there is a set fee depending on the type of stateroom.  Other complanies use a sliding type scale of the total cost of the trip (because that’s what they reimburse) and the age of the individual traveler.  Some have up to a 30 day waiting period before they take effect, some must be paid by the final payment date, and others take effect the day the premium is submitted.  So you see, there is a lot of variables to trip insurance and just like the variables in coverage the premiums are also varied.  All supplies will cover medical expenses from just a simple doctor visit to having to be flown home in an air ambulance.  A doctor visit on a cruise ship can be around $100, but if you have a true medical emergency and have to be airlifted back to the States, it can cost up words to $50,000 for a single incident.  

Shirley and I have been very lucky, we have not had to visit the ships physician on any of our 20+ cruises.  We were close to it once.  We were walking in downtown Nassau where the sidewalk was not in the world’s best shape. Shirley went to step up from the road over the curb and her foot caught a raised area and down she went.  She hit her knees pretty hard.  I was worried we would have to go to see the medical staff on the ship.  (Cruise ships are staffed with at least one doctor and two or three nurses.)  Luckily, we sat in an internet café for some time and she was able to walk back to the ship, but it wasn’t very comfortable.  The point is, if she had fallen any harder, our trip would have become very costly.  Another travel agent friend of mine told me that one of his clients who cruises several times a year never gets trip insurance.  Well, one time cruise they bought travel insurance.  He had a heart attack and had to be airlifted home after a hospital stay.  The total cost of everything was over $100,000.  According to the US Travel Insurance Association in 2014,  “One in six Americans (17%) say their travel plans have been impacted by medical conditions, natural disasters including severe weather; or mechanical or carrier-caused problems”  (http://www.ustia.org/studies--statistics.html).  So, you only have a 17% chance of having a need for travel insurance.  That’s not bad odds.   However, in 2012 it was 12.5%.  So as you see in just two years, there has been an increase in claims filed by travelers.

A few years ago, Courtney and I were in Costa Maya, Mexico, visiting some ancient Mayan pyramids.  She and I went scurrying up one like it was nothing.  However, normally Courtney is not into adventures pursuits, back in the good old United State, she would have stayed on the ground.  See my point.  Then there’s para sailing, I love it… I never do it at home but have twice while cruising.  Once there was a malfunction in the para-sail wench, and I almost was pulled under by my parachute.  Luckily, I wasn’t injured, but it I had been, it would have been a mess.  Shirley may have just left me in Costa Maya!  LOL

Just think about it, if you went on 10 trips and paid $100 for travel insurance each time, which would be $10,000.  But the cost of one medical incident could be far more expensive than the 10 premiums.  It’s a roll of the dice.  Is it worth the extra cost?  That’s something each traveler has to decide for themselves and their family.  One broken arm or toe could be very costly and your family plan may or may not cover any or all of the treatment cost, but for a little extra cost may very well be very valuable in the long run.  For further information, contact your medical insurance carrier.  But Agape Travel highly recommends Travel Protection.

Safe Travels!

October is National Plan a Cruise Month   

     Well, October is national, Plan a Cruise Month.  Who comes up with these National Days?  I don't really know, but hey, planning a cruise is always a great time.  I'm one of those who I really don't care how far in the future my cruise is (next one in 24 days!) but I just have to have one in the works.

     When I'm on a cruise, my mind gets a rejuvenation that's hard to explain.  I stay up late and get up early, but the normal cares and stresses of the normal days when I'm on shore seem to just go to the back of my mind and I just forget about them for a few days.  Oh, they are there when I step foot back on shore, but my mind is rested and I can attack them with a renewed clearness and enthusiasm.

     There is just something about planning a cruise several months in advance.  Like now for instance.  I have a family reunion group sailing on the Carnival Magic in late July.  The group is getting there deposits in and we have started a Facebook page and as the 299 days get shorter, the enthusiasm builds and when we arrive on the ship, it will seem like a grand accomplishment.  Months of planning and preparations will all come together for that perfect memorable vacation  that will be talked about at many family reunions in the future.  Also, I have other great group cruise vacations in the works, check out my website, www.agapecruisetravel.com.  Though I do love to work with groups; couples and families are great also.  I love sitting around the kitchen table with a husband and wife helping them plan that special cruise just for the two of them or working with them to take the kids on a great Disney Cruise.

     Though I haven't had the opportunity as of yet, but I know I will soon, putting together one of those Golden Anniversary cruises that parents never were able take, they have talked about it, but, because they spent most of their adult years sacrificing for their children it was always, "someday." Now it the children's turn.. Could you just imagine the look on their parents face, when on their ??th wedding anniversary their children present them with a 15 day Hawaii Cruise, 21 day Mediterranean Cruise, or the ultimate cruise- 100+ days Around the World. I hope I get that phone call soon!  I love seeing people blessed.

     Yes, it's National Plan a Cruise Month and there are some great deals being offered by many cruise lines.  Free upgrades, ship board credits, and other great amenities.  We all have that "Bucket List" of places we want to see.  Most of the world's best places to visit are on a cruise itinerary.  You don't have to wait until you retire to take that trip of a lifetime, today is the best time of your life.  There will be always something... the kids are in school, work is to important right now, we just can't find the time, etc... the excuses will go on an on, sometimes you just have to say, "I'm going to do it, get Rick on the phone."

     Normally just a small refundable deposit gets the wheels in motion.  Agape Travel's motto is:  "Don't just live... Travel."  We believe that travel creates memories with our family and friends.  Gifts will wear-out, break, get thrown in the back of a closet and forgotten about, but, memories are always there and bring back smiles of a simpler time, a special time.  Take advantage of the specials this month from all the major cruise lines.  Start now, a cruise vacation is a great Christmas gift.

Happy Traveling,

Rick

My how time flies!  I just realized that I haven’t posted anything on my Blog in well over a year.  I would like to get in the habit of posting two or three times per week, that’s what all the Blog experts say I should do, but I guess life gets in the way.

I have a group going on the Fascination next week.  I tell you, I have to be honest with everyone, I didn’t do a very good job with this group as far as customer service.  Just had too much on my plate.  This year I’m going to refocus.  First things first, Dan I do want to apologize to you and your family for not doing a better job in servicing your request and answering your family questions in a timely manner.  But I know you guys will have a fun time on the “Fun Ship” Carnival Fascination.  Happy Birthday Brice and WTG on your graduation, good things are in the future for you.  I hear you’re a pretty good actor.  I know some people at the Neuse Little Theater.

I still feel that cruising has the best return on your vacation monies.  They are almost all inclusive.  I say almost because there are some things not covered in your cruise fare.  Things that are not included; carbonated and adult beverages, shore excursions, some specialty foods items, and any monies you wish to donate to the casino.  All these things are extra some are well worth the cost to add to you and the family’s enjoyment.  One thing that is free on a cruise is the memories, times spent with family and friends is so enjoyable. 

I think sometime I don’t write because I’m not sure what to write about.  Is there anything you would like to me research and write about?  In the next few months I’m going to do a better job of working on this Blog, perhaps have my clients write a review of a vacation.  I have several clients who have competed a cruise recently and I would like to hear about it, I think their perspective would be interesting.  I tend to write things from a Travel Agent point of view.  I try to find the positive in everything, not much upsets me.  I read a posting on a Carnival Cruiser Facebook page about how she was upset on her recent 5 day cruise.  She related that the table on the Lido Deck she sat at daily for breakfast and lunch, the floor was underneath was never cleaned.  She related that there were crumbs on the carpet by the window on day one of her cruise and day 5.  She had posted asked the opinion of other readers, what should she ask from Carnival for compensation.  She really got hammered by the other readers because she was being petty by wanting Carnival to compensate her.  What do you think?

Of the 20+ cruises Shirley and I have been on, there have been some bumps in the road, but nothing that raised to the level of causing us to demand compensation.  We have been of two cruises where Mother Nature has caused us some inconvenience.  But the cruise line, (Carnival and Princess) gave us refunds for the missed sea days and a discount towards a future cruise.  I’m hearing rumors that some of the passengers that were on the Carnival Triumph when she lost power last year and was adrift for 5 days are suing Carnival Corp. claiming “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”  I know it wasn’t the best vacation they have ever had, but PTSD?  Really, that’s what our solders get when they have been in the war. 

Anyhow, just some thoughts for now.  Take a look at my website, we just posted some group sailings.  Valentine’s Day Couples Cruise, Golf Cruise, and Bermuda.   There is also the 3 day cruise on the Royal Caribbean Page.  It’s for anyone who wants to go, but what I would really like to all my Classmates from Auburndale High School Class of 1979.  I missed our 30 year reunion, so let’s do a 35!  Agape Travel will make a donation to Auburndale High School for a service project in honor of the Class of ’79.

God Bless,   Rick

Some thoughts on the Carnival Triumph

For the last couple weeks, I have found myself checking media outlets to keep myself abreast of the plight of the 4000 people who were on the Carnival Triumph. While the Coast Guard has established the cause to have been a leak in a fuel oil line, I am sure Carnival, NTSB, and authorities from The Bahamas (where the Triumph is flagged) will keep investigating the Who, What, When, and Why of the fire. Then the lawyers will come out in full force soliciting clients who were on the ship, trying to get them “their fair share” from this nasty corporation who presumably caused them mental anguish akin to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Believe me, I know the people on the Carnival Triumph had a very upsetting experience and the conditions were indescribably poor. And of course, Carnival has not helped themselves with their recent history. Apparently, this ship had some type of problems before she left the pier, sometime within the last couple of cruises. Last year, the Carnival Splendor also had an engine-room fire leave it disabled. We all still remember the Costa Concordia lying on her side just off the coast of Italy where 32 people lost their lives and another 4000 people went through a terrible nightmare. (Of course the Concordia was not a mechanical problem; it was a bad ship captain. But Costa Cruises remains a division of Carnival.) So what are we to make of this latest incident?

I would climb on a cruise ship tomorrow and take off—matter of fact, I would get on the Carnival Triumph the day she leaves the Mobile shipyard and sails back to Galveston. In life, things just happen. We can’t control everything, but we can control how we react. One of my all-time favorite quotes says just that:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day....We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude....I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

— Dr. Charles Swindoll

I would hope that if I or my wife were ever in a situation like the people on the Carnival Triumph faced, we would have this attitude that Dr. Swindoll is referring to. We can’t control all the things that happen to us. I can look back on my life, take an honest review, and tell you quite frankly that 90% of the things that have happened to me were poor planning on my part and that actions I took caused the difficulties and trials in my life. My being a Christian, I know where my future lies: in the arms of Jesus. He is my Rock and my Salvation in a time of storms, and he would be with me in a situation like this.

It was very interesting to me how different people on the same ship reacted to the situation. Many of them said, “It was so terrible; I thought we were going to die.” Others said, “Well, it happened. Let’s just make the best of things.” What is the difference between these groups? That’s right, their attitudes.

I have never been to Nicaragua, but many of my Christian friends (including my stepdaughter Courtney) have been there on church mission trips. They tell me that the conditions some people live in there are similar to those described by the people on the Carnival Triumph—or worse. Poor people in Nicaragua, whole families living in the city dump, digging through the garbage for food. Back when I was in the Navy, I spent some time at Allonapo Navy Base, Philippines; the conditions were so unsanitary it made me sick the first and only time I left the base. The children would swim in a canal just outside the base where the residence of this small city would dump their sewage and household garbage. The children would swim below the footbridge leaving the base, just trying to get a sailor to throw coins down. What I’m saying is, though the people stranded on the Carnival Triumph had sewage on the floors for a few days, they should be reminded that there are people living in poverty all over this world and many here in the United States. It’s all a matter of perspective. Let’s let the investigation run its course. If someone with Carnival failed to do their job, then let them deal with that. The people who were trapped on the ship had it pretty bad—yes, they did—but I wonder, will they learn a life lesson from their ordeal? Will they come home appreciating the things in life that they have taken for granted? Or will they hire a lawyer and “get what’s going to them”?

It will be very interesting to see how this incident all works out. There is talk that Congress will be getting involved. Let’s face it: When those knuckleheads in DC start poking their noses into things, the “R” word creeps up—“regulations.” This would affect the cruise industry in a great way. The greatest majority of cruise ships are flagged under different countries, even though they sail in and out of US ports. Things are bound to get messy when one country tries to overstep the laws or procedures of a vessel based in another.

Carnival Corp. will try to pay as little compensation to the victims as they can; after all, they want to stay in business. But someone will have to pay. With the lawsuits from the Concordia still pending and now this, how much will we future cruisers have to pay for our next cruise vacation? The costs of these incidents have to come from somewhere.

I think Carnival does a pretty good job, but like most companies, they have been cutting back trying to save money. If the cutbacks somehow caused this fire, then those cutbacks will end up costing them something much more important than money: reputation. Once lost, it’s hard to gain back. Someone once told me that if you give someone great customer service, he will only tell three to five people, but if you give someone poor customer service, he will tell ten to fifteen. With 4000 people on this ship, 3000 paying passengers, the next step for Carnival is very important to their future. If Carnival doesn’t step up to the plate and make things right, then the future of CCL is bleak.

In the end, I think some new incident procedures come out of this, maybe some backup power supply improvements so the ships could still serve hot food and dispose waste when problems arise. Don’t let a few isolated incidents determine your impression of the entire cruise industry. So far none of my couples scheduled to sail on The Art of Marriage at Sea this October have voiced any extra concerns—they are all still excited! Also on the topic of exciting vacations, in just under two weeks, my wife and I are departing on our long-awaited trip to Hawaii by way of Los Angeles. Keep an eye out for future posts about our adventures there!

Rick