From our travel series:

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Specialist

Not that we advocate the sole use of a “Bucket List” to direct your travels—the secret to happy traveling probably doesn’t entail such a strong focus on the deadline (no pun intended). But to have one, even short mental wish list, can make for a meaningful, and truly customized, vacation someday.

Princess Cruises has stepped up to the plate by introducing their “50 Essential Travel Experiences” back in September of last year. In the world of cruising, Princess is known for their diverse fleet of ships, and their vast array of worldwide itineraries could keep even the most seasoned traveler busy with new destinations. So it’s no wonder, with all the memorable experiences they’ve created, that they might be able to assemble the ultimate travel bucket list.

From discovering the mysterious Moai on Easter Island…to dog mushing on a sunlit glacier in Skagway…to bobsledding in the jungles of Jamaica…to perusing spices in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar…Princess is compiling 50 of the most unforgettable and unique stories from none other than their own destination experts—Princess’ long-serving and well-traveled shipboard or shoreside employees. So far the blog has accumulated over a million page views and thousands of readers have commented that the list has given them endless inspiration as to what to throw in their own “vacation bucket.”

The list is scheduled to reach #50 by September of this year, but until then, be sure to keep track as more and more amazing experiences are revealed. You never know what might jump out at you as the next must-see or must-do and eventually…someday…turn into an unforgettable vacation booked through Vacation-Experts.

See Princess’ travel bucket list:

50 Essential Experiences

More posts on Princess Cruises:

Coming to a Princess Poolside Theater Near You

“Celebrity Cruises was selling our verandah stateroom for $1299 per person. But Vacation-Experts was offering the same cabin for $1189 per person plus $100 in shipboard credit. The decision was a no-brainer.”

…It’s always good to know your vacation lingo.

From our ever-growing

V-E Travel Glossary

Usually, the inquirer already has an idea in mind: Disney Cruise Line. And there’s no wonder why—they build amazing ships that live up to the magic and wonder of their theme parks…Disney is and probably always will represent that classic family vacation. But cruising with Disney can also have its disadvantages, and these come up it seems all too often with our clients and their families. For the most part, the cons can fall into one of three categories:

One is limited availability. Disney has but 3 ships who juggle a relatively limited set of itineraries. Add to that the high demand for & novelty appeal of Disney’s new ship, the Disney Dream. Sailings sell out for months to years in advance, so compulsively early booking is usually a must.

The second is appeal for the whole family. Let’s say you have a 4-year-old who, on a Disney cruise, would find him/herself in a world of pure imagination. Kid Heaven. But let’s say you also have a 16-year-old who, on a Disney cruise, might jump overboard after being surrounded for 7 days by hundreds of toddlers and Tinkerbell’s gang. When significant age gaps are involved, someone has to compromise.

But the main and most obvious concern is the PRICETAG that comes with the Disney brand name. Disney typically commands cruise fares more than DOUBLE the cost of sailing on some of the comparable “wow” ships on the market. There’s always a difference in price, and the difference is HUGE.

So, let’s say one of these factors has gotten in the way—either the sailing is booked out, the teens aren’t exactly “enchanted” by the idea, or you’re just not willing to hand over that arm & a leg in order just to ensure that Mickey Mouse is on the ship. What then?

Enter Royal Caribbean International. Most people know the name, but not all know that they have their own special partnership with DreamWorks Animation. So, you want characters? Royal Caribbean’s got ‘em, too. Shrek, Fiona, Alex the lion, Po the Kung Fu Panda…you’ll see them all on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom & Oasis Class ships.

You can see the “How to Train Your Dragon” ice show in Studio B, catch a stunning “Madagascar” production in the AquaTheater (on the Oasis & Allure of the Seas), or even run into Puss-in-Boots while you’re rock-climbing on the sports deck. Ice rinks, rock climbing walls, ziplines, in-line skating, live Broadway musicals, amazing high-diving water shows—add in the incredible amenities aboard these new ships and you have quite the vacation that’ll truly please children of all ages. And best of all, you wouldn’t have to sell any limbs—arm or leg—to make it a reality.

In our opinion, Royal Caribbean’s product is of surpassing value for families. And when a cruise line’s “character” is a big factor for you, just know that Royal Caribbean is in no short supply.

]]> http://vacation-expertsblog.com/2011/05/23/royal-caribbean-dreamworks-versus-disney-characters-at-sea/feed/ 0 “Character” Value at Sea vacationexperts “Character” Value at Sea “Character” Value at Sea “Character” Value at Sea http://vacation-expertsblog.com/2011/04/28/reasons-to-use-a-travel-agent-hire-an-expert/ http://vacation-expertsblog.com/2011/04/28/reasons-to-use-a-travel-agent-hire-an-expert/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:27:44 +0000 Vacation-Experts http://vacation-expertsblog.com/?p=717 From our travel series: Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Specialist Professionals are called professionals for a reason. When it comes to your vacation, your money is important and so is the special experience you’re paying for. So, wouldn’t you rather put the planning part in the hands of a someone who knows the ropes? Namely, a travel professional?...Read more→]]> Professionals are called professionals for a reason.  When it comes to your vacation, your money is important and so is the special experience you’re paying for.  So, wouldn’t you rather put the planning part in the hands of a someone who knows the ropes?  Namely, a travel professional? 

We’ve put in the time—we have the expertise and know-how to obtain the best price and product for you.  In today’s challenging business climate we’re always keeping the edges sharp by attending seminars, enrolling in special courses, and scanning the business trades, both in print and online.  It’s our job to stay informed and to bring our hard-earned knowledge to your fingertips.

From our travel series:

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Specialist

“Celebrity Cruises was selling our verandah stateroom for $1299 per person.  But Vacation-Experts was offering the same cabin for $1189 per person plus $100 in onboard credit.  The decision was a no-brainer.”

…It’s always good to know your vacation lingo.

From our ever-growing

V-E Travel Glossary

Food Network celebrity chef Anne Burrell--Yup, she'll be there

As a part of our Food & Wine at Sea collection, we’d like to present our Food Network cruise coming up this fall. If the whole idea of culinary travel excites you at all, this is definitely the jackpot.

Food Network at Sea will take place aboard the Celebrity Silhouette—the newest & soon-to-be-released ship among Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice Class fleet. We’ve seen her sisters, and in our opinion, she’ll be the most elegant & beautiful ship at sea.

The sailing itself is a unique 11-night Mediterranean/Transatlantic crossing, departing on October 22nd, 2011. Ports-of-call include: Rome (Italy), Cagliari (Italy—Sardinia), Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), and Cape Liberty (New York). Basically, the first half of the cruise offers a taste of a very special part of Europe, and the second half consists of a relaxing & romantic voyage across the Atlantic.

Now, add Food Network to the mix & stir vigorously.

What you get is a one-of-a-kind cruise experience and by-invitation-only access to:

• Culinary demonstrations led by Food Network’s Chef Anne Burrell (yup, she’ll be there), host of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef
• Interactive, hands-on cooking classes led by chefs and food stylists from Food Network kitchens
• VIP pier-side check-in
• A Food Network exclusive red carpet welcome aboard reception
• The Food Network VIP hospitality lounge
• Other events featuring favorite Food Network recipes
• Pre-paid gratuities & special turndown gifts

Bear in mind, only a very select group of the ship’s passengers will have these rockstar amenities. And, it’s all included in our cruise fare—verandah staterooms start from just $2175 (per person, at double occupancy).

As you can imagine, space in this exclusive group is very limited, so we recommend reserving a spot on the Food Network cruise as soon as possible. Just give us a call: 800-827-0008 or leave a reply below if you’d like some more information.

More links & info:

See the Full Itinerary

See our Culinary Travel Website

Related Post:  Food & Wine…at Sea!

The same applies to us when it comes to your vacation–You get the same convenience and one-stop shopping from a travel specialist. When you come to us, we’ll book your cruise, your air, your hotel, your tours, your trip insurance—you name it. Not to mention, along with whatever package or combination you decide to go with, a travel specialist will throw in his/her invaluable advice as an added bonus.

From our travel series:

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Specialist

(Courtesy of Crystal Cruises)

Watch out all you culinary aficionados, aspiring sommeliers, & connoisseurs of the finer things in life…here’s a vacation idea that’ll blow your mind.

So, you’ve probably heard of a “themed” or “special interest” cruise before. Well, we’d like to proudly introduce to you a new collection of ours that’ll excite the inner (and outer) foodie in any world traveler. It’s a personal enrichment series of sailings, and we call it “Food & Wine at Sea.”

Imagine you’re on a Caribbean cruise and you’re perfecting the art of sauté with the help of a world-class chef. Or, maybe you’re sailing the Mediterranean while learning to appreciate the subtle differences between a French Pinot Noir and an Italian Valpolicella from an expert sommelier. The “theme” lies in the fact that your activities both on land and at sea are centered around gourmet cuisine & fine wine.

(Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)

Cooking demonstrations, private wine-paired dinners, hands-on culinary classes, wine tastings, book signings…these are some of the exclusive added amenities and by-invitation-only special events that are included in the vacation experience. Not to mention, each port-of-call will offer a worldly variety of tasty experiences, as well.

We see it as the ultimate opportunity to soak up the secrets of celebrated chefs and talented wine experts while cruising in luxury to some of the world’s most exotic destinations…and all the while making all your friends at home insanely jealous.

Who is offering Food & Wine at Sea? The lineup is made up of three exceptional cruise lines: Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Apart from their food & wine programs, they are among our favorites in the industry.

Click the links below to see our long list of Food & Wine at Sea itineraries up through the end of this year, and stay tuned this month for our post on our very special Food Network cruise with Celebrity Cruises in October.

More links & info:

Our Culinary Travel Website

Our Exclusive Food Network Cruise