Cruising away from the pirates

Today travel agents have customers who would rather use a person who is a travel agent to book their trips, than a website. For a start you can ask a person questions - and if they don't have the answers they will find out for you - and secondly a person will often offer advice or information they feel you might like to know, which you won't get from a website. And let's face it - travel websites are just travel agents on line.
Recently a couple came into the agency who wanted to book a cruise around and near the Arabian Gulf - an area they had not cruised before. Had they been persistent I would have inquired of the shipping agents and made sure my customers had the most comprehensive information I could provide on the pirate situation. In this case I was able to offer them an alternate cruise in the Mediterranean visiting North African ports and they were happy. As so many large and small ships cruise in pirate-infested waters and their raids on cruise ships are becoming bolder all the time I would hope that the situation can be resolved without major drama - but in the meantime I will do my utmost to ensure the safety of my customers.

Exploring Papua by cruise ship

Papua New Guinea is often in our news, yet how many of us have visited? We hear about the Kokoda Trail because it is an essential part of our history, but there is so much more. The spectacular terrain makes many parts inaccessible except by sea or by air. Coastal waters are warm because of its proximity to the equator and some of the world's best diving and coral reefs can be found here.
The expedition ship, True North, is visiting Papua in October this year and a number of cabins on this exclusive adventure have just become available. Luxurious and comfortable, there are 20 crew to the 36 passengers and True North prides itself on its fine dining record. There are 6 expedition boats, not zodiacs, and the cruise itinerary is organised to allow passengers to do what they want, when they want.
This cruise departs from Sorong, however guests will arrive in Darwin and be escorted to Sorong on a chartered flight. Highlights of the cruise will involve a quest for the rare and beautiful Wilson's Bird of Paradise, snorkeling and diving in out of the way reefs and lagoons, helicopter rides over the islands and visits to island villages to learn about the local way of life. If an adventure featuring underwater exploration, fabulous scenery, an exotic and little-visited culture, spectacular scenery and fine food is what you are looking for... then contact me today. This trip may not happen again and it may truly be a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
You can phone me 02 9968 1600 - or email martin@travelchoice.com.au

Their gracious majesties: news on Cunard's Three Queens!

The maiden voyage of Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth 2 sold out in 29 minutes according to the blog of Alastair Greener, Cunard's cruise director. That voyage will start in Southampton 12th October and take her to Portugal and the ports of Vigo, Lisbon and Cadiz, then to the exotic Gran Canaria. QE2's next voyage takes passengers to the Mediterranean for 14 nights, and is then followed by an Agean Introduction in November.
So if you are interested in booking on this gracious new member of the ocean-going royal family or on the Queen Mary 2 or the Queen Victoria for 2010- 2011 it might be worth getting your skates on.
The 2010 itineraries go on sale Friday April 17.
On her World Cruise 2010, Queen Mary 2, whose visit to Sydney in February made the headlines, will sail from New York January 4, arriving in Sydney March 7 after passing through the Whitsundays and visiting Auckland and the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. She'll then go on to Fremantle. There is a huge choice of segments bookable on this cruise.
Queen Victoria will commence her World Cruise 2010, sailing from Southampton, UK January 4 and arriving in Sydney February 19, after visiting many ports in the South Pacific.
Throughout the year, Queen Mary 2 will cruise the Atlantic - doing the Transatlantic crossing between Southampton, Cherbourg and Hamburg and New York 21 times, plus a number of Grand Voyages.
Queen Victoria will circumnavigate the British Isles and sail from Southampton to Iberia, Northern Europe, the Norwegian Fjords, the Mediterranean and the Baltic.
Contact me if you'd like to know more or would like a brochure.
(I took the photo above from the Pool Terrace, aft on Deck 8 of the QM2 when she was in Sydney Harbour 26th Feb this year.)
You can find out first hand what is happening on the Cunard ships on Alastair's Greener's entertaining blog.

Your first cruise

If you have never cruised now is the time to check out some of the deals that are coming out.
Here are a few tips (you'll find more if you search the internet) that will help you to plan your first trip.

• Choosing a time and place.

You can cruise at any time of the year, and every region has its cruising seasons. If you want to cruise from Australia then you will get the most choice in the warmer months. If you want to cruise the Mediterranean then you will have more choice in the northern summer. If Antarctica is your dream then you will also go in our summer - if it's the Arctic then it's our winter. You may want to do an expedition cruise - perhaps you fancy exploring northern Russia or New Guinea. Or you may want to take a river cruise in Europe, in Egypt or discover the lesser known reaches of the Mekong in Vietnam or the Irrawaddy in Burma.

• Choosing a cruise ship

It's important to be happy on the ship you have chosen. After your first cruise you will have a much better idea of your likes and dislikes. If you love nightlife, fun and mixing with people then you may want to be on a big ship with lots of activities to choose from. If you are taking children or grandchildren then you will want to be sure the facilities and activities are right for them. if you are wanting the ultimate in service and luxury you will be looking at the more exclusive cruise lines. Price will also be a factor for most. Generally adult-oriented cruise ships will have a higher per person cost than family-oriented ships.

• What are your interests

Cruise lines are constantly thinking up new activities for passengers and most have a huge variety - you can often choose between rock-climbing walls, golf, yoga or dancing. Or you may just want to sit in a deck chair and be waited on. Some cruises have a theme - such as Cordon Bleu cookery, astronomy, classical music or bridge.
Where you go will dictate the shore excursions. Mostly these are booked when you are on the cruise but if there is something you absolutely want to do, then ask your cruise consultant about booking beforehand.

• Fellow passengers

When you work with a cruise consultant or a travel agent to book your cruise you will have a better chance of finding out about the typical passengers on that ship. You may find yourself on a cruise where most of the passengers speak another language, or they may be much older or younger, noisier, lazier or more active than you like to be. Be sure you to ask as being stuck on a cruise with people with whom you have nothing in common will spoil your trip.

• Scheduling air travel

Unless you are travelling from and returning to your home port you are likely to need air travel. Sometimes this is included in the package, but if it isn't you need to be sure that your flights are scheduled so that you can board comfortably - usually the day before the ship is due to sail. Ask your travel agent or cruise consultant about when they suggest you should fly - and also about transfers from the airport to the ship.

• What's included in the fare.
  

Some fares cover everything - from alcohol to tips; others cover the bare basics. The bare basics generally include all meals in designated places - buffet or restaurant; water and fruit juice to drink; access to a swimming pool; access to gym; shows; contests and games; nightclub; disembarking at ports; some TV; library books; food and drink at cocktail or drinks nights.
They all differ but the basic cruise usually does not include: alcohol, the casino, tips, excursions, in-cabin movies, spa, the beauty or massage parlour, drinks in fridge in cabin, medical treatment. You will also find that taxes, port charges and fuel supplements are generally not included in the advertised price of the cruise.

• Choosing a cabin

You get what you pay for in a cabin - some of the luxury ships have only balcony cabins but generally you pay more for a balcony, a suite, or an outside cabin. The basic advertised price is often the lowest and will be for an inside cabin. You can check out the deck plan before you book and if the cabin you want is available take it - it may be gone when you come back. Sometimes passengers are given an upgrade. If you think you might suffer from sea sickness then choosing a cabin that is mid-ship or on a lower deck may help - as may having a window you can look out of, or a balcony where you can get some fresh air. And consider whether the ship of your choice has stabilisers.

• What to pack

Take a carry-on bag with the basics you will need on the first day. When there are many passengers embarking it can take a while before your luggage reaches your cabin so having the essentials you need to get through the first few hours can make a big difference. As well as your camera and appropriate clothing for the weather, you might add medications, sunscreen, a swim suit and basic toiletries or makeup and a change of clothes. If you are travelling with children make sure that they too have a carry-on bag.

Each cruise line will have a style of clothing it expects the passengers to wear and your cruise consultant can fill you in on this. If you have chosen your cruise because you like fine dining, or luxury you will have packed clothes you can change into for dinner; if it's resort casual you will need the right gear and if you know there is a fancy dress night, or a dress-up night then you will need to have that too.
A few cruise lines will allow you take alcohol on board, and most will not. Find out before you pack.

• Understand the dining options

When you choose a cruise you need to find out what the dining options are. When seating is assigned you will be given a choice of table size, but if you want to be a twosome you will need to tell your travel agent when you book. You can choose a cruise where seating is assigned for meals or you may find that the cruise of your choice has open seating or a choice of restaurants, bistros and snack bars. If you are on a special diet tell your travel agent so you can be accommodated at meals.

This is a start. Once you have decided to cruise your travel agent or cruise consultant will give you more information on your options. They will also arrange any visas you need and make sure that all your papers are in order for boarding.
Many folk love to cruise because it only means unpacking once, they return to a familiar cabin each night and they get to make lots of new friends...
I'll post some of the great deals that are around in the next few days - meanwhile you can contact me - martin@travelchoice.com.au if you have any questions - or post a comment here and I will answer you.

Thinking about where to go in 2009

I am not making any suggestions here, just thought you might like to read this out of interest. I am intrigued ... what do you think? Do you agree with these lists - what would you add?

Phuket has been voted the top Luxury Destination of the Year by the New York Times. They have selected The Galapagos Islands as the 3rd most important destination. Now this is a destination I would suggest considering as they restrict the number of tourists a year to visit these amazing islands - and it is top of my list of places I want to visit.

Here are the top 10
1. Beirut
2. Washington D.C.
3. The Galapagos
4. Berlin
5. Las Vegas
6. Fjalinas, Sweden
7. Hawaii
8. Vienna
9. Doha, Qatar
10.Dakar, Senegal

The New York Times then asked their readers for their top destinations for 2009 and the list came out slightly differently - and without The Galapagos!

1. Beirut
2. Penang, Malaysia
3. Metz, France
4. Buffalo
5. Rome, Italy
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Berlin
8. chicago
9. Vienna
10.Hawaii

Find out more.