Volendam - a popular choice

The ever-popular ship Volendam of Holland America lines will be heading in to Sydney Harbour on 6th December, carrying a full complement of passengers on the last leg of her journey to Australia, departing from Singapore on November 21st.

Contrary to expectations, that sailing is now almost fully booked* - a scenario we are coming to expect, even in these financially troubled times! (We just booked the next-to-last balcony stateroom!)

It seems that cruising is booming because it represents certain and reliable value for money. When you consider that your cruise fare covers all the basics - and more - of a holiday in a comfortable resort, with ever-changing views, new people to meet and the opportunity to visit foreign lands without the hassle of constant unpacking... well it sounds very attractive too!

The Volendam is lovely ship, beautifully appointed with high standards of service and food that win praise from the many repeat passengers of Holland America Line. She offers an environment that travellers of all ages can enjoy, so is popular both in and out of the school holiday periods that occur during her short stay in our region. After her cruise season - taking in voyages to South Pacific islands, New Zealand, and a circumnavigation of Australia - she will depart 17th April for Vancouver via New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Hawaiian islands. Volendam's comforts can be enjoyed for only $120 per person, per night - a more than favourable comparison with land based travel costs.

Discounts or early bird offers - tips to help you decide

My last post was about the stream of deals that are coming into my (and every other travel agent's ) email inbox everyday. If you would like to cruise, how do you decide whether to take one of these deals, wait for an early bird cruise offer or simply book the cruise you have your heart set on?
It really depends on how important this cruise is to you or whether you are prepared to put the dollars ahead of the destination.
Last-minute deals are ideal for those who are not particular about the destination - or a particular cruise. At the moment there are quite a few bargains around and if you simply want to cruise we will find you something to please. There are offers on a wide range of cruises but you will probably need to make up your mind quite quickly - ideally on the spot.
Early-bird deals are ideal for those who have checked the brochures and travel pages and know what they want. When you book an early-bird cruise you can choose your cabin, your dates and be sure that the flights are available, all of which can be very comforting when you are planning a holiday.
Cruising is growing in popularity as more people realise that many fares are all-inclusive. When you know that your meals, entertainment and in some cases even the tips are included in the cost of your holiday, it can make a big difference.
If you have any questions please email me... always happy to help. Martin@travelchoice.com.au

A morning of travel discounts

Like most travel agents I open my email each morning to a flood of emails from suppliers, clients, advertisers, travel newsletters... and the odd family missive that often gets lost in everything else. And of course the odd bit of spam that creeps through the filter. At the moment travel discounts are Big News... today we can offer you...

• 10 per cent off Tall Ship Western Mediterranean Cruising with Star Clippers. The voyage departing Lisbon, Portugal on April 21 comes with a discount if you book by 31 August. Star Clippers are luxury megayachts that combine sailing with cruising.

• Up to 50 per cent off when 2 people share on 5 River Cruises.... the Danube from Budapest to Passau on 15 November; 14 nights from Basel to Vienna on 25 October or 9 November; the Rhine and Moselle sailing from Amsterdam to Basel on 23 October; 26 nights from Amsterdam to Bucharest on 16 October and 12 nights from Amsterdam to Vienna on 24 September, 30 October or 11 November...all this year!

• Holland America's Volendam 14 night China and Vietnam leaving on 26 October this year is offering up to 44 per cent off

• New American itineraries on MSC's brand new Magnifica... itineraries from New York City.

And I'm still reading them!
If you'd like to know any more about any of these just drop me an email... now is the time to make a last minute travel plan there are just so many deals.
Martin@travelchoice.com.au

Holland America 2 day sale

Now here's a deal... for two days Holland America are giving the most amazing fares on their whole range of cruises. These deals have just been announced and are only available until tomorrow evening - Friday August 14. Contact me - martin@travelchoice.com.au - or phone us 2 9968 1600 and we'll be happy to tell you all about it! Plus we've got a gift for those who book - which we'll also tell you about!

Travellers like travel blogs and the internet

It's hardly news to anyone in the travel industry but today one of the travel newsletters sent to travel agents published research indicating that 'Blogs [are] favoured over agents' and that Australians 'are enthusiastically embracing the internet to plan and book their holidays'. Of course you are. Australians love technology and they love DIY - and that includes holidays so it is not something new to travel agents, though it is always interesting to have one's experiences backed up by research.
Travel agents must be trained in how to research holidays and how to use the tools that are available to the travel industry so that they can knowledgeably plan and book holidays.
Travel agents also use the internet - but the websites they are searching are mostly very different to the websites that you, the consumer/DIY traveller is searching. We are able to see much more of the back-end of travel and from that can usually find better deals. We also know the reliable suppliers and know what you can expect from the hotel/ tour operator/ cruise you are investigating. We are able to see whether that cheap flight you are looking at is what it seems or whether it involves sitting in a far away airport for half a day waiting for a connecting flight; and we can soon find out whether the hotel room that is cheaper on the net is actually the worst room in the house!
We are also in the know when it comes to getting what the traveller wants - and knowing whether a destination, a hotel, a tour or a cruise will meet you, our client's expectations. A friend recently booked two weekends away - within driving distance of home - based on internet research - and neither has lived up to expectations. These are only cottages for a night or two away but on a minor scale they illustrate what can happen when you book from a website - what you see is not necessarily what you get. In one instance she even turned round and drove home! As we all know anyone can write and publish on the internet - and anyone can create a website for their business (bed and breakfast, hotel, tour package) with pretty pictures.
So if you want to be sure that what you see is what you will get, asking your travel agent to check your research and prices will often uncover a better deal - and may prevent you from suffering traveller's disappointment!

Why now is the time to river cruise

Meandering through the European countryside where fairytale castles appear around a bend, historic villages perch amidst lush scenery and you retreat to your very own comfortable cabin is the perfect holiday for those who want to enjoy Europe at a snail's pace.
Thanks to the brains behind the Rhine-Main-Danube canal which was completed in 1992 it is possible to cruise along 3,000 miles of river and canal network enjoying Europe at leisure. Today there is a huge range of river cruises to choose from including this selection which are big on service - Peter Deilmann, Amadeus Waterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Viking and Vantage.
Ships that cruise the rivers of Europe must meet certain specifications - maximum width is 11.5 metres, maximum length is 127 metres and three decks are all that is allowed - they carry between 164 and 176 passengers. Apart from these criteria you will find that every line has something different to offer - most appeal to the over-50s but there are also cruises that court families. Some focus on themes such as cuisine, wine, tulip time in Holland.
Currently many of the river cruise lines are offering some amazing specials - too many to list here. So if river cruising is something you've thought about but never investigated - now is the time to get in touch with us, tell us what you would like to do and where you would like to go and we'll present you with some amazing options for you to explore European waterways.
And if cruising is something you have avoided because you get sea sick - river cruising is for you.