I don't know how many of you saw this movie but I really enjoyed it and found the bucket list of things that the actors wanted to see and doe before they left this planet, true to life for so many people I know...
We just dod a travel show in Cuero, Texas for about 90 people and I was surprised that so many people talked about their "bucket list" if you will, and places they wanted to see too. I suppose we all dream about the places we want to visit and keep our lists in our head or on paper.
I have a list a mile long of places I still want to see. It's amazing how I keep going back repeatedly toplaces like Italy, Egypt, Greece, Tahiti, Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean but have not been to the Rhine Valley in Germany, Cambodia/Vietnam, or the Arctic... That's just a token few of my missing points of desire to visit.
The most important point is to make sure you prioritze your list and see the things your heart desires. These will be the fond memories you will take with you forever. I remember a few short years ago when planning and extensive tour across India where I was telling my realtor about it and she piped in thatt his was her hearts desire since she had been a little girl. She ended up coming along, having her fiance surprise here by joining our small group in Jaipur, and geting engaged at the Taj Mahal..Not that's fulfilling a Bucket List dream...Don't miss your dream and start your Bucket List now... I owe this blog to a friend Steve who reminded me about this movie and desire for many yesterday afternoon....
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Unpublished Cruises?
Every now and then a one-off cruise itinerary is found where the cruise line has a charter, canceled dry-dock, or repositioning cruise that does not make it into the brochure. When this takes place, a good deal for the consumer is generally found.
This week I found one of those rare cruises. Royal Caribbean has an 8-day cruise on its Enchantment of the Seas sailing April 19-27, 2009 from Colon, Panama to Fort Lauderdale. This 8-day cruise offers the traveler a chance to fly to Panama and perhaps spend a day or two in exciting Panama City and tour the Panama Canal before embraking this ship sailing along Panama, Columbia, Costa Rica, Aruba, and then into Fort Lauderdale. The best part of this is Royal Caribbean has special senior fares from under two hundred bucks a peice for this program. Now the airfare roundtrip is a little more than a standard roundtrip Florida ticket but hey, it's off-the beaten path, exciting, and a deal of the year!!! I love these bargains and special finds.
Bargain seekers-go exploring and see what special programs you will find. They are out there for the taking.....
This week I found one of those rare cruises. Royal Caribbean has an 8-day cruise on its Enchantment of the Seas sailing April 19-27, 2009 from Colon, Panama to Fort Lauderdale. This 8-day cruise offers the traveler a chance to fly to Panama and perhaps spend a day or two in exciting Panama City and tour the Panama Canal before embraking this ship sailing along Panama, Columbia, Costa Rica, Aruba, and then into Fort Lauderdale. The best part of this is Royal Caribbean has special senior fares from under two hundred bucks a peice for this program. Now the airfare roundtrip is a little more than a standard roundtrip Florida ticket but hey, it's off-the beaten path, exciting, and a deal of the year!!! I love these bargains and special finds.
Bargain seekers-go exploring and see what special programs you will find. They are out there for the taking.....
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Why Am I The Leading Large Ship Specialist?
I am asked daily by callers coming in from the Conde Nasr Concierge web site why am I The World's Leading Large Ship Specialist and why should they work with me vs. another travel agent or online agency...
That is a loaded question for sure. Not to brag but most travel specialists have not spent 25 years mastering a trade and studying ships to ensure that the advise I give a potential client is relaible, truthful, and accurate. It is things like reading reviews online for cruise ships as to which migh be performing better or worse given large inconsistencies in the huge fleets of growing cruise lines. Even those lines with the best reputations have soft spots where things go wrong. How often are ships refurbished? Where are the best cabins for noise, vibration, passenger flow and privacy? How many agents offer that candid information when discussing a cabin choice with a client?
I go on a ship and wander stem to stern looking for cabis with good value for the price, quietness, privacy, and size. These are important variables which are make or break with a client.
How many agents spend weekends flying to ports and touring ships to see how the ships are doing, how clients interact with guests, what type of clientele are sailing with particular lines, and sampling the product in a mini-cruise manner to ensure qualifying the guest to the right product is something an agent is capable of doing? These are all questions clients should as of their agents when booking a cruise.
I am thrilled to have Conde Nast's honor of the World's Leading Large Affordable Ship Specialist and while I don't know every ship out there, I can give an honest opinion on 95% of the ships sailing the World today... You will get an honest, unbiased opinion from Tom Baker....
That is a loaded question for sure. Not to brag but most travel specialists have not spent 25 years mastering a trade and studying ships to ensure that the advise I give a potential client is relaible, truthful, and accurate. It is things like reading reviews online for cruise ships as to which migh be performing better or worse given large inconsistencies in the huge fleets of growing cruise lines. Even those lines with the best reputations have soft spots where things go wrong. How often are ships refurbished? Where are the best cabins for noise, vibration, passenger flow and privacy? How many agents offer that candid information when discussing a cabin choice with a client?
I go on a ship and wander stem to stern looking for cabis with good value for the price, quietness, privacy, and size. These are important variables which are make or break with a client.
How many agents spend weekends flying to ports and touring ships to see how the ships are doing, how clients interact with guests, what type of clientele are sailing with particular lines, and sampling the product in a mini-cruise manner to ensure qualifying the guest to the right product is something an agent is capable of doing? These are all questions clients should as of their agents when booking a cruise.
I am thrilled to have Conde Nast's honor of the World's Leading Large Affordable Ship Specialist and while I don't know every ship out there, I can give an honest opinion on 95% of the ships sailing the World today... You will get an honest, unbiased opinion from Tom Baker....
Sunday, January 11, 2009
What Is My Favorite Ship?
Some travel professionals post that their favorite ship is the one they have currently or recently sailed on. That is a perfectly "politically correct" answer but not mine. I do have three favorite ships and for different reasons. While I enjoy cruising on all types of ships from large to small, these thre take top billing:
1) Crystal Serenity- simply the best and most spacious large LUXURY ship at 65,000 tons and only 1050 maximum pasengers. Her service, spaciousness, grace, and quality are second to none. This ship and cruise line continues to grace the finest accolades and award including Conde Nast Traveler Readers award as the BEST large ship. She deserves every one of her six-coveted stars!
2) Celebrity Solstice- this new entrant is quite different than her sisters and the largest ever introduced by Celebrity at 122,000 tons and 2800 passengers. The Solstice offers superb architecture and design and frankly, has the best cabin design I have encountered-period. With 85% of her inventory offering standard balcony cabins with 192 square feet and a balcony with another 53 sqaure feet, they are the best laid out cabins to date. Celebrity has raised its bar in this stylish ship and offers the best premium class cruising experience with 5-stars.
3) Queen Mary 2- As a long time Cunard fan, I love this ship as she was designed for true ocean travel and is an ocean liner that is unique. Her style is elegant but subdued and the history of her British seafaring roots are never far away on this 21st century grande dame. at 150,000 tons and carrying some 2800 passengers, she is is the fastest ship in the large ship class and great to take a Westbound crossing for six days from Southampton to New York.
I will add additional comments about why these three are my top favorites in further blogs.
1) Crystal Serenity- simply the best and most spacious large LUXURY ship at 65,000 tons and only 1050 maximum pasengers. Her service, spaciousness, grace, and quality are second to none. This ship and cruise line continues to grace the finest accolades and award including Conde Nast Traveler Readers award as the BEST large ship. She deserves every one of her six-coveted stars!
2) Celebrity Solstice- this new entrant is quite different than her sisters and the largest ever introduced by Celebrity at 122,000 tons and 2800 passengers. The Solstice offers superb architecture and design and frankly, has the best cabin design I have encountered-period. With 85% of her inventory offering standard balcony cabins with 192 square feet and a balcony with another 53 sqaure feet, they are the best laid out cabins to date. Celebrity has raised its bar in this stylish ship and offers the best premium class cruising experience with 5-stars.
3) Queen Mary 2- As a long time Cunard fan, I love this ship as she was designed for true ocean travel and is an ocean liner that is unique. Her style is elegant but subdued and the history of her British seafaring roots are never far away on this 21st century grande dame. at 150,000 tons and carrying some 2800 passengers, she is is the fastest ship in the large ship class and great to take a Westbound crossing for six days from Southampton to New York.
I will add additional comments about why these three are my top favorites in further blogs.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The NEW MSC Fantasia-something Special...
I just returned from Italy and the christening of MSC Cruises Newst ship, the 133,000 ton 1094 foor long, MSC Fantasia that carries 3200 passengers. She is almost as big as the queen Mary 2 and a gorgeous ship. You can check out my pictorial at CruiseCenter.Smugmug.com for more details on this wonderful addition to the cruise industry.
I really like MSC Cruises as it offers a different approach to cruising. The ambiance is European and the producrt is geared towards the International traveler. If one needs a strictly "American" ambiance, don't pick this line. It's a shame that more people aren't open to an international mix of passengers and trying different experiences. I think that most of the contemporary and premium cruise experiences today are a floating Vegas where you a nickel and dimed. MSC does not do that.
The MSC experience is elegant, low key, and the service is more European style (although most of the staff are Indonesian and Honduran), there is a subtle differnce. I equate cruising the MSC ships as traveling to an Italian hotel with a strongly European ambiance.
The big thing for most American's is the food being different as it does cater to European taste buds. I have found that the food is actually quite good except for the steak. The Italians know one thing-overcook the meat to death. This can be corrected to American palates by a travel agent in the know, and one who can tell their valued clients to ask for meat specifically to be cooked to their taste. I have found the breads, pastas,risottos, soups, salads, and desserts to be excellent. most of the fish and poultry are too.
The ships are spotless, elegantly decorated and nice cabins except for the lirica which does have smaller cabins. she is a delightful ship-nonetheless.
The smoking issue has not been a real problem or different than any other line. MSC allows smoking in only designated bars and deck spaces. Smoking is not allowed in the cabins or balconies. You may get a string whiff of smoke by going into a smoking room or passing through but that is no different from other ships or a Las Vegas Casino.
I find MSC Cruises to offer one of the most affordable cruise options with Kids under 18 sailing Free on all cruises! Also, they have GREAT itineraries.
If you are looking for something different, try MSC Cruises and the NEW MSC Fantasia is one of the best options in the Mediterranean...
I really like MSC Cruises as it offers a different approach to cruising. The ambiance is European and the producrt is geared towards the International traveler. If one needs a strictly "American" ambiance, don't pick this line. It's a shame that more people aren't open to an international mix of passengers and trying different experiences. I think that most of the contemporary and premium cruise experiences today are a floating Vegas where you a nickel and dimed. MSC does not do that.
The MSC experience is elegant, low key, and the service is more European style (although most of the staff are Indonesian and Honduran), there is a subtle differnce. I equate cruising the MSC ships as traveling to an Italian hotel with a strongly European ambiance.
The big thing for most American's is the food being different as it does cater to European taste buds. I have found that the food is actually quite good except for the steak. The Italians know one thing-overcook the meat to death. This can be corrected to American palates by a travel agent in the know, and one who can tell their valued clients to ask for meat specifically to be cooked to their taste. I have found the breads, pastas,risottos, soups, salads, and desserts to be excellent. most of the fish and poultry are too.
The ships are spotless, elegantly decorated and nice cabins except for the lirica which does have smaller cabins. she is a delightful ship-nonetheless.
The smoking issue has not been a real problem or different than any other line. MSC allows smoking in only designated bars and deck spaces. Smoking is not allowed in the cabins or balconies. You may get a string whiff of smoke by going into a smoking room or passing through but that is no different from other ships or a Las Vegas Casino.
I find MSC Cruises to offer one of the most affordable cruise options with Kids under 18 sailing Free on all cruises! Also, they have GREAT itineraries.
If you are looking for something different, try MSC Cruises and the NEW MSC Fantasia is one of the best options in the Mediterranean...
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