Report from Los Angeles' World Cruise Center
Three cruise lines have homeport agreements with the Port of Los Angeles during the Spring/Summer 2009 cruise seasons.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Mariner of the Seas offers seven-day cruises to the Mexican Rivera. With a total length of 1,020 feet, a weight of 138,000 tons and a capacity to hold 3,114 passengers, Mariner of the Seas has something for everyone. Part of the Voyager class of cruise ships, which represents the highest public space-per-guest ratio in the cruise market, this spectacular ship was designed with enhanced staterooms, expanded dining options and state-of-the-art recreational facilities like a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink and basketball court.
Princess Cruise Lines' Sapphire Princess offers seven-day cruises to Mexico. The Sapphire Princess is a jewel on the high seas - filled with innovative features and luxurious amenities. Swim in one of four sparkling pools, shop the boutiques or get a massage in the Lotus Spa. Dine casually on pizza and burgers or more elegantly in one of the many formal dining rooms and specialty restaurants. The Golden Princess offers 14-day cruises to Hawaii. It features three formal dining rooms, three state-of-the-art show lounges, a world-class art collection, a variety of pools, a nine-hole putting course, a kid's video game arcade, and more than 700 balcony staterooms.
Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Star offers seven-day cruises to Mexico.Regular calls are also made by Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silver Sea Cruises.
If you need additional informaiton about any cruises, contact CrusieBuzz at Cruise Holidays & Vacations from Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo: 949-215-6700; www.cruisebuzz.net; email: cruise@cruisebuzz.net
Three Cruise Lines to Set Sail
Cruise Night goes big time at Macy's South Coast Plaza
Special Invitation - Cruise Into Summer Fashions at Macy's South Coast Plaza
Cruise Holidays & Vacations in conjunction with Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo is hosting an event this Sunday, April 19th, at Macy's at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, California..
Our fine friends in the personal shopping department are going to help us learn how to pack and what is new in summer fashions. Please email us at cruise@cruisebuzz.net if you would like to join us.
This free event comes just in time for people looking for packing tips. Organizer, Carrie aka CruiseBuzz, is especially interested in finding out how to pack smarter for her trip to France in May. "The unpredictable weather and the tight quarters on my Viking River cruise have motivated me to create this event," CruiseBuzz said. In addition, we would like to point out that although France is a little far for some people to travel, we have new cruise product right here in our back yard. Of special interest are the Radiance of the Seas sailings from San Diego and the Mariner of the Seas doing a 7-day Mexican Riviera itinerary.
Please stop on by and get to know fellow friends and fans of Cruise Holidays.
Location:
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949-215-6700
Time:
2:00 - 3:00 pm.
How to find us:
"Swimsuit department 1st Floor"
Who is organizing?
Carrie Finley-Bajak aka CruiseBuzz
Carrie Finley-Bajak Cruise Holidays & Vacations
President Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo
Accredited Cruise Counselor
phone 949-215-6700 or 888-203-3012 fax 949-215-6398
http://www.cruisebuzz.net/
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/cruisebuzz
Twitter Travel Tips by CruiseBuzz
From the trenches of a "real" travel agency, I bring you some sage words of advice. My advice to all of you looking for those great deals is to slow it down and use common sense. Yes Twitter is a fun tool, but it can also quickly turn into GIGO (garbage in/garbage out.) To help users become more savy, I submit the following tips.
Tip 1. Know who you follow
When asking for general travel advice then yes, twitter is a great resource. Of course, your advice will only be as good as the people that you are following. Maybe now is a good time to really check out the website links from your list of people that you follow. When looking for travel related businesses check for travel of seller numbers, agency affiliations, and double check the business address with www.mapquest.com. A quick satellite view of a business address will reveal where the business takes place (home based or store front.)
Tip. 2. When you don't get an answer, ask again.
When asking your twitter-sphere a question it is like the old Magic 8 Ball. If you don't get any answers, then ask again and don't be afraid to ask for an email so you can have a longer conversation via email.
Tip 3. Follow some experts.
Our travel agency (Cruise Holidays of Mission Viejo and our online community Cruise Holidays & Vacations) is one of the leaders in using the technology. We have revised the traditional business model and have tweaked it to include tools that allow for searching, buying, and sharing. We are all building a new travel network of resources but relying on an expert mediator is always a good thing.
Here are some more suggestions of people that I follow. I edited the list from Gene Sloan at the Cruise Log, his original post can be read by clicking here:
Cruise travel agents:
One of the best ways to keep track of emerging deals is to sign up for tweets from cruise agencies such as @cruisesource, @cruisebuzz, @montrosetravel, @JustCruises, @LuxuryCruising, @whitestarcruise, @CruiseMagic, @cruisetravelguy and @CruisePlan.
Cruise lines:
Carnival (@CarnivalCruise), Princess (@PrincessCruises) and Lindblad Expeditions (@LindbladExp) already are old pros at using Twitter to announce new deals and onboard programs, while other lines such as Holland America (@HALCruises) and Cunard (@CunardLine) are just getting up to speed. Others on Twitter include Crystal Cruises (@crystalcruises), Silversea Cruises (@Silversea), Cruise West (@CruiseWest) and Disney Cruise Line (@DCLNews).
Cruise news and review sites:
CruiseMates (@cruisemates), Anita Dunham-Potter's Expert Cruiser (@ExpertCruiser), Cruise News Weekly (@CruiseGuide) and, of course, The Cruise Log (@CruiseLog).
Cruise writers:
Fodor's cruise guide writer Linda Coffman (@CruiseDiva), current Cruise Critic editor Carolyn Spencer Brown (@CruiseEditor) and Avid Cruiser editor Ralph Grizzle (@avidcruiser).
Give us a call anytime to discuss how to use Twitter. We can be reached at 949-215-6700. By email at cruise@cruisebuzz.net, and online at www.cruisebuzz.net. Also, don't forget to follow us at Twitter www.twitter.com/cruisebuzz.
5 Steps to Planning a Cruise
Ever wondered how to get started on planning your cruise? Look no further, here is my handy list.
Finding the right vacation, a cruise or a land vacation, can be a challenge. To help narrow the choices and allow you to sit back and enjoy the ride, Cruise Holidays & Vacations has compiled some tips for you to get started. Remember, your cruise concierge is a call away if you would like to have human interaction. We are available to answer your questions at 949-215-6700 or toll free at 888-203-3012.
Step 1. Figure out where you want to go.
The first thing on your to-do list is decide where in the world you want to go.
Step 2. When and how long do you want to go?
The spring or fall is the perfect time for those planning a romantic getaway for two. Summer holidays are the time when you'll find many families with children onboard, along with a wide range of fun-filled activities, specially created just for them.
Luckily, cruise companies cater to your schedule. A mini-trip may be three or four days, while an around-the-world odyssey can last three to four months. However, the average cruise falls in the seven- to 10-day range.
Step 3. Fine-tune your plan by learning about the cruise lines.
Different cruise lines target different types of passengers, as well as different age groups. Oceania Cruises' two mid-size ships offer luxury without the formality. While Regent Seven Seas and Crystal Cruises offer refined elegance to a well-traveled crowd that appreciates days at sea as much as time in port. Princess and Disney provide unbeatable family programs, so expect to be cruising with kids. Holland America Line features a more traditional ambiance.
Step 4. Get Real. What are your service requirements?
If you love creature comforts, there's nothing like a suite with your own private balcony with front-row seats on the passing scenery. For personal pampering, the butler service on Regent, Crystal, and Celebrity can't be beat. If computer connections are more essential, be sure to check out the large cruise lines' high-tech facilities-from Internet cafés to in-cabin data ports. All offer a variety of shore excursions from High Renaissance art to high adventure. Your travel agent will have all the latest information.
Step 5. How much do you have to invest in the trip?
Your cruise concierge can help you decide what a realistic amount is to budget for your trip. An all-inclusive cruise may cover your drinks, meals in specialty restaurants, computer classes, gratuities, and shore excursions. On large mass-market ships, however, each of these might carry a separate fee. Depending on your lifestyle, the all-inclusive route, which at first seems more expensive, may actually be a better value.
Wherever you decide to cruise, it can become addictive. And once you've discovered the joy of cruising, you'll be asking your Cruise Holidays travel planner to book another adventure at sea. And make it soon.
