Category Archives: Cruises

Recommendations? It depends on you

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“What cruise line do you recommend?”

We get variations of that question all the time. And we don’t give a straight answer – at least not right away. It’s not that we are evasive or not opinionated. Far from it.

But your vacation is really all about you. So before we can make a recommendation – about a cruise line, tour company, destination, itinerary or whatever – we have to learn about your preferences. Do you like a lot of activity or seek to relax? Do you enjoy sea days or want to pack in as many ports as possible? Will you be traveling with kids or is this an adults-only kind of trip? How important are factors such as food, entertainment, cultural immersion, spa treatments, partying and shopping?

This kind of information will allow us to make an intelligent – and custom – recommendation that fits you for this particular trip.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 pm, we will present Celebrity Cruises “Modern Luxury” brand. This is a cruise line we recommend to many clients. Celebrity ships have a sleek W Hotel kind of feel. A popular gathering spot is the ice-topped martini bar and the cellar allows you to sample wine by the ounce. It’s in the “premium” category, which I compare to a Macy’s on the retail hierarchy – with some healthy incentives currently reducing cost below rivals in many cases. That’s an especially good deal considering that I have found the food and activities to be a cut above. Call (949) 201-4246 to RSVP. Expedia CruiseShipCenters is at 24321 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite H-3, Laguna Hills, CA.

But Celebrity is not for everyone. Nothing is. Some prefer a more traditional feel. Or more cut-rate pricing. Or more of a Nieman Marcus experience. So we might recommend an alternative for you.

It’s a similar exercise for itineraries. Alaska “cruise tours” offer a richer experience and more bang for the buck than either a cruise-only or land-only vacation. But everyone doesn’t haver the time or budget, and they may benefit from the efficiency of a 7-day cruise that provides a good overview of some of the Great Land’s amazing spectacles. Our job is to interview you about your priorities in order to make a recommendation.

Runners can take to the sea on special “runcation” cruises

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Running enthusiasts can take to the sea aboard the biggest and most innovative ships on two Royal 5Ks offered by Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Laguna Hills.

The cruises are aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, which offer competition-quality tracks, world-class fitness centers and rock-climbing walls. Runners will have meet-and-greet sessions and seminars with high-profile racing athletes. They will also be able to compete in a 5K race on one of the Caribbean island stops. The cruises — which Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso calls “runcations … the perfect mixture of fitness, relaxation, fine dining and a bit of pampering” — are co-sponsored by ESPN. The cruises are Dec. 1-8 and March 10-17 and start at $924 per person plus tax. The price includes all meals, entertainment and the runner’s package.

For more information: (949) 201-4246 or cmeyer@cruiseshipcenters.com. Expedia CruiseShipCenters is at 24321 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite H-3, Laguna Hills 92653

Overwhelmed? T+L says consult an agent

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Q: I’m booking a cruise and am overwhelmed with the options. Where will I find the best rate — through a travel agent or online?

A (Amy Farley, Travel + Leisure’s news editor):  Book through a travel agent. Cruise lines are strict about keeping prices consistent across the board — so if you find a discount offered online, your agent should have access to the same rate…When deals pop up, they usually take the form of onboard credits, excursions, and other perks. Note the fine print: a lower price online could be for a different cabin category and may not include the same extras. Given the potential for confusion, it’s no surprise that 80% of cruisers book through a travel agent, says T+L’s cruise editor, Jane Wooldridge. “If you don’t care what ship you’re on or where you’re going, you can buy a cruise like you would buy an airline ticket, and just grab a good deal you see online.” But agents can offer insight and advice that a website cannot. The best of them will be familiar with the features and quirks of a ship, will tell you if upgrades will be available later, and may get you access to onboard parties. “In general, you’re not going to pay more to book through an agent,” Woolridge says — yet the advantages are clear. (Trip Doctor, Travel + Leisure, September 2012)

 

Escape! Explore! Indulge! Save!

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Have you ever wanted to escape…….completely?
A Princess cruise will take you to a place of refreshment and rejuvenation. 
And to new places. Fascinating places. Exotic places. 
Alaska. The Mediterranean. The South Seas. 
What would make a Princess Cruise even better? Hundreds of dollars in exclusive savings from Expedia CruiseShipCenters.
 Call, click or come in now! Let us arrange your perfect Princess cruise to a better place.
 But act soon. We don’t want you to miss the boat.
Call: (949) 201-4246
Click: expediaoc.com
Come in: 24321 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite H-3, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 (Between Trader Joe’s and Woody’s Diner)
 

 


River cruising: floating on ancient highways

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Picture yourself on a boat on a river. Our second Media 55 interview and ad deals with river cruising, an extremely hot activity along the rivers of Europe and elsewhere. On river cruises, you glide along the ancient highways of the Old World, stopping in the center of town, and transiting from place to place while you eat and sleep. Demand is so great that the companies offering river cruising continue to add new ships year after year. Destinations have expanded from Europe to Asia and Africa. The Great American Steamboat Company this year resurrected cruises along the great rivers of the Mississippi system.

Nancy Ecker of Tauck Travel joined me for this month’s interview. Tauck’s tours and cruises are known for their inclusiveness, cultural sophistication and luxury. The Tauck experience stands out and has many fans who will accept nothing less. Watch the video to hear what was discussed and view the Tauck river cruise experience.

At Expedia CruiseShipCenters, we can arrange wonderful vacations of a lifetime aboard a Tauck riverboat, on a Tauck land tour and with a myriad of other cruise lines and tour companies.

For Expedia value with personal concierge service, call Chris Meyer at (800) 745-4015 or email cmeyer@cruiseshipcenters.com

 

 

Oceania Cruises: Your world, your way

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Oceania Cruises Oceania To introduce our travel center and highlight our special savings on Oceania Cruises, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Saddleback Valley, has cut this commercial for the Laguna Woods Village audience. But it’s relevant to all who seek a cruise experience that’s a cut above.

With Oceania, you will enjoy:

  • 2 for 1 fares.
  • Air included included in the price or $999 to upgrade to business class.
  • Canyon ranch spa treatments and cuisine.
  • 6 specialty gourmet restaurants at no extra charge
  • A destination focus with boutique ports big ships can’t reach, overnight stays for extended exploration and culturally immersive excursions.
  • Hands-on cooking at Bon Apetit Culinary Center.

With Expedia CruiseShipCenters, you will experience exceptional service and incredible value when booking your Oceania cruise or any travel. Our expert consultants will match your vacation to your preferences, taking the experience to a new level.

Click: http://www.saddlebackvalley.cruiseshipcenters.com/ or http://bit.ly/IcvrNa

Call: (949) 201-4246

Come in: 24321 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite H-3, Laguna Hills, CA 92630. Between Trader Joe’s and Woody’s Diner in the Oakbrook Village shopping center.

 

Ocean of Possibilities with Royal Caribbean

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Onboard climbing walls and zip lines. Croquet, miniature golf and frozen martini bars. Gourmet dining, fresh sushi and Johnny Rockets. World-class entertainment, Elemis spa treatments, onboard enrichment, iLounge computer center. Exotic ports of call, charming European villages, white sand Carbibbean beaches, towering Alaskan glaciers, a plethora of shore excursions. Huge savings, exclusive ammenties, professional and personal service, unbeatable selection.

Come see what Royal Carbibbean, Celebrity and Azamara cruise lines have to offer at the Ocean of Possibilities Cruise Night Thursday, March 29, at Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 24321 Avenida de la Carlota, 24321 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite H-3, Laguna Hills, CA. Between Trader Joe’s and Woody’s Diner in the the Oakbrook Village Shipping Center.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suh-dYL5X1A&feature=g-all-s&context=G2b488a8FAAAAAAAAAAA

“Whale mobile” to offer feel of Alaska

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Holland America Cruise Line’s Explorer Coach, also known as the “whale mobile,” is coming to Laguna Hills Feb. 6 to offer an inside look at the wonders of an Alaska Cruise Tour. 

The cruise line’s Alaska and Yukon experts – those who actually drive the bus for the land portion of the vacation – will provide a fun and informative presentation inside the luxury coach on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at Expedia CruiseShipCenters, in Laguna Hills’ Oakbrook Village center, 24321 Avenida de la Carlota. The coach will parked in parking lot in front of the travel center, which is between Trader Joe’s and Woody’s Diner.

The presentations will allow guests to climb aboard the coach, feel the comfort of the seats, listen to guides describe the Alaska experience, and watch video footage of the spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and bucket-list experiences that are part of this amazing vacation.

In addition to the presentations, those attending will be entered in a raffle and have the opportunity for Expedia Exclusive discounts and amenities on Alaska cruises and land tours. There also will be Klondike Bars. There will be four presentations between 2  and 7 p.m. People are asked to call (949) 201-4246 to reserve a preferred time. For some background about Alaska cruises: Living Large on Alaska Cruise

The art of Ensenada

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By Tom Gordon

If you are on a three- or four-day cruise that stops in Ensenada, here are a couple shopping tips that are within easy walking distance of the dock and are affordable.

El Arte de Nuestras Manos (The Art from Our Hands) is a brand-new gallery on Ensenada’s main drag, at 537 Calle Lopez Mateos. The gallery is run by a nice young couple who moved to Ensenada from Acapulco to escape the drug violence. Ask for Keila.

Casa Ramirez — 498 Calle Lopez Mateo — has two floors of Mexican folk art at all price ranges. The store carries hundreds of authentic items, ranging from a couple dollars to hundreds. Ask for Alejandra.

English is spoken in both shops and they are more than happy to discuss the origins of their work.

Tip: There’s a shuttle waiting as you leave the ship.  Don’t bother.  It costs $3 and it’s easier to walk a couple blocks downtown.  Plus the minute they get you on the shuttle they start the tour hard sell.

Cruise ships go all out for kids

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From zip lines to programs for tots, cruise lines are increasingly making ships kid-friendly. And more parents are finding cruising a pocketbook-friendly family vacation. It will surprise few that Disney is at the top of Frommer’s “Best Cruise Ships For Kids,” but other cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, also are aggressively pursuing the family market with water parks, climbing walls  and craft rooms. Here’s Frommer’s ranking.

A family cruise is an even better value for Orange County residents, who can drive to the port. No air fare! Itine

raries include Hawaii, for which Disney has added a second ship, Mexico and the California coast. A flight puts Alaska, the Caribbean and beyond in reach. Start researching your next family vacation at your local Expedia site, call (949) 201-4246 or email cmeyer@cruiseshipcenters.com