Celebrity Century 4 Day Review

Three or four day cruises are an excellent way to whet your appetite for cruising if you're not quite sure about being on a ship for a long time. Many people are skeptical about taking a cruise because they think they'll be bored or will feel constant motion like smaller boats they've been on in the past. If you haven't taken a cruise in 20 years things have changed tremendously!

While most people opt for Carnival or Royal Caribbean on a short cruise, Celebrity also offers a 4 day Western Caribbean itinerary. I've sailed with Celebrity previously on 7 day itineraries so I was anxious to see how different a short cruise would be with them. We didn't have time for a 7 day, I don't particularly like Carnival's food, so it came down to Royal, NCL or Celebrity. Since food is my top reason for cruising and we had been to all the ports offered on each we chose Celebrity Century. The ship sailed from Miami, visiting Key West and Cozumel before spending a day at sea on the way back to Miami.

If you're used to longer itineraries and newer ships you should be aware that short trips are usually on older ships with perhaps newer staff. If you're new to cruising you might not notice, but a veteran may miss some of the bells and whistles of newer vessels and seasoned crew members. I heard complaints from a few people about things they should have known before booking this cruise. (Tsk-tsk, at least do some research if you're booking online by yourself! Don't spoil other people's good time because you were being cheap) You know I'm all about managing expectations and knowing what to expect to get the most out of your vacation. Celebrity definitely has a more laid back relaxed atmosphere than the other lines would have on a 3 day trip. If you love the late night party atmosphere of Carnival this would not be the ship for you. The passenger demographic was a little younger thankfully than previous trips, but still a little older than you might find aboard Carnival or Royal. (We've always been the youngest people on board other Celebrity ships) The entertainment onbard was not as great as some of the longer cruises we've been on, but definitely adequate. There was a Broadway style show in the theater one night, comedian and acrobatic duo others. Musicians included a guitarist, jazz ensemble, party band and vocal quartet performing at various venues around the ship each day. We heard Franklin the guitarist the most. Somehow we managed to be wherever he was performing each day. He was great, but we got tired of hearing the same songs since we saw him s o many times. My son even stared at him so hard once he paused between verses and said 'He's not impressed'. Embarrassing, but kids are some of the most honest beings! We also found out midway through that this was the Soap Cruise. Several actors from CBS soaps were onboard hosting events and in port. I thought I saw Cassie from Guiding Light one day, but thought I was crazy till our breakfast mates the 2^nd morning told us about it. Once I started paying attention, I did notice several events around the ship and a few other actors. Josh from Guiding Light also was in front of us during the comedy show. I hear Cain from Young & the Restless was onbard as well, but I never did see him. That's one I wouldn't have minded checking out in person! Oh and Brad Carlton too! There was a fan who had tattoos of the Y&R stars on her back! Seriously! Now that's some dedication.

Since it has been a while since we did traditional fixed dining, we had mixed feelings about having to dress for dinner and sit with strangers. It ended up being the highlight of the cruise. We met some great people that we plan to keep in touch with. My son even met a little friend he keeps asking about. They were holding hands by the last morning and he still wants to talk to his 'friend on the ship'. Since we did Freestyle dining on Norwegian Jewel last time, we forgot how much fun it is to meet new people at dinner. We ended up with a great table and learned so much from our new friends from Canada, Russia and the U.K. Besides the food that is one of my other favorite parts of cruising. We American definitely need to get out of our comfort zones more and learn more about other cultures. Surprisingly most of the bartenders were Jamaican, on this ship. There were lots of Indian crew members and a few South Americans and Eastern Europeans. We had fun learning about the little cliques onboard. Isn't it funny how we humans always tend to separate ourselves?

We utilized the Fun Factory program a few times. I was too nervous at first to leave him alone, but after the first time he asked to go back to the 'playroom' and didn't even want to eat dinner with us. A daily schedule of activities is delivered to your stateroom so you know what they're doing all day. Some activities are in the room and others are around the ship. In addition to typical crafts and games, they had scavenger hunts, backstage theater and bridge tours and a trip to the ice cream parlor. Although we hit the ice cream everyday as a family, going with the Fun Factory seemed to be the highlight of his trip. Since this is low season (the ONLY time I cruise) the kids age groups were combined. It was not a problem however, since the older kids seemed to like helping with the younger ones. Although the Fun Factory

staff was excellent, I probably wouldn't take this ship again with young children because of the lack of water play areas for them. The two pools were quite small and 4- 6 feet deep. I didn't think it would be a problem, but we didn't want to get all the way in with him everyday since it was chilly a few days. Those times it would have been nice to have a splash or wading area for him to use without us having to get all the way in the pool.

Dinners in

the Main Dining Room were excellent as usual. Our head waiter, Rodrigo, was outstanding with the kids! He kept the pace of the meal up for my son and his new friend and even brought extra treats if he noticed they were getting antsy. Not once did he seem annoyed by having two preschoolers at the table.

Cruises are an excellent way to get a feel for the islands you may want to visit again in the Caribbean, or a way to see several European countries in one trip avoiding trains and multiple flights.

In April, I'll be doing a ship inspection of Carnival Fascination since I have not seen any of the Fantasy Class ships since the Evolutions of Fun refurbishments were done. I can't wait to see how they stack up now. In closing this trip on the Century hit the spot for a relaxing long weekend with great food and service. If you're looking for a short cruise try them out instead of Carnival!

Not participating in the recession

Travel sales are starting to tick back upward finally. There are still plenty of great deals out there, but prices are starting to go up ever so slightly again. We've gotten so used to waiting till the last minute waiting for the rock bottom deal that several people are getting caught with a price increase after not booking that perfect vacation, then getting another quote once the price has risen just a few days later. Cruise lines like Azamara and Crystal offer an assurance that protects you against price drops, so what have you got to lose?
Many people are still convinced nobody is traveling listening to all the doom and gloom on the news. By the highest estimates unemployment is 17% right now, that means 83% of us are still fully employed! If those that are continue to be shy about spending, hold back the economy gets worse for everyone. If those with disposable income don't travel it snowballs into layoffs at resorts, restaurants, airline cuts etc. It doesn't help. The increasing service based nature of our economy depends on the revenue to continue to employ workers who truly need their jobs. Me, included of course =)
If the price (and place) is right for you, put that deposit down and start packing! Stop all the worrying, price checking and re-researching. After all, isn't that what you're paying me for?
Many insurance policies include coverage if you need to cancel due to job loss or other work reasons. If you're still really worried, spring for cancel for any reason insurance. It will cost more, but you'll get most your money back if you decide that you just can't cruise during your favorite team's playoff game or whatever!

TSA and Trade Shows

It's been a while since my last blog post. September was a crazy month for me! The American Society of Travel Agents Trade Show in Las Vegas took place in early September, then we were off to New York at the end.
I have never been so happy to see my own bed! I love to travel, but too much can take alot out of you. At least airport security does! Vegas was awesome! Of course I had a great time personally, but I learned so much and met so many great people that will help me serve my clients even better for the rest of this year and 2010.
One of the hot topics at the show was fees. Many of us have recently moved to fees, while others have done it for years. I reluctantly moved to this model in August when it became impossible to continue providing the same great experience for everyone with an increase in the 'shoppers and tire kickers'. I wrestled with this decision because I did not want to discourage first-time cruisers and those unfamiliar with the value of using a travel agent. The more I thought about it and researched I found that those time wasters do know the value and that's why they wanted my free information to go book online. If they knew what they were doing in the first place they'd never ask for my help. I'm talking about people that will talk for hours, call everyday for 2 weeks, then disappear or tell me they booked on Expedia to save $10. When I added up how much time I was spending on things that never materialized it was apparent that there was no way I could continue without weeding out some of those types......Oh and the worst offenders are the ones that have the nerve to come back and ask for help once they realize that $10 savings was a room with no windows (true story) or a non-refundable room that they now need to change. You may think you're saving tons of money booking online, but most of the time a vacation is a significant investment that should be carefully planned. A call center employee does not have an incentive to make sure you understand all the fine print when they'll never speak to you or see you again.
I also took a seminar on cloud computing that left my head spinning, but has started to slowly sink in. I have a new Google Voice number, 678-4KenyaS and am trying to see how Google Docs can help me as well.
I came back so motivated and have been on a roll since then.
New York is another story! That city drains me! I'm always talking about managing your expectations and making sure you're honest about what types of hotels and restaurants you enjoy. Now if someone else were asking me those questions I can firmly say I do not care for cities! Once you have seen the monuments and historical sites they all start to look the same. Restaurants the size of my closet and the cost of my mortgage do not excite me! I didn't have a choice in the hotel since it was a business trip for my husband. It is one I definitely would not have chosen for myself.

If you watched Dave Chappelle's show I feel like Vegas is that episode where he talked about what the Internet would be like if it was a real place.
On the traveling with kids front, my mom took care of my son while I was in Vegas. He did fly to NY with us. I always dread flying with him because getting through the airport is such a hassle. Then I'm on pins and needles the whole flight hoping he doesn't kick the seat the entire time and praying he goes to sleep....He never does though! For the most part he is a very good sport and a pro at flying already. He even knows the drill when we get pulled to secondary screening by TSA. Funny how that's supposed to be random but I get it about 75% of the time. The guy I sat next to on the way home said he has never had that happen. (Huge thank you to him for playing trains and coloring. He was the nicest seatmate I've ever had!!! NO evil eye from childless people for an entire flight was great) I'm starting to wonder if I share a name with someone on the watch list or something. Notice I didn't use that word, I don't want to get flagged even more! It's so bad I know the mark they put on your ticket at check-in. I want to tell the person at the counter, 'Come on, I know what that means!" If I was carrying something I'm not supposed to I'd know to get rid of it now. My husband is a G-man through and through, but they have really got to get their acts together at TSA!

Odd cruise news and passports

A passenger who reportedly jumped off a balcony on the Carnival Sensation was rescued by the crew of Disney Wonder last week. He was treading water for about 90 minutes before he was rescued. (There is a You tube video, but listening to someone scream for help in the dark freaked me out a little, so I'm not linking it.)
In July, a vehicle accident during a RCCL shore excursion sent several people to the hospital in St. Thomas. Notice in the cruise critic report at least one couple had to stay behind on the island for treatment. Why is this important? The most obvious point is of course ALWAYS GET INSURANCE. No matter your age or general health accidents are possible anywhere. Know what your policy covers, and make sure you save receipts and contact the insurer as soon as possible.
The next maybe not so obvious point is about passports. I hope you already have yours,but if not just do it! Then you'll be ready to travel whenever the mood strikes...not 6-8 weeks later once your passport arrives. The rules on passports and cruising have been so confusing in the last few years. There's passport books, passport cards....do you need one if traveling by sea and not air, blah blah, blah. Always check the current regulations with the State Department for requirements before traveling.
Although, St. Thomas is a U.S. Virgin Island, what would have happened had this couple needed to fly from a non U.S. Port...and they did not have a passport book since they were 'only going on a cruise'? It is a bit more expensive to get the book vs. the card, but it's worth it in my opinion. You never know when you'll need it.

Why you should purchase travel insurance

I have always offered insurance to each and every client and require a waiver from those who choose not to purchase it. We are just such a litigious society these days and I don't want to leave myself open to liability in case someone realizes too late they did need the coverage.
So why is insurance so important? Check out Peter Greenberg's advice. Though the article is a couple of years old it is still relevant. Maybe even more so with the steady decline of airline service and increase of fees!
Maybe I'm extra cautious from personal experience with all types of insurance, but I always get it. (living in south Florida we had 5 car accidents in 2 years, only 1 our fault...my health insurance hates me I think) Luckily I've never had to make a travel insurance claim, but the peace of mind is definitely worth it. I have heard some horror stories from people who did.
My personal top reasons to buy travel insurance.....

Medical coverage
It's not just for old people! One couple on vacation in Greece found themselves needing emergency medical attention when the husband slipped and hit his head on a rock during a shore excursion. This will also cover you if you need assistance replacing your prescriptions, or if you personal health insurance does not cover you outside the U.S.


Lost or delayed baggage
The airlines lose an average of 10,000 bags PER DAY! Yep, not a year. It's still a small percentage of the total amount of luggage handled, but it still sucks when it's yours. What happens when your bags are delayed and you're hopping on your cruise ship in a couple of hours. Who's going to reimburse you for all the clothes you have to buy till you get back? (Well, let's hope you're not in this situation b/c you've also taken my advice to never fly in on the day of sailing, but that's another blog)

Travel Guard covers your kids free!
pretty self explanatory, you can't beat free.

Hurricanes
Cruisers biggest fear behind 'not being able to drink all that water'. Get your money back, not just a cruise line voucher in the event your trip is canceled.

NY Times says 'Worst Part of A Trip May Be Booking It on the Web' My thoughts exactly!

A New York Times article this week expressed consumers growing frustration with online booking. According to Forrester Research, people are getting frustrated with all of the small print restrictions a room categories that they must sort through using an online only booking. “Travel companies expect the consumer to behave like a travel agent,” he explained. “The question I always ask these guys is, ‘Could your mother-in-law use your Web site without having to call you for help?’ The answer is always no.”

Top 10 Tips to Overcome Airline Stress

Check out Forbes Traveler's Top 10 Tips to Overcome Airline Stress. I don't know if you can overcome the airline stress, but there are some great tips to deal with it. Airports and flights are just a necessary transportation evil to me. They are a pain to deal with! One of the best parts of living in South Florida was not having to fly to go on a cruise. I wish I could just wake up in my chosen destination without having to go through this pre and post trip torture.
These travel cartoons pretty accurately reflect my view of air travel these days.