CruiseOne

Just in time for Memorial Day, CruiseOne – one of the nation’s top travel retailers as part of World Travel Holdings (WTH) – today announced the launch of an innovative new contest honoring the nation’s military heroes.  Dubbed ‘Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General,’ the campaign will award free franchises to former members of the U.S. military.  The contest comes on the heels of CruiseOne’s ‘Second Chance at Success’ initiative, which rolled out in 2010 and helped five unemployed educators launch new careers in the travel industry. 

“Hundreds of thousands of veterans are in the process of returning home from deployments and searching for the right next step.  The transition is not an easy one and comes with a unique set of challenges,” said Dwain Wall, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CruiseOne. “CruiseOne is proud to stand up and support veterans with this new contest, as well as our other ongoing veteran appreciation programs.  We look forward to helping this group get a fresh start in an exciting business with tremendous future growth potential.” 

The CruiseOne contest is open to former members of any of the five branches of the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) who are retired, off active duty and/or were honorably discharged prior to May 15, 2012.  To participate, candidates must complete an online entry form by September 14, 2012.  The form and all contest details can be found at www.OperationVetrepreneur.com or on CruiseOne’s Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/CruiseOneFranchise. 

There will be three rounds of judging as part of this contest.  First, candidates will participate in a phone interview with a CruiseOne franchise development specialist.  Semi-finalists will be required to submit a franchise application, business plan and resume, all of which will be scored by the CruiseOne executive team.  Final candidates will be invited to participate in follow-up phone interviews before winners are selected. 

“As an active member of the International Franchise Association and VetFran initiative, CruiseOne is passionate about helping veterans build their own businesses,” said Tim Courtney, CFE, Director of Franchise Development for CruiseOne.  “By nature, people who join the military are service oriented, hard-working and results-oriented when given the right training.  We have a terrific success rate amongst veterans and are excited to see what the winners of this contest are able to achieve as part of our family.”

Five Grand Prize Winners will be announced in November 2012.  Each will receive a free CruiseOne franchise including a waived $9,800 initial start-up fee, as well as one year of waived monthly service fees.  Additionally, CruiseOne will bring the winners to its new state-of-the-art corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for six days of in-depth training from November 12-17.  Winners will be reimbursed for their travel and provided with complimentary accommodations during the training program. 

For more information, visit www.OperationVetrepreneur.com. 

About CruiseOne:

CruiseOne, the nation’s leading home-based franchise travel agent network, is this year celebrating its 20^th anniversary in business.  The company is part of World Travel Holdings (WTH), the nation’s largest cruise retailer, and has relationships with every major cruise line and many tour operators.  As a result, CruiseOne offers travel agents the highest commissions possible, while offering consumers the lowest possible pricing.  CruiseOne is consistently recognized for its efforts, including being named Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Elite Travel Partner of the Year,” Royal Caribbean’s “Partner of the Year,” Celebrity Cruises’ “National Account Partner of the Year” and Carnival Cruise Line’s “Travel Partner of the Year.” 

A proud member of the International Franchise Association (IFA), MinorityFRAN, and VetFRAN, CruiseOne is consistently ranked as a franchise leader, including being named to Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 500”, Forbes magazine’s “Top 20 Franchises to Start,” the Franchise Market’s “Top 100 Companies,” and FranchiseBusinessReview’s “Top Low-Cost Franchises.”  The company was the only travel industry company named to G.I. Jobs magazine’s 2012 Military Friendly Franchises® list, which represents the top 10 percent of the nation’s franchises that are doing the most to support military veterans. 

*Contest begins 5/28/2012 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends 9/14/2012 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Must be 18 or older, have computer and internet connection, be legal resident of the US or DC and former member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is retired, off active duty and/or was honorably discharged prior to the start date of the Contest. One (1) submission per contestant. Sponsored by CruiseOne, Inc., 1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ste. 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. See [www.OperationVetrepreneur.com]for complete Rules and details.

Norwegian Cruise Line

I took my first cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line when they introduced Freestyle cruising.  I sailed from New York City to the Bahamas and back.  From check in, to finding our way around on board, to booking dinner reservations.  I found everything was well laid out & easy to find.  We loved the entertainment from swimming to bowling to enjoying great shows & movies, the unlimited variety of meals & the great services of our cabin steward.  I really thought it was value for money considering everything was included expect alcohol, internet & a well deserved tip for our friendly cabin steward.  

Freestyle Cruising® is all about flexibility and freedom. Freedom from stress. Freedom from schedules. Freedom to create your own vacation. On an NCL cruise, you can eat where you want, when you want, with whom you want. And with up to 13 different restaurants and dining rooms on board, you can certainly eat whatever you want. You can also dress the way you want and, at the end of your cruise, get off the ship whenever and however work best for you.

Because NCL has the youngest fleet on the planet, you also know you’re getting the coolest, hippest, most innovative vacation on water. There are activities galore both on board and on shore. And, with the widest array of accommodations, you’re sure to find the perfect combination of staterooms no matter how many people are cruising with you. On NCL, you’re always free to whatever.

These Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian) “Special Deals of The Week” are available on select departures and do not include government taxes and fees.  Book with Norwegian reservations at (866) 234-0292 or online. You can choose your deck & cabin so do explore your ship of choice to discover your cosy cabin. Callers should mention the booking code. This week’s specials are:

Ø  Freestyle Dash Limited Time Offer:  Book a cruise on Tuesday, May 22 through Friday, May 25, 2012 and receive up to $250 to spend on board per stateroom (based on cruise length and stateroom category) and reduced deposits. For more information please visit online.

Ø  Airfare Credit Offer:  Receive up to $500 in airfare credits per stateroom on select cruise vacations to Bermuda and Alaska and up to $1,000 on Europe sailings.

Ø  Resident Rates: California residents can receive special rates on select 7-day cruises to Hawaii on board Pride of America now through July 7, 2012.

Ø  Military Rates: Special rates on select sailings to Hawaii, Europe, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Bahamas & Florida and Transatlantic.

Ø  AARP Member Offer: Receive up to 10% off on select sailings and stateroom categories when members book by June 11, 2012.

Alaska

Ø  Norwegian Pearl – $749 Best Available Inside/person: June 10, 24; July 1, 15; September 2, 2012,  7-night Alaska cruise roundtrip from Seattle

Ø  Norwegian Jewel – $749 Best Available Inside/person: June 9, 16, 30; July 28, 2012,  7-night Alaska cruise roundtrip from Seattle

Bahamas & Florida

Ø  Norwegian Sky - $319 Best Available Inside/person: May 28; June 4, 2012,  3 or 4-night Bahamas cruise roundtrip from Miami

Ø  Norwegian Gem – $599 Best Available Inside/person: July 7, 21, 2012,  7-night Bahamas & Florida cruise roundtrip from New York

Bermuda

Ø  Norwegian Dawn – $779 Best Available Inside/person: June 22, 29; July 1, 2012,  7-night Bermuda cruise roundtrip from Boston

Ø  Norwegian Star – $839 Best Available Inside/person: June 17, 24; July 1, 2012,  7-night Bermuda cruise roundtrip from Boston

Europe

Ø  Norwegian Epic – $569 Best Available Inside/person; May 27, 30; June 3, 10, 17, 2012; 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Barcelona

Ø  Norwegian Spirit – $649 Best Available Inside/person: November 24; December 3, 2012, 9-night Canary Island cruise from Barcelona

Ø  Norwegian Sun – $1,229 Best Available Inside/person: May 31; June 9, 18, 27; July 6, 2012; 9-night Baltic Capitals cruise from Copenhagen

Ø  Norwegian Jade - $649 Best Available Inside/person: June 9, 16, 2012; 7-night Adriatic, Greece & Turkey or Greek Isles cruise from Venice

Premier River Cruises

Premier River Cruises announces THREE European AmaWaterways cruises for the holiday season - at significantly reduced prices that INCLUDE airfare and hotel accommodations.

The onset of the holiday season is one of the best times to visit Europe and get a true glimpse into history as the medieval city squares are magically transformed into extraordinary Holiday or Christmas Markets adorned with lights, singing carolers, bustling joyful crowds, and lots of fun and great food to enjoy. These incredible holiday markets date back to the Middle Ages and when one visits these festive events they gain greater insight into the origination of the holiday customs and traditions still carried on today.  These wonderful markets will not only delight and enthrall travelers, they are also the perfect time to find one-of-a-kind holiday bargains.

Four 7-night cruises are currently being offered at unbeatable prices starting at just $2,489 per person, which includes airfare and hotels!

9-nights, Danube River Cruise on the AmaLyra, departure date Nov. 18 from $2,489pp (42% savings)

Itinerary highlights include: 2-nts deluxe hotel in Prague, cruise to; Regensburg, Passau, Linz [optional tour of Salzburg], cruise Wachau Valley, Melk, Durnstein, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest [overnight on ship]

9-nights, Rhine River Cruise on the AmaLegro, departure date Nov. 18 from $2,589pp (36% savings)

Itinerary highlights include: 2-nts deluxe hotel in Prague, cruise to; Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Miltenberg, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, Amsterdam [overnight on ship]

13-nights, Paris, Provence & Barcelona cruise on the AmaDagio, departure date Nov. 18 from $3,689pp (34% savings)

Itinerary highlights include: 3-nts deluxe hotel package in Barcelona, cruise from Arles to; Avignon, Viviers [overnight], Tournon [overnight], Vienne, Trevoux, Lyon [overnight], TGV train to Paris, 3-nts deluxe hotel package in Paris

For those who prefer to travel over Christmas, Premier River Cruises also offers a 9-nt, Dec. 16 Rhine River departure on the AmaLyra at a price of $2,995, inclusive of Prague hotel and airfare (savings 30%)

Each River Cruise Packages Includes:

•  AmaWaterways Premium 7-night river cruise

•  Economy class airfare from most east coast cities [midwest & west, add-on’s available]

•  Deluxe hotel accommodations (number of nights and cities vary)

•  Spacious accommodations with river view

•  All Gourmet meals aboard your River Cruise ship

•  Complimentary small group shore excursions in each port visited

•  Complimentary fine wines & beers served with dinner

•  Nightly live entertainment and 1st run movies

•  Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Party

•  A copy of Premier’s Exclusive Compass Points Planning Guide for Europe

•  Complimentary Internet, Wi-Fi & Fitness Center 

River cruises must be booked by May 15, 2012 to take advantage of this incredible price.

Prices quoted are per person and include select city economy airfare.  Prices do not include port charges of $147pp. Air add-on fares available from many Midwest cities for an additional fee of $100pp and from west coast cities at, $200pp.  Prices and availability are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

To book this cruise or for more information on any river cruise, call Premier River Cruises at 1.855.255.1200 or visit our website:  http://www.premierrivercruises.com

 About AmaWaterways: All AmaWaterways river cruise ships are non-smoking and feature very spacious, elegantly decorated staterooms.  Staterooms and suites come with all the amenities of a fine 4-star resort.  Ships also feature in-room internet and entertainment including large flat panel TV’s, Egyptian linens, spa & Massage treatments, Sauna, beautifully appointed lounges and multiple dining venues offering gourmet cuisine with warm personal service.

Holland America Line

My sister-in-law Heather sent me an email last year from the Volendam while cruising with Holland America.  She enjoyed a cruise to Alaska and loved every minute sailing and enjoying all the wonderful excursions.  She witnessed about 60 dolphins all racing towards the ship, leaping in and out of the swells, from the comfort of her balcony.

Brother-in-law Stanley sent me this update once they had disembarked so I’m sharing it with you. 

We are on our way home from an incredible trip, a must for those interested in scenery, relaxation & adventure. The ship was the Volendam with 1200 passengers and about 500 crew±   Superb food, perfect accommodation and wonderful shore excursions, there was so much to do on board, huge gym and spa, 5 or six lounges ; classical, piano, disco, shows every night, karaoke, a library, casino, internet cafe, card room and scrabble table. We cruised the inside passage,  so often close to shore, spectacular scenery and perfect weather; Food was plentiful and of a very high caliber, we enjoyed the buffet,  along with upscale dining venues for a slight up charge:

The shore excursions were fun, a helicopter ride to a glacier and a walk on the glacier with spiked boots, a bus ride into the Yukon for a canoe paddle and a 1 hour horse ride, the last one was a float plane to a salmon hatchery to see black bears feeding on salmon a bit scary ( we were very close) but great:   The international crew were efficient and extremely pleasant.

All in all a trip I would recommend to every one. BTW  everyday there was a yoga class, pilates and a classes on cooking, correct eating and a computer course, so plenty to do;

Just a footnote the embarkation and disembarkation was so organized that it was quicker than going to the airport!

This got me thinking… where’s the deals so we can cruise too…

Imagine standing on your private verandah and watching whales breach and eagles soar. Imagine being among the lucky few to spend a whole day in Glacier Bay National Park. Imagine traveling through Alaska’s sublime beauty and frontier ports in unsurpassed luxury and comfort. On Holland America Line’s spectacular 7-day Alaska cruise vacations – imagination meets reality. We offer a greater selection of Alaska cruise itineraries than any other cruise line and are the only cruise line to offer Glacier Bay National Park on all three major cruise itineraries. And our spacious, mid-size ships carry fewer guests ensuring quiet corners and unfettered views.

Book your voyage from Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, Canada to Alaska. Call your travel professional or 1.877.932.4259

Click here to see all the special offers from Alaska to South America and don’t forget to welcome the newest lady of the seas… ms Nieuw

Zambezi Queen

The Zambezi Queen has been added to my Bucket List & I just had to share it with you.  This unique boat is a sophisticated, elegant experience that has not lost the essence of all that is uniquely African.

There can be few natural wonders as synonymous with Africa’s raw wilderness as the great Chobe River. These waters divide Namibia’s Caprivi Strip from Botswana’s Chobe National Park, and its exotic banks boast one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent.

Teeming with life, this National Park sprawls across some 11 000 m of lush African bush, and is home to the largest populace of elephants in the world – currently estimated at roughly 120 000. Along with the elephants, prides of leopard and lion, huge groups of buffalo, waterbuck, roan, eland, sable, giraffe, and, if you are lucky, one of the rare puku, can also be seen. In the river itself watch out for hippo and crocodile, and keep your binoculars at the ready for spotting a rich selection of bird life.

It is on this great expanse of untamed water an adventure unlike any other awaits. Why join he crowds on land-based game drives when you can experience the thrill of it all from your own private suite aboard a luxury 45 meter boat?

The Zambezi Queen operates in 5-star opulence, and is all about pampering, indulgence, and superior comfort.

Whether you are dining on the third level restaurant watching the animals gather at the water at dusk, game viewing from one of the private boats, or attempting to land your first tiger fish, the professional team will be on hand to meet your every need.

        Tiger & bream fishing in season
        Accommodation and all meals
        All soft drinks, mineral water, teas and coffee
        Quality wines and beers with meals and
        during game viewing activities
        Water-based game viewing and
        bird watching on tender boats
        A land-based cultural tour of a local village
        A land-based half- day 4x4 game viewing in
        Botswana’s Chobe National Park

Enjoy all the opulence of the Zambezi Queen along with an unforgettable 2012 two night cruise midweek from R7350 approx. $865 per night.

For more information please email info@zambeziqueen.com or call the Office: +27 (0) 21 438 0032