The Cruiseman Newsletter
A free newsletter from The Cruiseman Now in our 15th Year!! December 1st, 2008 This weeks features: Cruiseman Articles Cruise From Seattle Grand Turk Island "Cruising's Newest Destination" Happy Hour Cruises from New York / New Jersey Discounted Shore Excursions Travel Agent Myths Do I need Travel Insurance? Who is The Cruiseman, anyway? Cruiseman Testimonials Beware of Travel Scams Support the Fair Tax Passport Requirements CDC Inspections Top 10 myths about cruising and cruise ships. 9 Things I love about cruising 5 Myths about Cruise Travel Agents Some old ships get new lease on life  FLEET INFO: Carnival Fleet Royal Caribbean Fleet Princess Fleet Holland America Fleet Celebrity Fleet Radisson Fleet   POPULAR STUFF Cruises from: Norfolk, Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia & Jacksonville Fund Raisers, Incentives & Rewards Travel Insurance Pre-Cruise Registration Land Vacations   Cool Tools:   Search 23 Cruise Lines Search By Departure Port Resort Vacations Request a quote Check Airfare - All Major Airlines         The Cruiseman Jim Antista, President 4560 S. Campbell Suite I Springfield. MO 65810 Toll-Free Nationwide: 800-889-7683 From North Carolina: 919-772-8855 From Springfield, MO (only) 800-TRAVEL-LINE Monday - Friday  10-6 CST Saturday  10-2 CST Closed Sundays Email: jim@cruiseman.com Web Site: http://www.cruiseman.com   * Free Cruise Offer: Winners will receive a Free 2 Night Cruise, for two adults, to Nassau aboard the Regal Empress. (you just pay the port taxes of $59pp).  The Regal Empress sails from Ft. Lauderdale year-round. Reservations are made by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, not The Cruiseman. Subject to restrictions as stated on the certificate.  Certificate is transferable, but may not be sold.  This program is not a time-share promotion, and there is no  purchase of anything required.       The Fine Print: * A NOTE ABOUT RATES: Unless otherwise stated, all rates quoted in this newsletter or on our web site are per person, double occupancy, and include port taxes. Govt. fees are usually additional. Specials do not usually last very long, so we advise that you don't spent too much time "thinking about it". If you see something you like, call us immediately   Past issues of this newsletter are stored HERE   The name "The Cruiseman" is protected by US Trademark. ™   From your editor From Your Editor Bargains are abundant right now!  Did you know that if you are planning a cruise anytime in the next two years, you can lock it in now at todays very low rates, and then pay it off later?   Amazingly most people will wait until the rates go back up before deciding to book their next cruise vacation!  Go figure! Cruise - Lay - A - Way Program!  Here's how it works.  Pick any cruise up to two years away. Put down a small deposit. This locks in your future cruise at todays low prices. Then we will set up a monthly payment schedule. And if something comes up, you can cancel the reservation up until 75 days prior to the cruise, and still get a refund.  It's a no brainer!  Call our office today! Holiday Gift Certificates. We have gift certificates for cruises starting at just $418 for two people?  CLICK HERE for the details, and then call our office. It's not too late to give the gift of cruising! Did you know?  A new online survey of more than 1,000 households by CLIA says families take cruises often because the price is right and the cruise experience offers unique advantages over comparably priced land-based vacations. More than 60% said they used a travel agent at least "on occasion" to plan a cruise vacation, with 40% saying they use agents "most" of the time or "always". Over 83% of families said cruise vacations are very good or an extremely good value. Tuesday Happy Hours  Royal Caribbean Happy Hour  CLICK HERE Celebrity Cruises Preferred Clients Sale  CLICK HERE Royal Caribbean End of Year Blowout Sale  CLICK HERE Cruiseman Funnies Amazingly Simple Home Remedies;  1. If you are choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself. 2. Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.  3. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. 4. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives -- then you will be afraid to cough.   Letters We Love We enjoyed it thoroughly! This was our first cruise celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary. Jim was a big help in all respects.  When I had questions, he had quick answers. -- Ed & Debbie Vernoy -- Beaufort, SC  (Carnival Spirit Aug. 7th, 2008) For more Cruiseman Testimonials,  CLICK HERE The Cruiseman Newsletter is published twice monthly by The Cruiseman of Springfield, MO.  If you wish to modify, change or cancel your subscription, please use the automated link at the end of the newsletter.  This is a free publication and we encourage you to forward it to your friends and associates. Worldwide Destinations: The Bahamas and The Caribbean It's easy to find reasons why more people take cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean than anywhere else in the world. A warm climate; an astounding array of ports of call, each with its own distinctive character and appeal; thousands of beaches, including some of the world's best; great shopping at duty free prices; and incredibly clear seas teeming with marine life make this part of the world a perfect cruise vacation destination. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE For more information on these popular ports of call  CLICK HERE -- Source:   www.cruising.org Cruiseman news Royal Caribbean Revises Disembarkation Process Royal Caribbean International introduced new procedures fleetwide to further ease the departure process on all ships. The company also added programming for guests who are staying onboard for multiple sailings. “We listened to our guests’ feedback regarding the opportunity to transform the departure experience and responded with the launch of a refreshed process fleetwide,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president-hotel operations at Royal Caribbean. “Early testing aboard Freedom of the Seas has yielded very positive guest feedback, with the enhanced communications cited as one of the most helpful tools for our guests on departure day. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE Carnival Wins Big In Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Annual ‘Readers Choice Awards,’ Taking Home Honors In Nine Categories Carnival Cruise Lines led the way once again in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Reader Choice Awards,” winning in nine different categories, including two new categories – Best Web Site and Best Mexican Itineraries. Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Readers Choice Awards” are determined by thousands of the publication’s readers who vote on their favorite cruise line in a wide variety of categories. Since the awards were established in 1999, Carnival has taken home an unprecedented 101 “Readers Choice Awards” – the most of any cruise line.              Carnival’s 2008 “Readers Choice Awards” include: Best Megaship (Carnival Freedom) Best Children’s Programs Best Value-for-the-Money Best Short-Duration Cruise Best Shore Excursions Best Web Site Best Main Dining Room Cuisine  Best Entertainment Best Mexican Itineraries For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE       Princess Receives Three Top Honors in Porthole Readers' Choice Awards Line Voted Best for Itineraries and Onboard Boutiques Princess Cruises has received top honors in three categories of Porthole Cruise Magazine's 2008 Annual Readers' Choice Awards. The line won Best Central American Itineraries, Best Australia/New Zealand Itineraries, and Best Onboard Shopping. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE      Carnival Cruise Lines to Increase Capacity on 2010 New York Departures Carnival Cruise Lines will increase capacity on its seasonal cruise program from New York in 2010 with the 2,978-passenger Carnival Glory scheduled to operate a variety of four and five-day Atlantic Canada voyages from June to September, followed by a series of five week-long fall foliage cruises. It marks the first time that Carnival has deployed one of its largest ships on the highly popular program.  The 110,000-ton Carnival Glory features a wide variety of exceptional facilities, amenities and stateroom accommodation categories For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE A Look At The Carnival Liberty’s Two New 750-Square-Foot Suites Underscoring the increasing popularity of balcony and suite accommodations, Carnival recently completed the construction of two expansive new 750-square-foot suites aboard the Carnival Liberty.   The newly completed suites — the largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet — feature a new cabin configuration with a separate bedroom, expansive living area and two bathrooms. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE Carnival Dream to Host 2009 Bloggers Cruises  Carnival Cruise Lines' popular senior cruise director and blogger John Heald will host two Bloggers Cruises aboard the new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream in 2009. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE Celebrity to Resume Bermuda Cruises Celebrity Cruises announced plans to resume cruises to Bermuda in 2010.  The Celebrity Summit will reposition from San Juan to Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ on April 17, 2010, for a series of seven-night roundtrip Bermuda itineraries. The ship will dock at King's Wharf, Bermuda, also known as the Royal Naval Dockyard. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE Good bye QE2 On Thanksgiving Day , she concluded her final voyage in service to Cunard® and headed towards her new life as a first-class hotel and entertainment destination in Dubai Named by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1967, QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 has set a number of extraordinary records:   For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE Oceania ship fends off piracy attempt Two small skiffs pursued Oceania Cruises’ Nautica and one fired eight rifle shots during the vessel’s transit of the Gulf of Aden this morning. The ship took evasive action and no one aboard was harmed, with no damage sustained. ‘Eight shots were fired and none hit the ship. The closest the pirates ever got to the vessel was 300 meters,’ Oceania president Bob Binder SAID. For the rest of this article  CLICK HERE cruiseman contest Last Time's Question:   How much does The Cruiseman charge for "service charges"? The Answer is :    None!  Nothing!  Nada! Here are our two winners:  Dorann Perry -- Ft. Myers, FL Ellen Donley  -- Ft. Myers, FL This weeks Cruiseman Contest Question: How many "Readers Choice Awards" did Carnival Cruise Line receive? (this year) We will select two winners.  Each winner will receive a certificate good for Free Cancellation Insurance for their next cruise booked with The Cruiseman!  Good Luck!  If you are listed as a winner,  you don't need to call or write.  We will mail your certificate out to you in the mail. Incomplete entries will be tossed out! You must follow the instructions below. HINT: "Postal Address" is not your email address!!! THE INSTRUCTIONS 1. Don't change the subject line. 2. Type your answer in the message area, not the subject line. 3. Do not copy and paste from the newsletter. 4. Include your name & postal address (in case you win!). 5.  DO NOT hit your reply button, or your entry will go to the wrong address! 6. One entry per household, please.   OKAY, To enter The Contest: CLICK HERE TO ENTER   The Cruiseman Newsletter is published twice monthly by The Cruiseman of Springfield, MO.  If you wish to modify, change or cancel your subscription, please use the automated link at the end of the newsletter. This is a free publication and we encourage you to forward it to your friends and associates.