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Travel Insurance
"My Luggage is Not Here&ldots;What Happens Now?" The
issue of mishandled or lost checked baggage, according to the
Department of Transportation, occurs to 7.37 per 1,000 passengers who
travel aboard a U.S. airline. (To find out more, visit www.dot.gov/).
These occurrences can cause stress and aggravation to a traveler.
If your bags aren’t waiting for you at the airport, the first
thing to do is to locate the baggage agent on duty. Your bags may
have arrived before you, and may be in a secure area. If your bags
are in fact not there, do not leave the airport before completing the
proper paperwork for the baggage agent. Make sure you get a copy of
your claim form and a telephone number to follow up.
The Cruiseman's travel protection program includes both
baggage delay and lost baggage benefits. In the event that checked
baggage is delayed for 24 hours or more, a claim can be filed for
costs incurred by the traveler for additional clothing and personal
articles purchased. In the event the bags are lost, the baggage
benefit will cover up to $500 for the first lost article and up to
$250 for each additional article up to the maximum benefit.
Baggage coverage comes in handy when a travel supplier does not
provide any reimbursement for a delay or loss and the traveler’s
homeowner's or renter’s insurance policy has a deductible of
$500 or higher. Travelers can have peace of mind knowing that with
our program, they have coverage in case the unexpected happens to
their luggage.
For more on our low cost Travel Insurance program CLICK
HERE
Oceania & Silversea revealed details about their upcoming
new ships:
• Silversea will rename its newly acquired expedition ship the
Prince Albert II, in tribute to Prince Albert of Monaco, and said the
vessel would begin operations June 12 from London. The ship will
spend an inaugural summer season in the Arctic Circle, Iceland and
Greenland and reposition to South America and Antarctica for fall and winter.
• Oceania said that its two newbuilds, scheduled for delivery in
2010 and 2011, would accommodate 1,252 passengers in 626 cabins and
suites; the line said that 96% of the cabins would have balconies.
Each ship will have six open-seating restaurants, Oceania said, and
the vessels will be "awash in rich, dark woods, Italian marble,
lustrous granite, fine wool carpets and sumptuous leather."
Crystal & Oceania have opened the books on their 2009 sailings
with an emphasis on overnight port calls.
• Crystal in 2009 is sailing 57 cruises to 185 ports on cruises
of seven to 106 days. Its two ships will sail in Asia and offer
overnight calls in Hong Kong; Shanghai; Osaka and Kobe, Japan; and
Bangkok. The line also will include overnight calls on most of its
Mediterranean sailings, in cities such as Barcelona, Spain; Sorrento
and Venice, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; and Monaco.
• Oceania, meanwhile, detailed its Europe deployment: It will
position its three ships in Europe for summer 2009, sailing the
Mediterranean and Greek Isles and Northern Europe. Oceania will offer
56 European voyages ranging from 10 to 30 days and calling at more
than 80 different ports, including five new destinations for the
line: Hellesylt, Norway; Fowey, England; Biarritz, France; Koper,
Slovenia; and Split, Croatia. The line said it was offering more
overnight stays than in previous years.
What to do about the fallen dollar?
With the dollar continuing to fall, veteran travel expert Arthur
Frommer has a suggestion: consider traveling to alternative
destinations where the dollar remains strong such as Central and
South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Asia, particularly China.
Norwegian Jade to Serve Europe Year-Round
Norwegian Cruise Line will enlist Norwegian Jade year-round in Europe
through spring 2010. This is the first time the cruise line has ever
deployed a ship to the region on a full-time basis.
The ship, formerly the Pride of Hawaii, which was switched out of
inter-island cruising last month, will begin its maiden Europe season
on March 30. The ship was originally scheduled to end its European
season this November.
As part of its deployment, NCL is unveiling three new itineraries:
12-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings, nine-day Canary Islands and
Morocco sailings and a one-off, 14-day Eastern Mediterranean holiday
cruise. All sailings are roundtrip from Barcelona.
Seabourn Extends 2-for-1 Business Class Air to Europe
Seabourn Cruise Line is expanding on a special promotion it announced
last month offering two-for-one international business class airfares
to include additional cruises in Europe in length of nine to 15 days.
The airfares are available from 38 North American cities for cruises
embarking in such cities as Lisbon, Venice, London, Copenhagen and
Istanbul. The complimentary airfare has a value of up to $5,800 per
couple and may be combined with savings of up to 40 percent off
published fares.
Carnival Offers Incentives in Conjunction with Inaugural Voyage Anniversary
March 1972 marked the first voyage of Carnival Cruise Lines and to
celebrate the anniversary, Carnival is rolling out
“Funtennial,” a variety of special offers and giveaways
throughout the month of March.
The month-long promotion will feature a different booking incentive
each week and include free stateroom upgrades, shipboard credits and
other savings.
Additionally, each week in March a drawing will be held awarding a
free cruise, along with a variety of digital cameras.
NCL Discounts Baltic Sailings
Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a 12-day Baltic Capitals cruise on
Norwegian Jewel roundtrip from London on June 22 for $1,549 per
person for a best available inside room.
The cruise will call in Cophenhagen; Warnemünde, Germany;
Stockholm; Helsinki; St. Petersburg; and Tallinn, the largest city
and capital of Estonia.
Independence to return in 2009
One of the world’s three largest cruise ships, Independence of
the Seas, is to make a return to the UK next year. The
Royal Caribbean International is giving the Freedom-class vessel its
debut in the UK with sailings from Southampton in May, following its
formal launch in the port next month.
Balmoral arrives in Miami
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ latest ship Balmoral has arrived in
Miami on schedule to start a series of Caribbean cruises.
The 1,340-passenger ship, the largest in the line’s fleet, will
run ten and eleven night Caribbean fly/cruises from Miami before
returning to Europe and an early summer cruise programme from
Civitavecchia (the port of Rome).
HAL expands Pacific-Asia coverage
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