My travel agency is an  Independent Travel Center which is one of the best travel and cruise agency in the U.S and I am proud to offer our products and services to my customers.

Below are some of the different cruise lines and tour operators that we offer and use to give you the most value for your money and best vacation ever.  My agency offers both the convenience of Internet booking for those who like to do themselves to one on one planning of your vacation.

You can click on any of the links below and check out money saving specials, departure dates, reviews of cruises lines and tours to see if it is the right fit for you and your family.

Need help planning a family reunion or that special anniversary, Honey Moon or a quick get-a-way?  Give us a try!

If you ever have questions you may call me at 1-360-687-9579 and I would be delighted to help you with your travel plans.

Capt Bob

Cruise Lines

Azamara Cruises | Carnival Cruises | Celebrity Cruises | Costa Cruise Line | Crystal Cruises | Cunard Cruises | Disney Cruises | Holland America | Hurtigruten | MSC Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Lines | Oceania Cruises | Princess Cruises | Regent Cruises | Royal Caribbean | Seabourn Cruises | SeaDream Yacht Club | Silversea Cruises | Uniworld River Cruises | Viking River Cruises | Windstar Cruises

Tour Operators

Abercrombie and Kent | African Travel | Brendan Tours | Brennan Vacations | Central Holidays | CIE Tours | Contiki | Cosmos | Globus | Insight Vacations | Key Tours | Monograms | Qantas Vacations | Smithsonian Journeys | Tauck Tours | Trafalgar Tours | Viking Tours

Destinations

Africa Cruises | Africa Tours | Alaska Cruises | Asia Cruises | Australia Tours | Bahamas Cruises | Bermuda Cruises | Caribbean Cruises | Europe Cruises | Europe Tours | Hawaii Cruises | Mediterranean Cruises | Mexico Cruises | Mexico Tours | New Zealand Tours | Panama Canal Cruises | South America Cruises | South America Tours | South Pacific Cruises | USA Tours

Why Take a Cruise Vacation ?

Have you ever considered taking a cruise vacation but just aren’t sure if it would be right for you? With all the cruise lines choices, all the different destinations, the range of prices, there is a cruise that is just right for you and your family! One of best ways to find if a cruise is the right vacation for you is to ask your friends, relatives and experienced travel professional that is versed in cruise travel.

Packing and Unpacking only Once!

Think about this, on a cruise you don’t drive anywhere for 7, 10, 14 days or more.  Now, even if you were on a bus tour with no driving yourself, you still have to haul your luggage or at least pack and unpack it at each stop. On a cruise, you check your luggage when you check in and it magically appears in your cabin, stateroom, or suite. You unpack once, feeling at home for the duration of the cruise. The cruise staff will tell you when to place your bags outside your accommodations at the end of the cruise and, just as magically, your luggage will be waiting for you on shore at a designated pick-up point. Taking a cruise vacation frees you from a lot of the hassles and headaches of traveling.

I am sure you have taken a driving vacation

There’s always the question of where and when to stop to eat when your driving.   All your meals and snacks are included in the price of your cruise and great food is one of the main attractions of taking a cruise.  Most contemporary cruises take into account the modern casual lifestyle and provide a variety of restaurants and snack bars on board. Typically, there is a varied and plentiful breakfast and lunch buffets similar to what you would find in any resort. You can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner in one of the ship’s restaurants, ordering exactly what you want from the ample menu, prepared fresh just for you. The ship’s restaurants are usually open for meals for extended hours and buffets are generally open all day and into the night.  They also have the comfort foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and ice cream for the kids and adults alike.  And there is always the midnight buffet available on most cruises?  Room service (free of charge) is available 24 hours a day.  Your choices are unlimited for your dining pleasures. Lobster dinner anyone! By the way you can have more than one!

Dining is an important event on a cruise ship

This is tradition dating back when cruises were for royalty and the wealthy, who expected elegant formal dinners. In today’s lifestyle, an elegant dinner is optional and for those who prefer to dine casually, the dinner buffet is available usually until 9 pm or later.  Most cruise ships offer excellent dining options, especially at dinner, in the main dining rooms (there are 2 or 3 dining rooms) or offer meals at upscale specialty restaurants at additional cover charge per person.  Cruise lines base much of their reputation on their food service and the terms such as “world class cuisine” and “gourmet meals” are combined with “impeccable service” to insure that the on-board dining experience is truly memorable one.  By the way, room service is free and available 24 hours a day, and you get the same great meals serve  on your balcony or in your  room.  For those who prefer a romantic quite dinner for two, all cruise lines  offer, for a nominal charge,  a romantic champagne dinner for 2, with all the trimmings, in your stateroom and you may add other favorites like flowers to surprise that special someone in your life.  Many cruises still offer one or more optional formal dinners where ladies wear long formal gowns or other evening dresses and gentlemen wear tuxedos or dark suits. Expect to see this offered at lease once on a seven day cruise to twice during longer cruises of 14 days or more.

Once on-board your cruise ship

There are activities 24 hours a day.  Modern cruise ships boast state-of-the-art 900 plus plus seat theaters for quality shows and entertainment, all  included in the cruise price. There is always unique entertainment in the theater every evening of the cruise and if you miss first show there is a second one that follows.  Most ships also have a number of themed bars, lounges, and discos with live entertainment that are open into the early morning hours. Most cruise lines will have different acts come on-board at each port of call and will sail and do their show until the next port of  call.  Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are seldom included in the cruise price. You may purchase coffee and soft drink cards on the first day of the cruise.  This will save you a lot of money because the card is good for the entire cruise.  All cruises  also provide a casino that is open while the ship is in international waters.  Don’t forget they also have a movie theater on- board just in case you missed that just released movie you planned to watch.  Not tickets required and snacks served during the showing.  Did I mention Movies Under the Stars!

If night life isn’t your style

You and your family can enjoy the on-board pool, shops,  spa’s, library, world class fitness centers and other amenities while on-board.  Many cruises now offer instructional classes on a variety of topics during each day of your cruise for adults and children. Each activity is posted daily to your room.  Many also offer special lectures with world famous speakers.  Every cruise line offers the art lovers venues because they offer art from all over the world to be auctioned off during the cruise, some are one of kind.  The casino’s are open only when a sea and offer a variety of poker to slots to Bingo tournaments  with cash awards to the winners!  Never gambled before but would like to learn, they have casino personnel to show you the ends and out of the games and no cost to you.  There is always something for the whole family to do while on-board ship!

Consider taking your Children on the cruise

The cruise lines provide specializes play areas and programs geared to different age groups, each with its own trained staff.  Some cruises lines offer “kids sail free” when staying in their parents staterooms others offer this as a promotion to get the whole family involved in cruising.  There are a few rules and you need to check with cruise lines to insure your children safety and your own peace of mind.  Don’t worry, your children will have plenty to do while board and they get their own ship daily program of events just for them delivered to your stateroom. Some ships have their own dinning areas just for kids.

Don’t forget about the cruise destinations itself

Cruises typically stop at a different port of call each day or every other day, depending upon distances and sailing time between points of interest. You have the option to stay on-aboard the ship all day or disembark at any stop. You are free to explore each destination on your own as long as you return to the ship by the designated time.  If there is place in the world you would like to explore, consider a cruise.  A cruise will give you a taste of each port so you can consider whether you would like to come back and stay for a longer vacation.  Remember, your hotel is in the harbor waiting for you when you return.

Cruise lines offer a variety of shore excursions at additional cost

You should  arrange your excursions prior to departure or while on-board.  Remember, one thing, the most popular excursion may not be available once the ship leave port.  Check with the excursion desk when you first arrive to check availability of the excursion you would like to take.  Ships excursions are geared toward the unique features of the destination. For example, Caribbean cruises offer snorkeling, diving or beach excursions while Alaskan cruises offer helicopter tours of the glaciers, dogsled trips to gold panning.  For the less adventuresome,  there are bus tours or supervised shopping excursions in the local port.  Everything, including meal stops, is prearranged. All you need to do is find the correct line on-shore and an experienced guide handles the rest of your tour.  But don’t worry the ships has plenty of people out there to help you find the excursion you paid for, normally the ship will have briefings on where to find your excursion before you leave the ship.

Don’t forget to Celebrate those Special Occasions

Anniversaries, Birthdays, Graduations, Weddings, Honeymoons are all special and a cruise is a great way to show how much you care.  The ships staff will make a fuss over your very special occasion from singing Happy Birthday to hanging an announcements outside your door telling the world you are special.  Make sure you let the cruise line know ahead of time, so they will be prepared to help you celebrate that all important occasion.

Types of Staterooms

What type of stateroom should you consider?  This is a question only you can answer.  It depends on many factors, cost, the number of guest that will be sharing a stateroom.  Normally, a cruise lines offers a variety of staterooms in the same category.  Your choices are an Inside stateroom, Outside View stateroom, Balconies staterooms and  Suites.

Inside stateroom

Are generally about 160 to 180 square foot, comes with 2 standard beds (converts to a queen) with a small closet, luggage storage is under the bed, a vanity with bathroom with shower,telephone and television and is generally the least expensive way to cruise.  Inside staterooms with accommodate  up to four depending on the size and number of beds.  Some cruise ships offer inside staterooms that rival the best balcony in square footage but with out a view.  Some of the bigger Cruise  ships now offer solo passenger staterooms overlooking the promenade at a reasonable price.

Outside stateroom

Are generally about 180 to 220 square feet and comes with 2 standard beds (convert to a queen) with a average size closet, luggage storage is under the bed, a vanity with bathroom and shower, telephone,television and generally either comes with a full size floor to ceiling window that opens to allow fresh air to enter the room. These rooms can accommodate up to 3 or 4 depending on size and number of beds in the room.  Some of these outside  stateroom are offered in obstructed view (means outside view may be blocked by life boats or other objects) which is usually cheaper on the wallet but offers less privacy.

Balcony Staterooms

Are generally about 220 to 350 square feet which includes the balcony and comes with 2 standard or 2 queens size beds that convert to either a queen or king.  It has a walk-in bath area with vanity, larger closet that will accommodate some luggage with luggage storage under the bed, telephone, television and mini-bar plus frig.  These staterooms will accommodate 3 or 4 people depending on size and beds.  Advantage to a balcony verses an outside or inside stateroom is privacy.  Your room opens to a balcony that has chairs and a table so you can relax after a hard day of exploring.  Watching an early morning sun rise with your morning coffee or a late night sail-a-way with your favorite beverage  is worth the price.

Mini-Suites

Are generally between 250 to 350 square feet and comes with a balcony.  They come with 2 standard or queen beds that convert to either a queen or king with a separate living room area.  Also included is a bar area, a walk in bath with vanity, luggage storage in over size closets, telephones, one or two televisions.  Mini-suites can accommodate up to 4 again depending on location and size.

Suites

Are generally between 350 to 14000 square feet and come in different categories.  They come with all the amenities of the mini-suite but with two to three or more bedrooms with children’s room adjoining.  Additional things found in suites are DVD players with movies on demand, IPOD docks, and computer terminals.  Bathrooms generally are a separate area with walk in jacuzzi type tubs and separate showers with large dressing rooms and separate walk-in closets. Suites have a separate living area and butler service area. All  suites (except Mini’s) have a full time butler and concierge which they will take care of all your request and needs (from arranging excursion to dining arrangements with one simple telephone call)  from the time to check-in until you depart the ship.  Another advantage to taking a suite is you are given preference when checking in or off the ship.

Consider upgrading!

It never hurts to ask the for a cost comparison between stateroom categories.  You might be surprised to find for less that $100 per person you can be in a balcony or suite.  Always ask your travel agent about special cruise offers and last minute deals.  You can save hundreds of dollars my working closely with your travel agent.  With all these great services available at a reasonable cost, why not take a cruise vacation? Follow the link below to my cruise site.

CruisesbyCaptBob

Have you been offered a dream vacation with a company you have never hear before or been solicited saying your name was drawn because you entered at contest, then read on.

ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) is cautioning consumers to be wary of travel offers that sound too good to be true. “Everyone likes to think they can’t get scammed, but savvy scammers have a host of tricks and techniques that can fool even the most skeptical among us,” said Chris Russo, ASTA president and chair. “That’s why it’s so important for people to stop and ask themselves if a vacation deal is simply too good to be true. The peace of mind that comes from working with a professional travel agent, such as those who belong to ASTA, is priceless.”

Retain a healthy dose of skepticism. Be extremely skeptical about unsolicited email, postcard and phone solicitations saying you’ve been selected to receive a fabulous vacation or anything free. Be especially wary of firms requiring you to wait at least 60 days to take your trip. Do your homework. Some offers might sound great on the surface, but be sure to read the fine print. Certain offers impose so many requirements and restrictions, such as black-out dates and companion fees, that you will either never have the chance to take the trip or you will end up paying more than had you made the arrangements on your own or used an ASTA travel agent.

Run a background check. Consumers should vet the companies from which they purchase travel services. They can do this by searching for the company on the Better Business Bureau’s website or by checking to see if they are members of ASTA. Other sites to check are www.complaintsboard.com and www.ripoffreport.com.

Keep private information private. Never give out your credit card number unless you initiate the transaction and you are confident about the company with which you are doing business.

Get the facts. You should receive complete details in writing about any trip prior to payment. These details should include the total price; cancellation and change penalties, if any; and specific information about all components of the package.

Follow up. Once you have the complete details of your trip, contact the hotel and transportation companies on your own to make certain the reservations have been made. Know where you stand. If you insist on replying to an email or calling a 900 number in response to a travel solicitation, understand the charges and know the risks.

Know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away. High-pressure sales presentations that don’t allow you time to evaluate the offer, or which require that you disclose your income are red flags to be heeded. Protect yourself. Always pay with a credit card if possible. For more information, visit www.asta.org.

ASTA offers the following suggestions when evaluating any travel offer to help avoid being a victim of a travel scam:

• Retain a healthy dose of skepticism. Be extremely skeptical about unsolicited e-mail, postcard and phone solicitations saying you’ve been selected to receive a fabulous vacation or anything free. Be especially wary of firms requiring you to wait at least 60 days to take your trip.
• Do your homework. Some offers might sound great on the surface, but be sure to read the fine-print. Certain offers impose so many requirements and restrictions, such as black-out dates and companion fees, that you will either never have the chance to take the trip or you will end up paying more than had you made the arrangements on your own or used an ASTA travel agent
• Run a “background check.” Consumers should vet the companies from which they purchase travel services. They can do this by searching for the company on the Better Business Bureau’s Web site or by checking to see if they are members of ASTA. Other sites to check are http://www.complaintsboard.com/ and http://www.ripoffreport.com/.
• Keep private information private. Never give out your credit card number unless you initiate the transaction and you are confident about the company with which you are doing business.
• Get the facts. You should receive complete details in writing about any trip prior to payment. These details should include the total price; cancellation and change penalties, if any; and specific information about all components of the package.
• Follow up. Once you have the complete details of your trip, contact the hotel and transportation companies on your own to make certain the reservations have been made.
• Know where you stand. If you insist on replying to an e-mail or calling a 900-number in response to a travel solicitation, understand the charges and know the risks.
• Know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away. High-pressure sales presentations that don’t allow you time to evaluate the offer, or which require that you disclose your income are red flags to be heeded.
• Protect yourself. Always pay with a credit card if possible. Even legitimate companies can go out of business. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, credit card customers have the right to refuse paying for charges for services not rendered. Details of the Fair Credit Billing Act can be found at the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site.

If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your local Better Business Bureau, your local or state Consumer Affairs Office, state attorney general’s office, or e-mail ASTA’s Consumer Affairs department at consumeraffairs@asta.org for information and assistance.

Regardless of travel plans, using a professional ASTA travel agent can time and money. For information, visit TravelSense.org. There, consumers not only can find travel tips and advice but an ASTA travel agent in their area who specializes in a particular destination or type of travel on the Find a Travel Agent Directory.

ABOUT ASTA
ASTA’s (American Society of Travel Agents) mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business.

Cruise lines head back to Alaska

After sailing a-way from the State of Alaska, which seemed hell-bended to tax cruise ships out of their coastal waters, many cruise lines are now heading back to the ports of the land of the midnight sun with more ships, more sailings and more capacity.

Earlier this year, the Alaska legislature, on the heels of a terrible revenue and low-capacity season, voted to lower the previously raised head tax on cruise passengers. With the news of a new lower head tax , Princess Cruises announced it will be adding a fourth ship to it’s popular Voyage of the Glaciers run after two years of running at reduced capacity.

“We are particularly appreciative of the efforts of Governor Sean Parnell and the Alaska state legislature that have resulted in meaningful progress toward resolving the challenges facing Alaska’s recovery as a cruise destination,” said Princess President and CEO Alan Bucklew.

Today’s announcement by Norwegian Cruise Lines to position it ship, the Norwegian Jewel, on an inside passage itinerary from Seattle is the latest in a string of “Thanks for reducing the head tax” moves by the cruise lines. This year, joining the Norwegian Pearl , the Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s inside passage, sailing to Glacier Bay from Seattle, replacing Norwegian Star that will sail to Bermuda for the first time from her new home in New York City.

As some cruise lines head back to Alaska, first timers are throwing in their lot by adding capacity to Alaska Cruise Market.
Disney Cruise Line is sailing North with Disney Wonder as the line doubles its size by adding Disney Dream debuting in January and Disney Fantasy in 2012. Another first-timer, Oceania Cruises will send their Regatta on a series of departures from San Francisco, Vancouver or Anchorage.  Alaska is second most popular cruise destination in the world