Stellar Travel » Cruises http://stellartravel.com Experience Counts! Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:07:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Alaska CruiseTours + $99 Airfares! http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/alaska-cruisetours-99-airfares http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/alaska-cruisetours-99-airfares#comments Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:09:08 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/?p=1605 Holland America is offering select, popular cruise tours at discounted rates and with low, $99 airfares from Portland and Seattle. With their spacious, elegant ships and award-winning service, Holland America’s Alaska CruiseTours are the standard for Alaska sightseeing.  

What is a cruise tour?  A cruise tour combines a 7 or 14 day cruise with a “land” tour, hotel and sightseeing package.  Cruise tours offer the opportunity to see more of Alaska’s uncrowded wilderness and native wildlife.  For example, a Denali tour takes visitors into moose, caribou, grizzly, sheep and wolf habitat while also viewing spectacular Denali mountain. 

Sample CruiseTours On Sale Now:

14-day Klondike, Kluane, Denali & Inside Passage – from $1,999 departing Vancouver 7/21/2010.

HAL 14 day Klondike itin

11-day Alaska-Yukon Explorer & Glacier Bay – from $1,799 departing  Anchorage 6/23/2010.

 HAL 11 day cruisetour

11-day Denali Express & Discovery Cruise – from $1,299 departing Vancouver 8/8/2010.

HAL 11 Day denali

Contact:  Sheryl Graddon, cruise tour specialist, at sheryl@stellartravel.com – 425.747.1900 ext. 222 for advice on selecting your Alaska vacation. Passenger taxes of up to $212.72 are additional.  Other dates/discounted cruise tours packages are available. Other cities may qualify for discounted airfares at $199, $299, $399 (East Coast).

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/alaska-cruisetours-99-airfares/feed 0 Cruise Lines Doing Better Than Most Travel Segments http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/cruise-lines-doing-better-than-most-travel-segments http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/cruise-lines-doing-better-than-most-travel-segments#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:53:54 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/?p=1566 A magazine article in February 11, 2010 The Economist described what travel agents have known the past few months: Cruise lines are doing better than other segments of the travel industry, like hotels, resorts and airlines.  The cruise industry has been aggressively pricing and marketing their products to the recession economy and cruise customers are buying.

Crystal Sym

Approximately 20% of Americans have been on a cruise, so the market is vast.  Cruise lines are attracting younger cruisers with the median age dropping from 53 in 2002 to 46 in 2008.  Cruise lines appeal to budget-conscious travelers by offering “all-inclusive” fares, even though on the mass-market ships, many amenities like alcohol and shore excursions cost extra.  Some of the most popular choices for Stellar Travel clients are the premium to luxury cruise lines offering 2-for-1 all-inclusive fares (including alcoholic beverages and shore excursions), free or discounted airfare and stateroom upgrades.  Some cruise lines are boasting that they are sold out or nearly sold for the first half of 2010.

13.4 million people cruised in 2009, up from 12.6 million in 2007 according to the Cruise Lines International Association.  But the discounts have eaten into earnings.  At Carnival Corporation, the biggest cruise line, revenues were 10% lower in 2009 than 2008.  With growing capacity and 12 new vessels to be launched this year, the firms may not be able to raise prices to previous levels until 2011 or beyond.

Stellar Travel Tip: There are many differences between cruise lines, ships, staterooms and amenities.  Let the cruise experts at Stellar Travel assist you with the best itineraries and cruise choices!

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/cruise-lines-doing-better-than-most-travel-segments/feed 0 SeaDream’s Caribbean…amazing price! http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/seadreams-caribbean-amazing-price http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/seadreams-caribbean-amazing-price#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:00:58 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/?p=1528 SeaDream had a group cancellation on their April 2nd, 2010 9 day sailing from San Juan and is offering an incredible starting price of $1,999 per person, which is a 73% discount.  SeaDream is an all inclusive “yachting” experience with only 112 guests.   This will sell out quickly!

Seadream

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/seadreams-caribbean-amazing-price/feed 0 Questions You Should Ask Before Booking a Cruise http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/questions-you-should-ask-before-booking-a-cruise http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/questions-you-should-ask-before-booking-a-cruise#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:34:33 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/?p=1078 Today’s cruise promotions and low prices cause reactions ranging from “this looks interesting” to “how could this be true?” The cruise experts at Stellar Travel have a list of questions they always ask before helping our clients to proceed with any cruise reservations.

crystal_symphony

1.       What is the cruise ship?

2.       What is the itinerary?

3.       What is the stateroom category offered?

4.       What is the true cost?

5.       Is this the right cruise for you?

What is the cruise ship? There are wide differences between ships and between each cruise line.  We have industry knowledge and travel agent insider information so you’ll know the actual age of the ship, onboard dining options, stateroom square footage and even closet size!   And, if you are thinking “well, we won’t spend much time in our stateroom”, you’ll spend more time than you think in your stateroom.

What is the itinerary? Cruise lines are including more ports of call and interesting shore excursion programs but careful review is needed.  What about the weather that time of year?  Do you prefer more days at sea?  Are the ports reached by dock or tender boats?  Is there another cruise line that is offering a similar, but better itinerary?

crystal_serenity_promenade_deck_joggers

What is the stateroom category offered?

Ocean-view can mean many things.  Is it a full-size window or a porthole?  And most importantly, where on the ship is your stateroom located?  Will your balcony view be obstructed?   On some cruise lines, lower prices are available if you agree to accept a stateroom assignment one week prior to sailing.  Most experienced cruisers don’t like those kinds of surprises.

What is the true cost?

A cruise line is offering “Two-for-One” cruise fares but upon closer examination, their promotion means 50% off on certain portions of the cost, not the entire cost of the cruise.  What about receiving a $1,000 per person shipboard credit, free airfare or free shore excursions?  Does that mean the cruise fare is inflated higher or is it a true value to the bottom line?  An experienced cruise expert will help sort it all out.

Is this the right cruise for you?

Sure you can go to cruise critic dot com or do some online research.  But our cruise specialists have inspected the ships, sailed on them for personal vacations or sent other clients on these cruise lines.   We get immediate and honest feedback on every cruise reservation.  You deserve the answers to our five questions, too.

Susan Bluhm, Stellar Travel Co – President, has sailed on cruise vacations with Crystal Cruises, Holland America, Windstar Cruises, and Viking River Cruises.  susan@stellartravel.com

Sheryl Graddon, Cruise Specialist, has personally sailed on 70 cruises in her travel career.  Contact her with cruise questions at sheryl@stellartravel.com

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/questions-you-should-ask-before-booking-a-cruise/feed 0 Quick Escapes http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/quick-escapes http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/quick-escapes#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 14:56:27 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/?p=505 Welcome to QUICK ESCAPES the May Virtuoso® Travel Catalog!

Enjoy the latest Virtuoso® Travel Catalog – QUICK ESCAPES. Simply click the catalog image below.

You don’t need to take a long trip to create memories. From quick getaways that include a quaint beach town along the Pacific, an architectural tour of Toronto, living museums of the Mediterranean and more, this catalog is filled with great ideas for mini-vacations that can maximize your Return on Life™.

And, now’s a great time to travel, and enjoy exceptional value on extraordinary travel. As your Virtuoso travel advisor, we are here to guide you through all of the terrific options.

Contact a Stellar Travel Advisor for all of your travel needs.

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/quick-escapes/feed 0 This is the year to cruise to Alaska! http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/this-is-the-year-to-cruise-to-alaska http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/this-is-the-year-to-cruise-to-alaska#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 17:33:33 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/vacations/?p=328 This is the year to take that long-awaited cruise from Seattle to Alaska! Prices have never been lower for sailing off to the Great Land from the convenient new port terminal in Seattle. And you can take the kids or grandkids with the remarkable 3rd /4th guest rates available on select sailings. We have excellent staterooms available for the best summer dates, and by booking through me you’ll get more!

My Alaska must-see: the spectacular glacier viewing in Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier! 

hollandalg

 

 

 

Recommended: 7 – Day Alaskan Explorer on Holland America including must-see Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising; Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. August dates from $699 per person inside stateroom or $749 per person ocean view stateroom. Prices don’t include taxes or port charges. Please call for best ships, stateroom recommendations and value!
I will look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sheryl Graddon

Travel Advisor

Direct Line: 425-586-4522

email: sheryl@stellartravel.com

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/this-is-the-year-to-cruise-to-alaska/feed 0 Windstar Cruises – Amazing Deals! http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/windstar-cruises-amazing-deals http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/windstar-cruises-amazing-deals#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:27:06 +0000 admin http://stellartravel.com/vacations/?p=91 Book by March 28th!
$1199* per person on the following cruises:

Apr 25 – 7 day Lisbon to Barcelona
Apr 26 – 7 day Barcelona to Rome
May 10 – 7 day Rome to Nice

Call or email Sheryl, your Windstar Specialist at Stellar Travel
800.445.3265 or sheryl@stellartravel.com

*Government fees and taxes are additional

]]> http://stellartravel.com/http:/stellartravel.com/windstar-cruises-amazing-deals/feed 0