Cruise Clues by Cynth'ya Lewis Reed
Last edited: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Grab your flippers, your snorkel gear, and head for the pier!
Cruise Clues---FYI’s to note:
Cruise lines are always running sales. But unless you’re savvy to researching on your own, sometimes novice online cruise bookers (sounds too close to the word “boogers” doesn’t it…let’s change that to “Novice Cruisers”….okay!
Novice and “old salt” cruisers may be interested in various promos and shore excursions. Groups are HUGE! They can be used for fundraisers, celebrations, business conventions, even “I’m-gonna-choke-somebody-unless-I-get-out-of-town-and-leave-the-kids-for-three days-with-their-daddy” women’s clubs for women who want to be happier, less stressed mothers. (Nassau straw market is great for 3 day shopping cruises!)
There may be also other promos when booking, i.e. military specials, returning pax (passenger) sailing and 55+ discounts and credits that can pop up at anytime. If you need assist, just call. Cruising is fun, and is NOT that expensive! Where else can a worn down land lubber body get 5 star first class treatment with free you-name-it for as little as $100 down payment for individual bookings (up to $250 down payment per stateroom for 7 days or longer) and, live better than British royalty for an average $110/day? You can’t park your car at the Ritz Carlton for $80/day. Shoot, in a 4 or 5 star hotel you get an egg on a bun for $15.95…..and the coffee costs more than Juan Valdez’ ass (as in biblical ass, a.k.a. long eared four footed beast of burden….okay you’re gonna push me to it….”jackass.””)
Smart travelers just have to know the right people to get the best price. Just because a website has the word “cheap” in it doesn’t not make it so. At least 85 % of people book travel online and most of them haven’t a CLUE as to how to do it well.
Cruising is picking up because it’s a great value. Personal service working with a travel agent you know is far better. (Example: Look at all the good stuff people miss by tour our online site www.therandlgroup.com. Once you pull it up, dial a great recorded web tour line 212-461-2620 designed for people who hate their computer or their computer hates them. And in just 10 minutes on your own time, you all 24 of our booking engines—there are literally billions of dollars of inventory 24.7 and learn to be an online travel booking pro! You can even tour it naked….the feds can’t touch you (well, wouldn’t want them to, do we now? Be sure to sign up for the free Deals and Steals (unless you like throwing away money. I need the tips).
And do you know the best part about our inventory?
Absolutely NONE of it has to be stored in our garage! (No more buy a lot and let it rot.)
Note 2: You say you are into “cheap AND sweet?”Just like those quarterly 50% off Goodwill sales, things are often hidden from the general consumer eye when it comes to mark downs. Never purchase anything onboard until one day before the cruise is over.If you get duty-free onboard shopping credit dollars (some up to as much as $400 in shopping credit based on cabin selection) that can stretch your credit dollars by several nautical miles.
WHOOO THE FUN PART!!!! HOMELAND SE-CURRRRRRRRRR-ity.
When it comes to documents--Double check everything! And if you love your homeland you’ll have the right docs in hand so you can leave and return to your homeland.
(If a “pax” has any security question at all (cruise lingo for “passenger”) contact TSA (Transportation Security Administration) or the cruise line directly. Open 24/7 by phone or online. If someone has a missing passport, or if name change issues occur, bring a copy of the marriage certificate for proof of name change, NEVER ASSUME! Contact TSA, or your travel agent. My hubby and I aren’t the feds, but we know where to find them.
(They’re at the Wal-Mart in the sunglasses aisle every Wednesday replacing their shades.)
If you do NOT have a valid birth record, contact the health department (state) where you were born. You need one with a raised state seal. Hospital souvenir birth forms will not fly, sail, or do anything except look really nice in your memory book.
For Indiana, that’s the ISHD at contact. They are available 24/7.
HOWEVER, regarding cruise line security, Contact CLIA (Cruise Line International Assn) hdqtrs out of Ft. Lauderdale FL. Telephone: 754-244-2200 as maritime security is not necessarily the same as for air travel. YTB has a CLIA and an ARC. We have access to them so we can set up basically any kind of travel you need if you don’t want to do it yourself…and need a hand to hold (or a phone to your ear. 765-288-4084) Again, if you need some assistance on this, we'll do what we can (got a lot of team members who are very knowledgeable on cruising do's and don'ts)
Even babies will need a passport by June 1, 2009. GET THEM EARLY. Go to the post office. Don’t bootleg any cheap photos at the mall, get them at CVS, Walgreen’s, etc. and again if you have questions, click www.TSA.govwebsite:
TSA-ContactCenter.
Phone: 1-866-289-9673 (press 4, then press 2)--it's boring but necessary.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT: So fights don’t break out if you pack 3.1 ounces of liquid or gel as opposed to the sacred hallowed “Three ounce commandment”….Dial up and listen to the option about the 3-1-1 carry on rule (press 1)...people have options. Tell everyone you know about the 3-1-1 rule...keeps passengers educated for the future.
E-mail: TSA-ContactCenter.dhs.gov
