The More the Merrier

Last week, I took a vacation.  It was the first vacation I have had in years that had nothing whatsoever to do with the travel industry.  It was strange...very strange.  I didn't even check my email until the last day when I printed my boarding pass to fly home.

I went to a convention where I saw old friends that I hadn't seen in 25 years.  I played a game the first few days called "Do you remember me?"  Most did, I'm relieved to say.  Some people needed a little coaching (after all, it had been 25-30 years and 60 pounds ago) but they did eventually know who I was, and then it was like we'd seen each other yesterday.  It was an incredible week of renewing old friendships and making new friends.

So what does that have to do with a Cruise Blog?  Everything.  Cruising is the perfect way to connect with friends, family, and co-workers.  Think about a family reunion.  Family can come from all over the states to meet the ship.  Meals are provided free of charge.  There are activities scheduled for all children ages 3-17, complimentary.  There is no charge for meeting rooms so you can spend time visiting.  We can arrange a group excursion so everyone can go together to see Mayan Ruins, sail thru the canopy on a zip line, or lounge on a beach.  No one has to cook, clean or entertain everyone.  Why not let me help you plan your next family reunion on a ship?

Along the same lines, think about a school reunion.  Cruising is a great way to reconnect with classmates, and still have time to do your own thing.

Incentive cruising has become very popular.  Reward your top sales people with a cruise.  There are special rates for companies who choose this type of reward.  You could also hold your next meeting on a cruise ship.  No charge for AV equipment or meeting room.  Meals and entertainment are included.  Your employees could bring their families who will be entertained while the employee is in meetings.  In some instances the cost of the cruise/meeting could be tax deductable (check with your tax accountant). 

Another form of group cruising is an affinity group.  Any group of people with the same interests qualifies as an affinity group.  Golfers, photography buffs, botonists, and networking groups are just a few of the incentive groups I've done.  Think about organizations you are involved with like Rotary, Kiwana's, and Toastmasters.  Give me an idea and I'll help you organize it.  You might even be able to sail free!  Now that's an incentive!!

We at Bentley Hedges Travel offer travel certificates as well.  If you have a 'hard to please' person on your Christmas List, give them a certifcate for future travel.  It will be valid for a year and they can choose when they want to go, where they want to go, and how long they want to be gone.  We'll customize it just for them.

Hopefully, I've sparked your creativity.  October to mid November is the least expensive time to cruise, as well as January and February.  If you want to plan a group for holiday travel, please book early to secure the best rates.  Plan at least 9 months out to be able to make multiple payments.  Booking early not only gets you the best rates, but also the best choice of staterooms (so everyone will be in the same general area of the ship).

Start planning now for your group cruise (or maybe just your family to get away from the rest of the family!!)
I'll SEA ya!

Where in the World????

Now that you've decided to try a cruise, where do you want to go?  You can cruise to just about anywhere in the world.  There are cruises are to the Caribbean  (Eastern, Western, Southern and Exotic Western) , Europe, Asia, Panama Canal, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada and New England.
Cruises to the Caribbean are the least expensive because they are 'close to home' and because the Caribbean is close, you can see 3 or 4 places in your 7 day cruise.  This week, let's talk about the Western Caribbean.

The Caribbean is warm year round.  The Western Caribbean Cruise Itinerary can be 4, 5 or 7 days.  The longer you are gone, the more places you'll visit.
On a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise, you will generally visit Jamaica (either Montego Bay or Ocho Rios), Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  This itinerary is wonderful for both shoppers and water enthusiasts. 

Some of the best snorkeling and diving can be found in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  Both are very small islands but have a lot of history.  Fine jewelry at duty free prices make Grand Cayman a very popular shopping destination. As for sight seeing, you should take an island tour visiting the Turtle Farm, Hell and Tortoga Rum Factory. Cozumel is known for it's silver, handcrafted pottery and Mayan Ruins. There are many wonderful beaches in Cozumel, but my favorite is Passion Island.  A day tour to this private island offers a Bar-b-Que on the beach, kayaks, jet skis, volleyball or just a quiet place to lay in the sun.  This paradise is where the Corona Beer commercials were filmed.

Jamaica has some of the most breathtaking scenery in all of the Caribbean.  Known best for it's rum and coffee, you can also find great deals on watches in this port of call.  A trip to Ocho Rios to climb Dunn's River Falls is a popular excursion.  You can even combine it with a trip to Mystic Mountain where you can zip line or take the bobsled through the canopy.

No matter which itinerary you choose, the ship is a destination in itself.  Hmm.  Maybe I should blog about the different types of ships.  What do you think?