Wednesday, August 17, 2016

2017 Alaska - Buck List ? Whose already booked … AND what folks are booking !




Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, and is very high on most cruise lovers' list.

2016 has been a great Alaska bound season !
So many of my clients taking advantage of their 1st time to Alaska !
Lots of repeat cruisers to Alaska too !
And last minute buyers still jumping on 2016 opportunities !

Those who couldn’t find time in their schedule to visit in 2016 …
Began booking 2017 … Way back in May !


WHY ?
(1)Cruise Line offers !
(2)Folks know … Space is limited !
(3)Many cruises LOVE getting their next vacation on the books (before they even vacation this year)


You’re thinking … HOW COULD SPACE BE LIMITED ?  All these ships ?
#1 REASON … I call it … YOUR rules !
When you’re not flexible … AND … You have specific requests … YOU are making your own available space … LIMITED !

YOU SAY … You have no rules ?
Hehehe …. 90% of cruises … HAVE RULES !
If you answer NO to any of the below … You have rules too (smile).
If not ... Then you are in the 10% who don't ! (smile)
These questions apply to ALL CRUISES (not just Alaska)…

Are you ok with ?
(A)Vacationing ANY week or ANY month, May-Sept, for Alaska 2017 ?
(B)An inside cabin ? (balconies & suites go 1st)
(C )Accommodations for only 2 in a room ? (Triple & Quad cabins are limited – go quick)
(D)Do you need more than 2 rooms ? (Group space, 5 or more cabins, go 1st.  Cruise Lines limit groups)
(E ) Cabins not side by side, to friends/family ?  Or not even on same deck ?
(F)Cabin location, front or back of the boat ?
(G)Not including a specific glacier ?  (Glacier  Bay, very popular)
(H)An itinerary that leaves out one of the more favorable ports ? (Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway or Sitka)
 

#2 REASON ... You want a land package too ?
OH WOW … You’ve just limited yourself even more !
These SELL OUT before 7 night cruises do !
The cruise lines have many many land packages !  However, they can ONLY sell so many cabins for EACH of their different packages. 

Think about it !  20 packages per ship/sailing … X 100 people = 2,000 people !  That’s only 50 cabin (based on 2 in a room) opportunities available per package !  Who’s limited NOW  ?
And let’s say …  400 of these 2000 people, buy just the 7 night cruises … Now, only  40 cabins have an opportunity to buy the land package !  WOW !
 
Oh … I could on and on !  Insight for the consumer  !


And … Did you know this @ cruise line offers ?
(1)It’s selling space !  Your available space, continues to become more limited !
(2)Drives rates UP.  The more that sell, the more the rates go up !  You might be getting FREE drinks or FREE gratuities, but the rates keep climbing !

 
Oh … And what are folks booking mostly ?
(A)Naturally, the cruise lines with all the spectacular offers … Go here & see:  www.BestCruiseSavings.com
(B)Cruises with Land Packages included !
(Want land package too ?  Call me.  Let’s look at packages a different way)
(C ) Many folks are turning Regent Seven Seas ... FREE UNLIMITED SHORE EXCURSIONS & more.


Call today for 2017 !
(434/800) 237-3832
Press 62 & leave me a message (mention code: AKBLOG)
Yes, it's a voip machine ... I'm on the phone booking vacations ! (smile)

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Who wouldn’t like to have FREE UNLIMITED SHORE EXCURSIONS & MORE, on Your Alaska Cruise Adventure ?




What if you could have complimentary … As many as you can fit into port time …
80+ possible Shore Excursion choices … For Your Alaska Cruise Adventure ? 
(And … FREE Specialty Restaurants … FREE Unlimited Beverages throughout the ship (even Fine Wines and Spirits … FREE Pre-Paid Gratuities … FREE Unlimited WiFi Throughout the Ship* … FREE Transfers Between Airport and Ship … FREE 24-Hour Room Service … & More (especially for suites & higher).
 

Back to Shore Excursions.  Once you’ve seen the 80+ options below, you can imagine their value at $ 50 to $300 per person & some valued at more !

Keep in mind, excursion sign-up, is based on availability … First Come First Serve.  As they say, ‘The early birds get the worm !’.  Availability is also based on the ports your cruise visits !  And the list of opportunities can change from year to year or even cruise to cruise.  Note, other rules may apply !

You’ll also be able to learn, prior to deciding ‘which shore excursions for you’, whether they are:
(A)Light Activity /Walking Light Activity /Walking (B) Seated Tour Seated Tour (C ) Moderate Activity/Walking Moderate Activity/Walking (D) Most Active or Strenuous Most Active or Strenuous (E ) Minimal Activity Required Minimal Activity Required (F) Regent Choice Regent Choice (G) Gourmet Explorer Gourmet Explorer (H) Meal Included, and (I) Is this an Evening Tour

 
Here are examples:

Seward:  (A) Exit Glacier and Alaska Sealife Center, (B) Explore the Kenai Mountains, and (C )Kenai Fjords Cruise 
Tracy Arm Glacier (only one): Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer
Dutch Harbor: (A) Coastal Beach Combing (B) Discover Unalaska's Natural Wonders (C ) Eyes to the Sky Bird Watching Tour (D) Glimpse of the Past (E ) Highlights of Unalaska (F) Hiking Off the Beaten Path (G) Shuttle Bus
Icy Strait: (A) ATV Expedition (B) Forest & Nature Tram (C ) Forest Tram & Tribal Dance (D) Halibut Fishing (E ) Hoonah Sightseeing & Tribal Dance (F) Icy Strait Point Kayak Adventure (G) In Alaska's Wildest Kitchen (H) Scenic Mountain Ascent and World's Largest Ziprider (I) Spasski River Valley Wildlife & Bear Search (J) Tribal Dance & Cultural Legends (K) Whale & Marine Mammals Cruise (L) Whales, Wildlife & Bear Search
Juneau: (A) Dog Sledding On the Mendenhall Glacier Via Helicopter* (B) Evening Whale Watching Quest (C ) Five Glacier Seaplane Exploration (D) Flavors of Juneau (E ) Fly-in Fly Fishing (F) Glacier View Sea Kayaking (G) Gold Creek Salmon Bake (H) Helicopter Glacier Trek (I) Historic Gold Mining & Panning Adventure (J) Mendenhall Glacier - Guide's Choice Adventure Hike (K) Mendenhall Glacier & Evening Whale Watching Quest (L) Mendenhall Glacier & Gardens (M) Mendenhall Glacier & Juneau Highlights Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Quest (N) Mendenhall Glacier By Helicopter & Guided Walk * (O) Mendenhall Glacier Explorer (P) Mendenhall Glacier Native Canoe Adventure (Q) Mendenhall Glacier River Float (R ) Pilot's Choice Glacier Helicopter Explorer* (S) Taku Glacier Lodge Flight & Feast (T) Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari (U) Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest (V) Whales, Glaciers & Rainforest Trails
Ketchikan: (A) Adventure Kart Expedition (B) Alaska Bear Adventure By Floatplane (C ) Alaskan Lodge Adventure & Seafeast (D) Bear Viewing On Prince of Wales (E )Classic Misty Fjords Flightseeing (F) Cruise George Inlet and Crab Feast (G) Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show (H) Guided Fishing in the Wilderness Highlights of Ketchikan - Alaska's First City (I) Ketchikan Duck Tour (J) Ketchikan Private Tour (K) Misty Fjords and Wilderness Explorer (L) Misty Fjords Seaplane Adventure (M) Mountain Peak Flight Seeing & Crab Feast (N) Neets Bay Bear Watch By Floatplane (O) Rainforest Canoe & Nature Trail (P) Rainforest Island Adventure (Q) Saxman Native Village & Lumberjack Show (R ) The Bering Sea - Crab Fisherman’s Tour (S) Tongass Rainforest Expedition (T) Totem Traditions & Potlatch Park
Sitka: (A) Advanced Bike Trip (B) Alaska 4x4 Nature Safari (C ) Artist Walk - Hot Italian Glass (D) Historic Sitka and Nature Walk (E ) Jet-Cat Wildlife Quest and Beach Exploration (F) Ocean Raft Adventures Russian America and Raptor Center (G) Salmon Sportfishing (H) Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest (I) Sea Otters, Raptors and Bearsoh My! (J) Sitka Cycling and Forest Walk (K) Tongass Rainforest Nature Hike (L) Wilderness Sea Kayaking Adventure
Skagway: (A) Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Adventure (B) Eagle Preserve Float Adventure and Cruise (C ) Eagle Preserve Wildlife River Boat Adventure (D) Ghosts and Goodtime Girls Historic Walking Tour (E ) Glacier Discovery By Helicopter* (F) Goldrush Highlights (G) Icefield Flightseeing and Dogsledding * (H) Klondike Adventure Park and Zip Lines (I) Klondike Explorer & Skagway Highlights (J) Klondike Gold Dredge and Gold Panning (K) Klondike Rock Climbing and Rappelling Adventure (L) Rainforest Bicycle Tour (M) Scenic Rail & Yukon Suspension Bridge (N) Skagway By Streetcar (O) Taste of Skagway (P) Venture to Glacier Point (Q) White Pass Railway & City Tour (R ) White Pass Scenic Railroad

 
ALASKA … Big, bold and impossibly beautiful, Alaska stretches beyond the imagination, particularly in her southeastern seas where Seven Seas Mariner sails. Ancient glaciers glint majestically, as snow-mantled mountains soar into the cerulean sky. The deep harbors and frontier towns welcome visitors with open arms, eager to reveal their riches. The possibilities are endless, inviting excursions of untold discovery and delight.

Only Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers FREE UNLIMITED SHORE EXCURSIONS in EVERY port of call. And unlimited means you can take as many excursions in a day and during your entire voyage as time and your penchant for adventure allows. Shore excursions are the heart of every destination, a way for you to experience the history, culture and cuisine of the exciting ports of call visited with knowledgeable local guides and comfortable transportation. Cruise George Inlet and indulge in a taste of Alaska at a crab feast, walk the ancient pathways of Ephesus and Jerusalem or enjoy a trek through a tropical jungle in Phuket on a majestic elephant. All yours to experience on our FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions.

For those intrepid explorers who wish to delve deeper into a region's culture and history we offer REGENT CHOICE SHORE EXCURSIONS in each destination. The unique and one-of-a-kind content of these popular excursions require a highly discounted supplementary charge to partially offset the cost of their more extravagant nature. Carefully chosen for their inspiring and distinctive settings, every optional Regent Choice Shore Excursion is an enriching experience for the senses. The possibilities are endless, from private behind-the-scenes tours of world-renowned places to authentic cultural experiences led by knowledgeable local guides. Exclusive to Seven Seas Explorer® are the GOURMET EXPLORER TOURS, which allow you to savor the local flavors of esteemed wineries and restaurants in the company of a master Chef. Whatever your choice — a FREE Shore Excursion, a Regent Choice Shore Excursion or a Gourmet Explorer Tour - the possibilities for discovery and opportunity for savings are extraordinary.

Call Today !
(434/800) 237-3832
Vivian M Webb, MCC
Visit my 'I Love Alaska' Blog for my next article, Aug 17, 2016

 
Above insight provided by Regent Seven Seas Cruises website.