Want to have some fun?
I will keep this simple, just click on over to Conde’ Nast Readers Choice Awards. It’s fun and informative. There are all kinds of links that will take you to the various hotels and resorts. If you spend the time to browse the winners, you will feel as if you just traveled the world!
After reading it through, what would you consider your Ultimate Escape?
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
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Hello – I was reviewing some tips included in the travel documents for a group trip going to Mexico that one of our Escape Artists had prepared…I thought they were excellent, so I thought I would share them with you. There are many more, so I will be sure to share them with you more often. If you have any that you would like me to post, please comment below or send me an email. Matt.
1. Bring $1 bills for tipping maids, bellman, and bartenders as getting change in U.S. dollars for larger bills may be difficult there. The tips are included at most all-inclusive resorts but you tend to get outstanding service for the duration of your vacation when you give the wait staff and bartenders extra tips early on and throughout your stay.
2. Bring a photocopy of your passport (and keep it separate from your
passport) in the unfortunate event your passport is lost or stolen.
3. If you are worried about Montezuma’s Revenge, eat yogurt every day for a week before you go and while on vacation. The cultures and enzymes strengthen the digestive system. Taking 2 Pepto-Bismol tablets each morning can also help ward off stomach problems.
4. Reapply sunscreen often! — It doesn’t work if you just put sunscreen on in the morning. You need to reapply every few hours especially if you go into the water. For those who live in the north, the sun is a lot stronger in Mexico.
5. Hydrate throughout the day! — If you spend all day in the sun, and partake in a few adult beverages at night, you need to get some water into your system. And the ice in piña coladas counts.
6. Don’t fall for the timeshare talk. When most people go on vacation, they want to spend every minute of it doing something that’s enjoyable, rather than sitting in a room and having someone trying to sell them a timeshare property. Remember, nothing is for free.
7. You will receive a form to fill out before you can enter Mexico that is your temporary visa. It will get stamped when you go through customs. Stash this away with your passport in a safe place, as you will need it in order to exit the country!
8. If you like to read, bring plenty of magazines and books. Sure, you can buy them at the hotel gift shop, but they’ll be triple the price. And if you finish your book early on in the trip, check to see if your hotel has a book exchange where you can trade your book for one that someone else has already finished.
Enjoy Your Escape!
Sincerely,
Why cruise during the Holidays? The better question is, why not cruise during the Holidays?
During “Travel Talk with the Escape Artists” episode #1, we discuss, along with Royal Caribbean Representative Marianne Hessler, the benefits of cruising during the holidays.
We discuss that “someone” we all know who says they “love to cook” for the holidays. Can this really be? I can’t imagine that after whipping up the first batch of cookies, that “someone” actually loves to slave in the kitchen for an entire week, not to mention the hundreds of dollars spent doing it. We challenge you to think about this: Is it the actual cooking they say they love to do, or, do they just love getting the family together for the holiday?
Imagine Mom, or Grandma, enjoying being served a nine course meal onboard a ship, that they did not have to prepare? Do you think they may be able to have their own fond memories with their family if they did not have to cook for a week? Or, do you think that they could enjoy a REAL conversation with their kids, whatever age they may be? Do you think that all of this may be the REAL reason to consider being on a ship together for a week….with time to appreciate one another and create lifetime memories?
The next time you think there is “no way” you could go away over the Holiday’s, you may want to stop again and think about the real reason for the holidays. Think about it this way, 10 years from now, will your kids remember that shirt, doll, or game they wanted, or, will they remember all the fun they had together with their family cruising during their Holiday vacation?
I’ll let you be the judge.
Wherever you end up, we wish you a great holiday season!
Matt Cervone
President & CEO, Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
Which is it for you?
Growing up in my era…a vacation was considered a luxury. No question. The best we had was an overnight trip to my grandparents cottage.
Then, when I was 9 years old, we took a trip to Miami. We only went to Miami because my parents had friends there and we could conveniently stay at their home. That was a luxury.
Then, I felt like I hit it big when our 8th grade class trip went to Washington DC. I thought that was so cool.
Oh, and then there were a few overnight trips to Toronto for hockey when we were supposed to stay with host family. Instead, I pretended to be sick so I could stay with my parents at the hotel and swim. Much more fun then staying at a strange house. This was a luxury!
Today, the standards for a vacation have changed. Kids have “grown up” on cruise ships. We have clients whose children have been on 10+ cruises…before they graduated from high school. These kids feel it is an entitlement (Until they have to pay for it!).
Nowadays, we have been conditioned to believe it is a necessity. No question. With all the technology, music, TV, e-books, etc most folks, whether they realize it or not, simply need to “unplug” and “decompress” from all the daily requirements of our time and attention.
A true vacation will do that for you. With all the daily chaos in our world and around us, vacations have become a necessity. There are all kinds of studies and reports to confirm that vacations are actually “healthy.” It is a fact that when you are on vacation for 7-14 days, you “relax” or, get into “vacation mode”, as some travelers say. I can always spot the people who have just arrived on a vacation. They are typically the uptight folks, bickering over every little thing! After 4-5 days, they tend to unwind, stop their whining, become more social and begin having fun! Most of the time, by the end of our vacation, we notice how wonderful it is to just relax and enjoy life.
Now, if we can just get a doctor to prescribe a vacation and get it covered in the new healthcare program. Any supporters?
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
President & CEO, Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
This is always the big question “Should I book my vacation now, or, wait and see if the rate will go down?”
First of all, I am a consumer, too. I believe in getting the best value for my discretionary dollar. Some say the cheapest price. I look for the best overall value or deal. I look at the whole package when I buy. The product, the quality, the people I buy from, the value and the price. That’s what I define as the whole package.
So, getting back to the question, “Should I book my vacation now or, wait?”.
As an industry insider, my suggestion is to book and deposit on your trip the moment that you are satisfied with your vacation choice, your destination or ship, your accommodations, and of course price. One typically comes to this conclusion after a few phone calls and/or visits with a travel professional (we call ourselves Escape Artists). A true travel professional knows where to look, what to recommend, and can gauge how long a promotional price will be available in order to take advantage of it. (FYI - the tables have turned a bit, suppliers are actually giving travel professionals pricing advantages vs the internet )
Have you ever attempted online booking yourself? You can expect that the average person visits between 15-50 different websites over a two to three week period. This can spell C-O-N-F-U-S-I-O-N. I suggest incorporating a travel pro who can collaborate with you and cut your research time down significantly.
Travel professionals usually have access to hundreds of promo codes, only available to the industry, that are not accessible to the average person booking online. The best part, a travel professional can create clarity for you and can save you money!
So, the bottom line is…book it when it all comes together. If the rate is affordable and falls within your vacation budget – book it! I have noticed that the most popular vacations prices are on the rise. Occasionally, the price does goes down. But why gamble with your vacation? For those who choose to wait, we observe the price actually goes up and one of a few things happen; One, they either do not go on their vacation (UGH!) or Two, they end up taken lesser accommodations or Three, they end up staying fewer days. (UGH!) None of these are appealing options.
We do have a few suppliers who have a best price guarantee for a vacation. This means if you pay for the trip protection along with the price protection at the time of booking…if the price of your trip goes down, they will adjust your price before your final payment. This gives clients the comfort to “book early” and not worry about the price going lower. Some cruise lines will adjust pricing as well. It can get confusing, so again, I suggest you save yourself the grief and work with one of our Escape Artists to relieve the potential anxiety so you can stay focused on what you need to do to have a great vacation!
One last note – travel prices are reflected by supply and demand. At the moment, demand for 2010 is rising, which means that the prices will soon climb as well. So, if you are thinking about going on a vacation next year, now is a good time to start looking to ensure you get what you want and the best values available.
Bon Voyage – have a great trip!
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
Hello All,
As I ran across this video, I thought to myself, “ why try to write about it, when you can share this video on this fabulous ship! ”
So here you go….see it for yourself!
Enjoy the narration from the Royal Caribbean executives. They have been involved since it’s concept.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAXIorLZzDs
Have fun on this virtual escape on the Oasis of the Seas.
Please share your comments.
Why Not?
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
So you thought you would be bored on a ship? How about your kids, or teens? 
Did you see the photo of the pool and sports zone aboard the all-new Oasis of the Seas (& Allure of the Seas)?
I have seen it and I am still amazed. There is an entire deck filled with more sports activities than you can imagine.
Choose from multiple pools: the H2O Zone which is set up like a waterpark, complete with spraying water and wading pool (great for infants and toddlers); the sports pool, great for swimming laps, all-new beach pool, designed to simulate wading in the ocean; or the traditional pool, dedicated for sun lounging.
Or, relax and unwind in one of 10 whirlpools and enjoy the tranquil environment of the adult Solarium area, complete with super plush lounge chairs.
In need of more action? Don’t miss the opportunity to be the first to ride the zip line aboard a ship. Enjoy the ultimate rush of zooming nine decks above the open air atrium.
After that, scale the two rock climbing walls, play a ping pong match, complete a round of miniature golf, and then take on your kids during a friendly basketball (or volleyball) game on the full size court.
At some point you will want to cool off and catch a wave on one of the two Flow Rider surf simulator available.
And then, when you have worked up a thirst, catch a cool one at one of the four bars nearby.
Did somebody say something about being bored?
Whether you are inspired to be active or not, when I sail, I still notice the smiles and laughs of the people who are just observing. This is something that I enjoy – watching eevryone of all ages having a good time on their cruise. Sounds corny, but true.
Here are some passengers onboard the Liberty of the Seas. See what they think of cruising.
Our Escape Artists would love to help plan your escape.
Why Not?
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
A Zip Line On a Cruise Ship?
Yes, that’s right! You are not suffering from blurred vision!
I had a couple of emails from folks asking me about it after my previous blog post, so I thought I would elaborate a bit on it today.
You thought the rock climbing wall was exciting?
Royal Caribbean is the first to offer this exhilarating experience on both the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas. Yes, on the ship. You’ve got to see it. It will certainly test one’s sense of adventure.
Imagine this: They strap you in, you are nine decks above the Boardwalk and you “zip” across the open air atrium below. Simple as that. I guarantee it will be quite a view!
I had to laugh when I looked at the brochure. As you are “zipping” across the ship, I can only imagine somone in the Boardwalk view stateroom below, not sure what they had just seen buzzing across the ship! It’s unusual to see birds flying around a ship in the middle of the ocean. But now, it will be normal to see people doing just that.
This is just another thrilling entertainment option on the ship. More still to come.
Even if you are not up to trying it, it will be fun to watch!
Thanks Royal Caribbean, for providing us with a new way to zip through a ship!
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
I am coining the term F-E-R.
What is a F-E-R ?
Floating Entertainment Resort.
Because cruise ships today have truly turned into floating resorts. They are destinations within themselves. Clients tell us that they don’t even plan to get off the ship when in port. This may make ports of call just a bonus attraction in the future!
These are not your Grandma’s cruise ships anymore. Gone are the days where ships were considered just luxury transportation that would transport you from one port to another to see the world. The cuisine is far more than a buffet of shrimp. They are now full fledged Floating Entertainment Resorts.
Some cruise lines have been, and continue to build ships that show us that there is a tremendous amount of creativity in the design process. Royal Caribbean has been a leader in this transfomation. From boardwalks, to to skating rinks, bowling alley, private villas, outdoor amphitheaters, real grass on a pool deck, aqua decks, zip lining on the ship, the Rising Tide Lounge which simulates the tide and rises up and down between three decks onboard the Oasis, or the Ice Bar onboard the Epic which is constructed entirely of ice and always set at or below 17 degrees F.
Oh yeah, let’s not forget the kids and teens who can stay extra busy with a multitude of activities. I can go on and on and on…
Anything is possible. Go down a water slide with a margarita in your hand. How about a turn on the Flow Rider? Entertainment. Bowling? Entertainment. Movies under the stars, water parks, comedians, real Las Vegas shows like the Blue Man Group, Cirque, Second City Comedy Shows, casinos, bingo, music, piano lounges? Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment. (I really could keep ranting with examples here).
All this, and we didn’t even touch upon the exquisite cuisine options for food and wine lovers.
And when you want some down time, you can take advantage of the 5-star spa amenities as well.
ALL entertainment.
Look at the industry of sports. The sports industry has turned into entertainment for us. The same has happened to the cruise industry.
Like I said, these are not just cruise ships anymore.
Here’s a few new F-E-R’s for you to see for yourself. Yes, it is a teaser, but really, you have to see it to believe it.
Carnival Dream, Celebrity Solstice and Equinox, Holland America Eurodam, NCL Epic, Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas.
Enjoy the possibilities.
If you like what you see, one of our Escape Artists can help you turn this into a reality.
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
Ever thought about it? 
I find it interesting…clients who I consider true cruise connoisseurs, that truly desire to “see the world” are actively pursuing this goal of theirs. Unless you have cruised a few times, initially difficult to imagine being on a ship for 30, 60 or even 100+ days. Yet when you get used to the lifestyle on-board, having room service daily, amazing food from around the world, great entertainment, casino, guides and guest lecturers for the various destinations, exciting excursions, meeting wonderful people from around the world, and basically enjoying your worldwide tour in luxury the question becomes, why not?
When my wife and I sailed throughout Europe on our Honeymoon, honestly, I was not sure that cruising for more than one week was for me. I remember on day 6 thinking, wow, we have another week of this and then BAM — we were at day 14 and packing to come home. It was then that I realized how wonderful it was to cruise, and that sailing for 30 days, seeing the world, would be easy to do.
It is not surprising to me that portions of the world cruise sell out a year in advance. People now understand the fantastic value the cruising “lifestyle” while touring the world. The deals are exceptional. It is true, there are people who never disembark, they are lifetime cruisers. If you have the time, I suggest you do, at least, look into it. Or, just start out by sailing on a favorite ‘segment” of one.
Here’s a link to Holland America’s popular “Voyages .” If you have another favorite cruise line, I have additional information I can pass along.
As the saying goes “If you can dream it, you can do it”
Happy Cruising!
Sincerely,
Matt Cervone
Chief Escape Officer
Just Cruises & Vacations
