Cruise lines temporarily suspend Mexico port calls

By: Johanna Jainchill, Travel Weekly,  April 28, 2009

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. temporarily and immediately suspended port calls in Mexico while it assesses the swine flu outbreak, and Holland America Line canceled all Mexico port calls in April and early May.

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean International will skip upcoming port calls in Mexico to allow “additional time to better understand the full impact of the swine flu,” RCCL said.

Royal Caribbean has four ships that make regularly scheduled port calls in Mexico: Enchantment, Freedom, Liberty and Mariner of the Seas. Two ships — Serenade and Radiance of the Seas — were scheduled to call there on repositioning cruises. The Celebrity Infinity was scheduled to make a Mexico port call as it repositions.

All but one of the ships will make alternative port calls or spend additional days at sea, RCCL said. The Mariner will sail a fully revised itinerary, visiting Canada and the U.S. West Coast.

Five of Holland America’s 14 ships will skip Mexico ports in April and early May. They are the Ryndam, Statendam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam and Veendam.

HAL said its planning team was developing alternate itineraries. New ports of call will be announced as they are confirmed.

Three cruise lines cancelled calls in Mexico on Tuesday in reaction to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel health warning for swine flu.

Princess canceled two Mexico calls scheduled for Tuesday, one in Puerto Vallarta on the Sapphire Princess, and the other in Cabo San Lucas on the Coral Princess.

Princess also revised the itinerary for the Sapphire Princess going forward, replacing two Mexico port calls with San Diego and Catalina, Calif.

Carnival Cruise Lines canceled Tuesday calls in Cozumel on two of its ships, the Inspiration and the Holiday, and one call in Ensenada on the Elation.

Holland America’s Ryndam skipped its scheduled call in Mazatlan.

Discount Cruise Ship Vacations: Do They Exist?

In today’s society, we live for deals, discounts, and other savings. If given the opportunity to save money, just about everyone would take it. The need to save may be apparent in your daily shopping habits. Many shoppers, maybe even yourself included, shop at discount stores or use multiple coupons. These actions may save you thousands of dollars each year. Do you know that in addition to saving money on your groceries, you could be saving money on your next cruise?

Discount cruise ship vacations are often viewed as a myth by many individuals. These individuals are most likely infrequent travelers. If you are interested in scheduling your next vacation aboard a cruise ship, you are encouraged not to believe this popular myth. Automatically assuming that cruise ship discounts do not exist can cost you a large amount of money and it may even prevent you from making a reservation.

When it comes to booking a discount cruise ship vacation, you have a number of different options. These options vary; therefore, you are encouraged to examine each and every one of them. You never know where cruise ship discounts may be found, that is until you begin searching for them. To get started, you are encouraged to visit a number of online discount travel websites.

Discount travel websites are a popular and easy way to obtain discounts on a wide range of vacations, including cruises. With a simple click of the mouse, you could easily compare prices and make your reservations. If you happen to come across additional discount websites, you are encouraged to fully research the website before providing them with your personal information.

In addition to viewing the discounts obtainable through an online travel website, you are also urged to contact cruise lines directly. In the event that you decide to take a last minute cruise, you may find a number of deals and discounts offered to last minute travelers. Last minute cruise ship discounts are often offered in a final attempt to fill empty cabins. These deals and discounts can easily be found online or by directly contacting a cruise ship representative.

It is also advised that you considered any membership clubs that you belong to.  AARP is a membership club that regularly offers travel discounts to its senior members. These discounts often include airline tickets and cruise ship reservations.  Other membership clubs may offer discounts. The only way to determine if discounts are available is to ask a club representative.

One alternative to researching cruise ship discounts yourself is to obtain the services of a professional travel agent. Travel agents operate online and locally. You may be able to obtain the services of a low-cost travel agent. Travel agents are popular. In addition to researching and suggesting particular cruise ships, they are often offered discounts that are not available to the general public.

With a small amount of time and research or professional assistance, you can easily obtain discount cruise ship tickets. Why avoid cruises altogether or pay full price for a reservation that can be obtained for a discount?

Choose your dream vacation with GOGO

Here is yet another excellent website that I’m sure everyone will love, and from which you can search for excellent vacation packages and cruises with exceptionally-low rates.

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But you will have to book it through your travel agent, in this case, mydreamtravels.  So, once you’ve selected a travel package, let us  know immediately via email.  Please include the product code and the destination, so we know we’re talking of the same thing.

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Reduced-Rate FAM Tours – for Agents only

FAM or FAMiliarization Tours are free, highly-discounted, reduced-rate trips offered by travel destinations,  suppliers, and service providers to the travel professionals that market and promote them.  These tours acquaint the travel agents about existing, new and exceptional features they could highlight in developing travel packages and tours.

FAM tours abound in the travel industry, and are a great opportunity for travel professionals to travel world at the least cost. Consider these sample, currently available FAM Tours.

Three Nights in Vienna, from $177

Trip: Three nights in Vienna through March 31.
Cost: From $177 per person, double.  Includes choiceof accommodations, breakfast daily and a three-day Vienna card offering free public transportation and discounts on city attractions and shopping.
Noteworthy: Trips to the Czech Republic and Hungary are availbale and can be coombined.

Five Nights PERU Vacation, from $1,895

Trip: Visits Lima, Cuzco and Macchu Picchu.
Departure: March 13 from New York to Lima via Taca Airlines.
Length: Five nights
Cost:$1,895 per person, double.  Includes roundtrip air, accommodations, transafers, sightseeing and most meals.

Caribbean & Central America, from $399

Trip: A cruise on the MSC Orchestra visits Cayo Levantado, Domininican Republic; Philiburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; and Nassau.
Departures: March 14 and April 11 from Fort Lauderdale.
Length: Seven nights, cruise only.
Cost: From$399 per person, double. Includes choice of cabin accommodations.  Rate for oceanview cabins is $599, for balcony suites $849.

Worldwide stay in Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel, from$69

Trip: Spend the night at any Fairmont, Raffles or Swissotel property through March 31.
Cost: From $69 at Swissotel properties, from $99 at Fairmont properties, and from $129 at Raffles properties.
Noteworthy: Members of the Fairmont FAMous agent program can book Fairmont rooms starting at $79 and are eligible for a one-level upgrade at time of check-in.

Unfortunately for the non-travel industry traveler, these are only available to travel professionals. However, should  you decide to join the industry as a travel agent for yourself, all these FAM tours, and hundreds more, will be at your fingertips.

Travelocity Cruises Super Sale

Travelocity has just launched its Cruise Super Sale, the BIGGEST sale of the year! For a limited time, enjoy cruise rates from $199, free stateroom upgrades, up to $800 onboard credit, 15% off shore excursions, and more!

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