The Best Cruise Line for YOU!

I am often asked the question "which cruise line is BEST?"  I always have to laugh, because this is a tough question to answer--I always answer back--define BEST.  Best price? itinerary? entertainment? food? accessibility? casinos? what is BEST?


Accessing your cruise needs are similar to writing a good news article.  There's the who, what, when, and how of it all.  Let's take them one at a time.  


WHO is sailing?  You and your hubby? You and your family? Family reunion? Gaggle of gal pals? WHO is sailing makes a lot of difference.  The who involves your interests, hobbies, and activity levels.  Will you be happy swimming with the dolphins, ice skating at sea, or just lounging by the pool?  Are you an experienced cruiser or a first timer?

WHAT do you want to, see, visit, and explore?  Do you have a special place or climate in mind?  On one cruise, I knew without a doubt I wanted to see a particular beach in St. Thomas as a shore excursion.  What do you want to do on board?  If you have your heart set on a surfing simulator or rock climbing at sea, you  are limited to the number of ships you can choose.  You need to think about WHAT you want to experience.


WHERE are you willing to go to board your ship?  Depending on your location, you may have to drive a long distance or fly to make your cruise happen.  If you choose not to travel, you could be limited by where you live.  Ships are traditionally stationed in certain ports and stay their until the season changes or larger/smaller ships are brought in.

WHEN do you want to sail?  The time of the year, season, or even holiday makes a big difference.  Going during spring break season?  Expect to see a lot of college students on board.  Think it would be cool to spend Thanksgiving on board?  Yes, it would, but you can expect to pay more.  Remember too, that certain itineraries like Alaska and New England are only available during certain seasons and fill up quickly.

Lastly, after deciding on all of the above--HOW much is your budget?  Do you have a realistic idea of what a cruise will cost?  With prices averaging $100-300 a night for accommodations, gourmet food, and entertainment galore--cruise prices are great vacation values. How much are you willing and able to spend?


When you talk with me, I will ask you all of these questions.  I try to match the client with the best fit of all of the above criteria.  By thinking on these questions and making a list of anything else that might be important to you--we can find the perfect fit just for you!


Call me and let's talk about your who, when, where, and how.  I will do my best  to match you as much as possible with the best cruise line and sailing to fit your needs.


Happy sailing!


Sandy


Sandy, thedivacruiser, is actually Sandy Wheeler, independent contractor for Connie George Travel Associates.  Follow her adventures on Twitter @thedivacruiser and on her web site www.SandyWheelerTravel.com.  Questions are always welcome click here to contact Sandy.


Photos are #1 Me onboard Celebrity. #2 Clients swimming with the dolphins onboard Royal Caribbean; #3 Line dancing on board Princess; #4 Hubby and I on pink sand beaches onboard NCL; #5 Hubby and I swimming with the stingrays onboard Carnival.

The Airport Shuffle

I love to line dance--it's super fun and good exercise.  The exception maybe what I call the "airport shuffle" --when you ride an escalator to get to another escalator to get to a monorail to get to an elevator and on and on.  But such is the reality of modern day airports, it's part of the dance.  The bigger the airport, the longer the dance, and like a line dance, it's easy to get out of breath.

Another modern day reality that makes the trip longer is, of course, the security check in, which seems to get more elaborate every time I fly.  I laughed out loud when the TSA took my rolledup tube of toothpaste.  As a travel advisor, I spend a good bit of time reminding people what to pack.  I keep a cosmetic case packed so I can grab and go, but my last trip was to a resort and didn't involve flying.  OOPS! note to self!  never assume!

But in the few seconds (which stretched out a l---o----n----g time) when I realized my bin of stuff was being pulled aside and I was being called over-- my thought was OH NO, SOMEONE PUT SOMETHING IN MY BAG!  I had never let my bag out of my sight, but still eek!  I wasn't exactly sure what would happen in this situation but I was pretty sure I wouldn't make my flight, among other things too scary to mention.  When she held up my toothpaste and said she would have to keep it, well as I said, I laughed. 


So to recap, just a couple of points that might be of interest.

• Keep your eyes and hands on your bag at all times.  Don't trust anyone you don't know, no matter how innocent they seem.  Check out reruns of NCIS or rewatch the Mission Impossible movies for examples.  Plus, hey, it's Mark Harmon and Tom Cruise-never time wasted!
• The 3 ounce carry on rule applies to liquids AND gels.  Toothpaste IS a gel dear readers!
• Don't argue with the nice TSA's.  They are there for your protection and just doing their jobs!

Happy and safe travels, Sandy



Sandy, the diva crusiser, is actually Sandy Wheeler, and Independent agent of Connie George Travel Associates.  Follow her adventures on Twitter @thedivacruiser or on her website http://www.sandywheelertravel.com/.  Email questions about this or any of her blogs, she loves to hear from readers. 

It's What We DO!

This weekend my daughter came to visit and while we were hanging out and chatting, she said “Mom, I could turn your living space around and give you more room”.  Having no talent in this area, and anxious for more room; I said sure. In fifteen minutes she had my husband and hers pulling out the furniture, end tables, and even the piano. The end result was a better look, a cohesive and cozy look, and much more room. When I exclaimed on the transformation, she cut her eyes at me and smiled “it’s what I do!” She is a professional interior designer so maybe I shouldn’t have been so surprised?

Another thing that surprises me is when intelligent, busy executives try to book their own travel. I’m the first to admit there are plenty of click and pay sites out there that make it easy to do. My question is why? We don’t cut our own hair or change our own oil; everything is very specialized these days. We all do what we are good at and hire out what we aren’t good at. Like my hodge-podge of decorating styles, people blunder their way thru vacation and business travel hoping everything comes out making sense. But again, is this the best way to leverage one’s time?

I think people have two misconceptions that lead them to try to book their own travel. One is the old description of “travel agent” which leads them to believe they are paying the agent on top of the trip cost. So in an effort to save money, they try to do it themselves—often missing out on good deals and information that the modern day travel advisor could help them with. In reality, most travel advisors are paid by the resort, hotel, cruise line, etc. that they book with. This is not always true, so be sure to ask; but largely the advisor’s commission is not paid by the client.

Secondly, I have found clients assume using a travel advisor takes more time. This is just not true; in fact, using an advisor takes less time as they do the searching, evaluating, and compiling of information. You will need to “meet” with your advisor initially in person, by phone, or email and outline what your needs are. She will ask questions such as time frame, budget, likes, dislikes, health issues, and other considerations. I usually narrow down my proposal to the client to 3 choices, often breaking it down from a multitude of sources, giving the best fit for each client. I pride myself in giving personalized and specialized information that will meet the needs of my people with as little intrusion into their time as possible.

Yes, I am a travel advisor—it’s what I DO! Let me help you utilize and manage YOUR time as well as get you the best price and fit for your travel needs!

Happy travels,


Sandy

Sandy, the diva cruiser, is actually Sandy Wheeler, an outside agent for Connie George Travel Associates.  Email her for questions about this or any of my blogs and follow her on Twitter @thedivacruiser, or on her website: www.SandyWheelerTravel.com.

Cruise Question SOS-What About Those Sail Cards?

Question:

Dear Diva Cruiser:  What do I need to know as a first time cruiser about those sail cards.  I know they act as my cabin key, what else do I need to know?  Signed Excited About My Vacation in Georgia.

Answer:

Dear Excited in Georgia:  You are so right!  The sail card IS your cabin key, but it's very much more--it's your key to the kingdom if you will.  Unlike the flimsy paper electronic keys used in many hotels, this card is made of credit card material--and should be treated with the same care as a credit card. 

The sail or embarkation card may contain any or all of the following information: your name, ship, date of your cruise, dining time and table, ship's phone number, your lifeboat station, and a folio number.  This is your "money system" on board as well as your identification and must be carried at all times whether on board or ashore.  In fact, the first thing you will do after leaving the check in station at the port is present your sail card to the staff member at the entrance to the gang plank.  Your card will be scanned and you will be officially ready to sail. 

Once on board all your purchases and activities will be charged to your sail card.  On newer ships, even things such as gambling use the sail card.  Personally, I like the sound the nickels and quarters make when hitting the slot, but that's my thing--so back to your question. :)

Your sail card is VITAL when planning to go ashore.  You cannot leave OR return to the ship without your card, so please use care.  You will need a picture ID to go ashore (driver's license) as well as your sail card.  Also once ashore, you sail card does not work as currency unless you are in a port such as Labadee, Haiiti, which is a Royal Caribbean property. You will need to carry a credit card with you for dining and shopping while on shore.  This is also one of the few times you could need cash depending on your plans.

I hope this answers your question dear sister in Georgia.  Yes, your sail card is your cabin key and a whole lot more!  Keep it safe and keep it with you!

Until later, email me if you have questions about this sail card blog or any of my other blogs.

Happy cruising!


Sandy

Sandy, the diva cruiser, is in reality, Sandy Wheeler, Independent Contractor for Connie George Travel Associates.  Follow her adventures on Twiter @divacrusier or on her website http://www.sandywheelertravel.com/

Cruising Question SOS-What About My Diet Coke?

Growing up I never acquired a taste for coffee.  Maybe because my parents drank so much of it, maybe because I am just a bit wierd, but for whatever reason, I just can't stand the taste.  So needing to get my "jolt" from somewhere, I turned to diet coke.  I drink it for breakfast and need a couple to get the neurons firing in the morning.  It's like you probably are with your coffee--I don't prefer it--I need it!  Funny but two or my three sisters are the same way.  You should see us at family gatherings, each packing a 12 pack of diet coke under each arm, trust me I have pictures!

So when clients ask me about the availability of their favorite (and necessary) soda on board their cruise ship vacation, I completely understand.  After all, it's not as if you can pop by the 7-11 and stock up in the open sea.  So let's address this question and  see what's available, what's free, and what's for sale.  Here we go:

• Coffee, tea, iced tea, water, are free all day
• Milk and juice are free during the breakfast hours
• Soda is available by the glass at the bars, dining room, pool, and theatre for $2-3 each,
• Alcholic drinks are available at any bar, in the dining room, pool, and theatre $5 and up
• "Drink of the Day" are daily specials and can be made virgin if requested
• Fountain soda cards can be purchased on most cruise lines for $6 per day adults, $4 children (approximate)

The soda fountain card is what I always get--first thing--at the "sail away" party!  (I always get a fruity ptooty sail away drink too, but that's another story).  Considering I drink at least 3 sodas every morning and a gingerale with my evening routine, it's well worth it.  Plus I just like to relax with my diet coke while reading out on the pool deck or having popcorn with the movie out by the pool.  So the soda fountain card saves me a good bit of money. 

A couple of things to remember!  All prices are for example and not a contract.  Prices change, usually going up, these are the latest I found today and vary a bit by the particular cruise line.  Secondly, drinks whether sodas or alcholol brought to you by waiters are subject to a 15% gratuitiy.  Lastly, not all lines may have the soda fountain card, so you will want to check with your travel professional or check the line's web site.  Fortunately for me, most do!

Now sit back, kick off your shoes, and enjoy your favorite drink!

Until next time, keep the questions coming!  Email me here with your question: sandy@cgta.com

Sandy

Sandy, the divacruiser, is in reality, Sandy Wheeler, an independent contractor with Connie George Travel Associates.  Follow her adventures on Twitter @thedivacruiser or on her web site www.SandyWheelerTravel.com.  Have a question about cruising or one of our trips?  Email Sandy  at: sandy@cgta.com. 

A Brand New Series--The Great Shrimp and Grits Survey of the South

As a lifetime Southerner, there are some things I just take pride in.  Our beaches, mild winters, friendliness, culture, great cities and small towns; I love it all. 

One of the best things is our food--fried chicken, red eyed gravy, church picnic potato salad, barbeque, and green bean casserole are the stuff of Southern culinary legend.  A particularly Southern item that is probably misunderstood is the classic dish of shrimp and grits.  First, let's dispel one myth.  The grits used in shrimp and grits are not your typical grits most of the country thinks of when the name "grits" is mentioned.  These grits are especially made for this dish and have an altogether different consistency and taste than anything you may have experienced with products from the grocery store straight out of the microwave.

As a true fan of this uniquely southern treat, I decided to work my way through the south sampling shrimp and grits.  I have had shrimp and grits in Savannah and Charleston--the holy grails of southern cuisine and most people assign the origins of shrimp and grits to one of these. I want to find lesser known locations; the small town take on the subject. At the same time I will be reporting on some interesting bed and breakfasts, resorts, and other accomodations that you may not have even know exist.  I know it's a tough job, but as always, I am willing to take one for the team--you gals my readers! I appreciate your  input, and if you know of a lovely local spot that serves a great shrimp and grits--send me an email.  I would love to hear from you!  Well, I better go to the gym, all this delicious food--I am going to need it!  Until my next installment--happy eating!

Sandy

Sandy, the diva cruiser, is actually Sandy Wheeler, independent contractor for Connie George Travel Associates.  She can be reached for comment on this or any other of her blogs at sandy@cgta.com.  Follow her adventures on Twitter @divacruiser or www.SandyWheelerTravel.com.

Reading Labels Can Save You Money!

Label reading has become a passion of mine while trying to eat more healthy food, lose weight, and keep my blood sugar under control.  It's amazing the things you can learn about processed foods, they almost all contain too many chemicals, too much salt, and too many carbs.  A real reality check--if you haven't started reading labels, I recommend you do it, you will be surprised!

These however, are not the labels this blog is about.  Recently, I took a gander at the ingredients list of my cosmetics line.  It's a great line and I enjoy using it BUT the ingredients list on my toner said "witch hazel".  Witch hazel was the only active ingredient.  Everything else was inactive--fragrance, etc. I say again, the only active ingredient was witch hazel!  Worse than that, I was paying $39.50 for witch hazel!  Good smelling witch hazel; in a pretty bottle; but none the less, plain witch hazel.  Geez!

I immediately hit the web and found that witch hazel was an active ingredient in several toners, some costly, some not.  I then went to my local Walgreens and looked at the witch hazel selections.  The kind I chose was Dickinsons.  It cost me $5.95 for a net savings of $33.85 per bottle.  As I probably use 3-4 bottles a year--well we are looking in a savings in at least $100 a year! WOW!

Now I am known for being an advocate for women pampering themselves.  In fact, I insist on it.  But, there's a difference between pampering ourselves with a superior products and spending money for no good reason.  Go into your cosmetics storage area right now.  Examine the labels and do some research.  Throw away any items that are over the expiration date; particularly eye items like mascara and shadows which can harbor germs.  See if you, like me, are overpaying on any items.

Need a suggestion for the extra money you can save?  How about using that extra as your downpayment for our October, 2010 Chicks at Sea ladies cruise?  Visit my web site or email me for more information.

Now go read some labels!

All the best! Sandy

Sandy, the diva cruiser, is actually Sandy Wheeler an independent contractor for Connie George Travel Associates.  Follow her adventures on Twitter @thedivacruiser and on her website www.SandyWheelerTravel.com.  Email me for more information about our Chicks at Sea ladies cruise.