Hotel for cruises from Florida

Numerous persons who are going on a cruise from Florida are looking for a hotel that has an ideal location. The present down turn in the economy should not only be a concern for persons who are looking for Caribbean Cruise deals from Florida, but also a hotel that offers all the necessary services at a reasonable price.

I spent a week at the Hyatt Place Ft Lauderdale Airport North while attending a cruise conference in Ft Lauderdale in 2010. Several attendees of the conference stayed at the Hyatt and were going on a cruise from Florida to the Caribbean. I was impressed and very satisfied with the general service and the hotel layout. The six (6) floor and one hundred and twenty six (126) room hotel is located at 1851 Se 10th Street in Ft Lauderdale, FL. It is about two (2) miles from the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, 2 miles from the beach and a half mile from the Convention Center and Port Everglades, the cruise port.

My room was very spacious by hotel standards. It was well kept and contained a small refrigerator and a 42” flat panel HDTV. The room also contained a microwave and a posh cozy over sized corner sofa sleeper which was separate from the sleeping area. The complimentary wifi in the bedroom was a great asset, as I could keep up to date with all activities at my office. There were also a couple computers with printers in an E-room area for guests who did not have a computer. This was neat as several persons took advantage of that service to keep in touch with the rest of the world.

I was also impressed with the hotel on a whole. There was a reasonable size exercise room that was well equipped with tread mills and other basic gym equipment. The hotel provided a free continental breakfast but I never partook in same, so I won’t comment on the quality. The other hotel features include outdoor swinging pool and hot tub, wheel chair accessible, business center, meeting rooms, dry cleaning/laundry, smoke free and room service. There were several good shopping and eating restaurants within walking distance of the Hotel. A person had the option of eating at Outback steak House which was one quarter mile away or the Dough Boys Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant about the same distance away.

The service that I was impressed with during my stay was the complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. The service is also extended to and from the cruise ship port. The shuttle was available on a regular basis and my longest wait was approximately thirty (30) minutes. This was a great cost saving benefit for persons who are going on a cruise from Florida.

I was very satisfied with the overall service at the hotel and would strongly recommend it to my clients. As mentioned previously, it is not only the service but the location of the hotel.

Jadd Fong Travel donates cruise from Florida to charity

Albuquerque, NM, November 10, 2010. Jadd Fong Travel, a New Mexico travel agency made a charitable contribution of a cruise from Florida to the General Albuquerque Medical Association (GAMA) for their Second Annual Vendors fair held on October 12, 2010 at the Marriot Pyramid Hotel in Albuquerque, NM.

Educating a client

Jadd Fong Travel had a display table at the fair and provided promotional materials to persons present. Brochures were available for Alaska vacations and other popular destinations like Hawaii and Mexico. The agency took the opportunity to educate the persons who visited their table about their website: www.jaddfongtraveldeals.com, Caribbean cruise deals from Florida and other packages to Europe and South America.

GAMA partnered with the Albuquerque health Care for the homeless to raise funds during the event. As a result, Jadd Fong Travel donated a four (4) day cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean International cruise line which was raffled at the fair. The decision to give back to the Albuquerque community demonstrated the agency’s appreciation of the public support during the past years. The agency felt the money raised from the raffle would go a long way in helping the homeless in the Albuquerque area. Other institutions also donated prizes for the event.

The annual fair was open to the general membership of the association. It was an opportunity for vendors who were directly or indirectly involved in the health industry to showcase their products to their members. The people who attended were encouraged to take part in the leisure activities and participate in the fund raising charity raffle and good food. This was a good opportunity for people to participate and win prizes including a cruise from Florida. The fair also allowed physicians to network with colleagues and access information regarding new or improved technology to enhance their practice.

Winner of cruise certificate

The donation by Jadd Fong Travel was the highlight of the evening and the owner of the agency was in attendance to make the presentation to the winner. The cruise was won by a female attendee who was ecstatic about taking a cruise from Florida to the Bahamas.

New TSA travel requirements

A client of mine questioned my asking for her date of birth, saying that it was not necessary for completing her booking for her Alaska vacation. She was not hostile but very curious in knowing the reason for asking. After some explanation she was very willing to provide the information.


This was my motivation for writing this blog as it appears that some travelers are unaware of the new regulations that govern travel. A lot of things have changed since the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Among these changes are the manner we travel and what is expected of us. These new regulations govern all our travel, whether it is an Alaska vacation or a Caribbean cruise deal to the region.

From August 20, 2010 the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires all passengers to have accurate flight passenger data for all bookings. In simple terms, all travelers must provide their date of birth, gender and their name as it appears on their official travel document. Failing to provide that information will not allow the person to complete their booking. The regulation will be enforced by the TSA from November 01, 2010 irrespective when the reservation was made.

Domestic travelers can continue using their driver’s license as their official ID but international travelers would require a passport for travel. It is expected that all persons will comply and avoid being denied boarding an aircraft of ship because of inadequate information. Clients can call Jadd Fong Travel for more information on the matter.

Worlds largest virtual cruise event

Jadd Fong Travel invites you,

to a very special event from

October 01-31, 2010

join us on the web at

http://wlcn.cruising.org/jaydfong

We’re joining with member travel agencies from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) across the US and Canada to host the World’s Largest Virtual Cruise Month – an opportunity for travelers like you to come and learn more about one of the most popular vacations: cruising!

Cruising is all about you. You can find adventure, culture and education or, relax the day away. Dine on fine cuisine. Indulge at the spa. Reconnect with family. Share romantic moments. All this, in the destination of your choice, for a few days, a week or more, on a cruise that's right for you.

Join us on the web during the entire month of October and

Learn about your favorite destinations and take advantage of our Caribbean cruise deals and Alaska cruises among other special promotions. Get ready to take advantage of great deals,and much more!

 cruise the world with us!

For additional information or to book call

Jadd Fong Travel at

 1-888-282-8721 / 505-999-1039 or

Email: jaddfongtravel@comcast.net

Carnival cancels cruises from Florida to Dominica

I have been officially informed by the Carnival Cruise Line that the Carnival Victory will no longer be stopping in the port of Dominica during her Southern Caribbean cruise. The Carnival Cruise Line has discontinued its visit to Dominica with effect from November 21, 2010. The ship’s itinerary has been amended and a day at sea will replace the time allocated for the island stop.

Carnival cruise line is one of numerous cruise lines that provide Caribbean cruise deals to Dominica. Several persons who cruise from Florida to the Southern caribbean will no longer enjoy the Nature Island of the Caribbean.

No explanation was provided for the change in the ship’s itinerary. The original itinerary was very impressive with a port stop on each day of the cruise. In fact some customers purchased that cruise because they expected a port stop each day of the cruise and in particular the stop in Dominica. A number of individuals were considering withdrawing from the cruise and visit the Southern Caribbean with a different cruise line. I had to use all my persuasive skills to get them to reconsider.

I have been monitoring the national radio station of the island in an effort to find answers for my clients because they are disappointed with the new itinerary. In an announcement from the radio station, a government official said they were looking into the matter and would do their utmost best to have Carnival Cruise Line return to the island. The official claimed that the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), had a similar problem in the past with fuel cost and discontinued it service, but he was happy to report that cruises from Florida would include the NCL in the new future. 

The Carnival Cruise Line has served Dominica during the past 21 years and is an integral part of the island growing tourism industry. It has also provided numerous Caribbean cruise deals to the region and it is hoped that the problem will be resolve soon so the Carnival victory can return to the island of Dominica.

My Alaska vacation cruise

Norwegian Star

I was excited when asked to organize a cruise to Alaska for my in laws for their 10th wedding Anniversary gift. I jumped to the idea as they had spoken of an Alaska vacation on many occasion. I knew an Alaska vacation was their dream holiday because they made several indirect comments about not wanting to cruise from Florida. 

Their vacation quickly mushroomed into a family reunion with relatives coming from the Caribbean, USA and Canada. I was ecstatic about planning such a vacation because I considered Alaska as an unknown vastness of snow. After some mini hitches in making the flights arrangements, I was able to schedule everyone arrival to Seattle, a day prior to the cruise within a two hour window.

Our reunion began with an overnight stay in Seattle, as we were departing early the next morning on a 7 night round trip cruise to Alaska. The weather in Seattle was slightly gloomy for a mid-summer day but we were fortunate as it never rained during our pre and post cruise stops.

Seattle skyline

The hotel provided transportation to the port as part of the hotel package. As expected, we were on the first bus shuttle to the port. After a hassle free check in through security, it Was finally time to board the Star of the Norwegian Cruise Line. The departure from the harbor was smooth and appeared effortless. In fact, it went unnoticed until I observed the port building getting smaller on the horizon. The first couple of hour on the ship was spent exploring my new residence of the next 7 days. I will provide a review of the Norwegian Star in a subsequent blog. As expected, I did not get much sleep the first evening at sea as I took the opportunity to explore the ship and discover all it had to offer.

From Seattle, we traveled through the inside passage towards Ketchikan. The passage extends north from Washington, along the British Columbia coast to the Alaskan Panhandle. The cruise ships use this particular route that goes through a series of passages between the islands to avoid the bad weather in the open ocean.




Ketchikan salmon hatchery


Our first stop was in Ketchikan – the self proclaimed salmon capital of the world. We visited a salmon hatchery, one of several built to process the abundance of salmon in the area. We were amazed at the effort and technology being used to produce salmon for export to the rest of the world. We were provided with an in depth explanation of the life of a salmon. I was amazed to learn that a salmon life began in the fresh water streams and lakes of Alaska. The young salmon migrates to the ocean and would return after several years to their place of birth in the streams and lakes to spawn.

Totem pole

We also visited an area where our tour guide educated us on the history of the Haida tribe – the Pacific Northwest Indians. We learnt how they lived and traded extensively throughout the region. Time was taken to explain the significance and purpose of the Totem Pole. I was amazed to learn that these monumental structures carved from large trees, mostly red cedar were the life history of an important Native American. From my estimation, I think the poles were approximately 20 feet tall containing engraved images of animals and individuals. The carvings were also painted which gave the totem poles a very attractive appearance.

Mendenhall lake and glacier

Mendenhal glacier lake

Many Alaska vacation tours excursions were available, but I jumped to the idea of visiting an ice glacier. The day was gloomy and interspersed with the occasional shower. As soon as we disembarked from the ship, we took a short bus ride to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. I had never seen an ice glacier before, so I was not allowing the rain to dampen my anticipation and excitement as this was one of the main reasons I went on the cruise. There were several trails on each side of the lake which is at foot of the glacier. I took one of the trails that appeared less muddy and had easy access to the lakes edge. The trail also provided a beautiful view of the valley and glacier which is situated between two mountains that appear to stretch for miles. At the bottom of the glacier is the Mendenhall Lake which gets it supply of water from the glacier. In short, the glacier looked like a huge mountain cliff that was sparkling white from the occasional reflection of the sun when it popped out between the grey clouds.

Mendehall glacier welcome center

I must compliment the local authority in Juneau for the development of the area to cater for the large crowds of yearly tourists. The welcome center was impressive and the information within made the trip very educational. Also it was a good opportunity to get out of the cold and enjoy the warmth inside the building. During the tour of the facility, we were entertained with a short historic film of the glacier. I left the area with a deep feeling of sadness and disappointment. It was heart breaking to learn that the location of the welcome center was part of the glacier a couple hundred years ago. The glacier had receded significantly and its progress was being measured every year. Whether the reason for the melting of the glacier was global warming or other reasons, we have to examine our life style because the beauty of our world was being wasted away.

Sawyer glacier

The next place of interest was the Sawyer Glacier. Several Individuals were glued on deck as the ship navigated the icy waters containing several huge chunks of ice. The decks were crowded with cruisers who were enjoying every minute of the journey. This was an amazing sight to see the huge chunks of ice floating near the ship.

White Pass Scenic railway

Skagway is the furthest point North via the inside passage and it was the next port stop. At the corsair desk we were informed that the White Pass scenic railway ride was a good opportunity to see the Alaskan countryside and wildlife. Unfortunately the only wildlife we saw was a glimpse of a herd of wild goats in the far distance that were taking advantage of the warm sunshine. The deep gorges and mountainside were beautiful and breathe taking and everyone soaked in the fresh crisp air of the high elevation.

Prince Rupert Bay, Canada 

On our return journey we stopped at Prince Rupert Bay in Canada. This stop was interesting because it gave us an insight into the lives of a small Canadian community. The town seemed extremely quiet and appeared undisturbed by the huge number of Alaska vacation visitors. From Prince Rupert Bay, it was time to journey back to Seattle.

The cruise was enjoyable and memorable not only for the numerous shore experiences, but it was an opportune time to reunite with relatives we had not seen and out of touch for a very long time. We laughed and shared endless old memories during the Alaska trip. I could claim the cruise a tremendous success because everyone was keen on doing a repeat cruise from Florida.

Fantastic Hotel for vacation to Europe

I found an ideal hotel to stay while visiting London during my vacation to Europe. It was clean, had a friendly staff, and most of all, it was located near to numerous sightseeing attractions. This place is perfect to launch your vacation and enjoy all your fascination of London.

I stayed at the Novotel London City South during my stopover in London as part of my family vacation to European tour. My family out voted me as I wanted a cruise to Europe instead.We spent 10 days at the hotel, but the majority of the time was spent outdoors enjoying the beauty of London. (I will inform readers of my London experience in a subsequent blog).

The hotel has an AA 4 stars rating and I think it deserved that score. The hotel’s sleeping accommodation consisted of 182 non smoking rooms, 4 suites and 10 accessible rooms. The rooms are categorized into superior and executive. I selected an executive which accommodated 4 individuals. It contained all the features of the superior room (26” LCD TV, pay movies, broad band internet access, hair dryer, iron and mini bar) plus an Espresso coffee machine, Bose iPod docking station complimentary internet access, and bathrobe and slippers. Other facilities included laundry, parking, currency exchange and sauna/steam rooms. The staff was friendly and was never hesitant in providing information about places to visit while in London.

Our stay can be considered uneventful apart from an idiot who made everyone leave their room at about midnight. I was asleep and thought I was dreaming only to realize the screeching sound was coming from within my room. Then it dawned on me that the fire alarm was going crazy. Groggy, confused and half asleep, I rushed out from my room to be joined by several other guest in the corridor. Everyone quickly made it to the outside parking area. We were fortunate that it was a wonderful London evening and it was not raining. To everyone’s dismay and relief we were informed that a guest attempted to smoke in a non smoking room causing the smoke alarm to go off.

As mentioned earlier the hotel location was a plus as it was a short walking distance to the River Thames, the London eye, the Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare Globe Theatre, St. Paul’s Catheredral and many other London attractions. Also the London tube was minutes away and a short ride would take us to shopping areas, nightlife and theatres on the west end. A stone throw away from the hotel was a small market containing everything you could possible want. Apart from meat and fish, there was a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. I was extremely happy to find the market and made regular visits for my fresh supply of fruits.

On discovering how close the hotel was to the banks of the River Thames, we immediately decided to explore our new surroundings. We were amazed at the level of activity that was happening all along the river banks. It was not only a beautiful sight to behold but it contained several attractive looking eating places. In addition numerous characters were on sight performing to the large crowds delight and were compensated for their efforts.

I would recommend this hotel to families or individuals who wish to vacation in Europe  and London in particular. The hotel is also suitable for persons visiting London on business.as well as persons who are visiting London for business.

Lourdes vacation to Europe

Since I was a kid, I have heard several people mention the name of Lourdes (pronounced Lourdz). I knew practically nothing about it apart from hearing that it was a very religious place. That impression changed drastically after visiting Lourdes, France during my family vacation to Europe. The visit was part of swing through Europe with stops in Paris and London. My vacation to Europe was a tremendous success as it gave me an opportunity to farmilarize myself with many of the products that I am selling.

Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is located in the Southwestern end of France or 497 miles south of Paris and is very close to the Spanish boarder. There are several ways of getting there during a vacation to Europe. You can get there by rail, car or get an airline ticket for the local airport. The nearest airport was approximately 20 minutes from the town center for persons who wish to get there by air. I choose to travel by rail during my visit as it was inexpensive and it gave me the opportunity to see the French countryside. It was very picturesque and was littered with numerous huge farms of sunflowers, corn, and vegetables among other crops. The sunflower farms were extremely beautiful with acres of yellow and green.

The population is in the region of 15,000 but that number swells drastically due to the large influx of tourists and pilgrims throughout the year. It is estimated that a total of 5 million visitors travel to Lourdes annually. The best time to go on vacation is from March to October as the rest of the year is rather cold.

Interestingly Lourdes has 2 sections which vastly differ from each other. The international section by the river consists of the spiritual area containing the grotto and churches. The second area is the French portion centered around the marketplace and the Hotel de Ville.

On arrival at the train station several taxis were available for the transfer to my hotel. I was fortunate to have booked a hotel within walking distance from the grotto and was able to walk there without any difficulty. It is important to get a hotel near the grotto if you are physically challenged as there is a small hill from the train station to the grotto. Please note that the town is friendly to walkers and it is easy to get around the town center. I observed that numerous hotels were available to visitors. It is estimated that Lourdes has about 270 hotels and is second only to Paris in hotel density per square mile.

It is famous for the apparitions of our lady of Lourdes that occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Salubrious. Since, it has developed into a major place for Roman Catholic pilgrimages and miraculous healing. Bernadette saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in the hollow of a rock. No one saw the vision although other people were present with her during some of the lady’s appearance. One day she was told to drink water from a mysterious spring in the grotto area. At the time there was no sign or existence of a spring but to everyone amazement water gushed out after she dug a hole in the ground.

Lourdes is the largest Catholic pilgrimage destination in France and one of the most popular catholic shrines in the world. The sacred grotto and site of the spring that Bernadette discovered, is now one of the major pilgrimage sites in Lourdes, as millions come to drink its waters, which are believed to have healing powers. A statue of the Virgin Mary was erected in the grotto in 1864, where it can still be seen today.

I attended the evening procession which takes place every day from 5:00 pm. The procession began in the grotto with the sick and disabled at the front followed by several different groups and ends in the underground Basilica. The Basilica of St. Pius was constructed almost entirely underground. It is a sight to behold because it is a unique type of architecture and was built to accommodate the large crowds that visit the shrine. The sanctuary is situated on a raised platform and the ceiling is low and is supported by pre-stressed concrete pillars which meet 29 concrete beams which cross the ceiling, giving it the impression of an upside down ship. This design creates a very large open space for maximum visibility from any part of the nave. When full it can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers.

It is understood that international masses are held in 6 languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Dutch. The masses are held simultaneously on Sunday mornings and the choir is open to anyone who arrives early. You can rehearse with the choir and sing with people of all 6 languages. You also have an excellent view of the mass from the choir.

There are nightly candle light processions in front of the Basilica and around the main square. People sing and pray the rosary in many languages. The procession of the sick to the underground basilica each afternoon is particular moving.

I was not only captivated by the beautiful and unique structures but experienced the presence of holiness. During my stay I felt at peace with myself and my God and bathed in the spirit. I would recommend a visit to Lourdes during a vacation to Europe because it is a spiritual experience more than words can ever describe.

Dominica is the Nature Island

The approach to Dominica is breath taking as you descend between the mountains in a sea of greenery. Although I have visited the island during several Caribbean cruises from Florida, I was still amazed at the beautiful vegetation of the island. The lush mountains were covered with numerous canopies of vines that create an umbrella over the tall shrubs. As the aircraft came to a stop at Melville Hall, Dominica, I could not avoid the amazing sight of tall coconut palm trees swaying in the breeze as if they were bowing their branches, welcoming me to the island.

In a previous post, I mentioned the purpose of this visit to the island. I was born in the Caribbean and have visited several of the other islands during my stay there. I am fortuntate to have benefited from several Caribbean cruise deals to the region. Dominica is also known as the Commonwealth of Dominica to differentiate it from the better known Dominica Republic which shares the island with Haiti and Hispaniola. Several persons do claim the island is an undiscovered paradise, so I intended to confirm if she deserved the name of “Nature Island “of the Caribbean.

My first expedition took me to Dominica’s Morne Trois Piton National Park which was established in July 1975 by an act of parliament and was the first of Dominica’s park to be legally established. In 1998 it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. It was the first enlisted natural site in the Eastern Caribbean, and its inauguration was also marked with a Regional conference on the World Heritage Convention. The national park protects some of the islands clear streams, mountains and some of the tropical virgin forest for their educational, scientific and scenic values. Today the park includes numerous attractions like the Boiling Lake, Valley of Desolation, Boeri Lake/Fresh Water Lake and the Emerald pool among other attractions.

One of the many attractions in the Morne Trois Piton National Park is the Emerald pool. It is a very popular area for bathing and is a short walking distance from the main motor able road to Castle Bruce. The Emerald Pool has a strong appeal to locals and tourist alike because it is surrounded by many of the island beautiful ferns and faunas. Also, the water is crystal clear but it can be cold as it is shaded by several trees.

My next visit was to the lesser known Northern National Park which consists of 23, 000 acres of land in the Northern part of the island. The major attraction of this national park is the mile long walk Syndicate rainforest trail. In this national park I came across the Balata tree. People claim that this tree is one of the hardest trees in existence. The wood from the tree was widely used for engineering bushes in sugar cane mills when the brass ran out.

During my walk through the rain forest, I was over whelmed and surprised by its quietness. It was very isolated and I did not come across anyone during a two hour hike. It was like walking into another world of peace and tranquility with the silence being interrupted occasionally by the distant sound of a melodious song of a bird chirping from the foliage. The air was fresh and crisp and was filled with a rich aroma floating from the beautiful flowers and vegetation.

It should be noted that the syndicate area is the home of two parrots found only in Dominica. The Amazon Imperial which is known locally as the Sisserou Parrot and is the island’s national bird. The other parrot is the red neck and is referred to locally as the Jaco (Amazon Arausiaca). It is smaller than the Sisserou parrot and can be found at much lower elevations than the Sisserou. I was fortunate during my visit to the Syndicate Forest to catch a glimpse of the Sisserou parrot. Passing through some wild tall growing bushes and tangled vine I came to an abrupt halt and looked in the direction of some trees where I heard an unusual sound. I slowly looked towards the light between the tall trees and saw the shadow of a Sisserou - the largest Amazon Parrot. She was a real beauty as the upper parts and back was mostly green and purple with a bluish head. There was also a red streak on the wing tips and a green-tipped red tail.

Another big attraction in Dominica is the boiling lake, which is considered the biggest in the world. It is a very long and tedious walk to get there, so I began my journey very early that morning. The trip is approximately 6.5 miles or three and a half hours walking distance each way. Unfortunately the day was rainy and the trail was muddy and very difficult. The trail was clear and well kept but it did not help my fear as some areas were winding across rocks and ridges. The trail took me across the Breakfast River, where I stopped for refreshments and got re-energized. An interesting part of the trip was the Valley of Desolation which contained several holes in the ground from which flowed warm springs. After some walking I saw the distant vapor of the boiling lake rising from the forest floor accompanied by a strong smell of sulphur. Although the walk was tiring, the sight of the boiling lake took all my fatigue away. The lake is located in a basin and looked like a huge melting pot of sulphur.

On the return journey, I stopped for a refreshing bath in an area called “Titou Gorge”, near a small village called Laudat. The water was enticing and refreshing to my aching feet and muscles. I wish to mention that Dominica has 365 rivers (one for each day in the year), and several waterfalls. One of the more popular falls is called the Trafalgar Twin Waterfalls which is approximately 20 minutes driving distance from the capital, Roseau. The rivers are crystal clear and are all suitable for bathing.

I was told that a visit to Dominica without going whale watching would be an incomplete vacation. After some quick investigations, I joined a tour party for a very reasonable price. I was the first person to arrive at the pick-up point but was joined later by several other persons who came from cruises from Florida. The first hour of the trip was uneventful as the boat navigated from one location to the other. The only visible movement on the horizon was the occasional bird that would hover above then plunged into the water seeking a meal. Our host was still confident that we would spot whales although I did not share his optimism. Everyone was very disappointed as we made our journey back to the harbor. A sudden exclamation of joy from the left side of the boat had everyone turning in that direction. I could hardly believe my eyes as a number of grey shapes were surfacing then disappearing beneath the water. At one point it appeared that they were trying to keep pace with the boat – as the boat went forward so did the school of happy melon –headed whales.

Dominican has a much slower pace of life than most developed countries and it appeared that people were very happy to socialize and talk about their island with visitors. I think one of the of Dominica’s biggest asset is its people. The island is a small nation with a population of approximately Seventy thousand, but everyone has a big heart. The people are free spirited and enjoy life to the max. 

There are several ways to visit the island and enjoy the beauty nature has to offer. You can also participate in the fun and frolic during carnival and the islands independence celebrations from Great Britain. Apart from flights from the locally owned Caribbean airline, there are direct connections to the US main land via Puerto Rico. In addition, all the major cruise lines do regular stop over during the Caribbean cruise season. The best time to visit the island would be during the cruise off season so you can benefit from the large number of Caribbean cruise deals that are available.

The greenery of the island is unbelievable. This was truly an isle of Nature or seemingly an unspoiled natural beauty. It is untouched and has a lot to offer the visitor. It is said that Christopher Columbus would recognize the island if he returned to the island today. What Dominica lacks in beaches and fancy resorts it makes up with hiking trail through rugged terrain. There are few places on earth that remains so untouched and yet as accessible as Dominica – indeed it is the Nature Island of the Caribbean. A visitor will forever carry the memories of the boiling lake, national parks, soul-stirring songs of the multi colored birds, and awe-inspiring sight of diving whales that touched my life with its majestic presence.

Alaska Vacation from Vancouver

I entered a new world of beauty, peace splendor and warmth as I stepped from the harbor ramp on to the Volendam of Holland America cruise line. The world outside was nothing in comparison as it was gloomy, cold and rainy on this 3rd day of June 2010. I am sure this was not a typical day in Vancouver, BC. This port has become one of the mojor hubs for Alaska vacation departures. Vancouver may not offer as much as the ports for cruises from Florida but it is another option from Seattle for travelers who wish to cruise to Alaska.

The Purpose of my ship visit was to inspect the Volendam as part of my continued training as an Accredited Cruise Consular (ACC). Being a member of Cruise Line International Agency (CLIA), you are granted privileges to do on the job training to familiarize yourself with the product being sold. I was part of a group of approximately 200 cruise professionals visiting the ship that particular day. This first hand information about the cruise product will help the travel professional recommend and match clients to the right ships during vacation counseling.

The MS Volendam is a sister ship to the Zaadam and is considered a mid-size ship in the “R Class” of ships. The other ships in that same class are Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The ship theme is flowers and fresh displays and has an abundance of both items. It also contains paintings of museum standard such as an oil painting of the city of Utrecht, in the Netherlands painted in 1842, as well as contemporary art like the series of photographs of music great Dizzy Gillespie and BB King. The ship is one of the many cruise lines that do Alaska vacation cruises  from Vancouver. Here are some basic facts about the ship.

Number of staterooms: 1,432 Tonnage: 61, 396

Number of passenger decks: 10 Crew: 588

Year built: 1999 Year refurbish: 2005

The ship amenities include but not limited to bars/lounges, library, internet center, Casino, disco/nightclub, video games/arcade and card room. There are also activities for children and teens like age specific activities, teen programs and group babysitting. There are facilities for the physically challenged like close caption TV, accessible public areas, visual assistance for visually impaired, Braille signage and accessible tendering among other things. There is also a fitness center, full service spa, beauty salon, outdoor pool and an outdoor sports area.

My first area of interest was the Penthouse Verandah suite of deck Number 7 – the Navigation deck. The suite was spacious and appeared more like a residential apartment than a cruise ship stateroom. In the luxurious 1,126 sp ft suite, I discovered an ambiance of refined beauty containing one king size bed and a sofa bed for two persons. It also contained an over sized whirlpool bath and shower, living room, dining room, private verandah, pantry, mini bar, refrigerator, guest toilet and floor to ceiling windows. That deck also has other suites of lesser quality like the Deluxe Verandah and Verandah suites. The Neptune lounge is in close proximity and is for the exclusive use of persons in the penthouse and deluxe verandah suites.

My next stop was a standard ocean view state room on deck 3, the Lower Promenade Deck. It was of note to say that room appeared to be bigger than the average stateroom on a cruise ship, measuring about 197 sq ft. It contained two lower beds that could convert into one queen bed, bathtub and shower, and potholes instead of windows. It was very comfortable accommodations for a cruise ship. I had seen the top of the line and the average stateroom of the Volendam.

The day came to a climax with lunch for the entire group in the Lower Rotterdam dining room on deck four. The lunch was great and everyone ate to their hearts content. Everyone took the opportunity to discuss their finds and what stood out during the tour. It was generally held that the Volendam was very well maintained and left with a positive impression of the cruise line – Holland America.

The ship crew did their utmost to entertain as during the limited time provided. It is important to note that the ship was being cleaned and resupplied for an  Alaska vacation trip that evening. Everyone was busy but took time off from their busy schedule to answerer our questions and concerns.

Are Travel Agents extinct?

Are travel agents becoming an extinct species? I am sure this question has crossed several people’s mind. My perspective as an agent involved in the travel industry, is definitely no! As far as I am concerned travel agents will never go into oblivion and continue to provide an essential service to the traveling public and industry.

The definition of a travel agency is to sell travel and related products and services to customers on behalf of suppliers. The function of a travel agent is not only to book a vacation but to educate and provide advise to their clients. I am sure a client wishes much more information than to book a Caribbean cruise deal or an Alaska vacation. It is the responsibility of the travel professional to provide much more so the client can make an educated decision about the vacation.

The travel industry has gone through many changes over the years and the travel agent has not been immune to those changes. New technology like the internet has affected all facets of our lives and has revolutionized the way business is done presently. Travel information that would take weeks to research and was only available to the travel agent is now at everyone finger tips in a couple of minutes. The benefit of this new phenomenon is tremendous as a large volume of information on all walks of life is available not only to travelers but to the general public. Any destination can be analyzed and dissected into different components in a matter of seconds. This is a plus to the traveler as they can research and book their travel online from the comfort of their homes.

The internet also has its negatives. With so much information available – the traveler can be over whelmed and confused. Can you imagine that you Goggle “Alaska vacations” and come up with two million responses. The traveler can be lost in the sea of information trying to decide what is genuine and what is fictitious. The danger of the internet is in the numerous number of scam website that are in existence. Many a traveler has booked a hotel on the internet based on the photos displayed, only to be very disappointed on arrival. They soon found out that the hotel was very different from what was advertised and a dream vacation became a night mare. As the saying goes, “all that glitters is not gold”. If the reservations were made through a travel agent, there would be a guarantee of the quality of the hotel. Many travel agents visit locations or receive recommendations from other agents if they are unable to visit the destination.

There are approximately 28, 000 travel agencies operating in North America. In that number are the traditional independent, chain and consortium-affiliated agencies. The independent agent is unaffiliated with any larger institution and is referred to as the mom and pop store. These agencies are usually small with few members of staff but are usually very familiar with their community. These agencies are at a serious disadvantage because of their small size. They have no bargaining power with their suppliers; therefore they are unable to obtain lower prices. Their numbers have dwindled significantly and presently represent about 35% of the travel industry.

Chain agencies are very popular and do have a regional and national presence in North America. The number of agencies that make up the chain varies in the travel industry. They vary from dozens in some cases to hundreds in different geographic locations. Some of these agencies are well known and do have a lot of power and are able to negotiate favorable rates from preferred suppliers. Theses chain agencies sell franchises which helps in the distribution of the name brand.

The consortia affiliated agency is a blend of the independent and chain agency. It provides a lot more independence than the affiliated agency but is a part of a big organization. The significant difference is these agencies operate independently of the consortium and are governed by their own rules. Being part of a large organization, they are able to benefit from the preferred supplier relationship of the consortium. They are also able to get assistance with training, marketing support, financial advice and sometimes a 24 hour backup reservation service.

From these agencies evolved the home based agent. There are many traditional agents in existence but, the home agent has become very popular in the industry. One of the biggest changes the industry has experience is the advent of the home base agent. I must complement the early pioneers as they were considered taboo and were not accepted by the travel industry. In fact the biggest resistance came from the traditional agencies who felt threatened by these new agents. The early home base agent persevered and was gradually accepted into the fold of travel agents. Now, home base agents have not only grown in numbers but are fully recognized by the industry. There are several reasons why the home base agent is so popular. They include but not limited to:

• Setting your own work hours,

• Working from the comfort of your home,

• Being available 24/7 to your clients, and

• A significant reduction in over head cost (reduce rent, utilities etc)

The recent events in Iceland strengthen the notion that travel agent services are essential. Several thousand travelers were stranded in and out of Europe because of the ash from the volcano in Iceland. Imagine the       discomfort and misery of persons who booked airline tickets online and were calling the airline to make new reservations. The travelers who booked through a travel agent did not have that worry as they quickly got in contact with their agent whose responsibility it was to make a new booking. I am sure the online bookers had difficulty reaching the airline reservation desk in addition to being place on hold for extremely long periods.

The advantage of using the expertise of a travel agent is limitless especially for purchasing a cruise. Imagine searching for Caribbean cruise deals can be a very complicated matter and is very different from purchasing an airline ticket. A cruise is an experience and not a commodity and it is difficult to get that emotion from the internet. Cruises differ from each other and the travel professional will use his experience to analyze, advice and determine the correct cruise is matched with the right client. Cruisers want to enjoy food, activities entertainment, destinations and an environment that matches their life style. The agent will ensure your vacation goes without a hitch from beginning to end going over all the minute details. There is very little chance of being turned away from the airport due to inadequate documents. Can you imagine going on a Alaska vacation  and you are not properly attired as the website you booked on did not provide that information. Also, a person who makes an internet booking might be losing out on a great deal. Some resorts have packages that can only be booked by a travel agent. This means that you may be able to get a better package deal or a better price if you use a travel agent.

In conclusion, I will reiterate that travel agents do provide an essential service that compliments the travel industry. I think that travel agents will be around for a long time to educate travelers and assist with their cruise vacation packages.

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Where is the Nature Island?

The aircraft slowly climbed out of the dark grey clouds as we made our approach to the island. Suddenly, out in the blue ocean sprung tall towering mountains that seemed to melt into the clouds. The mountains appeared very majestic as they cascaded from the sea. My thoughts were jolted to the present as the flight attendant booming voice announced our arrival to Melville Hall airport in Dominica. I was day dreaming of a Caribbean cruise deal I had purchased to visit the region.  The flight from the West coast of the US with a change of aircraft in Puerto Rico was uneventful. After about two hours of flying from Puerto Rico, the Dominica coast line was a welcoming sight.

Where in the world is Dominica? The twenty nine (29) mile long and sixteen (16) mile wide-island appeared green and misted against the blue-black ocean. You can get to island if you are on a cruise from Florida or via aircraft from Puerto Rico. Very little is known of the secluded tiny island located  between the two French islands of Guadeloupe in the north and Martinique to the South in the Eastern Caribbean.

It is different from the better known Dominica Republic which shares the island with Haiti. The island is approximately 295 sq miles with a population of about 75,000 people. The population is concentrated along the coast line as the interior of the island is very mountainous. In fact the island is considered more mountainous per sq mile than Switzerland.

I have been to the Caribbean on several occasions because I am from the Caribbean, but this visit was special. I was on a Caribbean island vacation to explore the island and confirm if she deserved the name as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean.” Numerous people in the region call Dominica the untouched gem of the Caribbean and refer to it as the Cinderella of the Caribbean. From my point of view the island appears to be undisturbed and tranquil and has not been severely affected by the large number of tourist that visit from cruises from Florida and other regions. The island is part of the Eastern Caribbean itinerary for the numerous cruise lines that sell Caribbean cruise deals to the region.

The island is blessed with 365 rivers – one for each day of the year. In addition the island has numerous beautiful attractions with a very hospitable population. Please, come back for part two of my observations in a subsequent post which will cover the islands beautiful natural attractions, its people and local festivals. See you soon.

Cruise Trainning & Education

As part of my continuing education in the travel industry, I attended the Travel Weekly Cruise World 2010 conference at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale from April 03 – 06, 2010. The entire conference was educational, interesting and had some light moments. Fort Lauderdale is a very important port for cruises from Florida.

In attendance were approximately 1300 participants from the US and as far as Canada and about 168 suppliers. The suppliers included but not limited to airline companies, cruise companies, tour operators, and Tourist Board representatives from different countries.

The conference was a good opportunity to network with other travel sellers and catch up with new travel techniques and trends in the industry. It also gave me a chance touch base and share some wonderful moments with old friends. It was impossible to attend every session, so I was very selective on what topics to focus on to get the maximum benefit from my attendance. Some of the participants had obtained Caribbean cruise  deals to sail on the ship after their inspection.

One of the high lights of the conference was the ship inspection that was conducted in conjunction with Cruise Line International Agency (CLIA). I wanted to inspect the Royal Caribbean Cruise line Oasis of the Sea but was bitten to it by my fellow travel agents. I guess it was the first choice of everyone who registered for ship inspection. That is the price I paid from procrastinating, as I registered somewhat late. I was fortunate to register for the Freedom from Carnival Cruise, Star Princess from the Princess Cruise Line and the Westerdam from the Holland America Cruise Line. This was an exciting and fun experience as you are being educated in an entertaining environment.

I was fortunate to pass very close to the Oasis of The Sea, as it was in port for the ship inspection before it began to cruise the Caribbean. Now I fully understand the hype about the ship. I think it is huge, magnificent and attractive. It was difficult to miss the ship as it stood tall and towering above everything in the Fort Lauderdale harbor. The port was modified to accommodate the mass of a floating resort which has taken the industry to new heights. As a result, Fort Lauderdale stands out as one of the outstanding ports for cruises from Florida to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and cruise to Europe.