Is Cruising Recession Proof?

Over the last few years, many of our cruise clients commented that they were getting tired of what they saw as "nickle and dime-ing" by the cruise lines, with extra fees for better restaurants, better coffee, ice cream on some lines, the seemingly increasing costs of liquor on ships and the high cost of excursions.

Last year, many of our cruise clients dipped their toes into the all inclusive travel market. Because we carefully listened to their likes and dislikes, we were able to recommend resorts that met their requirements and every one of them came back with positive comments. They enjoyed the fact that they knew in advance what the entire cost of their vacation was before they left and didn't come home with a credit card bill for hundreds of dollars in extra charges,

However, this year we are seeing a resurgence in Caribbean cruise travel and in particular, cruising from our home port of New York. The high cost of air is making traveling out of the U.S. to an all inclusive resort prohibitive to many clients.

There is some great pricing for European cruising, yet when clients see prices of $800 and up per air ticket to get to these cruises, they are changing their minds and booking cruises from the U.S.

Celebrity has some new itineraries this November through April of 2012 from Cape Liberty in New Jersey on a brand new ship, the Celebrity Silhouette. They are offering 12 night cruises going as far south as St. Lucia, opening new doors for many of our regular clients to save hundreds of dollars in air, since they would normally have to fly to San Juan or Ft. Lauderdale for a similar itinerary. We have a group traveling with us Jan. 17, 2012 and have had a tremendous amount of interest when clients start pricing air to other destinations. The timing for Celebrity couldn't have been better.

Our recommendations:

If you are planning to travel and need to fly, we recommend booking now - air pricing continues to go up. There are very rarely any last minute deals - particularly on air.

If you are considering cruising this summer from the tri-state area, book NOW. There are fewer cabins that can accommodate four or even five people on ships and these book early. Many cruises have sold out their family cabins for summer sailings. You may need to book two cabins if you have three or more people traveling.

If you are considering booking a cruise out of the New York area next year when school is out - now is the time to book! Those are prime travel times and family cabins sell out first. Remember, unless you are booking a restricted rate, deposits are fully refundable until the final payment date. And if you book through Promal Vacations - we monitor prices of every cruise and if a price drop occurs that you are entitled to, we will obtain it for you.

Promal Vacations
516-608-0568

Disney Magic To Sail from New York in 2012

Today, Disney announced that the Disney Magic will be sailing round trip from New York, Galveston and Seattle in 2012! For our main customers in the tri-state are this is a terrific opportunity to experience a Disney cruise without having to fly to Florida, saving hundreds of dollars in airfare.

There will be three round trip itineraries from New York - 8 Night Bahamian Cruises, 5 Night Canada/New England Cruises and 2 Night Weekend Getaways.

The eight night cruises will leave New York and sail to Nassau, Disney's Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral and prices include a one day Park Hopper pass. Sailing dates are 5/25, 6/2, 6/22, 6/30, 7/20, 7/28, 8/17 and 8/25 2012.

The five night cruises will leave New York and sail to Halifax - Nova Scotia and Saint John- New Brunswick/ Sailing dates are 6/10,6/17,7/8, 7/15, 8/5, 8/12, 9/2, 9/7 and 9/12, 2012.

The two night Weekend Getaway cruises to nowhere leave 6/15, 7/13, and 8/10 2012.

These cruises will book fast - don't wait to book, especially if you need a family suite, as those sell out quickly. Your deposit is fully refundable until final payment date. We offer a booking incentive - contact us for information. Check our website for more details:

www.promalvacations.com

Call to book - 516-608-0568.

Oceania Marina Ship Inspection

We were lucky enough to be invited to see Oceania Cruise Line's newest ship, the M/S Marina while she was in New York City this weekend. This ship is the epitome of elegance yet not stuffy or formal. In fact, the cruise line's dress guidelines are "Country Club Casual" - meaning no gowns or tuxedos required.

One feature that stood out on this ship is Oceanias partnership with Lalique Crystal. The grand staircase when embarking had beautiful Lalique crystal accents and a Lalique Crystal Cactus table at the bottom of the steps. You'll see Lalique displayed throughout the ship.

The cabin decor was tasteful and elegant, regardless of the cabin category. There is ample storage space. With the exception of interior cabins, all bathrooms have a separate tub and shower. Deluxe oceanview cabins had a floor to ceiling window, not just a small window or porthole. Deluxe Oceanview Cabin

Suites were exquisite. The Vista and Oceania Suites were designed by Dakota Jackson and were stunning. The bathrooms and outside deck areas were huge. The Owners suite was 2,000 square feet of luxury. All of these suites come with their own private gym next to the bedrooms!

There are six restaurants onboard with excellent food. Each guest has the option of making reservations in these restaurants, which are included at no extra charge. We had a luncheon consisting of several courses from several of the restuarants and if our lunch was indicative of the food quality, you won't go wrong here. Caviar as an appetizer, a wonderful risotto, Lobster and the best chocolate mousse dessert I've ever tasted.

There is a moderate sized pool with several beds around it as well as very comfortable lounge chairs. Since the ship only carried 1,260 passengers, there was only one pool.

There are two unique features on this ship. One is an Artists Studio, where various art lessons are given (at no extra fee) throughout the cruise by an Artist in Residence. Another is a Culinary Center, where guests can take cooking classes (extra fee). The only draw back to the Culinary Center - it was located on Deck 12 and guests in suites near the Center can clearly smell the cooking as it is going on!

This ship is brand new and would be a wonderful choice for clients who want to cruise in relaxed elegance. Great option for retiree's, or a couple who have two weeks or more to travel.

Oceania currently is offering some 2 for 1 Cruise Fares in Europe with Free Airfare! One current special is a 12 day Rome to Venice itinerary on the Marina on August 26, 2011 from Rome to Monte Carlo, Cannes, Portofino, Florence (Livorno), Sorrento, Amalfi, Taormina, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, and back to Venice. Prices start at $4599. (Offers expire 8/31 and are subject to availability,free air is from certain airports).

Join Us On The Celebrity Silhouette Southern Caribbean Cruise from New York!

Join Promal Vacations on our 2012 group cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette from New York on January 17, 2012. This brand new ship, a first in the New York area, will be sailing from Cape Liberty in New Jersey for 12 days to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Maarten. Each cabin will receive a $50 onboard credit.

The Celebrity Silhouette is a sister ship to the beautiful Solstice, Equinox and the Eclipse with some exiting new changes. Gone is the Glass Blowing Studio and in is an enhancement to the Lawn Club - the new cabana style haven called The Alcoves. Plus the new Lawn Club Grill will offer dining on the lawn. Qsine will offer the ability to order food and wine via an I Pad.

Prices start at $1429 per person plus tax based on double occupancy. A deposit of $200 per person holds your cabin, with a second payment of $700 due August 1 and final payment due Oct. 28.

Call us to book - 516-608-0568.

How We Compete With Online Companies

Why is booking a vacation with us better than booking with an online company?

We have a one word answer - SERVICE. Many online agencies are all about price but not service. The value in the service you receive from us far outweighs anything you can find online. Here are a few reasons why:

- You have an advocate if something goes wrong

You can pick up the phone and call us if there is a problem with your vacation, either before or after. Flights canceled? Make sure the OLA has your e-mail address, because in many cases you may only receive an e-mail advising you of the cancellation or change and you are on your own to deal with the airline to rebook. We contact the airlines for you and rebook.

Did you arrive at the resort and find you didn't get the right room category? Or the room is not what you expected? Good luck contacting the supplier. We, on the other hand, will work immediately with the supplier to resolve the issue.

Need to file an insurance claim? You'll receive no help from an OLA. We assist with paperwork and act as a liason between you and the insurance company.

-You usually do not need to pay in full at the time of booking when you book with us

Unless you are booking after the final payment date or are booking a restricted rate that requires payment in full, you only need to pay a deposit when booking with us, with a final payment date closer to your actual travel date. That allows you to book before you may have the full payment. When booking with an online agency, you will have to pay in full at the time of booking.

- We provide expert advice about your cruise, resort or tour before you book.

We'll give you unbiased information on the resort, ship or tour you are booking, to help determine if it is the right supplier for you. We'll help find the right room or cabin category for you. We have information on your resort or ship that you won't find on your own and have many tips for booking. We know passport and visa requirements. We may have actual pictures of the resort or ship because we've been there.

Need to book a connecting flight? We know how much time there should be in between your flights to ensure you don't miss the second flight. (We've had people contact us after booking with an OLA after realizing that their connecting flights had an 18 hour layover that they didn't notice when they booked - too late for us to help).

- We have suppliers that do price matching!

Yes, in many cases we can get the price you see online. For cruises, we provide an onboard credit for each booking. We are specialists with many resorts and have a surprise welcome gift sent, or we may be able to obtain a free upgrade for you.

- We provide destination information for each booking

You won't book with us and never hear from us until final payment. We send you information on your destination, from weather to excursion information, to restaurant recommendations.


These value added items can't be found online - only by booking with us. So please keep us in mind when you want to travel!

www.promalvacations.com
516-608-0568

Why Let Us Plan Your Destination Wedding?

A wedding is a masterpiece of planning. Planning begins from the day the engagement ring goes on your finger.When you plan your wedding, you work with a number of people who are experts in their field to plan one of the most important days of your life. From the bridal gown store to the catering hall to the florist, church, band - you rely on professionals who are experts in their field.

So why think you can plan a destination wedding without a travel agent who specializes in this type of travel? Your agent is an expert at listening to your wants and finding the right resort for you based on your budget. Your agent can advise you the best way to book the number of rooms you will need - either individual bookings, where he or she can keep and eye on pricing and try and obtain lower prices if pricing drops, or a group contract if you need to guarantee the resort holds a large block of rooms for your group.



Once you book the right resort, the bride will work with the on site wedding co-ordinator to plan the details of the wedding and the agent will deal with your guests to ensure their bookings are properly done. And if there are any issues, your agent acts as the liaison between you and your wedding co-ordinator to iron out problems. In addition, your agent may be able to pull some strings to obtain "value added" items for you.

Our average wedding clients are couples between the ages of 22 and 40. Most choose a Caribbean beach wedding at an all inclusive resort. From Sandals, to Almond, to El Dorado, Secrets, Dreams, Couples and more - we've helped many couples plan their ideal wedding.

If you are thinking of a destination wedding, give us a call - we'd be happy to discuss what your dream wedding entails and tell you how we can help making that dram come true! 516-608-0568

Beanies for Baghdad

Do you have a load of Beanie Babies, Webkinz, stuffed animals, Matchbox cars and other small toys that you'd like to find a new home for? We recently found a wonderful organization called Beanies for Baghdad that you can donate these items to.

They will provide you with the name of a soldier in Iraq, Kosovo, Pakistan, Africa, and Afghanistan. You'll mail your items to the service men and women who give them out to children as they work in the communities these children live in as a measure of good will to build better relationships. Many of these children as very poor and have never had toys or any type of luxury item.

This organization is in it's 8th year. To date, Beanies for Baghdad has received and distributed over 2 MILLION TOYS and tons of school supplies to the children of War Torn Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and humanitarian missions in Africa and Pakistan. They accept not only toys, but school suppliers, warm children's clothing, treats and anything your kids would enjoy.

We packed two boxes of items leftover from a recent garage sale, e-mailed Donna Ward at the organization and received the name and address of a soldier overseas to mail the items to. Because the items are light weight, we mailed them in two fairly large boxes via priority mail (rather than the smaller flat rate shipping boxes) for less than $14.00 for both boxes. That is all it cost to ship over 50 toys to be distributed by our "soldier". It was very easy. You will also receive a tax deductible receipt for your donation.

This is a great fundraising opportunity for a school classroom, a military organization.

Read all about this great organization on their website:
http://www.beaniesforbaghdad.com/