WE LOVE FIRST TIME CRUISERS!

We recently got a wonderful e-mail from a first time cruiser that booked a cruise with us. She was referred by her sister-in-law, who has booked several trips with us. She had never cruised before and was worried about everything from finding the right cruise line and cabin to how she would get back to the airport after her cruise.

She wanted to go the Caribbean and wanted a ship with plenty to do onboard. She looked at the pictures we have on Webshots of various ships we've either sailed on or toured and she decided that Royal Caribbean was the line she was most interested in. She and her husband were in their late 20's and were traveling by themselves. Her concerns of being bored on the ship were similar to my own concerns when I was deciding on my first cruise. After speaking to her and telling her of our recent experience on Royal Caribbeans Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, she decided to book the Allure of the Seas.

We contacted her last week to ask if she enjoyed the cruise and she was so enthusiastic! She loved everything about it, she said it was just as we described. We provide our first time cruisers with a "First Time Guide To Cruising" that tells them everything to expect, from embarkation to booking shore excursions, what to look for when deciding on a cabin, and what happens at disembarkation. She said that with that guide, there were no surprises and she felt comfortable knowing exactly what to expect.

We love first time cruisers. There is nothing more satisfying than sharing our knowledge with our clients. We explain everything, including how cabins are priced, gratuities, the onboard "cashless" system, and even such minute details such as asking the Cabin Steward to clean out the refrigerator if you have no intention of buying anything from the mini-bar.

Want to know what your first cruise will be like? Contact us!

Having Fun on the Allure of the Seas

We were lucky enough to spend a few days on Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas and had potential clients ask us what our favorite things to do on the ship were. It was really difficult to pull only a few favorite things from our Caribbean cruise, but here are our top three:

1. Blue Planet. Royal Caribbean has put the most fantastic shows on the Allure and it's sister ship, Oasis of the Seas, but this show was my favorite! If you like Cirque de Soleil, you will love this show. The acrobatics and music are superb. Put that together with a ship that is sailing along the ocean - you've just seen a show that you would pa upwards of $100 per ticket in Vegas to see.

2. Central Park. This area is so innovative! From the sculptures to the restaurants to the lovely quietness at night, this area of the ship was one of our favorites. We particularly enjoyed having a drink at the bar at night and looking up at the stars. A unique restaurant has no extra fee is the Park Cafe. They serve custom made salads, paninnis and desserts for lunch and dinner and a make your own bagel bar in the morning for breakfast.

3. Dreamworks Parade. I am one who is not particularly fond of the Parades in the Promenade - I am claustrophobic and never feel like any parade is worth being uncomfortable in a crowd of several thousand people. But for this Parade, we found the perfect spot (which we share with our clients) to view this delightful parade. I never had so much fun.

We share these and more fun hints for the Allure and the Oasis of the Seas with everyone who books with us. Check our Webshots pictures too!

http://travel.webshots.com/album/579371133nKPgAS

http://travel.webshots.com/album/578913698QqBsMU