Posted by David Porter on September 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
We meet Petros the Pelican on the Greek Island of Mykonos
Note: click photos for larger views. ©2017, David A. Porter
When we were visiting the island of Mykonos, as we sailed with Azamara Club Cruises, we heard a sudden squealing of women about 30 yards in front of us.
Naturally, we looked up and witnessed scores of women with their iPhones in the shooting position chasing a large pelican who decided to take a stroll right through the crowd of folks. It was quite comical to see folks from all different cultures exhibiting the same behavior as they giggled and chased the poor bird down for a photograph.
Luckily for me, I didn’t have to chase him down. He walked right by me and then turned around for a nice cameo shot.
According to Wikipedia, “Petros was a great white pelican, who was the official mascot of the Greek island of Mykonos. In 1958 a wounded pelican was found off the coast of Mykonos shore by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”, as a joke between the locals, as “petro” in Greek means rock, stone but metaphorically Old and Grumpy. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. Subsequently, three new pelicans reside around the main town of Mykonos. One, honorifically, was given the name Petros.”
I don’t know if this was Petros, but he sure walked around like he owned the place.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on September 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Does Travel Insurance Cover Hurricanes?
With all the hurricane activity these days, we’re getting a lot of questions about hurricanes and travel insurance.
First of all, here are a few rules of thumb to consider when shopping for travel insurance:
- Don’t just look for the lowest priced travel insurance. Not all policies are created equal, and if you have a claim, you don’t want to have to hire an attorney to get paid.
- Take 30 minutes to read and understand your policy. Again, better to know up front what is covered and what is not.
- With just a few exceptions, if you desire the pre-existing medical condition waiver, you must purchase your travel insurance with 14 or sometimes 21 days of your first deposit on the journey.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage in the Event of a Hurricane
Now, I have not taken the time to explore every conceivable travel insurance policy on the planet. If you are traveling to a destination during hurricane season, please make certain that you understand the coverages available to you.
Here’s the “covered reasons” language from one of our trusted travel insurance partners:
- Common Carrier delays resulting from inclement weather, or mechanical breakdown or organized labor strikes that affect public transportation
- Arrangements canceled by an airline, cruise line, motor coach company, or tour operator, resulting from inclement weather, mechanical breakdown or organized labor strikes that affect public transportation
- Your home made uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disasters
- Your destination made uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disasters
- Mandatory evacuation ordered by local authorities at your destination due to hurricane or other natural disasters
So, as you can see, a good travel insurance policy will protect your travel investment if a hurricane affects your home, your destination, or your travel carrier. And again, this language is not found in all travel insurance policies. For example, mandatory evacuation at your destination is not covered in many policies.
You should also know that attempting to purchase travel insurance once a hurricane has been named is folly. You will not be covered. Purchase your travel insurance up front and give yourself a little piece of mind should a covered event ruin your travel plans.
Last, a good travel advisor can help you sort this all out and will always recommend travel insurance to protect your travel investment.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on September 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Come join Carol and me as we enjoy a fabulous river cruise from Paris to Normandy aboard one of the Suite Ships of Avalon Waterways, the Avalon Tapestry II.
Who: You. Come join us!
What: A river cruise with Avalon Waterways
When: May 5, 2018 – May 12, 2018
Where: Paris to Normandy
Why: Because it will be great fun!
If you have been a reader of our website and Saturday morning newsletter, then you know that we’re big fans of river cruising.
Carol and I have been working on sailing with each of the major river cruise companies so that we might offer our clients and readers better advice as they sort out which company to use and where to sail.
So far, we have sailed with Viking River Cruises twice, once with the Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, and earlier in the Spring we sailed with AmaWaterways. We’ve sailed the Rhine, the Danube, and both of the wine country regions in the south of France.
Join us and you will save $750/person + Free Gratuities ($238 value)
It’s been great fun, and now we’re excited to announce that we’re sailing with Avalon Waterways on the River Seine from Paris to Normandy and back. And, as I said, you’re invited to come along with us!
We’ll be sailing on one of Avalon Waterways’ new “Suite Ships”.
What is an Avalon Waterways Suite Ship? Take a peek at the video to the right. It says it all.
We’ve had scores and scores of clients sail with Avalon Waterways over the years and they all come back happy and talking about these “Suite Ships”. Therefore, we thought it was high time we got aboard and experienced it for ourselves.
So. What do you think? What to come with us? Here’s the scoop…
Come Join the Roaming Boomers Avalon Waterways Group Cruise
First of all, May is a lovely time to visit Paris. The spring flowers should be in bloom with afternoon temperatures likely in the 70s and evening temperatures perhaps in the low 60s. Perfect weather for strolling around Paris and the environs. Plus, the massive crowds will not be there yet!
May 2018 Paris to Normandy Itinerary Highlights
Day 1 Paris (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Vernon–Les Andelys: choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle; guided walk in Les Andelys, visit the parish church of Le Petit Andely
Day 3 Caudebec: excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route”
Day 4 Caudebec: choice of excursions to Normandy landing beaches or “A Taste of Normandy”
Day 5 Rouen: guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit the cathedral
Day 6 Conflans: choice of excursions to visit Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison
Day 7 Paris: “Heart of Paris” walk, visit Notre Dame Cathedral
Day 8 Paris (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning
Prices and Stateroom Categories
One of 50 Panorama Suites. Click for large view.
Our Suite Ship, the Avalon Tapestry II, was built in 2015 and has 64 staterooms and suites divided into the following categories:
- 2 Royal Suites on Deck #3
- 50 Panorama Suites divided between Decks #2 and #3
- and 12 staterooms on deck #1
Roaming Boomers Group Pricing
- Avalon Waterways is currently running a promotion that offers $1,500 per couple savings which is reflected in the blue pricing above.
- For those of you who have sailed with Avalon Waterways in the past, you can enjoy your 5% Journeys Club discount on top of the above pricing.
- And, our group will receive complimentary gratuities (valued at $238) plus we’ve got two free drink vouchers for you in addition to the wine/beer that is included with your lunch and dinner.
- Plus, we’ll clink champagne glasses in a little private get together at the beginning of our cruise.
So. Want to come join us? We’ve only got space for 6 couples plus Carol and me. So, don’t delay, call us today.
For more information, or to book a stateroom or suite in our group, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request form (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on September 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
24 Exclusive, Not Available to the General Public Fall Cruise Sale Offers
Can I give you a little piece of advice? If you are thinking of an ocean, river, or expedition cruise for 2018, you simply must get your booking done as soon as possible.
Why? Ocean, river, and expedition cruise bookings have been WAY up in 2017. So much so that folks have been booking 2018 for nearly seven months as 2017 nearly sold-out in the first five months of this year.
So, if you don’t want to be picking through the leftovers when the cruise industry’s Wave Season starts in January, take my advice and book now!
Secondly, if you’d like to know the best way to book an ocean, river, or expedition cruise, CLICK HERE.
OK. Now that we’ve got those two pieces of business under our belt; let’s take a peek at our 2017 Annual Fall Cruise Sale.
As you may know, we are an independent affiliate of Cadence which also brings us membership into the $22 billion/year Virtuoso Travel Network. And each year, Cadence reaches out to their various ocean, river, and expedition cruise suppliers for exclusive offers that we might bring our clients each year.
This year, 24 different cruise lines responded with exclusive offers that are not available to the general public with most of them available on top of the cruise line’s best public offers.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a 2018 ocean, river, or expedition cruise, we not only bring you our sage advice, but we also have exclusive offers for you to boot.
24 Exclusive Ocean, River, and Expedition Cruise Offers
AmaWaterways
Each guest gets $100 to spend aboard a 2017 river cruise or $50 aboard 2018 Vietnam and France cruises. Combinable with Virtuoso perks and current promos.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Avalon Waterways
We’ll cover your gratuities on these three 2018 river cruise sailings: May 27 Active Discovery on the Rhine, June 9 Paris to Normandy, and August 11 Jewels of Europe. Combinable with current promos.
Book by October 31, 2017.
Azamara Club Cruises
Each cabin gets up to $500 to spend onboard any 2017, 2018 or 2019 cruise! Credit is tiered based on room type, starting at $300.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Celebrity Cruises
Enjoy up to $150 in spending money per cabin on any 7+ night itinerary departing between February 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018. Excludes Galapagos/Xpedition itineraries. Combinable with Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Crystal Cruises
Save up to $1,000 per stateroom on select 2017 and 2018 ocean or yacht cruises, and save up to $400 per stateroom on select 2017 and 2018 river cruises. Combinable with Virtuoso amenities and Crystal Clear Choices promotion.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Cunard Line
Enjoy up to $300 to spend onboard (per cabin) and a reduced deposit on any new booking. Combinable with public offers and Virtuoso perks.
Book by October 25, 2017.
Holland America Line
Each cabin gets up to $150 to spend onboard any cruise!
Book by September 16, 2017.
International Expeditions
Enjoy $250 in savings per person (and $1,000 in savings per child), plus a $150 Longitude Book or online shop gear credit. Combinable with Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Lindblad Expeditions
Enjoy $250 to spend onboard (per cabin) and free roundtrip plane tickets from Los Angeles on a variety of 2018 National Geographic Orion cruises to South Pacific and French Polynesia.
Book by December 31, 2017.
Oceania Cruises
Enjoy $100 to spend onboard a 2017 cruise (per cabin) and $200 to spend onboard a 2018 or 2019 cruise. Combinable with current offers and Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Enjoy $300 to spend onboard any 2018 cruise (per cabin). Combinable with Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Ponant Cruises
Enjoy $500 to spend onboard any cruise (per couple).
Book by September 30, 2017.
Princess Cruises
Each cabin enjoys up to $75 to spend onboard select 2018 Mexico and Caribbean cruises. Combinable with current offers and Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Enjoy a bottle of red or white wine and a Passport to Savings booklet on any 7+ night sailing (per cabin, excluding China). Combinable with our September 2017 promos and Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Enjoy $300 to spend onboard 2017 cruises and $200 to spend onboard 2018, 2019 and 2020 cruises. Combinable with current offers and Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Scenic Luxury Cruises
Each couple gets $250 in savings for any cruise. Combinable with current offers.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Seabourn Cruise Line
Enjoy $100 to spend onboard 2017 and 2018 sailings (per cabin). Combinable with current offers (including the 30th Anniversary Sale!) and Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Seadream
Each guest enjoys $1,000 off their fare on two seven night December 21, 2017, holiday sailings: Marigot to Bridgetown and Roundtrip St. Thomas. Combinable with all current offers.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Silversea Cruises
Enjoy $500 to spend onboard select 2017 and 2018 Caribbean or South America cruises (per cabin). Combinable with all Silver Select, Exclusive Air Offer, Single Fares and Early Booking Bonus.
Book by September 24, 2017.
Tauck River Cruises
Enjoy a complimentary pre or post hotel night stay for any cruise or land vacation.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Uniworld
Every guest enjoys $250 off any 2017 or 2018 vacation. Combinable with all current promos and Virtuoso perks.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Viking River Cruises
Enjoy up to $200 to spend onboard any ocean or river cruise (per cabin). Excludes Egypt, Vietnam/Cambodia or Myanmar.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Windstar Cruises
Enjoy up to $100 to spend onboard (per cabin). Combinable with all current offers.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Zegrahm Expeditions
Enjoy a $1,500 per person air credit plus an exclusive $280 per person Expedition Gear Credit on two cruises: October 22, 2017, Faces of Polynesia (17 days) or November 5, 2017, Tahiti to Easter Island (20 days). Combinable Virtuoso perks and past guest discount.
Book by September 30, 2017.
Terms and conditions apply. New bookings only. Offers available only through Roaming Boomers Travel Services.
OK. As I said at the top, if you are thinking of booking an ocean, river, or expedition cruise in 2018, let’s get it booked now.
For more information, or to book on of these cruises, please call (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on August 31, 2017 · 16 Comments
What is the Best Way to Book an Ocean or River Cruise?
Roaming Boomers Travel Services and our Roaming Boomers Blog were both built to serve the 80,000,000 baby boomer travelers who are at or near retirement and now have a strong desire to travel and see the world.
And the fastest-growing segment in baby boomer travel has been river cruises, followed by ocean cruises.
So, it should come as no surprise that there is a significant amount of information on our blog about river and ocean cruises. And further, river and ocean cruise bookings represent over 75% of our travel agency’s gross revenue.
And remarkably, we just learned that Roaming Boomers Travel Services (that’s Carol and me) are the #1 producing travel agents in all of Virtuoso’s 26,000 agents with Viking Cruises. And, we are the #2 booking agents with Viking in the world! It blows our minds.
So, one might ask, why have our river and ocean cruise bookings shot through the roof, why should someone book with us, and what is the best way to book an ocean or river cruise?
Well, let’s see if I can address those questions for you.
Carol and me at the Nordfjorden Fjord.
Why Book Your Ocean or River Cruise With Roaming Boomers Travel Services
- The 70% Factor -Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reported in its 2015 State of the Cruise Industry Report that 70% of river and ocean cruise travelers book their cruises with a travel agent. Does that surprise you? When we first learned that, it surprised us a well. However, now that we own a travel agency, it has become crystal clear. Read on.
- Same Price – contrary to popular belief, the price of an ocean or river cruise is the same whether you book it yourself through the cruise line or choose to book through a travel agency. So, that begs the question: why do it yourself? You don’t know what you don’t know. A trusted expert travel advisor is going to be a wonderful asset for you. And again, the price of the cruise is the same.
- Unadvertised Private Sales – because the cruise industry knows that 70% of its bookings are coming through travel agencies, the quickest and least expensive way for them to offer specials to fill their inventories is to use the travel agency channel. As travel agency owners, we see a fairly regular stream of unadvertised private sales. And consider this, if Carol and I are the #1 Viking Travel Advisors in Virtuoso and #2 in the world, who do you think gets first dibs on these private sales? Our clients benefit because of our industry clout.
- Consortium Clout – and speaking of clout, our travel agency is a Virtuoso Travel Network member. Our membership in a travel consortium makes our agency a part of a $22 billion network of travel agencies. It, therefore, gives us the buying power to pass along to our clients. Our buying power translates into special shipboard credits, private sales, and exclusive cruise societies. Our cruise society is called Virtuoso Voyages. When our clients book with us, they enjoy an exclusive shipboard cocktail party, an onboard Virtuoso host, a private Virtuoso shore excursion, a private car and driver in some ports, and more. And again, all for the same price as you would get booking it yourself online! It makes no sense for you to book a cruise yourself. It costs you money, and you’re missing out on complimentary VIP perks.
- Knowledge and Collaboration – if you call a cruise line to book your ocean or river cruise, you’re going to likely speak with a very nice 30-year-old who has never been overseas and very likely has never sailed on the cruise that you are considering booking. Sure, they can place your booking, but what about all of the other questions you’re going to have? Wouldn’t you rather get your advice from someone who has sailed with the cruise line?
- You’re Not Alone – while its unlikely that you’ll encounter a problem with today’s cruise lines, having a travel agency behind you as an advocate proves invaluable for those times that problems do occur. Again, because of our clout, if problems do arise, they are taken care of immediately.
- Time Savings – the plethora of choices for ocean and river cruises can seem completely overwhelming. As your travel advisors, we will seek to understand your travel style, your preferred investment, and many times can offer suggestions that you simply don’t know existed. Having a professional travel advisor in your corner will save you countless hours of research and takes a lot of the worry out of the process.
Carol and I have yet to sail with every conceivable ocean or river cruise line. But, our clients have, and we poll every one of them when they get back. We’ve got hundreds and hundreds of first-hand reports. And if that doesn’t work, we’re tapped into folks who have been traveling for 30, 40, or even 50 years through our travel agency affiliations. Our connections are invaluable.
So, are you thinking about an ocean or river cruise? Call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.?
There is no obligation to talk about our services, and we’d honor the opportunity to earn your trust, bring you valuable perks, and have the opportunity to have you as one of our clients. Sound fair? 😀
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
The Roaming Boomers
