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AIRLINE TICKET PRICES AND EXTRA CHARGES: This is the worst airline environment in memory for the global airline industry in modern history. But the U.S. airlines are cutting total seat capacity in 2009 by an estimated 6 to 7%. This, along with currently favorable fuel costs, could mean a profitable year for one or two of the majors. Despite glimmer of optimism, the recession is not stimulating travel and some fare cuts are likely in the domestic market in the April/May period. For those traveling internationally, we are currently recommending immediate purchase if fares are within $150 of your desired price point. Congress is looking closely at planned new, "supplemental" charges by the majors. The interest of lawmakers was spurred by the admission by Delta that they expect to see an additional $1 billion in revenue front he new sources in 2009. The bulk of this revenue comes from checked baggage fees. But 2009 will see a marked increase in the number of airlines charging for certain preferred types of seating. It is, for example, expected that aisle seats will cost more then middle seats in the months to come. Consumers should also expect that how you book your cruise will impact the cost of the ticket. Non-airline portals will carry supplemental charges, according to most industry analysts. And extra charges for overweight passengers are just around the buffet table.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS DROPS DISCOUNT BOMBSHELL In a move that has stunned some industry observers, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced that it will now include shore excursions in the cruise fare pf 35 worldwide sailings in 2009. The offer, the deepest price/value cut in recent memory, requires that new bookings must be made by March 31st. Existing reservations are not protected. Given weakness in some sectors of the luxury market, Regent could have gone in several directions, including price cuts, increased travel agency commissions, or pre or post hotel stays. But they rejected all of the traditional discounting strategies to generate short-term bookings in favor of a totally new approach. A radical approach that is new to this segment of the industry. While riverboats have been including shore excursions for years, no major cruise line has taken this step because all of the shore excursions have limited capacity, different pricing, and because they are not operated by the lines directly. Regent has either created an ambitious pro-consumer carrot, one of the largest carrots ion the netherworld of cruise pricing, or they have created an operational nightmare. How will they say "No" to guests already booked on the targeted sailings? What about the more adventurous shore excursions with limited capacity? This has to be seen as a boom to consumers still undecided about travel in 2009 to destinations like Asia and the Pacific, Alaska, the Mediterranean, and the Baltic. Because shore excursions are an important profit center for lines and are priced on a per person basis, savings per couple could easily average $300 per couple, per day while the ships are in port. This is not a Fire Sale. This is a post-fire "the apocalypse is here" offer. Amazingly it can be booked in combination of all existing offers, many of which include Free Air offers and 2-1 savings. One of the more interesting aspects of this decision is that luxury competitors would have a very difficult time reacting to this strategy quickly. Regent is allowing guests to sign up for shore excursions online and in advance as per their procedure. But guests will have no shore excursion bill unless they choose from a number of private or VIP excursion options. Clearly, Regent's aim here is to generate cash flow. Now, with drinks and gratuities already included, air included, and steep cruise pricing discounts, guests aboard Regent's ships will be hard put to find ways to spend money onboard. This is not a Real Deal - it is THE REAL DEAL. One wonders if Regent is prepared to deal with those who will wait too long to take advantage of this fabulous offer or fabulous mistake.
DEEP DISCOUNTS COMING FROM OCEANIA ON JANUARY 7TH Savvy cruisers will be watching closely as Oceania Cruises announces new pricing policies available for booking on January 7th. Previously, Two-For-One Pricing with Free Air from major gateways was Oceania's best marketplace offer. But the new pricing to be formally announced on the 5th of January, will see additional discounts applied to the current discount levels. This will bring some itinerary prices down to the 60-70% off range. What makes this news is that the new pricing directives will affect the majority of Oceania sailings, not just a few difficult-to-sell repositioning dates. One reason that Oceania can do this is that its brochure prices are artificially high. This line did not have to build its first three ships and purchased them at extremely favorable cost But a deal is a deal and the pricing to be announced next week will represent the largest, across-the-board lower pricing initiative we ha seen to date. . THE CRUISE QUESTION YOU ALWAYS WANT TO ASK Although it would seem that they are alienating many of their better clients, most cruise lines will not honor new, lower rates if you are already booked on their line. You always need to ask if you are guaranteed to receive any additional pricing incentives as departure date approaches. The bottom line on price protection is that most of the four-star lines will not do it This include Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America. Crystal always protects its guests, and most of the five-star lines can be talked into protecting guests by travel agents who have a relationship with the line. Those who book directly will be forced to pay the higher rate. some cruise consultants will guarantee a "lowest price match" policy on every top line they sell. The wise consumer asks this question before beginning discussions. Six months ago, it would have been difficult to identify a situation where those who book later receive an enhanced offer. The cruise lines had been down that road before and determined that it was advantageous to reward the first 40% who booked any particular sailing. Some agents have contractual arrangements with the cruise lines they work with that include lower price notification and automatic re-invoicing. But the consumer may see the offer several days before agent receives the price change notification. No reputable agent will confirm a price that has not been put in writing by the line. The five star lines do not want guests Iwo booked late to spread the word aboard ship that they received a better price then those who planed carefully and early for their vacation. So it has been their policy to go back and re fare those already booked, rather costly exercise. The top lines are still trying to adhere to this policy. But the mass market four stars and the budget three star lines are now feeling the pressure to change yield on a dime if they feel a sailing is in particular trouble. Guests who are wait-listed for a better category of cabin are often misled about pricing. Many lines like Holland America, Princess, and Oceania, will, for example, charge the cabin price in effect ont he day the wait listed cabin clears - not the rate on the date the wait list was originally requested by the agent. This often results in pricing increases that are significant and unanticipated.
TOP WORLDWIDE ESCORTED TOUR DESTINATION Last week, I contacted three of the top luxury escorted tour operators in the world. With all of the negative travel press related to the economy, I wanted to know which worldwide destination was the current bestseller. Amazingly all three said exactly the same thing. Egypt and Jordan are off the charts. Most departures to Egypt have waiting lists and tours have been selling out before they reach the brochure stage. 2009/10 trends continue to reflect the fact that the Middle East generally, and Egypt specifically is the hottest worldwide destination for American travelers. Why Egypt now? Clearly it has to do with the fact that it is a "Must See Before I Die" destination and travelers have concerns about their ability to sightsee comfortably in the region far into the future. The notion to "do it while you can" seems to trump any economic downturn news when it comes to travel to the Middle East, a region that has seen an increase in American visitors of 26% in the last year. The best current Egypt Tour Programs are offered by Abercrombie & Kent, Tauck World Discovery, and Travcoa. Two of the three tour operators also reported that Vietnam is selling extremely well, as is Cambodia.
REAL DEAL TIME This time, the media has it about right. There are unprecedented offers, particularly on premium and deluxe travel products where discounting was never a part of the marketing plan in the past. You can book hotel stays through wholesalers like Classic Vacations in Europe next summer and receive air credits starting at $500 and going up. Prime August 2009 Alaska cruise space on Regent Seven Seas is now selling at 40-45% off PLUS Free Round-Trip airfare from major gateways. Even Silverseas, rated # 1 in the world in the current traveltruth.com rankings, is offering discounts on selected cruises plus Free Air to Europe. The best offers are going unnoticed as consumers concentrate on the election outcome, the economy, and the upcoming Christmas Season.
THE MISSING TIP; AMERICANS RARELY TIP THE... Hotel Maid. And we really should. We're getting a poor reputation among members of the international housekeeping community. There are few guidelines about tipping the maid so most guests from the US simply don't do it. But it would be appreciated and, in many circles, it is expected. Here are some current guidelines: Tipping is based on the size of the hotel. If the hotel has fewer than 50 rooms, it is highly like that you will have the same maid throughout your stay. A well-placed envelope with a few dollars per day and a note of thanks should be left in a prominent place (the pillow is best) before you depart. In larger hotels, let's say over 50 rooms, it is most likely that you will have two or three different cleaning teams handling your room at different times. For this reason, it is most appropriate to leave a tip (in Europe 3 Euros per day is recommended) each morning before you depart.
10:16:08 THE NEWEST, ABSOLUTELY LARGEST, CRUISE SHIP EVER BUILT She has seven "neighborhoods", and stands sixteen stories high. She weighs in at 220,000 Gross Registered Tons, almost twice the size of her next biggest rival. She carries 5,400 guests in 2,700 staterooms and she is now "open for bookings." Her are some artists glimpses of the, rather incredible by any standard, Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas set to sail alternating Caribbean seven-night itineraries beginning in late 2009 .
Above: The Central Park "neighborhood" Will they employ actors posing as muggers?
The Boardwalk Neighborhood
9.20.08 IS IT ARRIVEDECHI ALITALIA? The death watch for Italy's flagship carrier has begun. The consortium that was set up to keep the airline afloat has disintegrated after six of the nine airline unions rejected new financing proposals. I remember summing up Al italia in a column a few years back by recalling a press release that covered all of the latest news from all of the airlines. Under each airlines name was a long list of current efforts to purchase new aircraft, to establish new routes etc. But Al italia's press release was only one sentence announcing that "Al italia is very pleased to announce that Giorgio Armanni has been selected to design our new flight attendant uniforms." Over the years, Al italia crew always looked better than any other crew getting off the plane. But one suspects that has something to do with the fact that they started doing their primping just about an hour after take-off. This is one moor nail in the coffin when it comes to the loss of style in the air. Tactically, any passenger currently booked on Al italia should be making immediate alternative plans. We think the shutdown could come as soon as the next ten days. If you are booked on Al italia through a tour operator or cruise line, you will be notified of any schedule changes and you will be protected on other carriers should Al italia stop flying. If you booked Al italia directly, you are, unfortunately, on your own. The last time I flew Al italia, I was headed for a meeting, at the behest of the Italian Government, in the former administrative hall of the Medici's, in Florence's Piazza Signoria. I could not hold bank the tears as I listened to what was being said about tourism with half an ear. I was really staring at the walls of the Palace, hoping by sheer will that I might get them to talk.
9.15.08 WORLD'S TOP TEN GOLF COURSES; SOME SURPRISES The respected London Telegraph has come out with its list of the very best golf courses to play in the world. Royal County Down in Ireland and Pebble Beach place second and third, but the top honor goes to a course constructed on land that was once a 5,000 acre sheep station, New Zealand's Cape Kidnappers. Kidnappers is not a typical sandy dunes links course. Instead, golfers are dealing with harrowing ravines, holes along the rugged coast, and very fast greens that tilt more then a Brooklyn pinball machine. Among the surprises on this worldwide list are two Caribbean courses, the new Green Monkey at Sandy Lane on Barbados and Canouan on the island of the same name. Designed by Jim Fazio, the Canouan course keeps rising from sea leve to the rim of a volcano that is, thankfully, extinct.
8.30.08 VENICE BREAKS $1,000 PER NIGHT CEILING We have finally seen evidence that the better hotels in Venice, Italy are now priced at over $1,000 USD per night for a deluxe double. In its 2008 listing of the World's Best Hotels, Travel + Leisure Magazine lists the following room rates for the 2008 summer-fall season: Westin Europe and Regina $1,155 (double) Hotel Gritti Palace $1,342 (double) Bauer II Palazzo $1,175 (double) Hotel Cipriani $1,240 (double w breakfast) The best deal in Venice is the Ca' 'Pisani, a real find in the Dorsoduro neighborhood. But its 29 rooms still start at $500 USD per night with additional taxes including 18% VAT. Venice is now Italy's most expensive city for accommodations. The inability to build new properties despite an ever-growing demand is the primary reason. For top quality at a better price, we recommend the San Celemente Palace, which sits on its own 17-acre island just minutes from San Marco Square. Room rates here begin at just under $800. Even the top properties along Italy's gorgeous and expensive Amalfi Coast are coming in at $200 per night less then crowded canal hotels in overcrowded Venice.
8.28.08 - REAL DEALS There is a beautiful island in the Grenadines called Palm Island. Right now, they are offering room rates of $299 per couple. Think five perfect beaches and Jimmy Buffet perfection. What makes this price so spectacular? Palm Island is an all-inclusive resort. Oceania continues to offer Free Air to Europe and Two-For-One pricing on some ideal; fall 2009 dates on some of Europe's strongest cruise itineraries. These offers are capacity controlled and are automatically withdrawn a sailing reaches a specified occupancy.
GRAB GOURMET Every once in a blue moon a magazine comes out with a special edition that achieves instant "collectors Item" status before the ink has fully dried. The September issue of Gourmet Magazine, devoted in its entirety to Paris, is one such example.
CAUTION; LUXURY CRUISE LINES AND THE GREAT CREDIT CARD RIP-OFF Traveltruth.com has previously reported that Oceania Cruise Lines has been running US bank-issued credit cards through a financial institution based in Dublin, Ireland. This has resulted in scores of Oceania passengers, many of them unaware, being charged an additional fee of up to 3 percent on their cruise deposits and final payments. In the last year, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas were both sold to the cash-rich Apollo Investment Group. Now, there are reports that Regent Seven Seas guests are also being charged additional fees on payments made on some Visa, Mastercard, and American Express Cards. Visa and Mastercard banks normally charge 3 percent. One major exception is Capital One which charges nothing additional for foreign purchases. But the largest bank groups such as J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America have been consistent in charging cardholders penalties on all charges originating outside the United States. American Express charges 2% for most of its cards. Understand, these fees are penalties charged to cardholders who spend money outside the United States. Guests, for example, who spend upwards of $80,000 - $90,000 on one of the January Around-The-World sailings are looking at unanticipated extra fees of $2,500 or more. They are generally unaware of this as they give their travel consultant their credit card for processing. Now, we have learned that Sea Dream Yacht Club has just started running some credit card payments through a bank in Norway. (Sea Dream has Norwegian owners). Oceania and Regent respond that this is happening to very few of their guests and that when they are made aware of the credit card penalty charges, they will issue an onboard credit in the amount of the extra charge. But this has been handled on a "need-to-know" basis and we can find no example of guests being warned about these unanticipated credit card charges by the cruise lines involved. The consumer rarely knows abbot these charges prior to their cruise. This is unlikely because the 3% will usually not turn up as final payment with the extra percent tacked on until the ship has already sailed - so to speak. Sea Dream, one of the top-scoring lines in the Traveltruth Ratings, has not indicated that they would issue an onboard credit to all guests hit with the extra charges as a result of the company's international monetary policies. These extra fees are in addition to the money made by credit card issuing banks whenever they convert foreign currency spending back to cardholders accounts at US Dollar rates. Sadly, many of those paying 3% more for their vacation than anticpated, will never notice the additional percentage tacked on to their credit card statement by some of the world's very best luxury cruise lines.
LOST LUGGAGE AND CONNECTING FLIGHTS; THE WORST OFFENDERS We've been trying to gauge how prevalent lost baggage is these days with connections in Europe. We got some answers by talking with he purser's staff on a number of popular cruise lines. Speaking off the record, they identified the following air lines as most likely to lose your bags in transit. U.S. AIRWAYS -- Not only do they currently enjoy an abnormally high rate of lost baggage, this airline carries the insult a step further by returning bags home instead of the ongoing destination. As one cruise ship purser tells, "when it is US Airways, we have no expectation that the bags will be delivered to the ship the next day. We just start processing a shopping voucher for the guests." BRITISH AIRWAYS - Changing planes at Heath row still carries some risk but they are quite good about trying to find you in Europe. AIR FRANCE - Few things in the airline industry are consistent. But Air France's ability to misplace your luggage may be one of them. So what to do if you are on one of these airlines? The best current strategy is to design very clear baggage tags that indicate where you will be staying during your first and second nights abroad, along with local contact numbers.
CONDE NAST TRAVELER NAMES WORLD'S TOP TRAVEL SPECIALISTS IN AUGUST ISSUE For the 8th consecutive year, Churchill and Turen Ltd. has been named to the travel industry's most coveted list - Conde Nast Traveler's annual " World's Top Travel Specialists"Awards.. This year, These are the most prestigious awards in the travel industry. C&T has won thirty-one awards, more then any other travel firm in the U.S.
THE 18% DONATION TO THE NATIONS OF EUROPE AND HOW TO GET IT BACK Europe-Bound travelers would surely have second thoughts if the government suddenly announced that their dollar had dropped another 18% in value. Yet, in terms of overseas purchases, that is exactly what happens when Value-Added Tax exemptions are not claimed by travelers. And the fact is, that fewer then 10% of those who purchase goods from Duty-Free exempt shops in Europe, actually make claims to get their money together. We have, collectively, agreed to let the Europeans keep another 18-20% on all of our qualified purchases. How generous of us. Or, how stupid. Other current value-added taxes, which American tourists can get back, amount to just under 8% in Switzerland. But travel to next-door neighbor Austria and you are up to 20%. It's the same in Belgium, and Italy. The sad fact is that most Americans just don;t know how to claim their refunds. Here is a quick primer: 01 - If you are buying something that is too large to carry and is being shipped home by the store, ask that the VAT be refunded in the purchase price. Most stores will do this. 02 - The way it normally whorls is that the store will give you a Tax refund check. You get it stamped at the airport and then you take the stamped check to the VAT Refund Desk. That's two stops and there could be lines. Allow three hours for check-in if you are flying home from Europe and you have collect your tax. 03 - One way to facilitate all of this is to use a company called Global Refund. They are among the largest and are associated with many fine shops throughout Europe. Global Refund has its own refund desks in major European airports. To plan in advance use www.globalrefund.com 04 - If you don;t have time to do get your refund at the airport, make certain not to board your plane without first securing the mail-in VAT application.On the application, we recommend that you have the amount of your refund credited to your credit card. (You will need to supply the number) This will avoid the hassle of having to wait several weeks and then to receive a check in Euros. 05 - The general rukle of thumb is to try to claim a VAT refund for any eligible purchases from a single Global Refund approved store of over 200 Euros. Do be careful. "Duty-Free Store" is not a term you can ttrust.
CHARGING THE OVERWEIGHT FOR AN EXTRA SEAT The nation's airlines, reaching the desperation point when it comes to the search for non-ticket revenue sources, has long felt that charging the obese for an extra seat is worth careful scrutiny. Making such charges difficult to enforce is a little-known Canadian Law passed in March that prohibits Canadian Airlines from charging the disabled or the obese for a second seat. This is seen as a kind of international precedent, although even US airlines that fly to canada are not bound by the new rules. Southwest Airlines has been the most aggressive in this area. Despite the protests of rights for the overweight groups, Southwest has maintained its right to charge those passengers for whom even a seat extender is not sufficient. Delta and American have generally tried to handle the issue with diplomacy by placing seriously overweight passengers in an otherwise empty row. But with the number of planes currently being taken out of service to save on fuel costs, empty second seats are as hard to find as a belt buckle.
RATING THE CRUISE LINE AIR-SEA PROGRAMS No decision is more important to your total satisfaction with the cruise vacation experience then the choice of cruise-provided or independent air arrangements. The vast majority of cruise lines offer an air/sea program that includes round-trip airfare to and from the ship as well as transfers. Cruise lines wait until approximately 45 days before a cruise to turn over the names of their paid-in-full passengers from each gateway city to the airline with whom they have a contract on that date. You should accept the fact that you are unlikely to get a nonstop flight if you simply accept the air/sea assignment. One of the downsides of cruise line air programs is that seat assignments are often not available within forty-five days of a flight. You may be forced to wait until you arrive at the airport to get your seats. Even if seats can be booked, the aisle seat you prefer may not be available. On busy weekends, your agent may not even be able to secure two seats together. There are two ways around this. First, you can always purchase your own air ticket. This usually costs more, sometimes a lot more, and the airline will not generally include transfers if you do your own air. We are now recommending that all of our clients, with the exception of those booked on Crystal, Seabourn, Silverseas or Regent Seven Seas, make their own air reservations rather than rely on increasingly poor routings and tight connections offered by the mainstream cruise lines. One of the ways to avoid these problems is to ask for an air deviation. This allows your agent to request a preferred flight assignment immediately in writing. The air deviation request is usually returned to the agent within two weeks. The cruise line will either grant the request, in which case there is a $75-$100 per person extra charge, or reject the request. If the request is rejected you have lost nothing. But there is one important caveat. About a year ago, the percentage of air deviations that required an additional charge, on top of the normal fee, spiked dramatically. The larger cruise lines now routinely charge additional fees on top of the air deviation fee. They justify this by saying that the class of service for which they have contracted is no longer available. This is called an air "up charge." So, in reality, an air deviation can cost upwards of $400 per person. Unfortunately, air deviations are usually not permitted during busy holiday periods such as Spring break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Given the current high cost of airline tickets, many cruise lines such as Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity assign flights with limited regard for the comfort of their guests. These lines tend to work exclusively with their contracted carriers and if a connection is "legal" it may be assigned even if common sense dictates that more connection time be recommended. The chances are good, in fact well over 90%, that you will thoroughly enjoy your cruise experience and decide to repeat it. But do make note of the fact that cruise lines report that fully 90%+ of all complaints they receive from angry guests have to do with transportation to or from the ship - not the cruise experience itself. That's why we recommend that you carefully consider an "air strategy" with your consultant. You will always receive an air credit by doing your own air Your cruise will cost more, but you are far more likely to have a hassle-free, less anxiety-ridden trip to and from your ship. We know that some cruisers feel that if the cruise line blocks the air, they have some responsibility if the flight is delayed or cancelled. Sadly, they write away that liability in their contract of passage. They take no responsibility. When an airline cancels a flight, you are always dealing with the airline - not the cruise line. On the other hand, if a large group of passengers are booked on a delayed flight through the cruise line, there is a possibility that the Captain will decide to delay the ship. But that is never something to count on as it could involve a late departure and higher fuel costs for the line.
As a consumer, you are entitled to know what to expect from the Air/Sea departments at the various cruise lines. For that reason, www.traveltruth.com now offers a letter grade to each of the major cruise lines based on their willingness to consider connection times, passenger comfort, and booking flexibility beyond their normal contracts with the airlines. These “Grades” will be updated as situations warrant:
Celebrity Cruises - D Crystal Cruises - A Holland America - D Oceania Cruises - C Princess Cruises - D Regent Seven Seas - A Royal Caribbean - D Seabourn Cruises - A Silverseas Cruises - A Tauck River Boats - A Viking River Cruises - F
FOUR OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD - AND HOW TO CRACK THEIR RESERVATION CODE The problem, at one time, was simply knowing the best restaurants. Now, with the success of The Food Network, Top Chef, and Mr. Ramsey's Empire, along with Zagat et. al. everyone wants/needs to dine at the best restaurants in the world. But some of these places only have thirty or so tables. How do you score one? In its April, 2008 issue, Travel + Leisure Magazine does more then name names - it names numbers. Here are the best ways to crack the reservations "codes". EL BULLI - Send a fax request eight to twelve months prior to your requested dinner to 34.97. 215 0717. Or, call one day ahead to see if there are cancellations at 34. 97 215 0457. Hint: don;t put a lot of effort into securing reservations in 2008. They are completely booked. BABBO - Mario Batali's Manhattan outpost of creative and heartwarming Italian cuisine leaves it all up tot he speed of your telephone connection. Call exactly at 10:00 am. one month to the day prior to your requested date. Dial 212 - 777 -0303. Wear kitchen clogs if you can. L'ASTRANCE - This top tier Paris Restaurant tries to maintain a waiting list. But the best way to secure an actual reservation is to call exactly two months to the day prior to your desired reservation. The call should be made at exactly 10:00 am. Paris time - or the middle of the night for North American foodies. The number to use is 33 1 40 50 84 40 THE FRENCH LAUNDRY - We think FL's Thomas Keller is the top chef in the United States. His Napa dining spot takes calls for reservations at 707 - 944 - 2380. Call several months in advance and always call during the day on weekends.
CARRY THIS NUMBER WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL The vast majority of overseas travelers leave home without knowing the most important number every traveler should commit to memory: How do you dial a 911-type emergency number abroad? Canada uses 911 but in Mexico it's 060. Note that all countries on the Euro use the same important number: 112 Additional National Emergency Numbers include: Argentina 911 Hong Kong 999 Israel 100 Japan 119 Switzerland 144 and Thailand 191
CONSUMER WARNING; DON'T PURCHASE ART AT SEA We think it has become necessary for responsible agents to issue warnings to guests sailing on cruise ships that feature onboard art auctions. In this economy, cruise lines have been extremely hesitant about increasing the advertised price of their cruises from year to year. But onboard revenues, as a share of total profits generated, have increased dramatically. This has been achieved by the establishment of numerous profit centers onboard the meg-liners, not the least of which is the sale of art at auctions that occur several times during a cruise. Most of the mainstream cruise lines work with a company called Park West Gallery. The onboard staff of Park West refer to their company as "the largest seller of fine art in America." Given the number of these auctions that occur weekly on the high seas, the quote may be accurate, but the definition of "fine art" is highly subjective. Park West sold more than a million pieces of art and is currently operating on more then seventy ships. Here are some of the problems with the purchase of art aboard a ship by the uninitiated: The contract between the onboard seller usually has language that essentially says that anything the seller (auctioneer) represented to the buyer is not in force unless it is in writing. So-called Certificates of Authenticity do not represent the importance of the piece or even how rare it really is. In other words, the auctioneer can say anything but the fine print absolves the company that sells the art from any representations as to quality and worth. Terms are sometimes used during the sales process that may be confusing or even meaningless to the purchaser, many of whom are making art purchasing decisions in a large lounge, during a relaxing vacation, with drinks available without leaving their seats. Two terms we have heard used aboard ships are "pochoir" and the infamous "signed in stone." Art dealers ashore tell us that the term pochoir, while pretty impressive on its own, really refers to a stencil print which has far less value, normally, then a true lithograph or an original etching. The term "signed in stone" is a misleading way of stating that the artist never actually signed the work being sold. It has been alleged, in one class action lawsuit, that onboard auctioneers use the old auction trick of pointing to bidders who really don;t exist to bid up the price of a piece. At the very least, guests onboard who are considering a significant onboard purchase, ought to use the ships internet service to research both the art work and the firm doing the selling. And remember the contract is binding - the promises of the auctioneer are not.
FUEL PRICES; IS IT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS FOR CONSUMER? In a word - yes. We have seen eleven fuel-based price increases by the majors during the past five months. This translates to additional fuel charges and taxes on some trans=continental flights of $310-$340 per passenger.
LONDON HEATHROW'S TERMINALLY ILL T5: UPDATE British Airways is set to re-open the new Terminal 5 in June. Most of the lost baggage, victims of the grand opening fiasco, has been reunited with its owners. Two airport executives have been replaced, and things may be on course. United Airlines flights have been moved to Terminal 1 which all Star Alliance members should call home by the fall. Meanwhile, Delta, Northwest, and KLM, part of the Sky Team Alliance, have completed their move to Terminal T4. At present, all in-transit guests connecting to other terminals should allow two and a half hours minimum between flights.
CAN'T GET INTO A SPECIALTY RESTAURANT AT SEA? JUST SUE! Most of the major cruise lines now feature specialty restaurants. On the premium and budget lines, such as Holland America, Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean, Costa, and Princess, there is an extra charge for dining in these special venues. Guests who occupy the top suites are given reservations priorities and, often, may be able to secure more reservations then guests booked in non-suite accommodations. NCL because the line did not disclose to guests in regular cabins that guests in the most expensive accommodations would be given priority. Now, a passenger who recently sailed on the Norwegian Star with her sister and mother, is suing because she could not get the dinner reservations she wanted NCL heavily advertises Freestyle Dining as part of its Freestyle Cruising message. The guests, who have asked for class action status, are saying that they were not given the advertised dining options to which they were entitled. So let's understand this. Guests who for a suite are not entitled to suite amenities which might include the availability of additional specialty restaurant reservations. It just doesn't;t pay to be rich anymore. I hope, if this suit is successful, that we can get the canapes away from those folks who paid $7,000 to sit in First Class,
HOW DARE YOU BRING A SECOND SUITCASE ABOARD THIS AIRCRAFT Like the lemmings of northern Norway, American Airlines went to the edge of the luggage cliff and decided to jump. They have joined United and all of the other legacy carriers in imposing a charge for economy passengers charging a second piece of luggage. The charge goes into effect on May 12th. All full-fare Y ticket holders and premium elite Advantage members are exempt Also exempt are Business and First Class fliers. The extra fee does not apply to international routes. It is easy to see why American had to cave. The airline lost $328 million during the first quarter. If fuel prices do not stabilize look for the additional add-on charges that airlines have contemplated for years, to be put on the front burner in short order.
DOES YOUR PLANE HAVE AVOD? If it does, you may be in for a more interesting and enjoyable long-haul flight. AVOD is Audio Video on Demand. Not all airlines or all aircraft types within a fleet have it. It provides in-seat entertainment that can be selected by the passenger to begin at any time during the flight. The newer versions of AVOD provide hundreds of video options. The following airlines are thought to have some of the best AVOD systems: Air New Zealand, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore, and Thai.
THE BEST TIME TO BOOK A DOMESTIC AIRLINE TICKET If you are flying on a budget and want to secure the best pricing close in to departure make your reservation on Wednesday morning at 9:00 am. two weeks prior to your scheduled departure. Although not widely known, most airlines release their weekend pricing and availability two Wednesdays prior to departure. Obviously the flights have been for sale for eleven months. But close in, the airline's brainy computer systems tell them when a flight is light and new, lower pricing hits the system. This is called the Wednesday Update Sale.
THE STILL SECRET EUROPEAN VACATION DESTINATION It is simple really - fly to the European city with the highest percentage of Michelin three star-rated restaurants as well as the most memorable french fries, the world's best chocolate, and beautiful cities less than an hour away by comfortable train.
A VISIT INSIDE THE COCKPIT OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMMERCIAL JET If you have ever wondered what it would be like to fly the new Airbus 380, you might want to click on the web address below: http://www.gillesvidal.com/blogpano/cockpit1.htmTHE FIVE RESTAURANTS YOU MUST VISITIN THIS LIFETIME
For the past six months we have been working on a new report which will identify the Best Twenty Restaurants in the World. Surprisingly, many of them are a bit off the beaten path. But we can now identify the top Five Worldwide Restaurants that are so good, so memorable, and so revered by food critics, that any foodie has to put them on a list of “Must See” destinations. May we suggest that there are worse ways to choose an itinerary? Getting a table will require a strategy and far-in-advance planning. But these will be meals you will, we promise, remember for the rest of your life. We list them in order of our current rankings: THE BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD# 1 – El Bulli – Montjoi, Spain – Chef Ferran Adria is the world’s most important chef at this moment. He has combined science and gastronomy and his disciples are coming to a city near you. Dining here will quite literally change the way you look at food and flavorings. The restaurant is only open from March to December. The rest of the time, Adria experiments in his laboratory in Barcelona, “designing” new tastes and techniques. Forget getting in this year and next year will be difficult. # 2 – The Fat Duck – Berkshire, England – A relatively comfortable experience. If Chef Adria did not exist, the Duck’s Heston Bluementhal would be the most famous chef in the world. And yes, it is true, they do serve bacon and egg ice cream as well a snail porridge. # 3– Pierre Gagnaire – Paris, France – Now challenged by Spain, where the culinary world is flocking, Gagnaire’s dedication to the freshest ingredients and his absolute, some would say divine, skills, seems to have elevated his game. He is sounding the first alarms about pending shortages of truly organic, high quality gourmet foodstuffs. The small farms can’t meet the demands of the growing gourmet aspirations of a worldwide clientele he argues. # 4 - The French Laundry – Yountville, California – Thomas Keller is America’s chef of the year and the year before that and…… His inspiring Napa cuisine is served in a lovely but relatively laid back setting in the heart of the California wine country. This will help show you everything that our local restaurants are not. # 5 - Tetsuya’s – Sydney, Australia – Young chef Tetsuya Wakuda arrived in Sydney from Japan with a single suitcase and a plan to merge French and Japanese cuisine in a superb setting near the water. This is the restaurant to beat in both the South Pacific and Asia.
THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN UPGRADING ON PARTNER CARRIERS: All of the fine print boils down to this. Most of the major airlines will not allow you to upgrade a coach ticket using miles unless the airline is literally operating all flight sectors. However, if you want to simply use your accumulated miles to purchase a free Business ticket that can be done using a combination of your airline and its partners. Here is an example. Let's say you want If, however, you want to upgrade from coach on American flying round-trip Chicago-London, there is no problem since those are both true AA flights.
IS FINE DINING SUSTAINABLE? One of ther world's most respected culinary pracftitioners, Pierre Gagnaire of the triple Michelin-starred Balzac in Paris, is waging an unusual campaign. 01 - Wild fish will disappear in th enext five to ten years. What will remain will be "farmed" fish. 02 - Demand for certain species of fish will soon make them extinct. The list includes many species of shark and blue fin tuna. 03 - Exotic and in demand fruits and vegetables are getting so hard to find, that there is danger that restaurants without the best sup[pliers may have to close His bottom line is that suppliers just can;pt cope with the demands of good restaurants. He predicts large numbers of closings in the years to come along with prices that may double or triple today's top-level menu prices.
WHO REALLY GETS UPGRADED AT THE GATE? THE PRIORITY LIST USED BY MOST MAJOR AIRLINES The following list highlights the very best strategies to get upgraded from coach to Business or First Class at the check-in gate. This is what really works – and what doesn’t. This is the pecking order – from top to bottom. This is the order in which upgrades at the counter are generally assigned: THE ALMOST SURE THING: Make sure you have elite frequent flier program status and an upgrade certificate to present at check-in. THE SECOND GROUP TO BE UPGRADED AT THE GATE: OK, you don’t belong to the top status frequent flier program – but you do have that upgrade certificate in your possession. THE THIRD GROUP TO BE UPGRADED: High level Platinum or Gold Frequent Flier Members on a flight that is overbooked in coach. Since the average flight is overbooked by about 12%, this happens more then you might imagine. THE FOURTH UPGRADE CATEGORY AND THE FIRST FOR “NON FF’S” These are coach passengers flying on a non-discounted Y Class economy fare. Last-minute business travelers often fall into this category. THE FITTH UPGRADE CATEGORY FOR FLYING ‘PARTNERS” If you are flying on a partner airline and are a Top Tier, Gold or Platinum, Frequent Flier, you are next in line for n upgrade. American and British Airways, United and Lufthansa, and Delta and Northwest are examples of these partner airlines. THE SIXTH UPGRADE CATEGORY FOR OVERSOLD PARTNERS: You are a top tier member of a partner airline FF Program and your flight is oversold in coach. THE SEVENTH SOLUTION WHEN WEIGHT MATTERS: This one is a bit unusual. On lightly-booked flights, weight issues sometimes require that coach passengers be moved to the front of the aircraft for “balance.” It helps if you have been assigned a seat in the middle of the aircraft – those are the seats they move first. THE EIGHTH OR ‘REGULAR FOLKS’ UPGRADE STRATEGY: If you are traveling alone and have no airline affiliation or a low level FF mileage account, this one could work. But the gods have to be smiling in your favor. Sit within site of the gate agent and be dressed in business attire. If a civilian needs to be upgraded and none of the category fliers listed above are available, you may be asked to vacate your coach seat for something in business. THE NINTH UPGRADE FOR THOSE ON CHEAP TICKETS ON OVERSOLD FLIGHTS; Yes, you may be offer4ed an upgrade if you volunteer. But the chances are that you will have to fly later, perhaps much later, an possibly on a connection. THE TENTH UPGRADE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NATURALLY NICE: This one is hard to quantify but enough gate agents have told us this actually happens for us to believe it. They can place a comment on your record that reads something like “really nice pax”. When the supervisor of the flight is searching the passenger list, your namecould jump out when candidates for an upgrade are needed. But this one has to be played carefully. Gate agents were unanimous in telling us that they virtually never give upgrades to passengers who ask for one unless they meet some of the stringent criteria above.
NEW ROYAL CARIBBEAN GENESIS CLASSTO LAUNCH IN 2009Note: This wonderful article froim Popular Mechanics captures the relative size of the largest ship ever constructed. GENESISPrice Tag: $1.2 billion se!
tIn the cruise ship industry, the battle for bragging rights has turned into a QE2-size slugfest. In 2003, Cunard stole the crown for world’s largest cruise ship when it launched the 151,410-ton Queen Mary 2; three years later Royal Caribbean topped it with the 154,000-ton Freedom of the Seas. Now, Royal Caribbean is set to raise the stakes yet again with the 220,000-ton Genesis, slated to launch in 2009 from a shipyard in Turku, Finland. (A second Genesis will launch a year later.) Why is bigger better? “Make no mistake, Genesis will be no lumbering behemoth. The ship’s three main propellers will swivel 360 degrees on independent bearings. All will be driven by electric motors powered by the ship’s central bank of six diesel generators, and steered by an integrated navigation and control system. From the bridge, the captain will be able to move the ship in any direction — forward, backward, sideways — with the flick of a joystick. No tugboats required.
Sizing Up: Boats Knock Nevis
Emma Maersk
USS Ronald Reagan
Reprinted from the June 2007 ISSUE of Popular Mechanics.
UNITED BECOMES FIRST AIRLINE TO CHARGE FOR SECOND BAG The next shot in the "Weight Wars" has been fired by United. All domestic fliers who are not members of the airline's Mileage Plus Program will be charged $25.00 for a second, checked piece of luggage. International fliers oin United will not have to pay the surcharge. It will be possible to check a third and fourth bag on domestic flights for an additional $100 per bag. It will be fascinating to see how United's competitors will react. But this is just the beginning of new pricing policies that will attempt to connect the cost of the ticket with the weight of one's belongings. The next step may well be additional charges for Obese passengers, a plan several airlines are considering. This new policy will bag United an estimated $100 million in annual revenue.
THE WORLD'S HAPPIEST PEOPLE Which country has the world's happiest people? Last night, the folks at ABC's 20-20 did a special report on Dan Buettner's work on the Blue Zones Project. This is an attempt to rate the happiness quotient of the residents of countries around-the-globe using the latest database information and social science research techniques. The answer turned out to be Denmark, a place with cold winters and a tax rate that hovers between 50-70% of income for the majority of residents. And you know what - the people actually love the fact that their government has the highest per-capita spending in the world for children and the elderly. They love the fact that the government takes care of the costs of education, health care, and a thousand little annoyances that those of us in America put up with on a daily basis. And they love the fact that this all frees them to be "happy." Canadians turned out to be far happier then residents of Fiji, Italy, or France. The US placed 23rd on the list. Singapore was one of the happiest places on earth and it has one-man rule. There will be lots of discussion about this happiness thing, but I feel somewhat relieved that my past perceptions of the people of Denmark has, at last, been somewhat vindicated. There is virtually no crime, the people are inordinately healthy, and they sort of like their government. Our favorite freeze from the report was a scene outside a Copenhagen coffeeshop. Baby carriages were lined up outside as the mothers ducked inside for a cup of coffee. No one was watching the babies. No one had to. Every passerby was watching those children. That may be the definition of happiness. It is a visual I will never forget.
ASIA'S TOP TOILET If you needed proof that China has gotten off the anti-materialism bandwagen, look no further then the 3-D Gold Jewelry store on Man Lok street, Kowloon . It seems that the owner was intrugued by Lenin's statement that he wanted to see the masses sitting on gold toilets. If you don't want to hear a sales pitch, you might visit the loo at the Peninsula. For information on the world's best, and worst toilets, visit www.the bathroomdiaries.com
NO SEX PLEASE - WE'RE SINGAPOREAN Now that Singapore Airlines has taken delivery of the new, superliner in the sky, the Airbus 380, they must be a tad disappointed that publicity is swirling around the potential use of their double-bed "suites" in first-class. The airline has rules against sex in the sky which it says it will enforce. Meanwhile, a British couple, became the first to occupy the suite and reported "no cigar" since the press was hovering in the aisle outside their tiny compartment. The "suite cost just over $14,000 round-trip between LA and Singapore.. For that price, one might imagine the sky is the actual limit on extracuricular activitiy but after plying you with champage, the "Singapore Girls" will be watching. Just how activity in the bed will be monitored is still Singapore's secret. All of this serves to conceal the fact that the new aircraft, vital to Airbus' future, has been an initial success.
THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN ROME.................... Is across the Tiber River in Trastevere. Imagine winding streets, narrow cobblestone paths, and Verdi or Puccini coming out a fourth floor open window. Imagine the best of Rome's trattorias and small bars, filled by inhabitants of the oldest neighborhood in the entire city. But where to stay?
PASSPORT THEFT RISES IN SOUTH AMERICA U.S. Passport holders are being urged to take extra precautions to protect their documents from gangs of thieves operating in several portions of South America. According to State Department sources, Americans traveling to certain cities where these gangs operate, face greater than normal risk of having their documentation stolen. . There is suspicion that terrorist groups may be purchasing altered documentation from street hustlers willing to sell these documents to the highest bidder. NBC Dateline recently aired a segment highlighting this problem which involves both stolen existing tourist passports and visas, as well as clean documentation which could enable a terrorist to enter the US. Tourists visiting Lima, Peru, Santiago, Chile, and Caracas, Venezuela should be particularly alert. Remember to never wear a fanny pack. Documentation should be stored in a slim bag around your neck. The bottom line for visitors to South America is that this type of theft is up dramatically in a number of cities. Loosing your passport is a hassle. But when it is sold to anyone willing to pay for it, in an altered state, there are concerns that go deeper then inconvenience.
THE BIRTH OF 5-STAR RIVER CRUISING? A new, all-suite, River Cruising Company headed up by Albert Peter, the former CEO of Silverseas, the world's top-rated cruise line, is causing more than the usual amount of industry buzz. Jewel River cruises will debut in 2008 with six exisiting ships under three brand names. Jewel will be the luxury brand, Emerald River Journeys will be 4-star, and Princess River Journeys will be contemporary. Each of the five ships in the premium and contemporary category are chartered to European operators so all of the attention is being focused on the single ship Jewel line. The real stiry is that two new-builds are already committed for delivery in 2009 and 2010. Peter and his team clearly intend to "own" the luxury River segment, a gap that is waiting to be filled in the fastest growing segment of the travel industry.What travelers ,can expect, at this point is an on-board Spa, several dining options, large cabins , and a new onboard approach to destination enrichment. One of the other key executives is Ulrich Baur who helped launch Viking River Cruises. The third major player is a well-known Swiss financial player. The Jewel Imperial Blue, previously known as the Hispania is going through a $3.5 million refurbishment and will sail, part of the year, round-trip from Paris.
GRANDLUXE NEW ORLEANS TO NAPA TRAIN TRIP SET FOR APRIL 21-28 Little-known Grandluxe Rail, based in Evergreen, Colorado is trying to reconstruct the good old days of upscale rail travel. Passengers sleep in private compartments in an atmosphere that is reminiscent of the Orient Express. Grandluxe offers early booking discounts. The company does not have a huge advertising budget and this is an option you may have missed.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISE LINE IS SOLD TO THE BEST POSSIBLE SUITOR As reported in this space in late October, Regent Seven Seas, the world's largest-capacity Luxury Cruise Line, has been sold to a U.S. based private investment firm active in the Cruise and Hospitality industry. Apollo Management, which owns 50% of NCL and 100% of Oceania Cruise Lines, paid a reputed $1 billion to The Carlson Companies to purchase Regent. The Regent Hotel chain remains in Carlson's hands. Other then the obvious purchasing savings, all indications from a variety of sources, point toward little or no change in either the Regent onboard product or staffing. The one unanticipated outcome of the purchase is the formation of a new Apollo corporation, Prestige Cruise Holdings. Former Oceania founder and CEO, Frank Del Rio, We anticipate an announcement by Regent in the near future that they intend to order at least one new ship for Regent. Apollo has become a major player in the cruise industry, quickly building the nation's third-largest passenger shipping line. NCL is an entry-level line, Oceania is high-end premium, and Regent is true Luxury. It is an intriguing mix of brands and allows for future expansion with the favorable overall economics. At this stage, no one at Regent has been displaced and there are few indications that changes will be made in either management or sales. Ships schedules willnot be altered.
SPILL AND SQUIRT SCAMS NOW WORLDWIDE Be careful out there. From Rio and Buenos Aires to Rome and Barcelona, Americans may be targeted by thieves with foul-smelling liquids in squeeze bottles. The scam work likes this: Somehow, the liquid in the bottle, containing ketchup, mustard, or far worse, is spilled on the hapless tourist. Immediate apologies ensue and a helpful stranger arrives with some tissues to clean the spillage off your clothing. So, you put down your bag for a moment, or your purse. Or, if you are in the hands of a particularly adept crew, your pocket has already been picked. And off they run, dropping everything and scooping up your belongings. Is this prevalent? In portions of the southern Med and South America the number of incidents have been growing. One of the reasons why thiis happens is the predicted behavior. We welcome the assistance of strangers. The best rule is to keep walking if something spills on you until you get to an area where you can take care of it yourself . OUR ANNUAL 'ESCORTED TOUR OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO ..............
THE BIGGEST SHIP EVER IS HEADED OUR WAY FALL OF 2009 Royal Caribbean has announced that the Aker yard in Finland is on "on schedule" for the delivery of the largest, most expensive passenger ship in marimtime history. She is Project Geneis, and the first of two identical ships will be delivered in 2009. The stats are amazing. She will be 220,000 Gross Tons and will hold 5,400 passengers. Each vessel is estimated to come in at a final cost of $1.2 billion. Her size will dictate her placement. The Caribbean, likely alternating Eastern and Western itineraries that can handle a vessel of her size.
THE FRIENDLIEST PLACE ON THE PLANET SERVES THE BEST PINT The publishers of the respected Lonely Planet Guidebook empire have just named Ireland as the World's Friendliest Country. Some residents of Belfast will find that amusing. The second place winner is Fiji, followed by Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim Country, and Malawi. What won it for the Irish? The LP folks felt that the irish have the world's best-developed sense of huimor. They also felt that they are particularly friendly toward strangers. There is a strong feeling of optimism in the air now that the "troubles" are thought to have finally ended. Also doing quite well in the polling was the US, Vietnam, Turkey, Scotland, and Samoa. We think one could do worse then making futuire destination selections entirely on the basis of this survey.
YOUR DREAM TRIP IS SUDDENLY AVAILABLE If you want to join Abercrombie and Kent's Around-The-World by Private Jet departure on February 7th - you can't. It is sold out. At a price of $77,750 for a 25-day ultra-deluxe trip on a reconfigured 757, fifty guests were eager to sign on. The trip takes in Machu Pichu, Easter Island, Apia, Sydney, Angkor in Cambodia, the Taj Mahal, Muscat's Grand Mosque, ancient Petra, and, of course, the Pyramids of Egypt. And so much more. But we've just learned that a rather large family has cancelled, due to medical reasons, on the previous departure, on January 13th. Now, you can live the ultimate travel dream if you are prepared to leave in the next several months.
THE FIVE BEST PLACES ON THE PLANET TO LIVE - AND THE FIVE WORST Scandinavia sweeps the most important statistical game on the planet. Four of the top five nations listed as the best places to live based solely on environmental factors are Scandinavian. One European country made the top five. The rankings appear in the latest edition of reader's Digest and represent the work of researchers who combined some of the leading data from sources covering 141 nations. The # 1 Place ont he Planet to live is FINLAND. # 2 - Iceland (both residents appear quite healthy) # 3 - Norway $ 4 - Sweden # 5 - Austria And the bottom five places to live in the world # 1 - Chad # 2 - Burkina Faso # 3 - Sierra Leone # 4 - Niger # 5 - Ethiopia - a sad honor - worst place to try to live
The report also rates the world's greenest, most liveable cities. Here are the five best and five worst: # 1 - Stockholm # 2 - Oslo # 3 - Munich # 4 - Paris (rather a surprise) # 5 - Frankfurt (an even bigger surprise) The living conditions wewre judged environmentally worst in: # 1 - Bangkok # 2 - Guangzhou # 3 - Mumbai # 4 - Shanghai # 5 - Beijing
DO YOU YAPTA? This new web site, YAPTA.com is consumer friendly and quite useful. You simply type in your travel schedule and YAPTA lets you know when your airfare goes down. Since most airlines will actually give you a refund or a future travel voucher when the price drops, you can take advantage of serious price decreases. Consumers should note that one specific advantage of buying your ticket from United Airlines and several other carriers directly is that there are no change fees for reissuing when the price goes down.
WHO HAS THE POWER TO UPGRADE YOU AT THE AIRPORT? Today, we reward our readers with a closely-held secret. Every major airline, at every major airport, has one person who is literally in-charge of all customer relations. In airline lingo, that person is called the "Stationmaster." The Stationmaster will do nothing for you on your day of departure. But real road warriors try to collect the names of the Stationmaster on the major routes they fly. They develop a relationship and call the SM prior to departure for special favors, upgrades, purchase of miles to secure upgrades etc. This is the key person to know and, if at all possible, to befriend. But what of the special Mileage desk staff you normally call? In fact, they usually don;t even work for the airline. They are travel agents under contract to do the work and so they have little vested interest in taking care of your needs. Carlson Wagon-Lits is one company that does this contract work for the airlines.
DISNEY TO OPEN FAMILY RESORT ON OAHU The Mouse is flexing his anatomically correct muscles. Following recent announcements that they are building two new Disney Cruise Line Meg-ships, and following the launch of Adventures by Disney, their new tour arm covering 18 international destinations, Disney has purchased 21 prime acres on the island of Oahu. The planned resort will be mixed-use - featuring a resort as well as timeshares that will be used by members of The Disney Vacation Club. The oceanfront real estate, which Disney bought for $144 million, will house 800 rooms as well as timeshare villas on the southwestern tip of the island.
GETTING THE FRONT DESK UPGRADE There has been lots of hot air on this subject. So let's look at three rules that will help you secure a preferred accommodation at your favorite domestic hotel. 01 - Arrive at the front desk dressed to impress. Staff will judge your importance based, in large part, 02 - Be friendly and give the desk clerk a reason to assign you one of the better rooms. Indicate why your stay is important. Perhaps you are celebrating something important, or you have a really critical meeting in the morning, or this is the first mini-vacation you've had in three years. Never just ask for an upgrade. Always try to give the front desk a reason to take care of you. 03 - Book your hotel stay with a consortium or travel marketing group member that has a complimentary upgrade program. This is a relatively little-known strategy but many of the better agency groups have negotiated complimentary upgrades on arrival for their guests. Some of the organizations that have these arrangements are Signature, Ensemble, American Express, and Virtuoso.
THE WORLD'S BEST SELLING TOUR Trendsetter's take note. Recent reports indicate that this years best-selling tour has been Tauck World Discovery's 12-Day Essence of South America. The wait-list is so long for this program that Tauck is taking wait-lists for departures in 2009. For those who seek a stronger dollar great food, along with jungles and beaches and non-stop air, South America is becoming the continent of choice for experienced travelers.
GOING GREEN IS A GOING THING Look for more and more travel companies to announce that they are going green. A recent study by the Travel Industry Association of America, reports that 58.5% of American travelers would be willing to pay 10% more for their trip by using a company that strives to protect and preserve the environment. The first test will likely be the growing number of hotels that will be providing "purified" and "environmentally cleaned and protected" rooms. If these newly designed rooms are not popular, some of the projected environmental innovations touted for the next five years may be thwarted.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE $36 SHOWER What with delays, lost luggage, and the constant challenges faced by even the most expensive deodorant stick, a change of plane shower is nirvana for the harried traveler. So the nice folks over at Terminal Three in London's Heathrow Airport (see story below), have opened up the "Island". This is a "pay as you go" lounge open to anyone willing to ante up an admission charge of $36. This will get you access to more then two dozen showers, some steam cleaning and, perhaps, a bit of a shine on your shoes, and "free" internet.
BRITISH AIRWAYS LOST LUGGAGE If you are changing planes at London's Heathrow Airport you may want to pack an extra pair of knickers in your carry-on. In addition to high lost luggage stats, BA is rigorously enforcing baggage weight limits and a rule that permits only one carry-on of no more then 22' height. Passengers traveling through London may find it advisable to ship their luggage ahead to their hotel or cruise ship via one of the well-regarded private luggage delivery services. Among the companies that will pick up luggage at your home and haveit waiting for you at your destination abroad are: Luggage Free, Luggage Forward, or Luggage Concierge
APOLLO BUYS 50% OF NCL - WHO IS NEXT? (Traveltruth Exclusive) - The extremely well-funded Apollo Management Group recently purchased Oceania Cruises. Now, in one of the industry's best-kept secrets, Apollo has moved to take a 50% stake in Norwegian Cruise Line with a $1 billion cash offer. This will give NCL breathing room to expand and improve on its current services in the Caribbean and in Hawaii. Parent company ,Star Cruises,will retain a 50% stake in NCL. This move could not have come at a better time for NCL. The infusion of cash will allow NCL to pay-off large portions of its current debt and will allow plans to move forward with new hull construction and the F3 generation of ships. Apollo now owns niche player Oceania and is pledged to expand the line with two, new 1250 passenger ships. With the NCL deal firm, speculation is that Apollo is attempting, in short order, to become cruising's third largest brand. This would indicate that Apollo is poised to announce the purchase of a third line, one of the luxury brands.
TRENDS FROM THE TRAVEL FRONT: We have just returned from one of the world's largest gatherings of worldwide travel consultants, cruise line executives, hotel managers, and tour operators. The annual Virtuoso Travelmart at the Bellagio in Las Vegas featured participants from more then 100 countries. We met face-to-face with our 130 on-site offices and with airline executives. Last year, Virtuoso's 294 agency members produced $4.2 billion in leisure sales. Here are just a few initial observations from this gathering of travel's "Best of the Best". 01 - The Really Hot Destinations in 2008 are: Spain. India, Bhutan, Croatia, Dubai, the Danube, Botswana, and Eastern Europe. 02 - The percentage of American guests at the best countryside properties in Italy, Great Britain, and France is decreasing. We are hearing that American guests make up only 4-15% of some of Europe's best non-city hotel properties. 03 - Use of private jets for overseas travel is increasingly dramatically. Bljue Star Jets is one firm benefitting from this trend. 04 - Supplier-sponsored web sites are taking market share away from last years "Big Five" travel web addresses. Hotel sites have seen the most growth. 05 - The world's top three airlines are now all based in the Middle East. hey are cash-rich and able to provide service and amenities that exceed even the best of the Asian carriers. On a personal level, the highlight of the gathering was a surprise visit by the Boys Choir from Kenya, young Masai singers and dancers. Their rendition of America the Beautiful succeeded in bringing hundreds of travel veterans to tears. Micato Safaris arranged for their transportation and accommodations. Seeing the Masai in their red plumage parading through the halls of the Bellagio in Vegas has to rank as one of the most incongruous sights of any travel year.
VISITORS FROM TRANQUILITY ISLAND Visitors from tranquility base stopped by the office yesterday. I refer to "best kept secret" resorts belonging to the Aman group, the ultra deluxe company that owns, manages, and markets small resorts that are the envy of other hotel groups. Every one of the seventeen Aman resorts is set in a beautiful natural location. The resorts are low key and on the small side, with the air of a Buddhist temple and the feel of lilly ponds dancing along the ridge of a small, mist-shrouded mountain. Studies show that budget and midrange travelers do not have much hotel brand loyalty.but true luxury travelers do. And the languishing done at Amanresorts is done by some of Hollywood's top stars and some of corporate America's leading lights. They are extremely brand loyal. Now you know their secret. The first Amanresort opened in 1998 in Phuket. There are now resorts in diverse locations such as When it comes to vacation planning,, this is as close as a "sure thing" as you can get. These resorts are perfect for peace and tranquility seekers in the best resort locations on earth. Expect the highest levels of service and memorable cuisine.
WHO KNEW? WE'RE ACTUALLY ADMIRED AS TOURISTS The new Trendwatch Report from Harris Interactive on behalf of Expedia is filled with valuable information. Perhaps most interesting are the results of a survey of 1500 European hoteliers that indicates that Americans are significantly better tourists then some would have us believe. In fact, the only higher-ranking tourists are the Japanese. Americans are the "most generous" and, rather surprisingly, "the most likely to attempt a foreign language." Note we said "attempt" not "master". We rank third when it comes to "best behaved" .Only the Japanese and the British are better guests. On the down side, Americans are considered the very worst dressers, and remember that Russian tourists are part of this study. Were it not for the dependably loud Italians, we would also be the noisiest. The worst tippers - the Germans, the French, and the Israelis.
SHIP YOUR LUGGAGE VIA FED-EX? So you are leaving on a cruise that begins in Istanbul and you thought you'd have Fed-Ex pick up your suitcase at the house and ship it - to the ship. Current cost for a 50 lb. suitcase is $478.12.
THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO AVOID PROBLEMS AT THE AIRPORT: The most important trick used by the pros is really simple - yet very few travelers do it. Program the reservations number of every airline you will be flying into your cell phone contact list. Never stand in a long line if a flight is cancelled or severely delayed. Sit down, have a beverage, and call the airline on your cell phone to deal with an emergency like a suddenly cancelled flight. Always program in the number of the frequent flyer desk if you are a member. If you are carrying a laptop, use Flighttracker to check on the status of your flight. If you want to be fanatical - and really prepared, program in the telephone number of the lost baggage department. And don;t be surprised if the person at the other end of the phone is in Mumbai. Several major aifrlines have outsourced their lost luggage departments.
WHEN TO CASH IN MILES: We've addressed this question before but it remains one of life's perplexing mysteries. Timing is everything. Here is the best current strategy: 01 _ If possible, book your air using miles 360 days prior to your day of departure. Begin calling about 20 minutes past midnight. 02 - If the above is not practical, we recommend that you wait until 90 days prior to your desired departure. Seats previously held for high level frequent flyers are often released at this time. 03 - If that doesn't work, try calling sixty days prior to your intended departure when additional seats may be released. Remember that all airlines hold seats for their most premium frequent flyers. If you are an optimistic person, you can hope that still more mileage seats will become available on the day of departure. Try calling 24 hours prior to your scheduled flight to beat the system.
THANK YOU CNT FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. COMING FROM YOU - THEY MEAN A LOT: We have just received the August issue of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. CNT has, over the years, established itself as the true voice of literate, travel destination reporting and consumerism. It is a singular honor to be mentioned so favorably in their pages. It motivates all of here at traveltruth.com to keep doing what we are doing.
THE STORY BEHIND THE PASSPORT MESS While it is true the number of passport applications grew from eleven to fourteen million in the early days of summer, the real problem with the passport office is just now coming to light. It is a severe labor shortage of a particular kind. There are plenty of clerks to input the information - no problem. But after that, applications can sit for months waiting for official "ejudicators" to sign off on each application. The ejudictores are in short supply. Their job is to take the data and to try to authenticate that the applicant is not a security risk. The backup is now so extensive, that officials are bringing in more then seventy ejudication-certified specialists from diplomatic posts overseas. They are expected to be in place within the next 30 days. But don;t expect this governmental mess to be straightened out until Mid-September when applications will reach a more manageable number.
THE SCENT OF SUMMER FLYING It is hot and your aircraft is full. There is going to be a percentage of folks who smell bad this summer and this could ruin your normally delightful flight experience. Airline staff say the problem is getting worse. Some of them have taken to carrying essential oils which they apply to their nostrils. You may want to try this technique, choosing a scent that is strong enough to mask smells emanating from passengers in your immediate area. Try oil of lavender or even essence of vanilla.
RATINGS: EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES Cruises along the interior waterways in Europe are hot. In fact, they now represent the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. Some of the leading contenders, such as Viking River, Amadeus, Tauck and Peter Deilmann, can't build new boats fast enough. Current shipyard orders are backlogged. The reasons seem obvious enough. Fewer then 200 passengers. All meals and shore excursions are included so the cost, in dollars, is a real value compared to independent travel relying on the dollar rate against the Euro. Each of the lines below is capable of providing a superior European River Boat experience. But like all other aspects of travel, there are qualitative differences. Here is how we rate the products available to Americans in 2007/2008.. # 1 - Tauck World Discovery The Swiss Emerald is the best riverboat on the Danube. The new 118 guest Tauck Riverboat will be ready in time for the 2008 season on the Danube. Luxury Suite cabins are just over 300 square feet. Wines are included and Tauck offers the most comprehensive and best-managed sightseeing programs. # 2 - Viking River Cruises The largest European River Boat company, Viking offers an upscale product throughout western and eastern European Capitals. They also operate in Russia and they have two new boats offering comprehensive programs in China on the Yangtze. Viking River is reliable but customer service standards are not up to tauck's. Air schedules can be less then desirable so guests may want to consi8der doing their own air. # 3 - Peter Deilmann Cruises This is a highly-respected German company that operates nine river boats ranging in quality from 3 to 5 stars. The Mozart has long been a favorite of those seeking al elegant vessel with a largely German and Austrian clientele. # 4 - Avalon Waterways This is the riverboat firm owned by giant mainstream tour operater Globus. Their newest boats are the Tranquility and the tough-to-pronounce Imagery. Avalon is a well-managed company that has grown by 50% in the last 24 months. The line claims that its new Silent Drive System makes for a significantly quieter ride for guests. Early reports indicate that the system is quieter. # 5 - Amadeus Waterways Often confused with rival Avalon, Amadeus is particularly strong in central and Eastern Europe.
CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM PASSENGERS FORCE CRUISE LINE TO DOUBLE OFFER The Millennium, one of Celebrity's top-rated ships, is limping toward Naples after the propeller blade on its pod propulsion system was severely damaged. Reports from the ship tell of an offer of $750 in cruise credits for guests who sat on the ship for several days after the accident, missing ports such as Livorno (Florence). Angry guests confronted the tour desk staff who fled the ships theater. Some guests were screaming for compensation. A committee was formed to confront the ships Captain. A second memo was placed in ships cabins upping the offer to a 50% cruise fare refund. This did not satify the guests and there were more confrontations in the area of the Purser's lobby. Finally, a third offer with a full refund of the cruise fare was posted outside each guests cabin. Reports from the ship indicate that Celebrity caved in to guest demands and severly bungled the handling of a challenging onboard situation.
EUROPE"S WORST DRIVERS Data clearly shows that Turkey is the most dangerous place to drive in Europe. Greece is one of the most dangerous, along with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. OK, perhaps I have convinvced you not to rent a car in any of these places. Someone is driving the tour buses and the taxis. Someone who may be contributing to the dismal accident statistics in these countries. There is no means to protect yourself other then to work with a company overseas that takes pains to hire only the safest drivers. But that does nothing to control the guy driving towards you. The safest roads are in England, ireland,, and Scotland, along with the Scandinavia countries. The accident rate in Turkey is almost ten times the rate in the United Kingdom.
THE REAL REASON THAT NO HOTEL RESERVATION IS "GUARANTEED" There is a little-known fact that drives hotel execs crazy and is rarely talked about publicly. Most countries have laws that make it illegal for a hotel to take possession of a guests room on check-out day if the guest has decided to extend their reservation. This means that hotels, through no fault of their own, could have a number of guests utilizing rooms they thought would be free to sell. This can create an overbooking situation for even the most prestigious hotels worldwide. Many families want connecting rooms. The best hotels will rarely, if ever, confirm them. And for much the same reason. If the rooms manager cannot kick guests out at the end of their stay, how can they truly guarantee specific rooms that connect? This is one of the industry's best-kept secrets. Lawyers generally are aware of the rule, most consumers are not. While there are technical ways for a hotel to circumvent the law, most will not risk the potential legal action that could arise when someone who wants to remain at a hotel is "required" to leave.
RATING THE WORLD"S FIVE BEST AIRLINES FOR SERVICE: We have just completed our 2007 rankings of the international airlines that offer the best service in the sky. Our ratings are based on reviews of all available industry sources that use quantitative measures to determine which flight crews provide consistently excellent service. At this moment, the top five airlines in the world, based entirely on in-flight service, are: # 1 - Qatar Airways # 2 - Thai Airways # 3 - ANA # 4 - Singapore Airlines # 5 - Malaysia Airlines Our ratings are focused entirely on service in-flight. The flight crews on the airlines in our Top Five, provide :memorable service" more often then not. The biggest surprise is the rather sensational gorwth of Qater as it solidifies its standing as one of the world's great airlines. Another airline from the Gulf region, Emirates, places # 6.
BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT CRUISE LINE PROVIDED AIR ARRANGEMENTS The major cruise lines are now using proprietary software that selects flights for their guests on air/sea programs. Consumers would be surprised to know that human intervention in the selection of flights is rare. If the computer, for example, shows that a 45-Minute Delta connection at New York's JFK is "legal" then that may be the flight assigned. "Legal" connections are merely connections that the individual airlines say are legal. One of the worst airports for tight connections is Frankfurt, where international transit passengers must pass through security checks even though they just walking from one plane to another. Stomach-churning connections in Europe are now so common that we are recommending that all Europe-bound cruise passengers do air deviations or consider taking their air credits and having their consultant make private air arrangements.
JULY 2007 - BE PREPARED Current estimates are that July is going to break all previous records in terms of international passenger traffic at the nation's major airports. TSA and the airlines are gearing up, but we may see significant delays.Discuss the specific time you need to be at the airport with your travel professional. July will see record numbers of European Cruise and Escorted Tour travelers, lured by the savings of prepayment in dollars.
A NEW WAY TO HIRE A GUIDE ABROAD For those seeking private guide services abroad, here is an idea that I really like for adventurous travelers who are comfortale making arrangements after they arive, On the morning after your arrival, visit the local police station and ask to speak to the person in charge. Explain that you would like to employ an off-duty officer with decent English skills to give you an informal and personal tour of the city. Of course you will offer compensation. This is a novel, and potentially fascinating way to travel safely while getting a true insider's view that even the guidebooks haven't discovered.
ALASKA LINES INTRODUCE MORE EXCITING SHORE EXCURSION OPTIONS The hunt is on in Alaska waters. Shore excursions for this summer have some novel twists. Royal Caribbean will take guests on a Dog Sledding Tour a |
Churchill and Turen received accolades for "World's Best Culinary Programs", "World's Top Spa Specialist, "World's Best Small, Luxury Cruise Specialists" and "Top Travel Generalists" Worldwide. 
You can fast forward or pause if you need to get up to use the restroom. Many of the better airlines have AVOD systems in the front of the plane and some have installed the system in economy. 
That would be Brussels, Belgium. While there, eat fresh baked waffles and cruise the city's lovely canals. Next, head to Mechelen, still rather undiscovered by American tour companies. While there, sample the famed white asparagus in season and order any of the chicken dishes on the menu at D'Hoogh, which sits right on the town square.
to fly from Chicago to Vienna round-trip from Chicago. Your miles are with American. You can do the trip using AA's partner, British Airways between London and Vienna. If you want to use 90,000 miles you can get a "free" Business Class ticket. But what you cannot do is buy a coach ticket and then use your miles, far less then 90,000 to upgrade to Business Class. You can;t even though the BA flights may have AA flight numbers.
He is trying to warn the consumers of fine dining that the environment cannot sustain the demands of a worldwide audience for truly natural food products. Aming ius specific warnings:
Head toward the back of the store and you will discover a solid gold bathroom complete with toilets, wash basic and, toilet paper holders. Even the walls are lined with gold.
The last time there, I brought friends to a small place near the Basilica di Santa Maria. We sat outside on the rear patio. As my friend leaned back in his chair, I was able to point out that he was leaning on a portion of the original wall that surrounded the ancient city. Somehow, this made the tortellini al sugo seem more memorable.
There are relatively few hotels here and the two-star run-downs are not suitable for upscale visitors. But one little gem is the four-star Hotel di Santa Maria. Expect wood-beamed ceilings and frequent wake-up calls from the sound of the bells at the nearby Basilica. The three-star Ripa hotel is larger and the suites are fine but there have been maintenance problems are reason enough to avoid the place. 
One of our favorite itineraries is an April trip that begins in New Orleans winding its way through the Midwest to New Mexico, the Grand Canyon, and San Francisco and its nearby wine country. Guests on the 8-day trip travel aboard a 21-car train that features appointments that border on "vintage.", capturing the feel of the so-called Golden Age of Rail Travel. 
Mark Conroy, the highly-respected President of Regent, will continue to operate the company.
will head up Prestige and both Conroy and Bob Binder, the President of Oceania, will report to him.
Travcoa, the California-based luxury tour operator for their 15-Day LAPLAND REINDEER SAFARI. This extraordinary travel adventure includes dogsled, snowmobile, and reindeer sleigh rides through pristine arctic wilderness. Guests meet the Sami, Scandinavia's ancient herders and sip Vodka while staying at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjavi. 
This hotel is rebuilt every winter from thousands of tons of snow and ice. The tour encompasses Rovaniemi, Lapland capital located directly on the Arctic Circle. Guests on the February 28th departure will celebrate the Festival of Maria's Day with the Sami people. This is an amazing trip for those who love the beauty of snow-encased villages in a magnificent landscape. It is thoughtfully planned with only 1 single-night hotel stay. We congratulate Travcoa and the team that designed The 2008 Travel truth "Escorted Tour of the Year". 
on your appearance.
Recent figures indicate that BA flights conencting at Heathrow are having major problems matching passengers with their luggage.
Bhutan, France, Cambodia, the Society islands, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, the U.S. (Jackson Hole) and the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.
And you're probably going to need more then one piece of luggage. $1,000 for two bags is just about right. It is a very costly alternative to having the airlines lose your luggage. 
Mix and match until you have developed the best possible odor mask on the planet. Then private label a few bottles and give some to your friends as gifts. Anyone would be grateful for something that will mask the odor coming from the perspiring fellow in seat 39 B who just took off his shoes to reveal he doesn't wear socks. 
Four Tauck Directors accompany each sailing. Pre and post hotel stays are part of the package. Tauck costs a bit more but they are the best on the waterways at the current time.
The onboard product is definitely first class. The major criticism of Viking River is the pace. Guests who do the line's China program will need a vacation when they return. But if daily sightseeing in Europe is your thing,, Viking represents the best cruise for the money provided you book early enough to take advantage of early booking discounts. 
Announcements are in German and meals, particular dinners, tend to be a bit more formal then they are on boats catering to Americans. This line cruises the Elbe, the Main, the Rhine, and the Danube. Its vesseles also cruise in Provence and the Midi. This is an excellent choice for German-speaking Americans and those seeking a continental experience.
Routes include all of the main central European waterways with emphasis on packaging pre and post night tour stays. Avalon is not five-star but it is four and a half plus and the line is backed by one of the industry's largest and most stable brands. 
A large ownership is percentage is held by General Tours, a long-standing tour firm that made its name by bringing mass tourism to Russia. The line operates the refurbished Tolstoy on Russian waterway programs. Two new ships, the Amalegro and the Amadagip joined the fleet in the past twelve months and they are among the finest riverboats in Europe. The Amadante joins the fleet in 2008. Amadeus does market within Europe.. 
