Legion of Angels News Archive

1. Are there discounts for groups?
Bottom line: Groups do have purchasing power. The standard discount is one free cruise fare for every 10 to 15 travelers, but sometimes cruise lines are willing to throw in perks such as a complimentary cocktail party or onboard credit.

2. Does the ship have traditional cruise dining, in which the passengers are told when, where, and with whom they’ll be eating?
If so, request your time slot when you book your cruise and specify that your group must dine together.

3. Are there specialty restaurants?
If you would like to have a nice meal together one night, make a reservation as early as possible. Alternative restaurants are growing in popularity and tend to fill up quickly. Also: Find out in advance if a surcharge will be applied to the meal.

4. Do we need to worry about a dress code?
Some cruise lines have a relaxed dress code during the day, some call for “country-club casual” throughout the cruise, and others have formal nights, when proper attire can range from fun cocktail dresses to full-length formal gowns.

5. What types of official ID should we bring?
In addition to your passport, some destinations require visas. Find out what you’ll need early, so you have time to apply for the proper documentation.

6. What organized tours does the cruise line offer at each port?
Ships give passengers a range of onshore tour options, from leisurely bus tours to thrilling zip-line excursions. If your group wants to go on any of these, book early while there’s still space for all of you. You can also book tours independently or explore on your own. Either of those options is usually cheaper, but know that getting back to the ship on time is your responsibility. The captain will almost always wait if you’re on one of the tours the cruise line has arranged, but not necessarily if you’re on your own.

7. Does the cruise line offer special rates for pre- and post-cruise hotel stays? Do these deals include transfers to and from the ship?
Always find out the hotel’s rates on your own to make sure you’re actually getting a deal. Also, some hotels will let you park your car in their lots for the duration of the cruise, saving you the fees for parking at the port.

8. Can we book transportation to and from the departure port through the cruise line?
Some cruise lines offer package fares that include airline tickets. Lines also have air/sea departments that will offer to book your tickets for you. The service is convenient, but the price isn’t always the best; compare what it would cost if you bought the tickets on your own.

9. What’s the policy on deposits and refunds?
Policies depend on the cruise line and the trip length. A seven-night cruise usually requires a deposit of about $250; the full amount is usually due 70 to 90 days before departure. Refund rules vary, too, but most lines allow you to cancel with no penalty up to the time when your final payment is due.

10. What’s a fuel surcharge, and how much will I pay?
In response to the rising cost of fuel, cruise lines now tack on a fuel surcharge. It’s usually per person, up to a certain number of people per cabin, and per day (with a maximum amount). You pay it on top of your cruise fare—and the cruise lines do reserve the right to increase it at any time.

Source — Girlfriend Getaways

HONOLULU - Fewer tourists are traveling to Hawaii and their combined spending decreased in May as steeper airfares discouraged people from visiting the islands, according to state statistics.

The number of Hawaii cruise visitors plunged due to the departure of the cruise ship Pride of Hawaii, and because another cruise ship, the Pride of Aloha, made just one voyage in May, her last in the islands.

Visitor expenditures dropped 2.9 percent, or $26.7 million, in May compared to the same month last year because fewer passengers flew to the islands, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Arrivals dipped 6.4 percent, or 549,017 people, last month.

Daily spending increased to $185 per person compared to $179 per person in May 2007.

There were 56.9 percent fewer tourists arriving in Hawaii by cruise ship — only 5,382 visitors for the month. Only three out-of-state cruise ships visited the islands in May compared to seven in the same month of 2007.

“May statistics are better than anticipated, especially since it is the first month to report the effects of the loss of two home-ported cruise ships and increased airfares,” said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert. “Increased marketing efforts in our base market, U.S. West, will help stimulate demand for summer travel.”

Over the first five months of this year, total expenditures by visitors who arrived by air increased 3.2 percent to $4.94 billion even as total arrivals by air decreased 1.1 percent to 2,918,580.

Tourism from Japan was down 6.2 percent in May, while 13.7 percent more people are arriving from Canada.

“We continue to be pleased with the performance of the Canada and other Asia markets and anticipate further growth especially in the China market be cause Chinese are now able to visit the U.S. as leisure group travelers,” Wienert said.

The first group of Chinese leisure travelers visited Hawaii this week under a new agreement between the U.S. and China.

Trips from the U.S. West and East also fell, with the steepest decline coming from 19.3 percent fewer visitors from California.

Source — Yahoo!