Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

I am proud to be certified by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as an Elite Cruise Counselor. The Cruise Counselor Certification Program is CLIA's most comprehensive training which requires agents to successfully complete a number of compulsory training courses and exams, attend cruise conferences, and conduct ship inspections. Anita Thompson, Attheta Travel, dba Cruise Holidays.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Cruising for Romance


For couples, just about any cruise lends itself to romance; what’s more romantic than a cozy stateroom on a ship where all the cooking and cleaning is done for you? Really, all you need to do is hold hands in side-by-side deck chairs while the sunsets. Or, take an after-dinner stroll to watch the moon dancing on the water. Just thinking about it makes us want to board a ship with someone we love.

While cruises are romantic by nature, you can amp up the passion with your choice of destination. Here are some that we think are among the most romantic you can choose.

·         Hawaii. It’s simply one of the most beautiful places on Earth, a postcard-perfect, beachy haven for couples. Love is everywhere in the islands, and a cruise lets you visit more than one.

·         Paris. Cruise the River Seine to the City of Light, where l’amour blooms. Many river cruises that call on Paris also sail in Burgundy and Provence, which are romantic, too.

·         French Polynesia. The lush tropical beauty and clear blue water of islands like Tahiti and Bora Bora make this region perfect for couples seeking to fall in love all over again.

·         Greek Isles. Whitewashed buildings with blue-painted roofs and white sand beaches along turquoise water make the Greek Isles a first-class romantic cruise destination.

·         Bermuda. The pink sand beaches are a favorite for couples because of its exotic nature. Add in an excursion to Paget Marsh Nature Reserve to stroll Lover’s Lane, a serene trail through a cedar forest.

·         Dubrovnik. Croatia’s “Pearl of the Adriatic” features a lovely Old Town where you can stroll together under the moonlight. You might also visit the romantic, watery city of Venice on the same cruise.

·         Capri. There are lots of ports where one can discover romance during a cruise of Italy’s western coast (Rome, anyone?), but this island stands out with its dramatic beauty. For some quiet time, hire a private boat for a few hours.

·         Cabo San Lucas. Lover’s Beach, reachable only by water, is positioned where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez and sheltered by Cabo’s famous stone arch.

·         Belize. A stop on many Western Caribbean cruises, Belize offers adventurous excursions. Go snorkeling, diving, ziplining, or cave tubing – hand-in-hand, of course.

If you don’t see something you like on our list, Anita, your professional travel advisor will have more romantic cruise destination ideas for you.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Coronavirus Travel Policies

COVID-19
The links on this page will direct you to the current COVID-19 travel restrictions and cancellation policies of different travel operators.

U.S. Travel Association
U.S. Center for Disease Control
U.S. Department of State

River Cruise Lines
AMA Waterways
American Cruise Lines
American Queen Steamboat Co.
Avalon Waterways
Croisi Europe Cruises
Crystal River Cruises
Scenic Group (Scenic & Emerald)
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Viking River Cruises

Ocean Cruise Lines
Azamara Cruises
Blount Small Ship Adventures
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Hurtigruten Cruises
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Ponant Cruises
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea Cruises
Star Clippers
Uncruise
Viking Ocean Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Windstar Cruises

Land Tour Operators
AAT Kings
Abercrombie & Kent
Adventures by Disney
African Travel
Alexander & Roberts
Amtrak Vacations
Apple Vacations
Big Five Tours & Expeditions
Brendan Vacations
Celtic Tours
Central Holidays
Cheap Caribbean
CIE Tour
Classic Vacations
Club Med
Collette Tours
Contiki
Cosmos
Costsaver
Delta Vacations
Down Under Answers
Funjet Vacations
G Adventures
Gate 1 Travel
Globus
Gogo Vacations
Goway
Image Tours
Insight Vacations
Intrepid
Kensington Tours
Mayflower Cruises & Tours
Monograms
On the Go Tours
Perillo Tours
Pleasant Holidays
Premier World Discovery
Rail Europe
Rocky Mountaineer
Tauck
Trafalgar
Travel 2
Vacation Express

Theme Parks
Disney Parks
Disneyland Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Dollywood
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios Hollywood
Six Flags

Hotels & Resorts
Accor Hotels
Air BNB
AM Resorts
Aulani, A Disney Resort
Bahia Principe Resorts
Banyan Tree Group
Barcelo Hotel Group
Bedsonline/Travel Bound
Belmond
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort
Choice Hotels
Dream Hotel Group
Disneyland Resort Hotels
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Brands
Hyatt Hotels
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
IHG - Kimpton, Intercontinental, Holiday Inns, Crowne Plaza
Karisma Resorts
Loews Hotels
Marriott International Brands
MGM Resorts
Omni Hotels & Resorts
Palace Resorts
Playa Resorts
Radisson Hotels
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Sandals & Beaches
Walt Disney World Resorts
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wynn Resorts

Travel Insurance
AIG Travel Guard
Allianz
Arch RoamRight
Chubb
Manulife
Travel Insured
Travelex
Trip Mate

Domestic Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Allegiant Air
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
JetBlue
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
United Airlines

International Airlines
Aeromexico
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
Air Tahiti Nui
All Nippon
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Eastern
China Southern
Copa Airlines
El Al
Fiji Airways
Iberia
Interjet
Japan Airlines
KLM
Korean Air
LATAM
Lufthansa Group
Norwegian Air
Qantas
Singapore Airlines
TAP Air Portugal
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Australia
Volaris
WestJet



Monday, March 23, 2020

A Look at Expedition Cruising


Cruises can take you to places you haven’t been before, which can bring out a bit of your inner explorer. Some cruises will take you to rugged, beautiful locations where few people have ever been; that’s called an expedition cruise, and when you choose one, you become an explorer automatically. If you’re familiar with mainstream cruises, there are some important differences you need to think about when deciding if an expedition cruise is for you.

First, the ships. Expedition ships are small, built to maneuver into ports that are well off the beaten path. The ships are very comfortable and even luxurious, but you won’t find alternative dining venues, vast entertainment areas or pool decks. The focus of an expedition cruise is not what’s on the ship, but what you’ll see when you leave the ship.

There are different crew roles than you’ll find on a mainstream cruise.  Instead of a social director, you’ll have an expedition leader, as well as experts who will educate you about the region you’re sailing to.

Mainstream cruises rarely vary from their set schedules, while expedition ships are more likely to change course when the crew spots some wildlife, or the captain identifies a smoother path through the water.

The process of getting from ship to shore is different (which may have implications if you have any mobility issues). On an expedition cruise, you’re less likely to step off the ship onto a dock; you’re more likely to step from the ship into an inflatable Zodiac craft that will take you to shore.

So, where do these adventurous cruises go? Destinations include:

The Amazon. Some ocean-going ships sail up the river as far as Manaus, Brazil, but smaller expedition ships can sail the Peruvian portion of the river, stopping to visit villages surrounded by the jungle and its wild, colorful inhabitants.

Antarctica. It’s an incredibly inhospitable environment, but cruising to Antarctica is on many bucket lists. That probably has something to do with the stunning scenery and abundant sea life, from waddling penguins to magnificent whales.

The Arctic. Expedition ships sail to the northern reaches of Norway, where you can hike the tundra and take in spectacular scenery (including northern lights).

Galapagos Islands. Tourism here is strictly controlled to protect the islands’ unique and diverse biosphere, and a cruise is one of the best ways to go.

Expedition cruises can also take you to some of the less-visited parts of Alaska, the South Pacific, Central America, Patagonia and more. Interested? Ask Anita, your professional travel advisor for more details.

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Monday, March 16, 2020

Consider Travel Insurance for Your Next Cruise


 No matter how much care cruise lines put into planning their itineraries – or how much time we put into planning our cruise vacations – there are things outside our control that can disrupt a cruise that we can still plan for. These include weather, illness, airline delays and more.

Fortunately, some peace of mind is available in the form of travel insurance. Purchasing insurance for your next cruise can’t prevent disruptions, but it can protect your vacation investment if problems arise. While the cost of travel insurance for a cruise varies according to cruise length, destination and how many people are being covered, it’s always just a fraction of your investment in your cruise vacation.

Here’s a quick look at what travel insurance for a cruise customarily covers. Of course, when you’re ready to purchase, review the policy carefully so that you understand the specific details of your coverage.

·         Trip interruption: This type of coverage is useful, for example, when a ship develops mechanical problems during a cruise and can’t proceed. In this type of situation, the cruise line usually compensates passengers, but insurance will give you extra protection, such as covering the cost of your airfare changes.

·         Trip cancellation: This protects your investment when an unexpected event – such as a serious illness, a death in the family or a job loss – makes it impossible for you to take your scheduled cruise.

·         Trip delay/missed connection: This covers you if travel delays cause you to miss your flight to the port of departure, or if your flight doesn’t arrive in time for you to get to the ship.

·         Baggage delay or loss: This provides some necessities (such as clothing and toiletries) when you arrive the port of departure, but your luggage goes somewhere else.

·         Medical expenses: Your ship will have a medical bay, but your existing health insurance plan may not cover treatment there (be sure to check your existing policy to see if it covers you during international travel). Travel insurance that includes medical benefits can pay for treatment on the ship or in a port of call; it may even include coverage for emergency medical transport if you need to return home for treatment.

·         Financial default by a travel provider: It’s rare, but it can happen.

There’s more to know, including what insurance usually does not cover (cloudy weather, itinerary changes) and options you might choose to add on for an additional cost. Talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor about travel insurance options for your next cruise.

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel


Saturday, March 14, 2020

Coronavirus updates on our Travel Partner Websites


Latest Coronavirus information directly from our preferred travel partners websites:
·         AmaWaterways
·         Amtrak Vacations
·         Avalon Waterways
·         Azamara
·         Celebrity Cruises
·         CIE Tours (US)
·         Crystal Cruises
·         Funjet Vacations
·         Globus Family of Brands
·         Holland America Line
·         Insight Vacations
·         Manulife
·         Norwegian Cruise Line
·         Oceania Cruises
·         Ponant Cruises
·         Princess Cruises
·         Regent Seven Seas Cruises
·         Royal Caribbean International
·         Silversea
·         Sunwing
·         Tauck
·         Travel Insurance Blog
·         Viking Cruises 
·         WestJet, WestJet Vacations
·         Windstar Cruises



Anita & Garry Thompson
Cruise Holidays
www.attheta.com