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Cruising Morocco

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If you would like to explore intricate Moorish architecture, bustling spice markets, or waterfront promenades, consider a cruise that includes port calls in Morocco. This North African kingdom has a Mediterranean and Atlantic shoreline, as well as majestic mountains, broad coastal plains, sparkling cities, and fascinating culture. Some cruises of coastal Portugal and Spain include port calls in Morocco’s Tangier, Casablanca, or Agadir, as do some broader itineraries that pass through the Strait of Gibraltar. Some transatlantic crossings to or from the Mediterranean also call on Morocco, as do some world cruises. Tangier is on Africa’s northernmost tip, just west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Tanger Ville cruise dock is right in the city, so it’s just a short walk from the pier to the historic medina (old town), surrounded by ancient stone walls and bastions. You can visit the Kasbah Palace, the Grand Mosque, and the Petit Socco, once a crossroads for foreign agents and internatio...
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Travel Leaders Network Annual Conference

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  This spring, we attended the annual Travel Leaders Network conference, held at the Gaylord Resort in Chula Vista, California. The resort, located just a quarter of a mile from San Diego Bay, provided an impressive setting for the event, with a large convention center attached to the property. The conference brought together 2,200 attendees, along with numerous travel partners from across the industry. One afternoon was dedicated to a trade show, where we had the opportunity to meet with key suppliers and learn more about the products, services, and experiences they offer for our clients. Over four days, we participated in presentations and held productive meetings with travel partners, peers, and colleagues. The conference provided valuable insight into current developments in the travel industry, including cruises, river cruises, land packages, and all-inclusive resorts. It was also encouraging to see how our travel partners continue to enhance their offerings and strength...
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Cruising in Unsettled Times

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  Unpredictable weather, civil unrest, and military actions can disrupt a cruise vacation. And, these disruptors have become more widespread at a time when more people than ever before are planning cruise vacations. If you’re planning to cruise in a region where there may be conflict, here are some things you can do to be aware and prepared. Begin by talking with Anita, your professional travel advisor, about your plans. Adding their expertise to your own knowledge can help you decide whether to proceed with a planned cruise or look at other destinations. And, talk about more than the ports on the cruise itinerary; check on what’s happening in areas you’ll need to travel through to get to the ship and back home again. Regularly check your email for any updates from your cruise line, as well as airlines and hotels involved in your plans. Better yet, download the apps for each of these travel providers on your mobile device. This will help ensure you receive all updates they issu...
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Saving on Your Next Cruise

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Treating yourself to a vacation feels fantastic, and it’s even better when you know you’re getting good value for your vacation dollars. When you consider all that’s included, cruise vacations deliver terrific value. And, there are ways to further increase that value – here are a few tips. Use a nearby homeport. There are cruise ship ports all along the U.S. coastline, some seasonal and some busy all year. Take a look at the ships and itineraries that sail from the port closest to your home; if you can get there by car, bus, or train, you may save on flight costs. Even if you fly to meet the ship, a shorter flight may keep more money in your pocket. Get expert help. Even if you narrow down your choice of cruise ship and itinerary on your own, working with your professional travel advisor is especially important when it’s time to select a fare and make your reservation. Cruise fares are based on cabin type and many other factors; they can change quickly, and they do change often. ...
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Cruise to the Seychelles

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Looking for an island cruise that’s off the usual path? The Republic of Seychelles, Africa’s smallest nation, is an archipelago of 115 beautiful, rustic, unspoiled islands in the Indian Ocean. Lying about 950 miles off the east coast of Africa, visitors tend to describe the islands with one word: paradise. The islands may have been visited by ancient peoples and certainly by long-ago pirates, but were uninhabited by humans until they were settled by the French in the mid-1700s. Seychelles became a British colony in 1814 and remained so until declaring independence in 1976. Since then, the islands have been thriving with a culture that melds French, British, Indian, and African traditions. Most of the population lives on the three largest islands: Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin. The islands are made of granite or coral, surrounded by water in gorgeous shades of blue. The granite islands have central mountains draped in lush green forests and beaches of soft white sand, sometimes dotted...
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Reserving Your Next Cruise While On Board

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When you’re having a wonderful time on a cruise, it can be a good idea to reserve your next cruise before you even leave the ship. Many cruise lines offer special incentives for booking a cruise while you’re still on board, such as reduced deposits, onboard credits, special discounts, and other benefits. How do you book a cruise while on a cruise? Many ships have a “future cruise” desk just for this purpose. Remember to ask for any onboard booking you make to be transferred to your own professional travel advisor, who can manage it with you. Future cruise reservations made while on board are often quite flexible. You may have a window of time in which you can change ships or sail dates at no charge. You may also be able to defer your choice of destination, ship and sailing date for a period of time. The specific benefits of booking a cruise while you’re onboard vary by cruise line, and may be aligned with the cabin category you reserve (a suite may deliver greater rewards than a ...
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Loving Cruise Ship Formal Nights

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It used to be that every night was “formal night” on a cruise ship; passengers routinely changed from their daytime clothes into elegant dresses, gowns, suits, and tuxedos for dinner. Many cruise fans welcomed the modern shift to more casual dressing for dinner, but some still love the opportunity to really glam up for an onboard formal night. So, which cruise lines still have official  formal nights (or “elegant,” “dressy,” “glam” or “gala” nights)? If you love to dress up in elegant evening wear, look to lines like Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, and Silversea. Their ships usually have at least one formal night on their itineraries. Note that on formal nights, formal attire may be required only in the main dining venue, while other areas of the ship accept “elegant casual” attire (generally defined as tailored slacks or skirts with collared shirts, sweaters or jackets, as well as dresses and pantsuits). And on some ships, formal attire may be encouraged for eveni...
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