River Cruises & Ocean Cruises: A Comparison
If you’ve never experienced river cruising, you may be wondering how it differs from the Royal Caribbean cruise you took last year. Of course, both vacations involve spending a major portion of your time on a moving vessel. However, river cruises are completely different from ocean cruises in several key ways. To help you decide […]
Avalon Offers the Best Views & Biggest Rooms for River Cruisers
Imagine waking to scenes of lush hillsides dotted with quaint villages and castle ruins — all from the comfort of your suite. After breakfast, you enjoy an expertly guided tour of one of Europe’s most extraordinary Gothic churches. In the afternoon, you might spend a few hours sampling vintages from one of the region’s best-known […]
River Cruises Combine Innovative Ships & Unique Experiences
Unlike ocean cruises, modern river cruising is a relatively new travel trend. Twenty to thirty years ago, river cruising was mostly restricted to privately owned and operated ships. They were expensive, and ships typically carried only a few passengers. Today, river cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry. European river cruises […]
3 Reasons More People Are Booking Cruises with Travel Agents
According to Tripology, more than 85% of all cruises are booked by travel agents. Many former advocates of self-booking websites are even turning to the pros. Why? These are just a few of the reasons why more cruisers are relying on cruise specialists to plan their perfect vacation at sea. 1. They Know the Cruise […]
Carnival Corp. Opening New Port in Dominican Republic
Carnival Corporation has announced its new port, Amber Cove on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, will open in October. The $85-million dollar facility will be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships in operation and is expected to host more than 250,000 travelers in its first year. The project represents the largest cruise industry investment […]
Americans Can Now Cruise to Cuba
For American travelers, the gates to Cuba have finally opened. In February, Canada-based Cuba Cruise line announced that U.S. citizens could now make bookings to sail around the formerly off-limits Caribbean island. Previously, Americans had to go through sanctioned U.S. tour operators that run cultural-exchange tours. Since the announcement, Cuba Cruise’s website traffic has tripled, and the tour […]
An Inside Look at Royal Caribbean’s Espresso Training
Last month, we shared Royal Caribbean’s announcement that its new Espresso booking system would be launching in March. Travel agents around the country are preparing for the March 29th launch date with online and live training sessions. One of our agents, Robbin Hunter of Blu Diamond Travel, was featured in an article by Travel Agent Central covering […]
Royal Caribbean Announces New Mega-Ship to Debut in 2016
Royal Caribbean announced that the Harmony of the Seas, the third in the Oasis-class line, will be the world’s largest cruise ship. Due to launch in April 2016, the ship will measure 227,000 tons and carry 5,479 passengers. The 16-deck ship will hold 100 more passengers than the Oasis and Allure, which are the largest […]
Travel Agents Will Save Time & Money With Royal Caribbean’s New Espresso System
Royal Caribbean has announced their new reservation system for travel agents, Espresso, will launch in March of this year. Espresso is slated to create a more efficient, intuitive booking experience for agents. Espresso is especially helpful for cash-strapped independent travel agents because it’s free to use. Espresso will replace the CruiseMatch system currently in place […]
Booking Disney Cruises in 2015: What You Need to Know
Whether you’re vacationing with kids, or looking for a grown-up getaway at sea, Disney’s four ships provide plenty of enchantment for vacationers of any age. These tips and options to consider before embarking will ensure you and your family have a completely magical voyage. Pay Less Now if You Book Before Feb. 15th Disney Cruise […]