October 2014

Cruise Planners franchisees offer exclusive, month-long deals for locals looking to set sail

(Sarasota, FL) – October 1, 2014 – Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the industry, has created a month-long celebration called World’s Largest Cruise Event (WLCE). To celebrate, local Cruise Planners franchise owner, Anna Conway is offering incredible values and exclusive cruise promotions that are applicable for the entire month.

“Now is the best time of year to book a cruise to get the most money-saving deals,” said local Cruise Planners franchise owner, Anna Conway “The World’s Largest Cruise Event is a great opportunity for travelers to benefit from amazing value-add deals that they can’t find elsewhere.”

To make the month-long event even more engaging, Cruise Planners’ is hosting a “Picture Your ‘Selfie’” social media campaign where travelers can tag a picture using the #CPSelfie hashtag, and enter to win a $1,000 travel voucher and Cruise Planners swag bag. To learn more, please visit
https://www.facebook.com/TravelScouter.

This year’s promotions include prepaid gratuities, shipboard credits, reduced deposits, onboard savings, air and cruise fare discounts, stateroom upgrades, and shore excursion credits to name a few, with some of the biggest names in cruising providing these exceptional deals to customers.

To book a Cruise Planner’s World’s Largest Cruise Event offer, travelers should reach out directly to Anna Conway at 941-870-0691 or visit: www.cruisescouter.com, to customize their next vacation experience. To share a Cruise Planners selfie, please use #CPSelfie on social media.

About Cruise Planners

Cruise Planners, an independently owned and operated home-based franchise, is part of the American Express Travel Representative network and the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise company in the travel industry. Cruise Planners’ travel professionals independently book amazing vacation and travel experiences for their clients around the world. Cruise Planners franchise owner Anna Conway is based in Sarasota, FL and specializes in custom foreign travel and cruises. For more information, please visit www.cruisescouter.com

Media Contact: Anna Conway

Cruise Planners, franchise owner

941-870-0691 www.cruisescouter.com 

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World’s Largest Cruise Event Specials – Now Oct. 4-14!

Holland America are pleased to announce our promotion in support of CLIA’S Cruise Week 2014! Starting Saturday, Oct. 4 through Tuesday, Oct. 14, and will be offering a shipboard credit on select sailings. 

Explore 4 through Oct. 31!

Now through October 31st, make your next voyage an incredible value with our Explore4 offers! When you book an oceanview stateroom or above on select 2015 & 2016 sailings, you will receive all four offers below. This is one of our best offers yet!

1. FREE Signature Beverage Package*

Signature Beverage Package is valued at $100 per day, per stateroom ($50 per person) and includes beverages priced up to $7 (menu price) including wine, beer, spirits,   cocktails, sodas and coffee (daily limit applies). The beverage service charge is covered by Holland America Line.

2. FREE Pinnacle Grill Dinner*

Pinnacle Grill – guests booking an Ocean-view stateroom or above will receive one free dinner (per person) in this elegant and sophisticated Pinnacle Grill

3. FREE or reduced cruise fares for 3rd/4th guests**

Special FREE or reduced pricing for 3rd & 4th guests make it easier to share your cruise with the entire family

4. 50% Reduced deposit*

Your cruise deposit (the first payment due) will be reduced by 50%, giving you more flexibility and more time before paying the full amount for your cruise  

A SUITE BONUS!  Book a suite and receive the above, PLUS a $300 onboard spending credit per stateroom and a FREE Canaletto dinner!

Explore4 available on select 2015 and 2016 sailings. Land + Sea Journeys receive Explore4 on cruise portion only. Signature Beverage Package and Pinnacle Grill Dinner available for ocean-view staterooms and above only.

Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses are additional

For more information visit: http://www.cruisescouter.com/deals/view/Euwm7Bc1

Contact Anna Conway today at 941-870-0691 www.cruise-scouter.com anna@cruisescouter.com

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Late afternoon on Wednesday, Oct. 15, we were made aware by the U.S. CDC of a guest sailing this week on board Carnival Magic who is a lab supervisor at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.  At no point in time has the individual exhibited any symptoms or signs of infection and it has been 19 days since she was in the lab with the testing samples.  She is deemed by CDC to be very low risk.  At this time, the guest remains in isolation on board the ship and is not deemed to be a risk to any guests or crew. It is important to reiterate that the individual has no symptoms and has been isolated in an extreme abundance of caution. We are in close contact with the CDC and at this time it has been determined that the appropriate course of action is to simply keep the guest in isolation on board.

Additional background:

None of Carnival Cruise Lines' ships visit the region where Ebola cases are originating nor do our ships call in any countries with Level 3 CDC Travel Heath Notices.   Any passengers or crew who have visited or traveled through Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea within 21 days of a cruise departure date will be denied boarding. Additionally, all guests sailing with us must answer a series of health screening questions during embarkation and, if deemed necessary, will be asked to submit to further medical screening prior to being allowed to board. All cruise lines continue to monitor the situation closely, along with our colleagues in the rest of the travel industry.  The cruise industry is in close, frequent contact with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for updates and guidance.

Carnival Magic is based year-round in Galveston, TX and operates seven-day cruises to the Caribbean. 

The ship departed Galveston on Sunday, Oct. 12 and will return on Sunday, Oct. 19.

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Cruise Planners has an exclusive OBC offer of $75 per person, free airfare, 2-for-1 cruise and no single supplement on select Caribbean sailings. 

Star Clipper - November 29, 2014 Departing from St. Maarten for 7 night caribbean from $2125 for an oceanview. 

Royal Clipper - January 3, 2015 Departing from Barbados for 7 night caribbean from $2125 for an oceanview. 

Star Clipper - February 7, 2014 Departing from St. Maarten for 8 night caribbean from $2125 for an oceanview.

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Cabin – The cabins are a little older and dated.  The bed linens were also well worn and the beds were not as comfortable as they were on some newer ships. The cabin was a decent size and actually it seemed bigger than some newer ships I have been on when the beds were separated. We had an ocean view at R204, which was very conveniently located near the elevators and restaurants. The TV was small and did not rotate and there was no refrigerator. There was a safe and plenty of room in the closets. I think a refurbishing would give this ship exactly what it needs. But, overall, for an ocean view room I would give the Carnival Paradise a 7-8 out of 10.

 

 

Service – The service is exceptional. The staff really goes out of their way to make sure you are happy and having a good time. The wait staff in the dining room at night, especially. They really make sure that everything is up to par. The cabin stewards are friendly and accommodating.  I also noticed they were constantly cleaning everything all over the ship. The room always smelled very fresh and they cleaned everything from top to bottom.
 

Food - The food is pretty good and you can order whatever you want off the menus and as much as you like, no questions asked. I would not expect a five star restaurant quality, but for the cruise I was very happy.  Just be careful when ordering red meat because it sometimes is tough and overcooked. My favorites were the Caesar salad, chocolate melting cake and the cheeses.  As for the buffet, it is very small, but includes a variety of favorites including mine, which is the pizza and self-serve ice cream.
 

Casino – The casino is very smoky and small. I can see why some people want to avoid it because on some newer ships they have ways of keeping the smoking from becoming overbearing.  Fun groups of people though.
 

Entertainment and Activities – There is tons to do throughout the day on the ship. They have trivia, line dancing, karaoke, deck games, sports, miniature golf, ping pong. I especially loved the trivia games in the casino area. You can relax on the serenity deck, which is “adults only” or swim in the other pools and hot tubs. There were shows at night and the productions were good.

 

 

Port Days – The only stop was Cozumel, Mexico and we did not get off the ship. However, we spoke to many people that did and all of them had a great time whether they did something on their own or a shore excursion.

Overall it was the intimacy of the ship that was the best aspect and we had a great time on the 4 days. Because it was a smaller ship you were able to get to know the people, see them frequently and so it was a great way to make new friends. This happened especially during trivia times and it was a great mix of people. At one point my 83 year old dad was laughing and making jokes with some guy who resembled, “Little John” complete with a “grill”

 

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If interested in cruising please contact Anna Conway at 941-870-0691 or 

visit www.cruise-scouter.com for current deals. 

Also, like my facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelScouter

Happy Cruising!

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