Saturday, February 22, 2020

Plan for the Unexpected!!

Though we'd all love to believe that our vacation will go exactly as how we dreamed it would.  Sometimes "stuff" happens.    Here are some tips of things that you should do so that you are prepared "just in case"



Pack 14 days of extra medication — In the event of unexpected travel delays and emergencies,  bring additional prescription medication for at least two weeks beyond the length of the cruise. Also  bring a list of the names, strengths and dosages of all medications in case refills are required. 


Provide Emergency Contact — It is critical that you provide an emergency contact & phone number with your Cruise Line/Tour Company and/or Travel Advisor. The emergency contact should not be traveling with you. 


Mobile phone instructions — You should enable an international travel plan inclusive of voice and data. Cell phones will not work the same in all countries without an international plan and Wi-Fi is not as available in many countries. An international plan will enable you stay connected at a reasonable rate and ensure you can be contacted. 


Purchase travel protection — It's always a good idea to  purchase Vacation Protection, or some other form of travel protection, not only to protect them from any losses stemming from unforeseeable circumstances during their vacation, but to give them confidence to make new plans with the "cancel for any reason" coverage.  (CFAR insurance is usually an upgraded policy) 


Practice healthy travel habits — According to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the simplest and most effective way to prevent illness, is to take extra care to practice basic health habits, including:

  • Washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
  • Taking advantage of hand sanitizer wherever it's available
  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing using a tissue or your bent elbow. And always dispose of the used tissue and wash your hands afterwards
  • Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands
  • Avoiding close contact with sick people 
Be aware of latest health advisories and new travel restrictions

Monday, February 17, 2020

Travel Insurance - Not All Plans are Created Equally




Travel Insurance is a topic that I am very passionate about & do encourage my clients to always insure their trip because you never know what might happen that would force you to cancel your trip.  Or worse, you get sick while traveling and end up needing medical care which can be expensive.  Travel Insurance is there to help you navigate foreign medical care systems & assist with payment of any claims while traveling should the need arise.  People assume that they will have coverage from their credit card or from their own personal medical insurance carrier, but you have to do your due diligence by looking into the details of those coverages.

As detailed by one of our trusted Travel Insurance providers:

Did you know…
Medical   evacuation costs can be on average $25,000 within North America, as   much as $100,000 from Europe, and $250,000 globally, depending   on location.* Schengen   Area Visa requirements include a minimum $50,000 USD emergency   medical coverage, including urgent health, emergency hospital treatment and   repatriation.
A nurse   escort costs on average about $11,000 within North America and about $25,000   from Europe.*
Medicare/Medicaid   and health insurance carriers may stop or decrease coverage once a person   leaves the U.S. or their coverage area.
Hospitals   outside the U.S. may ask for payment prior to treatment and may not   let you leave the country unless treatment is paid in full. (Having a  the correct travel insurance plan means our travel assistance provider can guarantee payment up  to the coverage amount shown in the Policy.)
If you clients have a medical emergency while traveling, the insurance company's travel assistance   provider will assist with foreign and domestic medical arrangements, so you can focus on recovery.
There are so many options with Trip Insurance & my job is to help guide you to the plan that is going to fit your needs the best. Emergencies are expensive, don't you want the peace of mind when you're traveling to know that you have insurance, to know that you have a 24/7 assistance line that you can contact for help & guidance? What's the plan if you don't have travel insurance?




Wednesday, February 12, 2020

CRUISES THAT I'VE TAKEN


Cruises that I've Taken
At one point, I decided that I better document all of the cruises that I've taken so that I know how many I've taken.  It's a fun list to refer back to and to reflect on the memories!!   #livelovecruise  #livelovetravel
  1. May 1990 - 1st cruise: Holland America Line "old" Rotterdam, 3 day coastal SF-YVR
  2. December 1993: Holland America Line "old" Westerdam, 7 day Eastern Caribbean
  3. May 1995: Norwegian Cruise Line - Southward (I think) - 7 day Southern Caribbean
  4. January 1997: Celebrity Cruise Line - Century - 7 day Western Caribbean
  5. June 1997: Carnival - Holiday - 4 day Catalina/Ensenada
  6. May 1998: Carnival Elation - cruise to nowhere out of SF
  7. September 1998: Norwegian Cruise Line- Star - 7day "texaribbean"
  8. April 2000: RCCL - Voyager of the Seas - 7 day Western Caribbean
  9. 2000/2001: Carnival Fascination - 7 day Caribbean (western I think)
  10. May 2001: RCCL- Radiance of the Seas - 4 Day Pacific Northwest
  11. January 2002: RCCL - Viking Serenade - 3 day Ensenada
  12. May 2005: Carnival Victory - 7 day Eastern Caribbean (Bill's first cruise ever)
  13. April 2006: RCCL- Vision of the Seas- 7 day Mexican Riviera
  14. September 2006: Princess- Dawn Princess - 2 day Coastal YVR-SF
  15. June 2007: Princess- Dawn Princess- 10 day Alaska
  16. April 2008: Celebrity Mercury - 7 day Pacific Northwest
  17. July 2008: Disney Magic - 7 day Mexican Riviera
  18. August 2008: Carnival Elation - 4 day Cabo
  19. March 2009: Carnival Splendor - 2 day Cruise to Nowhere out of SF
  20. July 2009: Celebrity Infinity - 7 day Alaska round-trip from Seattle 
  21. February 2010- MSC Poesia - 7 day Eastern Caribbean Country Dance Cruise
  22. September 2010- Mariner of the Seas - 7 day Mexican Riviera
  23. September 2010- Zuiderdam (Holland America) - 3 day Pacific Coastal.
  24. November 2010 - Allure of the Seas - 2 day cruise to nowhere out of Ft. Lauderdale.
  25. February 2011 - Norwegian EPIC - 7 day cruise to Western Caribbean: Cozumel, Costa Maya & Roatan
  26. June 2011 - Carnival Paradise- 3 day Baja Cruise to Ensenada "5th year anniversary Cruise"- BILL'S 15TH CRUISE IN 6 YEARS!!
  27. May 2012 - RCCL  Oasis of the Seas - 7 days Eastern Caribbean (V.com conference)
  28. May 2013 - Celebrity Solstice - 2 day cruise to nowhere
  29. October 27 2013 - Royal Princess- 2 day TA cruise to nowhere 
  30. October 29, 2013 - Royal Princess - 5 day Caribbean Inaugural Cruise
  31. December 28, 2013 - Adventure of the Seas- 7 day Southern Caribbean New Years Eve Cruise
  32. February 23, 2014- Norwegian Jewel- 7 day Western Caribbean from New Orleans (Mandi's Line Dance Cruise)
  33. July 3, 2014 - Carnival Imagination - 3 day Baja Cruise to Ensenada "Bill's 50th birthday cruise" 
  34. March 26, 2015 - Carnival Imagination - 3 day Baja Cruise to Ensenada "Janet's 50th birthday cruise"
  35. April 24, 2015 - RCCL Quantum of the Seas- 8 day Bahamas- Vacation.com Conference at Sea
  36. September 24, 2015 - RCCL Liberty of the Seas - 9 day Canada/New England- Line Dancers at Sea
  37. April 4, 2016 - Norwegian Pearl - 10 day Partial Panama Canal Cruise from Florida (2016 Line Dancers at Sea)
  38. November 8, 2016 - RCCL Harmony of the Seas- 2 day Inaugural
  39. December 31, 2016 -  Celebrity Reflection - 7 day Western Caribbean from Miami
  40. April 22, 2017 - Disney Fantasy- 7 Day Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral

  41. June 27, 2017 - Grand Princess- 10 day Alaska from SF (2017 Line Dancers at Sea) 
  42. September 23, 2017- Coral Princess- 4 day Coastal Vancouver to LA "Suzy & Charles Vow Renewal"
  43. December 30, 2017-Harmony of the Seas- New Years Eastern Caribbean
  44. January 12, 2018- Carnival Inspiration-Country Booze Cruise Line Dance-Ensenada
  45. May 4, 2018- Celebrity Equinox- 10 day Southern Caribbean (5th Annual Line Dancers at Sea Cruise)
  46. May 25, 2018- Norwegian BLISS- 2 day Agent Inaugural Cruise to Nowhere
  47. August 12, 2018- RCCL Oasis of the Seas- 7 night Eastern Caribbean "Suzy's 50th Birthday Cruise"
  48. December 1, 2018- Celebrity EDGE - 3 day Preview Cruise
  49. December 4, 2018- Celebrity EDGE - 2 day Agent pre-inaugural Cruise
  50. December 29, 2018-Norwegian BLISS- 7 night Caribbean- New Years Eve (Bill's 37th cruise)
  51. April 3, 2019 - Disney Wonder - 5 night Mexico- "Mandi's 60th Birthday Cruise"
  52. April 27, 2019- Royal Princess  - 7 night Mexico- "TNC Dance Cruise"
  53. Oct 27, 2019- Celebrity Solstice - 12 night NZ trip- 6th annual Line Dancers at Sea Cruise (at the age of 53!! & Bill's 40th lifetime cruise!) 
  54. December 28, 2019 -CARNIVAL PANORAMA - 7 night Mexico- New Years Eve Cruise! 

Dawn Princess in Alaska
Liberty of the Seas







Disney Fantasy
Carnival Elation

Harmony of the Seas
CELEBRITY REFLECTION                                                                         

Disney Magic


Norwegian Bliss

(Royal Princess in background)
Quantum of the Seas