The New Haven Firebirds Fundraiser

The New Haven Firebird Society (a professional Firefighters’ organization) has chosen The Cruise Outlet of Hamden, CT, to help them raise money to benefit their scholarship program.

A 7-day cruise sailing from New York on May 28, 2011, is scheduled.  It will be on the Norwegian Jewel and will visit 3 islands in the Bahamas. 

For every cabin booked on this cruise, a donation by the Cruise Outlet is being made to the New Haven Firebirds Scholarship fund.

The Cruise Outlet will also be providing some special gifts and events onboard exclusively for passengers who booked this cruise with them.

Rates are as low as $439.00 per person based upon double occupancy.  People interested in booking can contact the Firebirds at 203-641-0856 or call The Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884.

Royal Caribbean Offers Refunds to Brilliance Passengers

December 13, 2010    3:35 PM

Royal Caribbean International will refund cruise fares to passengers onboard Brilliance of the Seas, which listed during a severe storm Dec. 12 as it approached Alexandria, Egypt. The company is also giving them an onboard credit of $200 per stateroom and $400 per suite.

As the ship continues its voyage, Royal Caribbean continues to assess the incident. About 30 passengers were injured, mostly bumps and bruises, although two guests suffered fractures. The medical facility onboard is fully operational and caring for guests.

The company said the severe ship movement caused damage to some public areas and a loss of electricity in some staterooms. Aesthetic damages to the ship’s interior forced the closure of three public venues for the remainder of the sailing -- the beauty salon, video arcade and disco. “There has been no impact to the ship’s operating systems or engines, and the ship continues to be fully seaworthy,” the company said.

During the approach to Alexandria, the ship experienced extreme wind and sea conditions, including heavy seas and 70 knot winds, nearly double what had been forecasted.

Brilliance of the Seas did not call at Alexandria and instead proceeded to the next port of call, Valetta, Malta, where it will arrive at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The ship will conclude its sailing in Barcelona, Spain, on Dec. 17, as scheduled. Subsequent cruises will sail as scheduled and the ship will not require a dry dock, as repairs are under way.

“Royal Caribbean understands that this has been a frightening experience for our guests and crew, and our officers and crew onboard Brilliance of the Seas will make every effort to ensure that the remainder of the cruise is as enjoyable as possible,” the company said in a statement.

NCL Positions Two New Ships in Alaska, Bermuda for 2012-13

Announced December 08, 2010 

Norwegian Cruise Line is repositioning some of their ships which sail in Alaska and Bermuda in 2012-13.

For the first time, the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s Inside Passage, joining Norwegian Pearl, which is sailing to Glacier Bay from Seattle.  Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Star and cruise from Seattle on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. The cruises will depart on Saturdays from May 26, 2012, to Sept. 8, 2012, to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria. Norwegian Jewel will also sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 19, 2012, and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on Sept. 15, 2012.

Norwegian Pearl will operate seven-day Glacier Bay cruises departing on Sundays from May 13, 2012, to Sept. 9, 2012. The itinerary includes Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 6, 2012, and a Seattle-to-Vancouver cruise on Sept. 16, 2012.

In Bermuda, the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star will sail to Bermuda from in New York City on Sundays to Bermuda, staying for three full days for the 2012 season.  The 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will depart on Fridays from Boston with three days in Bermuda.

Pride of America will continue as the only U.S.-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawaii’s main islands. The seven-day cruises from Honolulu are available through April 7, 2013. Ports of call include an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; an evening sail by the Kilauea Volcano (weather permitting); Kona, Hawaii; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kauai; and an afternoon cruise off the Nãpali Coast.

The Cruise Outlet of Hamden, CT a certified Agency for Norwegian Cruise Line has begun to confirm passengers on these sailings.  Although many passengers feel they have plenty of time before bookings, according the The Cruise Outlet, passengers who they are booking now for the Bermuda and Alaska season of 2011 and 2012 will get the best possible rates and premier cabins and locations.  Almost every sailing for the 2011 and 2012 sailing carries with it on board credits of as much as $300.00 per booking.  This on board credit is “free’ money to spend on the cruise for almost anything. 

The Cruise outlet is available at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or 800-775-1884

Celebrity to Offer New AquaClass Suites, Expanded Lawn Club

December 08, 2010 9:45 PM

Celebrity Cruises is adding new features -- including spa-inspired suites and an expanded Lawn Club -- on its new Solstice-class ships due out in 2011 and 2012. Driven by high demand for Celebrity’s AquaClass category staterooms, Celebrity will introduce AquaClass Suites on Celebrity Reflection, with each offering 251 square feet of interior space and 57-square-foot verandas. The AquaClass Suites will include the amenities found in AquaClass staterooms, including exclusive and complimentary access to the specialty restaurant Blu. The new suites also will offer butler service.

In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will have an eight additional Sky Suites, 19 additional ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 more inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.

Both Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will present the 56-seat Lawn Club Grill, an outdoor grill venue. A new specialty dining option overlooking the lawn and sea, The Lawn Club Grill will have stainless steel grills and other appliances, custom pizza-making tables and large ovens. By day, the venue will present a casual lunch menu with high-end burgers, but also will offer demonstrations and classes focused on pizza-making, grilling secrets, marinades and more, led by Celebrity chefs, as well as guest chefs participating in the “Savor Your Destination” program. By night, guests can choose meats to either grill themselves, side-by-side with Celebrity’s chefs, or have grilled to order. A nominal surcharge will apply.

The Porch will be a Hamptons-style spot for simple complimentary breakfasts and lunches. The 48-seat venue will be located on the starboard side at the entrance to Lawn Club and will serve complimentary fresh pastries, salads, Paninis and other sandwiches, in addition to specialty coffees, beer and wine.

“The Art Studio,” located within the area of the Lawn Club, will let experienced and novice artists to get hands-on instruction from experts in drawing, painting and beading, as well as the art of food, with plating, tastings, mixology and other culinary-themed classes. The Art Studio also will present pairing dinners hosted by guest chefs participating in Celebrity’s Savor Your Destination program.

For a private retreat overlooking the lawn, ocean and coastlines, Celebrity also will present within The Lawn Club, The Alcoves, eight cabana-style settings, each designed for two to four guests. Each of The Alcoves on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will offer Wi-Fi, themed picnic baskets and an a la carte beverage menu. The Alcoves will be available as partial or all-day rentals. Adjacent to The Alcoves will be eight hammocks and two whimsical, oversized Adirondack chairs.

Michael’s Club -- a venue found on every Celebrity ship -- will add a selection of more than 50 beers, including craft beers, and will allow guests to participate in sessions focused on food and beer pairings, how to pour the perfect draft, or how to select the proper beer glass. Snacks will include gourmet potato chips, bread sticks and caramel popcorn, amid live music or sporting events airing on 46-inch TV screens.

The Cruise Outlet in Hamden, CT, is foremost in booking passengers on the Solstice class of ships with resident experts of Celebrity and these ships on staff to provide their clients with all the most knowledgeable information for this cruise experience.

Also, the Cruise Outlet is managing a program with American Express for clients who hold the Platnium Card to provide for additional benefits when booking with them for Celebrity.

The Value of the Travel/Cruise Agent

©NABA Cruise Consultants - July 2010

Neil Gorfain, CEO of NABA Cruise Consultants, Hamden, Connecticut, provides Cruise Line Senior Management with objective information of their product via live unannounced cruise visits.  He is regarded by most of the Cruise Executives as one of the most objective people in the industry and provides them with detailed information on much of the positive operations within the ship.

This is an excerpt of an article published in major consumer publications during 2008 and 2009.

You can reach Neil at Neil@thecruiseoutlet.com

Get the best value from your Cruise

You should rarely have to pay the published price shown in the brochure for your cruise. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. But the first thing a consumer needs to know is what are the “prices” published in the brochure and when was the brochure printed.

It is possible to get a really cheap price for a cruise and save lots of money.  YES, but what if you end up with a lousy cabin (like one under the kitchen, or next to the Disco), or on a dirty ship with terrible food? Would you consider that a "Good Deal"?

Smart cruisers want the best Value for their dollar.  Remember, each person going on a vacation or cruise is looking for something different.  So, price should be the last factor involved in your decision to cruise and on what ship.

Use a Travel/Cruise Agent

Here is a list of Questions every consumer should ask the person they are dealing with in regard to booking their cruise:

• What other products does the company sell?  The more things they sell, the less they will know about the cruises.
• How long has the company been in business?
• Does the company have an office and operate from a real location? (this is against many people who are selling cruises from their homes and bedrooms!!)
• How long has the person you are dealing with been in the business?
• Has this person you are dealing with cruised before?
• Has this person you are dealing with cruised on the cruise line and ship you are interested in? (This is very important in regard to the questions you may have)
• Are they certified and accredited by that cruise line?
• Are they accredited by the Cruise Association? This is in regard to further training and education they mayhave in regard to taking care of you and knowing the differences between the ships.
• Can you call and speak with the same person each and every time?  Are they on incentive (they will say anything to get your business) or salary?
• Do they have “preferred” agreements so they have to sell, promote and push certain cruise lines?

This may sound like a lot of work, but it is your money and we know we can save you hundreds of dollars for a great cruise with a little planning.

           

Bottom line - you are always better off using a Professional Cruise Agent to book your cruise!

Things to Consider When Planning a Cruise

©NABA Cruise Consultants - July 2010

Neil Gorfain, CEO of NABA Cruise Consultants, Hamden, Connecticut, provides Cruise Line Senior Management with objective information of their product via live unannounced cruise visits.  He is regarded by most of the Cruise Executives as one of the most objective people in the industry and provides them with detailed information on much of the positive operations within the ship.

This is an excerpt of an article published in major consumer publications during 2008 and 2009. You can reach Neil at Neil@thecruiseoutlet.com

ARE YOU TRAVELING ALONE?
If you are a single traveler, you should be aware that most Cruise Lines charge what is referred to as a "single supplement". Cruise Lines base their rates on two people staying in each cabin. If you are going to travel by yourself, they will charge you a supplement fee. Some cruise lines will charge as much as 200%, so you are basically paying for the other person. The single supplement rates will vary from one cruise line to another and from one sailing date to another. A good Cruise Professional can be an invaluable resource, especially if your travel dates are flexible.

CONSIDER A REPOSITIONING CRUISE
A "repositioning" cruise takes place when a ship is moved from one part of the world to another, generally on a seasonal basis. For example, many Cruise Lines will position ships in Alaska during the summer months when the days are longer. In September or October, they will move these ships back to the Caribbean. You can often find some very reasonable rates on these repositioning cruises.

CHOOSING THE TIME OF YEAR
If you have some flexibility as to when you are able to travel, it can make a big difference in your cruise fare. Holidays are always more expensive as is winter school break & spring break. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise, consider a fall time frame as kids are back in school.  Many people are concerned about Hurricanes in the Caribbean.  The actual Hurricane season is June 1 through Dec 1. Being a smart cruiser, you are not too concerned about hurricanes. The ships do not head into storms; they alter their route to avoid any bad weather.  So the worst case situation is that you will miss a certain port of call and the cruise will visit a different one or have an extra day at sea.  Programs, activities and shows all go on as usual.


SHIPBOARD CREDITS
Many Agencies, such as us, will offer shipboard credits and other amenities as a bonus on certain sailings. It is a promotion to get more bookings on certain sailings.  An onboard credit can be as much as $2000.00 on a particular cruise.  Ask us about these offers. Remember, on most cruises you pay for your drinks (sodas, cocktails, beer & wine), shore excursions/tours, spa treatments and gratuities. Having the shipboard credit helps to offset those expenses. Many amenities such as this are available if you book early enough.  Those that wait until the last minute because they think they will get a deal, lose!

BUY TRIP INSURANCE
An important part of getting a good deal is protecting your investment. An independent insurance company (one that just sells insurance) is far better that the insurance offered by the cruise lines. The difference in coverage is so vast; don’t look at the cost of the premium without considering the coverage and how it will be paid to you.  The Independent companies pay you the amount of the claim while many cruise line insurance coverage’s give you a credit for another cruise with limited terms and conditions.

A Letter to Our Clients

The following article was written by Richard Turen, contributing editor for the national magazine Travel Weekly. Richard Turen owns Churchill and Turen, Original article published September 6, 2010

We have added some information to assist you further which is specific to cruising and the Cruise Outlet.

Dear Client:

I hope and trust that you will book your next vacation with our firm. But we know there are alternatives out there, and we know you are receiving mailings and seeing ads that often urge you to book directly with a cruise line or online.

We enjoy an open and honest relationship with our clients. So I would like to share some straight talk with you about using toll-free numbers or websites to book your vacation directly with the provider.

The best-kept secret in the travel industry is that those who book direct are paying for something they are not receiving: the services of a professional travel consultant.

I realize you are being told that it is easy to book your cruise online. You can do it yourself. Just trust the supplier to take care of everything and have your credit card within easy reach.

Be thrilled that you live in a time when you can just click and travel. It's all so easy, isn't it? Turn over your credit card number and personal information to someone in a cubicle in a reservations factory or, better still, to outsourced labor working out of a call center overseas. Now your credit card information is in Bangladesh, and your vacation will be expertly planned and delivered.

So why use The Cruise Outlet.com and its services?

Well, the first thing you need to know (the industry's best-kept secret) is that you are going to pay my fee or commission when you book directly because it is always -- not sometimes, always -- built into the price of any brochure program. It's the way the industry prices.

Cruise Lines, (& even top-grade hotels), love direct bookings because a portion of the travel agent's commission that is built in to every program simply goes into their pockets. They believe that it costs them far less to maintain order-takers in a reservations center.

Most telephone res agents who work for cruise lines are commissioned salespeople with little knowledge of the industry. Their goal is simple: Try to get a direct booking, earn their smaller commission, and let the company pocket the rest of the total commission built into the fare.

So when you book something directly, you are making a sucker bet that the person on the other end of the line has your best interests at heart, will look out for further discounts and apply them to your record and will be there for you in an emergency.

Imagine what happens when you make a direct booking. Your credit card information is stored, and you receive a computer-generated invoice. That's it. You are now a travel statistic. The computer software that is now your "agent" will notify you when final payment is due, and you will receive final documents.

Of course, you will not receive any of the amenities available through our office, so you might actually be missing out on pricing incentives and advantages.

Let me state it as clearly as I can: With the exception of certain websites that run occasional online "sales," you will never receive preferred pricing on any online site.

If a cruise line did not give us pricing that was equal to or better than what they offer on their site, no reputable travel consultant would ever again sell their product. It just never happens. You can always count on the fact that our pricing will be as good or better than any tour or cruise prices you see on direct booking sites.

But frankly, I don't want you to book with us because it is always a better value than booking directly. There are other, more important reasons that have little to do with price.

There is not enough space to list all of the things we provide to our valued clients that are never provided when you book directly with a cruise line. But here are just a few to keep in mind:

We are going to compare what competitive companies offer. We are going to advise you on the very best product to meet your needs. We can point out the advantages and disadvantages of several options. Booking directly puts you in touch with a single-product sales person. That is all you get.

We can provide special documentation and advice about ports and sightseeing options and even hotels in that area.

One of the most important things we can do is analyze your travel insurance needs. If you book direct, you get no options, no discussion. You are offered only whatever the site happens to be selling. We offer options that often saves you money and provide better coverage.

Suppose something goes wrong? Suppose someone gets sick, and you need help getting home in a hurry? Suppose your vacation experience was unsatisfactory? Who is your advocate if you are dealing directly with the company operating the program? You have none.

Perhaps the most important single thing that we do is give you an honest, unbiased view of both the upside and downside of the vacation option you are considering. Book direct and you get none of that. Everything about the product will be painted in glowing terms. Everything will smell like a strawberry.

Finally, a personal note.
When I go to sleep at night, I am generally aware of where my clients are traveling and what current conditions they are likely to encounter. I am concerned about my clients. I think about their welfare, and I think about ways that I can enhance their cruise experience.

I am fairly certain that the direct booking tied up somewhere in a supplier's software booking program is incapable of showing a "booking statistic" much empathy.

We feel that “Our knowledge equals your best Cruise Experience”

Sincerely,

Neil Gorfain

CEO

PS:

I make sure that all of my staff including the receptionist have training on the different cruise products.  That all of them cruise at least annually to know more about the product.  The entire staff is required to be certified and accredited by each cruise line in the industry.  This is necessary in order to enhance your experience and be able to provide the correct and factual information.

Our website is not designed to have you book a cruise online, because we are a company that requires you to call our office and speak to a staff member in order to book.  Yes, a real live person who is going to ask questions, verify information and make suggestions.  Different?, Yes. Beneficial to you? YES!