Memorial Day 2021

Recently there has been a movement in our country to erase history by removing statues and censoring what is revealed about the past. Today, however, we look back at history and remember those brave men and women who fought for our freedom, and made our country what it is today. As the famous song by Billy Ray Cyrus says, “All gave some … some gave all”. Let us not forget them or erase their memory.

History of Memorial Day: Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. May 30th was chosen for Decoration Day because it was believed that flowers would be in bloom all across the country.

On Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset, in honor of the nation’s battle heroes. In the early days of our country, no regulations existed for flying the flag at half-staff and, as a result, there were many conflicting policies. But on March 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation on the proper times.

You will notice in the collage above, that the flag is flying at half-staff. Those pictures were taken during our visit to the American Cemetery in Normandy, France. It was very moving seeing row after row of graves. For more pictures from our visit to Normandy, see my previous posts on the topic and also our cruise vacations website.

I've mentioned several times in the past about the opportunity to relive history while on a cruise vacation. This is especially true in Europe due to the large battle field from the World Wars. Whether your cruise vacation takes you to Normandy, France or Honolulu, Hawaii, please take some time to visit a historical site and pay your respects to the troops that fought to keep America strong. We have done so on several cruises and of all the trips we've taken, those tend to stand out in my mind. Don't forget to bring you children with you so that they too can learn about war first hand.

As Albert Schweitzer said "... Wargraves are the great communicators of peace ..." Perhaps another more striking quote was by George Santayanan who said "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

And who can forget those immortal words of President John F. Kennedy: "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. "

To the brave men and women, living and deceased, who have taken President Kennedy's charge to heart, Thank You for your Service. May we never forget the sacrifices you have made.

To those men and women who didn't pay the ultimate sacrifice, cruise lines would like to thank you on this Memorial Day and throughout the year.   Following are just a couple examples of cruise lines that provide discounts to current military and veterans and their families.   Ask us how you can take advantage of these special rates.

Royal Caribbean Offers

Princess Cruises Offers

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

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Grateful on National Travel Advisor Day

Today is National Travel Advisor Day and we are proud to be part of this incredible industry! 

A special thank you to all our loyal customers for entrusting us to plan their memorable vacations! Now is the time to plan and book your next vacation!  

Expressing My Gratitude

As a small business owner, we are grateful that we've been able to "weather the storm" during this pandemic and continue providing a service to our guests.   

As we look around our village and surrounding area, we see other small businesses that weren't as fortunate.   Many will never return.

Many of you had trips booked last year and had those plans put on hold.   You've taken Future Cruise Credits, or expressed your intentions to rebook when travel resumes, allowing me to continue providing you with my expert advice to plan your memorable trip.  Our trips too, including our National Conference, have been rescheduled.

We have fantastic travel partners that we work with that have also stood by us during the pandemic and provided us with timely updates and tools so that we could properly guide you in your planning.

Just today, we attended the 55th webinar with Royal Caribbean, who also expressed their gratitude for our loyalty, and expressed the reasons why they see the Travel Advisors as a critical component to their successfully resuming operations.   

Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have announced resumption of operations starting in June and July with some sailings hopefully beginning out of U.S. ports by July.  

Keeping passengers, crew, and destinations safe is critical to the resumption and continuing operations.   

As your Travel Advisor, we will have the answers, or be able to get them for you, that will allow you to book a vacation with confidence.  This is not the time you want to be going it alone.  Besides, we'll have access to special deals not available to the general public.

Other cruise lines are also making announcements as they work out details with the CDC.  Our job is to stay on top of all these changes, and provide you with details about requirements and documents for the cruise lines as well as the destinations visited.   These requirements are very fluid, requiring that we constantly monitor the situation.

Our Ask to You

We were there for our clients when the pandemic shut the world down.  We are very optimistic that the travel industry recovery has begun.  At the same time, health and safety of our guests remains our number one priority, and if we wouldn't feel safe ourselves, we will tell you.

Our services are provided to you free of charge - our travel partners pay us a commission when you travel.  So we have a favor to ask of you...

Please consult with us when your thoughts turn to resuming travel.   We can help with cruises, land trips, resort stays, etc.   We'll help you find the perfect vacation for your current situation, explain all the necessary steps before, during, and after your trip, and answer all questions you may have.

Also, when you hear friends, family, and co-workers considering a trip - please share our contact information with them, and encourage them to use a travel advisor.   Finally, we will recommend travel insurance be taken on any trip, so include that in your budgets.  Some destinations will require their own insurance as well, which we will advise you on as needed.

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

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Where is Chris - Day of the Seafarer

Theme for 2020

Seafarers are Key Workers

Seafarers are on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing an essential role in maintaining the flow of vital goods, such as food, medicines and medical supplies. However, the crisis has led to difficult working conditions for seafarers, including uncertainties and difficulties about port access, re-supply, crew changeovers and repatriation.

The year International Maritime Organization (IMO) Day of the Seafarer campaign calls on Member States to recognize seafarers as key workers – and to provide them with the support, assistance and travel options open to all key workers during the pandemic.


June 25th, Day of the Seafarer, is a day set aside to pay tribute to seafarers, acknowledging their sacrifice and the issues they face. Many seafarers have been away from home for months and are unsure when they will be able to return home due to travel restrictions.

Where is Chris    Learn More

The campaign also seeks to raise awareness of the work achieved by seafarers in response to the pandemic and to thank them for their contribution. Everyone is invited to recognize that the ability of seafarers to deliver vital goods is central to responding to, and eventually overcoming, this pandemic.

Cruise lines and shipping companies have responsibilities to seafarers in their employ. The public too has a responsibility to have a positive impact on seafarers as well.

I had the opportunity to visit Seafarers' House.  Where is Chris?  Bonus:  Guess which port is pictured above.

Welcoming Mariners

of all Faiths

“To Offer Refuge, Resources, Renewal and Respect to the Maritime Community Through Multi-Faith Service.” 

- Mission of Seafarers’ House

http://www.seafarershouse.org/




Cruising for more than 30 years, we've met many seafarers. When we recall special moments from those cruises, there is usually one or more of them at the heart of the memory. No matter how they are feeling, how tired they might be, how sad or lonely they might be, they put their best personality forward, and do everything they can to make sure our adventure at sea lives up to our expectations.

If you've ever encountered a crew member who didn't live up to those expectations, odds are there is a passenger at the heart of their story. Think about that on your next cruise.

They are miles from home, family, friends, and other loved ones. I've never done it, but imagine it is a hard life. It can be very rewarding I'm sure, when they see a smile or some kind gesture in return from passengers or fellow seafarers.

On behalf of everyone that loves cruising like we do, thank you seafarers for all you do. Take care of your careers - take advantage of the tools that IMO is providing for you so that you can put a smile on your face when we meet again.

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