Spike in River Cruising Popularity

River cruising continues to rise in popularity across both the United States and abroad, especially among travelers seeking more intimate experiences to more exotic locales. Despite the myth that river cruising is only for the retired set (and it is a myth), river cruising is emerging as a popular vacation for younger travelers who want to immerse themselves in the culture of a region while enjoying the creature comforts of home.

With a variety of innovations - from excursions to onboard amenities river cruising is a segment of the travel and tourism industry that can now offer something for everyone.  Here are our three reasons why a river cruise should be a must on every traveler's bucket list:

1. Exotic Destinations. Getting up close and personal with the wildlife of the Galapagos or taking in the charm of the Mississippi are all possible on todays' river cruises. AmaWaterways has added more interesting locations with cruises in Namibia, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is also even offering travelers a unique journey through Italy's Po River, beginning in 2013. These destinations open up access to places unreachable by large ships and create an intimate connection with the cities they visit.  The best part about river cruising is the views - most ships are 100% balcony staterooms, including those aboard Uniworld's Douro Spirit or Avalon's Victoria Jenna.

2. Experiential Cruises. River guests can enjoy trips tailored to their tastes with programs just for them. Food and wine aficionados should consider the `Culinary Delights' itinerary from AmaWaterways. Once aboard, guests can work with a local chef to plan menus for their entire voyage, shop in local markets for ingredients and prepare their own meals! Guests seeking more adventure can sign-up for bike tours that let you travel alongside the ship from port to port, taking in the scenery as you go. Tech-savvy travelers who need to stay connected will now have access to onboard Wi-Fi and those looking to stay fit will love the fact that most river vessels now have onboard gyms.

3. More Choices. As river cruising demand continues to boom, more ships and destinations are being added for cruisers to experience. Avalon and Viking, for example, are both expecting significant capacity increases in their fleets for the 2013 season. Viking will add six new longships in 2013 and Avalon will introduce two additional ships. Cruisers are also finding more choices while aboard from customized dining experiences on and off the ship, to specialized excursions.

River cruising continues to highlight the destinations it serves by immersing cruisers in the culture. Whether it is because of the out-of-the-box destinations, local flair or intimate venues, more travelers are opting for river cruises to truly escape. As innovation shapes the industry and more people see the value in river cruising, finding the right ship - and itinerary - can be tricky. A professional travel agent can step in and help navigate the options, offering the right choice for your personality, interests and budget.

For more information, click on the following image / link.

Hurricane Emilia in East Pacific

Major Hurricane Emilia

NHC issuing advisories on Hurricane DANIEL and Hurricane EMILIA

200 PM PDT SAT JUL 14 2012

...EMILIA MAINTINING 50 MPH INTENSITY...EXPECTED TO WEAKEN ON
SUNDAY...

There are currently two hurricanes being tracked by the NHC in the East Pacific, with the potential of a third storm further East.  Both of these storms are heading West away from Mexico and are not posing an immediate threat to land.

Hurricane Emilia has reached Major Hurricane (Category Three) status but is now slowly weakening.

East Pacific Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

SSUMMARY OF 200 PM PDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...15.5N 132.9W
ABOUT 1585 MI...2550 KM WSW OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND EMILIA
COULD BECOME A POST-TROPICAL REMNANT LOW BY LATE SUNDAY OR MONDAY.

CRUISE ITINERARY IMPACT
NONE.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

NONE.

Historical Data:   Graphics    Archive    
800 PM PDT MON JUL 09 2012
...EMILIA STRENGTHENS TO A MAJOR HURRICANE...
200 AM PDT MON JUL 09 2012
...EMILIA STRENGTHENS INTO A HURRICANE...NO THREAT TO LAND...
800 PM PDT SAT JUL 07 2012
...FIFTH TROPICAL STORM OF THE SEASON FORMS SOUTH OF MEXICO... 
...FORECAST TO REMAIN OVER WATER... 
200 PM PDT SAT JUL 07 2012
...ANOTHER TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS WELL SOUTH OF MEXICO...

Daniel Becomes Third Hurricane in East Pacific

200 PM PDT TUE JUL 10 2012
 
...DANIEL WEAKENS A LITTLE MORE...

HURRICANE  DANIEL

A tropical depression formed in the Eastern Pacific on July 4th, grew into Tropical Storm Daniel on Thursday and Hurricane Daniel on Friday.   It is heading west with no immediate thread to land.   It is headed towards the Hawaiian Islands, however, so we will continue to monitor the storm.

East Pacific Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

SUMMARY OF 200 PM PDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...15.3N 136.6W
ABOUT 1255 MI...2020 KM E OF HILO HAWAII
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB...29.53 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

CRUISE ITINERARY IMPACT

NONE.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH...85
KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  FURTHER WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE
NEXT FEW DAYS...AND DANIEL COULD BECOME A POST-TROPICAL REMNANT LOW
BY THURSDAY.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

NONE.
  

Historical Data          Storm Archive          Graphics        

800 PM PDT FRI JUL 06 2012
..DANIEL BECOMES THE THIRD HURRICANE OF THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC
SEASON... 

800 AM PDT THU JUL 05 2012

...DEPRESSION BECOMES A TROPICAL STORM OVER THE OPEN WATERS 
OF THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC...

200 AM PDT WED JUL 04 2012
...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS...NO THREAT TO LAND...
 

Concordia Captain Freed from House Arrest

Captain Francesco Schettino, Captain of the Costa Concordia when it ran aground off the coast of Giglio, Italy, was released from house arrest by Italian judges on Thursday.  He no longer has to remain confined to his home in Meta di Sorrento near Naples but must remain in the town.

Schettino is accused of multiple counts of manslaughter, causing the accident, and abandoning ship prematurely. 

He would also no longer be bound by the strict conditions of house arrest, which prevented him from communicating with anyone apart from his lawyer and close family. The judges' ruling said that the period Schettino had spent under house arrest had already had a deterrent effect and he would remain under adequate supervision by authorities.

Related:
Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

Thoughts on Independence Day 2012

Signers of the Declaration of Independence

The first, largest, and most famous signature is that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress.

The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26). Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest. Two future presidents signed: John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President).

Mount Rushmore National Memorial South Dakota

Not all of our trips are cruises.  There is plenty to see in this great country, especially if you are willing to spend some time in a car or other motor vehicle.

We headed out west towards Montana, and stopped overnight in South Dakota so that we'd be able to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the morning. As you can see from the pictures below, we couldn't have asked for a better day - the blue skies offset the monument beautifully.

The day before, the people weren't as fortunate as the mountain was socked in by fog and rain for most of the day.   This was Memorial Day weekend, and there were some veterans on hand raising funds for their fellow comrades.

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States. Sculpted by Danish-American Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents (in order from left to right) George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres (5.17 km2) and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.  The tallest mountain in the region is Harney Peak (7,242 feet or 2,207 metres).

The entrance to the National Memorial is lined by the 50 state flags.  The inscription on the base lists the state name along with the order and year that it became a state.


Take some time to explore this great country.   We'd be happy to help you plan a road trip or, if you don't want to drive yourself, there are tour companies that will do the driving for you.   What amazes us is that the early settlers didn't have GPS or maps, but yet they headed west to forge a new nation and we owe it to them to tour the country.  Bring history alive for your school-aged children.

Two New Safety Policies Announced

GLOBAL CRUISE INDUSTRY ANNOUNCES TWO NEW SAFETY POLICIES Latest Safety Measures Reflect Ongoing Commitment to Continuous Improvement

On behalf of the global cruise industry, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the European Cruise Council (ECC) announced that the cruise industry has adopted two new safety policies. These new policies were adopted in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster in January of this year.

The policies address issues related to the recording of passenger nationality and the common elements of musters and emergency instructions, result from the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review launched in January 2012.

Passenger Nationality

The Nationality of Passengers policy was developed in response to the request of governments at the May meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee meeting.  This policy prescribes that the nationality of each passenger onboard is to be recorded and made readily available to search and rescue personnel as appropriate.

Muster Drill 

The 12 common elements mandated by the Common Elements of Musters and Emergency Instructions policy are:

• When and how to don a lifejacket
  
• Description of emergency signals and appropriate responses in the event of an emergency
  
• Location of lifejackets
  
• Where to muster when the emergency signal is sounded
  
• Method of accounting for passenger attendance at musters both for training and in the event of an actual emergency
  
• How information will be provided in an emergency
  
• What to expect if the Captain orders an evacuation of the ship
  
• What additional safety information is available
  
• Instructions on whether passengers should return to cabins prior to mustering, including specifics regarding medication, clothing and lifejackets
  
• Description of key safety systems and features
  
• Emergency routing systems and recognizing emergency exits
  
• Who to seek out for additional information

References for Further Reading:

A full version of the Nationality of Passengers policy 

The Common Elements of Musters and Emergency Instructions policy 

All CLIA policies

 Blog Posts:

Cruise Industry Safety Standards Changes

Cruise Industry Adopts New Muster Policy

Carnival Corp Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns 

Top 5 Packing Tips for the Perfect Summer Escape

As airline baggage fees continue to rise with no end in sight, creative packing strategies have become the budget-savvy traveler's best friend. With airlines charging upwards of $75 dollars for a second bag and some even charging for the first, packing lightly is now a must.

As a local Cruises Inc. independent vacation specialist, we frequently consult with our clients on the best way to pack for their travels. The Top 5 tips to save space and money include:

1. Make a list. Before packing anything, create a list with each day of your vacation and what you will need. Having a list saves time, creates less hassle and even more excitement about your upcoming trip. Plus, having a list can save you from realizing you've included ten pairs of underwear for your 3-night cruise!

2. Always pack full outfits. It is easy to throw items randomly into a suitcase that you `might need, but it is more efficient to include outfits for your respective days on the road or at sea. Remember your accessories, shoes, hats and more.

3. Keep it simple! If your vacation includes sun and sand, don't over pack sweaters and pants. Most likely, you will end up in a bathing suit and flip flops with a suitcase of heavy (and costly - remember the airline fees!) clothes you never use.

4. Don't overdo toiletries. Sure, you may love your uber-concentrated overnight moisturizer, but if it's not a must, leave it at home. Packing only the essentials will save space. And remember, most resorts and cruise ships today offer blow dryers and complimentary amenities (even some created just for them by your favorite cosmetic companies). Don't forget airport security policies limit your carry-on liquids (this includes lotions, creams and sprays) to 3.4 oz. If you don't want it confiscated, don't bring it.

5. Finally, don't stress. Preparing for a trip can be overwhelming, needing to pack for your entire family, cleaning the house, remembering your important documents, finding a pet-sitter and more. The ultimate goal is to relax and unwind with your kids, significant other and friends. If you're organized about your packing, you can save time and money.

Travel agents are trained experts in every aspect of travel - from packing to specific airline or cruise line rules/regulations and more - so don't feel like you're alone in the vacation planning process. For help with your next trip, Contact Us.