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Oceania Cruise Lines: #PickoftheWeek

5/5/2015

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My #PickoftheWeek is Oceania Cruise Line.  

I love working with Oceania because I never need worry about the quality and service my clients will be receiving.  Oceania is a premium cruise line whose tag line is Your World Your Way.  They really focus their cruises on the destinations and it is not unusual to find an itinerary which has 1 or 2 overnights in selected ports so you have more quality time to explore the regions you are cruising to.  If you have sailed with Holland America, Princess or Celebrity in the past, Oceania would be a great choice for your next cruise as an introduction to the world of premium cruising.

The ships of Oceania are the Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena, Marina and Riviera.  They are all comfortably mid-size and range from 684-1250 passengers.  The guest to staff ratio is 1.71 to 1.  This means you are NOT just a number as is the case with the larger cruise ships that are now the normal in cruising.   Larger ships simply cannot provide the pronounced intimacy, coziness and many other advantages of Oceania Cruises. I have been hearing feedback from many of my clients who have recently sailed on some of the mass-market ships that the service and quality of food has declined in the last 1-2 years.  With Oceania, you can relax on board their luxurious ships and savor exquisite cuisine that not only is renowned as the finest at sea, but also rivals the best restaurants ashore. Inspired by Master Chef Jacques Pépin, these culinary delights have always been a hallmark that distinguishes the Oceania Cruises experience from any other. Considering the uncompromising quality, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of an Oceania Cruises voyage is its incredible value. Lavish complimentary amenities abound, and there are never supplemental charges in any of the onboard restaurants. Value packages ensure that sipping a glass of vintage wine, surfing the Internet or enjoying a shore excursion is both convenient and affordable.  NO dreaded formal nights!  They just recommend country club casual clothing for dinner.

IDEALLY MID-SIZE
  • Mid-size ships catering to just 684 or 1,250 guests
  • Visit boutique ports and seaside villages that large ships cannot access
  • Never a crowd and no waiting in lines; experience your vacation according to your own schedule
  • With open-seating in all our restaurants, dine where, when and with whom you please, at your own pace
  • Cuisine never prepared en masse; every single dish created à la minute just for you
  • Staff and crew attend to your every whim and remember your individual preferences

Find links here for an awesome FINAL SALE deal or FREE SAFARI deal that Oceania is running right now on select sailings which can include, buy one get 1, free pre-paid gratuities, free unlimited internet, onboard credits and FREE AIR.   The space is very limited on these sailings for these specials and they need to be booked by June 30, 2015.

Here a couple of sailings from I recommend from the “Final Sale” promotion:

MEDITERRANEAN MOSAIC
  • Athens to Barcelona
  • Riviera | Oct 5, 2015 | 8 days
  • Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Taormina (Sicily), Italy; Sorrento/Capri, Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno), Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Provence (Marseille), France; Barcelona, Spain
  • Free Pre-Paid Gratuities
  • Free Unlimited Internet
  • $200 Shipboard Credit per stateroom
  • $2,699 per person
 
SCENIC COVES
  • Barcelona to Monte Carlo
  • Riviera | Aug 5, 2015 | 7 days
  • Barcelona, Spain; Palamos, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; Saint-Tropez, France;     Florence/Pisa/Tuscany (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Cinque Terre (La Spezia),Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco
  • Free Pre-Paid Gratuities
  • Free Unlimited Internet
  • $200 Shipboard Credit per stateroom
  • $2,599 per person

BALTIC MARVELS
  • Copenhagen to Stockholm
  • Marina | Aug 14, 2015 | 7 days
  • Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg,Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden
  • Free Pre-Paid Gratuities
  • Free Unlimited Internet
  • $300 Shipboard Credit per stateroom
  • $99 Premium Air Upgrade 4
  • $2,499 Per person

 
It’s time for you to sail with Oceania and find out why they are the BEST VALUE IN UPSCALE CRUISING

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Disney - Why I Love It

4/28/2015

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It is often referred to as the most magical place on earth which is why Disney is my #PICKoftheWEEK.

I LOVE DISNEY.   There is something for everyone of all ages.  Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971 and it has been enchanting visitors ever since.  

Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American entrepreneur, cartoonist, animator, voice actor, and film producer.  When Walt lost rights to his cartoon character “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit”, Disney felt the need to develop a new character to replace him, which was based on a mouse he had adopted as a pet while working in his Laugh-O-Gram studio in Kansas City.  In 1928, Mickey Mouse was born.   Ub Iwerks provided the sketches for Mickey but Mickey's voice and personality were provided by Disney himself until 1947. In the words of one Disney employee, Ub designed Mickey's physical appearance, but Walt gave him his soul.  Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, before construction began on Walt Disney World.  According to Forbes, Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an attendance of 25 million annually.

The original ticket prices were $5.75 per adult and parking was 50 cents per automobile.  The 2 original hotels in Walt Disney World were the Contemporary and the Polynesian and both are still open today.  In fact both resorts have expanded with the new Bay Lake Towers Villa section at the Contemporary and the new Polynesian Village section at the Polynesian which will feature over the water bungalows.  The top 6 original rides that are still operating today are:  The Enchanted Tiki Room, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s A Small World, The Jungle Cruise, Hall of Presidents and The Haunted Mansion.  


Disney is always evolving and creating new “magic”.  The newest ride addition is the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train which opened on May 28, 2014 and there are always rumors of new lands/expansions.  Disney is also still testing the new magicbands everyone receives when booking a Disney Vacation.  You even get to choose the color of your bands.  These bands will store all your pre-booked fast passes, dining reservations, etc.  

There is so much that Disney offers from kids pirate adventures to mini-golf to a campfire with Chip and Dale where you eat s’mores, sing songs and then see an outdoor Disney movie to renting a pontoon boat and watching the Epcot Illuminations Fireworks/Laser show from the lake to trading pins with Disney Cast Members to seeing the Osborne Christmas lights at Epcot in December.  There truly is something for everyone.    How to describe Walt Disney World:

    4 Theme Parks, 2 Water Parks, Shopping, Dining, 20+Themed Resorts, Recreation, Pixie Dust

Here are some of my top picks for rides, hotels and dining while at Walt Disney World:

Rides:  Some of my personal favorite rides that I never miss are:  Toy Story Mania and the Aerosmith Rock n Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios, Mickey’s Philharmagic and Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom, Test Track and Soaring in Epcot and Adventure Everest and the Lion King Show in Animal Kingdom.   A trip to Disney would not be complete without seeing the Electrical Parade and Fireworks in Magic Kingdom.

Hotels:  Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Polynesian or Art of Animation

Restaurants:  O’Hana at the Polynesian, Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Donald’s Safari Breakfast in Animal Kingdom, Princess Storybook Breakfast in Epcot, Whispering Canyon (for kids) at Wilderness Lodge,  Hoop Dee Doo Dinner Show at Fort Wilderness, Narcoosee’s at the Grand Floridian, Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club and Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at the Beach Club

I also love traveling in September/October when the parks are not as crowded and Disney’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is going on.  This event requires separate admission but is a lot of fun with trick or treat stations and a special parade with fireworks led by the headless horseman and featuring some of our favorite Disney Villains.
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Why I Love Our Women's Weekend Groups...

3/23/2015

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Travel Haus Women’s Weekend Copenhagen Trip – Oct. 13-18, 2015

Get all the details here...

Space is VERY limited.  We are almost Sold Out!

I look forward to this trip every year.  Copenhagen will be our 9th year.   The women who participate in these trips are phenomenal!  It is what makes the trips as fun as they are.  We normally have a core group of ladies that go every year and then the rest of the group Is made up of new women to this group and women that may have done one or more of our womens trips throughout the year.  I look forward to seeing “our regulars” every fall on this trip.  It makes it a highlight for me. 

I believe this trip offers options for everyone.   You can be as independent as you choose.  We try to provide a few group activities with the balance of the time to be yours to do as you wish (shopping, exploring and sightseeing, relaxing with a glass of wine, etc.).  If you do not want to go off on your own, we always offer Travel Haus optional tours you can choose to sign up for or  the Travel Haus escorts welcome anyone who want to stay with them.

Since we try to use smaller hotels,  you are always bumping into someone from the group.   Usually you can find some from our group down in the bar each night (whether they drink or not) just socializing, talking about what we did that day, past/future travel experiences and just sharing some laughs.  It is a great way to make some new friends!

I have heard from others who have never joined us, that it is too far to go for such a short time but I disagree with that.  It is a great break in the middle of the fall and once we get there everyone makes the most of their time.  I believe we see more in the 4 nights we are there than people who actually stay a full week.   For those who absolutely need more time, we can always extend your stay or help you arrange a stop in another European city before flying home.

Experience one of these whirlwind weekends and these great ladies and you will get hooked!  


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    I have been working in the travel industry for over 20 years.  I currently manage the groups department for Travel Haus as well as the office manager duties.

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  • Home
  • Groups
    • Vietnam & Cambodia 2023 with Suzi Berry
    • Gardens of the Cotswolds June 2023
    • Ireland 2023 with Generations
    • Iceland 2023 with Suzi Berry
    • Belfast Women's Group Nov 2023
    • 2024 River Cruise with Suzi Berry and Frog's Tooth Winery
    • Stine Cruise June 2024
    • Bermuda Cruise 2023
    • Athens Women's Group Nov 2022 >
      • Women's Weekend Blog
      • Athens TH Exclusive Excursions
      • 2022 Athens Public Tours
    • Photo Gallery
  • Disney
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Cruise Line
    • Adventures by Disney
    • Disney Dining >
      • Restaurant Menus
      • Restaurant Reviews >
        • Restaurant Review Form
  • Weddings
    • Destination Weddings
    • Bridal Registry >
      • How It Works
      • Example Registry
  • About Us
    • Hours
    • Our Specialists
    • Trip Evaluation Survey
    • Travel Haus Reviews
    • Travel Haus Terms and Conditions
  • BROCHURE FINDER
  • Excursions
  • Helpful Links
  • Search
    • Cruises
    • Vacations
    • Hotels & Resorts
    • Car Rentals
  • Resorts
    • Sandals Resorts
    • Couples Resorts
    • Karisma Hotels & Resorts
    • UNICO 20°87°
  • Ensemble Features
    • Hotel & Resort E-Book
    • Experience Travel E-zine
    • Ensemble Promotions
  • Request a Quote
  • Book a Globus Vacation
  • Book an Avalon Waterways Cruise
  • Book a Monograms Tour
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • Event Registration