Fabulous Luxury Offers

I've been saying that this year is the time to try out Luxury cruising, and the below offers certainly support that. Many cruisers have the perception that "luxury" brands are too expensive, but when all the inclusions, such as alcohol, gratuities, bottled water, sodas, specialty coffees and the like are factored in, there's often not as much difference as you might expect. And this year, they are especially kind to the budget.

First up is my favorite ship in the world, the Paul Gauguin sailing in French Polynesia (Tahiti). Book by September 30, and enjoy 2-for-1 cruise fares and free or 2-for-1 airfare! The opportunity to cruise the South Pacific aboard the deluxe m/s Paul Gauguin has never been better!

Featuring the vibrant culture and natural wonders of Tahiti, the Society Islands and Tuamotus, this multi-award-winning ship will embark on just sixteen 7-night sailings and just six 10-night voyages in 2010, on dream itineraries designed to bring you closer than ever before to some of the world's most exotic locales - and at a value unheard of for such paradise:

• 2-for-1 Savings on January - March 2010 sailings when booked by September 30, 2009
• 2-for-1 roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles — an additional value of up to $1,250 per couple — when booked by September 30, 2009
• Early Booking Savings of up to 45% on April - June 2010 sailings

7-night sailings highlighting Tahiti and the Society Islands start from $2,748 per person, including 2-for-1 roundtrip Air savings between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti when booked by September 30, 2009, while the 10-night itineraries highlight the Tuamotus and Society Islands and start from $3,648, including Free Roundtrip Air between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti when booked by September 30, 2009.

This ship is the perfect fit for French Polynesia. From their private motu (island) where you can be served lunch and an "adult beverage" while luxuriating in a lounger in the warm, clear lagoon waters, to snorkeling or diving with brightly-colored tropical fish, exploring the beauty and culture of these magnificent islands, or simply reveling in the hospitality of these charming people, this is an unforgettable cruise...at unheard-of prices!

French Polynesia not piquing your interest? Then check out the 1-week sale from the Yachts of Seabourn! Ultra-luxurious yacht-style cruising can be yours at extremely attractive fares if your book this week.

Book one of the below cruises aboard The Yachts of Seabourn with extraordinary savings of up to 65%. You will sail aboard an intimate yacht and enjoy all-suite accommodations, personalized service and an atmosphere of sophisticated ease. With special fares from just $1,349, don't miss this exceptional value. It's the perfect opportunity for you to experience the winner of the World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line. But hurry, the sale begins today, Monday, July 13 and lasts just one week.

• Caribbean Getaway • Seabourn Spirit
  DEC 16, 2009 • 5 days Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $1,349
• Atlantic Sunsets • Seabourn Spirit
  NOV 15, 2009 • 12 days Lisbon, Portugal to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $2,765
• Belize, Panama & Costa Rica • Seabourn Legend
  NOV 23, 2009 • 14 days Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
  Special Fares from $3,599
• Caribbean Tapestry • Seabourn Odyssey
  NOV 28, 2009 • 12 days Round-trip Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $3,999
• Costa Rica, Panama & Belize • Seabourn Legend
  DEC 7, 2009 • 14 days Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $3,599
• Asian Capitals & Vietnam • Seabourn Pride
  FEB 13 or MAR 13, 2010 • 14 days Singapore to Hong Kong, China
  Special Fares from $4,999
• Asian Capitals & Vietnam II • Seabourn Pride
  FEB 27, 2010 • 14 days Hong Kong, China to Singapore
  Special Fares from $5,249
• Caribbean Gems • Seabourn Legend
  MAR 20, 2010 • 5 days Round-trip Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
  Special Fares from $1,499
• Caribbean Gems • Seabourn Legend
  MAR 25, 2010 • 7 days Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Special Fares from $1,999

If you've longed to check out a luxury line, this is the time! Whether you choose the Paul Gauguin, or luxuriate on Seabourn, you will have an amazing, pampering experience at sea.

Seabourn Sale

While I don't often highlight Luxury lines' sales, that's not because I'm unaware of them or feel they're unimportant - I just usually send those specials out directly to my clients who have expressed an interest in those lines. By the way, that "LCS" after my name indicates a Luxury Cruise Specialist designation from CLIA, the main cruise specialist certification agency.

Sometimes, however, a deal comes around from the luxury sector which I think needs highlighting more generally, and this definitely qualifies!

Seabourn has announced a sale for this week only with savings up to 60%! Voted the best small ship cruise line by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, this line truly knows what luxury is all about. The intimate all-suite Yachts of Seabourn have unique itineraries, capitalizing on their small ship size to access ports not available to other lines, even other luxury ships.

Here are the sailings which offer the special pricing:

• Legend, June 20, 2009, Monte Carlo to Barcelona, 7-days - Lead price = $2840
• Legend, July 11, 2009, Rome to Monte Carlo, 7-days - Lead price = $2840
• Spirit, June 202009, Venice to Rome, 7-days - Lead price = $2840
• Spirit, July 11,2009, Venice to Rome, 7-days - Lead price = $2840
• Spirit, Aug 1, 2009, Venice to Rome, 7-days - Lead price = $2840
• Pride, Apr 14, 2009, Athens to Lisbon, 14-days - Lead price = $4416
• Pride, Aug 20,2009, Copenhagen to Copenhagen, 9-days - Lead price = $3600

If you have questions about Seabourn, or want to take advantage of these amazing prices, call or email me!

Carnival Brands Eliminate Fuel Supplement!

In the best news yet in the ongoing saga of fuel supplements, Carnival Corporation announced today that they will be suspending (eliminating) fuel supplements for all of their North American brands (Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn) starting with sailings departing on or after December 17, 2008. No complicated formula of watching the West Texas Intermediate Crude for 20 consecutive days beginning 25 days prior to sailing, not even the quarterly formula of the other major brands. It's just gone, vamoosed, outta here!

For those who have already paid their final payment and are sailing on or after December 17, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of onboard credit on your cruise (do be sure to check your account to verify it shows up). For those who have not yet paid final payment, the amount will be removed from your booking.

From the Carnival press release:

“As the price of oil has dropped to $46 per barrel, it has now reached a level where we are able to suspend the fuel supplement,” said Bill Harber, director of marketing for Carnival Corporation & plc. Harber cautioned that the fuel supplement could be re-instated if oil prices increase
significantly.

The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9
per person per day (except Seabourn, which would be up to $15 per person per day) should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70 per barrel.

“It is our hope that fuel prices have stabilized and will remain at a more rational level. The complete suspension of the fuel supplement makes the inherent value of a cruise even greater and that is increasingly important in the selection of a vacation in the current economic climate,” Harber added.

The next logical question is if other brands will follow suit Of course, Disney has already suspended their fuel supplements, which may have precipitated this announcement by Carnival. I think it's possible other brands will make similar announcements, though their quarterly assessment of fuel prices is a much more sensible formula than what the Carnival brands had set up, and I'm not sure that the Royal Caribbean International brands, at least, will do so.

At least we have this for now, and it's great news!

Carnival Reveals Fuel Supplement Reduction/Removal Plan

Carnival has revealed their plans for removing and/or incorporating fuel supplements in the future, setting out specific guidelines for refunding of existing supplements, and incorporating future supplements into fares. Because the plan is pretty complicated, I'm going to put the release to the industry here in its entirety for your reading pleasure:

Over the past few months as fuel prices have declined, we have had many questions about our fuel supplement. While fuel prices today remain very volatile, we have given this careful consideration and I am pleased to update you on some new and important information regarding the fuel supplement for Carnival Corporation & plc brands.

Six of our brands, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn have announced that effective October 31, 2008, the existing fuel supplement will be eliminated for all new bookings on 2010 departures. At the same time, a price increase on 2010 sailings will become effective.

Additionally, the company has established specific guidelines under which the current fuel supplement may be reimbursed to consumers for 2008 and 2009 voyages. For 2008 and 2009 departures, if the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) is $70 per barrel or less at the 2:30 p.m. close of business as reported by Reuters on each of the 25 consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the guest’s
cruise departure date, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit.
Guests who book a 2010 cruise prior to Oct. 31, 2008, will still be charged the current fuel supplement but will also be eligible for a refund of the fuel supplement in accordance with the same fuel price conditions that are being implemented for current 2008 and 2009 departures.

We are implementing these initiatives due to recent trends in declining fuel prices in an effort to migrate away from charging a separate fuel supplement. If fuel prices stabilize below $70 a barrel, we will be able to effectively eliminate the fuel supplement. However, there is still a risk that fuel prices could move higher which would require us to maintain or reinstate a fuel supplement but we are hopeful that the goal of eliminating the fuel supplement can be achieved.

What does this really mean? Don't even think of looking for a rebate on cruises already booked unless, just before your sailing, crude pricing is below $70/barrel for the month prior to your cruise. And if that happens, be pro-active on your cruise to ensure you get the promised onboard credit. So if fuel drops to $70 a barrel or less for 25 days in December, 2008, but your cruise isn't until May, 2009, your fuel supplement will remain on your booking. However, if the fuel supplement is $70 or less for 25 consecutive days in April, start paying close attention for your May sailing - you may be eligible for an onboard credit refund.

Second, for new 2010 bookings starting October 31, fuel supplements will be incorporated into the price of your booking not a separate line item. This means likely they will not be taken out, even if fuel price is reduced in the future.

Thinking about booking one of the Carnival brands for a 2010 sailing? Do it prior to October 31! Otherwise, no chance of getting any type of fuel supplement refund, and you will see a price increase across the board on November 1.

Finally, watch for other lines to come out with plans of their own to incorporate fuel supplements into their pricing and/or how they would remove or refund them in the future.

Confusing? You bet. If you have questions, let me know. I'll be keeping on top of these to be sure