RELIGIOUS GROUP TOURS

RELIGIOUS GROUP TOURS

 

 

 We offer Holy Land Itineraries, Faith Centered Cruises, Faith Based European Itineraries and Catholic Itineraries for your church members, religious groups, vacation bible schools and more!

Why Visit the Holy Land:
Religious Experience
Personal Value
Deepens Your Faith 
Enriches Your Life
Features and Benefits of Our 
Holy Land Travel Program:
Packing and unpacking limited (only two hotels)
Deluxe Motorcoaches
Guided Sightseeing by 
Licensed Guides
Entrance Fees to Sites Visited
Faith Based Cruises:
—River Cruise – new for 2014
Fourth Journey of Paul Cruise
—Highlights of Paul Cruise
Lands of the Bible Cruise
 Footsteps of Paul Cruise
We also have Land Based Programs:
Bella Italy
—Footsteps of Paul in Turkey
—Paul in Greece
—Paul in Greece and Turkey
—Spain, Portugal and Lourdes (Catholic Shrines)
—Scotland (Presbyterian Heritage)
—Wesley Heritage (England)
—Timeless Ireland
—Trail of the Reformation
 
 
 
 
So, gather your group and let us do the planning so you can all enjoy the trip! It only takes a $250 deposit for a group tour!
 
 
 
 
 

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Cruise Planners Travel Advisors Plan So Much More than Just Cruises!

Cruise Planners Travel Advisors Plan So Much More than Just Cruises, Seeing Uptick in Land-based Sales for 2014

Cruise Planners is a network of travel agents who plan memorable vacations with land-based properties, tickets to events worldwide, and all-inclusive packages in addition to cruises. Cruise Planners is off to a strong start in 2014, having already surpassed total land tour sales from the previous year. Below are tips for families when booking all-inclusive vacations, escorted tours and other land trips.

Cruise Planners is seeing a trend this year of more travelers taking land-based vacations, as its total land tour sales from 2014 already surpassed the previous year’s. Families are especially seeing the value in all-inclusive hotel vacations. At all-inclusive properties, travelers pay one price and don’t have to worry about a large bill at the end of the trip; instead it’s all paid up front, so there are no hidden costs. 

“Using a travel agent to book your all-inclusive resort vacation is like using a travel matchmaker,” said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel representative. “Agents are experts at finding the perfect destination to meet travelers’ needs and can customize the perfect trip for everyone.”

In today’s fast-paced world, families spend a lot of time apart in their daily routine, so it’s important to spend time together and create new memories on vacations while still having entertainment options for everyone. Below is a list of land-based travel options from Cruise Planners, a network of travel agents helping travelers plan more than just cruises. 

Escorted Tours
Escorted tours include food, admission to parks/museum and all accommodations. Travelers can skip long lines, see more of the country side, towns and villages. Also, to experience the authentic local culture, travelers can interact with locals by visiting them in their daily routine or even their homes. 

Plentiful Restaurant Options 
Food in regions such as the Caribbean can get expensive, but when resorts are able to bundle it all together, it’s more reasonable for consumers. Cruise Planners suggests that travelers consider the number of restaurants available and find food that the whole family will enjoy. Some all-inclusive resorts offer gourmet steak houses, Asian grills, Italian cuisine, 24-hour pizza bars and more. When traveling abroad, travelers may also want to experience the local fare native to the region. 

Location is Key
If traveling with a young family, it’s convenient to be close to the airport. Once flights arrive, it’s less stressful to stay at a resort within an hour of the airport. Many all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and various Caribbean isles have resorts that are easily accessible once travelers land. 

Deals for Kids
Many resorts are offering kids-stay-free promotions and other incentives for travelers. It’s important to work with a travel agent to match up the best promotions for families. Parents should look for properties that have strong children’s programs, multi-generational activities to keep everyone entertained and a variety of restaurants with different food and drink options. 

Children’s Passports
Passports are necessary to leave the country, and both parents need to be part of the process for children. Find out more here: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/apply.html. Note, children’s passports need to be renewed every five years, unlike adults’ passports, which are every 10 years. 

Travel Safety
Most tourist destinations offer security, and locals in these areas understand how vital tourism is to the local economy. As always, no matter where people travel, it’s important to be aware of their surroundings, secure travel documents in the in-room safe, and use reputable transportation and tour operators. 

Add-ons and Excursions
Book excursions and events beforehand to get the best seats and value to be sure they are not sold out. Add-ons may include golf tee times, spa treatments, island tours, adventure excursions, romantic trips and more. Cruise Planners travel agents now offer tickets for sports, concert and theater events worldwide, so travelers can always guarantee their vacation includes everything they want, all in one place. 

Themed Travel 
It’s easy to get excited about a sports team, and loyal fans will pay a premium to see their team win while on the road. For those who want to experience the World Cup, Super Bowl, or even a local baseball game, they can cheer their team on by securing advanced purchase college and professional sports game tickets.

Travel Advisor Benefits
Using a travel agent offers the best value, added convenience and less stress when planning. Travelers can still be part of the planning process and enjoy a customized experience at no additional cost. Travelers do not pay travel agents, yet the agent is always working for the best interest of the travelers. Travel agents can secure added amenities, great prices and added values not readily available to consumers. 

contact us! mherzog@getawaycruiseplanner.com
www.getawaycruiseplanner.com
phone 206-618-6765 

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Pet Peeves 101: What Not To Do As a Tourist



A new survey by money-saving website CouponCodesPro.com has unveiled the top five most annoying tourist traits for locals in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Orlando.

The website surveyed 3,216 people aged 21 and over. Roughly 63 percent of respondents said they found tourists annoying. These respondents were then asked, “What trait do you find most frustrating about the tourists visiting your city?”

Here is what they had to say.

New York City: Asking for Directions (40 percent)
Four in 10 New Yorkers (or about 810 respondents) said they were most annoyed by tourists asking for directions.
That’s quite the pet peeve, considering New York City is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and travelers are bound to ask for directions to some of the city’s top attractions and sites.
On the other hand, it’s understandable why locals in NYC would feel this way. It’s a bustling city and it’s incredibly competitive, meaning locals generally are trying to do more and have a long list of “To Dos” each day. They are trying to make it or rise above the competition in a city that boasts a population of more than 8,405,000 (as of July 2013, per NYC.gov).
Then again, while New Yorkers may never come in contact with these tourists again, they aren’t exactly making it a welcome environment for travelers, which could hurt business overall.

San Francisco: Stopping in the Middle of the Sidewalk and Taking Photos (35 percent)
If you’ve ever lived in or visited San Francisco, you know that people are basically packed into the metropolis like a can of sardines.
San Francisco’s population as of 2013 was roughly 825,000—which pales in comparison to New York City—but it’s also a very small area to house that many people, let alone the tourists.
In a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area came in third in the U.S. in average density, behind New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana. But in population-weighted density, which measures the metro areas with 5,000 people or more per square mile, it came in second to the New York area (12,145 per square mile).
That’s obviously a substantial number. So, while stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and taking photos may not be a big deal to some locals, it can basically cause a pedestrian traffic jam in Downtown San Francisco.

Chicago: Not Tipping Appropriately (32 percent)
In Chicago, it’s pretty simple: Tourists apparently don’t tip enough.
According to a study by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of National Travel and Tourism, Chicago was the No. 9 U.S. city when it came to international arrivals in 2013. That could have something to do with it. Some international travelers still don’t know what to tip in the U.S., or they simply find it absurd to tip that much (as TravelPulse highlighted in Tipping 101: Breaking Down a Global Controversy).
Given servers basically rely on tips these days across the board, working in a U.S. city that comes in No. 9 in international tourism may not be as beneficial as you may think. Obviously, you want more people to come to your restaurant, but if they are hardly tipping at all then it doesn’t do much good, either.

Washington DC: Walking Too Slowly, Looking at Everything (27 percent)
More than one in four locals in Washington D.C. (27 percent) said they were most annoyed with tourists walking too slowly so they could look at everything.
It makes sense in the nation’s capital. Politicians and businessmen need to get from Point A to Point B quickly. On the other hand, this is the nation’s capital, after all. That means tourists are naturally going to take a lot of pictures, particularly of sites such as the White House, the U.S. Capitol and national monuments and memorials.
So, while tourists may come to D.C. to learn about “The Land of Opportunity,” they also may get a first-hand look of what striving for those opportunities looks like…while virtually getting trampled in the process.

Orlando: Asking You to Take Their Photo (26 percent)
“Hey, can you take our picture next to Mickey Mouse?”
For many locals in Orlando, they’ve heard this question way too many times.
In fact, 26 percent of Orlando residents are tired of taking photos of tourists.
At a place that houses a variety of theme parks and attractions, including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando, it’s a given that locals will receive their fair share of photo requests. If you are a photographer who specializes in portraits, you probably welcome it. If you aren’t…not so much.
But, again, these same tourists add to Orlando’s thriving economy. They are an integral part of the city’s makeup. Without them, Orlando would be just another city in Florida, instead of the No. 4 U.S. city for international arrivals in 2013.
While it’s important for tourists to keep these pet peeves in mind, it’s also important for locals to understand that they are annoyed with the same things that they do when they travel. For example, in the survey, respondents were also asked if they indulged in the same types of behavior that they disliked from tourists. A whopping 76 percent of respondents answered, “Yes.”
Ideally, we can all work together to understand certain cultures’ pet peeves while these same cultures should probably be a little more lenient.
George Charles, spokesperson for CouponCodesPro.com, said via a release:
"We're all guilty of finding tourists annoying when we feel it affects us, especially if we are in a rush to get to work or go about our daily lives, however most of us are also guilty of being those frustrating tourists when we're off on our own travels. We're constantly so busy throughout our day-to-day lives that tourists become a nuisance when asking for directions or help or stopping to take photos, but it's important to remember that, without tourists, the economy of our towns would suffer, with knock-on effects for local business. They chose to vacation to the beautiful cities we are lucky enough to live in. Perhaps this should be a reminder of what is on our doorsteps, so we take a moment out here or there to look around us and appreciate our cities.”

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Ship Inspection & Tour: Celebrity Eclipse

As we toured the beautiful Celebrity Eclipse with all of the amenities that the ship has to offer, we also are impressed with the itinerary that lied ahead for all of its passengers.

In March, the passengers were going on a 14 night Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise leaving Fort Lauderdale and visiting the ports of Oranjestad Aruba, Willernstad Curacao, St. George's in Grenada, Bridgetown in Barbados, Castries in St. Lucia, Philipsburg in St. Maarten, Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas with a few days at sea added to the mix and coming back to Fort Lauderdale.  Itineraries can change with the seasons, summer you may find the Eclipse in Europe.

Fun facts:

Occupancy:2850   Tonnage:122000   Inaugural Date:Apr 29, 2010 

Length:
1041 ft
Beam:
121 ft
Draught:
27 ft
Cruise Speed:
24 kts
 Since Celebrity Eclipse® joined the fleet in 2010, she has dazzled and amazed even the most well-traveled cruisers. Like her Solstice® Class sisters before her, she showcases spectacular vistas with 85% of all staterooms having sweeping veranda views. Celebrity Eclipse hosts Qsine®, a dining venue with a unique and playful approach to familiar dishes from around the world, and Celebrity iLoungeâ„ , a hip, modern Internet café offering guests what they have asked for—easy access to the Internet, inspiring classes and latest tech gadgets. Add the fresh green grass on the top deck's Lawn Club and the incredibly pampering services in Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, and you may never want to set foot on land again.

Canyon Ranch SpaClub®

Relax and rejuvenate in our serene spa at sea. Experience the unique services of Canyon Ranch in a breathtaking setting—aboard Celebrity's modern luxury ships. Enhance your vacation with a complete wellness and lifestyle program that increases resilience, restores serenity, and helps you feel rejuvenated.

Cellar Masters

Try a bold collection of both familiar and unknown wines from around the world in this inviting wine bar. To help you explore, we feature the state-of-the-art Enomatic® wine-by-the-glass dispensing system. It will pour your choice directly from the bottle in a 1-ounce, 2.5-ounce or 5-ounce portion as you swipe you SeaPass® card. Our Sommeliers will offer further insight into the fine art of wine selection.

Lawn Club

There's absolutely nothing like it. A freshly manicured lawn on the highest deck of the ship. This is The Lawn Club. Enjoy casual outdoor activities in a decidedly Country Club atmosphere, and let the grass between your toes take you places no cruise has gone before.

 

Sky Observation Lounge

Don't look back, look forward and be amazed by the breathtaking views in our ultimate observation lounge. The floor to ceiling windows will captivate and the expansive space will please you as you relax in the comfy seating all around. The lounge is versatile and can be transformed to suit any occasion.

The Hot Glass Show

Don't just appreciate art, experience it. Witness the incredible, gorgeous art of glassblowing with intimate live demonstrations. Watch and learn from professional glassblowers in this popular, one-of-a-kind exhibition from the renowned Corning Museum of Glass.

Qsine

Qsine® is a uniquely unordinary experience with elements of surprise and delight. Our concept behind Qsine was to give you something you've never experienced before on land or sea. Leave any preconceived notions behind. Dig in and try new things. It's time your palate got a wakeup call. Our iPad® menus are fun, interactive, and full of surprises.

Murano Restaurant

Impeccable service, classic design, world-class cuisine and comfortable sophistication are celebrated to the utmost in Murano. Experience tableside lobster presentation, an expansive selection of artisanal cheeses from around the world, and an extensive American and French wine list. Charming and timeless, Murano transports you to a modern and sophisticated level of dining.

Did I mention the Solarium and Pools? Beautiful! So many fun areas of the ship, the library, the bars, restaurants, showroom & entertainment, casino, gift shops, spa, fitness & weight room, youth program and more. There is always something to do like a Poker game, Dance Parties, listening to Jazz, featured films, art gallery.  Do everything or Do Nothing!!! Its your cruise, your way!

 

 

 

 

 

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Ship Inspection & Tour: Seas Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas

We had the great pleasure of getting on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas for a few hours, with 7 distinct neighborhoods, 25 dining opportunities, and 2,384 crew members on this ship, there is sure to have something to please everyone in your group! 

Allure of the Seas, the newest ship in Royal Caribbean's awe-inspiring Oasis® class, is a captivating adventure unlike any other. Explore seven distinct neighborhoods filled with awesome new features – like the first Starbucks® at seaTony Award®-winning Broadway musical Chicago in the main theater, and favorite moments with Shrek, Po the panda, and more friends in the DreamWorks® Experience. Spice up your sailing with margaritas and Mexican-fare favorites at Rita's Cantina, or with prime cuts straight from the skewer at Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse. And there's still plenty more Oasis-class WOWs to be had, from the classic carousel on the Boardwalk®, to aerial acrobats in the AquaTheaterFlowRider® surf simulators, pluszip line views over Central Park®—a meandering garden lined with shops and fine restaurants.

NEW Sailing Europe in 2015
Here’s one for the history books. In summer 2015, Allure of the Seas® will sail European waters, departing round trip from Barcelona and Civitavecchia near Rome. It’s cruising like Europe has never seen before. And you can be a part of it. 

REST & RELAXATION

  • Full-service VitalitySM Spa with thermal suite and an extensive treatment menu
  • State-of-the-art Fitness Center, with classes like yoga and tai chi
  • Central Park® outdoor garden with BRITTO Gallery, restaurants and a Coach® store
  • 4 pools including the Solarium, an adults-only retreat*
  • 10 whirlpools, two of them cantilevered whirlpools overlooking the ocean
  • Concierge Club and Diamond Lounge**

*During inclement weather and select hours, the ship may permit the Solarium Pool to be used by persons under age 16 provided they are directly supervised by a parent or guardian.

**Concierge Club reserved for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members, and select suite guests. Diamond Lounge available for Diamond and above tier level members.

 

ACTION & ADVENTURE

  • Zip line, nine decks in the air and 82 feet across
  • Two FlowRider® surf simulators
  • Two rock-climbing walls, each 43 feet high
  • Full-sized basketball court
  • Ice-skating rink
  • Mini-golf course
  • Hand-carved carousel

DINING OPTIONS

  • Main Dining Room with complimentary, multi-course dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • 13 more complimentary options including Park CaféWindjammer Café, Boardwalk Dog House, and room service*
  • The first Starbucks® at sea*
  • Casual dining and snacks at Johnny Rockets®, Cupcake Cupboard and more*
  • 150 Central Park, serves up an intimate six-course experience of leading-edge cuisine in a modern setting. Enjoy seasonally, locally-sourced menus developed by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz.
  • Experience culinary delights at any one of our Specialty restaurants where for one low cover charge you can choose any items off the menu from appetizer to dessert* — including 150 Central ParkChops Grille steakhouse, Giovanni's Table Italian restaurant, and Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse
  • A la carte more your style? Try Izumi Asian cuisine for sushi bar selections, and Vintages wine bar for an array of tempting tapas*
  • See more specialty dining options

* Late night service charge applies to room service orders between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Additional charges apply for specialty dining venues. Specialty beverages, beer, wine and soda are charged separately and are offered at current bar menu prices.

KIDS & FAMILIES

  • DreamWorks® Experience - memorable moments including character dining, parades, and meet & greets with favorite characters from Shrek®,Madagascar®, Kung Fu Panda® and more
  • Complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program 
  • Royal Babies & TotsSM Nursery
  • Royal Babies® and Royal Tots® program
  • Teen lounge areas and disco
  • H2O Zone kids' water park
  • 3D movie theater
  • Family-friendly activities including games, contests, enrichment classes and lectures

ENTERTAINMENT & SHOPPING

  • Complimentary Tony Award-winning musical Chicago
  • Complimentary AquaTheater shows, ice shows and other live entertainment
  • 18,000 sq. foot Casino Royale® with 456 slots and 27 tables
  • Bars, lounges, and nightclubs that never have a cover, including live jazz club, karaoke bar, and comedy club
  • Parties and parades on the Royal Promenade
  • NEW
      Rita’s Fiesta, a reservation-only themed party in Rita’s Cantina featuring the restaurant’s most popular dishes and three non-alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $10 per guest or three alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $20 per guest
  • NEW
      Prohibition Party, a reservation-only 1920s-themed celebration on every fifth night in the Jazz on 4 lounge where guests 21 and older can don their favorite Jazz Age outfit and sip on alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $35 per guest
  • Variety of name-brand , duty-free shopping in Central Park® and the Royal Promenade including the GUESS® Store, Coach®, BRITTO Gallery, teen and kids’ shops, plus jewelry, perfumes, and apparel
  • Entertainment venues' Showtimes at a Glance
Here are more pictures! photo DA7F4561-EDE4-4EE5-8BC8-84A09BBE368A_zpsurxqwfgd.jpg


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