Wow, what a fabulous time I had in Ft. Lauderdale at the Cruise3sixty conference this year!!  Cruise3sixty, the official travel agency conference of the cruise line industry, is also the leader in educational training and networking opportunities for cruise industry travel  professionals.

I was surrounded by people that love cruising as much as I do and every morning I woke up to a different ship in port!  This year I was also able to attend the graduation event to celebrate my accomplishment of obtaining my ACC (Accredited Cruise Counsellor) certification.  My days were filled with CLIA seminars, cruise line product updates, general sessions with top cruise industry executives and of course, ship inspections.  I was able to tour and have lunch on board 3 ships:  the Emerald Princess, Holland America’s ms Maasdam and the Carnival Valor.  This is a great way for me to see the different products offered by the different cruise lines.  I think the one of the best parts of the ship tours this year was having Carnival’s signature Warm Chocolate Melting Cake on the Valor, the best dessert I’ve ever had on a cruise ship.  Super yum!!  We had it almost every night when we sailed on the Carnival Valor for my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary in 2009.

Having been on board over 15 different ships helps me narrow down the style/type of cruise my clients are looking for.  Each cruise line offers something special and it is my job to match up the client with the right cruise line and ship.  The information that I take away from events like Cruise3sixty is priceless.  It helps me grow my business and makes me an even better cruise specialist so I can help you plan the cruise vacation of your dreams!

Happy Sailing! 

My husband, who is a social media/website development guy for Blue Gurus kept telling me I needed to update my site.  Yes, I needed a facelift.  My original blog site was designed by my husband when I first started my business 4 years ago and was showing it’s age.  He suggested we make a change and that I should Google “WordPress Travel Themes” to get some new ideas.   I had so much fun looking at all of the different options out there, it was hard to decide.  I gave Jason my top picks and he chose one.  I got home from work one evening and he had surprised me by transferring my content from my old site to the new one and just like that (well, after some work on his part) I had an updated site   All of my older posts are still there, nothing was lost in the transfer. We use WordPress which allows me to maintain the content myself.  I love that I am not completely dependent on him for technology   I think it is pretty great that we can change the look and feel of my blog just by switching themes and still keep all of the content intact.   So check it out, look through it.  www.curiouscompass.com in case you are reading this as an email and aren’t on my site already.  I’m currently adding pages myself, yay!!  There is a new one you will want to check out about group cruising in 2013.  Let me know what you think of my new look

Happy Sailing

RCI Radiance of the Seas

Amazing Wildlife

In the Land of the Midnight Sun, why not use every extra minute of daylight?   From the blue ice of massive glaciers to the stunning scenery and wildlife, everything in Alaska is huge.  I have had a lot of interest in Alaska this past month which has led me to immersing myself in all Alaska has to offer.  Wow.  I cannot wait to go someday.  For the ultimate Alaskan vacation, I would recommend a cruisetour.  A land and sea vacation.  The two lines I have been working with are Royal Caribbean and Princess, but others such as Holland America and Celebrity offer these as well.  Princess actually has their own lodging in 4 different places including just outside of Denali National Park, Copper River, Mt. McKinley and Kenai.  There is so much to see and do, it will be hard to narrow it down.  National parks, glaciers, wildlife……

Enjoy the outdoors?  This will be your paradise, with activities you won’t find anywhere else.  Go for a ride on a dog sled, whale watching, hiking, nature watching, flightseeing, ziplining and more.  Meet professional mushers and their amazing canine companions in an introduction to Alaska’s state sport.  Take a flight to a glacier to experience flying over the snow, or visit the summertime training grounds for a ride in a wheeled sled.  In Skagway, take the “Scenic Railway of the World” that links Skagway with Yukon, Canada.  A 41-mile roundtrip offers an unforgettable journey to the summit of the White Pass, a 2,865-foot elevation.

Spanning 3.3 million acres, Glacier Bay National Park is a stunning network of inlets that channel the frozen tide toward the sea.  Don’t be surprised to find company along the way – humpback whales enjoy the ample supply of herring and shrimp in Alaska’s Glacier Bay.  Princess is one of a select few cruise lines permitted to cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, the highlight of their 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise.  Just west of Juneau, this breathtaking national park and preserve boasts some of the world’s most spectacular tidewater glaciers, such as Margerie Glacier, which often drops colossal chunks of ice into the sea.

There is so much to offer.  I love planning these vacations, I get to dream of all the sites I will see someday.  Being onboard and sailing through the icy waters of Alaska, visiting places where animals outnumber people and the sun shines at midnight.  Yes please.

Happy Sailing

Cruise3sixty Conference for Cruise Professionals

Stress-free cruise planning – You already have a job, let me do the research for you.  I LOVE to research cruises!!  There is a lot of information out there to wade through courtesy of the Internet.  So much so, that people are returning to travel professionals to take this off  their hands.  I will narrow down the options so it will be easier to decide which cruise to take.

It’s not just about price – As your cruise specialist, I will make sure you are matched up with the best cruise line, ship and itinerary most suited to your lifestyle, wishes and needs.  I will ask you a lot of questions to help make your decision.  Choosing a cruise is not as simple as picking a hotel or an airline, there are a lot more options to consider.  I will help you choose the right stateroom and the right dining times for you.   Need to know when it’s best to visit the spa?  I can help you with that, too.  I have a lot of experience with cruising and can answer questions and concerns – a perk that an online agency cannot provide.  I will walk you through what travel documents you need and discuss protecting your cruise vacation with travel insurance.  If you need help in arranging a wedding ceremony onboard, ordering gluten-free or kosher meals, or dealing with accessibility issues – as a qualified agent, I will be able to make the proper arrangements for you or advise you on how to handle the issue yourself.

Speaking of price – First of all, I do not charge a service fee.  The cruise lines pay me from their profits after you  have sailed.  I will  do the research to get the best available fare for you.  As a member of Vacation.com consortium, I have access to upgrades and specials not available to the general public.

I will be your advocate - Should you run into a problem while on your cruise, I can help get it resolved.  As your cruise specialist, I will do my best to make sure restitution is made.  Without a travel professional, you are on your own.

Bottom line - I want to make planning your cruise a great experience.  I am here to help you with my expertise and personalized service to send you off on the cruise vacation of your dreams!

Happy Sailing

I’ll never forget my first debarkation talk onboad the Carnival Destiny.  Our cruise director decided we needed a little humor and proceeded to tell us some of the questions he had been asked from past passengers…..

1.  Does this elevator go to the front of the ship?  (This isn’t Star Trek.)

2.  Does the crew sleep onboard?  (Um, versus being flown off at night in a helicopter?)

3.  What do they do with the ice sculptures once they melt?  (They make ice tea with it?)

4.  What time is the midnight buffet?  (Hmmmmmm…….)

5.  In the photo gallery, a passenger exclaims, “How will I know which pictures are mine?!”

6.  Does the ship make it’s own electricity? (Don’t you see the extra long extension cord off the back of the ship??)

7.  Do I put my luggage outside my stateroom before or after I go to bed?

8.  Is the water in the toilet salt or fresh?  (WHY do you want to know?!)

9.  Is this island completely surrounded by water?

10. Two women were sitting by the pool. One of the ladies asked the cruise director what kind of water did they fill the pool with — fresh water or sea water? The cruise director answered, “Sea water.” She then asked, “Does that explain why the pool is so rough today?”

Happy Sailing

The Clam Shack

Portland Head Lighthouse

My husband and I along with another couple, Mic and Missy Johnson, sailed the northeast at the beginning of October.  Nine nights at sea, sailing out of Bayonne, New Jersey was sometimes a little rough because of the wet weather.  This cruise was vastly different in so many ways for us.  The weather was the most obvious difference, most days were rainy and cold.  This is what I had expected considering the region that we were sailing.    In fact, for me anyway, this added to the ambiance of the scenery.  Rocky coasts, lighthouses, fog and mist were a common theme.  I loved it!  Although after six straight days of this, we all were in need of a little sunshine.   Nine nights was also something new to us, usually we do the seven night sailings, the two extra days were a bonus.

This particular cruise had a culinary theme as well.  The northeast is, of course, famous for seafood.  I had my very first lobster in Kennebunkport, Maine, yum!!  Lobster rolls at the Clam Shack, highly recommend!  Maine is also famous for their blueberries.  We had a couple of desserts that were absolutely fantastic,  Blueberry Apple Crisp, amazing!!  The northeast is also known for their Whoopie Pies.  We managed to eat them in every port   So a lot of fun with the food and the lighthouses, this cruise has left us wanting to go back.  Our last port was Boston.  I loved that city so much that we agreed to go back and spend a few days.  We plan to do that along with a drive up the coast to Maine for more scenery and culinary delights.  We were a couple of weeks early for peak colors this year.  They said the very wet summer lead to a late color change.   We know to go around Columbus Day to get a little closer to seeing the vibrant fall foliage.  Acadia National Park was gorgeous, even though we were there just as the leaves were starting to change.  We missed going to the top of Cadillac Mountain, it was completely covered in fog.  Next time

This was an incredible cruise vacation, one I highly recommend if you have already experienced Caribbean cruising and are looking for something different.

Happy Sailing

My First Cruise, October 2006 out of San Juan

1. Yes, you need passports.

2. Cruising is priced per person based on double occupancy. If you are travelling as a single,
expect to pay almost double.

3. Consider arriving the day before your ship departs so you are on the ship the day it leaves
port. This is highly recommended when taking into account the unpredictability of the
weather and the airlines.

4. You will find some of the best service on a cruise ship. Gratuities are very much earned and
are customary. Most cruise lines allow you to pay them in advance so you won’t have to
worry about them when your cruise is over.

5. Once you board the ship, you will be on a cashless system with the exception of the casino
or extra tipping if you wish. In port you may need cash for souvenirs, cabs and such.

6. Hurricane season officially runs from June through November with September being the
peak month. Keep this in mind when planning. You will find some great value sailing during
this time, just be flexible as itineraries can change at the last minute when a hurricane is in
the area.

7. Cruise insurance is highly recommended. You want to protect your investment in the event
something comes up such as a cancelled cruise or missing the ship for weather reasons. Trip
insurance will cover you if there is an emergency.

8. What does the cruise fare include? All of your food, coffee, tea, some juices and milk.
Your fare also includes your stateroom and all of the onboard entertainment you could want
such as Broadway shows, karaoke, dance lessons and more.

9. What doesn’t the cruise fare include? Airfare, transfers, excursions, cruise insurance,
alcoholic beverages, sodas, specialty restaurant surcharges, bingo cards and any onboard
shopping such as souvenirs or photos.

10. Pack an extra bag/tote for any extras you made need for days in port or for all of those
souvenirs to take back home.

Happy Sailing!! 

I’m not one to toot my own horn, but this, I have to share   After much determination, I achieved my personal and professional goal of becoming an Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC).   I enrolled in CLIA’s (Cruise Lines International Association) Cruise Counsellor Program and set out to earn my ACC.  By completing the official CLIA Cruise Academy training programs, as well as other professional selling programs within the cruise industry, visiting numerous ships, experiencing short and long cruises and attending professional and product development courses as well as demonstrating sales achievement levels, I was able to reach my goal.  Yay!!   It was a challenging experience and I have enjoyed the ride.  A special thanks to my husband Jason for his support (both technical and emotional) along the way.  I have been able to combine my love of cruising with the small business world to help family, friends and new clients experience a great way to vacation – on board a cruise ship!  Thank you to all who have trusted me with your cruise vacations.  I look forward to planning many more!

Next goal……. Master Cruise Counsellor!!

Happy Sailing

Yes!  I hear this question a lot.  I have all of my clients get passports for any sailing.  For most cruise lines, technically, if you are a U.S. citizen sailing on a closed loop itinerary out of a U.S. port all you need is your birth certificate and photo id.  There are so many reasons why this is a bad idea.  This past week with Hurricane Irene wreaking havoc, several passengers were stranded in San Juan, Puerto Rico (U.S. territory).  Those that could, flew on to the next port such as Barbados or Aruba.  Guess who was unable to fly to the next port to meet the ship?  Those that didn’t have passports!!  Sad, but true.  The small investment in a passport is worth not missing your much anticipated cruise vacation.  There are various scenarios where you might need to fly back to the U.S. from a port such as illness, injury or death in the family.   You need a passport for this.  You might miss your ship and need to catch up with it at the next port, you would need a passport for this as well.  One of the first questions I always ask my clients is “Do you have your passports?”  If not, I tell them to make sure and get them.   So far, no one has refused   Flying home from a foreign port or trying to get to the next port without a passport will be quite a headache and terribly time consuming.

For more information on your travel document requirements, please refer to www.travel.state.gov

Happy Sailing! 

Over the past couple of months, I have been working hard on my business to be as organized and efficient as possible.  As part of my work, I have to keep track of a lot of documents.  Multiple quotes for multiple cruises on different dates, your travel forms, contact information and so much more.  I have been blessed with so many clients this year that things had gotten a little out of hand!  It turned out to be really handy to have a husband who does social media and business consulting for a living!

Jason and I talked about the fact that I had so many documents on my computer and couldn’t access them when I was in other locations… I had to be home to access this important information.  I also didn’t have a solid method for organizing the travel documents and it was becoming harder to get to the right document quickly.  We looked at several options and I ended up choosing to go with DropBox!  DropBox allows you to store your files on your computer just like any other document, but behind the scenes it automatically saves a copy “in the cloud” (or servers on the internet).  The great thing is that I can access my documents from my home computer just like before, but now I can access them from any computer that has an internet connection, and from my mobile phone!

The other thing that I figured out was that I needed a good folder structure for organizing my documents.  I worked with Jason on some different ways to accomplish this and we ended up going with the following:

YEAR –> CLIENT NAME –> TRIP DATE

This simple hierarchy makes it very easy to get to the documents I need to reference or update.  This has been a huge change for my business and I wanted to share these two tips with you! Let me know in the comments below if this has been helpful to you or if you have any suggestions on what you have used to make your business more efficient!