Escorted Tour FAQ

Sunday, March 01, 2009

What's Included on an Alaska Cruise Tour?

A cruisetour combines both a land and a cruise vacation, to get the most out of your time in Alaska. It also provides the best opportunity to see wildlife.

Glacier Bay, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula are some of the places included on a cruise-tour. Choose from 3 to 8 night packages combined with a 7 day cruise. 3 Nights provide a quick overview...the more time you have, then you are able to enjoy at least 2 nights in each area. Optional excursions range from rafting and heli-hiking to trekking across a glacier, fishing or flightseeing.

What's included varies upon which Cruise Tour you select, but in general, this is what is included on your Alaska vacation:

On the Alaska Land Portion

• Hotel Accommodations - normally in picturesque lodges
• Sightseeing (Some tours may have an Escort or Guide through the trip)
• Transportation via motorcoach or luxury rail
• Transfers and Baggage handling

The Cruise portion of your trip will include

• 7 Night Alaska Glacier or Inside Passage Cruise
• Deluxe Accommodations on the ship
• All meals onboard including 24 hour room service
• Coffee, Tea, Milk, Juice, non-bottled water
• Entertainment, casinos, piano bars, comedians, Broadway-style shows
• Onboard Activities and Kids programming on most ships
• Port charges, taxes and fees

Your Alaska Cruise Tour DOES NOT include:

• Meals or drinks on the land portion of the Cruise Tour
  (unless specified in the itinerary)
• Gratuities onboard the ship
• Shore Excursions and Sight-seeing tours in Alaska
• Special Spa Services or Casino Gaming
• Beer, wine, spirits or bottled water
• Travel Insurance
• Airfare

There are some great specials running with various cruise lines on both Alaska cruises and Alaska cruise tours. Please read through our blog, or call a travel specialist for more details.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Common question asked by clients:

How can they possibly travel for a length of time with just one suitcase not to exceed 50 lbs & one carry-on?

Answer:

You would be surprised how many things can be packed and not exceed 50 lbs. There are some wonderful no wrinkle, light weight fabrics for traveling and you don't need a pair of shoes for each outfit. When staying in the same hotel for more than 1 night, you can take advantage of the laundry facilities they have to offer.

Make a list before packing and make sure to mix and match outfits. Always pack tightly. Scarf or jewelry can change the look or a blouse. Packing loosely will waste space and cause clothes to wrinkle from moving around. Use all the space you have available to you, such as putting socks & under garments inside of shoes.

You can get a great packing list from Frommers.

Keep in mind that the airlines are changing their restrictions and charges often these days. Make sure and go to their web site or call a couple of weeks before travel to get the latest information.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Clients often ask when they will get "more" information about their tour. I always tell them after final payment is made, they will receive their documents delivered to their home by UPS 2 to 3 weeks prior to travel, and not to expect anything from the tour operator in the interim.

There are exceptions, especially with adventure trips or luxury travel, where preliminary documents are sent, as well as personal registration forms to be filled out.

You will of course always receive written confirmations from us for your records.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Just thought of another confusing question among clients. What day does the tour begin?

Day 1 with the budget and first class tours is "always" the overnight flight to Europe, arriving on Day 2 - this means Day 2 is your first hotel night.

Day 1 with the Deluxe & Luxury Tours is the day you arrive in Europe to start your tour.

With US and Canada tours, day 1 is the day your tour begins.

With other exotic destinations such as South America, Asia and Australia, please check with you agent, as there could be as many as 1 to 2 days for the flight over.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Over the past several years, we have found a consistent trend where customers can find better prices by booking their airfare separately on-line, & just purchase the cruise or land tour from the supplier.

In most cases, booking your own airfare is fine, but I want to remind you to keep a few things in mind.

When you book airfare with the cruise or tour operator, transfers are included to & from the airport. When calculating how much money you are saving, make sure & factor in the additional cost for transfers.

Tours can cancel due to lack of participation. If you book your own air, we suggest booking a tour that is "guaranteed" to operate. Many suppliers have added hundreds of guaranteed departures on their popular tours.

If you experience a problem with your flight being cancelled due to weather or other circumstances, when you book your airfare along with your travel packages, you will have assistance in booking the next available flight to meet up with your trip. If you book your flights online, how difficult will it be to get someone on the phone to assist you in rebooking another flight?

Insurance is another consideration. If you book your own air, normally the cruise or tour operators insurance will not cover the value of your flights. Make sure to speak to an agent about outside insurance coverage so that your entire purchase is protected.

Book early & save. Many suppliers offer air promotions for bookings made well in advance.

On many occasions we do advise our clients to buy airfare separately, but make sure to take the time to discuss your options with an agent to ensure you are receiving the best value.