SEMI-ANNUAL CARIBBEAN SALE!

Got a Group?

Group Cruises = Great Value for YOU

No other vacation option enables guests to unpack one time and feel at home while visiting multiple cities, countries and in some cases, continents. Meals are included, shore side tours can be organized, entertainment is provided, and pampering is possible. Cruises really are an all-in-one vacation. When it comes to foreign travel, where the dollar is weak, a cruise is one of the most affordable ways to see the world. And, when you travel with a group: family, friends, organization, hobby group, etc………the benefits get even better.

When you travel as a group and you reserve your sailing early (9-12 months in advance), you receive the best early prices, preferred stateroom accommodations, and many valuable extra’s such as shipboard credit or gifts in your room. Also, if your group wants to have a special event, such as a private cocktail party, culinary demonstration, conference rooms, venue for scrapbooking or other, most times space is free. Basically, your group can do the functions it likes to do best and enjoy a vacation at the same time.

Often, when a Group Leader comes to a Travel Agency and can promote the sailing, based on number of cabins sold, that Group Leader can easily sail FREE. The Agent handles all the arrangements and can even set up a promotion night to answer questions. Intriguing? There is not catch except to get excited and get those in your circle to get excited as well. Here are some of the TOP GROUPS that sail together:

1. Culinary and Wine Groups: those who are part of Dinner Clubs or Wine Tasting groups. Sampling foods and wines from around the world together.
2. Wellness Groups: Martial Artists, Yoga, Spa/Fitness Clubs. Do seminars at Sea as well as utilize the state of the art fitness centers together.
3. Sports Groups: golf, baseball, poker or ANY sport you can think. Gather and talk about all things, share stories and if allowed, play onboard or at ports.
4. Wildlife/Nature Groups: especially HOT for photographers and those who like the great outdoors.
5. Hobby/Craft Groups: Scrapbooking, needlepoint, quilting, you name it. Spend countless hours of uninterrupted time with others who love to do the same.
6. Dancing/Music Groups: Dance Troupes, Bands and anyone who loves music. You can play in lounges or hold private dance lessons onboard.
7. Ladies Social Groups: Ret Hat Society, or similar ladies groups have a BLAST!!!
8. Fundraising Groups: need to raise money for a Nonprofit Organization? This is the vacation that benefits everyone. Vacation for a Cause.
9. Family/Friends Groups: from ages 2-102, there is something for everyone. Celebrate a special anniversary, birthday, graduation or retirement with family and friends.
10. Business Groups: for an employee incentive or a conference at sea, it’s a great way to work and play.

You may have your own club, hobby, church, or friend group that this list brought to mind that you feel this would be a great fit for. Most cruise lines consider a group to be 8 or more cabins, and there have been many groups that have chartered entire ships of 1000+. Basically, when an interest, hobby, passion is shared, a cruise is a wonderful avenue to consider. Are YOU ready for a vacation? Grab your group and do it. You won’t regret it.

Debby Stevens

Debby@3dcruiseandtravel.com

512-218-0291

Since last weeks post was so popular, let's continue on topic..

Best Travel Web-Sites

As the popularity of traffic on internet sites increases, record number users in the U.S log on daily for a variety of reasons. Many top sites are travel related. As we sit in our cubicle or are up late sipping tea after everyone else is asleep, we appease our dream of faraway places by searching for that perfect vacation. For the “do-it-yourselfers”, surfing through pages after a Google entry can seem daunting.

Allow me to ease the pain by providing some top sites for you. Many of you are familiar with sites like: www.expedia.com, www.travelocity.com, www.orbitz.com, etc. Be aware that you might not always be getting the best information on hotel ratings or even best pricing. Beware of service fees and if you have a problem after making your reservation, have patience with their toll free line staff. Ask to see your quote in writing/email format before paying in full, which they require for any reservation.

I’ll follow up with some reason to consider contacting a Travel Professional if it becomes too much to handle. By the way, most agencies should be able to match any online travel quote for your vacation package. Just ask......

AIRLINE-

www.kayak.com and www.sidestep.com best search engines for airfare pricing

www.seatguru.com shows seat diagrams of most any aircraft to help you select the ideal seat. It also keeps pretty up to date info on phone numbers, baggage rules and more on most carriers.

www.yapta.com monitors fare when booked direct on airline website and notifies of price drops.

CAR TRAVEL-

www.traffic.com identifies the fastest, most direct route in more than 100 U.S. cities.

www.radio-locator.com allows you to punch in a zip code and download a list of stations to your PDA or iPhone based on interest.

HOTELS-

www.tripadvisor.com is a leader in hotel reviews by consumers.

www.tvtrip.com short videos preview all aspects of a hotel and compares it with its competitors.

FOOD-

www.opentable.com links to reservations of top restaurants, making it easy to secure a table.

5 Reasons to Use a Travel Professional

1. Updated Information- Travel Specialist are constantly communicating with the travel community, thus giving you the most up to date info on airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, travel visas, and other travel services to consider as you plan your trip.
2. Expert Guidance- Travel Specialist are experts in helping travelers get where they need to go and in helping  create possibilities most people never would have dreamed were possible.
3. Choice- Travel Specialist offer you an array of options and price quotes from a variety of travel suppliers, giving you the upper hand when making your final travel decisions.
4. Best Value for Your Money Spent- Travel Specialist can help you to make your dollars go farther while you are away.  They have access to finding all sorts of deals ranging from flights to hotels to dinner recommendations. 
5. Location, Location, Location!!!!- Travel Specialists can help you to find a place to stay pretty much anywhere you desire.  If it’s a hotel with a view of the ocean in Hawaii or a jungle hut in the Nilgiri foothills, a travel agent can help you make it happen.

Debby Stevens

Debby@3Dcruiseandtravel.com

512-218-0291

Why Would I Need to Use a Travel Agent Anyhow?

Have you ever wanted to take a vacation but you just didn’t know where to start? A friend mentioned that they always use a Travel Agent and you wonder, “Why would I need to use a Travel Agent anyhow? I can do this myself.” Before you go to the internet and peruse through the 165,478 options, ponder these scenarios:

*You’d never been to France before, so you asked around for some travel advice. Your college roommate’s brother, who had spent a semester in France, happily gave you a list of all the places he stayed. It wasn’t until after you arrived in Paris that you realized you booked yourself into the most popular youth hostel in town.

*You’d heard cruising is an all-inclusive experience and it was pretty exciting when you went on that discount cruise website and saw those great photos of passengers sipping cocktails and touring great sights of the Mediterranean. It was kind of embarrassing when you got onboard and realized that none of those things were part of your “all-inclusive experience.”

*You wanted to get away for the weekend, so you “tweeted” a question to the masses asking if anyone knows of a great B&B in San Diego. JackTravels, was the first to respond with a great offer for a cute looking place, which turned out to be his house. You ended up sleeping in his kid’s room all weekend and having cereal for breakfast.

*You knew you shouldn’t have dawdled in the marketplace during your shore excursion, but you thought your cruise ship would NEVER take off without you. But, it did! The website you used to book your cruise wasn’t prepared for you to call them with the news that you needed help getting off the island.

*A room overlooking Athens sounded just swell in the online hotel description and it only cost 150 euro per night. Such a deal! Turns out it did overlook Athens, but it was from 10 miles out of town and a cab to the city was 75 euro each way.

*You weren’t really sure what a repositioning cruise was, but it sure was cheap!! Who knew it would only make 2 stops during the 10-day voyage?

*You asked your friends on Facebook where you should go for your honeymoon and a guy you went to high school with (whom you only sort of remember) told you he ran a travel company and that he’d get you a discount. It was only after he’d taken your money and disappeared that you remembered the trouble maker he was in high school.

*You and your fragile, aged, wealthy aunt both love animals, so you thought the cougar cruise, with the “too good to be true price tag” sounded fun. After seven days of constantly being mistaken for a woman on the prowl, your aunt has written you out of her will and you figure you’ll only need seven years of therapy to recover from the experience.

In the world of Vacation Travel, things online are not always what they seem and the old adage, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” is spot on. If you want a vacation with wonderful memories, trust a local professional who will work with you to find you the best for your taste, budget, and style.

Debby Stevens

Owner/Cruise & Travel Specialist

www.3DCruiseandTravel.com

Great article from USA Today on the newest Carnival ship to hit Galveston!

Early word on the new Carnival Magic: The best 'Fun Ship' ever

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

And the early word is ... it's a winner.
Cruise reviewers and other travel writers who have sailed aboard the Carnival Magic since its debut earlier this month in Italy are almost universal in their praise for the ship -- industry giant Carnival's 23rd at sea.
Anita Dunham-Potter of ExpertCruiser.com, dubs the 3,690-passenger Magic the 'best Fun Ship yet," and John Deiner of CruiseCritic.com calls it "one wickedly entertaining vessel."
To leading Canadian cruise blogger Phil Reimer of PortsandBows.com, the Magic is "a job well done," and Linda Garrison of New York Times-owned About.com declares it "bright and fun, although not quite as over-the-top as some previous Carnival ships."
What's got the cruise press sounding so upbeat? For starters, a number are noting a somewhat dialed down decor on the Magic (at least in some areas) as compared to earlier Carnival vessels -- a change for the better, they say, that has come about since new management took over the line in recent years.

RELATED: Five things you'll love about the Carnival Magic
GALLERY: A photo tour of the Carnival Magic

There's also lots of praise for the ship's deck-top areas, which feature a number of fun new amusements including the first (suspended-in-the-sky) ropes course on a ship and first outdoor weightlifting area (think Venice Beach at sea). Unlike some other big mass-market lines, Carnival hasn't carved off a large chunk of the deck-top area on its latest ship for an exclusive VIP zone, leaving more room for creative, open-to-all activities.
Cruise reviewers also are liking the ship's Caribbean-themed pub and $10-a-head Italian restaurant, Cucina del Capitano -- both Carnival firsts (see our story on the new pub).
As Donna Tunney of industry watcher Travel Weekly notes this week in a story on the ship, Carnival is adding spaces that CEO Gerry Cahill is calling "destinations within a ship ... a new concept for us."
Not everything about the Carnival Magic is drawing praise. Deiner, for one, points to some serious soundproofing issues in cabins as well as some (probably start-up related) service issues. But so far there aren't a lot of complaints.

RELATED: A Cruise Log Guide to the new ships of 2011

The Carnival Magic isn't for everyone, of course. Budget traveler-friendly Carnival isn't a luxury line, for sure (and it doesn't pretend to be), and passengers on the Carnival Magic shouldn't expect the same sort of service and amenities as on some more expensive lines. As industry watcher Anne Kalosh writes this week in Cruise Week, a leading industry newsletter, the line's executives are determined to keep the Middle America-aimed brand affordable, and that means keeping a sharp eye on costs.
Still, as CruiseCritic's Deiner notes, "the buzz on this baby has been pretty good so far."

Giving Back While You Travel

I wanted to share various ways you can incorporate your travels with giving back. Many consider this concept the ultimate win-win as you get to give while you learn, or give while simply taking a vacation. This article will touch upon Volunteer Travel, Fundraising Cruises and share where 3D Cruise and Travel gives back. If you have had a successful experience with Volunteer Travel or a Fundraising Cruise, I would love to hear about it.

Volunteer Travel is an amazing way to see a place, get to know a culture, and leave a positive footprint. This can be done locally or abroad. You don’t have to travel far to find a place to volunteer. The trick is finding a place you want to visit that also has a volunteer opportunity. Generally, there are two ways to search for a volunteer travel program: by place or by opportunity. Locally, farms, food pantries and a host of non-profits need help. Volunteer a day and spend another day exploring that part of the Austin metro area that you have never experienced. If there is a particular area you have always wanted to venture to abroad, online searches for volunteer opportunities will prove very helpful. Above all, your reasons should be:

*Help Others

*Get Up Close and Personal With a Culture

*Have Fun

While planning your summer vacation see if you can find a volunteer opportunity as part of your travel. If you have a heart to serve, you will be hooked.

Fundraising Cruises are a unique opportunity for Nonprofit Organizations. Many major cruise lines support nonprofit organizations locally and nationally. Because they understand the importance and challenges of fundraising, they have developed a program that allows the organization to raise much-needed funds and at the same time, give supporters all the fun of a cruise vacation. Ideal groups that have benefited from the program are: Civic, Medical Research, Arts, and Churches/Ministries. Basically, the organization marks up the cost of the cruise and that amount becomes a donation. The cruise line matches a particular amount to donate as well. In addition, free staterooms can be earned and the cash value can either be given to the organization OR it can be used to raise additional funds through raffles and the winners will sail free. 3D Cruise and Travel assists with all the details as well as donates. Please call or email for more information.

Lastly, 3D Cruise and Travel is over the top excited to give back to organizations in the community, both in volunteering and donations. 10%+ of all earnings goes back into the community and here are just a few we have been blessed to bless: Faith in Action Caregivers, Summit Christian Academy, Red Cross, Hospice, Round Rock Area Serving Center, Celebration Church, Hope Alliance, Upside of Down, Texas Baptist Children’s Home, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Angel Food Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Round Rock Sertoma and Young Women/Men of Destiny. Get out there and give out there.

Debby Stevens

512-218-0291

Debby @3DCruiseandTravel.com

10 Top Honeymoon Hotspots

Where do newlyweds want to go? Wedding site TheKnot.com gives us the inside scoop on the most frequented romantic destinations.

Hawaii

There are many reasons Hawaii continues to be the most popular spot for honeymooners: the beautiful beaches, active volcanoes, rushing waterfalls, luaus in the sand and warm water.

For West Coasters, a Hawaiian getaway is relatively easy and affordable, particularly during the shoulder season in April and May. But prices jump in the summer months.

Once there, it's easy to book inter-island flights on Hawaiian Air, which is a great way to mix it up, advises Jeanenne Tornatore, a senior travel editor for Orbitz.com.

"Each island has its own atmosphere and level of activity or serenity to fit individual tastes," she said.
By Jessica Dickler

 Jamaica

Although Jamaica is the stomping ground for college kids and families, it has a lot to offer couples, too. There's a slew of world-class, all-inclusive resorts and a wide range of things to do, including horse back riding, exploring dolphin coves and listening to live reggae music.
The off-season is just getting started, making it an inexpensive and convenient option for those looking for a low-key getaway during the spring or summer.

Bahamas

The Bahamas is a quick trip for those on the East Coast, but it still feels a world away. With plenty of sun, sand and water sport, as well as five-star hotels like the One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island, the Bahamas is perfectly suited for honeymooners.
There are plenty of deals to be had, particularly during the summer months, but travelers should be wary of going during hurricane season.

St. Lucia

A little more off the beaten path, St. Lucia is gaining in popularity as a destination for honeymoons because of its breathtaking beauty and air of exclusivity.
Against the dramatic backdrop of the Piton Mountains, there are rain forests, sulfur springs, botanical gardens and a drive-in volcano.
With limited flights, travel arrangements could "boost the total vacation price upward," cautioned Jeanenne Tornatore, a senior travel editor for Orbitz.com.
But St. Lucia is off-season in the summer months, which makes snagging a deal possible.

Cancun

For honeymoons, this Mexican city offers a lot more than Jell-O shots at Sr. Frogs, although "I would not go during the month of March," noted Jeanenne Tornatore, a senior travel editor for Orbitz.com.
Beyond the Spring Break business, there a plenty of first-class resorts geared towards couples, with oceanfront beach beds in lieu of lounge chairs and champagne on arrival.
There's also snorkeling or hiking through the ancient Mayan Ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula, not to mention the nightlife that put Cancun on the map.

Paris

The city of lights is home to the world's most famous masterpieces, high-end stores, restaurants, cafes and exceptional views along the river Sienne. And no trip is complete without a stop at Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower.
In the summer, paring this trip with a stop over in Nice or Cannes in the South of France ensures some beach time at one of the world's greatest hotspots.

Santorini

The Knot's Kristin Koch calls a honeymoon to Greece one of those "once in a lifetime vacations." She suggests flying into Athens and spending a day exploring the city and its 2,500-year-old architecture and then hopping over to one of the small, beautiful islands outside the capital city. Like Santorini.
With whitewashed houses set on a cliff against a dark blue sea, Santorini is remarkably beautiful and exceptionally unique. Although the summer is the most popular time to go, Erik Halvorson, air inventory manager at Expedia recommends booking a flight and hotel together to shave a few hundred dollars off the cost of the trip.

Las Vegas

Vegas may be seen as more of a destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but this city has a lot to offer couples, too. There are incredible shows, shopping, fine dining and, of course, the casinos and nightlife.
With about 750 flights a day right to McCarran International Airport and thousands of room options, it's also easy to score a deal.
Koch recommends picking a hotel with a luxe pool and spa, like Canyon Ranch at the Venetian, and then spending a few days at the Grand Canyon or Yellow Stone National Park for a well-rounded experience.

Costa Rica

This Central America hotspot offers a lot in the way of rest and relaxation as well as exploration. There are white and black sand beaches, tropical rainforests and adventure trails through the jungle.
Tourists come for the zip line and canopy tours but honeymooners may enjoy packages that include cutting edge spa treatments like massages with volcanic mud or a post-wedding detoxifying bath at one of the luxury hotels on the coast.
There are plenty of promotional deals during the summer and fall, but it's also particularly rainy during this time.

Barcelona

Spain's second largest city is The Knot's Kristen Koch's top pick for honeymooners. Sightseers will want to take in the Gaudi architecture (above), Romanesque art, live music and fine Spanish cuisine, where dinner starts well after 10p.m. and is often followed by dancing into the late hours of the night.
Those looking for a little more tranquility may want to hit one of the beaches on the city's coast line or head to one of the nearby island enclaves like Ibiza or Majorca.
Summer is the high season though, so a trip to Spain with multiple stops can get pricey. For trips like this, Erik Halvorson, air inventory manager at Expedia, recommends booking at least 60 days in advance.