Welcome to AXA Cruise Specials!
Cruising is a WONDERFUL way to travel!
If you have cruised before, you know what I mean…..
If you have not cruised, you don’t know what you are missing. You have to try it!
Having a cruise ship as your home for the duration of your adventure is like taking a luxurious resort with you as you travel on adventures around the world. A retreat from everyday life with the cleaning, cooking and entertaining all provided for you. At the same time, you can “do what you like” everyday, every moment. And important in today’s world, the cruise lines work very hard to see that your security is ensured in every part of our global world.
Today’s cruise ships are as varied as the ports they frequent. They can provide adventure, luxury, first class entertainment, wellness spas and activities, casual informal or formal ambience, educational opportunities, family and multi-generational activities, or romantic getaways. Cruise ships can be large or small, sailing vessels, adventure ships, river boats, or transatlantic cruise sailing ships. They can accommodate you in inside, ocean view, verandas or penthouse suites. You can dine in varied choice buffets, elegant dining rooms, culinary specific speciality restaurants or even on your own veranda. The choices are endless.
There are so many choices and that is where our knowledgeable professional agents are the answer to choosing and arranging that perfect cruise adventure you have been dreaming about. Your time is valuable. We do all the research and provide the information for you.
We know that first time cruisers have many questions. Our experienced travel agents provide you with the answers and guidance that ensure your first cruise is the BEST vacation ever. It is a whole new experience that we promise you will love, but it is very important to make the right choices. The truth is that just “low price” does not always provide the right cruise choice for you. The value is in the experience and we want the BEST experience for you at the BEST price available.
If you are an experienced cruiser, we provide the up to date advice on the new itineraries and ships. We search for all possible possibilities of the best price point value for your next cruise. We offer amenities that will enhance your next cruise adventure.
Call us at 800/829-9781. Or E Mail us at axaTravel@aol.com with your questions and requests. We know your time is valuable. Our travel agents are experienced cruisers themselves and they will pass on their knowledge to you.
We want you to have the BEST CRUISE EVER!
NEWSLETTER for December 2011
TEL: 800/829-9781
E Mail: axatravel@aol.com
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Holiday Savings and Holiday Cheer—It’s party time—the holiday season is here and there is still time for that last minute gift— travel, everyone wants that one in their stocking. Think about it, if it’s something you have always wanted to do, then time’s awastin” and we take payment plans—just call us and we can work out something for you—we offer free gift certificates for the trips that you are going to use as stocking stuffers— just let us know how we can help to make your holidays brighter!
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STARPICK
By now, all of my passengers know that I am such a push over for the repositioning cruises, they are such a wonderful buy and I love the days at sea—all you have to do is stake out a deck chair, read, eat and sleep—totally restful—and this one is a fantastic buy—sail for 13 days from San Juan to St Thomas, St Maarten, Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to Madeira and into Malaga Spain– $279pp—this is the time to break out those condo weeks and spend a few days on the Costa Del Sol—or just tour Spain, there is so much to see and do, Valencia with the orange blossoms, Malaga where you can tour the Alhambra, Seville where if you are strong of heart, you can see a bull fight—we can make all the arrangements—wonderful trip—great rate—
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Let’s start the New Year out right—and what better way than to sail from Jacksonville for 5 days and 6 nights for $189pp—past passengers can save even more $$ so be sure to let us know—visit Key West—where we can direct you to a manufacturer of sandals that will save you a ton of money over the boutiques they are being sold out—we take everybody’s sizes when we go and to some of the best Cuban sandwiches in the world, ride the Conch Train, stop at Sloppy Joe’s and have a drink where Hemingway did then visit his house which is just kept exactly as he left it—even to the 6 toed cats—great place for a wedding I might add—
Give her a Valentine’s Day gift that she will never forget—the Caribbean (actually ladies, it works both ways, bet he would like this gift too) sail from San Juan to St Thomas, Barbados, St Lucia—still one of my favorite ports of call, I think that I found my one particular harbor- and I can make arrangements for a day sail out of there, or just explore the town with the Pitons looming nearby, it’s a great little island, to St Kitts and St Maarten for $239pp –and ladies, if this is his valentine, there’s great golf in San Juan along with casinos, and beautiful beaches and the lowest priced liquor stores I know of with no duty—so plan a day or so extra there—
SECIALITY CRUISES
Kwai River Cruises – Thailand!
Unique 12 day jungle adventure program featuring Bangkok and a 6 night cruise along the Kwai River aboard the intimate 20 passenger RV “River Kwai.” Ride elephants, pet tigers and swim under waterfalls – great for families, children and honeymooners! Valid for departures – From $1199 pp*
Crystal Cruise Lines—special for limited time only –Enjoy exceptionally priced 2-for-1 fares on select 2012 itineraries when you book by December 31, 2011! Choose from sailings to Northern Europe, New England & Canada, and the Pacific Coast. All cruises include: All-inclusive amenities such as gratuities, fine wines, premium spirits & more Free Air New flexible Open Dining by ReservationTM
Travel aboard the award-winning Crystal Symphony and enjoy the pampering comforts of the Crystal Experience-exceptional service, space, quality and choice. Dine on the celebrated cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs. Learn something new in language, art, wellness and wine at the Creative Learning Institute. Take in a Broadway-styled show, dance the night away at an electrifying club, or simply relax with a good book on your private verandah. The joys of Crystal—from dining, entertainment, fitness and enrichment—are all offered with our compliments, making a Crystal vacation the perfect choice for luxury and value. We have Hamburg to Stockholm on our Northern European route, New England and Canada or our Pacific Coast Cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles—now being offered.
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PRINCESS CRUISE LINES
You can go East or West with Princess with great rates—you can sail for 7 days from Fort Lauderdale to Princess Cays—this place is a party waiting to happen, you can go horseback riding, fill up on barbque, cheer in the crab race or just laze in the hammock on a beautiful island, then sail on to St. Maarten—I like the French side it looks like a tropical France, same crusty bread, pates and great French red wines—just find a table and watch the crowds stroll by but some like the tidy little Dutch side—there is something for everyone on this divided island then on to St Thomas and Grand Turks for $369pp
Princess best buys are close to home this month—you can sail for 10 days on their Southern Medley from Ft Lauderdale to Princess Cays, St Thomas—stroll down Pirates Alley on the little crooked cobble stone walk ways and shop, shop, shop—be sure and check out the liquors there—some of them like the chocolate raspberry cannot be bought stateside and it is fantastic—then to Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire—when you drive around the island, you can stop anywhere that you see a yellow marker and dive or snorkel over a reef filled with corals and colorful tropical fish so take your gear—no dive boat required, then to Aruba, that little bit of Holland tucked away in the Caribbean—buy the cheese, it is straight in from Holland and the Vandermint liquor—great with ice cream, Dutch chocolate and mint, always try to bribe someone to bring both home for me– $599pp
Now what could be finer than a cruise to Hawaii??—a cruise to Hawaii and Tahiti—and we have a great one coming up— sail for 11 days to Paradise from Honolulu—great time to use up those condo weeks and make this the vacation to remember, to Kauai, Maui, Bora Bora, Moorea and into Papeete– $999pp
Ships are on the move again soon, they follow the sun, so it is Panama Canal time—sail for 10 days from Ft Lauderdale to Aruba, Cartagena, a partial transit of the Canal –one of the engineering marvels of our time, be out on deck when you go through so you can see the little pony engines at work tugging the ocean liners into place, watch the water rise under your ship as you move from one side of the continent to the other, then into Colon, Puerto Limon and Grand Cayman—be sure and swim with the sting rays at Stingray City, they cannot barb you in the water—even I, fraidy cat that I am have done that, you can pet them—they hear the boat engines coming in and they will swarm to be fed—they look like birds in the water—not an experience to be missed —-$849pp
Only two cabins left on our Valentine’s Day special group—sail for 7 days from San Juan to St Maarten, St Lucia—always one of my favorites, never could figure out where they got those Pitons on that flat little island but it is so green and beautiful, to Grenada—the isle of spice—you can smell the nutmeg when you get off the ship, Bonaire, Aruba and back to San Juan– $549pp–
We have two cabins left on our group—need to sell—great rates—
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NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES
What a buy—NCL now offering the Jewel for 7 nights from New York, complimentary upgrade to a balcony for
$279pp—ports of call will be Port Canaveral, think Walt Disney World, Universal’s Harry Potter and Sea World—then to Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas—spend the money you saved to see a few show in New York City— we can arrange, Broadway shows, hotels, sightseeing—have you been to Niagara Falls??? Just a hop and a jump from the Big Apple—once you ride the Maid of the Mist, you will never forget—the power of those falls is awesome
Now this looks like a really good one to me—sail for 13 days from New Orleans, to Miami, Ponta Delgada, Portugal and into Barcelona– $319pp use up some of those condo weeks on the Costa Del Sol—or take a trip over to my favorite the Costa Del Bravo—wild waters, fantastic views—you can tour all of Spain and we will add that to your cruise—make it a real vacation!
Florida and her beaches (it’s 80 degrees here today so those beaches are looking good)—sail for 13 nights from Port Canaveral to Ponta Delgada, Portugal, Amsterdam, Holland—so much to see and do there—can’t even tell you and into Copenhagen, Denmark—$459pp
And if you just want a quick get away—lets look at 7 nights from New Orleans to Cozumel, Belize City, Roatan, Costa Maya and back to the city that time forgot– by now you know my favorite haunts in New Orleans—call me, I have a list of restaurants – best seafood, hamburgers, po boys—and let us not forget the crawfish gumbo—-$399pp
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ROYAL CARIBBEAN/CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES
Not sure you are ready to take a long cruise—just want a sample to make sure you like it—can’t believe you won’t—but I have one for you—sail from Miami for 3 days and 2 nights over to Nassau, shop in the new straw market, go over to the government house and take pictures of the bobbies in short pants—imagine our policemen in short pants—they just wouldn’t stand for it—hang out at the beach or for this rate just stay on the ship and enjoy yourself—$39pp
We do not usually get Alaska on sale until January but this year, they are starting early—I know it is cold now but summer is closer than you think—sail for 7 days from Vancouver, along the Inside Passage to Juneau—this is the place to buy your furs, ladies, should you wish for one—and the hats are particularly fetching, Skagway—be sure and go out to Liarsville where the news journalists lived during the gold rush—this you will need to book with the ship as soon as you get on board because it sells out quickly and they only do one show—it is well worth seeing—there will be sled dogs to pet, Here a cast of sourdoughs and dance hall girls will entertain you with a hilarious melodrama and a poem by the “Bard of the North”, Robert Service, and teach you the art of gold panning and if you get a chance, sample the salmon—fresh out of the ice cold waters, then to Tracy Arm Glacier, Ketchikan and into Seattle– $319pp
Last chance for Australia—the ships will be pulling out soon as winter approaches the Down under—sail for 10 nights from Sydney to Noumea—one of the largest barrier reefs in the world where the water shines emerald and blue through the crystal clear waters. Restaurants, bistros and French boutiques line the streets where you can buy everything from Tahitian shell necklaces to Indonesian incense burners—this is truly the French Rivera of the South Pacific , Lifou, Lle des Pins, New Caledonia, Ouvea, Loyalty Islands Port Vita, Vanuatu and back to Sydney—$599pp –let us plan a few days in Sydney—we have great packages that include transfers, hotels, harbor tours and sightseeing—for $349pp
Never been cruising before—want a sample before you really go, then try our two night from Miami to Nassau– $39pp—might as well plan to stay on in Miami for a day or so because once you have tried it—you will want to go again—we will be happy to book you back to back— the world is so full of wonderful places and you should see them all—cruising is the best way to go—-
Reposition, reposition, reposition—the ships will soon be sailing back and this is the least expensive way that I know to see three countries—sail for 12 nights from Miami to Ponta Delgada, Portugal, Brest, France, Cherbourg, France and into London– $479pp—not only do you get to skip that forever airplane ride but you are wined and dined and entertained all the way—let us plan a few days for you in London—now that the Royal Wedding is over, it is a great time to be there—see Big Ben, take a cruise on the Thames, be sure to see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace—know a couple of great little restaurants—like Sherlock Holmes Pub—and some out of the way hotels—
Wine Country Cruise—sail for 10 nights from Vancouver to Nanaimo, British Columbia, Victoria Island—be sure and go to one of the most beautiful gardens in the world—Butchart Gardens and my personal favorite—have the British high tea at the old Victorian hotel—if they still have the valillia tea—have a cup for me—then to Seattle, it is a toss up who has the prettiest flowers—Seattle or Victoria—then San Francisco, Monterey—be sure and visit all the little winerys along the way, Catalina Island and into San Diego–$499pp –while you are in Vancouver, we can arrange sightseeing or maybe a train trip through the Canadian Rockies—everyone should see Bamiff and Kamaloops— it is worth the ride—
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HOLLAND AMERICAN CRUISE LINES
First time in my memory—a full circumnavigation of Australia—don’t miss a minute of it—-!
Ports of Call: Sydney, Australia; Brisbane, Australia; Hamilton Island, Australia; Townsville, Australia; Cairns, Australia; Great Barrier Reef Experience; Sunrise at Lizard Island; The Ribbon Reef Region; Sherrard Island (Anchorage); The Far North Region; The Torres Strait; Sunset at Booby Island; At sea (Arafura Sea); Darwin, Australia; At sea (Timor Sea); Komodo Island, Indonesia; Lembar, Lombok, Indonesia; Exmouth, Australia; Perth (Fremantle), Australia; Albany, Australia; Esperance, Australia; Port Lincoln, Australia; Adelaide, Australia; Kangaroo Island, Australia; Melbourne, Australia; Burnie, Australia; Hobart, Australia! !
These will not last long—Holland gives us a very short window to book their specials and they do sell out—so if one of catches your fancy please call in quickly—
A full Canal Transit—only happens two times a year—sail from San Diego, cruise Gahia Magdalena, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Quetzel, Guatemala, Fuerte Amador, Panama, a full transit of the Canal, Cartegena and into Ft Lauderdale–$699pp!
Can you believe we are already talking about spring time here—talk about rushing the season—it is time to think about New England—sail for 7 nights from Montreal to Quebec, cruise the St Lawrence Seaway, Charlottetown, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor, Maine and into Boston–$449pp—stay a while in Boston—it’s a great city to explore, so much of our history is there, Walk the Freedom trail, follow in Paul Revere’s footsteps where the minutemen fought, visit Fanueil Hall and be sure to check out the lobster in the old restaurant just outside, ride the Beantown trolley and maybe bring out the kid in you with a trip on the swan boats—
Bermuda is just around the corner—sail for 7 nights from New York to Hamilton where your ship is your hotel and your restaurant—believe me it is much, much more economical than a hotel in Bermuda, only way to go then back to New York–$349pp—beautiful island and the sands are really pink—visit the caves, the aquarium, the old lighthouse and don’t miss King’s Wharf, that is where the Royal Naval Dockyard is and ton’s of really neat shops— be sure to watch the dunkin’ of the wench and try their special breakfast— it’s worth the wait—
Exotic Western—14 days leaving from Tampa to Falmouth, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Key Wes, Belize City, if you are a diver, this is the place to begin your adventure at the Blue Hole, best diving outside of Australia, if you are not a diver, then don’t miss the archeological sights—one of my favorites is up river the Lamani, it is still rather unexplored and when we came to the main temple, there was a group of howler monkeys living inside—felt like I was deep in the jungle, and actually I suppose I was, neat experience, Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya and back to Tampa— that’s about as far west as you can get from our side of the States–$699pp
If you just want a quick get away close to home—try the Mexican Rivera—sail from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and back to San Diego—7 nights for only $599pp upgrade to a veranda for only $199 more pp—time to kick back and relax after the holidays— you owe it to yourself—
TOURS
6 Night Getaway in West of Ireland from $559 !
Includes roundtrip air, 3-bedroom cottage accommodations and car Travel from Jan 1 – Feb 29 - Price shown based on 4 travelers. *Taxes & fees add’l, restrictions apply.
Package Description:
Explore the scenic sites in the west of Ireland with your own rental car from centrally located Bunratty in County Clare, the “Jewel of the West. ” You’ll be perfectly situated for touring Galway, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and the Aran Islands, all within easy driving distance from your 3-bedroom, fully-applianced cottage in Bunratty Gardens.About the Cottages at Bunratty Castle Gardens:
Situated about 2.5 hours from Dublin Airport, the Cottages are located in the famous area of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Each Cottage offers 3-bedroom accommodations, kitchen, dining room, living room & more. Contact us for more information about the Castle Gardens.
Package Includes:
Accommodation
6 nights 3-Bedroom Cottage at Bunratty Castle Gardens
Transportation
Roundtrip airfare NY to Dublin
Weekly Manual Full-Size Car Rental
Other Inclusions:
Authentic Irish Coffee at Legendary Durty Nelly’s
House of Waterford Crystal Tour
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The Holiday Fun Never Ends in Orlando!
Do your clients need a reason to come to Orlando during the holidays? We have plenty. The magic of the theme parks and the wonder of the season combine to bring you spectacular events. Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom has its annual “Very Merry Christmas Party”, a nightly spectacle of holiday shows and fireworks with Mickey and Minnie. “Grinchmas” is the main event at Universal Orlando as Islands of Adventure is transformed into a holiday wonderland, and the popular tale by Dr. Seuss, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, comes to life. And SeaWorld Orlando features one of the best holiday shows (with live animals) that I’ve ever seen anywhere – plus live holiday music, holiday shopping, daily snowfalls at The Waterfront, “The Sea of Trees” light show and carolers spreading holiday cheer. And don’t miss the new Manta rollercoaster ride and aquarium! What’s not to love about spending the holidays in Orlando?
$1999 — China 12-Night Package incl. Yangtze Cruise & Air
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With an expert tour manager leading the way, hike the Great Wall and encounter thousands of Terracotta Warriors on this 12-night China trip for $1999 per person.
Saving $900 on competing packages, this escorted itinerary features a four-night Yangtze River cruise, three nights each in Beijing and Shanghai, plus two nights in Xian.
Roundtrip international airfare –Intra-China flights (Shanghai-Yichang; Chongqing-Xian; Xian-Beijing)–Eight nights in upscale accommodations–Four nights cruising the Yangtze River aboard the Century Star -25 meals: 12 breakfasts, eight lunches, five dinners –An English-speaking tour manager–Travel by air-conditioned motor coach -All airport transfers and entrance fees per itinerary –Depart: April 26; May 3, 31; more discounted dates through December
Along the way, guests visit pandas at the Beijing Zoo and explore The Forbidden City, Shanghai’s modern waterfront and more.
This lead price is from New York; however, departures are available from all major U.S. gateways. Final price will include airport taxes and fees up to $100 per person. Visa fees not included.