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 AUG 2010
TEL: 800/829-9781
E Mail: axatravel@aol.com
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It truly is the dog days of summer—hot, hot, hot—the best think I can suggest is to run away to sea—we have some real cool cruises out there—and when you get back, it will be better weather—
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“Our national economic uncertainty is giving us a double-dip return to the cruise bargains we saw in 2009. But like the uncertain direction of the economy, this renewed trend for hot cruise deals could reverse itself with the next news cycle. Right now, the sweetest spot for bargains is on cruises sailing this fall — and once again the premium cruises are often cheaper than the mainstream lines.” Quote from Paul Motler FOX Business— Book now before they get away
STARPICK…………………………………………
Sample a cruise—sail from Vancouver to Victoria Island—be sure to see Butchart Gardens, Astoria, San Francisco and into Los Angeles– one time sailing only – spend some of your savings to explore Los Angeles—so many things to see and do—6 days for $199pp
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Weddings are in season, we just marveled at Chelsea’s –and it’s not too late to surprise this summer’s bride and groom with a pre-paid honeymoon—we offer gift certificates and will even send out a gift registry to your guests with their choice of trips—sure beats another crock-pot—make their dreams come true with their choice of honeymoon cruises–
Military Rates – must remind you again that these are wonderful, on specific dates you can take along family and friends at your reduced rates. You must have served two years in any branch of service with a DD214, or be retired service or active military—these greatly reduced rates are Carnival’s way of saying “Thank you” to all the men and women who have served or are presently serving our country.
Dream on– on Carnival’s new Dream—sail from Port Canaveral to Cozumel, Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Costa Maya and back to Port Canaveral– $419pp
It’s Magical- the newest Carnival Ship the Magic inaugurates in Europe this summer and we have group space on board her—sail for 7 nights from Barcelona to Monte Carlo—try to win in that casino—they pay big bucks—to Florence/Pisa, Rome, Naples/Capri, Messina Sicily and back to Barcelona– $749pp
It’s Spring Break cruising time for Texas—schools out, schools out—and we have a group—call quickly before they take it away—we have 7 nights from Galveston to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and back to Galveston– $399pp—spring break cruises fill up fast so give us a call and get your $25pp deposit on that cabin—remember since this is a group, if you have 8 cabins sailing, one person cruises free except for port and taxes—bring your friends and cruise free!
Ever wondered what it would be like entertain on board ship—now is your chance, be a star! Premiering on the Carnival Pride this week, after introductions on Carnival Conquest and Carnival Valor, Superstar Live Karaoke invites you to perform karaoke with a live band, in a program set to join 12 of the line’s ship with itineraries of seven or more days by the end of the year. If you are interested you can sign up with the Superstar Live Karaoke lounge host, on a first-come, first-served basis. Selections include ABBA, Zac Brown Band, classic rock, including AC/DC, The Beatles, Pat Benatar, classic and contemporary country, featuring Garth Brooks, Patsy Cline, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flats and Shania Twain, and soul, rap and R&B songs, including those sung by Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Wilson Pickett and Sir Mix-A-Lot
SPECIALITY CRUISES
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| Last Minute 2 for 1 Special Russian River Cruise! 2 for 1- Cruise for Half the Price - |
Sign up for Cruise West’s Stowaway Program—enjoy tremendous savings and one of a kind adventures—upcoming is Easter Island to Papeete—one time only—one island paradise after another greets you on this epic 17 night sailing. Marvel at Easter Island’s stone statues, observe rare birds found only on Henderson Island. Meet the descendants of the HMS Bounty. Visit a black pearl farm, snorkel through the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Rangiroa atoll, one of the largest on earth. Explore pristine, uninhabited islands by inflatable excursion craft and enjoy the food, dance performances and company of some of the world’s friendliest persons—other stowaway cruises available on request—
Last Minute 2 for 1 Special Mekong Delta Cruise!
- Cruise for Half the Price -
MEKONG DELTA CRUISE: OCT 09 – OCT 22, 2010:
SAIGON, VIETNAM to SIEM REP, Cambodia– ms ‘INDOCHINE”
FLY: Oct 08; 1 n Saigon , 9 night cruise, 3 nights Siem Reap
PRINCESS CRUISE LINES
It’s time to book your re-positioning cruise—more bang for the buck!—you get more time on the ships and very interesting itineraries—offered one time a year—this one sails from Rome to Florence/Pisa, Cannes, Barcelona, Casablanca, Agadir, Recife, Brazil and into Rio de Janeiro—16 days for $699pp and we have $50 STARBUCKS per cabin to spend on board and two tote bags to bring your treasures home in—
Very soon, it will be Mexico time again—the ships will be coming back from Alaska and that’s when Mexico is a bargain—sail for 7 days from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo and back to Los Angeles— $269pp
Think about the leaf change in New York, don’t you want to be there?? At these rates it won’t be a problem, sail for 7 days from New York City to Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St John, Halifax and back to New York $349pp—plan a few days extra to see the big city—catch a few Broadway shows, TKTS is the place to go for discount tickets- and be sure to have some cheesecake at Lindy’s – it’s kind of a tradition!
Not sailed through the Canal as yet?? Through the locks, watch the little pony engines working away, join the line up of ships going from ocean to ocean- roundtrip Ft Lauderdale, to Aruba, Cartagena, partial transit of the Panama Canal, Puerto Limon, Ocho Rios—10 days for $649pp-
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*Call our daily specials–Every day is Happy Hour somewhere
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES
Escape the to the Caribbean—sail for 15 days for $499pp from Boston to Samana, Tortola—that yatchie paradise, St. Kitts, Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, Roatan, Cozumel and into New Orleans-the city time forgot—use your pre and post days to spend a little time in New Orleans—let the good times roll—Bourbon Street is back and it’s a swinging good time—
Is it hot where you are—time to take a real cool trip sail for 14 days roundtrip London to Bergen, Alesund, Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Thorshavn, Reykjavik, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Ireland—See England, Ireland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Scotland in one trip— for only $1049pp
Sail for 12 days for $499pp from foggy old London—and it is still foggy there and so-o-o cool—had to wear a sweater- can you imagine that and it August—to Lisbon, Portugal, Ponte Delgada, Portugal and into Port Canaveral– stay a bit in London, see the Tower, sail the Thames, take a few side trips up to Stratford or Stonehenge—then sail home, stay a day or so in Port Canaveral, see the Space Center before it is shut down—and of course, drive on over to Orlando—the center of the world’s—Universal, Walt Disney and Sea World—we are local- we know all the best places—and we love to share–
ROYAL CARIBBEAN/CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES
Texaribbean Cruises—the best of Texas and the best of the Caribbean—sail for 7 days from Galveston to Cozumel, Grand Cayman—be sure and go over to Sting Ray City—the fishermen feed the rays and when they hear the sound of the motors, they come in like pigeons in a park for popcorn, you can swim with them, pick them up and pet them, they have to be buried in the sand to barb –so it’s a safe experience then to Falmouth, Jamaica and back to Galveston—-$399pp
Get out there—we have Caribbean, Bermuda, Europe—give us a call—group space available on the Oasis of the Seas and the newest, Allure of the Seas—
Calling all seniors—if you are planning to come south for the winter, why not do it in style—sail for 6 nights from Bayonne, NJ, King’s Wharf, Bermuda, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and into San Juan– $159pp—spend your savings on a few days in San Juan, play some golf, go sightseeing—the Castillo, Ponce de Leon’s home, don’t miss the Don Q Rum Factory—great prices and complimentary drinks–there’s a free bus that takes you to all the points of interest—shopping is great and the weather is to write home about—
Sail home with the ships and enjoy that Celebrity status while you—14 days from Barcelona to Malaga, Span, Madeira, Portugal, Tenerife and La Palma in the Canary Islands and into Miami– $459pp— we can make arrangements for a tour of Spain before you begin your trip—double your vacation dollars with a pre-tour and then a cruise—
One of the most exciting destinations out there—sail for 14 days from Miami to Cartagena, a full transit of the Panama Canal, Manta, Ecuador—go deep sea fishing for blue Marlin or take an excursion to Quito—a world heritage city—I have great stories to tell about Quito—and of course, this is the jumping off place for the Galapagos Islands—like no other place on earth—then to Lima—side trip to Machu Picchu—looks just like it’s pictures—never a disappointment, Arica and La Serena, Chile and into Santiago—well worth a visit on it’s own—great wine tours, mountains, shopping– $739pp
HOLLAND AMERICAN CRUISE LINES
Book your Holland American cruise this month and on selected sailings receive a coupon book valued at $450–
Spend Christmas in the Caribbean—it’s a whole ‘nother experience—when the trade winds blow the icicles on the tree and you can walk barefoot on the warm sand beaches—this one is off the beaten track and offers a world of surprises. Just when other Caribbean cruise ships are turning back, Holland America Line takes you deeper into the Lesser Antilles and a world of surprises. Discover Europe with a distinct Caribbean twist on French Martinique, British Barbados, and Dutch Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Marvel at St. Lucia’s active drive-in volcano and spellbinding twin peaks – the Pitons. And as our Christmas present to you—we have $50 per cabin in STARBUCKS to spend on board—
14-DAY CIRCLE HAWAII
Rich with dramatic tropical beauty, chic boutiques and galleries, and a kind and hospitable people proud of their heritage and culture, Hawaii is a cruise destination to be visited again and again. Holland America Line makes every Hawaii cruise unique and memorable. Savor relaxing days at sea aboard the mid-size ms Zaandam. Onshore enjoy award-winning shore excursions, including the Encore Collection, specially designed to offer returning cruisers a brand new experience. Attend the Explorations Speaker Series to learn about Polynesian history and culture, between naps by the pool learn about great wines and fabulous food preparation at the wine bars and the culinary sessions on board. l And to enhance your trip we offer $100 Starbucks to spend on board—be pampered in the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, treat yourself to dinner in the Pinnacle Grill or go shopping—can be used anywhere on board except the casino—
For history buffs and romantics this Northern Strongholds itinerary offers numerous castles and fortress, glacier carved fjords, man-made canals, the Baltic and North Seas and the English Channel as you explore the British Isles, Scandinavia, the polar ice cap, Imperial Russia and historic Berlin. Discover a land of immense beauty and history–Amble along Amsterdam’s graceful canals. Explore Scotland’s 5,000 year old stone village Skara Brae and Norway’s dramatic fjords. Shop in Ireland for fine linen and crystal. And discover the diverse charms of Copenhagen, Tallinn, Berlin, and Helsinki. Visit Kiel, Germany and travel to Hamburg for the day. Enjoy overnight stays and more time in St. Petersburg and Stockholm. Experience all of this and more while being pampered aboard Holland’s spacious and elegant, mid-size ships.
TOURS
$699+: Ireland 6-Nt Fall Trip w/Air & 4-Star Hotels; Save $800
Dublin, Belfast & Sligo, Ireland
Travel Oct. 1- Oct. 31; Nov. 1 thru Feb. 6, 2011 available from $659
THE DEAL
Discover fascinating Ireland and save big with this 6-night package This deal includes round-trip airfare to Dublin, 4-star hotel accommodations in three exciting cities, and a weeklong car rental with unlimited mileage starting at $699 per person – that’s up to $800 off standard rates this fall! Plus, this deal is also valid through winter, from November to February beginning at $659 per person.
You will stay two nights at the following 4-star hotels:
• The Croke Park Hotel, Dublin
• The Stormont Hotel, Belfast
• Clarion Sligo Hotel, Sligo
CARIBBEAN RESORTS
| Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino, Bahamas – Nassau | Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa & Marina, Curacao | |
| 3 nights starting at $1129.00 $299.00* per person w/ Air After Promo Code |
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| 4 nights starting at $719.00 $299.00* per person w/ Air After Promo Code |
| FIJI—when only the best will do—Crusoe’s Retreat in Fiji—located on the Fiji Island’s beautiful Coral Coast and only two hours from Nadi Airport, Crusoe’s Retreat is a lifetime away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Friendly, intimate and traditional, it nestles among tropical gardens with a palm fringed white sand beach. Next to the Namaqumaqua “friendly” Village, a genuine Fijian village where many of the beautiful staff live, the friendly atmosphere and inter action between the staff, guests and the residents of the village is what makes Crusoe’s Retreat so exceptional. Your package includes, 7 nights Seaside Bure, All meals, Afternoon teas, Welcome Lei and Tropical drink, Snorkeling, kayaking, hand line fishing, Kava Ceremony, Traditional Meke, Local transfers, Fiji Tax, economy air from Los Angeles–$1525pp—limited time on availability |
Spice up your life with Miami’s deal……………
Beacon Hotel & Miami Spice
Partner up for a great two months of hospitality
During August and September, Miami’s top restaurants offer three-course meals (Lunch $22, Dinner $35)* featuring signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs. Discover the tropical fusion of ingredients that makes Miami dining so wonderfully out of the ordinary. An epicure’s paradise awaits you in Greater Miami and the Beaches!
$70 credit towards your stay
Stay two nights in a beautifully renovated oceanfront room with Continental breakfast included and receive dinner for two at a Miami Spice restaurant of your choice. Show receipt from a Miami Spice restaurant upon checkout and receive $70 discount. ITALY!
Combine your hotel stay with airfare to Italy to take advantage of package savings. Specials available for Summer, Fall and Winter travel.
Packages include:
- Roundtrip Airfare on Alitalia
- Airline Fuel Surcharge
- Three Nights at 3 Star Hotel
- Call Center Support
These special fares* must be purchased by August 31, 2010!
TRAINS AND PLANES
Spirit Airlines gets our vote for Scrooge of the year with it’s new $30pp carry-on fee—guess we will have to wear all our clothes. Try to stay really none political but folks, it’s time to call your congress person – airline fares need to be much more transparent—these hidden charges for luggage, checked and carry on, pillows, blankets, etc is getting out of hand- what else can they charge for– I am almost afraid to ask, if they cannot govern themselves, we need to give them a little help—this is affecting the traveling public adversely
Arabian Nights: Istanbul-Damascus (2010/11)
12-day journey on a Private Train from Istanbul to Damascus
Istanbul – Goreme – Mersin – Aleppo – Hama – Palmyra – Krak des Chevaliers – Damascus.
Travel Highlights
- Istanbul, a treasure bridging the Orient and Occident
- Boat ride on the Bosporus with buffet lunch
- The otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia
- The ancient limestone city of Goreme
- Train ride through the Taurus Mountains
- Aleppo, the ancient trading city beneath a citadel
- Visit the world’s largest bazaar in Aleppo
- Hama and its enormous water wheels
- The oasis town of Palmyra– one of the grandest ruin sites in the world
- A Bedouin-themed evening
- Krak des Chevaliers on the trail of the Crusaders
- Damascus, a charming Oriental metropolis
- Visit to the Omayyad mosque
- Three feasts featuring regional delicacies