http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/the-big-cruise-guruhttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/the-big-cruise-guruCheck out my facebook account called "the Big Cruise Guru".  I post weekly wacky specials on Wednesday and the pictures of all my ship tours in the last year. Watch for my blog on the New NCL Epic cruise from NYC for Travel Agents.  I will review the ship and take alot of pictures.  MikeThe Big Cruise Guru"www.cruiseplannersnwnj.comWed, 23 Jun 2010 12:05:08 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/weighing-the-risks-and-rewards-of-a-39-cabin-guarantee-39http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/weighing-the-risks-and-rewards-of-a-39-cabin-guarantee-39Weighing the Risks and Rewards of a 'Cabin Guarantee'by Douglas Newman, Cruise Critic contributor - September 9, 2008 Travelers who take the risk of booking a cabin guarantee face two big questions: Do you really save enough money to make the suspense worth it? And, perhaps even more important, what are the chances you'll wind up with an upgrade?While those who book their cruise in a more tradi...Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:40:50 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/more-oasis-of-the-seas-updateshttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/more-oasis-of-the-seas-updatesOasis of the Seas will have first 'beach pool' at sea, private cabanas, more And the latest gee-whiz thing on a cruise ship is . . . a beach.That's right, Cruise Loggers, you heard it here first: Royal Caribbean's much-ballyhooed Oasis of the Seas will have its very own "beach pool" that recreates the vibe of a shoreside resort.The new outdoor area, to be announced tonight in an on-line event, ...Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:56:40 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/always-purchase-travel-insurance-and-arrive-the-day-before-your-cruise-to-allow-for-the-unexpectedhttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/always-purchase-travel-insurance-and-arrive-the-day-before-your-cruise-to-allow-for-the-unexpectedAn Agent's Tale of Not Taking Her Own AdviceWhat could go wrong?Rules we strongly adhere to in our agency: Always purchase travel insurance and arrive the day before your cruise to allow for the unexpected.Rule #1 – Arriving at the airport for our flight to London, I realized I had forgotten to purchase insurance. The first clue we had that there was a problem was after we boarded our flight, t...Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:26:19 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/meet-the-biggest-carnival-ship-of-them-allhttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/meet-the-biggest-carnival-ship-of-them-allIn the world of cruising, Carnival Cruise Lines is known as the “Fun Ships”. So it was no surprise that Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Splendor, was christened last week in Dover, England amid much lighthearted fun.The party got started when the godmother, British pop star Myleene Klass, serenaded a Royal Navy diver who climbed a 60-foot rope up the side of the ship to smash the ceremonial bo...Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:14:41 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/the-economics-of-cruisinghttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/the-economics-of-cruisingThe Economics of CruisingBut I'd like to note that as our great nation faces many challenges today, the cruise business is certainly not immune to them. In fact, in addition to rising fuel costs, the cruise industry is especially exposed to another problem most of us do not worry so much about - the weakened dollar.About ten new cruise ships per year are scheduled to debut by U.S.-based cruise ...Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:35:46 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/34-if-i-book-my-cruise-now-and-later-the-price-goes-down-will-i-be-able-to-get-the-lower-price-34http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/34-if-i-book-my-cruise-now-and-later-the-price-goes-down-will-i-be-able-to-get-the-lower-price-34This week’s blog, I'll try to answer one of the most common questions our customers ask: "If I book my cruise now, and later the price goes down, will I be able to get the lower price?"Unfortunately, the decision of whether to allow a customer to re-ticket at a lower rate is not made by Cruise Planners. It is made by the cruise line, and we must abide by the cruise line's policy when this situa...Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:07:55 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/the-caribbean-in-summerhttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/the-caribbean-in-summerThe Caribbean in summer? It’s a more appealing option than you might think, especially if you’re looking for a bargain vacation this year. Here are a few reasons:1. Prices are lower, with some hotels and resorts cutting as much as 60 percent off their winter rates.2. Temperatures are typically only a few degrees higher than they are in the peak travel months of January through March. And they c...Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:05:44 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/hurricane-season-101http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/hurricane-season-101Is it worth the risk to plan a cruise to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera or even Canada/New England during hurricane season? Absolutely, with one major caveat: To paraphrase a cliche, prepare for the worst — and hope for the best.Statistically speaking, the chances that your particular voyage is going to be affected by a hurricane are very slim. But changes to your plans are a ...Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:45:55 -0400http://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/agents-remain-main-cruise-seller-says-clia-market-profilehttp://www.cruiseplannersnwnj.com/blogPosts/view/agents-remain-main-cruise-seller-says-clia-market-profileAgents Remain Main Cruise Seller Says CLIA Market Profile    Travel agents continue to play a vital role in selling cruises says the 2008 Cruise Market Profile Study, just released by the Cruise Lines International Association . A total of 2,426 U.S. residents over the age of 25 were interviewed online for the study between March and April 2008; of them, 42 percent said travel agents provide th...Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:40:34 -0400