Last week, we (Mr. Makarma) spoke about Carnival Cruise Lines' new "Fun" advertising program. Although the current campaign is fairly new, the concept of fun has been a part of Carnival's message since shortly after the company's inception.
Reader Robert recently asked if we would share some of our own experiences having fun on Carnival. We'd be happy to, but think we should start by sharing how our company's love affair with the "Fun Ships" began.
Cruising in the pre-Carnival days was a fairly-formal experience shared primarily by those who were well-heeled, older and/or with a lot of time on their hands. Along came Carnival, a cruise line which started with one refurbished, but fairly old, ocean liner. It's hard to imagine now, but the company was far from successful at the beginning. (We have a story to share someday about the company's inauspicious start.)
What turned things around for the firm was the new "Fun Ships" message. Cruising became something for everyone; it was less formal and - most importantly - it was one gigantic party.
Well, the last item above didn't sit well with everyone, as the company developed a reputation of passengers partaking in booze and more booze, along with the problems that came with that type of atmosphere.
By the time we invented this wondrous thing called Makarma Travel back in 1998, the cruise line was already taking the steps needed to change its image for the better. Through a number of initiatives, Carnival was able to improve its onboard atmosphere almost overnight. Still, although we had sailed a number of cruise lines, we hadn't sailed on Carnival and, frankly, we were still a bit hesitant to do so.
Our great turnabout came when we made the decision that, since Carnival was such an important part of the cruise vacation business, we absolutely had to give it a try. The rest, as they always say, is history. The food served onboard was excellent. The service? First-rate. There were entertainment options throughout. Nothing even remotely resembled the oceangoing frat party we had feared. We actually remember walking on deck the last night of that sailing thinking, "Wow, this is......a real cruise." We knew back then (and still do today) that the company had several excellent competitors which we continue to fully support; it's just that our initial experience on Carnival was such a pleasantly unexpected surprise.
Since that first cruise we took on that "fun ship" roughly 10 years ago, we can truly say that things have gotten even better. After a recent three-night sailing where the service, food and entertainment was some of the best we've had on any cruise, we believe that Carnival has become one of the more traditional cruise lines, with many of the traits of long-ago classic cruising.
And, trust us, it most certainly is still a lot of fun.
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
We just want to bang on this drum all day
Carnival Cruise Lines recently released the first in its series of television ads highlighting their new tagline of "Fun For All. All For Fun." These ads featured the world's largest pinata and the world's largest beach balls, and were accompanied by one of our (Mr. Makarma's) favorite songs, Todd Rundgren's "Bang The Drum All Day."
These ads helped the cruise line show that its cruises are fun - they are - and were based on actual record-breaking events in Dallas and Philadelphia.
The next phase of this advertising program starts nationally on February 2. The spots are entitled "Horn" and "Stateroom Steward." With titles like that, you can be assured the fun will continue. We hope you'll enjoy the ads - we know WE will.
Speaking of fun, we'd like to remind you that the fun takes place seven days a week on the 22 ships of Carnival Cruise Lines. Come join us soon, O.K.?
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
These ads helped the cruise line show that its cruises are fun - they are - and were based on actual record-breaking events in Dallas and Philadelphia.
The next phase of this advertising program starts nationally on February 2. The spots are entitled "Horn" and "Stateroom Steward." With titles like that, you can be assured the fun will continue. We hope you'll enjoy the ads - we know WE will.
Speaking of fun, we'd like to remind you that the fun takes place seven days a week on the 22 ships of Carnival Cruise Lines. Come join us soon, O.K.?
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, January 25, 2009
They're real, and they're spectacular !
We (Mr. Makarma) are fascinated by Las Vegas. One of the things that fascinates us most is the city's ability to constantly reinvent itself. One moment it's an adult playground, then it's a family vacation destination, then it's an adult playground once anew.
Though the current spate of resort construction is leaning toward the production of sleek glass buildings, our very much loved city also went through a phase where it attempted to replicate many of the other wondrous places found on Earth. Although some of these attempts were pulled off better than others, we credit them all with reminding us of all the wonderful places one can visit.
There really are pyramids in Egypt that are beyond description and the area surrounding Lake Cuomo is beyond beautiful. The recreated Venice is certainly nice enough, but there's nothing quite like having an espresso at the real one, and it really is quite the experience to hang out where Hemingway (the real Hemingway) hung out.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Though the current spate of resort construction is leaning toward the production of sleek glass buildings, our very much loved city also went through a phase where it attempted to replicate many of the other wondrous places found on Earth. Although some of these attempts were pulled off better than others, we credit them all with reminding us of all the wonderful places one can visit.
There really are pyramids in Egypt that are beyond description and the area surrounding Lake Cuomo is beyond beautiful. The recreated Venice is certainly nice enough, but there's nothing quite like having an espresso at the real one, and it really is quite the experience to hang out where Hemingway (the real Hemingway) hung out.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Bringing the vacation to YOU
One of the benefits of a cruise vacation, over a traditional land vacation, is that the view outside the window changes constantly. That's beneficial to you, the consumer, but it also benefits the cruise line.
In the last few years, as market conditions have changed, cruise lines have changed itineraries accordingly. Cruise capacity to Europe has increased in some years, and decreased in others.
One big move has been to place ships in more U.S. home ports. It's more than just the opportunity to sail out of Fort Lauderdale versus Miami, Long Beach rather than Los Angeles; today, ships depart from wonderful cities such as Mobile, Galveston, New Orleans and Jacksonville. This not only gives you more opportunities to sail without the added cost of airfare; it allows you to spend some time before or after your sailing to enjoy yet another American destination.
The cruise line benefits too - of course - by putting their floating resorts within better reach of their vacationers. A classic win-win......
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
In the last few years, as market conditions have changed, cruise lines have changed itineraries accordingly. Cruise capacity to Europe has increased in some years, and decreased in others.
One big move has been to place ships in more U.S. home ports. It's more than just the opportunity to sail out of Fort Lauderdale versus Miami, Long Beach rather than Los Angeles; today, ships depart from wonderful cities such as Mobile, Galveston, New Orleans and Jacksonville. This not only gives you more opportunities to sail without the added cost of airfare; it allows you to spend some time before or after your sailing to enjoy yet another American destination.
The cruise line benefits too - of course - by putting their floating resorts within better reach of their vacationers. A classic win-win......
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The key to keywords
Let us (Mr. Makarma) make a bold statement and say that if you're reading this right now, you most likely found us once upon a time via that newfangled thing called the internet. Maybe you used a search engine, typed a few keywords in the box and, lo-and-behold, Makarma Travel.
Looking at the most commonly-used keywords to locate lovely little Makarma Travel, we find no major surprises. Typically, the words include the type of travel and/or the name of one of our travel partners.
A few people, however, find us with other select words. For example, someone typed......
opulence ambiance silver
......in some search box somewhere and somehow managed to come upon......Makarma Travel.
Well, we're grateful to all our good friends, no matter how you first found us.
As a side item; to those who searched for information on Mariner of the Seas' Mexican Riviera cruises, a quick note to let you know the ship is currently on its way to its new Los Angeles home port. You may already know that Mariner is the last of Royal Caribbean's Voyager class of ships to be built and, like her sisters, she's much too wide to go through the Panama Canal. She's presently on the first of three cruises around South America, and you can still join her on the second (Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso) or third (Valparaiso to Los Angeles) segment. There are some incredible deals especially on the latter sailing.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Looking at the most commonly-used keywords to locate lovely little Makarma Travel, we find no major surprises. Typically, the words include the type of travel and/or the name of one of our travel partners.
A few people, however, find us with other select words. For example, someone typed......
opulence ambiance silver
......in some search box somewhere and somehow managed to come upon......Makarma Travel.
Well, we're grateful to all our good friends, no matter how you first found us.
As a side item; to those who searched for information on Mariner of the Seas' Mexican Riviera cruises, a quick note to let you know the ship is currently on its way to its new Los Angeles home port. You may already know that Mariner is the last of Royal Caribbean's Voyager class of ships to be built and, like her sisters, she's much too wide to go through the Panama Canal. She's presently on the first of three cruises around South America, and you can still join her on the second (Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso) or third (Valparaiso to Los Angeles) segment. There are some incredible deals especially on the latter sailing.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Happy New Year ! (now, let's get to work)
Another set of holidays has past, and we (Mr. Makarma) hope the upcoming year is your best yet. We all have hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Among ours? Well, whirled peas and a permanent (rather than a "limited time only") return of the McRib sandwich. But we digress......
Even with the challenging economic times many of us are facing, it's our hope each and every one of you continues to experience the joy of travel. If you're able to make that big splurge for a trip to Europe this year, great; we'll be there to give you the service you deserve. We'll also be there for you, however, if your budget will only allow for a quick one or two-night trip closer to home.
We recently heard someone state that, after much deliberation, they made the decision to not participate in the current economic downturn. Whether that's actually possible or not, we think it's a terrific attitude to have. So let's go into this new year full steam ahead, with good health, happiness and success for us all.
Next week we'll fill you in on some of our own travel plans and goals for 2009. We think you'll find some options to suit your style and your budget. In upcoming weeks, we'll let you know about how (and why) Makarma Travel be getting a little more cruise-centric - though still full-service - for 2009/2010. We'll mention (and open the blog to discussion for) our very favorite James Bond movie lines. (Yes, one of them involves a certain Ms. Galore.) We won't, however, be sharing any information about our new favorite sushi bar (we gotta keep some secrets, ya know).
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Even with the challenging economic times many of us are facing, it's our hope each and every one of you continues to experience the joy of travel. If you're able to make that big splurge for a trip to Europe this year, great; we'll be there to give you the service you deserve. We'll also be there for you, however, if your budget will only allow for a quick one or two-night trip closer to home.
We recently heard someone state that, after much deliberation, they made the decision to not participate in the current economic downturn. Whether that's actually possible or not, we think it's a terrific attitude to have. So let's go into this new year full steam ahead, with good health, happiness and success for us all.
Next week we'll fill you in on some of our own travel plans and goals for 2009. We think you'll find some options to suit your style and your budget. In upcoming weeks, we'll let you know about how (and why) Makarma Travel be getting a little more cruise-centric - though still full-service - for 2009/2010. We'll mention (and open the blog to discussion for) our very favorite James Bond movie lines. (Yes, one of them involves a certain Ms. Galore.) We won't, however, be sharing any information about our new favorite sushi bar (we gotta keep some secrets, ya know).
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Spend some time with the Mouse
Although we rarely like to be serious while we write this bloggish thing, if a terrific deal comes along, we'll take the time to tell you about it. A case in-point......
Book that three-night Disney cruise you've been thinking about, and book it now. Disney Cruise Line has an outstanding (if there's a stronger word, we'll use it - the best we can do right now is "outstanding") vacation product. It's not inexpensive, but we've never had someone come back and tell us it wasn't worth every penny.
Well, here goes.....for many of the upcoming winter and spring sailings, kids sail free when they travel with two full-fare adults. Yes, that's right, we (Mr. Makarma) are not making this up - kids sail free. We recently quoted a family of FOUR a price similar to one we quoted for only ONE person not that long ago.
This promotion represents one of the best values we've seen in our over ten years of being your favorite travel consultants. And this deal's not gonna last forever. Pick up that phone and give us a call, O.K.? (Are you heading to the phone yet?)
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Book that three-night Disney cruise you've been thinking about, and book it now. Disney Cruise Line has an outstanding (if there's a stronger word, we'll use it - the best we can do right now is "outstanding") vacation product. It's not inexpensive, but we've never had someone come back and tell us it wasn't worth every penny.
Well, here goes.....for many of the upcoming winter and spring sailings, kids sail free when they travel with two full-fare adults. Yes, that's right, we (Mr. Makarma) are not making this up - kids sail free. We recently quoted a family of FOUR a price similar to one we quoted for only ONE person not that long ago.
This promotion represents one of the best values we've seen in our over ten years of being your favorite travel consultants. And this deal's not gonna last forever. Pick up that phone and give us a call, O.K.? (Are you heading to the phone yet?)
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, August 24, 2008
You say poTAto, and I say potaTO
Since millions and millions of people from around the world are contacting us (actually, sending us spam email), we hereby promise to help the many denizens with more frequent (and even sillier) blog entries. Today's not that day, however. Instead, we're going to discuss a very serious subject, our (Mr. Makarma's) favorite new potato chip - Kettle brand "Buffalo Bleu" Krinkle Cut Chips.
First of all, we think they're just some of the tastiest cuisine we've had all afternoon. Secondly, we think the package description also defines us (Mr. Makarma) to a "T":
"BRAZEN spice mellowed by bleu cheese"
Our only disappointment is in the Nutrition Facts statement. We (Mr. Makarma) cannot understand how a five-ounce package of this sheer wonderment can be labeled as anything other than a single-serving......
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
First of all, we think they're just some of the tastiest cuisine we've had all afternoon. Secondly, we think the package description also defines us (Mr. Makarma) to a "T":
"BRAZEN spice mellowed by bleu cheese"
Our only disappointment is in the Nutrition Facts statement. We (Mr. Makarma) cannot understand how a five-ounce package of this sheer wonderment can be labeled as anything other than a single-serving......
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, July 20, 2008
What's in a name? We'll tell ya...
Cruise lines, like many other companies, know the importance of product "branding." They show this in a number of ways - some promote active vacations, some exclaim adventure, and still others stress elegance. The naming conventions used by the various companies help get this branding message across. Royal Caribbean ship names, for example, always end in "of the Seas." There's the Liberty of the Seas and next year will bring us the Oasis of the Seas. So far, though, there's no word of a "Chicken of the Seas." (Yes, we know, you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish.)
Another favorite is the naming method of the ships of Holland America; they all end in "dam." There's the Noordam and the Westerdam. We're very partial to their newest ship, however, named the "Eurodam." We can't think of a better name to describe the current exchange rate between the Euro and the Dollar.
Not to worry though...we still think cruising is the best way to see spectacular Europe (along with it being a terrific value - now more than ever).
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Another favorite is the naming method of the ships of Holland America; they all end in "dam." There's the Noordam and the Westerdam. We're very partial to their newest ship, however, named the "Eurodam." We can't think of a better name to describe the current exchange rate between the Euro and the Dollar.
Not to worry though...we still think cruising is the best way to see spectacular Europe (along with it being a terrific value - now more than ever).
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Confused by the new "rules" of travel? We're happy, as always, to help.
If you're bewildered by all the new fuel-related fees, you're not alone. Some airlines are charging for every piece of checked luggage (though some aren't), and fuel supplements are being charged by many airlines (which normally include them in base fares) and cruise lines (which normally don't include them in base fares).
What to do? Ask us. We're on top of things, and are happy to assist you in every way possible as you plan your summer travel. The high price of fuel is creating (and will continue to create) a lot of confusion in the marketplace, but we'll still help get you to your airplane, cruise ship or resort on-time. Fuel can be expensive, but you still deserve that vacation (don't you?).
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
What to do? Ask us. We're on top of things, and are happy to assist you in every way possible as you plan your summer travel. The high price of fuel is creating (and will continue to create) a lot of confusion in the marketplace, but we'll still help get you to your airplane, cruise ship or resort on-time. Fuel can be expensive, but you still deserve that vacation (don't you?).
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Please fasten your seat belt, O.K. ?
We (Makarma Travel) encourage our friends to take every possible safety precaution while traveling. One of the ways we do this is by passing along important information provided by our travel partners. You'll possibly see the important in-flight safety video below the next time you travel on a Delta Air Lines B737-700, but here's a preview just the same.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The many pleasures of food, wine and theater
The 1969 movie, "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium", comically portrayed what escorted touring used to be known for - visiting a maximum number of places, in a minimum amount of time.
Fast forward a few years, and you'll discover an amazing renaissance in the organized tour industry. We (Makarma Travel) are constantly asked about Theatre tours of London or New York. Imagine staying in a four or five-star property in the West End or on Broadway and enjoying your choice of hits such as Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Les Misérables (now in its 23rd year in London!)
Not so long ago, one of our clients was interested in a Theatre tour of London AND New York. (Yes, something like that is very easy for us to set-up.)
Speaking of dinner......
Recently, Globus Vacations announced their new Food & Wine Tours. These escorted vacations include a wide range of experiences from touring the Sonoma and Napa Valleys of California's Wine Country to discovering the Tastes of Italy by visiting Rome, the Tuscany Region and Venice.
Dessert, anyone ?
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Customer Service 101
The last time we spoke, we (Mr. Makarma) mentioned we'd provide some examples of both good and bad customer service.
Unfortunately, examples of bad customer service are all too plentiful......
The coffee shop waiter who we finally flag down, after he's spent 15 minutes in animated conversation with three fellow waiters. When we complain that we haven't even see a menu yet, he shrugs and says "There are four of us." Yes, thank you, but we're aware of how many people you were conversing with, while you should have been providing customer service.
The tire salesperson who, rather than look up the price of an item, states, "Uh, those are around $250 each, plus mount and balance." That would be fine, if everyone else we contacted didn't take the time to look up the item and quote a price of approximately $160 each.
The (fill in the blank) who states they'll call you just as soon as something is done, something is available, etc. (How many of those calls have you later received?)
Unfortunately, today's two examples of good customer service are provided by automated programs (we'll get into a discussion of CRM another time)......
The restaurant which, accounting to information from its frequent dining program, alerts us that it's been a long time since they've seen us, here's a gift certificate to welcome us back and please let them know if they've done anything to upset us. Well, they hadn't done anything at all to upset us - we've just been one very busy omnivore. Anyway, their approach worked...we went back recently, enjoyed a terrific meal, and we'll be visiting them again soon.
The cellular phone company (yes, you read that correctly) that sent a message to our phone stating that a rebate request had been received. Two to three weeks later, another message notified us that the rebate had been processed and a check was on its way. And get this, a week or so later, we actually received the check!
We're not ready to say that cellular phone companies provide the best customer service but, not bad......
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Unfortunately, examples of bad customer service are all too plentiful......
The coffee shop waiter who we finally flag down, after he's spent 15 minutes in animated conversation with three fellow waiters. When we complain that we haven't even see a menu yet, he shrugs and says "There are four of us." Yes, thank you, but we're aware of how many people you were conversing with, while you should have been providing customer service.
The tire salesperson who, rather than look up the price of an item, states, "Uh, those are around $250 each, plus mount and balance." That would be fine, if everyone else we contacted didn't take the time to look up the item and quote a price of approximately $160 each.
The (fill in the blank) who states they'll call you just as soon as something is done, something is available, etc. (How many of those calls have you later received?)
Unfortunately, today's two examples of good customer service are provided by automated programs (we'll get into a discussion of CRM another time)......
The restaurant which, accounting to information from its frequent dining program, alerts us that it's been a long time since they've seen us, here's a gift certificate to welcome us back and please let them know if they've done anything to upset us. Well, they hadn't done anything at all to upset us - we've just been one very busy omnivore. Anyway, their approach worked...we went back recently, enjoyed a terrific meal, and we'll be visiting them again soon.
The cellular phone company (yes, you read that correctly) that sent a message to our phone stating that a rebate request had been received. Two to three weeks later, another message notified us that the rebate had been processed and a check was on its way. And get this, a week or so later, we actually received the check!
We're not ready to say that cellular phone companies provide the best customer service but, not bad......
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The answer is: Yes!
In this day of rapidly diminishing customer service, those companies which still practice this soon-to-be-lost art deserve our attention - and business.
Our company recognizes the difference between good and not-so-good customer service, and it's not hard to guess which type of organization we prefer to do business with.
Saying "Yes!"......
We (Mr. Makarma) recently read about a luxury hotel chain which empowers each of its employees (not just management - ALL employees) to spend up to $2000 per day to make things right for the guest. Think about that for a moment; $2000 per day, per employee, is a lot of money. We'll guess that, because of the company's philosophy (of never saying "no" to a guest), that very little of that money is ever spent. Why? It's simply because that company's employees are trained to make things happen for their guests. Oftentimes, it takes very little money to do this.
(In our next TravelBlog visit, we'll describe some examples of good and not-so-good customer service we've experienced.)
You might be thinking that it's impossible to always say "Yes!" to every possible customer request. Maybe so, but is it possible to offer a good alternative, or explain a situation to a customer's satisfaction?
Yes !
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Our company recognizes the difference between good and not-so-good customer service, and it's not hard to guess which type of organization we prefer to do business with.
Saying "Yes!"......
We (Mr. Makarma) recently read about a luxury hotel chain which empowers each of its employees (not just management - ALL employees) to spend up to $2000 per day to make things right for the guest. Think about that for a moment; $2000 per day, per employee, is a lot of money. We'll guess that, because of the company's philosophy (of never saying "no" to a guest), that very little of that money is ever spent. Why? It's simply because that company's employees are trained to make things happen for their guests. Oftentimes, it takes very little money to do this.
(In our next TravelBlog visit, we'll describe some examples of good and not-so-good customer service we've experienced.)
You might be thinking that it's impossible to always say "Yes!" to every possible customer request. Maybe so, but is it possible to offer a good alternative, or explain a situation to a customer's satisfaction?
Yes !
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, January 07, 2007
The new Makarma Travel CallBack Centre
Although our business hours are rather generous - 6 AM to 12 Midnight, seven days a week - we've taken yet another step to make it easy to communicate with us. It's the Makarma Travel CallBack Centre and it can be reached at:
Right about now, you might be asking, "But why, Mr. Makarma, would I ever ring-up the new Makarma Travel CallBack Centre?" Well, two reasons:
1) We don't have a toll-free number. The CallBack Centre allows you to leave us a quick message, with us then returning the call. (We'll go into more detail another time as to why we don't have a toll-free number. Briefly stated, however, it's to help save YOU, our customer, money.)
2) You may want to leave us a message during the few hours we're closed (12 Midnight to 6:00 AM). The CallBack Centre allows that.
Nothing else changes; you can still contact us via email or direct line. The CallBack Centre is just one more convenient way for you to contact us.
Makarma Travel CallBack Centre
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Right about now, you might be asking, "But why, Mr. Makarma, would I ever ring-up the new Makarma Travel CallBack Centre?" Well, two reasons:
1) We don't have a toll-free number. The CallBack Centre allows you to leave us a quick message, with us then returning the call. (We'll go into more detail another time as to why we don't have a toll-free number. Briefly stated, however, it's to help save YOU, our customer, money.)
2) You may want to leave us a message during the few hours we're closed (12 Midnight to 6:00 AM). The CallBack Centre allows that.
Nothing else changes; you can still contact us via email or direct line. The CallBack Centre is just one more convenient way for you to contact us.
Makarma Travel CallBack Centre
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Been around these parts (i.e., dining rooms, lounges, cabins) before?
Many of you are probably aware that airlines have frequent flyer programs and hotels have frequent guest programs. These programs typically offer points/miles and other amenities to customers, with the amount of benefits increasing as your level of business with that company increases.
What some may not know is that many cruise lines offer mostly similar (and in one area, better) programs to their past passengers.
Past passenger programs are similar to other frequent traveler programs in that the benefits increase the more you sail with a particular cruise line. Benefits can include special parties, bon voyage gifts, discounts on future sailings and cabin upgrades.
These programs are better than other frequent traveler programs in that the status usually stays with you, rather than expiring at the end of the year. In other words, a cruise from a few years back will usually count toward your overall total.
One thing to remember when you cruise is that, while some cruise lines automatically tally your past cruises toward their benefit program, others require that you sign-up. We recommend you always sign-up (or ensure you're already signed-up) for any program which can lead to future cruise benefits. A great travel-related services company (that would be us, Makarma Travel) would ask if you're a past passenger of a particular cruise line, apply that status to your booking, and even sign you up for the program, if necessary.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
What some may not know is that many cruise lines offer mostly similar (and in one area, better) programs to their past passengers.
Past passenger programs are similar to other frequent traveler programs in that the benefits increase the more you sail with a particular cruise line. Benefits can include special parties, bon voyage gifts, discounts on future sailings and cabin upgrades.
These programs are better than other frequent traveler programs in that the status usually stays with you, rather than expiring at the end of the year. In other words, a cruise from a few years back will usually count toward your overall total.
One thing to remember when you cruise is that, while some cruise lines automatically tally your past cruises toward their benefit program, others require that you sign-up. We recommend you always sign-up (or ensure you're already signed-up) for any program which can lead to future cruise benefits. A great travel-related services company (that would be us, Makarma Travel) would ask if you're a past passenger of a particular cruise line, apply that status to your booking, and even sign you up for the program, if necessary.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, September 17, 2006
The latest on the changing U.S. passport requirements
As you may recall, U.S. passport requirements for travel to/from certain Caribbean countries were scheduled to change nearly a year ago. Although these changes were postponed, they're now set to be instituted in 2007. We don't know whether or not any additional delays will take place but, as before, we encourage our customers to get a U.S. passport at the earliest opportunity.
Here's the latest information we have regarding the upcoming changes in requirements related to U.S. Passports (MOST RECENT UPDATE: December 24, 2006):
As of January 23, 2007, United States Passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling via air from/to the United States.
As of January 1, 2008, United States Passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling from/to the United States via land or sea, as well as air, regardless of destination. (United States Passports are required currently for travel to many countries - please ask us for details.)
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Here's the latest information we have regarding the upcoming changes in requirements related to U.S. Passports (MOST RECENT UPDATE: December 24, 2006):
As of January 23, 2007, United States Passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling via air from/to the United States.
As of January 1, 2008, United States Passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling from/to the United States via land or sea, as well as air, regardless of destination. (United States Passports are required currently for travel to many countries - please ask us for details.)
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, August 27, 2006
You know you're a travel agent specializing in cruises when...
...Your meeting with the vendor is on the 3rd floor, but instead you go looking for "Deck 3."
...Instead of taking your car in for "routine maintenance", you take it in for "scheduled drydock."
...You go into a restaurant, pick up the menu, and proceed to order one appetizer, a salad, a soup, ask for the pasta entree as a side, order two additional entrees and three desserts. You think absolutely nothing of it - until the bill arrives.
...You start dancing the macarena and singing "Hot, Hot, Hot!" (at the same time, no less), while your fellow office team members stare in pained disbelief.
...Whenever you're asked to explain why you did something, your standard reply is that it's because "I'm the king of the world."
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
...Instead of taking your car in for "routine maintenance", you take it in for "scheduled drydock."
...You go into a restaurant, pick up the menu, and proceed to order one appetizer, a salad, a soup, ask for the pasta entree as a side, order two additional entrees and three desserts. You think absolutely nothing of it - until the bill arrives.
...You start dancing the macarena and singing "Hot, Hot, Hot!" (at the same time, no less), while your fellow office team members stare in pained disbelief.
...Whenever you're asked to explain why you did something, your standard reply is that it's because "I'm the king of the world."
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, July 09, 2006
We highly recommend......
......Fodor's "The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises"
We've previously mentioned a good source to purchase travel books, and we've been a firm believer that anyone planning a trip should learn as much as they can about the itinerary. (That would be in addition, of course, to choosing a terrific travel-related services company!)
We (Makarma Travel) buy a lot of travel books. Oftentimes, we'll buy the same book each time a new edition is released. The guides serve as one source of many we use to ensure you have a terrific travel experience. A situation we find with many of the travel books, however, is that the information changes little with each "revision." Many times, it's no big deal because there's no big change. When out-of-date information keeps getting repeated, however, it could be a problem.
As you may already know, although we work with all major cruise lines, we tend to favor Carnival Cruise Lines. (Is this a surprise, or are you reading this and saying "DUH!"?) Anyway......Most of the guides that have been around a long time will acknowledge that Carnival's food has improved over time, but they just won't go the extra step and say what Fodor's "The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" states (and we agree):
"Carnival has the best food of the mainstream cruise lines."
We really like this book. It's a fresh read - and based on our experience - highly accurate. It covers the cruise lines and ships that ply the Caribbean, provides good information about the points of embarkation, and gives a good review of the various ports of call. It's even a good book if you're planning to cruise somewhere other than the Caribbean, as many of the ships described in the guide have sister ships sailing other waters.
You should be able to find Fodor's "The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" at any good bookstore, although you'll probably get a better deal online. (Our website has a link to Amazon.com, which is currently selling the guide at a 32% savings.) If you buy a five-night or longer cruise from Makarma Travel, ask us, and the guide will be our treat.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
We've previously mentioned a good source to purchase travel books, and we've been a firm believer that anyone planning a trip should learn as much as they can about the itinerary. (That would be in addition, of course, to choosing a terrific travel-related services company!)
We (Makarma Travel) buy a lot of travel books. Oftentimes, we'll buy the same book each time a new edition is released. The guides serve as one source of many we use to ensure you have a terrific travel experience. A situation we find with many of the travel books, however, is that the information changes little with each "revision." Many times, it's no big deal because there's no big change. When out-of-date information keeps getting repeated, however, it could be a problem.
As you may already know, although we work with all major cruise lines, we tend to favor Carnival Cruise Lines. (Is this a surprise, or are you reading this and saying "DUH!"?) Anyway......Most of the guides that have been around a long time will acknowledge that Carnival's food has improved over time, but they just won't go the extra step and say what Fodor's "The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" states (and we agree):
"Carnival has the best food of the mainstream cruise lines."
We really like this book. It's a fresh read - and based on our experience - highly accurate. It covers the cruise lines and ships that ply the Caribbean, provides good information about the points of embarkation, and gives a good review of the various ports of call. It's even a good book if you're planning to cruise somewhere other than the Caribbean, as many of the ships described in the guide have sister ships sailing other waters.
You should be able to find Fodor's "The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" at any good bookstore, although you'll probably get a better deal online. (Our website has a link to Amazon.com, which is currently selling the guide at a 32% savings.) If you buy a five-night or longer cruise from Makarma Travel, ask us, and the guide will be our treat.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Sunday, June 11, 2006
ALL ABOARD......the cruise ship
Mr. Makarma recently had the pleasure of sailing with a group we arranged for a three-night cruise. The one thing which constantly thrills us is how cruising is truly becoming a vacation for all ages and all backgrounds. The folks on this group were both young, and not as young. Some were married with children, others were still in school. Some had cruised before, while others were first-timers. Yet, everyone immediately made themselves at home, and quickly decided on which of the many activities onboard they'd participate in. Whether enjoying the shows, hanging out at the piano bar, catching some sun, getting a workout - there was something for all.
Everyone's reaction at the end of the cruise? Mr. Makarma, start planning the next one.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
Everyone's reaction at the end of the cruise? Mr. Makarma, start planning the next one.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: www.makarmatravel.com
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