In the 2001 movie, "Moulin Rouge", the name of the groundbreaking show for the famous Parisian nightclub was "Spectacular! Spectacular!" That's also the name given to the three-deck-high main showroom of the new Carnival Splendor, and they're the best words we (Mr. Makarma) can use to help describe this beautiful cruise ship.
Last week, we had the opportunity to spend two nights onboard this incredible "Fun Ship" which will be sailing year-round seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera. If the last part of that sentence sounds vaguely familiar, it's because the Carnival Splendor is the second of two mega-ships to enter that market this year.
Ya see......the newest and largest ships usually ply Caribbean waters, as that region typically allows for the most varied itineraries and, as such, the greatest overall number of customers to a cruise line. Plans for the Carnival Splendor were that she was going to be based out of Fort Lauderdale for the foreseeable future. A sudden burst of competitiveness among the industry's two biggest players, however, meant that the Splendor's stay in Fort Lauderdale would be cut short, and she'd be sent "the long way" (around South America) to her new home port of Long Beach. Florida's loss is most definitely California's gain. (Lest you Floridians get upset with us, please let us remind you that the still-under-construction Carnival Dream will be calling Port Canaveral home starting later this year.)
The Carnival Splendor is a unique addition to the company's fleet. That's because she wasn't originally planned to be a Carnival ship but, rather, a sister ship to the Costa Concordia and Costa Serena. (Both Costa Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines operate under the same corporate umbrella.) Though Splendor will be very familiar (and comfortable) to those who have already sailed one of Carnival's Conquest-class ships, it also benefits by the larger spa and children's facilities presently found on its almost-sisters. You've likely seen the Carnival Splendor if you've had the opportunity to catch any of Carnival's current series of television ads starring improvisational comedian and "Fun Director" Matt Fisher.
We were very impressed by our short stay onboard. We found the food, entertainment, accommodations and service to be as good as, if not better then, that found on other members of the Carnival fleet, and superior to that of the company's mainstream competition. Most impressive to us was the ship's "Lido" dining options which, beyond the typical fare, included rotisserie, tandoori and deli stations, along with the ever-popular 24-hour pizzeria. Quantity is nothing without quality, however, but even here, Carnival more than excelled.
We experienced several examples of "above-and-beyond" customer service, but one really stood out. Shortly after we checked-in and found our cabin, we had a minor request for our cabin steward. The crew member we stopped in the hallway turned out to not be the one assigned to our particular cabin block. In situations such as this on other cruise lines, we'd either be politely reminded that our cabin steward would be in the area shortly, or we'd instead be asked to contact him or her via a telephone call to the front desk or to a paging system. Well, none of this was the case with the particular employee we had the pleasure of finding; not only did he ask us what assistance we needed, he said he'd relay the message to the cabin steward. We didn't even have the opportunity to think about our request again as, a very short time later, it was honored. That, our friends, is what customer service is all about.
Spectacular, Spectacular indeed.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
And what did YOU do this weekend?
No sushi again this weekend, but all is still well. First, we (Mr. Makarma) will have three opportunities this coming week to get our mercury levels back to where they belong. Second, what we did in place of consuming various raw fish and rice combinations was something much finer.
As we've noted in the past, we attend a lot of tourism-related events. Most of these functions are held during the week, in the evenings. They're generally good opportunities to learn about a new vendor or destination, but they do usually take place after a long (sometimes, really long) day behind the desk.
We were recently invited by Tourism Queensland to attend a half-day seminar on a Saturday. Not only that, the training portion was going to be followed by a "Closing Celebration." Enough said; we're there.
The function was one of the better ones we've attended. Several of the finalists from "The Best Job In The World" contest gave presentations on why they should be the temporary caretaker of an exotic island paradise. (If you're not familiar with this contest, you may want to search the websites of one of the 24-hour news channels or, alternately, drop us a line.) Following those presentations (we already have our favorite to win), we had the opportunity to meet with a number of excellent suppliers.
Now, the closing celebration was the kind of happy chaos which we clearly like - an evening at the local dueling piano bar. Well, the image of the shy Australian was clearly broken that night. ;-)
We, on the other hand, added to our professional resume. We fully expect to be signing a major recording contract soon. (You had to be there...... )
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
As we've noted in the past, we attend a lot of tourism-related events. Most of these functions are held during the week, in the evenings. They're generally good opportunities to learn about a new vendor or destination, but they do usually take place after a long (sometimes, really long) day behind the desk.
We were recently invited by Tourism Queensland to attend a half-day seminar on a Saturday. Not only that, the training portion was going to be followed by a "Closing Celebration." Enough said; we're there.
The function was one of the better ones we've attended. Several of the finalists from "The Best Job In The World" contest gave presentations on why they should be the temporary caretaker of an exotic island paradise. (If you're not familiar with this contest, you may want to search the websites of one of the 24-hour news channels or, alternately, drop us a line.) Following those presentations (we already have our favorite to win), we had the opportunity to meet with a number of excellent suppliers.
Now, the closing celebration was the kind of happy chaos which we clearly like - an evening at the local dueling piano bar. Well, the image of the shy Australian was clearly broken that night. ;-)
We, on the other hand, added to our professional resume. We fully expect to be signing a major recording contract soon. (You had to be there...... )
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What reminds you of where you've been?
O.K., here's the deal......it's Monday morning GMT and time to update the TravelBlog. The problem, however, is that we (Mr. Makarma) didn't have the opportunity to go to top-secret sushi bar this weekend. This creates two problems - we get cranky, and our creative juices just aren't what they should be.
How to get out of this funk? Well, we do what many people do - open the refrigerator and take a look-see inside. What do we find? Well, nothing less than a perfectly chilled bottle of Red Stripe. Just looking at this beauty instantly transports us to the beaches of Montego Bay and, suddenly, all is well yet again.
What reminds you of where you've been? Is it that pair of shoes you bought in Spain, the bottle of inexpensive (yet outstanding) wine you brought back from France, the case of Nutella you purchased in Italy? Could it instead be the now-empty bottle of Vermont maple syrup, the cruise line polo shirt, or the silly key chain you purchased in Seattle?
Whatever it is for you, we hope it continues to remind you both of the great times you've had, and of the ones you have yet to experience.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
How to get out of this funk? Well, we do what many people do - open the refrigerator and take a look-see inside. What do we find? Well, nothing less than a perfectly chilled bottle of Red Stripe. Just looking at this beauty instantly transports us to the beaches of Montego Bay and, suddenly, all is well yet again.
What reminds you of where you've been? Is it that pair of shoes you bought in Spain, the bottle of inexpensive (yet outstanding) wine you brought back from France, the case of Nutella you purchased in Italy? Could it instead be the now-empty bottle of Vermont maple syrup, the cruise line polo shirt, or the silly key chain you purchased in Seattle?
Whatever it is for you, we hope it continues to remind you both of the great times you've had, and of the ones you have yet to experience.
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, March 08, 2009
What's better, bad advice or no advice?
Earlier today, we (Mr. Makarma) were again reminded of why it's so important to provide the best possible information when customers trust us with their hard earned travel dollars. We were reading a daily travel blog for a major newspaper. Someone made the comment that, even though she's requested an early dinner seating on five cruises, the request was only granted once.
Various pieces of advice were given to this person; two were good, one was questionable and one was downright ridiculous. In our humble opinion......
GOOD - Use a cruise-oriented travel agent.
GOOD - Book early.
QUESTIONABLE - Book a cruise line that has an open seating policy. (This is not always practical. Some open seating arrangements are on smaller high-end cruise lines that may not be sailing where/when you want to sail. Other lines may not have as good a reputation for food, or could be very busy during the early part of the "open seating" period.)
DOWNRIGHT RIDICULOUS - The author of a famous series of cruise guides mentioned that one might want to withhold final payment until the desired seating was confirmed. Oh...brother. The one thing withholding final payment might bring about is a cancellation of your booking, and the very possible loss of your deposit. (We do, by the way, question a lot of what this particular author writes.)
A third GOOD recommendation the Q&A neglected to mention? Speak to the Maitre D' as soon as possible on the day of sailing. In every case we're aware of, the Maitre D' has posted hours (check the daily onboard schedule) where dining-related issues can be addressed. It's quite likely that the person above could have had her wish for early seating granted, possibly five out of five times, by talking to the wonderful wizards in charge of the dining room.
As one Maitre D' told us after we made what we thought was a complicated request...Nothing is impossible.
Something else that's questionable? Makarma Travel is now on Twitter. It wasn't enough that we were one of the travel industry's earliest adopters of this internet thing, we followed that with this uber-sexy TravelBlog. Now, we throw up random notes throughout the day. Recent topics we've opined about include our favorite of the new Carnival ads ("New Ship Smell") and our thoughts about the exterior design of another company's under-construction ship. Join us, or miss out on all the action:
http://twitter.com/MakarmaTravel
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Various pieces of advice were given to this person; two were good, one was questionable and one was downright ridiculous. In our humble opinion......
GOOD - Use a cruise-oriented travel agent.
GOOD - Book early.
QUESTIONABLE - Book a cruise line that has an open seating policy. (This is not always practical. Some open seating arrangements are on smaller high-end cruise lines that may not be sailing where/when you want to sail. Other lines may not have as good a reputation for food, or could be very busy during the early part of the "open seating" period.)
DOWNRIGHT RIDICULOUS - The author of a famous series of cruise guides mentioned that one might want to withhold final payment until the desired seating was confirmed. Oh...brother. The one thing withholding final payment might bring about is a cancellation of your booking, and the very possible loss of your deposit. (We do, by the way, question a lot of what this particular author writes.)
A third GOOD recommendation the Q&A neglected to mention? Speak to the Maitre D' as soon as possible on the day of sailing. In every case we're aware of, the Maitre D' has posted hours (check the daily onboard schedule) where dining-related issues can be addressed. It's quite likely that the person above could have had her wish for early seating granted, possibly five out of five times, by talking to the wonderful wizards in charge of the dining room.
As one Maitre D' told us after we made what we thought was a complicated request...Nothing is impossible.
Something else that's questionable? Makarma Travel is now on Twitter. It wasn't enough that we were one of the travel industry's earliest adopters of this internet thing, we followed that with this uber-sexy TravelBlog. Now, we throw up random notes throughout the day. Recent topics we've opined about include our favorite of the new Carnival ads ("New Ship Smell") and our thoughts about the exterior design of another company's under-construction ship. Join us, or miss out on all the action:
http://twitter.com/MakarmaTravel
Return to Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Don't leave home without them
As we've (Mr. Makarma) noted in our recent musings, two ships have set sail (actually, one's already here) around South America toward their new West Coast home ports. In both cases, some passengers were left behind, either canceling their trips outright or catching up with the ship at a later date.
Why did this happen? It happened because these vacationers arrived for their cruise without all the required documentation - in this case, tourist visas for one of the stops along the way.
While the importance of having a U.S. Passport is necessarily stressed for most foreign travel, it's also important to note that more is required by certain countries. Almost without exception, simply choosing to remain onboard the ship is not an option; if you don't have the proper documentation, and the ship pulls into port, some law has likely been violated. That's not something a cruise line (or an airline) wants to see happen. That's why some passengers on their way to a dream vacation recently made a side trip to a consulate and dealt with the expense of a one-way flight to catch up with the ship.
Always, ALWAYS, check the documentation requirements for any foreign vacation. There are a number of resources for this information; among them, the internet, travel agencies, tourism boards and consulates. Be certain of the information you're given. The ultimate responsibility to ensure you're ready for a trip is yours; a little preparation in advance will go a long way toward smooth sailing (or flying).
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Why did this happen? It happened because these vacationers arrived for their cruise without all the required documentation - in this case, tourist visas for one of the stops along the way.
While the importance of having a U.S. Passport is necessarily stressed for most foreign travel, it's also important to note that more is required by certain countries. Almost without exception, simply choosing to remain onboard the ship is not an option; if you don't have the proper documentation, and the ship pulls into port, some law has likely been violated. That's not something a cruise line (or an airline) wants to see happen. That's why some passengers on their way to a dream vacation recently made a side trip to a consulate and dealt with the expense of a one-way flight to catch up with the ship.
Always, ALWAYS, check the documentation requirements for any foreign vacation. There are a number of resources for this information; among them, the internet, travel agencies, tourism boards and consulates. Be certain of the information you're given. The ultimate responsibility to ensure you're ready for a trip is yours; a little preparation in advance will go a long way toward smooth sailing (or flying).
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Mariner Arrives at Her New Home
It took her 46 days to get here, and she didn't look the least bit tired. Good thing too, because we (Mr. Makarma) had the wonderful opportunity to help welcome Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas to her new home port of Los Angeles last week. Among those joining us on this adventure were Buffy and Ron, our very best friends in the travel industry.
The Mariner was the last built of the five-ship Voyager class, joining the Royal Caribbean fleet in November 2003. Her older sister, Voyager of the Seas, was introduced in 1999 and brought with it a host of cruise ship innovations. These included the four-deck Royal Promenade consisting of shops, cocktail lounges and cafes along its lowest deck, along with three decks of interior cabins with a floor-to-ceiling view of all the activity below. An ice rink (yes, ice rink), three-deck dining room, multi-level main showroom and a Johnny Rockets help round up all the excitement.
Mariner of the Seas is the largest cruise ever based on the West Coast (by far) and, based on our short stay, we're planning to keep her here for some time. After a quick check-in, we enjoyed lunch in the ship's Windjammer Cafe and the "Ice Under the Big Top" show mid-afternoon. In the evening, a delicious dinner (with outstanding service to match), followed by the "Pure Energy" show in the ship's Savoy Theatre. Later in the evening, both a 70's dance party and "Enchanted Knights" parade in the Royal Promenade. It was great to see Angelo performing in the Schooner Bar following his long, successful stint on the Monarch of the Seas when the latter ship was based in LA.
Although very comfortable, we didn't spend too much time in our stateroom, as the ship had much to explore and partake in. Still, we did need a couple hours sleep, followed by breakfast in the dining room and, sadly, debarkation.
Our one minor complaint had absolutely nothing to do with the ship or cruise line but, rather, with the World Cruise Center in Los Angeles (San Pedro). We had been under the impression a new terminal would be built to accommodate ships such as Mariner. Not only has this not yet been built (it's possibly still years away), the existing terminal doesn't appear ready for its close-up. We're not sure where the blame for this situation lies, but we do hope the Mariner gets the facilities she deserves soon. Nevertheless, we know RCI will not let the situation in the port affect its guests' embarkation/debarkation process, and the terminal's not-ready-for-prime-time status will do nothing to affect anyone's enjoyment of the cruise.
Thanks go out to Mariner of the Seas and her incredible crew, led by (Super) Captain Johnny Faevelen. Welcome to Los Angeles. Enjoy your weekly visits to Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. We'll be joining you again really soon.
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
The Mariner was the last built of the five-ship Voyager class, joining the Royal Caribbean fleet in November 2003. Her older sister, Voyager of the Seas, was introduced in 1999 and brought with it a host of cruise ship innovations. These included the four-deck Royal Promenade consisting of shops, cocktail lounges and cafes along its lowest deck, along with three decks of interior cabins with a floor-to-ceiling view of all the activity below. An ice rink (yes, ice rink), three-deck dining room, multi-level main showroom and a Johnny Rockets help round up all the excitement.
Mariner of the Seas is the largest cruise ever based on the West Coast (by far) and, based on our short stay, we're planning to keep her here for some time. After a quick check-in, we enjoyed lunch in the ship's Windjammer Cafe and the "Ice Under the Big Top" show mid-afternoon. In the evening, a delicious dinner (with outstanding service to match), followed by the "Pure Energy" show in the ship's Savoy Theatre. Later in the evening, both a 70's dance party and "Enchanted Knights" parade in the Royal Promenade. It was great to see Angelo performing in the Schooner Bar following his long, successful stint on the Monarch of the Seas when the latter ship was based in LA.
Although very comfortable, we didn't spend too much time in our stateroom, as the ship had much to explore and partake in. Still, we did need a couple hours sleep, followed by breakfast in the dining room and, sadly, debarkation.
Our one minor complaint had absolutely nothing to do with the ship or cruise line but, rather, with the World Cruise Center in Los Angeles (San Pedro). We had been under the impression a new terminal would be built to accommodate ships such as Mariner. Not only has this not yet been built (it's possibly still years away), the existing terminal doesn't appear ready for its close-up. We're not sure where the blame for this situation lies, but we do hope the Mariner gets the facilities she deserves soon. Nevertheless, we know RCI will not let the situation in the port affect its guests' embarkation/debarkation process, and the terminal's not-ready-for-prime-time status will do nothing to affect anyone's enjoyment of the cruise.
Thanks go out to Mariner of the Seas and her incredible crew, led by (Super) Captain Johnny Faevelen. Welcome to Los Angeles. Enjoy your weekly visits to Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. We'll be joining you again really soon.
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Why use a travel consultant? We'll tell ya.
You can imagine the sheer volume of email we (Mr. Makarma) get on a daily basis. Much of it is sent by our many travel partners. These emails have (thankfully) almost totally eliminated the avalanche of faxes we used to get. Needless to say, the environment is now in much better shape as a result of the switch to email.
Naturally, the balance of our email consists mostly of client inquiries. These are typically requests for price quotes or questions related to itinerary, availability, etc.
We recently received an email which was an absolute delight, because its writer not only told us of their interest in booking a particular cruise, it also asked if we could explain the advantages of booking through a travel agent. We'd be happy to oblige......
Thanks for contacting Makarma Travel! The benefits of booking through a travel agent are many, but the key items……
1) Service – We make it easy for you, as we handle many of the little details you’d otherwise need to be concerned with.
2) Experience – We’ve been in this business a long time, have sailed many different cruise lines and ships, and can give you the pros and cons of each.
3) Price – You don’t pay more for working with a travel agent; in fact, we can save you money by making sure you get the best overall value.
I ended the above email by again thanking its sender for contacting us, and let them know I'll be happy to give them a call or, if they preferred, they could contact us. The phone number I gave them, by the way, was our personal cell phone number - the same number we give all our clients. A good travel consultant will do this for you. Would a boiler room order taker do the same?
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Naturally, the balance of our email consists mostly of client inquiries. These are typically requests for price quotes or questions related to itinerary, availability, etc.
We recently received an email which was an absolute delight, because its writer not only told us of their interest in booking a particular cruise, it also asked if we could explain the advantages of booking through a travel agent. We'd be happy to oblige......
Thanks for contacting Makarma Travel! The benefits of booking through a travel agent are many, but the key items……
1) Service – We make it easy for you, as we handle many of the little details you’d otherwise need to be concerned with.
2) Experience – We’ve been in this business a long time, have sailed many different cruise lines and ships, and can give you the pros and cons of each.
3) Price – You don’t pay more for working with a travel agent; in fact, we can save you money by making sure you get the best overall value.
I ended the above email by again thanking its sender for contacting us, and let them know I'll be happy to give them a call or, if they preferred, they could contact us. The phone number I gave them, by the way, was our personal cell phone number - the same number we give all our clients. A good travel consultant will do this for you. Would a boiler room order taker do the same?
Return to the Makarma Travel Home Page: http://www.makarmatravel.com/
Sunday, February 08, 2009
How the Fun began
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/
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 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
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