Seattle, Washington 

Use this link to research what excursions and tours you can book in Seattle 

Located in the northwest corner of the continental United States, Seattle is Washington's largest city and not surprisingly one of the most popular embarkation ports for Alaskan cruises.  Divided between Pier 66 (Bell Street Terminal) and Pier 91 (Smith Cove Terminal) at least six major cruise lines operate round-trip itineraries to Alaska from Seattle.  Since you leave from and return to the same US city, you won't need a passport despite the requisite law mandating a short stop in a foreign country (generally Vancouver, Canada).  

We always encourage our clients to arrive a day or two at the port city before your sail date, so let's talk about some fun things to do while visiting before boarding your ship.  I will mention "walking distance" below.  For me, walking distance is 1-3 miles (one way).  Seattle is built on the side of a hill so depending on where you stay and where you want to walk, there is a good chance at some point, you'll be headed up hill.  If you have mobility issues or aren't comfortable walking, consider downtown hotel locations or plan to use rideshare or taxi services to navigate the city.

There are lots of options for hotels but let's first take a look at a map (expertly colored by me).  The yellow area is "downtown".  The further you go from the harbor and ports, the more suburban.  The hotels on the edges will be less expensive but you need to account for the distance walking or cost for transportation when you explore.  Hotels closer to the harbor will have a steeper price but you'll be within walking distance of a lot.  Also, most of these hotels, unless you're within a few miles of SEA-TAC (Seattle Tacoma International Airport) will not offer airport shuttles.  

The area in green is located near the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, and Chihuly Garden and Glass.  Fun fact - if you've ever get a chance to visit the Indianapolis Children's Museum, there is a 43 foot glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly.  Anyway, back to the green.  There are lots of hotels here that offer a good location and price.  Brands such as Four Seasons by Sheraton, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites are found here.  

The area in orange (and actually, below that area) is where you'll find the SEA-TAC and its airport hotels.  Most of these offer a free airport shuttle but again, you're on the outskirts of town.  There's no walking to the city so rideshare and taxi as well as the Sound Transit, Seattle's light rail.  You can take this from the airport to a number of stations including the Westlake station, from here, there is a Monorail that runs between here and the Museum of Pop Culture / Seattle Children's Museum.  

When we help with your pre-cruise hotel stay, I'll make sure you know the easiest, most cost-effective route from the airport to the hotel.  We'll also plan from the hotel the cruise port and cruise port back to the airport (or post-cruise hotel).  A lot of the hotels offer a shuttle service that will take you to the port on the morning of your cruise.  You sign up once you check in to the hotel and the cost is about $15-20/per person plus optional gratuity.

Pike Place Market is one of Seattle’s most iconic destinations, blending history, flavor, and local charm into an unforgettable experience. Opened in 1907, the market stretches across bustling, multi-level corridors filled with vibrant produce stands, artisan crafts, fresh flowers, and the famous fishmongers who put on a show with every flying salmon. 

Visitors can sip small-batch coffee, sample handmade pastries, explore quirky specialty shops, and meet the farmers and makers who give the market its heartbeat. Overlooking Elliott Bay, Pike Place offers a perfect mix of sensory excitement and Pacific Northwest character—making it a must-visit stop for anyone wanting to experience the true spirit of Seattle. 

The availability of fresh fruit, flowers, and fish is unmatched and while you can't take advantage of some offerings available, some of the best fruits I've ever had were eaten while taking in the market.

We happened upon Ludi's (not at the Market) for breakfast and then ended up at O-Mart for lunch on the same day.  Both are Filipino restaurants and both were excellent.  For breakfast, we ordered a plate of ube pancakes to share because they looked so cool and I got a variety platter that had several different types of sausage.  It was all terrific!  At O-Mart we had a 

Not pictured was the salmon cheek soup, a very popular dish at O-Mart.  It was interesting, but to me, the whole fish and platter pictured above were superior to the soup.  

Seattle has an underground city because the original streets of downtown were raised after a devastating fire in 1889. When the Great Seattle Fire destroyed much of the business district, city leaders decided to rebuild using brick and stone instead of wood—and to solve a persistent flooding and sanitation problem, they elevated the street level by 10 to 30 feet. As new, higher streets and sidewalks were constructed, the old first floors of buildings became basements, creating a network of passageways that still exists beneath Pioneer Square. Today, these tunnels form Seattle’s famous “underground city,” a fascinating reminder of how the city rebuilt, adapted, and quite literally rose above disaster.  

We have taken two underground tours in Seattle.  Bill Speidel's World Famous Underground Tour and Beneath the Streets both offer these tours.  The experiences were uniquely different and worth the price of admission.  If I had to rate them, the tour was better with Bill Speidel's but the tour guide was superior on the BTS experience.  Either way you go, I don't think you'll be disappointed and you'll come away with a unique and unusual perspective of the area below Pioneer Square.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more info about all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

 Alaskan Cruise on Princess Cruise Line

The Alaskan cruise season runs from early May to early October and most all cruise lines have some sort of itinerary available.  We chose Princess for a couple of reasons.  First, we'd never sailed with them and if you know anything about our agency, we value first-hand experience with the products we sell in order to guide our clients.  Princess also had an interesting itinerary that fit our schedule.  If you don't choose an itinerary that is round-trip between Seattle, you'll most likely fly into or out of Canada at one end of your trip.  This means you'll be required to have a valid passport.

Royal Princess docked in Skagway, AK

Our trip was early June on the Royal Princess for a 7-Day Inside Passage with Glacier Bay.  Before we stepped foot on the ship, we spent a little time in Seattle, WA.  I strongly encourage cruise clients (regardless of where you're cruising from or to) to arrive at the port at least one day early.  I have another blog on the reasons so I won't go over them again.  Please check this link out for more info.  I also prepared a short blog about Seattle, WA as well.    

Weather and Packing

With a great amount of our leisure time spent in tropical climates, one of the most challenging aspects of our trip was packing.  We just didn't know what to bring.  Most of the port cities we visited are part of the largest temperate rainforest in North America.  We were expecting daily rain and clouds, so having clothes that would dry fast was important.  

Before we left for our trip, we visited Sierra.  It's part of the TJX family of brands (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) and offers the exact type of clothing we were looking for.  Brands such as Columbia, Merrill, Spyder, and The American Outdoorsman fit the bill.  I purchased half a dozen plain, colored t-shirts.  They weren't the sporty dry-fast shirts you might be used to, though.  These were much softer and thin.  I got three or four pair of pants and a hooded, rainproof jacket.  

Something that surprised me as compared to Caribbean cruising was the ability to reuse outfits over the course of the trip.  Since the temps were mild, our clothes weren't disgusting at the end of the day after exploring each port.  I'd layer a t-shirt, long sleeve, and possibly a sweatshirt with a pair of quick-dry pants and waterproof shoes.  We'd carry a backpack with stocking caps, gloves, and rain coats just in case.  Here is a complete list of my clothes as well as other odds and ends I took. Coming Soon!

If you purchase quick-drying clothes, even if you're unfortunate enough to be soaked, you'll still get a couple of days from each outfit if needed.  While there was a formal night on our cruise, in general, we didn't see people getting as dressed up for dinner.  Often, we'd wear the same outfit we'd worn during our port adventures to dinner that night.  I highly value comfort over being fancy!

What I Enjoyed the Most on the Ship

Balcony Room

I truly think you'd regret being on a ship without a balcony.  The ability to step outside my cabin to the brisk, salty-fresh air as the ship glides by snow-capped mountains and dense forests is not to be underrated.  Technically, we had a mini suite, not a traditional balcony room.  The MS offered us a bit more cabin space and a seating area.  Check out a video of our room on YouTube.

Music and Comedy

A couple of the activities I like when I cruise is live music and comedy.  Both were a hit on this ship.  The Trawlermen is a UK-based folk band who did some amazing covers of more contemporary rock songs.  Our comedian was solid, offering both family and adult-themed shows.  It was a bit disappointing they didn't move him to a larger venue for his adult-themed show since it filled rather quickly.

Food and Drinks

The food on the ship was decent but I do concur that the pizza on board was a step above what you'd expect for cruise pizza, heck even most restaurant pizza, too.  Like with most cruises, I don't elect to pay extra for specialty dining so we stuck with the included provisions as well as our two free "casual meals" that came with our beverage and wi-fi package (Princess Plus).  

Seafood pizza at Alfredo's

The pizza at Prego Pizzeria was fantastic with three choices of topping that rotated daily.  Alfredo's Pizzeria was how we spent one of our casual meal credits.  They had many basic varieties (very similar to Prego) with the option to pay extra to upgrade.  I was disappointed there was an upcharge to get more pizza topping choices since this was already an "upgraded" meal.  The Trident Grill, located next to Prego, offered grilled hamburgers that were top-notch.  I'd have happily had burgers and pizza the entire trip.

Excursions

Each port of call has something to offer.  We b

Not a photo from my trip....

ooked a whale watching excursion with Harv & Marv's before we arrived in Juneau.  It included round-trip transportation from the port to Auke Bay, the boat journey to search for whales, and a brief stop to get a photo with Mendenhall Glacier in the background.  We saw whales but none breached like in the photo below.  We also saw orcas (killer whales), seals, and sea lions.  

Gateway to the Yukon

I'd have to say that my favorite experience of the trip was the White Pass and Yukon Route train excursion in Skagway.  This 2.5-3 hour round-trip trip was a highlight of my trip and helped satisfy a need to see some areas away from the ports.  If possible, arrive early at the loading point for the trip and ask, encourage (,...beg!) to be on the last car.  It offers a premium vantage point to take photos and videos of the experience.  Here is link to YouTube to see a clip of our train experience.

With our time before or after our excursions and while in Ketchikan where we had nothing planned, we just walked the streets, visiting shops and taking in the sites.  There is plenty of cruise port shopping for those who need an ulu knife, sweatshirt with your choice of a bear, salmon, or whale, or birch syrup.  They have plenty of  other cool stuff, too. 

What I'd Do Differently

Land Cruise Tour Combo

I did love the 7-day cruise but would have really enjoyed some time before the trip having more experiences on land.  With the exception of a quick blur of fur running into the weeds, I never saw a bear, sigh.  While I don't fancy myself as an intrepid hiker, I'd have loved to have a bit more wilderness exploring.  When considering any sort of land cruise combo, you have to keep in mind that you not only are you adding cost to your vacation, but most every land cruise tour originates or terminates with a Canadian port.  This means you'd have to have a current passport in order for us to book this sort of trip for you. 

"No Kings...Crab"

One restaurant I saw repeatedly while researching Alaskan cruises (and saw both locations in Juneau) is Tracy's Crab Shack.  The location closest to the port is reportedly very busy when the ships come in but a short walk toward Juneau (10-12 minutes) finds you their less busy 2nd location with the same quality everyone raves about.  I do kick myself for not splurging and getting a mess of crab legs...  

Double-Check Those Next Day Flight Options

The last thing I would consider, and this will definitely depend on your home airport, would be staying one post-cruise night to take advantage of an early morning, non-stop flight home.  The trip back to Indy was tumultuous at best and involved flight delays at SEA-TAC because some yahoo mentioned the "B-word" while on his plane, mid-air text and emails between with our airline to switch to a later flight in Chicago, and a sprint through the airport by some of the party (...thanks Ted, Andy, Brendan, and Emma) to check-in at our connecting gate while the rest of the party ambled along.  

Most all AK cruises have a brief stop in Vancouver, Canada

Honestly, this is from the Canadian Pavilion from Epcot ;)

The front of the train from the back of the train.

White Pass and Yukon Rail with the Royal Princess in the background

Blue sky and snow-capped mountains

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more info about all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

 

 Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages wins on so many levels. Joe and I first went on a Virgin Voyage in March of 2024 on the Scarlet Lady and immediately loved the vibe. There is something so different about ADULT ONLY atmospheres. The comedy is better, the food is better and the atmosphere is less chaotic. One item of note, unlike other cruise lines, you must have a valid passport for a Virgin Voyage.

 

I recently returned with our youngest daughter on the Valiant Lady and a girl's trip was perfect as well. The ships in the Virgin fleet are the same as far as the basics but the shows and decor can vary. I loved feeling immediately at home with the layout..ie, I knew how to immediately get to fantastic made to order pizza at embarkation then grab my first ice cream of the day. Followed by the sailaway party and of course the first night's PJ Party.

YES, I took a bite before we even got the photo, taste testing is required.

    A couple of difference I love with Virgin Voyages are the drink packages and lack of clothing expectations. First, unlike other cruise lines that offer "be wasted all week" drink packages that would leave me sick and require all adults in the same room to have the same outrageously expensive drink package, Virgin does drinks BETTER. First, their regular, free, drip coffee is good. Not so bad you feel the need to go buy coffee on board. Second, they include soda, tea,  juices and water. We had fresh carafes of water in our room which were refilled often.  Finally, you can purchase drinks for reasonable amounts ($6-$15) and you can prepay with a bar tab for the entire room to share, this comes with a bonus if booked in advance. For instance, prepay $200 and get $25 bonus added. This can be used to buy drinks for anyone (in your party or not).  You can get gourmet coffees, (really good, alternate milks, made correctly and only $4-6) pressed juices, smoothies, non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, beer, and wine. 

    Next up, dress code for dining onboard. In my real life, I am a teacher. I do not dress up for life and really loath packing to be "fancy". On Virgin Voyages you can wear whatever you like, every night to every venue. Sure, this is likely true of most cruise lines but on Virgin they mean it, at any dinner you will see cocktail gowns and suits next to shorts and a t-shirt with no one paying a bit of attention. They have a red night that you can be dressy red, funny red, matching red or not red at all. One night they have an event to "be fancy" but again that is up to interpretation and all are welcome.

Lots of amazing onboard activities if you like to stay busy. We joined in on Country Line Dancing, Latin Dance Party, Summer camp crafts, sunrise yoga, comedians and shows. There were trivia shows all over the ship, extensive board games collections, an open and free arcade, casino, multiple locations to lay out and soak in the sun, pools, spas, and don't forget BINGO with the Drag Queen!

When booking Virgin all of this plus gratuities are included! 

The food is amazing because there is no need to cater to children and all ages. There is also NO BUFFET which makes me ridiculously happy. You go to multiple kiosks and order exactly what you want and it is served up fresh and untouched by other cruisegoers. The pizza parlor on board is great and we returned several times. The ice cream shop has consistent flavors then some changing daily, stop by as often as you'd like. The social club has wings, popcorn, hot pretzels, candy and treats. 

There are five "sit down" restaurants on board for dinner with several serving breakfast and brunch. You make reservations prior to your trip but they were all 9pm because we booked the trip so late. After boarding the ship on our first day ( and after stopping to eat) we went to the Razzle Dazzle restaurant to meet with concierge.  They fit us in to earlier time slots that are held back to meet the needs of those with less tech savviness or those of us that were late to booking. We got everything moved to workable times with no issues at all. Unlike all other cruise lines, none of the restaurants (often called specialty dining) are an upcharge.

When you are ready to book your ADULT only cruise to the Caribbean, Europe and Greece let us know and we will take care of all the details!  

 Dillontravels@gmail.com

 

The "Magic" of staying at a Disney resort

The Grand Floridian, a deluxe resort located on the Monorail system

            

When working with clients, we are sometimes asked what advantage there is to staying at a Walt Disney World resort.  Many times, people feel that they can skip the resort and save money on their trip.  While there might be a savings, we believe the pros of being on property far outweigh modest, monetary savings.  Not sure if you'll save, request a free quote.

Disney World has over 25 different resort options spanning from budget-friendly value resorts, mid-level moderate resorts, extravagant deluxe resorts and even a campground.  Prices range from $130-$6000 per night and depend on the resort category, room category, and travel dates.  Generally, you can expect to spend $200-400 per night.   

 Time - You will spend time traveling to and from the off-property resorts.  Something to remember is that Walt Disney World is HUGE!  It covers over 20,000 acres and is the size of Manhattan.  Time is valuable, especially if you have a short trip.  It will be less convenient to go back and take naps mid-day if you aren't close to your WDW resort.

The Skyliner Gondola

      Transportation - You have free transportation once you arrive at your Disney resort.  So, there is no need for a rental car.  The resort shuttles run every 5-25 minutes which varies depending on the time of day.  Some off-property resorts offer shuttles but they may only come two times a day or every hour.  And this is all if the hotel even offers theme park transfers.   

     If you decide to drive or rent a car to give you more flexibility, keep in mind that theme park parking is $30/day for non-resort guests (free if you're staying on property).  

    

     Money and Promotions - Staying on property with a package, which includes a resort stay and ticket plus the option to add a dining plan, makes you eligible for Disney promotions.  If these come out, even after booking, we will apply them to save you money.  Also, a package requires a $200 deposit and final payment 30 days before travel.  You can cancel anytime before final payment is due.  If you book a ticket-only reservation (and stay off-property), the full amount of tickets is due at the time of purchase and these are non-refundable.

     Early Park Entry - Resort guests are eligible for entry to select parks 30 minutes before anyone else.  Rope drop is only possible if you are coming from a Disney resort.

     Lightning Lane Advance Purchase - If you decide to purchase LL passes, you can do so 7 days prior to travel if you're a resort guest.  For others, it's 3 days prior.  This could be the difference between getting or not getting a pass for a particular ride.  Not sure what a Lighting Lane pass is, read more here.

The Beast at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom

      Dining Plan - You must stay on Disney property to purchase a Dining Plan.  If  you purchase the Disney Dining Plan, we will make those reservations for you as part of our free services.  Depending on your needs, the DDP or the simpler Quick Service dining plan, is designed for convenience and can be a way to save.  Check out this blog to find out if you'd benefit from a dining plan.

 Character Dining - Whether staying on property or not, you can still make reservations for a character meal.  WDW resort guests can do this 60 days before travel, others wait until 30 days before travel.  This might make difference of getting the meal you want to experience.

The "Magic" - As corny as it sounds, there is something to be said about being immersed in Disney.  If you stay on property, from the moment you arrive, you are enveloped.  Your off-property resort won't have Mickey-shaped waffles, Disney art, or  themed-pools.  No Disney gift shop, no cast members, and no whimsical Disney background music.  That special "something" disappears at the end of a long day visiting the parks when you pile into your car and head for your off-property hotel.  

Perhaps, one of the saddest signs of all times!

The "What if...." - I wrote this blog just one day after Hurricane Milton struck central-Florida.  Amanda, one of our agents, was visiting and offered a unique insight to being "stuck at Disney" during a storm.  Somethings we learned are that WDW has constructed buildings to withstand Category 5 storms, the resorts have generators, and maybe most importantly, Disney has a plan.  

Activity board at Contemporary Resort

After the theme parks and common areas closed, guests were sequestered to their respective resorts to ride out the storm.  It appeared that sufficient notice was provided about what would be closed and when.  The resorts that had interior access to a central lobby (mostly, your deluxe resorts) could access the amenities such as the store, arcade (which was free!), and restaurants.  Disney had a variety of activities to pass the time and once the storm has passed and it was safe, Disney start to shift back to business as normal.  

The theme parks were scheduled to reopen about 30 hours after they closed.  I added a couple of her photos below.

   

Extra towels and shampoo, furniture moved inside, and sandbags at the doors

One of the Monorails parked inside the Contemporary Resort

  

Carts and signs tied down for the hurricane

Lamps covered to prevent damage from debris

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more tips and tricks, not only for Walt Disney World resorts but all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

Disney's Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, Explained

Disney's Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass and Premium Pass, Explained

If you've ever considered a Disney trip, you've probably run across the terms Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. If you aren't familiar with these terms, here's a quick overview of how these work.  For this article, I'm going to speak only about Walt Disney World in Florida:  

• You can purchase these options as an enhancement to your base or Park Hopper ticket. 

•  Once purchased, you can select rides and attractions (based on availability), permitting you to skip the regular line queue.  

• When your designated time to ride arrives, return to the ride joining the "Lightning Lane" line where you bypass the standard line. 

Before it was Genie+ and Individual Lighting Lane, we had the good 'ol (FREE!) Fastpass system, different names but it's all the same idea minus the punch in your pocket book.

Starting this week, Disney has once again revamped the names and features.  Here is a little info about what's new and what's changed.  

• Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) instead of Genie+
• Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) instead of Individual Lighting Lane
• Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP) 

These features are available for purchase from your MyDisneyExperience app.  Your package (resort and tickets) or ticket must be linked to your account.  

• Walt Disney Resort guests can make their purchase and select experiences up to 7 days before their check-in, for up to 14 days.  

• Non-resort guests who have theme park tickets can make their purchase and select experiences up to 3 days before the active ticket date through the active ticket date.  

• Annual Passholders can make their purchase 7 days in advance if they have a resort reservation, if not, it's 3 days in advance.  

• This is far better than making your purchase the day of use.  

You can make three Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections and purchase two Lightning Lane Individual selections.  The LLMP experiences are divided into two groups (except for Animal Kingdom).   After you've redeemed your first multi pass experience, you can make additional selections, one at a time, based on availability.  There are no selections necessary if you purchase the LL Premier Pass.  You get one-time entry to each available Lighting Lane experience in a theme park.

Some other new features are:

• You can see the rides and attractions that are available before you finalize your purchase.

• You can make multiple Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Lightning Lane Single Pass purchases in one transaction from your MDE.  

• If you have Park Hopper tickets - you can only make selections in one park until you've redeemed your first experience.  After that, you can make selections in another park.

One feature that managed to stick around is the price.  Yep, Disney is still charging us to skip lines.  These prices are dynamic meaning they adjust up or down by date.  Below is a video of the prices we are seeing this first week of availability (July, 2024).  Clearly, this can add up as you tack on LLMP and LLSP purchases for your group. 

The Lightning Lane purchases are non-refundable.  If you cancel your resort package or ticket, any Lighting Lane selections associated with your MDE account are automatically cancelled, too.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more tips and tricks, not only for Walt Disney World resorts but all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay:  What's the Logic?

Most cruises we book sail from and return to a US port in Florida.  The easiest way to reach these cruise ports is catch a quick flight into the port city.  Others, who either want to save a little cash or are "flight-adverse", opt to drive.  Either way, if we booked the cruise for you, there is a high likelihood that I mentioned at some point getting a pre-cruise hotel.   

Why are we trying to get you to spend more on "another night"?

It's easy to see why you might tsk at the suggestion you spend another $200 or $300 on your trip just so you can stay the night near the port before your cruise but there is good reason for this. 

While you may have always flown at the exact time your airline printed on your boarding pass, we've taken enough trips to know that a 6:15 am departure might result in you getting to your destination at noon the following day.  This typically isn't a huge issue unless after you land, your plan is to grab your bags, catch your transfer and scurry to the port with adequate time to check-in and board the ship.  

(fake boarding pass but the airline was NOT CHOSEN AT RANDOM!)

Oh, you're going to drive, cool.  Mechanical issues, foul weather, accidents and more might stymie the best laid plans.  Either way, hoping to roll up to the port on the day of the cruise might not be the best choice.  

They ain't waiting!

Typically, a cruise line will depart the port between 4:00 - 6:00 pm.  And, they will leave with OR without you.  So, what does that mean for you if you're not in your cabin, or more likely, somewhere gorging yourself on shrimp cocktail and cookies when the ship steams outbound?  It means you have paid for a really cool vacation that you might not be taking.

What does it look like when that happens?

You pace back and forth, trying to figure out if you're going to cry or throw up or both.  Seizing all your strength, you (or your travel advisor) scramble to make plans to get you to the next port of call and "catch up" with the ship.  No problem, right?  You just need to arrange, at the last minute, one-way flights to where ever the ship is headed.  Hopefully you have packed your credit card and passport because while you can sail to the Caribbean without a passport, you can't fly there without one.  No passport?  Well, this is the end of your Caribbean cruise. 

But luckily, everyone has a passport.  Let's hope that the ship hasn't altered the course and substituted the port where you'll soon be catching your flight to with alternative port.  This does happen due to weather or scheduling conflicts.  Now, you'll need a place to stay for the night until you can get on the plane.  Don't forget to complete the proper immigration forms online in order to arrive by air.  Oh, one way flights into a foreign country can be a real bear because if you're not leaving (or at least don't have any proof), you might need a visa.  Before you catch up, you've got two or three more meals for the family.  Finally, once you've landed at the destination, you'll need to get to the cruise port.  Get that credit card out again! 

I have had two sets of clients miss their ships departure.  Both had flight delays leaving LAX for a Hawaiian cruise.  Lucky for them, no passports are needed to fly from Honolulu to Maui!  I was able to help with the flights, hotel, and transfers.  But, the clients were out the cost of those expenses and missed the first night of their cruise as well as the full day in that first port of call.  And this is all only possible if we can find those last minute flights and overnight hotel.  Side note: both families had travel insurance and after some work on the part of the client, they were able to get reimbursed.   

Is that hotel sounding more appealing now?

You're right, this is sort of a scare tactic.  I guess it's so scary that I've scared myself into this same practice of arriving the night before for my own cruises.  I understand not wanting to spend extra money.  But, most hotels can be had for a couple hundred bucks.  If you'd like our help (it's free to use our agency), we'll look for someplace with a free airport shuttle and maybe even a free breakfast, too.  Plus, many hotels that are located near the cruise ports have cheap transfers ($10-15/passenger) that can be arranged the day you arrive.  If you're shipping out from Port Canaveral, FL, we work with GoPort who bundles a hotel and all of the transfers into one easy package.  

If you don't mind flying out late, there is a good chance you can find a good deal on those red-eye flights basically making the cost of pre-cruise hotel a moot point.  Either way, I'd say a few hundred bucks is cheap insurance to almost unequivocally avoid missing that sail-away food fest while sparing you any anxiety of not being there on time.

~Joe

Let us know how we can help you with your next trip by emailing dillontravels@gmail.com.  You can also visit our Facebook page or website.

 

 Club Mobay:  VIP Meet and Greet Review

We have visited Jamaica close to a dozen times and have always entered via Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.  We have had the wonderful experience of walking off the plane, breezing through Immigration and Customs, and to our transfer in under an hour.  We have also had the misfortune to deboard and after spending two or more hours at the airport, drag ourselves to the transfer bus.  The later is more frequent with the average time spent being around 1.5-2 hours.  

For our most recent trip, we chose to test drive the Club Mobay VIP Meet and Greet service.  For the cost is $50 per person, they advertise you'll be "fast tracked" through the entry process allowing you to get your vacation started that much sooner.

So, what was our experience arriving?

• We got off of the plane and were greeted by a Club Mobay employee with a sign displaying our name.

• We were whisked to the automated immigration kiosks where our host explained how to and then helped to scan our passports.

• We were escorted through the first check point using a line designated specifically for the Club Mobay guests.

• Next, she took us to the baggage claim area where we waited for our bags.  We had just enough time for a restroom break before our bags spilled onto the conveyor. She even grabbed one of those fancy carts you normally have to pay extra to use!  

• Finally, she escorted us through the second check point, again using a line specifically designated for Club Mobay guests.  

(our host and our sign)

Did we save any time?

We definitely did!  I would guess that from the time I stepped off the plane until I was delivered to the Sandals Club lounge, we spent a total of 35 minutes navigating the airport and "entering" Jamaica.  Other guests who were traveling with us said it was even quicker for them.  The longest part of the experience was waiting for Southwest to unload our bags but that did give us time for a much needed bathroom break.

(the throng of people we skipped at the 2nd check point because we are awesome...and paid $50 each)

Who should do this?

I would recommend this for anyone visiting Jamaica via MBJ airport.  This service is also available if you fly into Kingston International Airport but for most leisure tourists, this will almost certainly not be the case.  Who would really benefit:

• people travelling during a busy season

• people who are anxious travelers or have never navigated a foreign airport

• people who enjoy being greeted like your special, escorted around like royalty, and then delivered expeditiously after skipping the long lines for the paltry sum of $50

Sounds great! Does Club Mobay offer anything else?

I'm glad you asked.  As I mentioned, we were taken to the Sandals Club Lounge (a benefit for guests of Sandals and Beaches resorts) at then end of our whirlwind 35-minute adventure through Sangster International.  But, if you don't happen to have access to the Sandals lounge; you can freshen up, grab a snack, or just relax for a moment at the Club Mobay lounge.  I kick myself in the pants for not exploring the lounge.  I don't know for certain, but would imagine they assist you locating your resort transfer (which we can add to your trip), find a taxi, or rent a car. 

"...and, if you act now, for the amazing price of $35 extra"

You can receive the full deal by adding the Club Mobay departure lounge.  This service is designed for those returning home after their trip.  Again, you'll have access to wifi, snacks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, showers, and more.  On one of our earlier trips, when MBJ was less "glamorous" we spent our pre-flight hours hanging in the lounge.  I enjoyed the snacks; treats like pre-packaged biscuits (cookies), bags of plantain chips, and hors d'oeuvres.  The first two of which could be taken with me to munch on while on the plane.  The free drinks were less appealing, especially after spending a week at an all-inclusive resort.  I guess I'd had my fill of Red Stripe.

Honestly, with the upgrades that have occurred at MBJ over the past decade, I don't know waiting in the terminal is any less comfortable than any other major US airport so we probably won't ever use the Club Mobay departure lounge again.

One final note, the cost for kids (ages 2-12) is $25 for arrival and $23 for departure services.  Kids under 2 years old are free.

A little extra kudos to Club Mobay...

This trip was for a wedding and much to our dismay, an unnamed "Patriotic" Airline saw that we did not make our original flights.  Our arrival to Jamaica was not only the following day but occurred at two different times.  I was able to send an email and followed up with a phone call about our flight updates.  From a travel agent standpoint, they were very easy to work with.  As one of their customers, I was assured they would have staff there to accommodate us.  They definitely excelled.  

 ~Joe

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