Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Cruiseworld 2017 - Day 2 - 11/16/17

CruiseWorld 2017
Day 2 - 11-16-17



I can honestly say that the first day of Cruiseworld was fantastic! Although it was a pretty exhausting day with the classes and information overload, overall just needed time to process it all. Good thing we were able to have some down time last night.

Here is now the 2nd day of Cruiseworld and I am feeling ok but for some reason I started to feel under the weather.  Somehow the room I was in, even with the door open at night, was very dry and felt like I was getting a sore throat.  Uck!  Not a good way to start the day but I was determined to move forward and have some fun.  Another day of learning.

Kim and I met in the morning and headed to the convention center for the breakfast that was being sponsored by MSC.  MSC had a contest going for the picture submission of your best vacation moment and to put in some “swag” for MSC.  Since I didn’t have any swag, I made a shirt with the MSC logo and some bling.  I really went all out for this contest because the prize was a free 7-day cruise on the new ship MSC Seaside.  I was disappointed at MSC because one of the submissions that MSC picked as final submissions was plastered with photoshop pictures.  The contest rules stated that you could not do that.  In addition, someone during the contest made a minority comment.  Really people?  Get a grip.  Hey wouldn’t you know the individual who photoshoped their picture won?  Nice lady and fun but that is really unfair.  MSC you need to follow your own rules!  Trust me when I tell you… my picture was the BOMB and so were several others who should have won. 

Ok enough said about that and rant over. LOL.  After the MSC presentation which features the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders, again taking right from NCL’s Getaway inaugural and supposedly the godmothers of the ship, we went to the Carnival presentation.  Lots of fun and laughter and getting ready for the Trade Show and Ribbon Cutting!  


As Kim and I had to go separate ways into the Trade show, as part of the STAR program you have a certain amount of set appointments with different vendors, enabling you to get a one-on-one discussion about their product and how it helps your clients.  However, the Trade show is SOOO busy and so much is going on, it is very hard to keep those appointments.  I think that I was the only one who was able to as every time I went to an appointment, there on time, either the vendor was on the phone or talking to another travel agent and forgetting about the schedule of appointments that Travel Weekly has set up.  My personal opinion:  The STAR program should have let us in BEFORE the Trade show so that those travel agents who had appointments could meet those 5 minutes with that vendor without any disruptions or distractions.

   


So trying to keep the appointments I got to visit with some of my old colleagues and vendors I love so much and that take care of my clients.  Captain Lou is great and always has a great positive outlook.  He has helped me develop my business for quite some time now.  Then there is Norwegian Cruise Line!  How can I ever forget my favorite people, my girl Maria and Jason?  Visited with my Carnival girl Alicia and Jim from Special Needs Group.  Of course, you have to love Orlando from Holland America and Vicki Freed with Royal Caribbean.  You have not lived until you have cruised!!


        


Later on after all the walking, exhaustion, and carrying all the chachkas we received from all the vendors, Kim and I headed back toward the Hotel.   Later that evening, my colleague Jennifer with CIE Tours, invited us for dinner with her at the Irish Pub Eatery down the road.  Great food and good company as always.

So now that Day 2 is over, we have one more day left and then cruise ship inspections on Saturday. 


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Please feel free to comment as I would love to hear from you.  Stay tuned for Cruiseworld 2017 - Day 3!

#maralohatvl, #dedicatedtravelagent, #WeExist, #Cruiseworld2017, #cruises, #vacation, #fun

Friday, January 5, 2018

Cruiseworld 2017 - Day 1 - 11/15/17

CruiseWorld 2017
Day 1 - 11-15-17



Can you believe it? It’s finally here! The first day of Cruiseworld! Of course I wake up super early as I am really excited to see my fellow travel colleagues and see what I can learn from the educational seminars.  Kim, my new bestie and travel guru, brings me coffee so that I can wake up and we are ready to rock and roll!

Kim and I head on over to the convention center to start the educational seminar with CLIA (Cruise Line International Association). Love these seminars as it helps me to not only get closer to my goal as an MCC (Master Cruise Counselor) but enables me to be a better advocate for my clients to get the most out of their cruise!

Now 1PM, it was time to head on over to the general session for lunch sponsored by Holland America Cruise Lines. This year was great as they had a very healthy choice for lunch. If you read the last Cruiseworld blog, they had served some fattening lunch, non-gluten free, and full of salt. Almost ready for a heart attack and stroke at the same time! This time it was great and delish!!!

   

As the general session usually lasts around 2 hours (because the vendors give presentations about their products), Kim and I took a break in-between so that we could really enjoy taking some memorable pictures together. This was a lot of fun as yes…. Travel Agents Rock!!

   

We headed back to the general session as the cruise line panel was about to start. This is a panel you don’t want to miss! The panel consists of all the CEO, President, and/or VP’s of all the major cruise lines who are asked questions and give answers to some common concerns and/or personal opinions of what makes each of their brands unique. Of course, Mary Sullivan and Joanne Ogg, who are the speakers for Travel Weekly, throws in some funny questions to make it more interesting and to make sure the travel agents don’t fall asleep or feel bored! LOL!

  
  
 

When that was over, it was time for my assigned sessions that (as a participant of Cruiseworld Star Program) I have to attend, but worth it! This session was called the Showcase.

The Showcase consisted of 5 round table conversations with 5 different (pre-selected for your business) vendors to discuss their products. At first, it was ok but one of the vendors (Avanti) did not show up, which to me was a waste of time and most of the products I am not going to sell. There is one that I really was interested in and could benefit from. I look at it this way. If I can benefit from at LEAST 1 vendor for my clients and/or 2, I did very well. Remember that these are just snip-it’s of an introduction to the product and not something you are pushed into selling unless you think it helps your business and/or your clients. I did find it ok, however, I was not thrilled with it. I believed that I could have a little more if I had a chance to pick the ones that I believed would be helpful.

Now that was over, it was time to head on back to the hotel. Kim and I relaxed a little and then got ready for the after party at the Quarterdeck with David Holman from Bridges & Holman Travel. Everything was a very short walk to get to and convenient. When we arrived there were some of my colleagues there but then later on, people started to trickle in. As always, great food and good service at the Quarterdeck along with the company.





  
  
 

But of course, you have to save the best for last!  Our signature picture of David Holman's sock!    



Fun times and learning new things every day to better my business is the key to this convention.   So remember: The next time you decide to use a travel agent, you should feel confident knowing you are in good hands!


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Please feel free to comment as I would love to hear from you.  Stay tuned for Cruiseworld 2017 - Day 2!


#maralohatvl, #dedicatedtravelagent, #WeExist, #Cruiseworld2017, #cruises, #vacation, #fun

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Carnival Wave Season 2018

Carnival Cruise Line
Wave Season Sale
Booking Window: 12/31/17 - 1/22/18






Up to $150 Free Onboard Credit 
PLUS Mega Upgrades on 2018-2020 Sailings!


Book with Maraloha Travel during our Exclusive Wave Sale to receive up to $150 Free Onboard Credit PLUS Mega Upgrades on select 2018-2020 Carnival Cruises Sailings!


PLUS: Book your next Carnival Cruise with Maraloha Travel during Wave Season and receive Exclusive Savings PLUS Free Onboard Credit!

  • Offer applicable to new bookings only and is not combinable with any other discount or promotion.
  • Free Onboard Credit is up to $150 per couple (up to $75 per person), non-transferable, varies by cabin category, is non-refundable, applies to select Oceanview and higher cabins only, and will be provided as a credit to your Sail & Sign account.
  • Free Upgrades are automatically assigned at time of booking and are based on availability in like-to-like cabin categories (Oceanview-to-Oceanview and Balcony-to-Balcony), apply to Oceanview and Balcony cabins only, and may not apply to all sailings. Please contact Maraloha Travel to see if your desired sail date qualifies for Free Upgrades.
  • Category restrictions and exclusions apply.
  • Offer is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time.
  • Deposit must be made within the booking window for offer to apply.
  • Select pricing may not be combinable with this promotion.
  • Prices listed are in U.S. dollars and are cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability at time of booking.
  • Additional restrictions may apply, please call Maraloha Travel for more information.
  • Hurry, this is a limited time offer!

  • Free Onboard Credit offer applies to Oceanview and higher cabins.
  • Mega upgrades offer applies to Oceanview and Balcony cabins only.
  • Please verify Promo Code is available in your client's desired cabin category before quoting.
  • Free Onboard Credit is up to $150 per couple (up to $75 per person), non-transferable, non-refundable, varies by cabin category, will be provided as a credit to the guest's Sail & Sign account, and applies as follows:
    • Balcony and Suite Cabins: $150 Free Onboard Credit
    • Oceanview Cabins: $100 Free Onboard Credit
  • Rates vary by ship, cabin category, and sail date.
  • Free Upgrades are a three-category upgrade automatically assigned at time of booking and are based on availability in like-to-like cabin categories (Oceanview-to-Oceanview and Balcony-to-Balcony).
  • Subsequent upgrades in lieu of price protection will no longer be offered.
  • Category restrictions and exclusions apply.
  • Guest may select the cabin, but a minimum purchase of 6A is required.
  • Offer is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time or changed at any time without notice.
  • Changes made to the reservation may result in the assessment of cancellation penalties or service fees.
  • Booking must be created and deposited within the booking window for offer to apply.
  • Prices listed are in U.S. dollars and are cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability at time of booking.

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