Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog

When traveling to Alaska, there are no assumptions as to what to pack.  The weather is unpredictable, so they key is, to be prepared for anything. The weather varies greatly in the summer and can go from warm and sunny to overcast and chilly within hours.   From May through September, temperatures range from 40°F to 70° F during the day and drop into the 30’s and 40’s at night.

Slacks/jeans, a sweater or fleece, a lightweight jacket and a raincoat are versatile clothes for touring in Alaska, and comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in are a must! If you plan to spend a lot of time on deck viewing glaciers and wildlife you should consider packing a pair of long johns, gloves, and a scarf. A warm coat and heavy socks are essential if your itinerary includes a visit to a glacier.

Dressing in layers will prepare you for both cool and warm weather.  In the mornings, you may start off wearing an undershirt, sweater, and rain jacket. Throughout the day you can add or subtract layers as the weather permits. 

Alaska is a more “relaxed” destination so casual and comfortable are the style preferences. Even in the best restaurants you will find people dressed in jeans.  Tennis shoes are a must but you may also want to bring climbing and hiking shoes for nature walks, hiking trails and to participate in rugged adventures.  Don’t forget the rain gear because rain is common in Alaska during the summer months and it has the extra benefit of holding in body heat to keep you warm.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack:

• Flat, rubber-soled walking shoes for on board
• Sturdy but comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken, or hiking boots for onshore
• Short and long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Shorts, slacks and jeans
• Tee shirts
• Thick socks
• Sweater or fleece
• Light and heavy-weight jackets
• Long johns, gloves, scarf and hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Camera, lenses, batteries and plenty of film
• Telephoto lens
• Copies of your travel documents that should be safely secured in your in-room safe while traveling

By packing properly you will enjoy a variety of seasons all wrapped up in one great vacation! Of course by checking with www.weather.com about a week before you go on your trip can help you determine what you need to take with you as well, but still take a few extra warm clothes just in case it rains or the temperature drops unexpectedly.

While cruising, you will be offered the opporunity to book for a future trip.

Should you take advantage of the offer? Yes!

Many clients are hestitant to book for several reasons.

First they are concerned that their travel agent will not be able to assist them with the reservation. Secondly many clients don’t know where they want to go next, or what date they wish to travel. Last but not least, client worry that prices will drop in the future and they will  be stuck at the price they booked onboard.

Let me address each point.

The cruise line has in their computer system your travel agent of record. Just let them know you will be using the same agent, and the agency will receive a confirmation via fax or email while you are still on your cruise.

Not sure what ship, itinerary or date you want to go on next?  That’s okay. The cruise line will hold the $100 per person deposit until you are ready to apply it to a booking and if you change your mind, the money is refundable.

Cruise fares do change frequently, but the best way to look at it, is that you are locking in at the lowest prices at that time. Should the cruise fare drop, your rate will be adjusted, but should the prices go up, you are secure in knowing that your lower rate is protected.

Example of the benefits:

REDUCED DEPOSIT- $100.00 per person with no additional payment due until final payment

SHIPBOARD CREDIT on your next cruise:

*Please note ship board credits vary by cruise line. 

Onboard Booking Process

Meet with a Future Cruise Consultant while onboard

Future Cruise Consultant creates a $100.00 p/p Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) and then makes a new booking or gives you a receipt to show the funds will be available when you are ready to book you next cruise

A confirmation is provided to you onboard & immediately faxed or emailed to your travel agent

Clearly there are no drawbacks, as you can always change your mind. Take advantage of the reduced deposit and onboard credit offers by booking with a future cruise consultant.

Keep in mind that you will also receive a past passenger discount from Atlas as well.

Starting today (June 1st, 2009,) international travelers may need new documentation, depending on whether they are traveling by air, land or sea.
This is the 3rd & final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative set in place by the U.S. State Department.

All U.S. citizens will need to carry a U.S. passport, or equivalent for any travel by land, sea or air, anywhere outside of the United States. A driver’s license or birth certificate will no longer be valid.  If you don’t have a passport, valid “equivalents” are U.S. Passport Cards and Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST). Passport Cards are Department of Homeland Security-approved limited use passports reduced down to wallet card size, valid for land and sea travel only between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Flying out of the U.S.?  Passports are the ONLY acceptable ID for entering the United States by air.

Driving to Canada or Mexico?  Passports of course are acceptable. Passport cards can also be used.

Cruising? We strongly recommend everyone have a valid passport or passport card. Are there exceptions? If your cruise begins in one port and ends at another, then no. Even if your cruise starts and ends in the U.S. - such as beginning in Miami and ending in Los Angeles - you will need a passport. However if you start & end in the same U.S. port, then a government issued photo ID (driver’s license,) & proof of citizenship (such as an original birth certificate,) will work.  Keep in mind, that even though there is an exception for these cruises sailing in and out of the same port, what if there was an emergency and you had to FLY back from Mexico or one of the Caribbean islands? To fly you must have a passport, so we strongly recommend everyone to register for one.

Both passports and passport cards are issued by the U.S. Department of State.  Passports cost an average of $100 and are valid for 10 years. For children, passports cost around $85 and are valid for only 5 years.  Passport cards cost $45 and are also valid for 10 years for adults. The cost is reduced to $20 when combined with a new or passport renewal. It can take up to 6 weeks to receive a passport, so don’t procrastinate.

I have been on several Caribbean cruises throughout the years, so I tend to be a “rebel” and skip things like the lifeboat drill, the port presentations and the final meeting on the last  of the cruise that explains the disembarkation process, customs declaration, etc.

On my last cruise,  I had some down time and decided to sit in on a presentation for an Island we had never visited. After touting the glory of the port we were going to visit, the cruise director then passed out the common list of “approved/recommended” stores.  It is safe to shop at these stores, yes. It is the best pricing, not always. It really depends on what you are purchasing. If it is jewelry or something you may need to return, then yes by all means use these stores only, but for souvenirs and liquor, for example, don’t overpay.  Shop around several stores for the items you are interested in.

Now back to my story…the cruise director had recommended a duty free liquor store and stated in the meeting that we could purchase as many liters as we wanted and pay no duty. Next day, walking around town we found one of the “anointed” liquor stores. Thinking of all the money we could save, we bought 10 liters of Tortuga Rum, which can only be found on certain islands. The store even arranged to have everything delivered to the ship for us at no charge.

All went well, until we got to customs. We were pulled out of line and taken to a desk where 3 uniformed men were seated. Had my husband tried to sneak in those Cuban cigars after all? After several moments of silence and dirty looks between my husband & I, we were advised that we owed “duty,” because we had purchased in excess of our allowance of liquor. My husband then blamed me of course, because I was the one that attend the meeting. Long story short, we paid our tax of $20, which would have paid for an additional 1.5 bottles of rum.

Make sure and check online for the allowance for each place you are visiting ahead of time, as it is clear that the ship employees do not always have your best interest in mind, or just may not be aware of all the facts. You can easily find the information on each island’s tourist board website.

Here is some general information for the Caribbean:

The duty-free exemption, also called the personal exemption, is the total value of merchandise you may bring back to the United States without having to pay duty. You may bring back more than your exemption, but you will have to pay duty on it. In most cases, the personal exemption is $800, but there are some exceptions to this rule, which are explained below.

Exemptions

Depending on the countries you have visited, your personal exemption will be $200, $800, or $1,600. There are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products you may include in your duty-free personal exemption. The differences are explained in the following section.

The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1,600) apply if:

• The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts.
• They are in your possession, that is, they accompany you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your $800 duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
• They are declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting it. If in doubt, declare it.
• You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. For example, if you leave the United States at 1:30 p.m. on June 1, you would complete the 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands. (See also the section on the $200 exemption.)
• You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days—for example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items—you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another $800 exemption. (See the section on the $200 exemption.)
• The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items. Note the embargo prohibitions on products of Cuba.

Joint Declaration

Family members who live in the same home and return together to the United States may combine their personal exemptions. This is called a joint declaration. For example, if Mr. and Mrs. Smith travel overseas and Mrs. Smith brings home a $1,000 piece of glassware, and Mr. Smith buys $600 worth of clothing, they can combine their individual $800 exemptions on a joint declaration and not have to pay duty.

Children and infants are allowed the same exemption as adults, except for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

Carnival Cruise Lines has suspended stops at Mexican ports over concerns about swine flu.

The company says it canceled Mexico stops for three ships scheduled to visit the country Tuesday.  Full details will be available by 5pm Wednesday, April 29th. Once final details are confirmed for cruise itinerary changes, we will forward the information to our clients. In the unlikely event that our new itinerary options are not to your clients liking, Carnival will give you the opportunity to reschedule their cruise
at a later date.  Those details will also be made available tomorrow.

As you know, the swine flu situation has led a few countries to discourage travel to Mexico and the United States. The U.S. Travel Association will take a lead role in addressing this challenge. While it is important not to minimize the seriousness of the threat, it is critical to be prepared, but not panicked.

• Click here for Swine Flu talking points
• Click here for U.S. Travel’s statement.
• Click here for the CDC website with more information on Swine Flu.

Practice healthy habits to help stop the spread of swine flu

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.  This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading.
  • Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a wastebasket.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.)
• It is important to follow the advice of local health and government authorities.  You may be asked to restrict your movement and stay in your home to contain the spread of swine flu.

If you have specific questions about the swine influenza cases see http://www.cdc.gov/contact/  or call 1-800-232-4636, which is 1-800-CDC-INFO.

To learn more about travel health, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.
More information will be provided as the situation develops. Please continue to check our website on a regular basis for updates.

Last year I went on an Alaska cruise, and although most of family was able to see wildlife throughout the trip, I always seemed to just miss the whale jumping out of the water or the bear eating on the side of the road. Very disappointing to go all that way and not see wildlife.

The ship usually has a naturalist throughout the cruise spotting wildlife, so make sure and listen out for this, and go on deck - don’t try to see everything from inside the ship. It is warm, but you tend to miss all of the action. 

 Here’s a list of list of popular whale watching tips to keep in mind to improve your odds of seeing whale while in Alaska.

For more information on the best time to see Alaska wildlife, visit our website dedicated to Alaska travel: www.escortedalaskatours.com

Skin burns, ouch! Don’t ruin your fabulous vacation by spending it in pain and looking like a giant tomato. 

Follow these tips to enjoy the sun safely on your vacation.

Use a sunscreen with SPF 45 or greater.  After showering, dry off then apply sunscreen all over your body and face before you go out into the sun. Apply at least 30 minutes prior to going outdoors. Remember, sun products can take a while to take effect.

Sun protection should then be applied again when you are out on the beach.  It is also very important to reapply every 2 hours.  Eyes, lips and ears are touch up spots that need constant re-application.  Drink plenty of water, both while you’re out in the sun and after you come inside. A well-hydrated body can fight off the effects of a sunburn better than a dehydrated one. Consider apply lip balm. The most important ingredients to look for in your sunscreen are: Parsol 1789 (Avobenzone), Helioplex, Mexoryl and micronized Zinc Oxide or micronized Titanium Dioxide.

Wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UBA rays.  If you know you are staying in the sun an extended period of time, consider wearing a hat or visor.

The sun is at it’s peak from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Don’t be deceived by a cloudy day, as you can still burn.

If you do happen to get the dreaded vacation sunburn take a cool bath to soothe and relieve pain, apply an aloe or natural, plant-based lotion thickly to relieve a sunburn and allow this lotion to soak in for 10 minutes before you wipe off the excess. Be conscious of the effects and stay out of the sun until the burn is gone.

Should you bring a laptop while traveling?

This is a personal question that really depends on many things. What you’ll be doing, where you are going and how long will you be traveling?

I would like to share some guidelines that may help with your decision.

Reasons you should bring a laptop:

You can email your family and friends. Having your laptop, you can email your loved ones back home. This is something you could do at most internet cafes, which is a much nicer atmosphere than your hotel room. Most cafes around the world do offer free Wifi when you order something. Not all cafes have free Wifi; some do have a small charge. Newer cruise ships also offer Wifi, but make sure and purchase a package, as usage rates can be high.

You can download all your photos. You can download your digital photo right to your laptop. This will keep your camera’s memory stick free everyday. This will allow you to capture that favorite photo. If your memory stick is full, you would lose that favorite photo moment.

Keeping a journal of the cities you visited. Sometimes we see so much on our vacation that we tend to forget something. Keeping a journal along the way will allow you to never forget. It also allows you to post your travel blogs in writing.

Calling home for free (or very cheap) with Skype. For mere cents per minute you can make calls to landlines and cell phones from all over the world with Skype. It allows you to call from any web-enabled laptop. It’s a great way to keep in touch over the phone.

You can get lots of local information. Many laptops today have maps, directions, schedules and must-see sites for key cities. Maybe you would like get tickets to a play or need to get those directions to a restaurant. You can get all the information you need right from your laptop. Usually it’s much better than carrying around big guidebooks.

You can work. Even though we are on vacation, sometimes we still have our work on our minds. Maybe you have an on-line business and need to be kept informed. Having your laptop with you allows you to still work.  

Reasons you should keep your laptop home:

It could get lost, stolen or damaged. Where you are traveling really depends on the risks, which could range from mild to extreme. Getting your laptop insured by home or travel insurance is really not likely. Most insurance companies won’t cover you unless you pay a very high premium.

It’s extra weight to carry. If weight is an issue then you may want to keep it home. Depending on where you are traveling, you would need to bring your power adapter and any plug in devices to operate your laptop.

Surfing the internet. As we all know, the internet can be addicting. You could spend hours surfing the web, when we should be enjoying the experience of the city that you paid to see.

Checking in at the airport.  Our new airport regulations require us to open our carry bags to get through security. When you are traveling with your laptop, you will have to remove your laptop from the carry case for security inspection, so allow extra time for check-in.

You need to base your decision on where you are going. The more remote destinations you are traveling to, the less likely you will find a Wifi connection. Some remote islands will probably only have a dial up connection, which would probably be very slow.

The biggest consideration is whether you feel you actually need a laptop. Some people absolutely need to stay connected. If you decide to bring it, I would recommend a soft case to protect it. I would use a water-resistant case. Remember to never stow your computer in your luggage.

Contributed by: A Sternberg
angie@atlastravelweb.com

I just read an article on CNN written by Christopher Elliott regarding a family that asked for help in waiving an airline/consolidator penalty of $535 each ($2,675 total for 5).

The story had a nice ending, as Mr. Elliott was able to get the client a full refund, but not all stories end this way.

Clients need to be aware of penalties. When we book reservations for our clients, not only do we provide them with a confirmation, but also the Terms and Conditions for each supplier, as cancellation penalties vary. At times, there are 5 to 10 pages for the client to read over, but all of this is done prior to booking the reservation.

Furthermore as the article mentions, if there is any chance you may have to cancel your trip, a consolidator is not the way to go when booking airline tickets, as their penalties are usually higher than booking with the airline directly.

Final thoughts…no one can anticipate or predict the future. Be prepared and have piece of mind, by purchasing travel insurance for every trip! Suppliers such as Travel Guard & Access America offer add-ons to several of their plans that allow you to cancel for work reasons or even cancel for “any reason” and receive up to 75% of your penalties back. Make sure and speak to a travel professional on the best coverage to protect your investment.

Click here to read the article.