tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46971296640930127312012-02-16T16:06:35.368-05:00A mixed bag of travel fun and information by a longtime travel dream maker. Connie George Travel Associates specializes in arranging cruise groups designed for girls getaways, church, social, family reunions and organizations. We also have among the best consultants worldwide which specialize in wheelchair accessible cruising. Talk to us about booking your next vacation. We want to show you how easy it can be to plan your next fantastic getaway!Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-19032555702951331492011-11-21T11:10:00.000-05:002011-11-21T11:10:00.724-05:00

Does the souvenir shopping list for your Mediterranean cruise looks something like this? Scarf from Spain for Aunt Alma Tie from Italy for hubby Silk blouse from France for me Postcards from everywhere Jeans to replace John's that he tore while hanging out with new friends in the teen lounge. Sure, many people around the world know English.  But since you are visiting their countries, it's not

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-13112432342685928882011-11-14T10:15:00.001-05:002011-11-14T10:15:00.760-05:00

I’m writing from my balcony aboard Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Silhouette. I was enjoying my novel when I looked out over the ocean and found my mind wandering to how much I was enjoying my balcony and the value of it to me. I wondered if I could share this experience with our readers. I’m going to give it a shot. After boarding in Cape Liberty, we settled into the cabin and then

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-12343517272943055342011-11-07T10:15:00.000-05:002011-11-07T10:15:00.533-05:00

Because you have learned to pack lighter for your vacations, you had planned to wear these pants twice during your cruise. But…. oh no! You spilled your drink on your pants the first night wearing them. Thankfully cruise ships offer laundry services!  Most ships offer valet laundry services (wash and press, press only, dry cleaning). Some also offer self-service “laundromats.” Pricing to have

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-1208285186702139312011-10-31T11:05:00.000-04:002011-10-31T11:05:00.662-04:00

Who doesn't love a good carnival? But I'm not talking about the kind with the ferris wheel and cotton candy. Instead, I'm talking about the exciting carnivals in the Caribbean which have roots is long ago medieval Venice, Italy.   "Carnival" throughout the Caribbean region is a combination of religion, culture and tradition. Unlike Mardi Gras in New Orleans, not all islands associate Carnival

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-65088086680348888962011-10-24T11:43:00.001-04:002011-10-26T13:53:27.308-04:00

Growing up, we had a drive-in movie theater near our home. When young, my brother and I in our pajamas, along with our parents would park and watch the latest new movie out, often a Disney film. Pull into a parking spot, take a speaker off its pole and put it on your window. As teens, the trick was to pack the car tight with friends which often included trying to sneak someone in “free” in the

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-6777929838366512482011-10-17T09:15:00.005-04:002011-10-17T22:27:26.053-04:00

At a recent meeting of our Delaware County Toastmaster’s Club, member Bernie Selling had us laughing for a good five minutes about the subject of flying for his “humorous speech” assignment. Bernie agreed to my request to share excerpts from his speech with our readers. He explained that several of his jokes and phrases came from the internet and were then mixed with his own “observations and

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-44015086266088428032011-10-07T17:03:00.001-04:002011-10-07T17:05:16.334-04:00

KISS frontman, Gene Simmons, is in the news for more than just the recent marriage to his longtime girlfriend, Shannon Tweed. This time, he’s in the travel news. With two performances and theme events, a boatload of people will be rockin’ and rollin’ all night long during the upcoming KISS Kruise on Carnival Destiny next week! Bowzer meets Stacy and Barb from SOFT. KISS is joining a

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-35838145229509417082011-08-22T13:42:00.000-04:002011-08-22T13:42:16.873-04:00

 Can you can answer “yes” to these seven questions?  If so, you can probably safely skip buying travel insurance! 1- Are you okay with losing your money due to cancellation penalties if you should have to cancel your trip even due to an emergency? 2- Can you afford the loss if your airline, cruise line, tour operator ceases operations? 3- Can you afford to pick up costs (i.e. airfare, lodging,

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-17964338950808220362011-06-25T23:04:00.003-04:002011-06-28T10:35:57.145-04:00

  Connie George Travel Associates held a Cruise Night at the Hilton Garden Inn Kennett Square last week. So exactly what is a Cruise Night? And is there a benefit to you if you didn’t attend it? (Yes! Keep reading!) Simply put, Cruise Nights are an informational event sponsored by a travel agency and at least one cruise line. They usually include light refreshments, announcements of special

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-35962320520994712982011-06-16T00:35:00.000-04:002011-06-16T00:35:46.586-04:00

Our “Chillin’ Out in Alaska” blankets were a very popular souvenir for our Alaska-bound clients a few years ago. In fact, I was recently talking to someone who was an entertainer and workshop presenter on an Alaska cruise conference we arranged in 2006 and he commented about how they still have and use their blanket! It had been a while so we decided to buy these for our clients again this

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-78117148689408854292011-06-05T22:27:00.003-04:002011-06-29T10:37:42.093-04:00

   Being a guest on That Keith Wann Show… Cultural Bridges with Keith and his co-host, Windell "Wink" Smith, last Wednesday night was the most fun I’ve ever had on a radio show! If you’re not familiar with it, this is a weekly internet radio show geared toward the Deaf community with the theme of bridging between the Deaf and Hearing cultures. The format is the typical audio, but there’s a chat

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-78924600041001000892011-05-05T13:32:00.004-04:002011-05-05T16:00:33.391-04:00

The fifth of May has evolved into a celebration of parades and parties in the United States as the Cinco de Mayo excitement spreads through Mexico’s northern neighbor. The May 5th holiday celebrates an important day in the history of Mexico, its roots stemming from the "Batalla de Puebla.” After years of occupation by the French, the smaller and less-equipped Mexican Army held a victory over

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-12551005262443778572011-04-25T09:00:00.000-04:002011-04-25T09:00:01.741-04:00

When you book your vacation, are you getting outstanding customer service? With Connie George Travel Associates, you’ll receive an actual reply to your email or phone call information request by a real live human being. Not autobots that are ignoring your individual questions or concerns. Our theory? If you aren’t a robot, you shouldn’t have a robot replying to you! From the beginning, an

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-47055862946785627282011-04-11T23:20:00.000-04:002011-04-11T23:20:00.232-04:00

I don’t understand why someone would book directly with a cruise line. I just can’t think of any advantage. If I quit being a travel consultant tomorrow, I'd likely book my own cruises for a little while, but once I was removed from the industry for a while, I would search out a relationship with a travel consultant. I can think of disadvantages for people booking direct. Cruise lines, obviously

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-76789638077373487082011-03-28T13:00:00.000-04:002011-03-28T13:00:00.567-04:00

Are you a pizza aficionado? As a pizza lover, an article regarding Travel + Leisure’s Best Pizza award in their America’s Favorite Cities survey got my mind moving (and my mouth watering!) on the subject of pizza. Deciding I wanted to write about cruising and pizza, I wondered about 24-hour availability for pizza lovers on cruises so I contacted the six largest cruise lines. Here’s what I was

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-53826462786123968272011-03-14T09:00:00.006-04:002011-03-14T09:00:14.153-04:00

Why is a professional travel consultant better than dealing with a call center agent?  Here are our "Top 10" reasons: 10- Consultants may have visited your destination or sailed on your cruise ship. 9- Consultants attend conferences. 8- Consultants attend trade shows. 7- Consultants attend webinars and teleconferences. 6- Consultants read travel trade industry magazines. 5- Consultants

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-81821523084828299982011-02-28T09:00:00.008-05:002011-02-28T09:00:05.021-05:00

I used to watch Hawaii Five-O with my grandparents. Great scenery, good stories and terrific acting kept the show on for 12 seasons. It would probably be profound if I could tell you that the show played into my becoming a travel consultant, but that would be as fictional a story as any of the show’s storylines! Although I enjoyed the original season, memories of it didn’t cause me to get

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-24326812948899985592011-02-21T09:00:00.001-05:002011-02-21T09:00:18.867-05:00

The anchor’s been raised, the steel band is playing, excitement is high for all of the guests booked on your cruise ship as they get ready for their adventure! Except for you---- you’re stuck in an airport watching your vacation dreams, days off from work and your financial investment go down the drain. Maybe it was weather that delayed your flight. Perhaps it was a mechanical delay. Or a

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-10715188162812646332011-02-12T17:13:00.003-05:002011-02-12T21:28:13.805-05:00

Guys, are you a romantic at heart? Or do you need help letting your wife or girlfriend know how special she is to you on the 364 days of the year that aren’t Valentine’s Day? We’ll get you started with 12 suggestions relating to our favorite romantic setting: 1- Tell her that you want alone time with her…. No jobs, housework, phones, interruption, bills. It’s time to plan a vacation so you two

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-41796444168248449862011-02-01T22:42:00.000-05:002011-02-01T22:42:47.980-05:00

I’m not a big nautical history buff and, though I have an appreciation for our nation’s history, neither would I be considered a huge American history addict either. But when it comes to beautiful old ocean liners or cruise ships that are wasting away, it pains me that a large chunk of “history” has been rusting in the Delaware River while awaiting a tow to a scrap yard. As a long time veteran

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-16713125141195337132011-01-24T20:18:00.001-05:002011-01-24T20:26:17.436-05:00

Matchmaking is big on the internet. Even if you’re not looking to meet your potential significant other, you’ve likely heard of companies like Match.com and eHarmony. But are you aware that there is a “matchmaker” between restaurants and consumers that can save you money on your dining out bills? That’s more or less what Restaurant.com bills itself as. They are a marketer for restaurants and can

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-11834926930020545632010-10-14T12:54:00.001-04:002010-10-27T08:41:41.962-04:00

I sometimes have difficulty getting rid of paper as evidenced by my keeping a copy of “Ten Commandments for Travelers” since, according to the date on the paper, 1982. Had it been written in calligraphy and framed, it may have made sense to keep it. Instead, this is a narrow paper “stuffer” that we use to put in ticket jackets of clients heading toward exotic (and not so exotic) destinations.

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-18406181198578791292010-09-20T09:56:00.003-04:002010-09-20T11:56:48.144-04:00

What is the best part of a vacation? The expectations beforehand? The actual experiences of the trip itself? Or is it the memories afterward? Whether it’s a family vacation, group trip, honeymoon or a girls’ getaway, it’s the memories that take that short time into the future. We enjoy photos, journals, videos and souvenirs to help keep those memories with us. Our Girls’ Getaway Cruises brands,

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-90677781575322239052010-09-14T21:17:00.000-04:002010-09-14T21:17:15.459-04:00

I had a problem after my second cruise. I realized on my first cruise that I was addicted to cruising. I realized after my second one that I couldn’t afford to gain five pounds each time I went on one! Working with a newly devised plan, I managed to actually lose two pounds on the third cruise! Here’s how I did it: Beverages- Think about what you drink. A Pina Colada has over 600 calories. In

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-43711240654491788312010-09-11T14:23:00.001-04:002010-09-11T14:28:23.216-04:00

National Grandparents Day is September 12. It always falls on the first Sunday following Labor Day. I had planned to write an article about multi-generational cruise vacations which have become so popular. I even have permission from a client to use their three generation family cruise photo for the blog. But when I sat down to write this evening, I had a change of mind. (female prerogative! )

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-32508534535209047052010-08-06T22:45:00.014-04:002010-08-08T23:32:44.804-04:00

July 26 was the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our agency has an Access Travel Team which specializes in accessible cruising. Many conversations last week among our specialists and with colleagues who are involved with “access” in the travel industry were retrospective. Stories and memories that made us laugh, some that reminded us of times when we had wanted to

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-78165764288194761372010-07-18T19:14:00.001-04:002010-09-19T20:42:39.253-04:00

I enjoyed a tour of American Cruise Line’s ship, American Spirit, over the weekend. She is nearing the end this season’s 7 night Philadelphia- Potomac River sailings from Philadelphia which stop at Havre de Grace, Chestertown, St. Michaels, Annapolis and St. Mary’s City in Maryland as well as Mount Vernon and Alexandria in Virginia. The stop in Alexandria enables people to also visit Washington

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-51954891959950992652010-06-29T12:16:00.000-04:002010-06-29T12:46:33.161-04:00

Happy Fourth of July! It’s that time of year when we get nostalgic and also when we think of “red, white and blue” in flags, clothing, décor and even food. It’s that last part that I’m thinking of as I write this.Growing up in the ’60s and ‘70s, my family was super traditional in what we ate. I’m not sure how much was a sign of the times, part of being in the suburbs or how much was just my

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-14619772538023229542010-04-13T16:42:00.000-04:002010-04-13T17:00:09.176-04:00

Two couples doing very different trips, but spending about the same amount for their long-awaited vacations.For the first couple cruising on Princess Cruises, I explain “e-docs” which is short for “electronic travel documents.” “Go here, click there, print what you would like to take” and an explanation of the optional baggage tags which can be printed and then fake-laminated in clear shipping

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-6041819036356775722010-03-17T20:59:00.000-04:002010-03-17T21:01:42.883-04:00

I read a fair amount of marketing tips articles. Many of the ones about blogging stress using it to show your personality, professionalism and knowledge. “They” say not to use it to talk about specific prices, promotions and sales. But I wonder if “they” are always right?People are often interested in the best “deal” so is it really bad if I write to tell you that we have an exclusive promotion

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-90696151979525817262010-01-18T11:32:00.000-05:002010-01-18T11:54:11.924-05:00

By Vicki ThorpTravel Consultant & Lead Specialist on our Access Travel TeamFor those of you who have been thinking or praying for our sister and brother-in-law, missionaries in Haiti, here is a quick update. They are safe and had plenty of supplies (thankfully) purchased 2 weeks ago from Port-au-Prince and a grocery store that is no longer there. They are in northern Haiti, near Port-de-Paix (

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-20071127896573364632009-11-06T20:28:00.000-05:002009-11-06T21:21:24.037-05:00

It’s a travel industry nightmare. Flights canceled or delayed because of weather. Be it a snowstorm or a hurricane, major “weather” causes havoc. Perhaps you’re scheduled to fly from or to an airport that’s closed or running a delay. Or maybe you’re changing planes at that airport. Or you are breathing a sigh of relief the night before your trip because you’re not going near the airports in

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-63734121805895177032009-10-29T09:16:00.000-04:002009-10-29T21:31:44.034-04:00

Did you know that we offer a flexible payment plan for our clients’ convenience? By planning your payments into your monthly budget, your vacation may be more affordable to you!Here’s how it works:• Depending upon the cruise, tour or resort package booked, you will have a deposit that generally runs between $100 – 500 per person at the time of booking.• Depending upon the cruise, tour or resort

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-28003052049025887222009-10-21T15:10:00.000-04:002009-10-22T22:08:05.327-04:00

If this will be you watching Desperate Housewives this winter, you may be desperate to plan a warm winter vacation!Top 10 Ways to Stay Warm this Winter10) Keep stoking the fireplace.9) Layers, sweatsuits and legwarmers. It might not look very snazzy, but only your nose and hands will be cold.8) Bury under blankets. Keep them pulled up to nose.7) Keep the thermostat up high. The heck with the gas,

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-69041610643786757232009-09-12T22:57:00.000-04:002009-09-15T12:20:48.051-04:00

“Twitter User Ivy Bean Turns 104 Years Old - http://bit.ly/4iegT.” It caught my attention when I read it on my Twitter account earlier this week. My curiosity was aroused. I clicked on the link and found a short story and a video about this remarkable woman who lives in a nursing home in England. She celebrated he 104th birthday this past week. The note I read was basically a mini-blog

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-33217383601908839852009-08-11T00:24:00.001-04:002010-07-24T01:00:16.829-04:00

We are excited to be announcing the start of an innovative and simple promotion for group leaders and gathering organizers---- “5 for $500” is for you! Traditionally “groups” were usually eight or more cabins and the group leader earned a “free cruise berth” based on lots of confusing criteria that resulted in group leaders often still going out-of-pocket for government-related fees and taxes.

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-12530282430427131962009-07-09T17:44:00.000-04:002009-08-11T00:22:22.814-04:00

Fox News referred to him as the “poster child for anyone who has ever experienced frustration with the airline industry.” After months of exasperation leading nowhere, a Canadian singer promised a United Airlines employee that he would be writing three songs about his experience with them, make videos to go along with the three songs and offer them on the internet for a free download. Never

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-26132160407112410112009-06-28T15:38:00.000-04:002009-06-28T15:40:44.843-04:00

You’re booked for that trip of a lifetime, have made sure that your passport is still valid and you’re ready to travel. Right? Perhaps not!A passport is required for U.S. citizens to fly into another country, is one of the few documents allowed to prove citizenship when driving into Mexico or Canada, and is mandatory for some of the cruises departing from the U.S.In many cases, it’s not good

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-79108572239221866362009-06-17T12:20:00.000-04:002009-06-17T13:39:16.301-04:00

The Alaska cruise season is in full swing with many of the ships sailing from the Seattle. With so many exciting places to visit in this friendly city, it’s a great place to stay for a few nights before your cruise.One unique attraction, Pike Place Fish Market, has quite the fan club and there’s a recipe to their success. They are one part Cirque du Soleil with the way they entertain their

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-24547345927597795712009-05-16T11:55:00.000-04:002009-05-16T12:01:56.126-04:00

Last week’s blog explained that we will have a drastic reduction in cruise beds sailing in Alaska in 2010 which is mostly due to the excessive taxes and port-related fees that Alaska’s state and local governments charge on cruisers. At least five cruises lines have adjusted ships and itineraries which will bring down the number of passengers able to cruise in Alaska by at least 25%.With such a

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4697129664093012731.post-8832387413112122402009-05-02T13:06:00.000-04:002009-05-02T13:11:16.792-04:00

Many Alaskans experience mixed emotions regarding cruise passengers which is understandable. The scales weigh between needing income from tourism versus not wanting tourism to destroy the environment.But Alaska’s politicians use cruise passengers as a cash cow for the state. Taxes and port-related fees are tremendously higher in Alaska than in most other areas. For instance, I compared two

Connie George, CTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236946642296546620noreply@blogger.com0