Tying the knot at sea!

contact@cruisetravelworld.com Let’s face it, not everyone is interested in the typical 4-hour white wedding. Some may even say “been there, done that”. So what’s a great alternative? How about getting married at sea? What could be more fun than your wedding festivities lasting 7 days or longer, and spending that week in exotic ports? The best part is you can do this with a small wedding party or invite all of your friends and family to come along.

Fun events can be planned both onboard and ashore throughout the week. Think of having a sail away party on deck, beach Olympics on a private island, a wine tasting for sophisticated palates, or amazing shore excursions can be tailored to the couple or the group’s personality. The possibilities are endless!

Cruising is the BEST vacation value! It’s practically all inclusive. • All meals are included • Top notch entertainment • Ocean view accommodations • Experience different ports of call in one trip

Most cruise lines have access to local authorities who perform ceremonies prior to leaving port or during a port call on the cruise. Did you know that you can get married on a beach in the Caribbean or on a Glacier in Alaska? The choices are endless and romantic!

Few cruise lines actually have captains who can legally perform the ceremony at sea. Princess, Celebrity and Azamara Club Cruises have ships that are registered in Bermuda and Malta which recognize marriages in international waters.

Getting married at sea has HUGE advantages. I’m talking about dollars! It’s much less expensive than a typical wedding with packages starting at low as $1,200. The wedding planner handles everything from the ceremony, event coordination, live music, photos, cake and flowers. It’s a one stop shop. Plus, couples can also enjoy some romantic extras: like breakfast in bed, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, and spa treatments.

Your friends and family will be talking about your wedding for a lifetime!

For more information and to reserve your next holiday, contact TravelWorld, Cruise Planners American Express, your Cruise Planners/American Express Specialist, at contact@cruisetravelworld.com.

Spring into Action with these Unique Spring Events

Las Fallas

Location: Valencia, Spain

Las Fallas takes place from March 15th until March 19th in Valencia. During the preceding months Valencia is decorated with over 700 symbols and figures. The streets of Valencia are electrified by magnificent firework displays. One spectacle which takes place on the evenings of the 17th and the 18th is the “Ofrenda de Flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados” or “A floral offering to our Lady of the Forsaken.” This offering involves a large parade of Fallas members in decorative costumes offering flowers to the patron saint. The final and most extraordinary experience of Las Fallas is the closing on the 19th. The closing is a massive bonfire which brightens up the night and appears as if they are going to burn down the whole city. Cruise Planners/American Express

St. Patrick’s Festival

Location: Dublin, Ireland

The St. Patrick’s Festival is going to be held from March 17th to March 20th in Dublin. The St. Patrick’s Festival is a celebration for the patron saint of Ireland St. Patrick. There are events for the whole family including festivals, dances, comedy shows, and Irish music. Everyone knows though that Ireland is famous for its love of beer and there is no better time to celebrate that then during this wonderful festival. The greatest spectacle of the whole event is the St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17th. Can we start planning now and help you truly celebrate the GREEN? Cruise Planners/American Express

Queen’s Day

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

April 30th is the actual date of Queen’s Day which in Dutch is Koninginnedag, but the real festivities begin the night before on Queen’s Night. Starting the night of the 29th Amsterdam becomes a perfect celebration for all when all the clubs in the area prepare special festivities for anyone who would like to partake in them. Over 700,000 people flock to the streets of Amsterdam on Queen’s day for a day of partying and tradition. Queen’s Day is a city wide party which provides a unique, fun, and friendly environment for the locals and the visitors. Bring some change with you because one of the key aspects of the day is the Free Market. The Free Market encourages all of the locals to trade all in their house which is unnecessary with their neighbors and visitors. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes because you will be on your feet walking around all day. http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/

Kentucky Derby

Location: Churchill Downs, Kentucky

May 5th 2012 is the date for the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” which is the Kentucky Derby. The first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown is located at Churchill Downs and has a long and glorious history dating all the way back to 1875. It is a great place to visit for any sports fan. Winning the Triple Crown is seen as one of the most difficult feats in sports and has not been completed since Affirmed won in 1978. This makes the Derby the best of the three races to attend because it always gives fans, jockeys, and owners the chance to believe that this could be the year where it all started and they were lucky enough to experience the start of something great. This place is not only famous for its great two minute race but also for the people who attend and the fashion statements its attendees attempt to make. A-list celebrities flock to the Kentucky Derby for this see or be seen event. Let us plan your trip and you can start working on your outfit, and try to be the best dressed there. http://www.bridalvacations.com/

St. Lucia Jazz Festival

Location: St. Lucia, Caribbean

For a week spanning from the end of April into the first week of May, St. Lucia holds its world famous Jazz Festival. In 2011 this Jazz festival hosted its 20th anniversary which is extremely uncommon for festivals in the local area which tend to start failing by their 7th year of operation. The festival provides formal concert styles along with intimate performances with acts from all over the world such as John Legend, Trey Songz, and the local reggae group 4th World. This festival is ranked among the best festivals the Caribbean has to offer and even one of the best festival experiences in the world.

A Good Buy on a Lanai

What is a Lanai, anyway? You have probably lived in an apartment or house that claimed to have one but never quite figured out the difference between a patio and lanai. Well it would appear that they are one and the same. So, why the buzz from Holland America about “lanai staterooms” being introduced on the Veendam? Well, it’s due to the fact that oceangoing lanais are a rarity and Holland America seems to be cornering the market on them. These staterooms offer direct access to the open decks. It is funny how old things become new again because many early cruise ships introduced in the 1950’s had outside corridors for access to staterooms. http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/blog/

The addition of 38 lanai staterooms on Veendam is a key feature in the latest round of Signature of Excellence enhancements at Holland America. Similar in size to the premium line’s outside-view staterooms, the new lanai accommodations were recently added to the ship and feature large sliding glass doors with direct access to the Lower Promenade wrap-around teak walking deck. Lanai staterooms will be added to ms Rotterdam this year and three other ships by 2013. Each lanai stateroom also features reserved deck chairs outside sliding glass doors that have a one-way mirrored coating to ensure privacy.

Thirty-two new verandah staterooms also were built on the aft portion of the ship, along with eight new inside staterooms. All staterooms aboard Veendam received new decor, modern wall sconces, carpeting, drapes, pillows and bed runners and resurfaced desks and vanities. Bathrooms saw an “extreme” makeover with new vanities and cabinetry.

A final stateroom enhancement was the creation of 15 spa staterooms -- 12 outside converted to verandah in drydock and three other inside -- featuring a variety of exclusive spa amenities. The rooms offer their own ambiance with a decor reflecting natural elements and soft earth-tones. A counter-top water feature in each stateroom provides a natural, ambient background sound and artwork reflects serene images in nature. Exclusive spa treatments and a spa room service menu are offered only in these staterooms. http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/blog/

Gizmos, Gadgets and Cruise Ships

If you don’t know a USB device from a motherboard and are otherwise “electronically challenged”, then this news from Crystal Cruises will be welcomed. The cruise line has just announced that they are placing on-board technical concierges to assist guests with all types of personal electronics from iPods and iPhones to Blackberrys and plain old laptops. http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/blog/

The concierges will provide consultation at no charge to anyone onboard. They'll be located in the ships' computer centers, where guests can check e-mail and use the Internet, beginning in April aboard Crystal Symphony and in May aboard Crystal Serenity.

Personally my favorite button on these devices is the one that turns it off so I can enjoy a holiday on my holiday. A lot of folks today, go on vacation to get away from it all and then try to bring as much of “it” with them as they can. While staying in touch on your cruise is an important consideration, too much of a good thing can be distracting. However, like everything else connected with vacations at sea, there are multiple choices and options and this is just one more to be added to the list.

Crystal operates two 5 Star luxury lines on voyages to ports throughout the world. http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/blog/

From Blue-Faced Men to Rainbow-Colored Carousels

Entertainment & Enrichment at Sea

Remember when shipboard entertainment was simply a poolside game led by the cruise director and perhaps the occasional ice carving contest? These days it’s more like surfing on Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider and splashing in Disney Dream’s AquaDuck, the first water coaster at sea. When cruise lines proclaim that a vessel has more activities onboard than most resorts, they’re not kidding. Here’s a sampling of what modern ships have to offer in the arena of entertainment and enrichment.

Ice Bar aboard Norwegian Epic Not just the vodka is chilled. The bar, tables, stools, and even the walls are made of ice and kept at an arctic 17 degrees.

Cunard Insights aboard Queen Mary 2 Imagine attending a lecture series headlined by such well-known personalities as John Cleese, star of the Monty Python films, or Dr. Ruth Westheimer, television’s famous therapist.

Carousel aboard Oasis of the Seas Hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind, Oasis’ Carousel is the whimsical centerpiece of the Boardwalk, inspired by Coney Island for the young and young at heart.

Bon Appétit Culinary Center aboard Marina If you are not satisfied with just feasting on edible indulgences but want to learn to craft culinary excellence as well, try the hands-on instruction provided by Oceania Cruises’ master chefs.

Blue Man Group aboard Norwegian Epic This award-winning show and concert, once found only in Vegas, will combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics.

Digital Workshop aboard Nieuw Amsterdam Powered by Windows, this interactive design studio offers free classes on images, blogs, movies, scrapbooks, and more.

WaterWorks aboard Carnival Dream With 19,000 square feet catering to kids and families, this ship features an aqua park with the longest water slide at sea. Don’t miss the comedy club and outdoor laser shows.

For more information and to reserve your next holiday, contact TravelWorld, Cruise Planners American Express, your Cruise Planners/American Express Specialist, at contact@cruisetravelworld.com.

CRUISE PLANNERS ADDS DESTINATION WEDDINGS TO PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES

CRUISE PLANNERS AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD ADDS DESTINATION WEDDINGS TO PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES Company Launched Destination Weddings by Cruise Planners in Partnership with Imagine Weddings and Events Cruise Planners/American Express has joined forces with Imagine Weddings and Events, an international full-service wedding and event company, to create Destination Weddings by Cruise Planners, a complete wedding planning service for shore side ceremonies and celebrations in ports of call around the globe. Destination Weddings by Cruise Planners is part of the Cruisitude™ Revolution, Cruise Planners’ campaign to provide its advisors with innovative tools, award-winning relationships and third party partnerships that foster positive business opportunities.

“With wedding season upon us, Cruise3sixty was the perfect venue to announce this exclusive partnership with Imagine,” said Cruise Planners/American Express Co-founder and CEO Michelle Fee. “Our Cruisitude Revolution is in full swing and this is a major step in the right direction for Cruise Planners because it allows our advisors to reach a completely new and emerging market. Combining our expert travel services with Imagine’s extraordinary wedding planning capabilities will make the preparation process convenient and simple for couples-to-be so they can enjoy what is supposed to be the happiest time of their lives.”

While Cruise Planners’ advisors will coordinate all reservations for travel and wedding packages, couples can rest easy knowing all logistics for their destination wedding from the rehearsal dinner and welcome reception to ceremony and other celebrations will be handled by Imagine’s skilled wedding specialists. Destination Weddings by Cruise Planners now offers wedding services in 20 ports and has wedding packages available in more than 250 locations around the world.

Imagine Weddings and Events has created an ongoing destination wedding training program for Cruise Planners advisors to ensure expert assistance is provided throughout the booking and planning process.
“We want our travel advisors to be that one-stop agent for all their clients whether it’s booking land excursions, cruise ship vacations, or now fully-customized wedding packages,” continued Fee. ”With our recently launched honeymoon registry partnership, engaged couples can not only work with a Cruise Planners travel advisor to host a wedding abroad, but also register their honeymoon trip and activities as wedding gifts directly on the advisor’s travel registry.”

The partnership with Imagine follows a recent collaboration with Cruise Planners and Honeymoonwishes.com, an online registry provider, to create a travel registry website for honeymoons and other celebratory travel. The registry links directly from a Cruise Planners travel advisor’s website to their own branded registry tool powered by Honeymoonwishes.com.

Cruise Planners American Express TravelWorld
 Bridal Vacations
P: 435-628-4123
www.bridalvacations.com
 www.cruisetravelworld.com contact@cruisetravelworld.com

24 Romantic Honeymoon Destinations – cnn.com

I’m in the mood for love.

Ahhh, love. When I hear this word, I associate it with beautiful sounds of the earth with all its glory. For such a small letter word it evokes so much emotion that I get goose bumps.

It’s also such a great reminder that we all need love in our life. The world can be a cruel place but one thing that always survives is love. LOVE, LOVE!

So when I stumbled upon this article from CNN.com about 24 Romantic Honeymoon Destinations,

I was thrilled to see all the cool destinations. Some were a no brainer. Others were a true gem that many may have not considered.

The top 5:

5. South Africa 4. Portugal 3. Morocco 2. Tahiti 1. Switzerland

The best thing about love is that it doesn’t have to be about falling in love for the first time. It’s falling in love every single day with your significant other. It’s a special birthday celebration. Or an anniversary. It’s a simple “thank you” and “I love you”.

I’m heading to Mexico next month to celebrate my husband’s forty-first birthday. Yep, forty-first. Not because we missed his fortieth. We’re going just because. Oh and by the way, it’s twenty-one on the list and we’ve been married for almost 10 years!

My goal is to make it to all 24 destinations within our lifetime. We’ve got four checked off already. Twenty more to go!

If you would like to check out one of these places but don’t know how it can be possible, give it a shot. It’s totally possible with a little help from your friends and family. We have a travel gift registry,that works just like any other gift registry. So if you are thinking of a destination wedding and honeymoon or simply a babymoon to celebrate each other before the bambino comes onboard, we handle it all.

Honeymoon Gift Registry for Today’s Bride

The dynamics of the typical wedding couple has changed. Let’s face it. You’ve been together for years. Some of you even live together and have everything you need for your home. No more towels or silverware to fill-up your house, and all the crystal you ever needed has been handed down to you. But you dream of being swept away on some exotic destination and to live out your honeymoon as any princess bride would do. But, you have no idea how you are going to pay for the trip and all the memorable activities after splurging on the perfect gown and a wedding fit for a king and queen. Enter me! Your Cruise Planners Travel Advisor. I will help you plan the perfect honeymoon. Hut in Tahiti. No problem. Helicopter flight-seeing tour through Hawaii?Yep, me too. Once we nail down your destination and all the exciting activities to go along with it, you can create a honeymoon registry here travel gift registry. It’s free and easy to use. Plus, you don’t have to pre-book anything yet. Use the registry as your honeymoon wishlist. Your registry is all yours to do whatever you wish. Create the most outrageous honeymoon registry. Use the free website tool and tell your story. Everyone loves a good sappy story. You can even upload photos from your times together as a “dating” couple, to your engagement, wedding and honeymoon thereafter. http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/blog/

A Gift Registry for Travel. Now that’s Pure Genius.

A Gift Registry for Travel. Now that’s Pure Genius. Here’s the scoop. Did you know that you can registry your vacation as gifts? You can and it’s so easy to do. It works just like any other gift registry for bridal showers, baby showers, graduations, bar/bat mitzvahs, quinces, milestone birthdays and,well, pretty much anything. Basically, if you’re celebrating an event with a trip be it on a cruise or at an all-inclusive, instead of getting more “stuff” for your house, let your friends and family contribute to your trip! China breaks and collects dust. Wouldn’t you rather see it? Create memories that last a lifetime. Get your family and friends involved and go see the world! Head over to travel gift registry and make travel the ultimate gift! http://www.cruisetravelworld.com/blog/ TIP: as your registry is used, get quotes from your clients, have them contribute to your blog.

Honeymoons

Honeymoons too often take a backseat to the arrangements and plans of the actual wedding, but you owe it to yourself to give honeymoon planning greater and more careful attention. After all, while the wedding is mainly for your family and friends, the once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon that follows is a private getaway for you and your new spouse to celebrate your marriage. Though you may spend a portion of your vacation relaxing and reflecting on this major life change, the honeymoon is most of all an opportunity to enjoy being a newlywed, spending quality time with your new spouse, and experiencing a romantic and exciting getaway.

Honeymooners have endless options. Following months of wedding planning, couples often retreat to a luxurious resort that caters to their every need, while others trek to an adventurous escape from their day-to-day lives. Whether a beach vacation or a safari, the honeymoon should reflect your joint personality and wishes.

Keep in mind that perfect honeymoons don't just happen, and planning requires thoughtfulness, patience, careful attention to details, and a lot of decision-making along the way. The more homework you do before leaving for your honeymoon, the more you will enjoy your special vacation.

With today’s economy, couples are left with a staycation-type of honeymoon. With our Honeymoon Gift Registry you can register for your dream honeymoon and friends and family can deposit money into your registry as their wedding gift to you. They can even pick portions of your honeymoon like a couples massage, spa treatments, airport transfers and more. Make this a retreat of a lifetime with the help of your friends and family.

Find out more by visiting our website at http://www.cruiseplanners.com/ or contact@cruisetravelworld.com for more information.