Priceless Cruising

01/26/2023

My website has a whole new look! Check it out....

Let's make priceless memories together You have decided you would like to go on a cruise. Now what? Contact me! . Get Started Hello. My name is Smitty and I am your next Travel Cruise Advisor. Bitten by the cruise bug after our 1st cruise in 1991, I’ve been helping people plan their cruises since ...

10/20/2021

We just returned from a California Coastal cruise on the BEAUTIFUL Koningsdam (Holland America). I was VERY impressed with the regularity of which the guests wore their masks! Basically EVERYONE wore their masks throughout the entire cruise, so I was thrilled! Some of the crew (especially those that interact with lots of guests, such as hostesses at the dining room and guest services) even wore double masks, to keep themselves and the guests safe! AWESOME JOB Holland America!

10/20/2021

03/02/2021

For those of you that aren't aware, American Cruise Lines WILL BE sailing soon! Since they service areas within the United States, Canada's shut down of their ports doesn't affect the vast majority of their itineraries! So if you are itching to get back on a cruise soon, both American Cruise Lines and the American Queen Steamboat Company are sailing! Check out their itineraries, then contact me so I can get you booked! https://www.americancruiselines.com/

American Cruise Lines offers 35 US River Cruises along the Mississippi, Columbia & Snake Rivers, New England & Alaska Waterways on luxurious Small Cruise Ships

01/05/2021

What a day it has been! I've spent probably 2 hours on the phone with one of the cruise lines booking cabins for a 2023 cruise today! PHEW!!! The cruise lines are offering AMAZING promotions right now, so if you like cruising and can't wait to get back to it (in whatever timeline you're comfortable with), I would do so soon!

04/16/2020

Hi everyone. Although we don't have the green light just yet to start cruising again (and cruise lines have extended their pauses on cruising), one of the things on people's minds is 'how will things work going forward in the cruise world'. To answer that, at a Princess webinar I attended yesterday, that was one of the things discussed! Here are a couple of slides I wanted to share with you. This should help ease your mind about whether or not you want to actually board a cruise ship!

04/14/2020

Thought I'd share this announcement from Jan Schwartz, the president of Princess Cruises, regarding the extended pause on cruises, specifically Alaska. She also mentions some other things that most of us don't realize..... worth the few minutes to watch.... https://www.facebook.com/PrincessCruises/videos/232343264493942/?notif_id=1586896294795522¬if_t=notify_me_page

03/13/2020

WOW - what a day in the travel industry! Started with an email from Princess, saying they were cancelling cruises through May 10th. Next was Viking, cancelling both river and ocean cruises through April 30th, then the other cruise lines followed suit, although I haven't heard RCCL stepping into that just yet, but I anticipate they will. Luckily I only have one guest that has been impacted by this, but he's totally flexible, so I haven't had to bear the brunt of irate passengers, since most of mine are booked for 2021. It'll be interesting to see what's going to happen tomorrow! YIKES!

03/03/2020

Thought I'd share....

-For those concerned about the coronavirus:
Subject: What I am doing for the upcoming COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
BY JAMES ROBB MD UC San Diego
Dear Colleagues, as some of you may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.
The current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread in the US by mid to late March and April.
Here is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the mask and gloves.:
1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.
2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.
3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip - do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.
4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.
5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.
6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can't immediately wash your hands.
7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!
What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:
1) Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas.
Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average - everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.
2) Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.
3) Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.
4) Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands available.
I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained, BUT I personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this snake-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it. Tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved. BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.
I hope these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially catastrophic pandemic. You are welcome to share this email. Good luck to all of us!

01/02/2020

WOW! This year has gotten off to a GREAT start! I got a call New Year's Eve from some past clients wanting to do a cruise in February 2021, THEN this morning I got a call from the son of a past client wanting to do a group in 2021! Thanks everyone for your support!

10/20/2019

I LOVE this (borrowed from another travel agent)

08/25/2019

AMA Waterways just announced a REDUCED Single Supplement! Check it out, figure out which itinerary you want to do and I'd love the chance to work with you to make this a VERY special trip! https://www.amawaterways.com/landingpages/solo-traveler-2019?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Solo+Traveler+Program+-+TA&utm_content=https%3a%2f%2fwww.amawaterways.com%2flandingpages%2fsolo-traveler-2019&utm_campaigntype=&utm_target=Travel+Advisor&utm_offer=&utm_touch=

03/19/2019

This is why we harp on BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE!!!

After getting a clean bill of health from his doctor, Doug Whibley and wife Eleanor took a chance that all would be well and didn't buy travel insurance

01/31/2019

Thirteen years ago today I made the decision to become a travel agent. It has been SUCH an honor to have been able to help you, my clients with your various cruise vacations. The MAIN reason I do this is to hear those comments on your return - "This was the trip of a lifetime! We could NOT have done this without you!" .... warms my heart! So thank you for 13 GREAT years! Happy Anniversary Priceless Cruising!

01/25/2019

We recently booked a TransAtlantic (TA) on Holland's Rotterdam. Today I was able to book our flights to and from as well as the hotels pre-and post as well as transfers! So now it's just the research of what to do at our ports of call! YAY!

01/03/2019

My word for 2019! Coddiwomple!

11/17/2018

Even though it's winter, now is the time to start thinking about cruises for next fall... like joining us in going to Canada/New England on Holland America! Check out my website and come along with us! http://pricelesscruising.com/canadanew-england2019/

The 'Colors of New England and Canada' 12-day cruise on Holland America's Zuiderdam, sails from New York Sept. 27, 2019 and disembarks Quebec City Oct. 9, 2019.