Bills Cruise Travel

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. Bills Cruise Travel will be closing today at Noon today (EST) so we may enjoy the Christmas holiday with our families. We will reopen at 10 am EST on Thursday.
Have an enjoyable holiday

Bill and Michelle

16/12/2024

If you are traveling in the New year!

New Changes for 2025

There are new changes and challenges to traveling starting in 2025.
Amongst those changes here in the US as of May 7, 2025, if traveling with a driver’s license, you will be the need to have a “Real ID” in order to fly. What does this mean to me, you ask? Well, if you are flying anywhere in the U.S., you will need one of the following in order to get through TSA security.
• DHS Enhanced Driver’s License (Real ID). You can tell if you have one by the star in the upper left corner of your driver’s license.
• A Passport.
• A Passport card (Note not normally allowed for cruising)
• A DHS trusted traveler card not ot be confused with TSA Pre Check
• Military ID, Active, Reserve, Retired, or Dependent.

Other changes you need to be aware of, if you are traveling to UK, you will need an Enhanced Travel Authorization (ETA) in order to enter the country even if you are only passing through the airport to change planes. This is part of the UK and Europe’s new immigration process requiring all non-European citizens to register with the UK government. More information can be found on line at the ETA website.

Send a message to learn more

12/12/2024

Bills Cruise Travel Newsletter

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all my friends and Clients. I hope everyone has a wonder holiday season

Breaking News
Half Moon Cay
Press release from Carnival Corp.
Improvements to Provide Opportunities for More Guests to Visit Breathtaking Destination
Half Moon Cay, the highly-rated and award-winning exclusive destination known for beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters in The Bahamas, is being renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in support of its enhancements and the experience guests can expect as they are immersed in this tropical paradise. The announcement was made today jointly by Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

The two cruise lines are partnering on the enhancements, which will include an expanded beachfront experience, lunch venues, a variety of bars and other features that will reinforce the destination’s natural beauty and tropical appeal. A newly-constructed pier on the north side will allow ships to dock, including Carnival’s Excel class ships that will be able to visit the island for the first time.

Guests will arrive at distinct welcome plazas on the island’s south and north sides, spanning over one mile of white-sand beach. The existing development on the south side will receive a refreshing Bahamian touch-up, a new beach club, an updated lunch venue and renovated facilities. The newly developed north side will feature two lunch venues and a variety of island-themed bars. There will also be a new tram service, making getting around easy and convenient. In addition, lounging areas will be expanded, cabanas added and a new shore excursion pier on the north side will connect guests with recreational activities. All RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay upgrades are designed with nature in mind, including architecture that complements the island’s stunning authenticity.

“Holland America guests have loved Half Moon Cay for its natural beauty since it opened as a port of call in 1997,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. “The south side of the island, where Holland America has always visited, will remain the secluded paradise our guests are accustomed to and a marquee destination for almost every cruise visiting the Caribbean. The new beach club and refreshed food and beverage spaces will embrace and preserve the island’s pristine beauty while enhancing our award-winning experience.”

“Calling this piece of paradise RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay reinforces our commitment to preserve the attributes that make the destination so appealing as we expand access and welcome more guests to the destination’s crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches and lush landscapes,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Many of our 2026 and beyond itineraries will feature both RelaxAway and Celebration Key, providing guests with complimentary experiences enjoying both idyllic and ultimate beach days.”

The destination’s enhancements will begin to be completed by summer 2026 and continue through the end of the year.

BCT NEWS
Over the past few months, Carnival Cruise Lines has had a program called “From Your Home Port to our homeport.” This Program invites Travel Advisors to visit some of Carnival Cruise Line's home ports. I have taken advantage of several of these trips. Most recently was the home port of the Carnival Spirit Mobile Alabama.
I found the city of Mobile a fun and exciting place to visit and to cruise from. The city itself is a destination to visit and spend time in with its many museums, restaurants, and sites to see including the USS Alabama, a World War 2 era Battleship, there is also the Mobile Bay Marine Museum with the stern of a container ship inside as well as a ship simulator that allows you to actually control a simulated ship around the port of Mobile.
Mobile is also the birthplace of the Mardi Gras celebrations. And host to the beautiful Mardi Gras Museum that is open to the public to visit that has all sorts of decorations and masks as well as gowns and costumes worn by the Mardi Gras kings and queens.
Another fun venue to visit in Mobile is a Speakeasy. That’s right, a Speakeasy of the past still exists in Mobile complete with having to have the password to gain entrance.
The majority of hotels are within walking distance to many of these attractions. And almost all of the hotels have a stay, park, and cruise package. This is where you spend at least one night at the hotel, parking your car in their secure garage, and then take the hotel van to the cruise ship in the morning. At the end of the cruise, you go back to the hotel, get in your car, and drive home.
Mobile is only a little over a 2-hour drive from New Orleans and 4 hours from Tallahassee Fl. They have a major airport that is serviced by several airlines and is in the process of building a brand-new airport even closer to the city and it will be able to accommodate even more airlines than it does now. The new airport is expected to open in late 2025/26-time frame.
For more information feel free to contact me.

Another great home port that Carnival sails from is Port Canaveral, also known as Orlando. Port Canaveral is home to several of Carnival ships including the Mardi Gras, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Glory, Carnival Vista, and Seasonally the Carnival Venezia. Located in the Coco Beach area, there are many hotels and attractions to stay at and visit. including Cape Canaveral Space Center, beaches that are within walking distance from the hotels, and the Orlando area parks and attractions, most of which are only an hour's ride away.
Many hotels also offer a stay-and-park option just like Mobile. Flying in for a cruise requires you to fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). Some hotels in the Coco Beach area offer van service, but most do not. There are shuttles to the area as well as Uber and Lift options. However, Bright Line, the New Railroad that was built to service Orlando and Miami in 3 hours is building a rail station in the Coco Beach area to be opened sometime in 2025. The city of Coco Beach is still in the planning stages for bus and other services.

Speaking of Bright Line, did you know that you can take the train from Orlando airport to Miami with stops in West Pam Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and other locations in South Florida. They offer business class as well as coach class.

If you are thinking about a cruise in the future, now is the time to look for good prices. Most of Carnivals ships are now listed through mid-2027 for cruises. The annual Wave Season is just around the corner, and it looks to be busy. So, if you are interested let me know and I can start looking for you.

Look for more exciting news in the coming weeks!!!
,

Send a message to learn more

12/12/2024

GREAT NEWS About Half Moon Cay From Carnival

Improvements to Provide Opportunities for More Guests to Visit Breathtaking Destination

Half Moon Cay, the highly-rated and award-winning exclusive destination known for beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters in The Bahamas, is being renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in support of its enhancements and the experience guests can expect as they are immersed in this tropical paradise. The announcement was made today jointly by Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

The two cruise lines are partnering on the enhancements, which will include an expanded beachfront experience, lunch venues, a variety of bars and other features that will reinforce the destination’s natural beauty and tropical appeal. A newly-constructed pier on the north side will allow ships to dock, including Carnival’s Excel class ships that will be able to visit the island for the first time.

Guests will arrive at distinct welcome plazas on the island’s south and north sides, spanning over one mile of white-sand beach. The existing development on the south side will receive a refreshing Bahamian touch-up, a new beach club, an updated lunch venue and renovated facilities. The newly developed north side will feature two lunch venues and a variety of island-themed bars. There will also be a new tram service, making getting around easy and convenient. In addition, lounging areas will be expanded, cabanas added and a new shore excursion pier on the north side will connect guests with recreational activities. All RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay upgrades are designed with nature in mind, including architecture that complements the island’s stunning authenticity.

“Holland America guests have loved Half Moon Cay for its natural beauty since it opened as a port of call in 1997,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. “The south side of the island, where Holland America has always visited, will remain the secluded paradise our guests are accustomed to and a marquee destination for almost every cruise visiting the Caribbean. The new beach club and refreshed food and beverage spaces will embrace and preserve the island’s pristine beauty while enhancing our award-winning experience.”

“Calling this piece of paradise RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay reinforces our commitment to preserve the attributes that make the destination so appealing as we expand access and welcome more guests to the destination’s crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches and lush landscapes,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Many of our 2026 and beyond itineraries will feature both RelaxAway and Celebration Key, providing guests with complimentary experiences enjoying both idyllic and ultimate beach days.”

The destination’s enhancements will begin to be completed by summer 2026 and continue through the end of the year.

Send a message to learn more

08/11/2024

Here is the latest Bills Cruise newsletter fresh off the press.

Bills Cruise Travel

Hello everyone,
This newsletter we will talk about,
• my resent trip and cruise from the west coast
• Two upcoming cruises
• And cruises beyond 2025

A few weeks ago, I was invited to cruise on the Carnival Firenze (Carnival Fun Italian Style). out of Long Beach California. I know it’s scary that they actually got me on an airplane for 6 hours and flew to the west coast. This was a first for me. If you know me, I will drive, take a train, or boat somewhere rather than fly, but I did it and survived……
The flight to LAX was uneventful, I highly recommend flying in to port a day or two before any cruise and enjoy the sights of the home ports. Not lonely will you get to relax a little before your cruise, you can also see some of the local attractions in the area. In our case, we arrived the day before the cruise and stayed abord the M/S Queen Mary, now a floating hotel in Long Beach Ca. See my web page (www.Billscruisetravel.com) for pictures of this magnificent hotel/ship.
The employees and all the staff including the captain are dressed in era like uniforms, making you feel like you are actually cruising on the ship instead of a permanently moored ship. There is plenty to do on board from eating, visiting one of the many bars on board to just sitting and relaxing on deck in one of the many deck chairs. The ship also offers both guided and self-guided tours of the vessel. On weekends (Friday, though Sunday) they offer complimentary bus service to and from downtown Long Beach. For those who are adventurous, because of the crazy LA drivers you can get sightseeing tours of Hollywood and LA from the port.
On the day of sailing the Queen Mary offers complimentary golfcart service to the Carnival ship. It is a great way to get to the cruise terminal.
The Carnival Firenze is a Vista Class ship that Carnival Cruise Lines has acquired along with her sister Carnival Venezia from its sister company Costa Cruise lines. While the ship livery is carnival, she maintains the Costa Cruise Lines Funnel not the Carnival Whales tale. Inside she is a Vista class ship in layout (for those who have cruised on the Vista class ships) and yes, they corrected some of the issues that the Carnival Vista has. However, that is where the similarities end. She is truly an Italian ship through and through. From her restaurants to her bars, to the Lido deck pool. Even David, the enormous sculpture that was in the Carnival Prides Steak House now resides on one of the dining rooms on board the Firenze, fig leaf and all. She has the feeling that you are in Firenze Italy, the location in Italy she is named for. The ships décor is everything Italian. Including the names if the bars and Restaurants. I had the pleasure of eating amazing food two nights in the Il Viaggio’s Italian Restaurant. Another on board feature is Bonsai Teppanyaki which is a Japanese style restaurant where the food is cooked in front of you.
When we sailed on her she was doing (7-day Mexican Rivira cruises) for the Carnival Panorama who was in Japan for Drydock. The “Love Boat Cruise” visits Mazatlán, Porta Vieta, and Cabo San Lucas. 3 wonderful places to visit. I will discuss them in a later newsletter. Up can see pictures of these locations and of the Carnival Firenze on my website www.Billscruisetravel.com/photos

Up Coming Cruises
We have two upcoming group cruises. First is the 7-day Piano Barbarians cruise departing Jan. 25, 2025, from Port Canaveral, FL. on the Carnival ship Mardi Gras visiting Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Nassau.
The second is a 10-day Alaskan cruise departing from San Fransisco on Aug 4 2025 on the Carnival Legend.

Piano Barbarians Cruise
This cruise is for Piano bar lovers. This is a group cruise that invites 3 additional piano bar players on board the ship along with the Piano bar player who works on the ship. one extra perk of this cruise is extra time in the piano bar, 1-hour private time before the piano bar opens to the public, thus getting the choice seats before everyone else, also when the on-board piano bar player is off during his or her break our guest players continue with the fun. An additional perk is the nights that the piano bar is dark (players’ night off) we had the entire bar to ourselves. as a private function. This year we have the legendary Ben Gentry who will be on board the Mardi Gras as the resident piano bar player, the three additional pb players, Elden Parker, Bob Berhalter, and Vince Strong will also be entertaining you for the week. If you wish not to be part of the group or not to book with one of our Cruise specialists or want to use your own Travel advisor you can join us, however we ask you to contact me for specifics.

10 Day Alaska group cruise.
This 10-day cruise departing San Fransisco, CA will feature stops at Juneau, AL, Skagway, AL and Ketchikan Al, Prince Rupert BC, and a special day sail through Tracys Arm Fjord. Sail under the Golden Gate bridge and see all the amazing sights this cruise has to offer. For more information and pricing please feel free to contact me.

Cruises beyond 2025
Carnival Cruise Lines has opened cruises on most of their ships through spring of 2027. So, if there is a special cruise you have always wanted to do, now is the time to book. Are you interested in a repositioning from the east coast to the west coast through the Panama Canal? Maybe a repositioning cruise form Port Canaveral to New York? Or maybe just a longer cruise on a different ship? There are a lot of amazing cruises scheduled. Now is the time to book while prices are at their lowest.


Remember to check out my New and improved website that is coming soon.
Speaking of coming soon, in the next newsletter I will be highlighting several cruise ship home ports, including Mobile AL, Port Canaveral, and Galveston TX. Be sure to watch for this newsletter. You can also follow the current happenings on my page at Bill Cruise travel.
Remember if you are interested in any cruise line besides Carnival, I can book that for you too. I can also book hotel stays in various home ports.

Bye for now and have a Funtastic day. And remember Travel Advisors Rock !

Let's book the cruise vacation of your dreams!

25/02/2024

the latest newsletter
Hello everyone, and welcome to February! The Ground hog didn’t see his shadow so that means spring is right around the corner. It also means that it is wave season. This is when you will get the best rates of the year for cruises. So, this is a good time to book your next cruise.
Read on to see funtastic highlights of two different cruises that will be a lot of fun.
But first, I have some exciting news! I am honored to announce that I have been named a Travel Agent Ambassador by Carnival Cruise lines. I am one of a group of 12 Travel Agents from around the country who have exemplified a passion for and knowledge of Carnival Cruise Lines and the travel industry. Amongst some of my duties I will be attending special events as a Travel Agent Ambassador. One of these events is the naming ceremony for the Carnival Jubilee in Galveston Tx, later this month. I will have lots of pictures and videos on Bills Cruise travel page as well as my website Billscruisetravel.com.

Up Coming Cruise Highlights
Piano barbarians 2025 cruise (January 25, 2025) this will be a 7 day sailing on the Carnival Mardi Gras out of Port Canaveral, Fl. The ship will be visiting the Ports of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Amber cove in the Dominican Republic, and Nassau in the Bahamas. This is not your ordinary cruise either. The Paino Barbarians is a group of piano bar enthusiasts that get together and cruise on a different ship every year. We bring on multiple talented piano bar players who; play during our private time in the Piano Bar every night, and for the entire night that the Piano Bar is generally dark. This past year we had three fabulous players on board and for the first time ever we have this trio of talent all confirmed for 2025. This will be a cruise to remember. Space is limited and cabins are selling fast so act soon.

The next cruise to highlight is a 10-day Alaskan cruise sailing on August 4, 2025 from San Fransico CA. on the Carnival Legend visiting Juneau, Skagway, Cruising Tracy arm Fjord, Ketchikan Ak, and Prince Rupert BC. This will be a fantastic cruise that is sure to sell out. I will be on board both of these cruises and would love to see you on board. If you are interested in either of these special cruises, please reach out to me as soon as possible. These cruises have limited group space so act quickly.
We are working on group hotel rates for both of these cruises so please stay tuned.

In other Carnival News, Carnival Cruise lines has announced a fourth Excel – class ship for 2027.
From Carnival Corp Press release
Joining current Carnival Cruise Line Excel-class ships Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, the new 180,000-ton ship will carry over 6,400 guests and be powered on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology platform. This new ship is the first newbuild order placed by Carnival Corporation in five years.
“Our Excel class ships have been a tremendous addition to the Carnival fleet and proven very popular with our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “As the world’s most popular cruise line, this new ship enables us to continue the growth of our incredible fleet as we welcome our loyal guests back to cruise more frequently and attract new-to-cruise guests to experience all that a Carnival cruise has to offer.”
This promises to be an exciting new ship. Stay tuned for the announcement of the name and homeport of this ship.
Carnival has also announced the creation of a new destination exclusively for Carnival Cruise lines called Celebration Key
From the carnival Cruise lines press release about the different areas of Celebration Key, on Grand Bahamas Island also known as Freeport Bahamas.
New Details Give First Look at Five Portals
• The Welcome Portal is the point where guests are first immersed in the beauty of the destination and greeted with information to help guide them toward their own kind of fun. As live music fills the air, a much-larger-than-life sandcastle stands tall in the center of Celebration Key as the embodiment of all that is fun in the sun.
• The Family-Friendly Portal is the place for families with kids of all ages to enjoy their time at Celebration Key. The day can include swimming in the large freshwater lagoon, alongside a splash pad with a shallow pool, two exciting racing waterslides in the large sandcastle, sports courts, spaces designed for kids and teens to enjoy, a beautiful beach with all types of beach loungers and a variety of cabana rentals, including beach cabanas, villas with personal slides into the lagoon and floating cabanas. There are not only activities for the whole family, but also a variety of dining options and cuisines, that will appeal to all taste buds.
• The Adult-Friendly Portal is designed for adults looking to spend their day enjoying the freshwater lagoon or at the beach lounging on the warm white sands and splashing around in the Bahamian waters to kick back and relax. Guests can also find their favorite cocktails at a large swim-up bar while they enjoy a high energy vibe curated by a talented DJ. A variety of cabana rentals, including beach cabanas, villas with personal slides into the lagoon and floating cabanas are available. There are also several dining venues, including a full-service restaurant that will offer a variety of cuisines, including local Bahamian flavors.
• The Private Club Portal is a premium experience curated for those who are seeking a relaxing and luxurious day in paradise. The private club is an adult-only retreat, with a stunning infinity pool, overlooking the best views of the Bahamian waters, with loungers swaying beneath palm trees and vibrant foliage. A dedicated section of the beach provides premier and private access, along with elevated dining experiences.
• The Retail Portal will showcase Bahamian culture, featuring a backdrop of beautiful murals painted by Bahamian artists and shopping that will include authentic Bahamian artisanal goods and local Bahamian retailers, along with Duty-Free stores. As they explore this portal, guests will also find several food and beverage options serving Bahamian flavors.

I will have more about this fantastic new stop on over 500 Itineraries opening in July of 2025 so please stay tuned.

That’s all for now.
Remember there are several reasons why you should book with a travel agent:
1. Peace of mind: A travel agent offers expertise and knowledge to put together your ideal holiday.
2. Get the best possible fare: Often, travel agents can save you money based on their supplier relationships -- or at least match the price you find -- while saving you time and effort.
3. Find your perfect cruise: A travel agent can help you find the perfect cruise for you.
4. Tailor-make a bespoke cruise: A travel agent can help you tailor-make a bespoke cruise.
5. Customer service: A travel agent can provide customer service and support throughout your trip.

24/02/2024

Waiting to board for my tour of the carnival jubilee

24/01/2024

See the carnival Pride pass through the Panama canal today between 9-930 EST here

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