Susan Bunn Elledge Travel

09/06/2024

It's about time!! I often have clients contact me asking if I can beat the pricing on cruises offered by 3rd party vendors. The problem is always that these companies only publish rates for the cheapest cabins with cruise fare only and no port fees and taxes added which is a "bait and switch" in my opinion. Always compare apples to apples when cruise shopping and make sure that quotes are for the same cabin category and include all applicable fees. Of course, a travel agent will be your BEST resource and will be able to give you the best price with the best service! :)

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestreet.com%2Ftravel%2Fmsc-joins-royal-caribbean-carnival-in-making-big-pricing-change%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1GTmLSc6zBELMi5F2juQ7nPCTMVfLdM8SEfR0bbMGSFc1PENHzAEzWqno_aem_AV4X0abhEqlJOm5wqmcbqC8wL-DoiaXrnQhggbaRd_2tiMJGz2x228On227aIyUfKvUioGx-2-6jt_mtmWl6CdGh&h=AT03Ef_5bYx-EaISV5sQ6BWN8GSq0vVQkuaWODJW29zFUnzt0tTx2iqLZK_qzq1PbeFVsn579qC_9JcIaNgMBwKSyLLdFFIN3kp9MrnbOBf35T4QzzJTAGp8XcfEAxcBTQ&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c[0]=AT0InQAkNxHeNGHUW5Aozg_3sRrBzz6-qJaWIIm7wIL8JmM15rU-WsVVsKfs57kVhMB9fyyjboiVRajfSOFfm84nulXaOJ5p35_dXVTx0eiUmQ7msLR5I0JUXaLixZif8-Zce31w394ojhpQJPb34JW-AJ_PdXIQIF1KL_E2xNwbvg8vnCg0_5rZG79CaX0rwigSp7CNk7mV6hkXNjEmxs55FvmbBwKvA4RSUS7mTqBwXbJ3hg

All three cruise lines are doing something that passengers might be shocked by, but they will ultimately like.

31/05/2024

Way to go Royal Caribbean!! Hoping Carnival Cruise Lines will follow their lead!

As the first major cruise company to offer loyalty status matching across its core brands, the Royal Caribbean Group Loyalty Status Match program allows memb...

23/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100009692528653/videos/345167681591019/

Send a message to learn more

27/03/2024

Carnival Corporation  NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced it has signed an agreement ...

26/03/2024

Water slides, spa days, beautiful views, and endless more ways to from Jacksonville 🛳🏖

JAXPORT and Carnival Cruise Line have reached an agreement to continue Carnival cruise service from Jacksonville into 2026, with options to extend through 2030.

The 2,697-passenger Carnival Elation will continue offering year-round sailing to The Bahamas from JAXPORT’s North Jacksonville Cruise Terminal.

"JAXPORT has a longstanding partnership with Carnival, and we are grateful for their commitment to serving Jacksonville and providing even more reasons for tourists to visit our great city," said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green.

More than 3 million passengers have sailed from Jacksonville during 20 years of Carnival cruise service at JAXPORT.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3PzWdJo

22/03/2024

Now booking!

17/03/2024

Carnival Firenze news:

Who has booked on her from Looooooong Beach ?

CARNIVAL FIRENZE REGISTERED WITH PANAMA

Carnival Fun Italian Style Experiences to Make California Debut Next Month

MIAMI, March 16, 2024 – As work continues in Cadiz, Spain to ready Carnival Firenze for its Carnival Fun Italian Style debut, team members on board raised the Panamanian flag to designate the ship’s new registry with Panama. Carnival Firenze is the latest addition to Carnival’s fleet of 27 ships and joins several other sisters that are also registered and flagged in Panama.
After completing dry dock work in Cadiz, Carnival Firenze will depart for California on March 22. It will serve as a stunning addition to Carnival’s homeport of Long Beach, sailing year-round beginning April 25, 2024, with a wide range of cruise options currently available. The second ship to feature Carnival Fun Italian Style experiences, Carnival Firenze’s design is inspired by the beautiful city of Florence, Italy, and the ship will be invigorated from bow to stern by Carnival’s signature fun.

14/02/2024

Alaska in 2024? I recommend the bookends of the tourist season!

05/02/2024

Great website!

Cruise guide to Cruise Ports and Cruise Terminals around the world

04/02/2024

https://travel.usnews.com/features/the-best-alaska-shore-excursions?src=usn_fb&fbclid=IwAR342HoRkShSEGsFI1XF_WuVJdHePjev_RJ1zD02h46A3szxWAE-bYf3Uto

Venture off the boat to see wildlife, glaciers, railways and more.

30/01/2024

30/11/2023

If you haven’t sailed the Rhine on a Viking longboat, you haven’t experienced travel perfection! Treat yourself in 2024!

25/11/2023

24/11/2023

I'm so very thankful for my clients and, more importantly, friends and family who have supported me and allowed me the privilege of booking travel adventures for them this past year. It's been a blessing for all of us to get back out in the world and fulfill our wander lusts! Thank you everyone! I am extremely grateful to each of you!

14/11/2023

08/11/2023

This was written on a cruise page on Facebook by a guest who wanted to share their experience on MSC Seaside. Well written and very thoughtful assessment. Just sharing...

"We went on the MSC Seaside out of Port Canavaral
Arrival: We arrived at Port Canaveral Pier at 10:00 am, checked in and were sitting by 10:30, we boarded 15 minutes later. We dropped our luggage off and went to explore a little. The ship was very easy to navigate around, newer elevators where you press what floor on the outside and enter. I personally prefer to push the button in elevator. Walking in, we were amazed how clean and plush the hallways were. You almost sank into carpet it was so thick and plush. We saw stewards actually using cleaner and brush scrubbing them. They ask guests NOT to put food trays outside, if you have one, leave them in your room.
Rooms: We had a balcony; it was a little smaller on this ship than most Carnival rooms. The bathroom is extremely small. The toilet is really quiet, the shower is small, but has glass doors verses the curtain that hits you. The mini fridge gets much colder than others we have had. The balcony door is a slider, so there is no slamming of the doors from other cabins, very quiet. They have a light system that lets the room attendant know when you are gone, we would leave and shortly later our room was made up. We hardly saw our guy unless we needed something. They do service all day long; it is always done. Talking to our guy, he said the max rooms they get is 20 rooms, never more. How novel not overworking the staff. They all get off every port, even if only for a couple hours. Our guy came from Royal, said he would never go back.
Dining: Buffet, there were 2, on deck 16 it is pretty much Hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, nachos, etc… Everything was good, Carnival Guys burgers are better, but other items were very good. MSC puts everything at stations going around, usually never more than 2-3 people in line in front of you. Then on deck 8, you had a much larger buffet. You had sandwich stations, pizza, salads, burger/hot dogs (fries were always hot), they get rid of cold ones unlike Carnival. They prepare all foods in front of you, not hiding in the back room. This deck also has hot foods like pork chops, pasta, etc… you also have a kid’s station with foods they like, we actually got stuff from there a couple times. For breakfast you can order an omelet, but they also have someone making omelets and fried eggs and putting them out on plate as they are ready. We always got fried eggs and hot toast (You toast yourself) with no waiting for them, plus there is bacon every day.
The dining room was nice, they have a daily menu with things like swordfish, shrimp, and special foods for port you are in. Then they have the classic menu which is things that are available every day. This is cruise food so there is nothing great about it to me, but we are good cooks so hard to find foods cooked as well as we think ours is.
Pools: the main pools were on deck 16, they get crowded like any other ship pools. But on deck 7 is the adult area. They are very active in keeping kids out of this area. The pool was hardly used. You can’t bring drinks into the pool, they must stay at your table, this also keeps the pools less crowded. Love it.
Shows: Singing shows were phenomenal, they were very professional, best shows we have seen. They do not have daily comedy shows, they had it twice in the main theater. They also had some variety shows which were good.
Drink Package: Much superior to other lines. We received the drink package and Wi-Fi free for our cruise, some others purchased it for $400 total for cabin. This is both for 1 device each person and unlimited drinks. There is no limit and there is no waiting 5 minutes. I went up once and got 3 drinks and a soda at the same time on my card. Once the bartender learns you, you do not even need to show card. The only thing with Wi-Fi is you can’t change devices; you register your one device and that is it. If you want a computer and phone, you need to purchase 2 devices.
Leaving at end of cruise: We self-carried our own bags, we left room at 7:25, we were off the ship and through customs and getting in Lyft by 8 am. Very smooth, no standing surrounded by group of people, lines moved really fast and efficient, other lines could learn a thing or 2.
Most important thing:
Staff: OMG, the staff were the best, no running to try and avoid people. Many used to work for other cruise lines and said they would never leave MSC. We talked to many staff, and all seemed to be happy. When you come back from a port, they have some of the staff lining a red carpet welcoming you back, dancing, talking having fun. When we were at the future cruise desk we were working with the manager when a ships officer came up, we talked with him for a while, he came from Royal also. He wanted to make sure we were having a good time, he also asked us what we thought about the ship’s layout since the ship is fairly new. We told him what we liked and what some of the other lines did better, when we said something about Royal that was better, he agreed and said he would bring it up with people above him. Asd we were leaving we told him he should date the Cruise manager, he laughed, and she blushed, it was cute.
We did not feel like they were nickel and diming us like Carnival seems to do a lot of now. With Carnival and Royal it has become all about the money, service is deteriorating, they better make some changes before they lose many others. We found many on our cruise that have changed over to MSC and some said they would not go back."

03/11/2023

CARNIVAL JUBILEE COMPLETES RIVER CONVEYANCE AS SHE READIES FOR SEA TRIALS

Carnival’s Next New Ship Closer to Completion with December Debut in Sight

MIAMI, Oct. 31, 2023 – Carnival Jubilee, which is set to debut in Texas in December, successfully finished a nautical feat as the first Carnival Cruise Line ship to complete a conveyance of the river Ems in northwest Germany. The first Carnival ship built at Meyer Werft, Carnival Jubilee was successfully transferred from the German shipyard in Papenburg to Eemshaven, Netherlands ahead of its upcoming sea trials.
To complete the conveyance, an experienced team at the helm of Carnival Jubilee sailed the Ems backwards toward the North Sea – departing Papenburg early Monday morning with the support of two tugboats to help with maneuverability. A group of Ems River pilots, the Pilot Brotherhood of Emden, assisted in carrying out the transfer. The pilots are highly trained and use state-of-the-art technology, including a realistic simulation of the river, to prepare for the passage.
The ship was carefully guided through narrow channels and under several bridges before arriving in Eemshaven early Tuesday morning, ahead of the first round of sea trials which begin on Nov. 5. Carnival Jubilee will be led and manned during the sea trials by a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers on board to thoroughly test its technical, mechanical and navigational systems.
Meanwhile, work on board continues as shipbuilders are outfitting Carnival Jubilee with the amenities guests will enjoy when sailings begin from Galveston. Exclusive new concepts in sea-themed areas of the ship will delight guests with delicious food and beverage options, such as the Dr.Inks, Ph.D Bar, as technology and other design elements transport them from a sunny pier-like “boardwalk” to an adventurous ocean-floor promenade. The cruise line’s third ship to be powered by a Liquefied Natural Gas propulsion system, Carnival Jubilee also features other stunning innovations – including top-deck rollercoaster BOLT: The Ultimate Seacoaster.
Carnival Jubilee’s first revenue cruise will depart from Galveston on Dec. 23.

03/11/2023

Norwegian Aqua to Debut in April 2025 with Seven-Day Caribbean Voyages from Port Canaveral, Fla. World’s First Hybrid Coaster to Premiere Aboard Norwegian Aqua, Along with NCL’s First Three-Bedroom Duplex Suites in The Haven by Norwegian® and Innovative Digital Sports Complex Captivating Hull...

18/09/2023

Home from my 14-night Journeys Cruise to Greenland! Didn't make it to Greenland thanks to Hurricane Idelia but we did go to 4 beautuiful ports in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia! I'll be cruising next on the Virgin Scarlet Lady for 4 nights and then on the Magic to New England and Canada for 8 nights to top off this month's cruises! October might set a record for cruise days for me!! :)

29/08/2023

Coming soon!!

28/08/2023

This is going to be absolutely stunning.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES THAT ITS NEW GRAND BAHAMA CRUISE PORT DESTINATION WILL BE CALLED “CELEBRATION KEY”

Further Details and Itineraries Open for Sale Coming in Late September
MIAMI, Aug. 28, 2023 – Cue the Junkanoo band, drumroll please… Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the name of its new destination in the Bahamas is… Celebration Key.
As Carnival gets ready to open itineraries in late September for cruises that will call on its highly-anticipated exclusive cruise port destination on Grand Bahama, it revealed the name – Celebration Key – to guests, employees, travel advisors and Bahamian officials today. Celebration Key is the first port destination exclusively designed for Carnival Cruise Line guests and its name is based on the vision for the destination to be a celebration of all that Carnival and The Bahamas has to offer for a memorable vacation. Once complete, it will be capable of welcoming two million guests each year.
“We are working very closely with the Government of The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority to ensure that we are highlighting the best of Grand Bahama and its culture, combined with fun like only Carnival can provide,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “Invoking the natural beauty of Grand Bahama, every day at Celebration Key will be a celebration of our guests’ own making with a variety of experiences and something for everyone.”
Grand Bahama is a northern island of The Bahamas and is known its breathtaking beaches, lush vegetation, and friendly people. Celebration Key will offer a uniquely Bahamian experience with an abundance of features and amenities, including a one-mile stretch of white-sand beach, as well as Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options for Carnival guests to enjoy. For the ultimate convenience and maximum enjoyment time, the adjacent cruise pier will be able to accommodate up to two of Carnival’s Excel-class ships simultaneously to allow guests to walk off the ship and arrive at Celebration Key. A groundbreaking ceremony for the destination was held in May 2022 and design, engineering and construction work is now underway.
In late September, Carnival plans to announce further details of the destination, along with opening for sale the first itineraries on at least ten ships from multiple homeports that will include a visit to Celebration Key, with the first cruises calling on the destination in July 2025.

25/08/2023

Heck Yeah!!!
Carnival Journeys – 29-Day Transpacific Cruise from Brisbane, Australia (Thursday departure)
2025: 04/03/2025
Thu Brisbane, Australia 6:00 PM
Fri Fun Day At Sea
Sat Fun Day At Sea
Sun Fun Day At Sea
Mon Fun Day At Sea
Tue Fun Day At Sea
Wed Fun Day At Sea
Thu Fun Day At Sea
Fri Fun Day At Sea
Sat Naha, Okinawa, Japan 9:00 AM 7:00 PM
Sun Fun Day At Sea
Mon Hiroshima, Japan 9:00 AM 6:00 PM
Tue Fun Day At Sea
Wed Tokyo, Japan 6:30 AM 10:00 PM
Thu Fun Day At Sea
Fri Hakodate, Japan 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Sat Kushiro, Japan 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Sun Fun Day At Sea
Mon Fun Day At Sea
Tue Fun Day At Sea
Wed Fun Day At Sea
Wed Cross International Dateline
Thu Fun Day At Sea
Fri Fun Day At Sea
Sat Seward (Anchorage), AK 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Sun Fun Day At Sea
Mon Juneau, AK 7:00 AM 4:00 PM
Tue Ketchikan, AK 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
Wed Fun Day At Sea
Thu Seattle, WA 7:00 AM
This is available to book from later today!

18/08/2023

A Viking ocean (or river) cruise really should be on your bucket list. Honesty, no one does it better! 😉

Special fares

15/08/2023

CELEBRITY CRUISES CONTINUES CARIBBEAN EXPANSION
WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW ITINERARIES
BRINGING FOUR SHIPS TO THREE FLORIDA PORTS
● Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Summit expand offerings out of South Florida’s Port Everglades
● More opportunities than ever before to experience Perfect Day at CocoCay
● For the first time, Celebrity Equinox will offer 7-night cruises out of Port Canaveral
● Celebrity Constellation to offer more frequent 7-night cruises out of Port Tampa Bay
MIAMI (August 15, 2023) –Celebrity Cruises, the award-winning premium cruise line pioneering resort
travel at sea, is thrilled to unveil all-new Caribbean offerings for the Winter 2024-2025 season on
board four stellar ships – Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity
Summit. Embarking from three Florida ports: Central Florida’s Port Canaveral, West Florida’s Port
Tampa Bay, and South Florida’s Port Everglades, travelers will enjoy more than 40 new itineraries, all
open for booking on August 22, 2023. Catering to the diverse needs of today’s consumer, the new
program offers a wide range of experiences, from rejuvenating quick getaways to weekly 7-night
cruises, and up to 9-night escapes. Transporting guests to tropical hotspots from Belize and Bimini to
Grand Cayman and San Juan, a select number of itineraries also offer the opportunity to visit Perfect
Day at CocoCay.
“We are so excited to unveil this new program. It provides our guests with more options to experience
the natural beauty of the Caribbean, which is elevated by our personalized experiences on board,”
says Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. “As part of this expansion, we are thrilled
to add Port Canaveral to our list of home ports – it is a perfect market to reach a wide mix of both inand out-of-state travelers looking for fun in the Caribbean sun.”
More Opportunities to Sail from South Florida and Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay
As part of the new program, Celebrity will expand its offerings from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades,
to include more opportunities to set sail on two award-winning ships: Celebrity Apex and Celebrity
Summit. From October 23, 2024, to March 8, 2025, travelers can enjoy five new sailings on Apex,
ranging from 6- to 7-night itineraries visiting destinations like St. Maarten, San Juan, Grand Cayman,
and Mexico, as well as select sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
A vibrant private island paradise nestled in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay offers the best of
beach-side bliss and sun-soaked excitement. With something for everyone, guests can enjoy miles of
pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, take a dip in the largest freshwater
pool in The Bahamas, and swim up to the bar for a refreshing tropical cocktail. Plus, guests can
experience the ultimate in relaxation and privacy at Coco Beach Club that features a heated infinity
pool, specialty restaurant, 20 exclusive overwater cabanas, and more. Debuting in January 2024,
Perfect Day at CocoCay will introduce Hideaway Beach – an adults-only paradise, with private cabanas
and a new signature food outlet.
Additionally, from February 25, 2025, to April 10, 2025, Summit will offer five new itineraries ranging
from 5- to 9-night across the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
“As one of Celebrity Cruises’ homeports, we are excited about the new sailings on Apex and Summit.
In addition to the line’s ‘resort at sea’ experience, their cruise guests can expect to experience
unrivalled customer service and ease of sailing at Port Everglades,” said Port Everglades CEO and
Port Director Jonathan Daniels.
Celebrity Comes to Port Canaveral
For the first time ever, Celebrity Cruises will sail out of Orlando’s Port Canaveral with 20 new
itineraries, from November 21, 2024, to April 19, 2025, on board the intimate Celebrity Equinox. With
most itineraries spanning 7-nights, travelers will have the opportunity to visit highly sought-after
Caribbean destinations like the Bahamas, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, San Juan, and St. Maarten.
Just in time for the Spring Break season, two sailings on March 1st and March 15th, 2025, will visit
Perfect Day at CocoCay.
"We are thrilled to welcome Celebrity Cruises as our new partner and honored to be part of their
Caribbean expansion plans,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “The demand for Celebrity
Cruise sailings from our Port has been growing. Now, with Celebrity Equinox homeported here, there
are great opportunities for even more cruise travelers to experience the cruise line’s high-quality
experience, while experiencing the comfort and ease of travel provided by our Port.
Refreshed Caribbean Offerings from Port Tampa Bay
Celebrity Cruises will revamp its current Caribbean program out of Port Tampa Bay. Guests can now
enjoy more frequent opportunities to set sail with 6- to 7-night cruises on board Celebrity
Constellation. The new program expands the brand’s offerings with four new itineraries and a total of
14 sailings for the season from January 2, 2025, to April 6, 2025. These itineraries will visit
destinations like Belize, Honduras, Key West, Mexico, and New Orleans during Mardi Gras, scheduled
for March 1, 2025.
“There has never been a better time to sail Celebrity Cruises from Port Tampa Bay. We are excited for
Celebrity’s new offerings and our continued successful partnership,” said Paul Anderson, Port Tampa
Bay President and CEO. “Celebrity Constellation is a beautiful ship that provides travelers with an
unforgettable cruise experience, all the while being located just steps from Tampa’s top attractions.”

26/07/2023

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/07/25/etias-applications-2024-europe-travel/

Starting in 2024, an $8 ETIAS application will be required for U.S. travelers to enter E.U. countries.

17/07/2023

Royal Caribbean is poised to launch its newest cruise ship that is going to stir up the cruise industry yet again.

17/07/2023

23/05/2023

Thank You Educators

16/05/2023

Exciting news from Carnival Cruise Line!!!

02/05/2023

Thank You Teachers