October 8, 2004

Timestravel

Holland America Cruise Line’s Family Reunion Program—an industry first

Recognizing the growing popularity of multi-generational family travel, Holland America Cruise Line has created its Family Reunion Program—the first of its kind in the industry—with extra amenities to reward families who cruise together.

Holland America Line’s new Family Reunion Program offers amenities that benefit the entire family. Available to families booking five staterooms or more on any cruise, the program features such benefits as special group pricing; a fountain soda package for every member of the family (unlimited soft drinks throughout the voyage); a family photo per stateroom; and a choice of either dinner for the entire family in the line’s alternative Pinnacle Grill Restaurant or, on Caribbean cruises, free rentals of snorkel gear and swim mats or banana boat rides for all on Half Moon Cay, HAL’s award-winning private island.

For families booking 10 or more staterooms, the line offers its Head-of-the-Family Reward: one complimentary upgrade from an outside stateroom to a verandah. Family groups will receive the free upgrade to a verandah stateroom for the head of the family if booking only five staterooms or more on a holiday cruise in 2004.

”We are very excited to debut our Family Reunion Program—it offers choice, extensive value, and a benefit for every member of the family,” says Richard D. Meadows, CTC, senior vice president, marketing and sales.

“Cruising is the perfect family vacation offering something for everyone. Sharing an exceptional meal with the entire family at the Pinnacle Grill or enjoying all the fun beach toys at Half Moon Cay provides an opportunity for families to bond and create lasting memories—all with our compliments.”

For more information and reservations, call Let’s Travel (408) 972-0773.

Windstar sailing ship announces Panama Canal itinerary for 2005

Windstar Cruises combines the drama of transiting the Panama Canal with the elegance of cruising aboard a sailing ship to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience aboard the Wind Star on four new itineraries in 2005.

“A Panama Canal transit continues to be a ‘must-do’ trip for many of today’s most sophisticated travelers, and we deliver a luxurious experience that is fascinating and pampering,” says Tom Russell, Windstar’s vice president of marketing and sales.

“The intimate size and unique style of Wind Star—a masted motor sailing yacht that is truly 180 degrees from ordinary—provides an up-close and personal perspective of this dramatic event,” he added.

The cruise line will offer two 14-day voyages between Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica and Bridgetown, Barbados, with departures on March 26 and Nov. 19. Each itinerary combines the intrigue of a Panama Canal transit and the beauty of exotic destinations in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Two December sailings between Puerto Limon and Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica also showcase Panama Canal, including a 10-day holiday cruise departing Dec. 17 and an 11-day New Year’s cruise that takes to sea on Dec. 27.

For more information and reservations, call Let’s Travel at (408) 972-0773.

Carnival introduces digital photo processing

New self-service, digital photo printing kiosks are appearing on board the ships of Carnival Cruise Lines. Pixel Magic’s iStation 150 photo printing kiosks are located near the ships’ photo galleries.

To print their photos, passengers insert the memory card from their digital camera into a card reader located within the stand-alone printing kiosk. Selected images are then printed on high quality digital photo paper. Photos can be customized with borders, backgrounds and other features. To pay for the photos, passengers simply swipe their “Sail & Sign” shipboard card.

For more information and reservations, call Let’s Travel at (408) 972-0773.

—By Sean Eastwood