Tours

How Do I Choose Shore Excursions? Do I Need Reservations?

Cruise Ships

Almost every cruise line offers shore excursions before, after, and during the cruise at each port.  Why? Because the traveler wants to get the most out of the trip and have the most amount of fun possible while on vacation.

There are several things to consider when choosing your excursions.  Most people consider their budget first.  The problem with that is that they often miss out on some of the most fun available on the trip.  I think you should think about what you want to see and do first, then create a budget to cover everything you want to do.  Next, you start saving your money.  You don’t want to come home from your trip and regret not having done the things you wanted to do because you could not afford them. Think about how much you spent to get there. Make sure you get to do what you went there to see and do.

Also, when thinking about the trip, don’t just think about the dollars.  If you read some blogs and magazines, they will suggest that you will save money by just getting off the ship and picking one of the port side vendors to provide the excursion.  You will, of course, save money. But at what real cost to you? Is that vendor safe and reliable?  How about the vehicle they are providing?  Will it break down and cause you to miss the ship when it leaves port later in the day?  Will that vendor fly you to the next port at their expense? I very much doubt that they will do that!

Sometimes, saving a couple of bucks on an excursion can end up being very costly. Of course, there is a profit margin in the excursion that the cruise line recommends. But, they have also checked out the provider. They are in business and they want you and I to have a great experience.  They want us to come back next year.   They generally have much more experience than we do in dealing with port side vendors. And, if things go awry, the cruise line will make sure to get you to the next port, and they will do it on their dime, not yours; they won’t leave you stranded in some port. If you booked the excursion through the cruise line, they will stand behind their choice of vendor.

Isn’t that what real value is? Getting the most for your dollar?

As for reservations, yes, it is a very good idea.  In fact, some excursions can sell out before you even get on the ship, so plan ahead. The bigger and more important the excursion is to you, the more important it is to get reservations. Also, the more popular the excursion, such as the Vatican in Rome, the more you need reservations.

When you talk with your travel agent, ask about the excursions.  Tell your agent what you really want to see and do while on this trip. They can give you advice based upon their personal experience as well as advice from their customers who have enjoyed other excursions. If you do decide to book an excursion on your own, at least make sure to use a reliable vendor. When we set up our personal tours, those not included or made available by the cruise ship, we always use Viator for our excursions because of some issues with vendors that we have used in the past.

For example, we just came home from a trip to both Kauai and Oahu.  While on Kauai we enjoyed several great excursions.  For example, we went to the Smith Family Luau for great food and entertainment.  We also had a great boat excursion to see the Napali Coast.  Our son Joshua had fun ziplining near Princeville.

We took the Blue Dolphin tour out of Port Alan on the south side of the island. We traveled around the west side of the island, through the Kaulakahi Channel, passing the forbidden island of Niihau.

Check out this video clip of dolphins riding the bow wave on our trip!!!

We also drove to the the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.  Great excursions!

Excursions just like these are available when you visit Kauai on your cruise ship or take a timeshare or hotel vacation there.

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Turning Dreams into Memories,
One Vacation at a Time.
Bon Voyage!!!

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our travels as well as from other travelers. I hope it has been of value to you.  Check out the important links below.

Don’t hesitate to email us when you return from your trip with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow travelers!

You may also want to visit our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TeamEdwardsTravel

Do Cruise Lines Offer Special Rates to Military, Law Enforcement, Etc…?

Cruise Ships

Special Rates?

Do Cruise Lines Offer Special Rates to Military, Law Enforcement, etc…?  Yes, they do.  Sometimes in the form of a reduction in price, other times in the form of a gift of onboard credit.  Some cruise lines extend these offers to law enforcement, fire fighters, etc.  Almost every cruise line offers special rates for various categories of travelers.  In addition to the ones noted above, there are also special rates for returning cruisers too.  Just ask us when you call to book your next cruise!

What Should You Ask Your Travel Agent at Team Edwards Travel?

Whenever you talk with your travel agent about a cruise, you need to ask a couple of questions.  First of all, always ask about special rates for any special group that you are a part of; Seniors, AAA members, AARP members, Military, Law Enforcement, etc…  Secondly, always ask the agent if they or their agency already have group rates available for the cruise you want to take.  In fact, if you check out Team Edwards Travel right now, and click on the Specials button on the main page, you will see several cruise specials.

Group Rates???  Do I have to be a part of a special group to qualify for group rates?

Not Usually. Generally, the best rates you will find are for group packages created by your travel agent or the travel agency.  Let me tell you how that works.

Your travel agent at Team Edwards Travel is always planning ahead at least a year.  When the new cruise itinerary comes out, the agents within the agency will set up groups that usually consists of setting aside 10 inside cabins, 10 outside cabins and 10 balcony cabins.  They can use other quantities and they can accommodate other types of cabins, but that is the basic setup.  Oh, and don’t let the “group” identifier worry you.  All that the agents are doing is locking in the rates for their customers.  Sometimes, the “group” is for a particular set of customers, but usually it is just an effort on the part of your travel agent to hold some cabins for their regular clients.

For example, one of the agents in our agency set up a “group” several months ago for an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise.  I asked him if he had the cabins sold yet because I had a client looking for such a cruise. He said that he had not yet sold any of the cabins and that I was welcome to book my clients into his “group”.

So, in conclusion, don’t forget to ask your travel agent about any “groups” they or their agency have that will save you money on your next cruise.  When you realize how much money you have saved, you will be happy you did. Also, don’t forget to ask your agent about tours and excursions as well as any special air fare rates that are available for the cruise you want to book.  Some excursions will be sold out if you wait until you get on ship.  Also, some sites will tell you that you can get a cheaper excursion if you wait till you get to port and talk with one of the locals looking for business.  Yes, it may be cheaper, but is that person licensed and bonded. Is their vehicle insured.  And most importantly, will they get you back to the ship on time.  If you are on an excursion arranged by Team Edwards Travel through the cruise line, the ship will not sail without you.  If you are booked with Fly By Night tours or someone you meet at the dock, and you are late returning, you have to arrange for your own transportation to the next port.  Hope you took $$ and your travel documents with you when you left the ship because you cannot travel without them. This may be a time where saving a few dollars is not really worth it.

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Turning Dreams into Memories,
One Vacation at a Time.
Bon Voyage!!!

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our travels as well as from other travelers. I hope it has been of value to you.  Check out the important links below.

Don’t hesitate to email us when you return from your trip with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow travelers!

You may also want to visit our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TeamEdwardsTravel

Can Team Edwards Travel Save me $$$ if I Am Using My Timeshare?

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Can Team Edwards Travel save you money?

Maybe Yes, Maybe No

We all know that time is money, and that knowledge is king! And good travel agents, like Team Edwards Travel, can save the consumer time and with their knowledge, money. People in general associate the web with great deals, while in fact, great offers and amenities can be had by using an agent as well. But remember, pricing is not the only issue; the real issue is who will be there when things go wrong? Will you be able to get in touch with someone on that online site?  Wouldn’t you just rather call your agent, and let them take care of the issues?  Service is the hallmark of a good agent.

Now, let’s get on to the question at hand to see if your travel agent at Team Edwards Travel can save you some money. If your timeshare is within driving distance from your home, you probably won’t save any money if you use your travel agent to book your activities, but you can probably benefit from their knowledge of the area.  They may have some great ideas about things to see and do that you may not have experienced before. That is another reason for working with Team Edwards Travel because we love to travel and love to share our experiences with you.  You will have more fun and save money too.

For example, on our last trip to Seaside, Oregon, we took several side trips and visited some great sites enroute that I am sure you would love to do as well. Like, checking out the Spruce Goose at the Evergreen Museum in McMinnville, sampling cheese at the Tillimook Cheese Factory, and don’t forget the kite shops like Catch The Wind in Lincoln City. We also took a great day trip up to Seattle for a visit to The Pike Place Market as well as to see a Cirque du Soleil show.  If you don’t know what is happening in the area, you might miss out.  Ask your agent what is happening.  We may have some great ideas for you.

If you are flying to your timeshare, I am sure that you can save money by having your travel agent book your airfare and rental car, excursions, shows, etc…

As noted in an earlier blog, your travel agent needs to book a package of products in order to save you money and to get paid a commission, otherwise they have to charge you a service fee for their time and effort. They are not in business to work for free.  They are service providers and expect to get paid for providing their services.

As an example, we travel regularly to Hawaii to make use of our timeshare.  In fact, we will be enjoying our timeshare again this fall.  This is a perfect example of where Team Edwards Travel can bundle the airfare, rental car and a couple of excursions, and save you some money.  We can also suggest some great things to do.  When we visit Kauai we really enjoy taking the time to see the Napali Coast either from the air or from a boat.  Both are great excursions!  It is a great hike too if you are in shape and ready for a workout. Booking all of these together saves money.  On this trip, we will try out the Smith Family Garden Luau on Kauai and let you know what we think.

On Ohau, we like to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center which is a great day trip, ending with a luau and a show.  Don’t forget the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. This is another area where combining the airfare, car rental and the excursions will save you money. On this trip to Ohau, we will check out the new Disney facility, The Aulani, and let you know what we think.  It’s Grand Opening will be on August 29th; so if you are a big Disney fan, you will want to vacation there the next time you go to Ohau.

Just make sure to contact us before your next vacation, so that Team Edwards Travel can show you how we can save you money and increase your enjoyment.

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Turning Dreams into Memories,
One Vacation at a Time.
Bon Voyage!!!

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our travels as well as from other travelers. I hope it has been of value to you.  Check out the important links below.

Don’t hesitate to email us when you return from your trip with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow travelers!

You may also want to visit our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TeamEdwardsTravel