There are no mainstream cruise ships that currently dock in Cuba, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t get in on this culture of food, music and fun!

On select Carnival cruise ships, you can immerse yourself in a bit of Cuba’s glorious past in the ‘Havana Bar’.  This venue inspired by Old Havana, is a friendly spot to enjoy your time.

In the morning, order up some cuban coffee (cofecito), with or without the sweet fixings.  During the day, complimentary food is served such as cuban pastries, cuban sandwiches, empanadas, and flan.  While you take in the panoramic views looking backwards out of the ship, why not enjoy a handcrafted cocktail of Cuban origin such as a mojito or daiquiri?

Starting at 9:30pm, a three-piece band plays Latin music, which alternates with recorded Latin songs until 12:30am.  At that time, the bar turns into a disco.  Is this new space on Carnival Sunshine an area you would like to check out?

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
Dom@BlissTravelService.com
480-725-8837
www.BlissTravelService.com
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 #CarnivalSunshine #CubanFoodonaCruise #BlissTravelService

Do you have an important anniversary coming up?  Or, are you at a point in your relationship where you want to really connect and celebrate your love?  How about a ‘ReTie the Knot’ ceremony at a Sandals resort?

Sandals is the perfect setting for romance.  There are beautiful destinations, unscripted days, luxurious accommodations and service.  You can play in the ocean, walk on the beach, and snuggle in a secluded garden hammock.  Your every whim is taken care of so all there is left to do is focus on one another.

To take it to the next level, you can book a Sandals ReTie the Knot package.  Here are some of the highlights of the $300 package:

• Personal pre-travel ReTie the Knot Planner and team
• Ceremony musical accompaniment (pre-recorded)
• Celebration cake, bouquet and boutonniere
• 30 minute delightful reception with sparkling wine and cold hor d’oeuvres for ReTie the Knot couple and up to 6 guests
• Commemorative certificate
• Keepsake gift
• One 5×7 honeymoon photograph
• Honeymoon dinner for the ReTie the Knot couple at a resort speciality restaurant with white-glove service and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine
• Decorate honeymoon room
• Mimosa breakfast-in-bed any morning of choice

The more people you bring along to celebrate with you, the more items Sandals includes in your package.  Sandals properties are located in six different countries in the Caribbean;  Bahamas, St Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, Antigua, and Turks and Caicos.  Which island paradise do you want to celebrate on?

To book this amazing experience in paradise contact Dominique at Bliss Travel Service for the latest specials and promotions.  http://www.sandals.com/index.cfm?referral=139729

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
Dom@BlissTravelService.com
480-725-8837
www.BlissTravelService.com
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 #ReTietheKnot #SandalsResorts #BlissTravelService

You don’t just have to go to Disneyland or Disney World to celebrate Halloween, now you can do it on a Disney cruise too!

Disney is so full of magic anyways, but when you combine it with a child’s favorite holiday, it is unbelievably memorable.  Disney Cruise Lines already has year round on select sailings a costume event with their pirate night.  During this pirate party, children, adults, and cast members really get their ‘arrrr’ on with many pirate festivities.  But in true Disney style, they have taken it to the next level with a special ‘Halloween on the High Seas’.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Mickey’s Calling All The Monsters Mouse-Querade Deck Party, a celebration in addition to Pirate Night, with games, dancing and some favorite Disney Pals in their Halloween attire
• Trick-or-treating on the deck during the deck party
• Halloween-themed activities for all ages, including mask-making and pumpkin-carving
• A Nightmare Before Christmas—Sing and Scream, an interactive movie experience where you’re part of the action, followed by a meet-and-greet with Jack Skellington and Sally
• Haunted Stories of the Sea and other storytelling experiences
• Creepy Cabaret in the adult entertainment district, with performances by ghost and zombie musicians
• Costume parade for kids
• Costume contest for adults with a variety of award categories
• Halloween movie marathon to get you in the spirit, shown at Buena Vista Theatre, on Funnel Vision and on the dedicated in-room television channel

This new experience is available on the Disney Dream for itineraries departing Sept 22 through Oct 31, with the exclusion of the Sept 29 sailing.   The other ships will also offer a limited selection of Halloween events, including a costume parade for kids, costume contest for adults, themed movies and trick-or-treating on select sailings:

• Disney Magic on the October 27 sailing
• Disney Wonder on sailings departing between September 28 to October 26
• Disney Fantasy on sailings departing September 21 to October 26

Would you like to be a part of the first-time Halloween event at sea?

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
Dom@BlissTravelService.com
480-725-8837
www.BlissTravelService.com
www.facebook.com/BlissTravelService
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 #DCLHalloween #DisneyCruiseLineHalloween #BlissTravelService

While in Vancouver for the CLIA cruise 3 sixty conference, I attended a seminar on Mexico.  I was happy to learn that the country known for mariachi, mayan ruins, beautiful beaches, and yes tequila is making a come back..  The
negative press on the violence in Mexico caused many cruise ships to pull their itineraries out of the west coast.  The peak in Mexico for number of cruise sailings was in 2008 with 300 sailings.  Sadly in 2013 there were only 80.  In
2014, Princess, NCL, and Holland America are all returning.  This is great news for the people of Mexico whose livelihood depends on tourism.  It’s also great news for people who live on the west coast and enjoy the convenience of sailing out of California.

The specific details of the latest travel warning for Mexico, issued by the U.S. State Department on July 12, contained no essential changes from the last warning that was issued on Nov. 20, 2012.

Still exempt from any warnings or advisories are the tourist destinations of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, the Riviera Nayarit, Oaxaca, Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Tulum, Merida, and Chichen Itza.

You can feel confident in visiting these destinations.  If you are looking for a good value in a vacation, Mexico is a great consideration.  How do you feel about visiting Mexico?

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
Dom@BlissTravelService.com
480-725-8837
www.BlissTravelService.com
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 #SafetyinMexico #MexicoVacation #BlissTravelService

J.D. Power came out with a Cruise Line Satisfaction Report for 2013 and the results are not surprising.  The following seven categories, in order of importance, are the criteria used to rank the cruise lines: service; stateroom;
food; embarkation/debarkation; entertainment; cost; and excursions (port adventures).  The rankings are based on 3,003 responses from past cruise passengers.

Can you guess who is number one?  Disney Cruise Line ranks the best with 871 out of 1000 possible points and performed especially well in food and entertainment.  2nd place went to Royal Caribbean with 838 points, and Holland America finished third at 835. Both these lines performed especially well in service.  Following the leaders were Celebrity Cruises with 828 and Princess Cruises with 826. The average for cruise lines surveyed was 824 points. Scoring slightly below average were two cruise lines, Norwegian with 817 and Carnival with 810.

Out of the lines I’ve cruised, I would at least agree that Disney is ranked the best.  The Disney cruise we took in 2012 was overall the best cruise I’ve ever taken.  However, I attritube most of this to the fact that I was traveling with my children, aged 5 and 7 at the time.

You can not touch Disney’s children’s programs.  They have an entire deck devoted to their kids clubs.  They are well run with a myriad of activities to choose from.  My kids have enjoyed the kids programs on all their cruises, but
Disney really takes it to the next level.  Besides, where else are you going to find Mickey Mouse on board?

Even the entire deck of childrens programs was not the thing that impressed me the most.  The entertainment on board was spectacular and appealed to our whole family.  It’s pretty hard to put on a show that every age group will love, but Disney passes with flying colors.  I can not say the same thing about the other cruise lines.  My kids would be bored or I would be bored or the quality was not worth the time.  So, if you’ve got kids, especially 12 and under, a Disney cruise could be a great choice for you.

Which is your favorite cruise line and why?

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
Dom@BlissTravelService.com
480-725-8837
www.BlissTravelService.com
www.facebook.com/BlissTravelService
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 #CruiseLineRankings  #BlissTravelService

I recently attended the cruise 3 sixty conference in Vancouver, B.C.  One of the most exciting innovations coming from Royal Caribbean is the virtual balcony.  I was quite impressed with the screen and how it changed the whole
feel of the ‘room’.  They are being built on the up and coming Quantum of the Seas.  However, the Navigator of the Seas is getting a facelift in January and will be the first ship to offer them.

The virtual balconies will be an 80-inch LED project screen that shows images of the ocean that is taken from elsewhere on the ship.  There will not be a specific charge for interior cabins with virtual balconies, but the cruise line is hoping they will bring higher yields.  I expect these cabins to sell out more quickly than other room types.  I will certainly be targeting them for my clients!

Royal Caribbean is not the first to come up with the concept, Disney cruise lines added virtual portholes to their inside cabins in 2011. The virtual portholes are currently on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.  They have been
a hot ticket item and I expect more cruise lines to follow suit.

Dominique Barba
Bliss Travel Service - a travel agency specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, honeymoons, weddings, group travel
Dom@BlissTravelService.com
480-725-8837
www.BlissTravelService.com
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 #VirtualBalconies #RoyalCaribbeanVirtualBalconies #BlissTravelService