Salisbury Cruise Club News November 2010

Transcription

1 In this Issue: Salisbury Cruise Club News November 2010 Next Cruise Club Meeting - Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 7:00 pm - To discuss plans for our upcoming Bermuda Cruise Your Hosts - Kelly and Tracy Shannahan 7-Day Bermuda Cruise - Sunday, September 25 - October 2, Now Accepting Registrations - Please register by December 9, 2010 for Lowest Prices! AMA Waterways Danube River Cruise - departs May 22, Getting ready to sail Alaska Cruise - August was an Incredible Experience! - Check out the photos on the web site Salisbury Cruise Club Web Page - Check it out at New Members Always Welcome - Please recommend new members - no cost and no obligation ******* Next Salisbury Cruise Club Meeting Thursday, December 9, 2010 We have scheduled the next meeting of the Salisbury Cruise Club for the exclusive purpose of discussing plans for our Bermuda Cruise sailing at the end of September The meeting will be held Thursday night, December 9, 2010 beginning at 7:00 pm in the Jackson Memorial Building (JMB) of Trinity United Methodist Church in Salisbury (Directions - Take Business US Rt 50 to downtown Salisbury - turn north (away from downtown) on North Division Street - the JMB is the first building on your right with parking across North Division Street). We look forward to sharing the details about our Bermuda Cruise at our upcoming meeting and having you join us on this cruise in September ******* Now Accepting Registrations for 7-Day Bermuda Cruise 2011 Sunday, September 25 - October 2, 2011 on Holland America Line s MS Veendam You spoke and we listened. In our most recent Salisbury Cruise Club survey, you told us that your Top 3 Cruise Destinations were Alaska (1), Bermuda (2) and Canada & New England (3). Having sailed to Canada and New England in 2009 and just having returned from Alaska in August 2010, it s time to set sail for Bermuda in After researching the available itineraries, we are pleased to be able to offer another luxury cruise experience

2 with Holland America Line (HAL) onboard the ms Veendam. Given the exceptional quality of the food, entertainment and accommodations and the first-class service which we enjoyed while sailing with HAL in Alaska, we are excited to sail again on one of Holland America Line s elegant mid-sized ships as we discover Bermuda. Furthermore, HAL s itinerary provides the most time in port on Bermuda to fully explore this beautiful tropical paradise. We ll enjoy four days on Bermuda calling on the historic port of St. George s as well as the capital city of Hamilton in the heart of Bermuda. Given the small size of the island and the outstanding transportation system featuring fast ferries and an excellent bus system, you ll have ample opportunity to explore the famous pink beaches and secluded coves of South Shore Park, the quaint shops and boutiques of Hamilton, the rich colonial history of St. George s, and many other hidden gems that make Bermuda a favorite among vacationers. Due to its popularity, air fare, hotel accommodations and meals are quite expensive for those who choose to fly to the island, which makes cruising to Bermuda a very attractive and cost-effective alternative. And by cruising with the Salisbury Cruise Club, you can rest assured that all of the details have been addressed so you can simply relax and enjoy your vacation. Holland America Line - ms Veendam I am pleased to report that the Salisbury Cruise Club has put together an excellent cruise package that includes round trip bus transportation from Salisbury and Ocean Pines to New York City where we will board the ship for our 7-day cruise aboard Holland America Line s (HAL) MS Veendam round trip from New York City. The ship sets sail at 4:45 pm on Sunday and cruises past the Statue of Liberty as we make our way to Bermuda. We will enjoy our first full day at sea on Monday relaxing and unwinding and we ll cap off the day with a private one-hour Cocktail Party (open bar, snacks and hot appetizers) followed by dinner, shows and plenty of entertainment. Early Tuesday morning, we will arrive at St. George s, Bermuda where we will be docked overnight and Wednesday morning. The ship will reposition to Hamilton, Bermuda Wednesday afternoon where we will remain docked through Friday afternoon when we are scheduled to depart at 2:00 pm. Soon after we set sail, we ll get the onboard party started with our own private one-hour Fiesta Party featuring complimentary Mojitos, Margaritas and Coronas and we ll spice up the party with tortilla chips and dip, chicken taquitos, cheese quesadillas and stuffed jalapenos. Of course you will also receive the personalized service you have come to enjoy from your Cruise Hosts Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, as well as several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club and Salisbury Cruise & Travel, LLC. Package prices start at $1,300 per person for an inside cabin, $1,500 for an ocean view cabin, or $2,200 for a spacious balcony cabin. We have also secured a limited number of HAL s innovative Lanai cabins which are laid our very similar to the ocean view cabins although they have a sliding door that opens onto the Lower Promenade deck. Lanai cabins start at $1,670 per person. Please plan to register early in order to secure the lowest prices and to book the cabin category that you prefer before they sell out. Please don t delay, register today!

3 Our 7-Day Bermuda Cruise Itinerary is as follows: - Exact times may change Sunday, September 25 7:00 am - Bus from Salisbury and Ocean Pines to New York City 12:00 noon - Board HAL ms Veendam 4:45 pm - ms Veendam departs for 7-day cruise to Bermuda Monday, September 26 All Day - Relaxing Day at Sea 4:00 pm - Salisbury Cruise Club Cocktail Party Tuesday, September 27 8:00 am - Arrive St. George s, Bermuda (overnight - 30 hours in port) Wednesday, September 28 All Morning - Explore St. George s and the surrounding area 2:00 pm - Reposition to Hamilton, Bermuda (2 hours) - Note: You are not required to be onboard when the ship repositions. You can simply re-board in Hamilton after 4:00 pm if you prefer. 4:00 pm - Arrive in Hamilton, Bermuda (overnight - 46 hours in port) St. George s, Bermuda Thursday, September 29 - Hamilton, Bermuda (overnight - all day/night to explore Bermuda) Friday, September 30 All Morning - Explore Hamilton and the surrounding area (a great day to shop in Hamilton) 2:00 pm - depart for return cruise to New York City 4:00 pm - Salisbury Cruise Club Fiesta Party Beach near St. George s Saturday, October 1 All Day - Relaxing Day at Sea Sunday, October 2 7:00 am - MS Veendam arrives New York City 9:00 am - Bus to Ocean Pines and Salisbury (we ll make a short stop for lunch) 2:00 pm - Bus arrives Ocean Pines and Salisbury (exact time may vary) We love this cruise itinerary since it offers 4 days to explore Bermuda. Furthermore, we are very impressed with the reviews we ve read from past passengers on the MS Veendam and the overall Holland America Line experience which is consistently among the highest-rated cruise lines in the annual Reader s Choice Awards by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure World s Best Awards and winner of the Best Overall Cruise Value for 17 consecutive years by the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society receiving a High Deluxe Five-Star-Plus Rating. You ll also enjoy that all of the details of your trip have been taken care of by the Salisbury Cruise Club and your Hosts, Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, so all you need to do is relax and enjoy your vacation. In summary, we have a first-class cruise experience to look forward to this coming September. Hamilton, Bermuda Bermuda from the air

4 Available Cabins and Prices We are currently holding 50 cabins for our group as follows: - Ten (10) Inside Cabins - (182 square feet - sf) - Category K on Deck 5 (no window) - Thirty (30) Ocean View Cabins - (197 sf) - Category D on Deck 5 (with full-size window) - Ten (10) Balcony Cabins - (292 sf) - Category B on Deck 9 (with private balcony) - By Request while they last - Lanai Cabins - (197 sf) - Category CA on Deck 6 (sliding glass door opens to Lower Promenade deck) Full package prices are as follows (if registered by the early deadline of December 9, 2010): Inside Cabin (Category K) - $1,300 per person Ocean View Cabin (Category D) - $1,500 per person Lanai Cabin (Category CA) - $1,670 per person Balcony Cabin (Category B) - $2,200 per person These prices are based on double occupancy (two people per cabin). Singles may be paired with a roommate, if available. These prices are the Early prices and will be honored for all registrations received or postmarked by December 9, 2010 or until sold out, whichever is sooner. Prices will increase by $50 per person for registrations received on or after December 10, 2010 and by another $50 per person for registrations received on or after February 1, Given the amount of time that we will be in port exploring Bermuda and therefore the limited time that you may be in your cabin, we are not convinced that the Balcony cabin is the best value for the price. That s why we originally booked most of our group allotment in ocean view cabins. However, we must admit that the Lanai Cabins provide an interesting option for those of you who like being able to walk outside directly from your cabin. It s not a private balcony, but quite a large deck for you to enjoy. And even though the Lower Promenade deck is a public area, our experience has shown that the Promenade deck rarely draws a crowd. All that being said, there are only 38 total Lanai cabins available on the ms Veendam and HAL will only let me book them on an as available basis. So, if you are interested in booking a Lanai cabin, I encourage you to send in your registration as soon as possible so we can secure your cabin before they are all sold out. Inside Cabin - Cat. K Ocean View Cabin - Cat. D Lanai Cabin - Cat. CA Balcony Cabin - Cat. B Cruise Package The Salisbury Cruise Club package reflected in the above referenced prices includes: Round trip bus transportation from Salisbury and Ocean Pines to New York City, 7-day cruise aboard Holland America Line s ms Veendam including deluxe accommodations, awesome meals all day, every day, spectacular entertainment and exciting activities on board with 2 relaxing days at sea and a total of 78-hours (4 days) to explore Bermuda from the ports of St. George s and Hamilton, Bermuda. Complimentary one-hour Cocktail Party on our way to Bermuda and one-hour Fiesta Party as we sail home All taxes and port charges, The services of your Cruise Hosts Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, and Several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club.

5 Deposit and Payment Information Upon registration, a $500 deposit per person will be required to be paid by check made out to Salisbury Cruise & Travel, LLC. This deposit will be used to cover the group deposits and a portion of the expenses with the cruise line, as well as the expenses with the bus company. If you wish to purchase the Optional Vacation Protection Insurance, please add the appropriate insurance fee per person (either $70, $89 or $110 - see details above) to your deposit check. After your initial deposit, all future payments can be made by credit card if you wish (please fill out and sign the credit card authorization portion of the registration form). Credit card payments will be charged directly with Holland America Line. Additional payments will be due on March 15, 2011 (½ of your remaining balance) and June 15, 2011 (your final balance). Remember, once you are registered, you can cancel for any reason up to June th 30, 2011 and receive a full refund. After June 30, cancellation penalties apply. Refund Policy and Comprehensive Vacation Protection Insurance If your plans change after you register and for some reason you must cancel, you will receive a full refund provided that you cancel by June 30, Beyond that date, cancellation fees will be imposed by Holland America Line. Optional Comprehensive Travel Protection Insurance is available for this cruise through Travel Insured International at special group rates based upon the total cost of your cruise package as follows: Inside and Ocean View Cabins up to $1,500 total package price - $70 per person (pp), Lanai Cabins and Ocean View Cabins from $1,501 to $2,000 total package price - $89 pp, Balcony Cabins from $2,001 to $2,500 total package price - $110 pp. We highly recommend that everyone purchase this Optional Comprehensive Travel Protection Insurance at the time of deposit. This insurance not only covers the cost of the trip if you must cancel after June 30, 2011 due to certain unforeseen events (sickness of you or your traveling companion or a family member, weather events, loss of job, etc.), but it also covers other possible expenses in the unfortunate event that something happens to you during our cruise. Specifically, this insurance includes the following protection (with maximum coverage noted in parentheses): Trip Cancellation (Total Package Price), Trip Interruption (150% of Total Package Price), Trip Delay ($750), Baggage/Personal Effects ($1,500), Baggage Delay ($400), Accident and Sickness Medical Expense ($50,000), Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation ($250,000), Accidental Death/Dismemberment ($25,000) and Worldwide Assistance Services (Included). Furthermore, by purchasing this insurance at the time of deposit when you first register for this cruise, you will also be covered for pre-existing conditions. Should you need to cancel your cruise before June 30, 2011, you will not only receive a full refund of your cruise payments but you will also receive a refund of your insurance premium as well. Beyond June 30, 2011 the insurance will cover your cruise expenses less the insurance premium. While we never like to think of potential problems, they do sometimes occur. For example, on our 2007 Hawaii Cruise, we had a few passengers come down with a touch of the flu. Each of these passengers received medical attention and treatment on board which was fully covered by the insurance. Likewise,

6 we had two passengers that had to cancel their Mediterranean Cruise in 2008 at the last minute, one due to the illness of their mother and another due to a personal injury. Both passengers received full refunds which saved them several thousand dollars each. In addition, their roommates were assessed a hefty single supplement charge by the cruise line which was reimbursed in full by Travel Insured. In my opinion, this comprehensive vacation protection insurance is well worth the extra expense for the peace of mind alone. Register Early To Secure Your Space Since Bermuda was our second most-requested itinerary on our latest survey, it is very possible that this cruise may sell out quickly. In fairness to all of our members, I have explained that space will be guaranteed on a first registered and deposited basis. We encourage you to print a copy of the Registration Form below, fill it out and return it with your $500 deposit and optional insurance payment by check made out to Salisbury Cruise & Travel, LLC and mailed to 3911 Five Friars Road, Salisbury, MD I recognize that the e-roster members will get a bit of a jump on the US Mail roster members, however that is just another benefit of being an e-roster member. If you are not already registered as an e-roster member of the Salisbury Cruise Club, please visit our web site at and follow the instructions for joining. Enjoy a few sunsets in Bermuda ******* We re Getting Ready to Sail on our AMA Waterways Danube River Cruise 2011 from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany aboard the 150 passenger MS Amadolce Sunday, May 22-30, 2011 We have a small group of 22 passengers registered to join us on our upcoming luxury cruise of the Danube River sailing with AMA Waterways on the MS Amadolce from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany, May 22 through 30, During our cruise, we will visit Bratislava, Slovakia, Vienna, Durnstein and Melk, Austria, Linz, Passau and Regensburg, Germany. We will enjoy guided tours in each of these ports and AMA Waterways will also provide bicycles for us to use if we wish to explore the surrounding countryside. Onboard our exclusive 150 passenger vessel, we will enjoy a Slovakian music performance, wine tasting, folklore entertainers, and lectures on the history and culture of the many cities and towns settled along the banks of the Danube over the course of history. Gourmet meals will be accompanied by complimentary local beer, wine and sodas. Well-appointed accommodations and pampered service are also in store for our group as we enjoy smooth sailing through one of the most beautiful and culturally rich areas of the world. We re excited to experience our first European river cruise and look forward to sharing our experience with a complete report and review when we return.

7 ******* Alaska Cruise and CruiseTour August 2010 Was an Incredible Experience We had a great group of 98 passengers join us on our recent Alaska Cruise which sailed on August 21, 2010 from Vancouver, British Columbia onboard Holland America Line s ms Zuiderdam. We enjoyed scenic cruising through the Inside Passage, Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Bay National Park, and called on the Alaskan ports of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. 10 of our passengers disembarked in Skagway and traveled by train, plane and motorcoach through the interior of Alaska with stops in Whitehorse, Dawson City, Minto, Eagle, Tok, Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Anchorage. Highlights of our cruise included several humpback whales at our first cocktail party feeding as a group, gorgeous scenery in Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay (and throughout the cruise for that matter), plenty of sightings on our whale watching excursion in Juneau, more spectacular scenery on our White Pass Summit Rail Excursion, a side trip to see bears feeding on salmon in Haines, an enjoyable lumberjack show in Ketchikan, and literally thousands of spawning salmon in Ketchikan Creek. We capped off the week with sightings of killer whales during our second cocktail party on our return through the Inside Passage. We have included a few photos from our cruise on the website and encourage you to take a look at your convenience by clicking on the Alaska Cruise photo icon on the Home Page. Salisbury Cruise Club Group - Alaska 2010 Glacier Bay National Park Salisbury Cruise Club Web Page Check it Out We recently updated the website to include information about our upcoming Bermuda Cruise in September 2011 and a few photos from our recent Alaska Cruise in August We have had more than 6,700 visitors check out the Salisbury Cruise Club web page since we launched it and we encourage you to take a few minutes to check it out at and let us know what you think. Please also be sure to check back periodically to see what new information has been added. Remember that your comments and constructive criticism on ways to improve the site are always welcome and appreciated.

8 ******* New Members Always Welcome As you know, the mission of the Salisbury Cruise Club is to provide awesome group cruises to all cruise enthusiasts and to introduce the luxury vacation experience that cruising offers to first time cruisers at an affordable price. Salisbury Cruise Club is a not-for-profit club which organizes and provides a value-added cruise experience by personally hosting all of our cruises and taking the worry out of your cruise experience. Membership in the Salisbury Cruise Club is absolutely FREE and there is no obligation. All we ask of members is that they consider joining us on future cruises and that they spread the word about our club and cruises to others who may be interested. If you know someone who may be interested in joining our club, you can simply forward me their name and address (and U.S. mailing address too if you have it, however is our preferred means of communication) and I ll send them some general information and add them to the membership roster. Or direct them to the Salisbury Cruise Club website where they can sign up online. They will then receive all future mailings and announcements of upcoming cruise opportunities at no cost and no obligation. Meet Your Hosts - The Shannahan Family Ryan, Kelly, Tracy and Sam Shannahan Thank you for your continued support of the Salisbury Cruise Club. I hope to see you on our next cruise. Fun-Loving Families are Always Welcome! Bon Voyage, Kelly Shannahan, President Salisbury Cruise Club 3911 Five Friars Road Salisbury, Maryland website cruisin4u@verizon.net If you wish to be removed from the e-roster of the Salisbury Cruise Club, please send a reply to cruisin4u@verizon.net with the following note - Please remove me from the Cruise Club Sorry for any inconvenience. Once I receive your message I will remove your address from my address book.

9 General Information Salisbury Cruise Club 7-Day Bermuda Cruise Sunday, September 25 - October 2, 2011 Sailing Aboard: Holland America Line (HAL) - ms Veendam Travel Itinerary: Date Port/Destination Arrival - Departure Sunday, September 25 Bus from Salisbury/Ocean Pines to New York City 7:00 am Board HAL ms Veendam 12:00 noon HAL ms Veendam departs for 7-day cruise 4:45 pm Monday, September 26 At Sea - relax aboard your floating paradise - Salisbury Cruise Club Cocktail Party Tuesday, September 27 St. George, Bermuda 8:00 am - Overnight Wednesday, September 28 St. George, Bermuda Reposition at 2:00 pm Hamilton, Bermuda 4:00 pm - Overnight Thursday, September 29 Hamilton, Bermuda All Day - Overnight Friday, September 30 Hamilton, Bermuda Depart at 2:00 pm - Salisbury Cruise Club Fiesta Party Saturday, October 1 At Sea - relax aboard your floating paradise Sunday, October 2 HAL ms Veendam arrives New York City 7:00 am Board Bus for return to Salisbury 9:00 am Bus arrives Salisbury/Ocean Pines 2:00 pm Save Money and Secure Your Spot by Registering as Early as Possible Cabin Categories/Prices* (pp = per person/double occupancy): Early Standard Late By 12/9/10 By 1/31/11 By 4/15/11 Inside Cabin - (182 sf) - Cat K, Main Deck 5 - (no window) $1,300 pp $1,350 pp $1,400 pp Ocean View Cabin - (197 sf) - Cat D, Main Deck 5 - (with window) $1,500 pp $1,550 pp $1,600 pp Lanai Cabin - (197 sf) - Cat CA, Deck 6 - (opens to Promenade deck) $1,670 pp $1,720 pp $1,770 pp Balcony Cabin - (292 sf) - Cat B, Verandah Deck 9 - (with balcony) $2,200 pp $2,250 pp $2,300 pp *Price includes: round trip bus transportation from Salisbury or Ocean Pines to Port of New York City, a 7-day cruise aboard the HAL ms Veendam (accommodations, meals all day, every day, entertainment and activities on board), all taxes and port charges, and the services of your Cruise Hosts Kelly and Tracy Shannahan, as well as several free gifts and mementos of your cruise from the Salisbury Cruise Club and our travel agency, Salisbury Cruise & Travel, LLC. Comprehensive Travel Insurance (Optional) - We recommend that all guests purchase the optional Travel Insurance. We ve negotiated affordable per person (pp) insurance rates of $70 pp for inside and ocean view cabins, $89 pp for Lanai cabins and $110 pp for balcony cabins based upon your Total Package Price to insure your trip in case of cancellation, interruption, travel delay, baggage/ medical protection, evacuation, accidental death and more. Please purchase the insurance upon registration. Experience the HAL ms Veendam - Built in 1996 and refurbished in 2009, the ms Veendam is a smaller ship measuring 719 feet long by 101 feet wide with 10 decks and total capacity of only 1,350 guests. Holland America Line ships are known for graceful mid-sized ships with a generous amount of personal space and relatively large cabins by cruise standards (from 182 to 292 square feet for inside to balcony cabins). The Veendam features: 4 restaurants (including one specialty restaurant), 24-hour room service, bars, lounges, casino, health spa, Club HAL for youth, 2 swimming pools and 2 hot tubs among other amenities. Lanai Cabins - There are a limited number of Lanai cabins available on the ms Veendam. Lanai cabins are located on the Lower Promenade deck and are basically a cross between an ocean view cabin and a balcony cabin as they feature a sliding glass door which opens onto the walk-around Lower Promenade deck. An interesting new concept pioneered by HAL. Questions? Contact Cruise Coordinator Kelly Shannahan at with any questions.

10 Salisbury Cruise Club - Registration Form 7-Day Bermuda Cruise Sunday, September 25 - October 2, 2011 aboard HAL ms Veendam Payment Schedule: Amount Due Date Due Payment Method (per person) $500 Initial Deposit* Upon Registration By check only Optional Insurance (price varies)* Upon Registration By check only ½ Remaining Balance March 15, 2011 By check or credit card Final Balance June 15, 2011 By check or credit card nd * Initial Deposit and Insurance payable by check only to Salisbury Cruise & Travel 2 and Final Payment may be paid by credit card. To Register: Complete the registration form below and enclose your Deposit ($500) and Optional Insurance payment by check made payable to Salisbury Cruise & Travel, LLC and mailed to: 3911 Five Friars Road, nd Salisbury, MD Credit Cards accepted for 2 and Final Payments only DAY BERMUDA CRUISE REGISTRATION FORM Legal Name(s) (EXACTLY as they appear on your U.S. Passport) Nickname/Common Name Date(s) of Birth Street Address City State Zip Code Address (our preferred means of communication) Home Phone Work Phone/Cell Phone (circle one) U.S. Passport Number (Required) Passport Expiration Date Mariner Number Wedding Anniversary Date (month/day/year) HAL Past Cruisers (month/day/year) Category Preference (check one): - Inside Cabin - Cat. K, Deck 5 - (no window) - $1,300 pp* Insurance - $70 pp = per person - Ocean View Cabin - Cat. D, Deck 5 - (window) - $1,500 pp* Insurance - $70 - Lanai Cabin - Cat. CA, Deck 6 - (Promenade) - $1,670 pp* Insurance - $89 * prices good thru 12/9/10 - Balcony Cabin - Cat. B, Deck 9 - (balcony) - $2,200 pp* Insurance - $110 Emergency Contact (in case of emergency): Name/relation: Phone #: Roommate s Name - (we will try to pair single if no roommate listed): Shirt/Blouse Size(s) (Check one per person): Ladies Sizes -Sm -Med -Lg -XL -2XL -Other Men s Sizes -X-Sm -Sm -Med -Lg -XL -2XL -3XL -Other nd Initial Deposit ($500) and Optional Insurance (see above) payable by check only to Salisbury Cruise & Travel - 2 and Final Payment may be paid by credit card. To authorize your credit card payments, please provide the following: Referred By: Credit Card Number - For billing to Holland America Line Expiration Date 3-digit security code on back of card Name as it appears on card (please print) Sign here to authorize billing to your credit card Today s Date nd I hereby authorize Salisbury Cruise & Travel, LLC to charge our 2 and final cruise payment to the above credit card. Optional: Comprehensive Insurance (Recommended)- -No -Yes- add appropriate amount (see above) to Deposit Payment Questions? Contact Cruise Coordinator Kelly Shannahan at with any questions.