On January 31, over 100 passengers were denied boarding on Carnival Cruise Lines’ Splendor heading for South America because they did not have required Brazilian visas. How did this happen?

 Is Cruising Safe?
Within the first 24 hours of sailing, everyone is required to participate in a safety drill that includes trying on a life jacket and locating your assigned lifeboat, on the odd chance that you need to use it. Ships must follow many rules and regulations that assure passengers’ (and crewmembers’) safety while on board.

The Coast Guard conducts rigorous inspections of all ships operating from U.S. ports, ensuring that they comply with its emergency-response requirements. Also, international regulations require most ships to have smoke detectors, sprinklers and low-level emergency lighting for escape routes.

Ship’s crews work 24 hour round the clock shifts to ensure safe passage through the waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, North Pacific, Panama Canal and all other bodies of water.

Security is often managed by Israeli personnel as well as other highly trained men and women from a variety of international backgrounds. To embark or disembark a ship, measures of tight security that rival if not exceed that which the airlines follow are exercised safely and efficiently.

In short, cruising is one of the safest means of travel available. Throw in a couple of Tequila Sunrises and Pina Coladas, and you’ll only be worried about where the heck the bar server is for the next round.

Staying in touch is easy…but so is staying away, if that’s what you ultimately choose to do. That’s the beauty of cruising!

 If you haven’t heard yet…the big surprise was announced last week and the rush is on. Over 40 people have already signed on for our:

You’ll be made to feel famous with impeccable service from Amazing Journeys and Royal Caribbbean while enjoying lavish Las Vegas style shows, a full European-style spa with state-of-art fitness facilities, lively disco, awesome sunsets, exclusive gatherings and above all else, an AMAZING group of people with whom to share this memorable weekend!

Contact us now for information on amazing pricing! Imagine a complete vacation weekend starting at just $379. Just when you thought you couldn’t afford a vacation…now, how can you afford not to?

But, you’ll have to hurry…our available space at these prices is very limited and the registration deadline is February 26th.

Get ready for a previously unannounced Amazing Journey to a destination that will get you out of the cold and into the sun. Hint: Its just a 3 night getaway and it’ll cost less than $400; all meals included! Stay tuned to our AJ website within the next week for a surprise posting of something short…yet something BIG!

Won’t I Get Seasick? Most ships are so big and well stabilized you can hardly tell you’re moving, especially in the calm waters of the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean. Global satellite positioning, high tech gadgetry and even underwater “wings” (yes, like an airplane) helps ships limit motion on the ocean. Radar helps big ships outrun hurricanes and other bad weather patches, but if you do happen to pass through some rough water, any queasiness can usually be relieved by an over-the-counter medication like Dramamine or Bonine. If you are very prone to seasickness, ask your doctor before you leave home for the Transderm patch, available by prescription. Alternative remedies include ginger capsules and acupressure wristbands.

 Travelers new to cruising often have more excuses as to why they’ve never sailed than there are ships at sea. And often these excuses are often based on misconceptions about what a cruise vacation is really like. Over the course of the next 6 blogs, we answer some common questions to give you better insight into the cruise experience

1. Isn’t It Expensive?
The upfront price may come as a shock, but remember that your cruise fare includes your accommodations, food, activities, some complimentary drinks and nighttime entertainment. Add that to the option of reduced-rate airfare and transfers, and you can more often than not save mega bucks going on a cruise as opposed to a land-based vacation.

Next Blog: Won’t I Get Seasick?

Terry Dale, President and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has some poignant thoughts on this topic and I thought it’d be prudent to share them here. He states that Yes! Americans will continue to travel because for most people, leisure travel is considered less a discretionary expense and more of an expected lifestyle cost. There’s not doubt, however, that maximum value counts…and one of the best value-added vacation opportunities is definitely cruising.