Replaced by Test Track in EPCOT is the original ride for the General Motors pavilion.  It was based on a concept developed for Ford at the Fair of riding in a car and seeing different scenes.  The concept was also used in Space Ship Earth, still in use today.  The other three are all in the Magic Kingdom.

One is the Hall of President’s.  The next is “It’s A Small World” and last is “The Carousel of Progress”.  Do you know who the original sponsors were.  One of the attractions is the same base as the original, still in service 47 years later.  Do you know which it is (see the answers below)?  We’ll have a photo that I took of the original on Twitter (twitter.com/itsyourcruise) today.  I’m still looking through all our slides & photos for more World’s Fair photos which will become a Flickr  (www.flickr.com/itsyourcruise) set when complete.

ANSWERS BELOW:

The Hall of President’s has Mr. Lincoln getting up to speak in his own segment before you are introduced to the other President’s.  Mr. Lincoln’s recital of the Gettysburg Address is based on the Illinois Pavilion at the Fair called Abe Lincoln in Illinois.  Mr. Lincoln was the first human form Animatronic figure, but the Tiki Birds were the first to use the technology.

The next exhibit has a catchy tune that stays in your head all day.  It is a pavilion design for Pepsi called “It’s A Small World.”  The original Fair unit was moved to Disneyland in California and a duplicate is in WDW Magic Kingdom in Florida still playing the same song.

The last pavilion was built for General Electric and was called the “Carousel Of Progress” (I was told it still uses the same base).  It was originally moved to Disneyland after the Fair and then relocated to WDW.  It is where you follow a family through 20th Century inventions that were modern then that we take for granted today.  With the exception that the name General Electric no longer appears on most appliances and the last segment was updated to utilized Personal Computers, Virtual Reality gaming and Flat Screen TV(not around in ’64), the ride still revolves around the scenes and the song “A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” is still heard much the way it was in 1964.

Experts Also Note the Most Popular Incentives Being Offered To Travelers

Minneapolis, MN (January 31, 2011)—When it comes to taking a cruise vacation in 2011, more people are expected to choose the allure of Europe over the breathtaking beauty of Alaska, according to actual booking numbers released today by Cruise Holidays, North America’s oldest cruise-specialty franchise network. Mediterranean cruises climbed into second place in Cruise Holidays’ 2011 Cruise Trends report, with Alaska closely trailing. Caribbean cruises remain high atop the destination list by a wide margin.

Europe’s allure may be based on its exceptional value right now. Cruise Holidays polled 145 of its cruise experts* across the United States and Canada, and by a three-to-one margin, they stated that Europe is a better value than Alaska, at least in 2011. The Caribbean placed first with 49% of the vote, followed by Europe with 25.5%, and Alaska with 8.3%, followed by other destinations.

“Repeat cruisers are especially drawn to Europe,” said Mark Schiffner, vice president and COO of Cruise Holidays. “First timers may choose the Caribbean based on its proximity to North America. Once they experience the value, including the convenience, the chance to visit several destinations and all the amenities of the ship, they are much more comfortable going to Europe. Barcelona and Rome are particularly popular choices as cruise destinations – not only when compared to other European cities but as top cruise destinations around the globe,” added Schiffner.

Precise booking data from Cruise Holidays shows that the average cost of a Mediterranean 12-day itinerary has steadily dropped since 2009. In fact, cost per day across all stateroom categories in The Med has fallen, on average, to $222 a person – down from $262 in 2010 and $290 in 2009. Average pricing in the Caribbean also continues to trend lower. Alaska pricing has risen from 2010, but is still lower than 2009.

Working with a cruise consultant also adds to the value of planning cruises. According to the Cruise Holidays survey, while price is important, the right itinerary actually ranks as the highest determining factor in choosing a specific cruise. “For that reason, our clients value our experts’ opinions on which destinations they may want to include. You could sift through hundreds and hundreds of novice opinions on the Internet, which we certainly recognize does happen, but when it comes to making the final decision our clients feel safest making the booking through a real person,” added Schiffner.

Cruise line incentives, sometimes more easily available through travel agents or cruise consultants such as Cruise Holidays, also help sweeten the pot for travelers. When asked which incentives offered by the cruise lines are most attractive to their clients, the Cruise Holidays experts provided these rankings:

1.  Onboard credits      38.5%
2.  Free air offers           19.6%
3.  2 for 1 pricing           18.9%
4.  Early booking discounts   11.2%
5.  Onboard amenities, such as a bottle of wine, complimentary dining in a specialty restaurant, etc.           5.6%
6.  3rd or 4th person sails free     4.9%
7.  Other         1.4%

 Although cruise values are anticipated to remain strong throughout 2011, Cruise Holidays experts also noted the booking window (time between cruise is booked and when the ship sails) began to increase in 2010. The percentage of people who booked their 2010 cruise more than six months prior to the cruise increased to 48.5%, compared to only 40.5% in 2009. “The lesson here is simple,” commented Schiffner. “We advise booking early so you get the choice of itinerary, ship and accommodations that you desire.”

*Cruise Holidays cruise consultants were surveyed between January 3 and January 17, 2011.

Ship Report

Christening Event November 12-13, 2009

Pier 88 in New York City

What a day. This was our first ship Christening and what a splendid time we had. We arrived at the pier in Manhattan and went to the rooftop parking. For $30 we had overnight parking in view of this magnificent vessel. She truly is a Dream. We passed through security (first time we were asked to remove our shoes at a pier), were given a boarding card and asked to wait for check in to begin. When we checked in we were assigned our dining time and restaurant, given our stateroom assignment (we had an outside stateroom on deck 1) and given our room cards which said “Inaugural Guest” and were told we would be boarding shortly in order of our number. Although not an actual cruise (we stayed pier side overnight and the entire ship was filled with invited guests) the process was the same as if we were traveling. We would not have any reservation about having a client go to NY for embarkation. We did have one change in that we walked onto the ship via an enclosed walkway decorated for the occasion with red, white and blue balloons and entered on deck 0 instead of 5. We walked up the one deck to our stateroom.

Ship Specs:

Class        Dream

Tonnage    130,000 GRT

Length        1004 feet

Beam        122 Feet

Decks        14

Speed        22.5 Knots

Capacity    3652 (includes all quad and triples)

Crew        1369

Ship Tour:

We usually don’t participate in the run around the ship and get your ticket stamped for prizes, but since we were here to learn everything about the ship in the shortest period of time, we decided to participate. We will certainly do so in the future because we learned so much about the ship and its facilities in less than an hour. The children’s area was staffed with trained personnel and had the latest in games (board and computer), books as well as a computer center. There was a specialty restaurant that looked as good as any first rate restaurant on land (didn’t sample the food) and many lounges from a piano bar to an atrium lounge. The spa had a fantastic Thalasso pool that was very inviting. There were spa staterooms that gave you direct access to the spa facilities and an adult’s only area called the sanctuary. There was also an area where you could access computers and see what was going on at different ship venues as well as using the internet (didn’t see a price card).

Trude’s take on the ambiance of the ship was “Carnival Grown Up.” There was a lot of use of yellows and earth tones, not the usual loud neon. The center atrium was interesting in that it was split into two sections. One part was only three decks high giving you a feeling of an intimate atrium and the other side reached to the top allowing you to appreciate its vastness. There are elevators overlooking the atrium that were just a few of the many elevators throughout the ship. We never had a problem getting an elevator, even with the ship booked to capacity. We did find the stairs uncomfortable to use compared to other ships we’ve been on, we like to walk so we almost always use the stairs. We were able to find a way to walk inside (it was rather windy the day we were on board) instead of using the outside jogging track. There was an area that had both an indoor and outdoor area called Ocean’s Plaza and the Waterworks had a spectacular water slide. The pool area was complete with the large projection screen that was showing concerts among its presentations while we were onboard. We also braved the windy NY evening and watch a wonderful and exciting laser welcome aboard show. This is standard fare and not just for the inaugural event, don’t miss it if you’re on board.

Stateroom:

As usual we were not surprised to see the size of a Carnival stateroom. Even though this outside stateroom had portholes (we were the fourth stateroom from the bow) we had a couch, mini bar, a king size bed, a desk, many drawers and three large closets. There was a large mirror on the wall over the desk and a flat screen (looked to be 26 or 32 inch) television that was picking up local programming. The one place cruise ship are not tops in is the size of the bathroom. This was no different than any ship we were on in the past few years and though adequate for us, a large size person may have difficulty. Standard today with Carnival is shampoo and gel soap in dispensers on the shower wall. Soap is available in bar form for use at the sink. The hall was decorated with murals and provided an interesting view as you walked through. The stateroom halls were average size and large enough to walk side by side or pass another person without bumping into them. Overall we were very happy with the layout. We did not get to see other stateroom types because we were busy exploring the remainder of the ship.

Buffet – Dining Room – Food:

We were not disappointed by the quantity, quality or the service. Each was superb for the type of product you’d expect from Carnival. There was a fantastic lunch buffet that had many stations and variety from Burritos to Mongolian (cooked in front of you) to Pizza and the usual fare of deli & salads. We tried the Mongolian (you picked the vegetables, meat or shrimp and sauce and it was cooked to order) and then had a slice of pizza later in the afternoon. We enjoyed both and coming from New York, we found the pizza to be more than enjoyable (though not NY pizza). The dining room (there are two) was very well lit and we were treated to the singing wait staff performing a Michael Jackson tribute. Both dining rooms had two levels. We both had Surf and Turf and found the meat to be a bit overdone, while the lobster tail was perfect. The accompaniments were tasty and well prepared. For breakfast we decided to have a sit down meal instead of the buffet. I did not care for the turkey sausage, but the rest of the meal was tasty. We were served decent coffee. We used the lounges and had a well made Pina Colada, at the coffee bar a fantastic Café Mocha and an enjoyable glass of wine with diner.

Entertainment:

What can you say about an innovative show but WOW! This themed show had the prefect mix of singing and dancing by a talented group of performers. We were overwhelmed by the neon dancers, the pole acrobatics and the overall show. We have never been disappointed by Carnival’s entertainment. The theater had both auditorium and lounge type seating. The only negative was having large support poles in the line of view. Unlike other cruise lines that had very visible areas, we did not see a handicapped section. If there was one, there should be signs directing you to it. After the show, it was suggested we go to the atrium lobby for a show we were sure to enjoy. They were right on target, as a group called Fun Force (we were told that a Fun Force group would soon be on every Carnival ship – if you see they are performing, make it your business to see the show) presented a forty minute acrobatic, comedic and audience participation show that we enjoyed. We don’t know how they do it, but the Cruise Director’s always seem to be everywhere at once.

Conclusion:

We always enjoy our Carnival experience. The Dream was no exception. Our only sadness is that she is home ported in Port Canaveral. Carnival provides all year service from our local port in Baltimore on the Pride.

Do you need a speaker at your function? If you’re in Burlington, Monmouth or Ocean County in NJ, Ira will speak at no charge to your organization. Ira provides a NON SALES presentations on Cruising, Our Local Ports or Conquering Walt Disney World. PTA, Fundraising, Fraternal or Religious organizations, Senior Groups or Civic Associations – give us a call at 609.947.8221 to schedule your group.

© Copyright 2010 it’s Your Cruise LLC #0309B

Ira has achieved Cruise Counsellor Certification through the completion of a comprehensive program of cruise sales training and product instruction, delivered through extensive course training and personal cruise experience.  CLIA’s Certification graduates are widely recognized as the foremost cruise vacation experts among American Travel Agents.

Ira is one of 16,000 North American travel agent members of CLIA.  According to CLIA statistics, the overwhelming majority of travelers – about 90% – book their cruise through a travel agency and for good reason – accredited travel agents understand the product they recommend and excel in finding YOUR perfect cruise by matching their clients needs, lifestyle and budget.

CLIA’s Certified Cruise Counsellors are the cruise industry’s premier travel agents and can arrange all of your vacation needs while providing the greatest service and value for your vacation dollar.

The Cruise Holidays location in Columbus is operated by Trude & Ira (ACC) Schwartz.  Their mission is “To find the right ship and itinerary for their clients!”  Cruise Holidays is celebrating 25 years as the premier cruise travel franchise and the Columbus location is in its 4^th year of operation.  For more information, visit our WEB Site at www.itsyourcruise.com , E-Mail us at itsyourcruise@cruiseholidays.com or call at 609.947.8221.

1. Don’t wait for the last minute to book your cruise.  You may hear stories about people who get great prices on cruises at the last minute.  However, in reality, cruise pricing is yield-driven.  That means prices usually go up closer to the sail date as more staterooms are reserved.  Not to say you can’t get a deal, but they are harder to come by and upgrades usually go to those who book early.

2. Don’t worry that you’ll miss out on a price reduction that goes into effect after you book.  Not all reductions are available to those that have booked, but a good agent should always be monitoring what is happening.  You should also monitor your sailing to see if there are changes.  I have been fortunate to get my clients upgrades (once from an inside to a balcony stateroom), dollars off (as much as $500) and sometimes I can’t do a thing.  My claim to fame is I am always watching.  Make sure your agent does too.

3. Do book early to reserve the stateroom of your choice.  Most ships have different categories (inside, outside, balcony and suites) that have various locations.  To get the one you want in the location you desire, BOOK EARLY!  Many groups will have early booking offers where you’ll get an extra gift or amenity.

4. Do ask about upgrades and shipboard credits.  Sometimes, moving your vacation a week could result in big savings.  Shipboard credits are often offered to new or returning guests, watch the mail for cruise line incentives and let your agent know.  You may even be able to apply them to an existing booking – DON’T be shy to ask.  If you get shipboard credits they are applied to your ship account and can be used for a variety of items on board.

5. Do let your agent know if you belong to the Cruise Line’s loyalty program.  Had two staterooms side by side and one person paid $200 less because of their level in the program.

6. Do look for an accredited agent and one that belongs to the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA).  They are usually well educated and have a vast knowledge of many ships and lines.  Read their bio’s on their WEB site or ask them when you meet.

7. Don’t try to do it alone.  There are offers that are only made to the Travel Agent community for their clients.  Let your agent find the best opportunity for you.  Remember, the Internet can’t help you when there is a problem.

8. DO BUY INSURANCE!!!  I include insurance with every group and try to convince every client to purchase insurance.  I had a client who broke his foot two weeks before departing and the only thing it cost them was the price of insurance.  They even received the hotel cancellation fee back.

9. Do look for the perfect combination of itinerary and ship.  A good agent will help you find both.  They know which staterooms to avoid (next to the disc or above the casino) and which ships have the latest amenities (like a Johnny Rockets or Ice Skating Rink).  If there is something special you’re looking for, let your agent know.  The more information, the better the fit.

10. DO ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!

© Copyright 2010 it’s Your Cruise LLC #0108A

We have been checking the Amtrak site and noticed that on most days the Auto Train leaves early and arrives early as well.  Let’s hope they keep up the good work.  We have a roomette  (last time we went coach) so we are looking forward to this experience as well.

Watch for photos while we are in Florida.