Tips on Cruising

Why do we need to plan our vacation early?  Sad to say, this is what we Filipino travelers still need to learn from other travelers of other countries.  The Americans, Europeans and the Japanese have been practicing this for years. Unfortunately, for most of us Pinoys, we still resist parting with the required deposits to ensure our space in a package tour or on a cruise. We always love to do things last minute!   Believe me, what this deposit can do to your peace of mind cannot be measured monetarily.  Imagine your family’s frustration, if a planned cruise vacation would not materialize because the ship has run out of cabins per your specifications.  Imagine the disappointment of the family, if you have to settle for another destination instead of the one that you have long dreamed. I have been a travel agent for many years, and I have seen these happen many times.  I can only sympathize with my passenger, but there is absolutely nothing to be done, except offer  alternatives.  

Therefore, always set aside the amount of $250.00 to $500.00 to take care of deposits, and let your money work for your benefit. Keep in mind, that when you book early, you also get an early bird discount for cruises, aside from getting the cabin of your choice.  My advice to those who want to take a cruise vacation is to plan your trip one year in advance.  This offers you the opportunity to choose the cruise that you like best, avail of the early bird discount that goes with it, and you do not need to settle for what is available at the last minute. Other passengers expect their travel agents to “do what they can” to get them what they want, but this, almost always, does not solve the problem.  It only aggravates the tension that both travel agent and passenger have to suffer up to the time a decision is made. Save yourselves the unnecessary anxiety and plan your trip early, so that you can get the best out of a well-planned vacation.  Our currency is getting stronger each day, and more promotional packages are coming out in the market. I believe that soon, every Juan de la Cruz (as Cebu Pacific puts it) will have no reason not to afford a vacation, either domestically or internationally.  One is just as good as the other, for the Philippines cannot be outdone when it comes to places of fun, relaxation and comfort.  

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News update from Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises!  For those who have not read my column Cruise na! Pilgrimage pa! about two weeks ago,  I was then happy to announce that Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc. has been appointed as the General Sales Agent for the Philippines by Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises which travels to all the places where Apostle Paul preached.  The excitement has heightened since a lot of travel agencies have responded enthusiastically and have signified their intentions to package group tours using the SOPCC itineraries such as the seven nights Book of Revelation Alive Cruise. It is an eight- day cruise with a sailing date on Nov. 2, 2007.  The cruise originates in Athens, Greece, and cruises along the coasts of Thessaloniki, Kavala, Dikili, Kusadasi, Ephesus, and Patmos before it returns to Athens. The places to be visited during the shore excursions takes you to the Bible’s Act of the Apostles and reminds you of the Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians, to the Philippians, to the Ephesians, as well as the “Holy Island” of Patmos, where the apocalyptic Book of Revelation was written by John during his exile from the Roman Empire. Another cruise that is a must for us Christians is the Holy Land Cruise on March 15, 2008 and the First Journey of Apostle Paul and Holy Land Cruise on April 2, 2008.  Space is now limited for both these special sailings!  For the information of all travel agencies who are interested to organize groups on SOPCC, the latter offers special Youth in Quads at $400.00 per person reduction, as well as special rates for priests, pastors, professors and teachers who act as tour leaders for the group. Remember this: Children sail free on SOPCC sharing a cabin with two adults! Let us invest on our children. They are our hope for a better future! Call your travel agent or Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc. for more information on Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises. It’s a Christian pilgrimage cruise ship! It’s our cruise ship!   

For your comments, you can reach me at Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc., Tel. (32) 2536561 & 2536571 or by email to: [email protected]