Are you a 'cruise curious' cottager?

Image via Wikipedia

Many in my acquaintance are lucky enough to own a country home; a cottage; a camp. I own one too. And, I love it. But ...

One thing that's not so great, is that a cottage needs maintenance, and time, and as such can come in the way of an owner and his or her plans to travel elsewhere; anywhere! For some it can become like the proverbial golden hand-cuffs, essentially keeping the owner so busy having fun and spending money, that there is little or no time or financial resources left over to travel ... Anywhere or any time. And, even if money is no problem, I have found cottagers are somewhat leery about cruising. Many believe - incorrectly - that cruising can't possibly be for them.

The truth is that of course cruising is not for everyone, but I have discovered in my time as an enthusiastic, if not full time agent, that there is indeed a ship; an itinerary; and a level of luxury and activity for virtually everyone.

So ... in this spirit; this belief that folks who own cottages should be able to experience the beauty and freedom of cruising; and paying particular attention to the financial well being of potential clients ...

I have created a special group cruise for cottagers and their family and friends.

We are departing Barcelona on September 27, 2012 (see, you have a long tome to save) on the Ruby Princess. We'll be on a 12 day Grand Mediterranean adventure, ending up in Venice. It will be a blast!

I have reserved several categories of cabin, so there should be a cabin for almost every budget. Fares (cruise only) will start about the $2,000/pp. In addition I have arranged for a US$75.00 on-board credit for every cabin, and everyone will also receive a coupon book worth over US$300.00 and that can be used for purchases while on board.

If you are interested, all it takes is a modest Cdn$200.00 (refundable) deposit. Final payment will be needed some time in June or July 2012.

The booking window is short and soon. If you are interested. please contact me asap. I will need certain information in order to book you. I need to hear from you by MAY 1, 2011.

Give me a shout through www.cruiseshipcenters.com/billmeldrum if you would like comprehensive information, and I'd be happy to include you in our happy, smiling band of adventurers.

Come join us won't you?

Why 'Luxury"?

I've been asked on several occasions: why 'Luxury' travel agent?

Here's why ...


Over the past 30 years or so I've traveled virtually all around the world. When I was younger - just starting my business career - I did not have the resources to travel First Class; Business Class for that matter. Back then, unless I was on company business it was Coach all the way for me. We've all been there. It is not a very pleasant way to travel. But ... that was then!

This is now ... I've worked hard and smart and I've done well. I've learned the difference between price and value. I also know that with few exceptions, you get what you pay for in this world. I have learned that - to the extent possible - I want to know that someone won't have his or her hand in my pocket every time I turn around while I am on vacation. Most importantly, I have learned that it is OK to enjoy the fruits of my success. Why shouldn't I be as comfortable as possible? Enjoy the finest cuisine? Drink vintage wines? Enjoy the spa?

And so it is in the cruise business!

You certainly can opt for that 7 day, $399 Caribbean cruise, where everything except the food is an extra. Extra for drinks. For wine with meals. Excursions. Gratuities. Airfare. Less than 180 square foot cabins. And on and on it goes. By the time you disembark you will feel like you have been picked clean. (If you still feel that the least expensive fare is the only one for you, stop reading here, contact me, and I would be happy to refer you to another agent. I'll do this not because I do not want your business, but because I only want happy, satisfied clients. I want to work with my clients over the long term, and painful experience has taught me that selling these lower end products is a recipe for only one thing: dissatisfaction. So respectfully, I'll take a pass.)

I'm glad to see that you are still with me!

The cruises and associated travel products I prefer to offer my clients are decidedly more refined. More likely to please. More inclusive of charges, fees, extras of almost any type. Large or suite-only accommodations. Yes, the cost appears considerably greater than for the bargain basement variety of cruise products some others would sell you, and of course it will cost you more when all is said and done, but not that much more when virtually everything to do with your luxury vacation is taken care of in a first class way right from the start. And, as for quality? No contest!

No more gratuities, fees, bar charges, airfare. (At least one luxury cruise line is currently offering 2-for-1 air, with additional bonuses thrown in as well). Your vacation will be more relaxed. No loudspeaker announcements trying to get you to attend a second rate art auction or some such contrived event, both day and night.

Luxury travel is by definition a better experience all around. Satisfaction rates for those who choose the best are near 100%. The food is better. The service is less obtrusive, but is nonetheless better. The atmosphere is largely more intimate (many of this class of cruise sail on smaller ships carrying 400-800 passengers). More relaxed. Refined without being stuffy. And, unless you choose to do so, most high end ships do not even require you to pack a tuxedo or a formal gown. (N.B. For those who do wish to experience the grand days of ocean liner travel of days gone by, there is always the fleet of Cunard's luxury fleet of 'Queens' to satisfy.)

So. Add up all the extras you should expect to pay for a lesser class of ship; a lesser quality vacation, then - truthfully - add to your budget to accommodate the very different kind of experience you will expect to enjoy during your vacation, and I believe you will soon begin to see the false economy of going on the 'cheap'.

So that's it. The bottom line for me is this: ensure happy satisfied clients by tailoring travel products to client needs and wants. Exceed all expectations. Help people discover the world while enjoying all the best it has to offer. Time after time.

Crushing some common myths about cruising - #1

Cruise ships are boring: Although this is a common fear of non-cruisers, no one should be bored with cruising. You can be as active (or inactive) as you like. Cruise ship activities range from working out in a high-tech gym to sitting on the deck and reading a book. You can learn computer skills, a foreign language, how to play bridge, or how to dance. You can enjoy Las Vegas-style entertainment or a classical pianist. Many cruise ships spend all day in port, so you can explore all the fascinating parts of the world!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Enjoying Unique Cruises Around the World (all-inclusive-family-resorts.com)

This is something I wrote following our visit to St. Lucia

Come with me to ‘Jade World,’ St. Lucia
By William M. Meldrum


My wife and I booked a week at ‘Anse Chastanet,’ one of St. Lucia’s premier resorts, but when we were invited to spend our week at ‘The Jade Mountain Resort’ instead, we simply weren’t prepared for how ‘Jade World’ would change our concept of what a Caribbean vacation could all be about ...

The architecture is as stunning as are the views

The Jade Mountain Resort is an ultra-luxury resort within a luxury resort. Located between the small fishing village of Soufriere and St. Lucia’s Capital City of Castries, Jade Mountain stands as the realized dream of the inspired designer, architect and owner, Nick Troubetzkoy.
Facing the two world-famous ‘Piton’ mountains and the Caribbean Sea, Jade Mountain is as much a work of art as it is a hotel.

Built almost entirely of local resources including coral tiles from neighboring islands and crushed blush toned plaster rock from Barbados and hand-built by workers from Soufriere, Nick and his team have created a truly unique vacation destination.

Our ‘Sanctuary’ was not to be believed, and what the heck is a ‘major domo’?

Following our ride from the airport, were escorted from the Anse Chastanet check-in area directly to our room by Vito our ‘major domo’ or Butler, who was assigned to take care of us and see to our every wish while on or off the resort for the week. He even had a few surprises up his sleeve for later on. They were delightful.

The word ‘sanctuary’ was chosen advisedly. We were greeted by a multi tiered space roughly 30 feet wide by 50 feet in depth. To top it off, the outside wall was absent. In its place was magnificent open air view of both ‘Piton’ mountains and the Caribbean Sea. We had become ‘one’ with the natural landscape we had traveled to see - and we had only been on the property twenty minutes!

Vito’s initial orientation session smoothed over the registration details and introduced us to the Firefly, a modern and proportable equivalent to ringing the bell for service. The ‘Firefly’ cellular communicator was lent to us for the week to provide immediate access to Vito or the Jade reception desk 24 hours a day. Basically they were at our beckon call!

This ‘Firefly’ device is the only technology to be found within the Sanctuary, a deliberate feature of the resort. We were in ‘Jade World’ now – who needs a TV? There were, however, two computers located at the Jade reception area that may be used free of charge for those who require access to email or the internet.)

Our Sanctuary featured a dining and sitting area, a lounge with a double daybed for lazy mornings shared with a cup of coffee, and of course a King bed on its own elevated level, complete with four posts and mosquito netting. There was a view from every corner of our new home. Even as we showered in the oversized bathing area (complete with double sinks, large stand up rain shower and ‘built for two’ chromotherapy whirlpool tub), we could see the ‘Piton’ mountains by way of strategically placed floor to (15 foot) ceiling mirrors. The furnishings were designed by vendors specifically chosen by Mr. Troubetzkoy and made of tropical hardwoods. Over twenty sustainably harvested species were could be found throughout the site. Other Sanctuaries, all uniquely designed and furnished, featured private infinity pools overlooking the landscape, each one different from the next.

The ‘Jade Mountain Club’ provided a feast for the body and soul.

Although guests have the option of eating ‘en suite’ for their entire stay, we chose the Jade Mountain Club, located at the very top of the hillside, as our primary dining destination. (Put sentence in here about other restaurants & tie in with package details). Our package included the optional MAP meal plan covering full breakfast and dinner.

The menu is overseen by consulting chef Allen Susser, of Miami’s famous ‘Chef Allen’s’. The eclectic ‘Jade Cuisine’ features flavorful and remarkably fresh, exotic ingredients, many of which are grown and harvested three times a week on the resort’s 600 acre plantation. All other provisionsare bought from local fishers and farmers directly. Only the AAA Angus beef and fresh lamb are imported from the USA and Australia respectfully. Even the wonderful bread and pastries together with the delicate deserts are made in-house.

The wine list is extensive and caters to a wide variety of tastes, if not budget.

It boasted everything from an N.V. Krug Grande Cuvee (US$445.00) to a 1996 Bollinger R.D. (US$490.00) to more moderate selections from France, Italy, Argentina, Chili, Australia, New Zealand and California. This impressive list caters to both the red- and white wine lover and ranges in price from US$45.00 to $175.00 or so a bottle.

A visit to the ‘Kie en Ceil’ SPA is just what my Doctor should have ordered.

We decided the Sweedish massage was up first for us, and at the appointed hour we were ushered into an attractive and soothing treatment area where we received the best massage ‘a deux’ either one of us have had in a long, long while. There is also a small, but well equipped fitness centre where you can work out on your own or with a personal trainer. For those inclined there are also myrid other recreational activities to enjoy such as tennis, ‘jungle’ biking, hiking, nature walks and of course swimming, snorkeling and SCUBA diving.

Oh… And there’s a beach too!

Some 577 steps down from the Celestial Terrace high a top the Jade Mountain Club is the beach ‘Jade’ shares with its sister resort Anse Chastanet. (Don’t worry, there are shuttles to take you back up the hill. All one has to do is call your ‘major domo’. Wait time 3 minutes.) and your ride is there in less than the time it takes to wash the sand from your toes.

At the beach

Here is where you will also find the beach restaurant, dive shop and water taxi to the resort’s second beach, just a 2 minutes ride around the point. Upon your arrival at this sandy mecca, You will doubtless also will have the fortunate of meeting the irrepressible ‘Junior’ or one other of the many beach attendants who will be dispensing cold, mint scented towels to refresh your face as well as cool mint water to spritz over your entire body, just for good measure. Other services offered include lavish: cocktails and/or gourmet lunches delivered straight to your Tiki hut, and fresh towels and beach chairs arranged for your use. – everything is taken care of.

Jade Mountain is not for anybody

I’ve been reasonably free with my praise of what Jade Mountain has to offer, however, there are aspects of the resort that make this particular destination not for everyone.

To begin with, both Jade Mountain and it’s sister resort Anse Chastanet are onessentially built into the side of a mountain. This means that if you are not reasonably fit (even with the aide of the shuttles), you may not be comfortable getting around the property. This caution would hold if one was physically challenged as well. Yake this comment with a grain of salt as both my wife and I have phyical disabilities which restrict our mobility, and we did just fine. A causion nonetheless.

The second limitation, involves dollars and cents. You may find that you could stay a week at a (much) lesser resort for what you may reasonably expect to pay at Jade Mountain in one day -this not including the cost of airfare. Having said this, if you are seeking a truly unique, magical experience, and have a little money to burn, , this resort most is most definitely for you. It has afterall, won one of the coveted Condo Neste Traveller™ 2009 Best Resorts in the Caribbean® award.

If you go:

There are domestic flights to St. Lucia through Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Miami. Both Air Canada and West Jet fly to St. Lucia regularly. American is also a choice, however you will likely connect through Miami.

Resort representatives will meet you at the airport and transport you by mini-van to the property, by way of a 60 minute sceanic, but somewhat bumpy drive up the coast.

You can also opt for the helicopter transfer to or from the resort’s own heli-pad for $US220.00pp, an indulgence we took on our way home. Our pilot turned out to be a friendly Newfoundlander. He’s who has been flying for St. Lucia Helicopters for 18 years, and even he expressed that, after all that his time on the island, he cann’t seem to get enough of the island. He continues to be overwhelmed by the natural beauty that St. Lucia and its friendly people have to offer. For more information visit:www.jademountain.com.