http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/janet-s-top-ten-bucket-list-cruises-of-2013http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/janet-s-top-ten-bucket-list-cruises-of-2013Advance planners — this list of beautiful “bucket list” cruises is just for you!  I have selected them for you to consider because of the opportunities they present for life-enriching experiences. They go to places you might not otherwise get to visit, or that would probably be very expensive to travel to as independent destinations.Here they are in chronological order:January 31: Carnival in R...Thu, 03 May 2012 14:46:07 -0400http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/top-tips-for-maximizing-your-vacation-valuehttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/top-tips-for-maximizing-your-vacation-value By “value” I mean getting the most for your money and not paying more than you have to. I never advocate the “cheapest thing,” because that inevitably leads to disappointment. Value is all about what you expect to get out of your vacation.These tips will be good guides no matter what kind of travel you are planning, be it an organized tour, fly-and-stay package, cruise, or road trip:Go as soon...Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:42:55 -0400http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/a-milestone-event-calls-for-a-special-celebrationhttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/a-milestone-event-calls-for-a-special-celebrationSo many of us are crossing major milestones this year! Here are my top picks for celebratory travels:1. 50th/70th birthday:Take the whole family on a Caribbean cruise! Doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, just a great way to share memories and appreciation of life together. Everyone can "do their thing" while still being together -- it's perfect!2. 35th/50th wedding anniversary:The romanc...Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:52:36 -0400http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/top-ten-june-family-vacationshttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/top-ten-june-family-vacations People have been asking me how they can beat thehigh prices of summer travel and the answer is: take your trip as soon as youcan after school lets out. Here are some terrific family vacations for earlyJune:Alaska cruise.  Fares are $200 to $500 per person less thefirst week or two of June. The weather is fine and you’ll still see glaciersand wildlife and have fun in all the ports.Cruise out of...Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:52:25 -0500http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/the-romance-of-travelhttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/the-romance-of-travel I admit it – I’m a travel-romance junkie. When I plan a trip I actually look up things like moon charts to see if there will be a full moon smiling down on my destination and what flowers will be in bloom. Then I check for waterfronts –rivers, lakes, bays, vast expanses of ocean – doesn’t really matter becausethey all present an opportunity for romantic strolling .Smart waterfront communities ...Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:32:59 -0500http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/with-a-cruise-it-s-all-about-service-after-the-salehttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/with-a-cruise-it-s-all-about-service-after-the-saleIf you book alone you're on your own -- internet booking engines just take your money then leave it all up to you. Sure, it looks easy, but there are good reasons to book with someone you can trust to be on your side. Direct bookings aren't much better -- here are some common problems that I see people run into all the time:#1. Even if you are lucky enough to get a real person on the phone, the...Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:52:57 -0500http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/top-tips-for-2012-travel-planninghttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/top-tips-for-2012-travel-planningThis year will present some excellent opportunities for travel bargains and enhanced experiences, but you will have to plan in advance in order to take advantage of them. Here are my top recommendations:#1.  Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, so the cruise lines are sticking totheir regular routes, making pricing and scheduling a lot easier for you. Iespecially like the 5-night Carnival Tr...Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:59:45 -0500http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/why-you-should-consider-a-holiday-cruisehttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/why-you-should-consider-a-holiday-cruise   OK, I guess the fantastic food and myriad dining options are obvious reasons that come to mind -- and wouldn't it be a lovely gift to the holiday hostess if you could free her up to really enjoy the holiday this year without all the work of cleaning and cooking and entertaining? And if YOU are that person, how about bestowing this precious gift on yourself?  You've worked hard and deserve a ...Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:48:15 -0500http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/how-to-plan-an-alaska-cruise-vacationhttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/how-to-plan-an-alaska-cruise-vacation An Alaska cruise is one of the best vacations you’ll ever have!  It’s not an inexpensive proposition, however, so you’ll want to make the most of the time and the budget that you have forit.  Basically, there are 2 ways to “do”an Alaska cruise:Sail round-trip from Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, Canada.  Airfares to/from Seattle are typically cheaper and the flights are easier, so this is wh...Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:19:09 -0400http://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/bargain-alerthttp://www.cruiseplanforyou.com/blogPosts/view/bargain-alert With Christmas and New Year's falling on Sundays this year, some of the cruise lines with regular 7-night Sunday-to Sunday cruise routes have changed up their normal itineraries to encompass both holidays.  That means they have to work in a shorter cruise somewhere along the way to get back on the regular rotation.Luckily for you, these altered routes give you the perfect opportunity to enjoy ...Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:03:01 -0400