Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Agency Cruise Deals -- What are you waiting for?


By TravelGuy --

Many of you have asked me to look for special cruise deals, so I thought I’d make it really easy on everyone by posting the cruises where my agency is offering extra benefits. If you call me to book one of the cruises below, you will receive the benefits associated. Not enough sun where you live? Take a cruise! Too much sun where you live? Take a cruise! What are you waiting for?

9/26/09 -- 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise aboard Sapphire Princess starting at $444/pp, departs L.A. (Receive $75 onboard credit per cabin)

9/28/09 – 12-night Pacific Coastal “wine” cruise aboard Celebrity Millennium starting at $580/pp, departs Vancouver, BC (Receive $100 onboard credit per cabin)

10/12/09 – 10-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Oceania Insignia starting at $1500/pp, departs Barcelona, Spain (Receive prepaid gratuities of $132/pp, free airfare, and $100 onboard credit per cabin)

10/24/09 – 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise aboard Sapphire Princess starting at $464/pp, departs L.A. (Receive $75 onboard credit per cabin)

10/25/09 – 14-night Hawaii cruise aboard Golden Princess starting at $1145/pp, departs LA (Receive $100 onboard credit per cabin)

11/09/09 – 5-night Key West/Bahamas cruise aboard Carnival Fascination starting at $170/pp, departs Jacksonville, FL (Receive $100 onboard credit per cabin)

11/16/09 – 4-night Baja Mexico cruise aboard Carnival Elation starting at $70/pp, departs San Diego (Receive $75 onboard credit per cabin)

11/16/09 – 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Destiny starting at $240/pp, departs Miami, FL (Receive $100 onboard credit per cabin)

11/22/09 – 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas starting at $560/person, departs Port Canaveral, FL (Receive $50 onboard credit per cabin)

12/5/09 – 8-night Exotic Mexican Riviera cruise aboard Carnival Spirit starting at $350/pp, departs San Diego (Receive $100 onboard credit + bottle of red wine)

Be looking for some updated ship tour videos soon!

Alex@TravelGuyTravel.com or 206.335.4676


Monday, August 10, 2009

Phoenix vs. Seattle after 3 ½ weeks

By TravelGuy --

We arrived in Phoenix on Thursday July 16th. Here are some similarities and some differences between the two cities:

• Seattle has 7 letters
• Phoenix has 7 letters

• Phoenix’s light rail system opened in December, 2008
• Seattle’s light rail system opened in an abbreviated version on July 18th, 2009

• Phoenicians still love Randy Johnson
• Seattleites still love Randy Johnson… mostly

• The Phoenix Cardinals play in the NFC west and lost in the Super Bowl to the Steelers
• The Seattle Seahawks play in the NFC west and lost in the Super Bowl to the Steelers

• Phoenix had only one of two Costco Home stores in the country and it just shut down
• Seattle (Kirkland) had only one of two Costco Home stores in the country and it just shut down

• Phoenix has cowboys
• Seattle has Cowgirls Inc.

• In Phoenix you can go through neighborhoods where 100% of the store signs are in Spanish
• In Seattle you can go through neighborhoods where 100% of the store signs are Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese

• Phoenicians look forward to October when it cools to the 80s
• Seattleites look forward to July when it warms to the 80s

• Phoenix has excessive heat warnings when the temperature goes above 110 degrees
• Seattle has excessive heat warnings when the temperature goes above 85 degrees

• Phoenix just suffered through its hottest July on record
• Seattle just suffered through its hottest day on record during July (103 degrees)

• Phoenix does not observe daylight savings time during winter
• Seattleites rarely get any daylight time during winter

• It is a 5 hour drive (approximately) from Phoenix to Las Vegas, San Diego or Los Angeles
• It is a 5 hour drive (approximately) from Seattle to Spokane or Eugene

• The median home price in Seattle is $369,000
• The median home price in Phoenix is $192,790

• The average price for gas in Washington is $2.80
• The average price for gas in Arizona is $2.51

• Phoenix drivers will park at the other end of the parking lot to score some shade
• Seattle drivers will go around and around the parking lot to get 3 spots closer to the entrance if it’s raining

• Phoenix drivers will tailgate you while on their cell phones. They are relentless.
• Seattle drivers will hang out in the left/fast lane while doing 60 mph. They are relentless.

• About 50% of Phoenix drivers start to coast forward in anticipation of a green light
• About 50% of Seattle drivers have no clue when they’re supposed to go at a 4-way stop

• Phoenix has suicide lanes that become normal lanes during rush hour
• Seattle has the highest rate of suicide in the country

• Phoenix has cactus everywhere
• Seattle has Cactus in Madison Valley (and it’s delicious!)

• Phoenix dog parks have quite a bit of poop laying around
• Seattleites will dial 911 if they see someone not pick up after their dog

• In Seattle, the garbage/recycle man hops out of his truck, picks up the trash can and physically dumps it in the truck or they wheel the bin over to the truck which then lifts and dumps the contents
• In Phoenix, the garbage/recycle man never gets out of his truck. He pulls along side the bin, then a giant metal claw extends, clamps around the bin, lifts it up and over the top of the truck and dumps the contents. I love this!