On a whole, I'm planning on keeping my Always Packed for Adventure blog, separate from my new travel agency business, Easy as Pie Travel...however, this is exciting news and I wanted to share it!
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a travel industry dinner at the Napa Valley Grille in Westwood, with Megan Gillespie from Norwegian Cruise Line, and Wendy Moriarty from Oceania Cruises.
If you've been thinking about booking a cruise, now is a great time to take advantage of spectacular offers from Norwegian and Oceania. I received a ton of promotional material last night, but here are the two current offers that I'm most excited to share.
On select cruises to Europe, Oceania is offering 2-for-1 cruise fares, plus free airfare. The deal includes free internet, and the choice of one of three of these additional amenities: shore excursions, beverage package, or shipboard credit. Depending on the cruise and cabin class, you can go tour Europe on a luxury liner for a couple thousand dollars a person. This is a phenomenal offer.
Why book Oceania? Oceania is known for their smaller ships with a high staff ratio. Service is top-notch with attention to detail that rivals the best five-star hotels. Master Chef Jacques Pepin has created decadent menus and unlike many cruise lines, most of the speciality dining experiences are included in your base fare.
The smaller ships in Oceania's fleet, allow them to enter ports that larger ships simply can't visit. Oceania also tends to spend longer amounts of time in port, so that passengers are not rushed in their sightseeing. Oceania offers unique shore excursions, including exclusive culinary tours and cooking lessons.
Who is the typical Oceania passenger? Oceania's upscale ambiance tends to appeal to an older crowd. This is not a pick for families with small children. A huge draw for Oceania is its dress code policy...no formal nights. No jackets required. Oceania is country club casual, meaning you can feel relaxed during your vacation.
Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a great deal on select 2016 Mediterranean sailings. The offer includes the cruise fair, airfare from the United States, transfers, a hotel stay for the evening prior to your sail-away, and your choice of two additional amenities - unlimited beverages, specialty dining, shore excursions, or free wi-fi. There is a lot included in this offer.
Why book Norwegian? Not only does Norwegian have the youngest fleet of ships in the ocean, but by 2018, they will have significantly revamped all of their existing ships in a program that they call "The Norwegian Edge." Norwegian has recently revamped it cuisine, bringing on Iron Chef Jose Garces, and partnering with brands such as, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and the Pubbelly Restaurant Group.
Norwegian is known for its entertainment, which includes full-scale Broadway shows with the real touring casts. I'm a huge Broadway fan and when I learned that these shows were included in the fare, it made me want to book asap. What a fantastic perk! For adventure seekers, Norwegian has onboard zip lining and speed waterslides that extend over the edge of the ship.
Who is the typical Norwegian passenger? Norwegian is truly an all-ages brand, perfect for multi-generational family trips. They have an excellent kids club. However, Norwegian does not compromise luxury in the name of fun. In fact, they offer cabins in an exclusive key-access section of the ship, called The Haven. The Haven lives up to its name, with a private pool and private restaurant, which is the best on the ship.
The deals are amazing, but you have to act fast. For more information, please contact Easy as Pie Travel. We would love to send you on your next adventure.
