Archive for October, 2009

This week, we take a look back at some of old, but still relevant, stories. “Travels with Cathy” originally was written for United Airlines’ award-winning magazine, Hemispheres – in 2001.

“Over the years, I’ve grown very fond of travel agents, and now I find myself wondering how on earth are these poor people going to stay in business,” she says. “It seems as though the travel industry is doing everything to drive travel agents out of business.” – Cathy Guisewite

Regular readers of the comic strip “Cathy” are familiar with the strip’s sympathetic take on travel agents. But they may not know that creator Cathy Guisewite began the travel agent strips, which run periodically in the “Cathy” cartoon, because she was the “world’s worst customer.”

“When I was single, I would book 12 tentative itineraries based on meeting my hypothetical boyfriend by the time I left,” says the Los Angeles-based cartoonist. “I couldn’t commit, would change my mind, would hate to make decisions.

“And then after the travel agent had invested all this time into putting together a trip for me, I would call up and ask if I could use up all my frequent flyer miles for the hotels and plane travel. Nobody actually screamed on the other end of the phone, but I always felt it was happening once I got off.”

So Guisewite began sketching Mabel in the role of a travel agent who faced such daily adversities as fickle clients, unstable pricing, commission cuts and other assaults on the travel agent’s livelihood. “I started thinking about what that job entails,” Guisewite says. “And I guess I did those first strips because I wanted travel agents to have a little voice through me.”

And indeed many travel agents do feel they have that tiny voice through Guisewite – or at least some comic relief from their daily frustrations. Guisewite says she receives regular fan mail from travel agents. “They tell me that I am speaking for them,” Guisewite says. “Or that it was like I was standing in their office when I created a particular strip.”

Truth is, however, that Guisewite has not even set foot in a travel agency – at least not for a “very long time.” Nor does the creative source for her travel agent strips, syndicated to more than 1,400 papers worldwide, come from an industry insider or shadow travel agent (ironically, she has yet to meet her own travel agent face-to-face – but more on that later.)  Read more... (2001 words, 1 image, estimated 8:00 mins reading time)

This week, we take a look back at some of old, but still relevant, stories. “Bigger, Better, New & Improved” originally was written for United Airlines’ award-winning magazine, Hemispheres – in 1998! Clearly, not much has changed.

Bigger, Better, New & Improved?

Listen to the cruise industry-an industry fixated on superlatives. Hear claims to possessing the world’s largest ship, the most expensive ship, the largest ship to transit the Panama Canal, “the highest-rated premium cruise line” (a claim made by Celebrity Cruises), “the only premium cruise line” (a counter claim made by Holland America Line), “the highest-rated major cruise line of more than two ships” (a claim unearthed only after excavating deep into a recent Conde Nast Traveler reader poll), the largest casino afloat, the largest verandas afloat, the largest suites afloat (still with us?), the largest suites with verandas afloat . . . well, you get the picture.  Read more... (825 words, estimated 3:18 mins reading time)

Cruise ship transfers from Civitavecchia to Rome’s Fiumicino (FCO) international airport can be more than $180 per person – by bus. The cost for seven sharing a private van booked at www.airportconnections.it was $55 per person and could have been less on a per person basis had we filled the private bus to capacity. There are cheaper ways to make the one-hour transfer, but our transfer was reasonable and comfortable.

The lesson: Coordinate transfers with other passengers before leaving home or once on board to save a bundle.

Facing a gorgeous sunset over Corsica in Wind Surf’s wake, Mark, from Mercer Island, Washington, asked Mozelle, his girlfriend of six years, to be his wife – in front of a deckful of passengers.

Much applause as Mozelle ran to Mark, who was rising from one knee, and jumped into his arms. “Six years ago, Windstar gave me the best vacation of my life,” says Mark of a cruise on Windstar in Mexico. There was never any doubt of popping the question, he says. “The only question was when and where.” And where better, he adds, than a ship that gave Mark and Mozelle such fond memories? Now they have one more memory to add to their list.

An idyllic morning in Porto Vecchio, Corsica – as seen from our breakfast table on Wind Surf. Nearly all of our dining has been al fresco, including dinners at the two evening venues, Candles and Le Marche. Last night, as Wind Surf sailed from Elba, we dined by (electric, but convincing) candlelight aft at Candles. A nearly full moon reflected off the water as our waiter served us a grilled-to-perfection filet mignon with baked potato and all the toppings. The outdoor grill, with steaks sizzling, sets a nice atmosphere. Again, Windstar has been called the industry “most romantic cruise line,” and dining al fresco contributes to that romantic ambience.

The night before, we dined on fresh seafood, with a good selection of shellfish also, at Le Marche, an intimate outdoor venue on the upper deck aft. Windstar sails warm-weather destinations, so evenings are comfortable with only a long-sleeve shirt or a wrap.

Entertainment is also offered outdoors. Last night, there was wide participation in “Name That Tune,” a team exercise to pencil in the titles and composers of ten popular tunes. The team that correctly guessed the most received a bottle of champagne, and, of course, there was dancing afterward. At midnight, quite a few people were still enjoying sailing under the stars, not wanting to part with the night’s beauty. This morning dawned a new day, however, in yet another beautiful place.

For €5, the tourist(y) train provides a good island overview. The recorded narration is only audible enough to be annoying, but in a charming Italian sort of way. The driver, however, was extremely friendly, funny and bilingual. Fun and some good history. Even Napoleon would have enjoyed it.

Posted from my Blackberry.

Down the gangway and into Portoferraio, Italy, on the island of Elba, Napoleon’s exile (no sign of him during our visit – next stop, Saint Helena?). That’s the great thing about small ship cruising, easy access to small, untouristed destinations. For those making landfall here in the non-Napoleonic era, internet access is available directly across the street from the pier (€1.50 for 15 minutes) and practically next door, arguably the world’s creamiest gelato, made from “fresh milk from bio-farms” (€2 for a small and delicious cone).