Music Cruises

There is a new trend in the cruising industry that I think is SUPER cool and I wanted to share some information about it with you all! In the past several years the trend of music cruises has been on the rise.

What is a music cruise?

They are cruises put together around a common music group, type of music or a particular big name artist. They are often chartered ships, often have music filled itineraries, talent competitions, Q&A’s with the artists, artist meet and greets, etc.

Why are they popular?

They are a really neat way for you to get up close and personal with your favorite musicians and enjoy their talent. You will get to see your favorite artist perform at least once during the cruise and will most likely get the performers’ autographs and maybe even a photo with them!

Are they expensive?

The prices are actually not that much more expensive than your average cruise. It’s a minimal price difference considering all of the added activities shows, and opportunities.

Here are some sample music cruises:

Carnival Live Concert Series

Carnival Cruise Lines put their own spin on the music cruises with the Carnival LIVE concert series. Carnival LIVE features live performances by big name artists on eight different ships. Among those scheduled to perform in 2014 are Chicago, Daughtry, Foreigner, Gavin DeGraw, Jennifer Hudson, Jewel, Kansas, Lady Antebelum, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Olivia Newton-John, REO Speedwagon, STYX and Trace Adkins.

The performances take place on the main show lounge on the ships when they are docked in one of the ports of call. The artists come on board to perform, but will not be sailing with the ship. You do get the small intimate concert venue experience though.

Ticket costs are $20-$40 each and a limited number of VIP tickets are sold for $100-$150 each. The VIP experience includes an artist meet and greet, a photo op, seating in the first three rows, and a laminated concert pass.

The Country Music Cruise

The 2015 country music cruise will be January 18-25, 2015 and will feature artists such as Martina McBride, Charley Pride, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson and more. The cruise will include nightly performances, panel discussions, autograph sessions and more!

Grammy Festival at Sea: WOMEN WHO ROCK

As a friend recently described this cruise- it’s like Lilith Fair at Sea! Sailing November 4-8, 2014-This cruise is a compilation of female artists who have all either won or been nominated for a Grammy! The line up includes Heart, Indigo Girls, Shawn Colbin, Estelle & Skyler Grey, and Emmylou Harris. This voyage includes performances, Q&A sessions, panels and other activities hosted by the artists. Fares start at $550!

Florida Georgia Line This is How we Cruise

As soon as the Women who Rock get off the ship, Florida Georgia Line will get on board and November 8-12, 2014 they will cruise with fans to the Bahamas. In addition to Florida Georgia Line the lineup includes Nelly, Thomas Rhett, Colt Ford the Cadillac Three and more.  This voyage offers TWO outdoor shows by Florida Georgia Line, a Q&A on deck, and other activities hosted by the bands. Fares start at $700 for double occupancy, $500 for Quads. (Anyone want to go with me?)

Malt Shop Memories

The Malt Shop Memories cruise is scheduled to feature Dion, The Temptations, Brenda Lee, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, HJan & Dean’s Beach Party, Martha Reeves & The Vandelllas and more! This cruise takes place November 2-9, 2015. Activities include artist-led events, a sock hop, dance classes, contests, prom night extravaganza and more!

For more information on any of these cruises or themed cruises in general contact me at dana@danasglobaltravel.com

Bon Voyage!

How to avoid the endless charges imposed by airlines

I am going to be honest with you here: booking plane tickets is my least favorite part of my job. I am extremely happy when I can find a killer deal for someone, because nothing makes me happier than a good bargain, but overall they create more stress for me than just about anything else. On a personal level I am also constantly annoyed by the seemly endless charges they continue to impose.

Intellectually, I know why they are doing it- just like everyone else they are trying to make a buck. In a day and age where airlines are merging and filing for bankruptcy left and right they need to do what they can to not only stay afloat (or up in the air as the case may be) but also make a profit which should be the goal of any business.

I also know how hard people work for their money, and paying $30 to check your bag after you have paid $500 for the flight can sometimes seem not only irritating but insulting. Airlines know that they have the upper hand, they are a necessary evil- it’s a longggg car ride, walk or bike ride from North Carolina to Los Angeles and as the world becomes smaller we rely on them to get us where we need to go with few other viable options.

So here are some simple ways to avoid fees.

Change Fees

Again, a necessary evil. If there were no change fees people would buy up the cheap seats and then change their travel dates and times. It would be a mess. Most airline tickets are nonrefundable and non-transferable. You can cancel, pay a change fee, and then pay the fare difference when it is reissued.  

If you don’t want to pay the $200 change fee, you can buy a refundable ticket. They cost a bit more upfront but end up saving you more in the end if you need to change your itinerary. Just about all carriers offer this option.

Baggage Fees

There are a few options here. You can go like Joey on friends and wear everything you’ve got, however, with summer coming up you might get hot. So here are a few other options:

-Fly on Southwest Airlines or Cape Air where your first checked bag is free

-Sign up for an Airline Credit Card; often one of the perks is a free checked bagged (along with the added bonus of 50,000 miles, priority check-in and a free beverage!)

-Ship your luggage ahead of time. Just make sure it arrives before or on the same day you do. UPS Ground or FexEx are often cheaper than the fees the airline will charge.

-Gate check! If it’s small enough to fit in the overhead and space fills up (9 out of 10 times the overhead is full before boarding group 2), you can gate check your bag for free with most airlines.  

Beverage Fees

When things really got rough a few years ago and airlines were going bankrupt left and right a lot of them started charging for beverages. I considered this to be a real low point. In a day and age where every 3^rd child is allergic to peanuts, I see why the snacks had to stop, but really, my seltzer water?  Solution: buy a drink in the airport. It will still be more expensive than at your local grocer but it will be cheaper than on the airplane.

Seat Fees

Some airlines charge for your seats. Yes, you read that right. If you want what is considered to be a prime seat (first few rows, exit row, extra 2 inches of leg room, etc.) you need to pay. Paying for these is sort of unavoidable. There are options though. You can buy tickets that include prime seats (on some airlines, like Frontier, these also include the refundable fares). You can also always try the old “it’s our honeymoon” trick and see if that gets you a free upgrade!

Wi-Fi Fees

Be sure the flight is long enough to make the cost worth while. You will need your devices to be in airplane mode during takeoff and landing, which are typically 20-30 minutes each. Is it worth it to pay $15 for Wi-Fi you can only use for 30 minutes? That’s up to you, but perhaps being disconnected for a few hours would serve you well!

Airline with the Most Fees (in the USA)

If you hate fees the airline to avoid is Spirit Air. It has been voted the worst airline in America as well as made it on a list of the worlds worst airlines. Reason being? The Fees! They sucker you in with super low rates and then charge you an arm and a leg for EVERYTHING else.

Coming in a close second is Allegiant and third Frontier. 

The fees are being added and changed all the time….probably since you’ve started reading this two new airline fees have been added! ;-)

For further info:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ways-to-avoid-airline-baggage-fees_us_5a0b1c3ae4b060fb7e59d3df
https://www.tripsavvy.com/avoid-baggage-fees-guide-459596

If you have a tip of your own, please leave a comment and share it below!

Bon Voyage!

Girlfriend Getaways

A romantic escape with your lover is grand, but there is something about a girls’ trip that makes my heart smile. Anyone that knows me knows that I love a good trip with my girls! Ladies, you know what I am taking about…riding in the car with your girl friends, singing at the top of your lungs and there may or may not be candy involved. 

I wanted to write and inspire all the ladies out there to grab a bestie and get going! I promise you the memories will last a lifetime!

 (Girls trip to Disneyland!)

Besties at the Beach

Just about any beach will work for this. Most beach towns have sand, water and outlet malls. What more could a girl want? There are, however, a few beaches that I think are best.

Miami is great for gals because it is so vibrant and  has so much going on -  trendy hotels, good eats, great clubs, and of course, beautiful beaches!

Hilton Head is also great for a more low-key trip with mini-golf, dolphins and relaxation.

If you are thinking of going abroad, you can’t beat Mexico! It is the most affordable beach destination and has some awesome hotels with killer spas at a great price point! Add in amazing culture, history and guacamole…what’s not to love? VIVA MEXICO!

 (Laughing in Hilton Head)

Hot Mamas in the Mountains

The Mountains make for a GREAT girls trip! My favorite is Asheville. You can do one day at the Biltmore Estate and Winery and then the next day at the AAA 4 Star Diamond Spa at the Grove Park Inn. Book a treatment at its $50 Million, 43,000 sq. ft. subterranean spa with 20 water features- including 10 mineral-based, chlorine-free pools! Plan to stay all day…I promise you won’t want to leave! With amazing eats and a host of local artisans, you are sure to have a great time!

For my Ladies that love Grapes

Napa and Sonoma are great for getting away with the ladies that love wine and food. Everyone goes to Napa for the amazing wine, but it’s really a foodie lover’s paradise as well! So ladies that love the grub….don’t take a Napa, GO to Napa! (Yes, I stole that from Sex and the City.)

 (Gettin' our glam on in the Aloha State)

Sassy Sisters at Sea

The best cruise ships for a girls’ trip are Carnival Breeze or the Carnival Sunshine! They are party boats for sure, but as the newest, latest and greatest ships in Carnival’s fleet, they were created to impress and that is EXACTLY what they will do! They feature Cloud 9 Spa Cabins with direct access to the Spa from your stateroom for a quieter, more relaxing experience. They also have direct access to the adult-only area on the ships! Both ships sail to the Caribbean this time of year and have home ports in Florida. (The Sunshine is currently in New Orleans, but is moving to Port Canaveral in a few weeks.)

 (Besties on a cruise to the Bahamas! Safety first!)

I’d love to help you plan your next Girlfriend Getaway!

Bon Voyage!