When most of us picture a vacation cruise, we think of large ships leisurely touring the Bahamas or the Caribbean. But what about a paddlewheel cruise up the Mississippi? An exotic voyage to the Orient? Or a boat tour along the scenic waterways of Europe?

According to Power Lunch Bunch member Pat Langhorne, all this and more is part of today’s cruising – and she can arrange the dream trip of your choice! Pat is an Independent Cruise Specialist and owner of the local CruiseOne franchise. Because she works with hundreds of cruise lines and specializes in cruises and pre/post-cruise land tours, her buying power is excellent, and she passes this advantage on to you.

Cruises are ideal for many reasons, says Pat: “You get so much more for your money than on a land vacation. You pack and unpack once, and yet go to many destinations. You can choose tours from three days to three months. And because there are so many cruise lines – with new ships coming out every year – we can find the ideal match for you.”

In addition to individual bookings, cruises are popular for groups, honeymoons, and family reunions. “They’re great for reunions because there are activities for all ages and interests,” says Pat. “Cruises make group vacations easy. Everyone can do their own thing during the day, then get together at night. And you don’t have to worry about choosing a restaurant and arranging meals for a large group – it’s all done for you!”

With its proximity to the popular ports at Cape Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, our south Florida location is ideal for cruising. But before you go, be sure you have your passport. “New regulations make passports a must, even to go to the Bahamas,” says Pat. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date of travel.

Although we all hear rumors about last-minute cruise “deals,” Pat recommends booking as far ahead of time as possible to ensure you get the itinerary and accommodations you want, particularly for summer cruises. “Summers are very busy cruising seasons,” she says. After you book, she’ll continue to monitor your itinerary to take advantage of any new discounts that may be offered.

Pat has been in the travel business for 26 years, including stints with the airlines and as an owner/manager of a travel agency in Coral Gables. She moved to the Treasure Coast in 1998, when she opened her CruiseOne franchise. She’s joined in the business by her daughter, Kristina Feil. Kristina is the Director of Sales and Marketing for “Meetings at Sea,” and specializes in business cruises – everything from corporate meetings to employee incentives/rewards to the chartering of an entire ship.
          
Sponsored By:

Write Idea Communications (Denise Belizar)
772-334-5003     wridea@aol.com
Global Design, Inc. (Linda Probst)
772-288-2108     lprobst@globaldesign.biz

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