We love cruises because it is such an easy way to see a lot of places,” Chapin said. The Chapins have been members of Cruise, Travel and Attractions for about two years and have taken full advantage of this fantastic travel resource. And CTA makes it easy with cruises on big-name cruise lines.

“We went on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise,” he said, “and we loved it. In fact, we’re going on another cruise this month.” The upcoming vacation cruise will take the Chapins to the Eastern Mediterranean for 12 relaxing and fun-filled days. “This cruise will be even better,” Chapin said. “It goes to Istanbul and the Greek Isles but includes some unusual stops such as Alexandria and Cairo.

READ PART 2: CTA Tampa Makes Vacation Easier (Part 2)

During the last 30 or 35 years, the Chapins have vacationed in South Carolina. They enjoy the lifestyle and beautiful surroundings. On one fateful trip, they paused in Charleston for a little sightseeing. While walking through the Market area, they were given a voucher for a free lunch at Hyman’s Restaurant – a placed they already liked to eat – and decided to listen to the proposal offered by Cruise, Travel and Attractions.

“To begin with, we had doubts because we were not familiar with the company,” Chapin confided, adding, “but it turned out quite well for us. We’ve gotten our initiation fee back already. In fact, we’re a little ahead. We take at least two trips a year, so it works for us.”

There are no more doubts. Excellent customer service has convinced the Chapins that CTA is the only way to book a cruise.

As Chapin says, “I would recommend Cruise, Travel and Attractions to people who travel regularly. They’ve lived up to my expectations.”

READ PART 1: CTA Tampa Makes Vacation Easier

CTA VACATION PLANNING LEAVES TIME FOR VACATION

Cost, though certainly an important factor, is not the only reason to choose Cruises, Travel and Attractions. The company works only with three- to five-star properties and offers a wide range of vacation options, from luxury resorts to condos to cruises to  tours.

Cruises, Travel and Attractions is able to purchase large blocks of space at most of the world’s top resort destinations. The company prides itself on its success in negotiating the best possible price for its clients, and Florida is enjoying this great service provided by CTA’s Tampa office.

CTA does business with most of the world’s top cruise lines, offering vacation possibilities that will take you places spanning virtually the entire globe: Alaska, New England, Italy, Africa, India, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the North Sea, Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and even Antarctica, and every place in between.

Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ Sales Manager Mark Young explains that CTA is able to offer you deep discounts on great vacations at locations throughout the world because they use the same concept utilized by wholesale clubs such as Sam’s and Costco. Since it provides services to thousands of members and many of them vacation often, Cruises, Travel and Attractions is able to purchase large blocks of space at most of the world’s top resort destinations. The company prides itself on its success in negotiating the best possible price for its clients, and Florida is enjoying this great service provided by CTA’s Tampa office.

“We have created our resort search system to allow you to choose the areas you would like to visit, as well as the number of bedrooms and the time of year, be it prime or low-demand season.” In other words, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will make it easy for you to plan memorable vacations and save money as well.

We went with a very open mind to hear what the program was about,” said Lynn.

Bill jumped in saying, “It turned out very interesting.” He continued by explaining that the CTA folks actively work to find out where you would like to vacation – then they come up with suggestions.

“It’s kind of a neat idea,” Bill said.

The Meyers have been members since the summer of 2009, and they were anxious to try a variety of plans offered by CTA. For example, they wanted a vacation in Florida’s panhandle, so the staff at Cruise, Travel and Attractions presented several options from which to choose.

“We went for a week at a condo at Emerald Beach, and we were extremely pleased,” Lynn said. “It was just as they said it would be.”

“You could go online and look at the options, so you knew what you were getting,” Bill chimed in.

Another wonderful vacation was a cruise, a first for the Meyers.

“We went out of Mobile,” Lynn explained. “All our questions were answered ahead of time. We were a little apprehensive because it was our first cruise, but everything fell into place.”

“We had a great time,” Bill added. With such great experiences during their first years of membership, the Meyers look forward to much more travel during their retirement years. And there is no doubt they will continue to save money during those vacations.

“They not only give you the best price available, you get a rebate on top of that,” Bill said.

The savings are impressive. Bill estimates they saved between $1,500 and $1,800 in just their first year. “I was impressed when I added up the
numbers,” he said.

The Meyers are looking forward to trying some of the “hot weeks” Cruise, Travel and Attractions offers, when prices are exceptionally reasonable. They have also shared their experiences with friends, many of whom “are in awe,” according to Lynn. “We’re glad we took a bit of a risk to join, because the results have been great,” Lynn added.

Bill agreed wholeheartedly. “It’s a good deal,” he said.

“We had a good experience, so we booked another vacation this year through Cruises, Travel and Attractions and headed to Hawaii,” said Charles Woodrow. “While we won’t travel as far from home next time, we will definitely utilize our membership with Cruises, Travel and Attractions again.”

Read More…

Charles and Lillie Woodrows

The Woodrows and others stayed at sea for almost nine hours before it was deemed safe enough to continue island hopping. Despite almost participating in one the worst natural disasters of the past century, they still describe their experience as “most enjoyable.”

“It’s hard to pick a favorite island in Hawaii as each has its own distinct beauty,” said Charles. “It’s very difficult to pick one over the other and I don’t think I can.”

Their vacation was even more enjoyable because they saved money by using Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ travel agency and utilizing its website, www.thevacationstationmembers.com.

When it was all over, they rated the company’s customer service as excellent.
Best of all, because the Woodrows are members of Cruises, Travel and Attractions, they received a rebate check after their vacation was over, saving them even more money. While they are staying closer to home for their next vacation, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will still be available to help them plan their trip and keep more money in their pockets.

Charles and Lillie Woodrows

Charles and Lillie Woodrow of Hopkins, South Carolina, have been members of Vacation Inspiration for two years but didn’t decide to take their first trip to Europe until last year.

“We had a good experience, so we booked another vacation this year through Cruises, Travel and Attractions and headed to Hawaii,” said Charles Woodrow. “While we won’t travel as far from home next time, we will definitely utilize our membership with Cruises, Travel and Attractions again.”

A 15-day vacation to Hawaii is a dream vacation and one the Woodrows won’t soon forget – but for another reason.

“We were on a cruise visiting some of the Hawaiian Islands when the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan,” Charles explained. “It was incredible, but we were kept informed of what was happening the entire time. The cruise line took us out to sea for about 25 miles to avoid getting hit ourselves. It was definitely a new and once-in-alifetime experience for all of us.”…

Read More…

Charles and Lillie Woodrows

The Woodrows and others stayed at sea for almost nine hours before it was deemed safe enough to continue island hopping. Despite almost participating in one the worst natural disasters of the past century, they still describe their experience as “most enjoyable.”

“It’s hard to pick a favorite island in Hawaii as each has its own distinct beauty,” said Charles. “It’s very difficult to pick one over the other and I don’t think I can.”

Their vacation was even more enjoyable because they saved money by using Cruises, Travel and Attractions’ travel agency and utilizing its website, www.thevacationstationmembers.com.

When it was all over, they rated the company’s customer service as excellent.
Best of all, because the Woodrows are members of Cruises, Travel and Attractions, they received a rebate check after their vacation was over, saving them even more money. While they are staying closer to home for their next vacation, Cruises, Travel and Attractions will still be available to help them plan their trip and keep more money in their pockets.

A game room and onboard activities including pingpong, shuffleboard, dancing lessons and a well-stocked library offer a range of pleasant diversions. There’s duty-free shopping, and a barbershop and beauty salon, and all cabins offer closed-circuit television.

The Carnival Cruise Lines Total Choice Dining Program means that all passengers will be free to choose from a host of meal-time and snack-time options, among them formal dining rooms where the tables are always set for a first-class dining experience, including fresh lobster on every cruise, an extensive wine list and attentive service. For more intimate dining, there is a reservations-only steakhouse with a Manhattan-chic ambience and many hearty favorites. Casual dining includes a European-style café and plenty of kid-pleasing meal choices, from hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza to spaghetti and meatballs and more.

When the sun dips below the horizon, the Carnival Fantasy comes alive with night life to satisfy every taste, from the Universe Lounge, featuring Las Vegas-style shows, to a varied lineup of entertainment in the Crystal Lounge, disco in the Electricity Dance Club, sophisticated piano in Cleopatra’s Bar, plus a half-dozen other themed watering holes for cocktails and fun.

For veteran cruisers or first-timers, being able to enjoy the pleasures of the sea and visiting exotic ports without having to fly or drive to distant cities to embark is the best of all worlds. Carnival Cruise Lines’ year-round schedule of sailing from the port of Charleston makes it all possible.

Is that the sound of a steel drum band in the distance? It just might be the Carnival Fantasy gliding past Florida’s shores as it embarks on yet another fun-filled cruise.

By Bill Farley & Barbara Patrick

Several three-bedroom plans are available, but the real piéce de resistance is the penthouses. With four bedrooms, three baths and nearly 3,700 square feet of living space, the Forecastle is the ultimate in condo living.

Every detail at Harbor Pointe has been attended to — little touches such as lever door handles, computer centers with phone jacks, cable TV jacks, dedicated electrical circuits and crown molding. Even if you don’t enjoy cooking, you’ll appreciate the gourmet kitchen, which is complete with a solid-surface counter top, designer faucet and under-cabinet lighting. The appliance package includes a 25-cubic-foot side-by-side refrigerator, smooth cook-top range with self-cleaning oven, microwave with sunken turntable and dishwasher with sound insulation.

But the best is yet to come. The spacious master bedroom will be your haven. It features air conditioned walk-in closets, a whirlpool tub with tile surround, separate tiled shower and dual vanities.

Amenities go far beyond the usual.

Harbor Pointe has a huge heated pool and spa, tennis and basketball court and a recreation building with an exercise room and sauna.

As wonderful as these extras are, they pale in comparison to the spectacular views of the Indian River from every residence.

You can watch the space shuttle launch from your balcony, it doesn’t get much better than that. The Harbor Pointe lifestyle can easily be yours. Prices range from $385,000 to $1,500,000.

By Annie Patrick