How to Develop Character in Your Children (and Yourself) Through Travel
Posted November 10, 2009 , comments closedHow to Develop Character in Your Children (and Yourself) Through Travel
For many, many people, travel has a special lure, attraction, enchantment that calls to them, beckoning from far off lands. It’s idealized by the image of a lone backpacker traversing Europe, Asia or South America, sleeping in hostels and hitchhiking if necessary.
It’s long been thought of as an activity that can’t be done with a family, especially small children; it was a choice you had to make – travel, or start a family, but not both.
However, there is a rise in the number of families who are making travel a reality, with infants and older, and they’re doing it deliberately as a way to educate, expand, and inform their children in ways that are not possible by staying at home.
Are these parents crazy? Although they’ve been asked this question many times, the reality is that they simply realize the tremendous benefits of personal growth and character development, not to mention adventure and fun, available from family travel.
So how do you use your family vacation to develop virtue? Here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
Get Uncomfortable
Although difficult for most people to do for themselves, let alone to purposefully inflict on their children, being uncomfortable actually means that you are experiencing growth.
Instead of planning the usual, touristy trip, try something new, and well… a little uncomfortable. Think about visiting someplace you might not have considered before, a location that is a bit out of your comfort zone – South America instead of Europe, Dominica instead of Disneyland.
The first time I ever traveled outside of the United States was when I was in my early twenties. My family had taken a vacation to San Diego, and we spent a day visiting Tijuana, Mexico.
During the initial half hour of our visit, I felt literally sick to my stomach. I hated it, I just wanted to run away. I had no real-life concept of the kinds of conditions that others lived in throughout the world, and when I came face to face to it, I was extremely uneasy.
Yet that trip has stayed with me. It planted a seed that has grown more with each journey, and has given me a huge heart for humanitarian work, and a desire to relieve suffering worldwide.
Extend the Stay
If you want to visit a place that you hope will have an impact on your kids, its more likely to happen on an extended trip, rather than just a weekend jaunt.
The longer the trip, the more time to experience the true nature of the place you’re visiting. You’ll have more occasions to immerse yourself (and your children) into the culture and customs.
While staying in Las Galeras, Dominican Republic we lived near an all-inclusive resort. Every few days there would be a new group of tourists arriving to enjoy their week of relaxation, and scheduled tourist trips.
In contrast, we were there day after day, week after week. We would walk to the beach, hike on trails, explore the area, visit remote beaches, learn the language, develop diverse friendships, and enjoy the changing weather conditions.
I marveled at how much more our extended visit allowed us to really absorb the ‘feel’ of the place, and I realized that it could not have been done on a week long vacation.
Consider a summer touring South America, or a semester studying abroad. The added time away from home will only expand budding realities.
Get Grateful
There’s nothing that develops gratitude as fast as coming face to face with humble circumstances. Are your kids feeling a bit of entitlement? Are they not seeing the bigger picture? Getting up close and personal with poverty can check that attitude real quick.
Despite the stigma of being unsafe, our experience has proven that visiting the ‘local’ areas can provide some of the best encounters for getting a good look at what you (and your children) have been blessed to enjoy.
While living in Costa Rica, we went to visit the home of our maid. She had a large family of seven children and two grandchildren – all of whom lived in her very humble, three ‘room’ (and three bed) home of cement, wood and corrugated tin which she had built with her own two hands.
She made us (very delicious) soup, with her limited food supply, that she prepared over an open fire. Her family allowed our family to eat first because there weren’t enough dishes and utensils for everyone.
You can’t help but feel gratitude for everything that you have when you are in a situation like that. It’s kind of like ‘shock’ treatment, bringing you back to a grateful realization of your life as it ‘really’ is.
Of course you don’t want to walk around a local area at night with all your bling and a haughty (or fearful, which is just as offensive) attitude, but you do want to get out of your comfort zone. Go shopping at the ‘local’ store, take a walk into that ‘local’ neighborhood.
If you do it with humility and an open mind, you’ll probably find very friendly people who will welcome you into their hearts and (very humble) homes, expanding your definition of poverty and wealth along the way.
Start ‘Em Young
Stop the stigma that traveling can only be done by the single, wealthy or vagabonds. Travel can be (and is becoming) a family activity that can be done even with very small children.
Our first trip abroad as a family began when we drove from Utah to Costa Rica with our children who were 4, 3, 1 and 2 months. It was one of the greatest experiences of our lives.
We visited beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, crocodile refuges, jungle rivers. The most amazing part of it is that we actually did it. The original belief was that it couldn’t be done- too unsafe, and too much time in a car with kids- limits that were actually only in our mind. We crossed borders, not just politically, but philosophically as we widened our belief about what was possible for us to accomplish.
‘Will they remember it?’ is the question most people will ask when they consider the expense of a trip with small children. For us, we’re not concerned with whether they remember every trip, but with the paradigm that is being developed in their young minds by introducing them to the experience. They grow up believing that the ‘impossible’ is possible.
It does require flexibility and finesse to travel with little ones, but it can be done, and improved upon, with practice. There are plenty of ‘safe’ spots to see and it’s definitely worth the effort if traveling is on the agenda for your children’s education.
Give Back
Finding an opportunity to participate in humanitarian work while on a family trip provides moving experiences that bond, build character, and create lasting memories.
While living in the Dominican Republic we took the opportunity to outfit an outlying school with children’s books, visit orphanages and connect with other visiting volunteers, all of which provided memorable family experiences and created lasting friendships for ourselves and our children.
A few weeks before we were leaving the country, we still had some books we needed to give away. My seven-year-old daughter single handedly (and on her own initiative) passed out 50+ books to neighbors and friends in the area, who were more than eager to receive her gifts.
It doesn’t matter where you go, if you look for it, there’s an opportunity to contribute in some small (or large) way. Whether you donate books to a local library (or start one), visit an orphanage, dig a well or build a greenhouse, contributing to another culture develops hard work, compassion, empathy, gratitude, contribution, open-mindedness, tolerance.
Travel can be a very rewarding, as well as character developing experience, for the entire family, if you take advantage of the opportunity. Consider how you can make your next trip into a time for personal growth.
Read about author Rachel Denning and check out her other BootsnAll articles.
All photos by Rachel Denning
Central America on $25 a day: Enjoy an Exotic Destination on a Tight Budget
Posted September 18, 2009 , comments closed
Last year when my friend Lindsey and I started cooking up a plan for a month-long trip somewhere, we had a few requirements to work around. We wanted to go some place that would offer cultural opportunities, adventure and beautiful scenery—but we also knew we had a really tight budget to work with. Recently graduated and not much money in our bank accounts, we almost immediately decided that Central America was the place to go. Since airfare to Central America tends to be relatively inexpensive from the United States and most of the countries are a budget travelers dream, we booked our tickets to Panama and began to plan our Central American adventure.While some of the coastal resort areas of Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica cater to tourists on short, all-inclusive type vacations (and are priced to match), there are plenty of other options for those traveling on a tighter budget. In many ways, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama all offer some of the world’s best travel bargains.
Getting to Central America for Cheap
For travelers coming from the United States and Mexico, it will usually only cost you $100-$200 more to fly into many of the Central American cities than a domestic flight. Depending on the time of year, city of origin and destination, you can usually count on being about to get airfare for anywhere from $400-$700 without too much difficulty.
While you may not plan on spending any time in the capital cities of Central America (which I would recommend you didn’t), flying directly into these cities and busing it to your final destination is sure to save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. Check here for great deals on cheap international airfare.
Budget Planning: Where to go
If you are trying to stick to a tight budget ($20-$25 a day) you are best off skipping certain areas altogether. Forget heading to the coastal Mexican resort towns (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas) as well as the islands of Belize as well as many of the main tourist towns along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
When Lindsey and I chose Panama, we did so precisely because we knew we could probably stay longer and do more for less money than if we traveled in neighboring Costa Rica. While there are definitely still ways to see and explore these areas on a budget, you’ll find that Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica tend to be on the high-end price wise and Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras on the lowest end.
Keep in mind that almost any time you find yourself in a popular tourist spot or in an already discovered beautiful beach town, you are likely to see a jump in prices that reflects the influx of travelers and outsiders coming to the region. While things may still be priced reasonably, you will almost always find the lowest prices in smaller, isolated and less exposed regions unaccustomed to seeing many tourists.
For those who can speak Spanish, you also tend to fare a little better in being able to get a fairer price and being able to negotiate with locals.
Another tip is to find good budget alternatives to certain destinations. For example, while Rotan Island in Honduras continues to get more expensive every year, nearby and equally beautiful Utila offers a good budget alternative. Backpacker destinations and places not yet discovered by big hotels, resorts and other travelers will always offer better bargains.
Getting Around on a tight budget
While internal flight prices do tend to be fairly reasonable, they are seldom a great bargain and a sure fire way to blow through your budget quickly.
Luckily for those travelers trying to get around without spending much, almost all of Central America is well connected by buses, most of which don’t cost more than a few dollars even to cover longer distances.
While these buses are not always the most luxurious or comfortable ride (yes, sometimes you will be sharing the bus with chickens, large bags of produce and more people you thought possible to fit into a small space), they provide relatively reliable transportation to and from almost anywhere in the various Central American countries.
Taking the buses is also generally a safe way to travel. While you still should exercise caution (and keep your valuables hidden or securely on you), traveling around Central America via public transportation is definitely not only a cheap way to get around, but also a safe one.
Keep in mind that bus travel is not always a time efficient way to go—as some local buses can take several hours to cover a relatively small distance. Keep this in mind before venturing out on a day trip or when planning how far to travel in one day. However, for the cost of just a few American dollars you can easily cover large distances with relative ease.
>>Read more about Bus Travel in Central America
Taxis are also usually inexpensive in Central America, except once again in major tourist zones in Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexican beach resorts. You can also often hire a car and a driver for a day for the same amount or less than renting a car.
If you are trying to keep you budget under $30/day, regional flights and renting a car are out of the question. If time is more valuable than money on your vacation, this is probably a better way to go, but it is also sure to blow your tight budget really quickly.
Eating Cheaply in Central America
Because eating is such a huge part of any travel experience for me, knowing that I would be eating well and still not spending much money was a huge bonus to traveling in Central America. In most countries and in most places, it is easy to get a full meal that costs anywhere from $2-$6. While Central America is a vast region and it is hard to make many generalizations about travel there, when it comes to meals it is pretty easy to get a decent meal for cheap anywhere from Cancun to Panama City.
If you are looking to keep your food budget to a minimum and want to eat like a local, avoid restaurants that cater to tourists. English on the menu usually means higher prices to reflect the clientele. Look for where the locals eat.
You will find many simple restaurants, market stalls and cafeteria style restaurants where you can get a simple and filling meal—usually which consists of ingredients like rice, beans, tortillas, eggs, fired plantains and meat (usually chicken) . On the coasts you will find more seafood and fish dishes.
Don’t be afraid to eat like the locals. One of my best meals in Panama consisted of roasted chicken and fried yucca served from an open air shack in Santa Catalina, all for about $3. If you are trying to stick to a tight budget and want to stay well nourished, avoiding the restaurants where the tourists dine and opting for simple and nourishing food is the best way to keep your eating costs way down.
To my delight, I also found that some items that are expensive at home were abundant and cheap in Central America. Pineapple, avocados, mangos and a variety of other tropical fruits can be bought at produce stands almost anywhere and usually don’t cost a whole lot. The fresh tropical fruit makes for a delicious, satisfying, healthy and cheap snack while on the road.
Drinking Cheap in Central America
If your travel plans in Central America also include indulging in the local drink, you’ll be happy to know that you can still enjoy nights out partying without ending up with a giant bar tab. Rum, tequila, and usually some sort of sugar cane derived alcohol tend to be the drinks of choice throughout Central America.
The cheapest way to drink in Central America is probably to buy a bottle of booze from a local cantina, and get a couple of bottles of Coke. That way, you have a ton of drinks for several people for under $15. You will also find a clear liquor distilled from sugar cane in many Central American countries. Called Guaro in Costa Rica and Seco in Panama, while this type of booze may be nearly akin to rubbing alcohol, it is almost always dirt cheap.
Beer is also usually quiet affordable in Central America and can range in cost from .50 to about $2 depending on where you find yourself. Again, tourist bars and destinations will mean higher drink prices.
Most Central American countries have a few different national brands that are popular and the beer is usually a lager style cerveza that can range from great to just passable.
Keep in mind that save for resort towns popular with backpackers and young people and some of the larger, more progressive cities, bars tend to be a male affair in Central America. In a region where machismo still very much rules, females should scope out a bar before heading in, especially if traveling with another woman or by herself.
Cheap Accommodation in Central America
Budget accommodations are plentiful throughout Central America and most will be amazed by what kind of room they can get for not a whole lot of money. While you’ll probably want to search out dormitory style hostels in more expensive tourist zones, there are plenty of places where you can get a private room with a shared or private bath for as little as $4-$8/per night.
While accommodations will be more expensive in Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize, even in these countries it’s usually possible to find rustic, dorm style accommodations for as little as $2-$10/night.
When traveling in Panama, my travel partner and I never had a problem finding decent and comfortable accommodations in private rooms for under $10, even in some of the more tourist traveled areas like Bocas del Toro. If you feel like you could use a night with a little more pampering, spending another $5 to $10 a night is usually enough to get you a hotel with a private bath, maid service and perhaps even a hotel with a patio, courtyard or garden.
With simple accommodations starting as low as $2 a night in some places, finding a cheap place to stay should not be a problem in most places in Central America—making it easy to stay on budget.
Other Tips for saving money and staying on budget
- Slow Down— No matter where in Central America you find yourself, the best and easiest way to save money and keep your budget low is to simply slow down. Not moving around too quickly (and therefore saving on transportation costs) is a great way to stretch your dollars.
- Pop and juice is cheaper than water—Since the water is not safe to drink in much of Central America, you will be forced to spend some of your budget on bottled water. However, you will also find many areas with juice stands (with fresh squeezed tropical juice) and pop (made with sugar instead of corn syrup). These options are almost always cheaper than water. While I don’t suggest you replace water drinking with juice and pop, subbing in these beverage items can be a good way to keep a little extra dough in your pocket.
- Pick guided activities and tours wisely—Especially in areas with a higher concentration of tourists, you are sure to find plenty of opportunities for taking guided canopy tours, river rafting excursions and more. Pick and choose these types of adventures wisely. While you certainly don’t want to miss out on something great because it costs $10-$25, you also don’t want to be spending all your cash on tours and activities that may not provide you with all that cool of an experience—and will cut into your budget big time.
- Don’t be afraid to make little splurges—If you are trying to stick to a tight budget, but are traveling for a longer period of time and feel like you need a break from the rice and beans or dorm style accommodations, don’t be afraid to splurge a little more one day. Just remember you’ll probably have to cut back the next to make up for it. Making small splurges can also be a good way for you to stay sane and keep traveling cheap.
- Write down what you spend–I always like to keep a little pad of paper or notebook on me with traveling, and keeping a page where you write down your expenses (how much you spent on what) is a great way to keep your budget on your mind, see where and how you are spending your money and see if there are areas where you can cut back.
About the Author
Although BootsnAll staff writer Julie Blakley spends most of her time writing about traveling in France for the Paris Travel Guide and France Travel Guide, she left her heart in Central America after a month long backpacking trip around Panama. From steamy jungles to gorgeous beaches and heaping piles of rice, beans and yucca frita, there isn’t a whole lot Julie doesn’t love about Central American adventures.
photos: Guatemalan currency by Antigua Daily Photo on flickr , rice, beans and chicken plate by stu_spivack on flickr, all other photos by Julie Blakley.
South America & Central America Vacations from the Globus family of brands
Posted August 21, 2009 , add a comment) South America may take up 3.5 percent of the world’s surface but it’s responsible for much more of the planet’s excitement. Listed as a “hot destination” by the USTOA, South America’s culture, nature, food and value make it a place worth discovering and exploring in 2010. Now, the Globus family of brands has unveiled more than 20 vacations to emerging destinations in Mexico, South and Central America, including four new itineraries, spotlighting the company’s increased dedication to growth in this area of the world.
“Since 2005, we’ve seen double-digit percentage growth in our South America business,” said Pamela Hoffee, vice president of product and operations for the Globus family of brands. “This is a destination with enormous appeal ? from culture, access and favorable currency to diversity, food and adventure. And, while the logistics involved in traveling to South America can seem somewhat intimidating for first-time travelers to the destination, a guided tour or independent travel package (Monograms) with help from our experts present travelers a great, stress-free yet fun-filled solution.”
Ranging from eight to 20 days, the Globus family of brands’ 2010 Latin American vacations are as robust as the countries and regions featured. Four NEW itineraries for 2010 include one Cruise & Tour itinerary and three Monograms independent travel vacations. They are:
Avalon Waterways (Cruise & Tour)
? NEW Ecuador & the Galápagos (9 days from Quito to Guyaquil), priced from $3,379 land, cruise and intra-vacation air only.
Monograms (Independent Vacations)
? NEW Brazil, Argentina & Chile (12 days), priced from $2,239 land only.
? NEW Amazonia Voyage with Rio & Iguassu (10 days), priced from $2,769 land and cruise only.
? NEW Costa Rica Wonders (8 days), priced from $1,299 land only.
“Not only are Americans discovering all the beauty, color and vigor Latin America offers, the dollar goes further in Mexico, South and Central America than in many other destinations,” said Scott Nisbet, president and chief executive officer for the Globus family of brands. And, to whet South America travel appetites even more, the Globus family of brands is offering travelers a PROMOTION: Receive $300 off per person on the air-inclusive price of any 2010 Globus, Monograms or Avalon South American vacation between now and October 13, 2009.*
Additional 2010 South America Tour, Cruise & Tour and Independent Vacation offerings include:
Globus (Tour)
? Natural Wonders of Costa Rica (9 days), priced from $1,529 land only.
? South American Escape (8 days from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires), priced from $2,469 land and intra-vacation air only.
? Mayan Civilizations: Honduras, Guatemala & Belize (12 days from Guatamala City to San Ignacio), priced from $2,559 land only.
? Mexico’s Colonial Cities (8 days), priced from $1,349 land only.
Avalon Waterways (Cruise & Tour)
? Discover the Galápagos & Peru (13 days from Lima to Quinto), priced from $5,169 land, cruise and intra-vacation air only.
Monograms (Independent Travel)
? Peru Highlights (6 days), priced from $1,639 land only.
? Pantagonian & Chilean Fjords (13 days), priced from $6,179 land and cruise only.
? Galápagos Highlights (6 days), priced from $2,589 land, cruise and intra-vacation air only.
For more information, visit www.globusjourneys.com or www.ColorfulSouthAmerica.com. Or, to learn more about touring in South America, check out a video made by some of our South America travelers.
* Book a 2010 Globus, Monograms or Avalon South America, Asia or South Pacific air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 12 and October 13, 2009 for travel commencing through December 31, 2010. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club and applies to new 2010 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
ABOUT THE GLOBUS FAMILY OF BRANDS
Littleton, Colorado-based Group Voyagers, Inc. is the privately held company that markets and sells the Globus family of brands within the United States. Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways offer travelers unparalleled tour, independent travel package, river and small ship cruise options. Considered the world’s largest tour operator, with 80 years of international travel experience, the Globus family of brands is dedicated to enriching the lives of travelers by turning foreign destinations into familiar harbors, where the expense of travel is forgotten and replaced by personal value. The Globus family of brands is a member of Sustainable Travel International (STI).
Consumers can book a Globus family of brands vacation or reques brochures by visiting a preferred travel agent or by calling the following toll free number: 1.866.313.2855. For more information, please visit www.globusfamily.com.
Travel agents can request any Globus family of brands brochures by calling toll free 1.800.221.0090 or visiting www.globusfamilypartner.com.
Tourism in Panama is booming
Posted August 7, 2009 , add a comment- Tourism brings more foreign revenue to El Salvador
- A record 1 million tourists arrive in Cuba in first quarter
- Falkland Islands: ?4.2 million revenue from cruise tourism
- Costa Rica creates digital guide for tourists
- Singapore tourism brings in S$6.4 billion
- Summer’s a scorcher, but you don’t have to get burned
- Battered by recession, Caribbean tourism is looking for the way out of crisis
- New luxury boutique hotel being developed in Panama
By
eTN Staff Writer |
Aug 07, 2009
In the short span of the past six years, Panama’s tourism arrivals have more than doubled, while tourism-based revenue has more than tripled, according to the Panama Tourism Authority. This growth, along with farsighted, tourism-friendly laws and tax incentives, has opened the floodgates for investment in the country.
These funds are being channeled back into the tourism sector by way of improving infrastructure facilities, including power plants, telecom projects, overpasses, roads, highways, and bridges. In fact, the governments of Panama and Costa Rica have announced plans to build a temporary bridge over the Sixaola River, which will eventually be converted to a permanent bridge, costing US$13.4 million and increasing the connectivity between the countries. One of the most notable improvements is the US$5.25 billion Panama Canal expansion project, which will double the canal’s capacity and allow more traffic.
Recently, focus has also turned to the Enrique Malek Airport in David, the capital of the Chiriqui Province and gateway to the islands in the Gulf of Chiriqui. In early 2007, Gregorio Montecer, engineer and advisor to the director of the Civil Aeronautical Authority, unveiled a US$10 million expansion plan for the David airport to be completed by 2015. Upon the conclusion of the first phase of the project - a US$2 million investment to be completed this year - the upgrades to the runway will allow the David airport to accommodate commercial jets as large as a Boeing 737. Local developers have begun discussions among each other and with Panama’s tourism authority about how to leverage these upgrades into regular international flights.
“This area has seen a vast improvement of physical, economic, and social infrastructures in recent years,” said Ben Loomis, president of Amble Resorts, which is currently planning the development of a new eco resort in the Gulf of Chiriqui, the Resort at Isla Palenque. “In addition to the airport expansion, roads are being improved and new, high-quality health care facilities are being built. This expansive growth plus its incredible natural beauty makes the Gulf of Chiriqui an ideal location for our new island resort.”
“After 30 years in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province, my choice in Panama to invest would be the coastal region of the Province of Chiriqui,” said Jim Procter of Panama Guru. “It already has an international airport, the sport fishing is as good as it gets on the Central American coast, and it offers westerly views with sunsets over the islands speckled around the Gulf of Chiriqui. Boutique hotels are slowly sprouting up so that’s where my chunk of cash would go.”
TravelStore Features Special Offers On Princess Cruises Tropical Cruise Getaways to Sun-Swept Caribbean, Panama Canal and Mexican Riviera
Posted , add a comment) LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 31, 2009) ? Whether travelers choose to explore the beaches and colorful islands of the Caribbean, enjoy the warm welcoming culture of the Mexican Riviera, or marvel at the dramatic Panama Canal, TravelStore offers a wide array of options for tropical cruise getaways to some of the most popular warm weather destinations on one its most popular cruise lines, Princess Cruises.
“With the convenience of close-to-home departure points, these itineraries present many inclusively-priced vacation options in the balmy tropics,” said Dan Ilves, TravelStore Vice President. “So many people have delayed taking vacations, a cruise vacation is a more affordable way for many to escape the grind, enjoy the warmth of the tropics and take advantage of the best deals.”
A number of Princess Caribbean cruises, which range from one-week to up to 14 days, feature the private beach of Princess Cays. On Princess Mexican Riviera cruises, passengers can sail from Los Angeles or San Francisco to some of the area’s most popular resorts south of the border. Those wishing to experience one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels on Princess Panama Canal cruises can choose from convenient round-trip voyages or experience the drama of a full canal transit.
“With the pent-up demand for travel, we have released next year’s fall and winter schedules early so travelers can begin to plan and book future vacations early and avoid disappoinment,” said Ilves. “Of course, there are some great opportunities yet this year to getaway to these popular cruise destinations.”
Highlights of next year’s tropical getaway options include:
Caribbean Cruises ?a variety of vacation options exploring the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.
Seven-Day Eastern Caribbean ?Roundtrip cruises from Fort Lauderdale on Sundays. The itinerary features calls at Princess Cays, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.
Seven-Day Western Caribbean ?Roundtrip cruises from Fort Lauderdale, visiting Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays.
Seven-Day Southern Caribbean ?Cruises from San Juan on two alternating itineraries. The Classic Southern Caribbean route sails to the ports of St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados, while Southern Caribbean Explorer sailings travel to St. Thomas, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba.
10-Day Eastern and Southern Caribbean ? For a more in-depth island vacation with the convenience of roundtrip travel from Fort Lauderdale. The Southern Caribbean Medley itinerary calls at Princess Cays, St. Thomas, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire and Aruba. The Eastern Caribbean Voyager itinerary offers calls at Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Princess Cays.
14-Day Caribbean Collection ? Cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. The ship sails to Aruba, Curaçao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Grand Turk.
14-Day Sailings from Barbados ?A series of alternating 14-day Caribbean voyages from Barbados. The Grand Caribbean Islander route feature calls at Tobago, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Tortola, Antigua, St. Kitts and Dominica. The Grand Caribbean Adventurer itinerary features stops at Grenada, Bonaire, Curaçao, Grand Turk, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad.
Mexican Riviera Cruises ?Cruisers can choose from departures from either Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Seven-Day Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles?This popular seven-day roundtrip route takes in favorite Mexico ports with calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
10-Day Mexican Riviera?One roundtrip sailing from San Francisco to Catalina, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas and San Diego, departing on September 29, 2010.
11-Day Mexican Riviera?From San Francisco featuring calls at Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Three departures on April 8, 19 and 30, 2011.
Panama Canal Cruises ? A “must see” feat of engineering. On an extended 15-day cruise features the line’s Two-Day Canal Experience ? a full Canal transit plus a day with the ship anchored at Fuerte Amador, on the Canal’s Pacific side. Passengers can take advantage of this extra day in Panama to enjoy a variety of shore excursion options including the Panama Canal Railway, Panama City, Soberania National Park Rainforest or a visit to an authentic Embera Indian Village.
15-Day Panama Canal with Two-Day Experience ?Sailings between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco. In addition to the Canal transit and additional Panama call at Fuerte Amador, the cruise visit Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Cartagena and Aruba. Departures are offered between September 21, 2010 and May 4, 2011.
10-Day Panama Canal Full Transit Sailings ? The 10-day Panama Canal Adventurer route between Fort Lauderdale and Acapulco offers a full Canal transit plus visits to Ocho Rios, Fuerte Amador or Cristobal, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Nicaragua (San Juan del Sur) and Huatulco. Departures between October 6, 2010 and April 24, 2011.
10-Day Roundtrip Panama Canal? Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, with a partial Panama Canal transit to Gatun Lake followed by a call in Cristobal, plus calls in the Caribbean ports of Aruba, Cartagena, Limon (Costa Rica) and Ocho Rios.
Current as well as these tropical sailings are currently available for booking. Early reservations are encouraged to secure the best stateroom selection. Fares for seven-day Caribbean and Mexican Riviera sailings start at $569 per person, and 10-day Panama Canal cruise fares begin at $1,199 per person, based on double occupancy.
TravelStore is one of the nation’s top award-winning travel agencies, and a Princess Cruise specialist. Additional information is available calling 1-800-821-4271, or by visiting the company’s cruise website.