Magnolia Travel and Cruise

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Cruising with Magnolia Travel............December 2005

Happy Holidays!!

Warm wishes to you, our valued clients, for the best of this holiday season for you and your families. Your patronage of our business is truly appreciated and we thank you for your loyalty and continued relationship with us. In return, our goal remains to serve our clients with the best travel arrangements tailored to your needs!

We invite you to join us for these coming events:

Welcome to Winter, Dec. 21st, Coffee Hour, 4:00-6:00 PM.
Europe Your Way, Destination Night, Feb 1st, 6:30PM-8:00PM
Cruises to Everywhere, February 11th, 12:00-4:00PM
Australia/New Zealand Revisited, Destination Night, March 22nd, 6:30-8:00PM

Watch for events & promotions in the spring as we celebrate 12 Years of Service at our present location in Magnolia Village on April 1st, 2006. We will give you more details as the plans develop for commemorating this special date.

What's New At Magnolia Travel:

Holiday Gift Ideas for You: Think about gift certificates, travel accessories, luggage, passport photos and more. Talk to us about your ideas, and we can come up with a great gift suggestion for your favorite traveler.

Exclusive Group Rates for Cruises: Let us know which cruise you would like to take in 2006 or allow us to suggest one! We have some great prices for group rates, and will be able to help you save some $$$ on your next cruise! See details about current group rates and dates in this newsletter. We can usually match or beat other's rates. Do check with us before you book!

Travel Training Completed: Susan completed a travel safe course offered by the Travel Safe Institute in Spokane WA this fall. The course focused on developing skills and knowledge for traveling safely around the world, either as a leisure or corporate traveler. The Institute has recently released a DVD that speaks to all the safety issues that can arise from traveling outside our country. A serious topic that demands attention for all those traveling both outside and within the US, Susan found the training to be most informative and very well designed for learning valuable skills.

Tips for Travelers
Top Ten Travel Tips For Making Traveling Abroad Easier

Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visa, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
Read the Consular Information Sheets and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings (if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.
Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.
Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.
Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of emergency.
Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.
Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department's travel registration website. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.
To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.
In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.
If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

Information provided by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Websites with information for you:

www.travelsense.org, www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel, www.yoursafepassage.com

Be sure to discuss all your questions with your travel consultant at our office. Our services include keeping records of all your travel itineraries, profile information for those you wish to keep informed, and keeping you updated on current requirements for your travel destination.

CALENDAR EVENTS.....JOIN US!

December 21st…..4:00-6:00 PM Holiday Open House

Join us for a celebration of the 1st Day of Winter! Refreshments will be served. This is our thank you event to our loyal clients. We look forward to seeing you here for home baked treats, travel talk and holiday cheer. Hope to see you on the 21st!

February 1st, 6:30-8:00 PM Europe Your Way

Come along for an evening to hear all about how you can plan your European adventure to suit your wishes. Meet representatives from France, Italy and some of our major tour operators to tell you the best of what they know. Make this an occasion to come for answers to all your questions about the best way to see Europe!

February 11th, 12:00Noon-4:00PM Cruising to Anywhere

Visit with our representatives from major cruise lines to hear about the best of what they have to offer in 2006 and beyond. Find your dream cruise and get ready to sail away!

March 22nd, 4:00-6:00PM Time to Visit Down Under

Hear all about what's new and interesting with travel to Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific. Our friends from Abel Tasman will be on hand to share the best ideas for experiencing this exceptional part of the world. Susan will share her comments on her latest trip there. Come to share your travel experiences and find out about others!

On Assignment: Magnolia Travel

Magnolia Travel consultants have been out and about again…here's the latest!

Our latest adventures:

Bill........ Cruising on NCL's Pride of America, out of San Francisco Bay in July
Laura......Cruising Canada's Inside Passage on Celebrity's Mercury in September
Susan.....Revisit to Oz, September, Melbourne to Adelaide, Kangaroo Island & More

Visit with us soon about these experiences. We have great information to share with you for these great places & venues, and many others as well!

What We Can Do For YOU!

Laura…..

Laura's latest group is for the Celebrity cruise on the Mercury this coming September. We have a group booked for a University Women's Reunion, and have some fabulous prices and group amenities & extra cabins reserved! Laura is seeing to every detail for a fabulous fall cruise out of Seattle. She can tell you all about it, as she did this cruise this year in September. See the details for pricing and itinerary later in this newsletter.

Remember Laura's expertise as a Mexico Specialist, Disney Certified Travel Planner, and of course, her wedding specials & extensive cruising experience. Laura loves to help her clients have the best trip ever!

Susan........

Have you ever thought of traveling to 2, 3 or even 4 continents on one trip? You can. Holland America's Prinsendam will sail out of Lisbon this coming October, round the West Coast of Africa, across the Atlantic, cruise the east coast of South America, meander the Caribbean and finally, disembark in Ft Lauderdale. Wow, what an itinerary, and we have cabins reserved for you on the Prinsendam, Holland America's most intimate and luxurious ship. A small ship, so your favorite cabin should be booked right away.

Susan has just returned from Australia, having visited new places, and refreshing memories of previously toured regions in this great country. As an Aussie Specialist, Susan can help plan your trip to Oz with specific knowledge and recommendations. Make 2006 the year to fulfill your dream trip to Down Under!

A growing group of African travel enthusiasts is developing at Magnolia Travel. We are planning a social event for trip sharing soon after the holidays. If you would like to be included, please let Susan know! No trip selling, just some wonderful sharing of memories, impressions and commentary that should be a real pleasure for all those attending. Of course, you can bring a friend or someone interested in a 1st trip to Africa.

Bill……..

Winter is on our doorstep, so those in need of sunshine and warm temperatures, will love a great getaway to warmer climates. Bill knows Hawaii & the Caribbean well. Let him help you find the best value winter vacation, on a cruise or experiencing a great resort stay.

Don't forget that Bill is our Brit & Ireland Specialist and also knows the best of Europe. He is a fantastic resource for learning about the best experiences to have in this part of the world. For the coming summer, Bill has some great cabins reserved on 7 day Alaska cruises. Call Bill and get some plans in place for your 2006 vacation!

TIME TO TRAVEL 2006

What's Best for 2006: Think Alaska, South Pacific, Eastern Europe & Mexico. All Affordable travel, with a variety of itinerary plans, including cruises & more!

Australia: Qantas Air Pass including international flight from LAX & 3 in country flights, prices beginning at $999 per person. Taxes additional, and seasonally offered.

Europe: Insight Tours is offering extra savings for tours booked by December 22nd! Viking River Cruises $500 discounts if booked by Dec 31st!. Or consider a Mediterranean cruise on Oceania where our group rates for Nov 2006 are the best and cabins are hard to find!

Mexico: Mexican Riviera cruises out of LA are 7 or 8 day holidays to the best of the Mexican west coast. Guaranteed sunshine & comfortable temperatures, Jan through April! With several cruise lines to choose from on this itinerary, this is an easy vacation that will suit the whole family.

Alaska: Now is the time to book your family vacation to Alaska. For cruisers, early booking gets the best discounts and the best cabin choices. See all our specials for more details!

DISNEY SPECIALS: As an Authorized Disney Travel Planner, our agency can offer you the best discounts and package deals for all Disney venues. See us soon to book your family Disney vacation!

Check with us for the latest specials for 2006, and to get a new brochure. Whether you are thinking Disney Cruise, Disney World or Disneyland, there will be some great bargains for you in 2006. We shop your trip for the best value and experience for your family.

Special reminder to our Fatima School & Magnolia Pre School Coop Families: A percentage of your trip costs are donated back to your school funds. Be sure to mention your school affiliation when you book!

Magnolia Exclusives:

See us for the following specials. You can't find them anywhere else!

Holland America's Prinsendam……April 26th, roundtrip, Ft. Lauderdale
28 Day Cruise visiting Caribbean Islands, Brazil, Amazon River
Prices from $5848 per person

Carnival's Glory……..April 29th, roundtrip, Port Canaveral
7 Day Cruise, visiting Caribbean Islands, 3 days at Sea
Prices from $685 per person

Holland America's Noordam…..June 30th, roundtrip, Rome
10 Day Cruise…Best of the Mediterranean & President's Cruise
Prices from $2454 per person, based on Category D, outside

Holland America's Oosterdam…..July 1st, roundtrip Seattle
7 Day Cruise…..Alaska Explorer
Prices from $1552 per person, based on Category GG, outside

Holland America's Oosterdam, July 22nd, roundtrip Seattle
7 Day Cruise….Alaska Explorer
Prices from $1792 per person, based on Category D, outside

Holland America's Prinsendam….October 17th, Lisbon to Ft Lauderdale
46 Day Cruise….Taste of Two Continents
Prices from $10,373 per person, based on Category D, outside

Oceania's Regatta, Nov 3rd, Barcelona to Lisbon
12 Day Cruise…..Mediterranean, including Libya
Prices from $3416 per person, based on outside cabin

Special Offer for this Newsletter....

Bring this letter in, or mention it on the phone or email, and receive a $25 discount for any 7 day package, cruise or tour booked by December 31st, 2005! It's our way of saying thanks to our loyal clients. We appreciate you very much!

Past Newsletters - Click Here