We are thrilled to share with you the launch of Buy the Sea's new website, www.buysea.net. Just click and take a moment to enjoy our new look. You will find a page for each of our cruise line and hotel partners, along with links to their corporate websites, ship and resort reviews, press releases, and news. We have included our preferred DMC companies as well. We will continually add information, so check back often. We'd love to hear from you, so if you have any feedback please share it with us. Lastly, we would be delighted to add your glowing testimonial - so if you would like to send one to us, we will happily publish it on the site!
Our e-mail addresses remain the same. Please make note of the following:
Shari Wallack - shari@buy-the-sea.comLina Oliu-Flores - lina@buy-the-sea.com
Caryn Rosenthal - caryn@buy-the-sea.com
Sandy Cohen - sandy@buy-the-sea.com
Juan Moreau - Juan@buy-the-sea.com
Any other addresses you have for us (comcast and bellsouth) work as well, but these are our official addresses.
Remember, Buy The Sea is not just cruises! We have partnered with many hotel, resort and destination management companies around the world to bring you some unique choices for your programs. Let us take you to Aruba, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica, California, Hawaii, to an upscale Dude Ranch or on an African Safari. We have international travel partners located in Ireland, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Turkey - just to name a few. So many great destinations - just one call!
Additionally, we are proud to announce that Buy The Sea has just been certified as a Women Owned Business by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.
News from Windstar Cruises:
As you have likely heard, Windstar Cruises was sold to Ambassadors International. The turnover happened this week in Europe. At this point, the product, intineraries, crew contract, etc. remain in tact. Prior to the sale, the ships were supposed to change to an EU flag, allowing the ships to cruise r/t Athens to the Greek Isles. The new ownership has kept the ships Bahamain flagged - making those itineraries impossible. The cruise line will likely continue to do many Athens-Istanbul sailings, as they have always been a hot commodity. 2008 schedules remain as published. We will wait to see what Windstar has in store for us in 2009. Click here to read a review of the newly-renovated Windsurf.
News from Europe:
We have added several new DMCs to our portfolio. With so much interest in Ireland, the team at Ovation is ready to put together a fantastic program for any size group.
Our partners in Portugal (Plano Events) are dynamite and will show your group the best of Lisbon, Porto, Madeira and beyond. We recently visited Lisbon and the surrounding areas and were suprised to see what a terrific (and sometimes forgotten) destination this is for an incentive. With so many former monestaries, palaces and castles - there are endless venues for private and unique functions. Known for its wine and port, this country can throw some unforgettable parties and tours. Host a private tile painting class and bring home your own work of art. Enjoy cuilinary demonstrations. Explore the gorgeous countryside and the seaside towns of Estoril, Sintra and Cascais. Best of all, with spectacular weather - travel off-peak and enjoy some tremendous bargains. Our partners at Plano Events are waiting to welcome you to Portugal.
Remember however, that the euro is at an all-time high. This month we saw exchange rates of $1.40 USD to the euro. This makes taking a cruise, especially in peak season, even more alluring and certainly more affordable. You lock in the cruise rate today (in US dollars) with no risk of your rate changing when your program operates a year or two from now. Don't forget about river cruises for those clients who seem to want a land program and don't realize riverships are an option.
News from Celebrity Cruises:
The new Celebrity Journey and Quest will actually sail under the name Azamara Cruises - with the ships now referred to as the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest. (Click here to read the press release.) Although normally scheduled for 10-14 night voyages, these ships can be chartered for shorter sailings.
News from Royal Caribbean International:
For those clients looking for seven night summer sailings in the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean AND fiver nighers to Bermuda, remember that RCCL keeps several of their biggest and newest products in North America. Choose from the new Liberty of the Seas, the Freedom of the Seas, the Adventure of the Seas and the Explorer of the Seas. Don't forget the Navigator of the Seas sailing those much-sought-after four and five night sailings round trip Barcelona from the end of April through the end of June 2008 and beyond. You cannot beat these rates! This is the best deal in the Med. If you are looking for Canada/New England, RCCL will sail five and seven night itineraries r/t Boston in September and October 2008.
Liberty of the Seas launches this month. Sister to the Freedom, this ship is completely wireless with all the bells and whistles you have come to expect from this very adventurous cruise line. She will sail r/t from Miami year 'round. When Independence of the Seas arrives in November 2008, she will sail six and eight night programs out of Fort Lauderdale through the middle of April 2009. Her summers will be spent in Europe.
Voyager of the Seas will sail r/t Galveston to the Western Caribbean from December 2008 through April 2009.
News from Regent Seven Seas Cruises:
It appears that the Paul Gauguin will continue to ply the waters of Tahiti in 2009. If you are looking for group or charter space, let us know. Don't miss out on a chance to visit this exotic destination. In 2008, we were able to sign deals for five-night charters in Tahiti - so it is even easier to bring this unique product in at budget for your next incentive charter. Additionally, the Seven Seas Navigator has come back from an extensive renovation. Our team had the chance to tour the ship and she looks brand new. All carpeting and soft goods were replaced. The colors are so much prettier than the original. Navigator now has lots of blue and beige coloring with pleasing patterns and designs. All suites are equipped with their own espresso machines as well as a stocked bar (soft drinks and bottled liquor). The floors have been sanded and polished, so the decks and public rooms look terrific. The best refit by far was the removal of a little used observation lounge, which was converted into a brand new fitness center. This allowed the company to enlarge the spa and relaxation areas. This is the perfect ship for a group or charter of up to 490 passengers. Remember, RSSC has the most upscale product in Alaska - the Seven Seas Mariner, carrying just 700 guests. That ship will undergo a similar renovation shortly. Keep RSSC in mind for sailings in the Baltic, Med and Aegean. With enough notice, this cruise line will happily charter their ships for any length sailings. Remember, RSSC is now an all-inclusive product. Liquor, once an optional package is now included on every sailing. There is one difference in how this product formerly operated however. Bar set ups are no longer placed in standard accommodations. Instead, you can have a drink at any bar or restaurant - or have one or more delivered to your stateroom. If you would like an entire bottle of something, you just need to ask and it will be delivered. There is not limit to how much you can order.
News from NCL:
Norwegian Cruise Lines is pulling the Pride of Hawaii out of the Hawaii market and putting it in Europe beginning in the Spring of 2008. The ship will be renamed the Norwegian Jade, but will cater to the UK market. Without a casino (causing losses of onboard revenue) and the fact that they must highly compensate their US crew - Hawaii may not have been the lucrative market NCL thought it would be. Committing three ships to the seven night r/t Honolulu run might have been overly ambitious. Groups previously booked on the Pride of Hawaii will be accommodated on either the Pride of Aloha or Pride of America with each stateroom receiving a $50 onboard credit.
Trade Shows in 2007:
Please visit us at the following:
Direct Selling Association - June in San Diego
FICP Forum - June in Dana Point
Incentive Works - August in Toronto - mark your calendars for our annual event at Brassai on Tuesday, August 21
ITME - September in Chicago
FICP Annual Conference - November in Scottsdale
