Cruising with Ease – Accessible Seas and Autism Programs

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is highly rated for cruisers with special needs. Disabilities can be permanent, temporary, visible or invisible. One out of Five people in the U.S. have disabilities. That accounts for about 56 million people in the U.S.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has made getting on and off the ship easy for those with mobility disabilities. They offer pier assistance, tender assistance and accessible transfers. Although Royal Caribbean does have a few wheelchairs available on board, it is recommended you bring your own. They should be stored in your room when not in use. They also work with Providers: Special Needs at Sea and Care Vacations if wheelchairs or scooters are needed.

Special needs should be brought up at the time of booking your cruise. They provide sign language interrupters for main production shows, major activities and presentations. If you are in need of special diets, dialysis, or oxygen, Royal Caribbean offers all of these services as well for the traveler by request.

For visual impairments, service animals are welcomed on all Royal Caribbean ships. There are designated relief areas provided for your service animal on the ship. Braille is incorporated in public areas and elevators. Large print menus and cruise compasses are also available.

Accessible Staterooms are available with wider doors, automatic doors on Radiance and Quantum class, Roll-in showers, Grab bars, lowered sink and vanity, raised toilet seats – 17-19″, and lowered closet rods and safes.

Quantum of the Seas has 34 accessible staterooms. All include automatic entry doors, roll-in showers and bathtubs, and the accessible interior staterooms have virtual balconies.

“Easy” tours are designed for guests with limited mobility. When it comes to booking your shore excursions you will note the “easy” or wheelchair symbol for your shore excursion. You will want to be sure to request your tour 10 days prior to sailing: 21 days for private excursions.

Alaska cruise tours have accessible motor coaches and railcars. Railcars feature accessible seating with wheelchair lifts to both levels and have an accessible restroom as well.

Royal Caribbean International is the first cruise line to be certified as “Autism Friendly” by Autism on the Seas. The “Autism Friendly” certification recognizes Royal Caribbean’s efforts to make sure their products and services are accessible by guests with autism. Currently Royal Caribbean has achieved a Bronze Certification with “Autism Friendly” and plan completion of the Silver Certification by end of 2014. Silver Certification means that they will begin autism awareness training with their Adventure Ocean staff on-board.

Autism Friendly Features include:

Priority check-in, boarding and departure
Gluten-free and other special dietary offerings
Adventure Ocean flexible age grouping
Adventure Ocean toilet-trained policy exemption
Pagers for parents of children in Adventure Ocean

New Autism Friendly Features include:

Autism Friendly Films
Autism Friendly Toy Lending
Autism Friendly Activities
Cruising Social Story

To book your trip today:
All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
415.384.3880

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Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas out of Galveston, TX

Recently I experienced the 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise out of Galveston. Stayed in a room with a balcony, which I highly recommend. I’ve always stayed in interior rooms, but really enjoyed the balcony and probably won’t sail again unless I am in a balcony room.

As always on a cruise, the staff that waited on us were great! We had a great crew that cleaned our room and knew our schedule pretty well. Then the dining room wait staff was great and very helpful with our special needs with food allergies. Of course we alerted the maitre d’ on the first night and they were consistent in meeting our needs.

Our first stop was in Roatan, Honduras. Roatan is home to the second-largest coral reefs in the world. Our shore excursion we chose was the Shipwreck Snorkel & Beach. We took a ride out to a remote private island and met our guides at the Fantasy Island Beach Resort, which was beautiful.

Fantasy Island

Then the following day we were in Belize City, Belize. Belize City was founded in the 1700’s by former pirates. Home to lush tropical rainforest and the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. We visited the ancient Mayan city of Altun Ha, which was once a major trading center before the Europeans arrived. Afterwards we took a boat ride along the coast on the River Wallace.

Altun Ha and River Wallace

Our final stop was Cozumel, Mexico where we did an underwater Helmet dive.

Tips on lowering your risk of being a victim of petty theft or non-violent crimes while away from home:

1. Leave your valuables and irreplaceable items inside your stateroom safe.
2. Avoid wearing flashy and obviously expensive jewelery.
3. Carry only the cash or credit cards you will need on each of your outings.
4. Use discretion when handling cash in public.
5. Keep your belongings secure and out of sight.

To book your trip today:
All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
415.384.3880

5 things to love about the revamped Carnival Sunshine

ABOARD THE CARNIVAL SUNSHINE — Like other cruise lines, industry giant Carnival regularly refreshes its ships every few years in dry dock. But what it did this year to the 17-year-old Carnival Destiny — now renamed Carnival Sunshine — was different.

Originally unveiled in 1996, the 3,006-passenger vessel was taken out of service for several months for an unprecedented, $155 million makeover that saw huge swaths of its public areas gutted and rebuilt — an overhaul so complete that, in many ways, it makes it a whole new ship.

Thinking about giving the newly revamped Sunshine a try? Here, five things to love about it (for a more expanded view of its many features, look for a Cruise Log photo tour coming in the next few weeks):

1. WaterWorks. You don’t have to be a child to appreciate the appeal of this new sprawling water play area — one of the largest at sea. Looming above the rear of the ship, WaterWorks offers three water slides that rival anything found at a land-based resort: The scream-a-minute, 334-foot-long Twister, and dual racing slides that together are called the Speedway Splash. There also is a splash zone aimed at the littlest tots and a 150-gallon “dump bucket” that sends water cascading over a wide area when you least expect it. In short: Prepare to be soaked.

READ MORE: 5 things to love about the revamped Carnival Sunshine

Disney’s Galveston cruises start in September

By STEVE MacNAULL
Special Contributor
Published: 26 July 2012 05:39 PM

 

Mickey and Minnie Mouse are coming to Texas, and they’re bringing a big boat with them.

Starting Sept. 22, Disney Cruise Line will sail round trip from Galveston on six-, seven- and eight-night western Caribbean itineraries.

When Disney had only two cruise ships — Magic and Wonder — its home port was Port Canaveral, Fla., near Orlando’s Disney World. Now that the company has four ships, with Dream launched last year and Fantasy earlier this year, it has more options.

“Texas was a natural expansion point for us,” says Disney Cruise Line marketing manager Jennifer Haile-Tinn.

“Texas is an incredible supporter of Disneyland, Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. This brings one component of all that closer.”
Read More: Disney’s Galveston cruises start in September

New Steamboat Cruise Line Adopts New Name

(1:20 p.m. EDT) –A mere three months into its first cruise season, The Great American Steamboat Co., which in April launched the newly refurbished American Queen, announces today it will change its name. Effective July 1, the one-ship cruise line will be called American Queen Steamboat Co.

Though the company spent a great deal of time and money to get the Great American Steamboat Co. name out there, Tim Rubacky, senior vice president of marketing, told Cruise Critic that once the American Queen came out, the line realized the ship was actually its brand image.

Read More: New Steamboat Cruise Line Adopts New Name

Plan Your Trip Today:

All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
info [at] allabout-travel.com
405.384.3880

• The revival of the American Queen – steamboating the Heartland of America

• Inaugural of the American Queen Steamboat

• Kentucky Derby on the American Queen steamboat

New Carnival cruise ship, Breeze, to debut this weekend

Industry giant Carnival today took delivery of its newest cruise ship, the 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze.

Under construction for nearly two years at the Fincantieri shipyard near Trieste, Italy, the 130,000-ton vessel is scheduled to set sail on its maiden voyage on Sunday — a 12-night Mediterranean sailing out of Venice.

With its addition, the line will have 24 ships at sea.

Read More: New Carnival cruise ship, Breeze, to debut this weekend

Carnival Breeze joins the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet

Carnival Cruise Lines got its hands on its newest ship, the Carnival Breeze, in a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

The 130,000-ton, 3,600-passenger sister ship to the Carnival Magic and Carnival Dream becomes the 24th cruise ship in the line’s fleet. It will now head off on its inaugural cruise from Venice on June 3, sailing Mediterranean itineraries until this fall when it repositions to the Port of Miami.

“Carnival Breeze represents the continued evolution of our product, offering a huge array of branded experiences for our guests and inviting public spaces each with its own personality and character, all enhanced by the spirited fun that makes a Carnival cruise so memorable,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.

It begins year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises out of Miami beginning Nov. 24, making it the largest Carnival ship to sail out of a South Florida port. The six-day sailings will visit Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Nassau, The Bahamas. The eight-day sailings will alternate between a southern Caribbean itinerary featuring Grand Turk, La Romana (Dominican Republic), Curacao and Aruba. An eastern Caribbean route will visit St. Thomas/St. John, Antigua, Tortola and Nassau.

Read More and watch virtual tour: Carnival Breeze delivered: New Carnival Cruise Lines ship to make debut

 

 

To plan your trip today:

All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
info [at] allabout-travel.com
405.384.3880

About All About Travel

Opened in 1978, All About Travel is located in the Oklahoma City area.  We are a family owned and operated company that has strived to provide our clients with the highest quality of service for more than 30 years.  Our agents can arrange all your travel needs from the individual hotel and/or car reservation to an around the world cruise.  Nothing is out of reach.

We can help plan your honeymoon, your destination wedding or the much needed getaway for two.  Don’t forget about your business, we can handle all the travel needs for your company as well.  Anything from an airline flight and hotel for a meeting or all the planning needed for your next company-wide seminar.  We can arrange hotel space for all attendees and meeting rooms for all purposes.

Our agents travel to many destinations on FAM trips (Familiarization trips) these trips are designed by tour operators and cruise lines to make certain that travel agents are up-to-date on popular destinations and cruise ships.

So the next time you need to, or better yet, want to travel…Let us help, it’s what we do.

• Start Packing Travel Insurance

• Travel agents versus self-navigation online travel services

• Sea Kayak up close and personal with Killer Whales – Adventure giveaway WINNER!

Carnival: Sea trials for new cruise ship, Breeze, a success

The construction of industry giant Carnival’s next cruise ship passed a major milestone in recent days as the vessel successfully completed sea trials off the coast of Italy.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze, which will be one of the line’s biggest ships ever when it debuts in June, hurdled a battery of standard tests while sailing under its own power in the Adriatic Sea, the line says. A contingent of officers, technicians and engineers were aboard the vessel.

The 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze has been under construction for nearly two years at the Fincantieri shipyard near Trieste, Italy.

Read MORE: Carnival: Sea trials for new cruise ship, Breeze, a success

 

To plan your trip today:

All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
info [at] allabout-travel.com
405.384.3880

Riverboat cruising returns to the Mississippi with American Queen

By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

As the American Queen paddle wheeler steams toward the city early one morning last week, all eyes turn toward Richard and Suzanne Martinez, who are strolling onto the boat’s forward deck resplendent in antebellum finery.

She’s a sweet Southern belle in hoop skirt hoisting a floral parasol. He’s a riverboat dandy in broad-brimmed planter’s hat and rhinestone horseshoe pin. Suzanne bought the get-ups on eBay to wear on the occasion of the venerated steamboat’s return to the river for the first time since 2008. But the Tavares, Fla., retirees figure they’ll get plenty of wear out of the costumes as they pursue and wave at riverboats from the banks of the upper Mississippi.

“We’ve been doing it for years,” Suzanne says.

“So, you’re, like, steamboat stalkers?” asks a fellow passenger unacquainted with the proclivities of hard-core riverboat fans.

Read More: Riverboat cruising returns to the Mississippi with American Queen

Plan Your Trip Today:

All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
info [at] allabout-travel.com
405.384.3880

• The revival of the American Queen – steamboating the Heartland of America

• Inaugural of the American Queen Steamboat

• Making all her dreams come true, yours too with extreme adventure and travel

Travel Tidbits – The world’s weirdest festivals

Event Name: Baby Jumping Festival
Start Date: Wednesday, 6 June 2012
End Date: Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Venue: Castrillo de Murcia
Country: Spain
Category: Feast & Carnival

The world’s weirdest festivals
Some of the world’s most bizarre festivals, from tomato throwing to baby jumping… Telegraph (London)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Find Perfect Pork Dumplings in San Francisco
One thing that is an absolute can’t-leave-until-you-do-it priority–find an awesome Chinese restaurant… Conde Nast Traveler

 

 

 

Top five adventure cruise ideas
A new type of cruise has been gaining popularity amongst holiday makers with more adventurous spirits… Fox Travel News

 

 

 

Unsavory truths about airplane food
The cold, stale truth is out — “tasting good” is not a top priority for airline caterers, but rather food safety… CNN

 

 

 

 

Italy’s New High-Speed Train
It may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but Italy’s new Italo–which connects Turin and Salerno, as well as Rome and Venice–sure looks like one… Travel and Leisure

 

 

 

Child-free flying? Airline pulls April Fool’s prank
Feeling exhausted at just the thought of flying with children? Canadian airline WestJet proposed a humorous alternative in this April Fool’s commercial… MSN.com

 

All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
info [at] allabout-travel.com
405.384.3880

• Travel Tidbits – Love bluegrass music? This cruise is for you

• Year of the Golden Gate Bridge

• Making all her dreams come true, yours too with extreme adventure and travel

Rock band Kiss to play Norwegian Cruise Line ship

By Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Fans of the rock band Kiss are getting another chance this year to set sail with the group.

Music cruise organizer Sixthman has announced plans for a second all-Kiss-all-the-time extravaganza at sea to take place this fall on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl.

The four-night Kiss Kruise II will kick off on Oct. 31 in Miami and include a call at Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. It comes just a year after the first Kruise, which took place last October.

Read More:   Rock band Kiss to play Norwegian Cruise Line ship

All About Travel
6104 Northwest 63
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
info [at] allabout-travel.com
405.384.3880

About All About Travel

Opened in 1978, All About Travel is located in the Oklahoma City area.  We are a family owned and operated company that has strived to provide our clients with the highest quality of service for more than 30 years.  Our agents can arrange all your travel needs from the individual hotel and/or car reservation to an around the world cruise.  Nothing is out of reach.

We can help plan your honeymoon, your destination wedding or the much needed getaway for two.  Don’t forget about your business, we can handle all the travel needs for your company as well.  Anything from an airline flight and hotel for a meeting or all the planning needed for your next company-wide seminar.  We can arrange hotel space for all attendees and meeting rooms for all purposes.

Our agents travel to many destinations on FAM trips (Familiarization trips) these trips are designed by tour operators and cruise lines to make certain that travel agents are up-to-date on popular destinations and cruise ships.

So the next time you need to, or better yet, want to travel…Let us help, it’s what we do.

• Travel Tidbits – Love bluegrass music? This cruise is for you

• Year of the Golden Gate Bridge

• Making all her dreams come true, yours too with extreme adventure and travel