Oceania Mediterranean Cruise

   Just returned from an Oceania Mediterranean Cruise.  What a great vacation.  The selection of ports was fantastic.  We only had to tender into one port.  The schedule was such that we arrived early and sailed late.  This gave us time to tour, sightsee on our own and shop without feeling rushed.  In Monte Carlo, many people went back at night to see the town lit up like a Christmas tree.  The food was amazing and Oceania offers a wide selection including vegetarian and Canyon Ranch spa cuisine selections.  We also dined at the 2 specialty restaurants without paying any surcharge.  In fact there were no surcharges for a lot of extras such as cappuccinos, lattes, sodas or bottled waters to take on our sightseeing excursions.  We also avoided the overcrowded port syndrome.  Because Oceania ships carry fewer passengers than the large cruise lines, and because we arrived early in the day, before other cruise ships, there were not as many cruise passengers touring each port as sometimes happens.  And did I mention its all country club casual.  No need for fancy clothes or dinner jackets.
 
   We have some great specials with Oceania for 2012 including a 10 day cruise on the brand new Riviera in August with free airfare, free pre-hotel stay, free gratuities and shipboard credit.  Call me at 800-622-3533 or email francine@travelharmony.com for more information or to receive a brochure or DVD.

In 2012 Austria will celebrate the 150th birthday of Gustav Klimt

Klimt and the Birth of Modernism in Vienna

In 2012 one of Austria's greatest painters would have celebrated his 150th birthday: Gustav Klimt (1862–1918). His paintings, in particular The Kiss – one of the world's best-known images – are rightly seen as epitomizing the spirit of optimism that heralded the dawn of the modernist era.

The Kiss, 1907/08

Beethoven Frieze (cut-out), 1902

Fritza Riedler, 1906

High culture of all genres gravitated towards Vienna at around 1900. Exciting and pioneering discoveries were being made in the world of literature, visual arts, architecture and music with an intensity hardly seen elsewhere. In 1910 Vienna had a population of two million, making it the world's fifth largest city and the uncontested cultural capital of Central Europe. Gustav Klimt's pictures reflect the artistic and scientific discoveries and developments that shaped the period. His oeuvre charts the course from the Ringstrasse era to the early days of abstraction: influenced by Hans Makart, the defining Viennese painter of the late 19^th century, Klimt, his brother Ernst, and Franz Matsch accepted a number of commissions to decorate buildings on Vienna's showpiece Ringstrasse boulevard. The staircases of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Burgtheater are two outstanding examples of their work. Klimt's creative output and the style he developed in later years paved the way for his younger contemporaries, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

To make your travel plans, contact Travel Harmony.  We offer a variety of planned tours and independent programs to fit every budget.

Cruise the Mediterranean in 2012 aboard the Oceania Marina

We invite you to take advantage of this Travel Harmony Exclusive:

Free Air, 2 for 1 pricing, Gratuities included, Free Hotel; shipboard Credit

Aboard Oceania Cruises' New Riviera

Visit Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Portofino, Saint Tropez and more

Fine dining under the direction of Master Chef Jacques Pepin

Open Seating; Variety of venues; no charges for specialty restaurants

We sail August 23, 2012.  Call today. You don’t want to miss the boat!

800-622-3533 or 703-726-6346

  

 

Barcelona - A Popular Port on Fall Cruises

Check out the recent post on Barcelona on.  A Popular port on the upcoming Season for Med cruises:  http://www.facebook.com/AustraliaNewZealandTravel#!/TravelHarmony

TRAVEL AGENT'S - BETTER THAN EVER

SEE THE SUNDAY WASHINGTON POST TRAVEL SECTION.  Today Nancy Trejos talks about the return of the Travel Agent.  When the airlines stopped paying commission, travel agents suddenly found themselves struggling to survive.  According to Nancy Trejos, of the Washington Post, they had to "change their modus operandi."   It was either that, or close their doors.  Nancy quotes ARC in stating there wre 37,981 travel agencies in 2001 and only16,564 ARC agencies as of this March. 

Of course, that is not the entire story.  Many of today's successful agencies are home based according to the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).   These agencies do not issue individual airline tickets but provide airline services in connection with tour and cruise arrangements.  They would not belong to ARC.  The truth is, today's consumers are seeking more than just a ticketing agent.  They want a professional who can offer them advice about a complete range of topics from what to see and do, where to find great restaurants how to get a good deal on a hotel room, and where they can find a great guide who will show them the things the average tourist never sees.  To read the complete article go to:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/travelers-turn-back-to-travel-agents/2011/04/25/AFZcLM8F_story.html

Travel Agents are not for everyone.  Some people like to build their own houses and fix their own cars.  Others prefer to plan their own trips.  For those who appreciate service, a Travel Agent is always there for you.

For More information on using the services of a travel agent, refer to my March 16 Article "Why You Need A Travel Agent".

Taking the Grandkids on Vacation

Every summer Grandparents around the country decide to take their grandchildren on vacation.  Cruises are always a popular vacation.  Lots and lots of activities for children of all ages.  Beaches resorts in the Caribbean cater to familes with children.  These resorts offer supervised kids programs for five different age levels. Here dining becomes a celebration, with up to 10 specialty restaurants per resort.  Leave your wallet at home, but bring your appetite, because it's all included from the non-motorized activities to the food and drink. They even include the gratuities. 

For the little ones there are nannies and Sesame Street Characters.  For the older kids there's XBox and Pirates Island.  Your teenagers will find a teens-only Beach Shack. Or they can hang at Trench Town with everything from hoops to football. And, just like you'd expect in the Caribbean, there are non-stop reggae jams to keep them moving with the beat and a teen night club.  Visit http://travelharmony.com/caribbean.html 

Scroll down and click on Beaches.  Or give us a call.

Intercontinental Bora Bora Le Moana receives Earthcheck Silver Certification

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