Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/4253
Black Meetings & Tourism October/November 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 For cost-efficient travel, it's hard to beat going by boat. The key advantage, of course, is the all-inclusiveness of a cruise. On a similar trip by another mode, you'd pay a lot more for lodging, meals and transportation — not to mention just some of the activities you get aboard ship for free. "We just did a cruise group to Europe last summer," says Betty Price, owner of Kola Nut Travel & Tours in Inglewood, California, who notes that about 20 per- cent of the passengers on the ship were African- American. "Given the cost to travel to Europe now and to eat and lay your head in a two-star hotel, it's probably three times as much as it would cost on a cruise. " In fact, prices for that 12-day European cruise, exclusive of air fare, started at just $850 per person based on double occupancy in an inside cabin. Early booking discounts, group rate discounts and special perks can make a cruise an even sweeter deal. Booking eight cabins will usually qualify you for the group rate, with a free berth thrown in for the group leader. You get another free cabin if you book twice the minimum, and so on. You may have to have a min- imum of two passengers per cabin to get this perk, and it does not include port charges, taxes and other fees. Other possible freebies for your group include a cock- tail party, wine, dinners, photos and the use of a meet- ing room. To give your group members a chance to save the date — and perhaps save up for the trip — start plan- ning early. Also, the sooner you book your cruise, the more choice you'll have in picking staterooms and din- ing times. "I would say you need to start at least a year out nowadays, because the ships are filling up," Price says. Don't count on snapping up one of those last- minute deals you're always hearing about. According to Price, they're actually pretty scarce these days. And before you reserve space for your group on the ship, make sure everyone on your list is committed to going. "They start asking you for names really quickly when that ship starts filling up," Price warns. "Then, once it fills up, you can't change the names." Another important cruise planning caveat: Know your group and its budget. "You may want to sail on Silversea [a luxury liner], but your people have money for Carnival," Price says. With a realistic assessment of what your group will enjoy and can afford, you can avoid what happened to one of Price's cruise clients. "We had a situation where a woman had 31 people going on a three-day cruise . . . and 17 people cancelled," she says. Don't set sail without protection — travel insur- ance, that is. "Some people come in here and don't want to get travel insurance," Price says. "I say, 'If you don't want to get travel insurance, I suggest you not go.' It's as simple as that, because things happen all the time." Just remember that even with travel insurance, you may not get your full deposit back if you cancel. If you're not up to planning your own group cruise, consider joining one of the popular theme cruises designed to appeal to African-American travelers. Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage® sails to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and the Bahamas in May 2010. The National Professionals Network has a Dubai cruise in the works for April 2010, followed by a Caribbean cruise in August. Festival at Sea will embark on an excursion to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia in December 2010. Whether you want to be at the helm of planning your trip or you'd rather let someone else be the cap- tain of the details, cruising can be an affordable, con- venient and relaxing way to travel. SONYA STINSON CRUISING TO A GREAT TRAVEL BARGAIN BY SONYA STINSON