Travels – through life and memories

While I generally blog here about travels I am going to digress just a bit today. It will still be about travels, but of a different kind.

Over the last 37 years we’ve amassed a lot of stuff. Kid stuff, business stuff, pictures and stuff (and when you’ve got a professional photographer as a father there are LOTS of pictures), military stuff, Air Force stuff, kid’s toy stuff, sewing stuff, family heirloom stuff… well, you get the picture. We have LOTS of stuff. And we live in the same house we bought when we had no children in 1977, and so we have had a storage room at Hide-Away Storage for a long time because there are some things we just can’t part with!

While Sonja & I have traveled extensively across America, the Caribbean, Asia, and I’ve enjoyed Europe and Alaska that isn’t what brought me to today’s thoughts. You see, it is really about boxes of memories.

37 years ago today Sonja was living in Iowa at her parent’s home in Chariton. She, just months out of college as a graduate of Olivet Nazarene College in Bourbonnais, IL, was making the final plans and arrangements for our wedding on October 16th. I was living in what would become OUR apartment in Swartz Creek, MI while traveling around Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky as the Regional Sales Manager for Dallas & Mavis Forwarding Company. Traveling…

After our wedding we headed out for our honeymoon to Lake Otsego and Gaylord, Michigan via Danville and Bourbonnais, IL and then Appleton, WI and the Upper Peninsula. Traveling…

Remember that storage space I talked about? Well, today we moved our stuff from a big one to one a little less big. After my lovely bride sorted through a lot of our stuff we loaded a couple of loads into the SUV and took it to the church for a youth sponsored yard sale. And, so, with less stuff to store we could move into a smaller space. And, while helping Sonja make the move today, I got to look at some of those things we’ve held onto for the sake of memories.

And some of the memories were pretty emotional. As I was sorting through some framed photos one of those I found was the frame of Allen’s USAF Basic Training photo with a signature frame around it. On that white frame are comments and best wishes and promises of prayer and fond memories. As I stood there looking at that picture and reading those well wishes I thought back to my time in the Air Force 30 years earlier of his, of the trips I took, and of my son’s travel to Iraq and Germany and Scotland. Of his excellence as an air traffic controller in the Air Force, and his travels from here, to Texas, to Louisiana, to Idaho, to Iraq, back to Florida, to Oklahoma, and now to California. And how much we miss him here, but how proud we are of his development at Oakland Center with the FAA. Travels…

Looking through a box marked “Ed” I find a lot of my material from my 6 years in the Air Force. Among that material was an envelope with post cards from my trip to Greece in 1972. What an incredible trip that was to Greece and Spain as we worked with our NATO allies. Travels…

Sonja has her Great-Grandmother Stanger’s White Sewing machine made c1919. Allyssa brought this back from Iowa several years ago when she was a senior at Olivet and she had my little pick-up truck at school. After going to Grandma Hixson’s she brought her mother her hope chest and this sewing machine. So, the 3rd generation lady has this sewing machine now after it traveled from Iowa to Illinois and down to us in Florida.  While Allyssa was in college at Olivet she was, indeed, far away.  But she came back for spring break every year, for Christmas, she traveled to Grandma Hixson’s for Thanksgiving, and I would help her move up and back at the beginning and end of each school year.  And each of those trips has special memories for Dad and his Princess.  Travels…

You see, while we love to travel, and we love to help people travel. sometimes the best travels are those that are memories. Memories of things we’ve done, memories of the successes and travels of our children, and memories of the places we been and the things we’ve done – even when that was a long time ago.

Sometimes it is good to just sort through some of our stuff and reflect on the places we’ve been and how those things became so important to us. And, then, when you do travel the next time (and we sure hope you’ll have Maltese Cross Travel help you make your reservations) and your bring back a few things from wherever it is your travel, rest in knowing that at some point in the future you’ll look at those and it will elicit a memory and bring a small… or even a tear.

Passport – Do I Really Need One?

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is whether or not I need a passport.  And, almost without fail I answer yes.  And here’s why.

First, let’s understand what a passport really is, and then maybe we’ll better understand the value of this little blue book.  A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies the identity and nationality of its holder for the purpose of international travel.  All standardized passports contains all of the elements of identity that include information about the holder including name, date of birth, gender and place of birth.  Now, while the passport was originally designed for international travel today I often use my passport when traveling throughout the US because it makes travel through airports and the TIA that much easier.

While there are a lot of benefits of having your passport, especially in international travel, you need to know a couple of things.  And, these are why we so often recommend that you take a passport with you on a cruise, even though it isn’t required, and I’ll address that more in a minute.

A passport does not of itself entitle the passport holder entry into another country, nor to consular protection while abroad nor any other privileges.  It does, however, normally entitle the passport holder to return to the country that issued the passport.  Rights to consular protection arise from international treaties, while the bearer’s right to return to the passport’s country of issue depends on the laws of the issuing country.

As a general rule, here are some passport requirements when traveling:

• You aren’t required to travel with a passport if you will department from a US port and will return to the same US port
• A valid passport is a requirement for air travel to / from Canada, Mexico the Caribbean and Bermuda
• For international travel, a valid passport is required and visas are required where they apply.  This includes Europe, Asia, Central and South America.  For additional passport information, visit www.travel.state.gov.

Over the last several years the rules for passport usage has really changed.  The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), fully implemented in June, 2009 requires all travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a valid passport or other approved document that establishes the bearer’s identity and citizenship in order to enter or reenter the United States.   Effective June 1, 2009 only a valid passport (unless otherwise noted in the link below) or other WHTI compliant document will be accepted for entry or re-entry into the United States.

For a list of all approved documents visit: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_2223.html

But here’s the good news for our cruise passengers who travel from US ports.  US citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the US) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate and laminated government issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth.  A US citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notarized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Now, while that is good news, please take note: Baptismal papers and hospital certificates of birth are not acceptable. Voter registration cards or Social Security cards are not considered proof of citizenship.

If you are not a US citizen, you will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa.  If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or “Green Card”) and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status.  The time to get this together is not the week before your cruise.  Please plan ahead because the restrictions at the port are very strict.  They can’t bend the rules on these!!

All of the cruise lines strongly recommend that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise.  This greatly assists guests who may need to fly out of the United States to meet their ship at the next available port should they miss their scheduled embarkation in a U.S. port; guests entering the U.S. at the end of their cruise; and guests needing to fly to the U.S. before their cruise ends, because of medical, family, personal or business emergencies, missing a ship’s departure from a port of call, involuntary disembarkation from a ship due to misconduct, or other reasons.

Guests who need to fly to the United States before their cruise ends will likely experience significant delays and complications related to booking airline tickets and entering the United States if they do not have a valid U.S. passport with them.

If you are planning a cruise in Europe or the Mediterranean then a passport is a necessity – but that’s a different story!

There’s a quick overview on passports for your cruise travel – Maltese Cross Travel strongly recommends you travel with your passport.  You may never need it to re-enter the country, but if you do you will never regret it!

If you want more information about cruise travel, whether in the Caribbean or European River Cruising, please complete the firm below, or visit http://www.MalteseCrossTravel.com  

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Why Call A Travel Advisor?

First you will note that I called myself a “travel advisor” and not a travel agent.  As we look through this week’s blog will answer that, and give you some more information, too.  And, because we focus on cruise travel (Caribbean, ocean, and river cruising) that’s what we will concentrate on here, too.

We have often been asked why someone interested in going on a cruise or other vacation would need to contact a travel agent.  Actually, with all of the options available to travelers today.  There are on line mass marketers where you can choose from hundreds of cruises and other vacation options.  And then there are the individual business’s web sites.  These sites offer the basic information that a traveler needs to know about an itinerary, date, and price.  But, what do you know about whether this is the vacation that best fits you and your family and your vacation desires?

There is no way that a web site can understand all of the features of a ship and what it can offer you and your family.  What activities do that have for your children, is there a solarium or quiet place for relaxing in a hot tub or pool – only for adults, what dining arrangements does the ship offer – anytime, set time, or My Time – and what are the staterooms like and why might you want to choose a different category, are the excursions, food, wine, beer, and other amenities included or extra?  A web site can’t do that, but I can!

Earlier this year I got a call from the sister of a former colleague called me and said she was planning a trip to Europe.  She had been working on it for weeks and just couldn’t figure out what hotels to stay in, how to arrange for flights and a car, and what was required of her for this travel.  And, while this is certainly not our specialty, we were able to arrange for her hotels, flights, rental car, and travel advice for her entire trip of three weeks in the UK.

Just last week I received a call referred to me from a networking member.  This wheelchair handicapped lady was travelling to three different cities in three different countries.  She had made her flight reservations, but needed advice on hotels and travel arrangements on the rail system in Europe.  I was able to make her aware of some of the limitations for handicap accessibility in Europe, especially in the three cities she is visiting.

And, speaking of handicap travel, one of the advantages of using a trusted travel advisor that has received special training in helping those who need special assistance and equipment while on a cruise is that they can make that happen for you.  Cruise lines don’t provide electric carts, walkers, oxygen and other specialize equipment for their passengers.  But they do prefer that that type of equipment comes from a supplier that knows exactly what the cruise line will allow and accept for their handicap passengers.

There are a lot of reasons to use a trusted travel advisor, but let me specify several for you here, courtesy of the consortia to which we belong, Vacation.com, the largest travel consortia that works to get you the best trips, prices, and amenities.

As I noted earlier, one of the best part of using a trusted travel advisor is that we talk with you so that we can know what you want on your cruise or other trip.   Because we talk with you we understand where you want to go, how to get you there and the experiences you want to have, and I specifically ask those questions if you haven’t already told me.  We can’t make a good recommendation for you until we know whether you are looking for a sunny beach escape or an old-world European adventure.  And, because we deal with so many different types of cruise lines, ships, itineraries, and all inclusive resorts we recognize that no two travelers and no two trips are exactly alike.  One of the things you will appreciate it that we take the time to understand your unique travel needs, interests and desires and translate them into your own personalized travel experience.  We want to show you how you can “travel better” with us.

Another advantage is that we will use our experience and travel industry relationships to offer you exclusive vacation packages, amenities and travel specials that you won’t find anywhere, except through us, to help you get the most value for your travel budget. In a few days I will blog about our new Distinctive Vacations – incredible cruises with incredible amenities added at no extra charge!

And, while I have alluded to this in previous comments, the average traveler doesn’t understand that travel is complex.  There are hundreds of details that go into every trip.  We can guide you throughout the entire travel process, from what to pack before you leave to the best transfer to get you home safely and on time.  I’ve often said that there is a huge learning curve in the travel business.  Even though we have traveled and sailed a lot that is only a part of it.  We use our education and experience to provide you with insider tips and advice on everything from tours and timing, to how to find a secret snorkeling cove or out-of-the way cafe.  We’ll even make your restaurant reservations, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your getaway.

We don’t just want you to book your vacation on an incredible cruise to the Eastern Caribbean or a European River Cruise or Hawaii with us – your interests are our priority.  Unlike any resort or airline, we can tell you the best route or price from competing travel companies, and all of the best options for YOU.   We are here for you to make sure your valuable vacation time is not wasted on logistics!

Travel is our passion and our work.  It’s what we do every day.  We have been to many of the destinations, resorts, off-the beaten path excursions and planned trips to the destinations you want to experience.  Our first-hand travel experience, education, and ongoing training make us travel experts who can make sure your trip turns out just the way you imagine, every time.

We are proud that we are certified specialists and have completed extensive training on destinations, and cruise lines, hotels, resorts, tour operators and more.  Over the years, and throughout our training, we have personally traveled to and around the destinations, sailed or inspected the ships and stayed in the hotels and resorts.  We also have specialists in niche travels areas, such as destination weddings and honeymoons, group vacations, special needs for the handicapped — and even business travel.

After reading through this it almost sounds like we’re bragging… and we are.  Because we offer all of the things that an on line site doesn’t, and yet you get the great prices, too.  We look forward to knowing that the next time you need to plan your vacation travel you’ll call us, your trusted travel advisor.  Or at least call a travel agent.