Seabourn Odyssey World Cruise Set Sail Today!

Seabourn Cruise Line's Seabourn Odyssey starts its 108 day maiden world cruise visiting 42 ports between Ft. Lauderdale and Athens in a voyage of 108 days from January 5 to April 24, 2010.

All Full World Odyssey guests stayed at overnight and attended a gala Bon Voyage Ball at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Fort Lauderdale the night before departing today. Here is the full itinerary - with color-coded special events (see below for details of each):

January 2010
5 Tuesday FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM D
6 Wednesday AT SEA
7 Thursday AT SEA
8 Friday CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA 01:00 PM - 06:00 PM D (All World Cruise Guests)
9 Saturday AT SEA
10 Sunday AT SEA
11 Monday AT SEA
12 Tuesday PUERTO CALDERA, COSTA RICA 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D (Ensemble Travel Exclusive)
13 Wednesday AT SEA
14 Thursday PUERTO QUETZAL, GUATEMALA 06:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
15 Friday AT SEA
16 Saturday ACAPULCO, MEXICO 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM D
17 Sunday AT SEA
18 Monday CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO 10:00 AM - 07:00 PM A (Full World Cruise Exclusive)
19 Tuesday AT SEA
20 Wednesday AT SEA
21 Thursday LOS ANGELES, CA, USA 07:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
22 Friday AT SEA
23 Saturday AT SEA
24 Sunday AT SEA
25 Monday AT SEA
26 Tuesday AT SEA
27 Wednesday NAWILIWILI, KAUAI, HI, USA 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
28 Thursday HONOLULU, HI, USA 08:00 AM - 11:00 PM D
29 Friday LAHAINA, MAUI, HI, USA 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM A
30 Saturday AT SEA
31 Sunday AT SEA
February 2010
1 Monday AT SEA
2 Tuesday CHRISTMAS ISLAND, KIRIBATI 08:00 AM - 01:00 PM A
3 Wednesday AT SEA
4 Thursday AT SEA
5 Friday PAPEETE, TAHITI, FR. POLYNESIA Arrive: 02:00 PM D
6 Saturday PAPEETE, TAHITI, FR. POLYNESIA Depart: 06:00 PM D
7 Sunday BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM A
8 Monday AT SEA
9 Tuesday RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM A
10 Wednesday AT SEA
11 Thursday AT SEA
12 Friday DATE LINE GOING WEST
13 Saturday AT SEA
14 Sunday RUSSELL, BAY OF ISLANDS, N.Z. 01:00 PM - 06:00 PM A
15 Monday AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM D
16 Tuesday AT SEA
17 Wednesday LYTTLETON, NEW ZEALAND 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
18 Thursday WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
19 Friday AT SEA
20 Saturday AT SEA
21 Sunday AT SEA
22 Monday MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
23 Tuesday AT SEA
24 Wednesday SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 08:00 AM - 09:00 PM D
25 Thursday SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Depart: 10:00 PM D
26 Friday AT SEA
27 Saturday AT SEA
28 Sunday AT SEA
March 2010
1 Monday CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM D
2 Tuesday AT SEA
3 Wednesday AT SEA
4 Thursday DARWIN, AUSTRALIA 01:00 PM - 06:00 PM D
5 Friday AT SEA
6 Saturday AT SEA
7 Sunday PADANG BAY, BALI, INDONESIA 07:00 AM - 10:00 PM A
8 Monday AT SEA
9 Tuesday AT SEA
10 Wednesday AT SEA -
11 Thursday MUARA, BRUNEI 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
12 Friday KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
13 Saturday AT SEA
14 Sunday AT SEA
15 Monday HONG KONG, CHINA Arrive: 08:00 AM
16 Tuesday HONG KONG, CHINA Depart: 06:00 PM D
17 Wednesday AT SEA
18 Thursday DA NANG, VIETNAM 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
19 Friday AT SEA
20 Saturday HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM Arrive: 10:00 AM D
21 Sunday HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM Depart: 03:00 PM D
22 Monday AT SEA
23 Tuesday LAEM CHABANG, THAILAND Arrive: 08:00 AM D
24 Wednesday LAEM CHABANG, THAILAND Depart: 06:00 PM D
25 Thursday SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM D
26 Friday AT SEA
27 Saturday SINGAPORE 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM D
28 Sunday AT SEA
29 Monday PHUKET ISLAND, THAILAND 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM D
30 Tuesday AT SEA
31 Wednesday AT SEA
April 2010
1 Thursday AT SEA -
2 Friday COCHIN, INDIA 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
3 Saturday AT SEA -
4 Sunday MUMBAI (BOMBAY), INDIA 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
5 Monday AT SEA
6 Tuesday AT SEA
7 Wednesday DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Arrive: 01:00 PM D
8 Thursday DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Depart: 06:00 PM D
9 Friday AT SEA
10 Saturday AT SEA
11 Sunday SALALAH, OMAN 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
12 Monday AT SEA
13 Tuesday AT SEA
14 Wednesday AT SEA
15 Thursday AT SEA
16 Friday SAFAGA (LUXOR), EGYPT Arrive: 08:00 AM D
17 Saturday SAFAGA (LUXOR), EGYPT Depart: 06:00 PM D
18 Sunday AQABA, JORDAN 07:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
19 Monday SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT 06:00 AM - 05:00 PM D
20 Tuesday SOKHNA (CAIRO), EGYPT 07:00 AM - 08:00 PM D
21 Wednesday AT SEA
22 Thursday HAIFA, ISRAEL 06:00 AM - 06:00 PM D
23 Friday AT SEA
24 Saturday PIRAEUS (ATHENS), GREECE 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM D

Then there will be five complimentary events reserved solely for guests who book the full world cruise. Those guests embarking in Los Angeles for 92 days will enjoy four of them. An additional seven ports will feature complimentary Exclusively Seabourn shoreside experiences to which all guests on board will be invited, regardless of the length of their voyages.

• The full world cruise events begin on January 18, 2010, with a spectacular catamaran cruise from tiny Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of Baja California, to seek some of the six species of whales which gather each year in the Sea of Cortez. Sailing on a comfortable catamaran, guests will pass the famed natural formation of Los Arcos, the secluded golden sands of Lover’s Beach, the resident colony of sea lions, and beyond. A naturalist guide will impart details of sea and land life, and answer questions as guests toast the starkly beautiful and biologically rich environment of the Baja Peninsula.

• On February 6, full world cruise guests will be greeted by the haunting tones of a conch-shell salute and fragrant tiare flower leis as they stroll a candlelit path into a tropical garden at Papeete, Tahiti. There, under a canopy of South Pacific stars, they will enjoy an evening of cocktails, lilting Tahitian music and a sumptuous feast capped by a rousing performance of traditional Polynesian song and dance.

• In Sydney, Australia on February 24, a private sunset dinner cruise of scenic Sydney Harbor will end alongside the city’s iconic Opera House, where guests will be escorted inside to enjoy the featured performance, before returning by the same boat to Seabourn Odyssey.

• Hong Kong will be the site of the next world cruise event on March 15. The waterside Aberdeen Marina Club will be transformed into a colorful Chinese bazaar with craftsmen’s booths, traditional fortune-tellers and calligraphers, a Chinese musical ensemble and a spectacular Lion Dance. In addition to a buffet of delectable Chinese specialties fit for an emperor, the kaleidoscopic evening will include exhibitions of Chinese Opera “face-changing,” kung fu martial arts and acrobatics.

• The dramatic climax of the world cruise exclusive events will unfold in a colorful setting on the island of Phuket on March 29. Greeted by a Thai long drum troupe, Seabourn guests will enter a Phuket Thai cultural village to be regaled by women in traditional Thai costumes, gaily decorated elephants, and exhibitions of classical Thai dance, traditional boxing, floral decorations and elaborate fruit and vegetable carving. There will be demonstrations of Thai cooking, puppet carving, rubber tapping, and even chances to ride in an ox-cart or atop a decorated elephant.

The Exclusively Seabourn experiences for all guests on board will include an afternoon tour of Cultural Cartagena in Colombia’s venerable Caribbean port city, A UNESCO World Heritage Site; a rousing re-creation of the classic “Aloha Boat Days” at Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel; a Maori cultural discovery experience at Lyttelton (Christchurch), New Zealand; an introduction to the arts and cultures of Borneo’s 32 diverse ethnic groups at Kota Kinabalu; a visit to the spectacular Sanctuary of Truth at Pattaya, Thailand from Bangkok; a spellbinding evening at an oasis near Dubai; and a sortie from Sharm el Sheikh into a sheltered valley in the mountainous Sinai desert, for tea and traditional folkloric music and dance at a Bedouin encampment.

The Exclusive Ensemble Ensemble Experiences, complimentary for those World Cruise guests who have booked their cruise through Goldring Travel or other Ensemble Travel Group affilliated travel agencies are as follows:

PUERTO CALDERA, COSTA RICA: The Scarlet Sanctuary with Champagne Lunch - Experience some of Costa Rica’s most amazing scenery and wildlife. It’s just a short drive from the pier to the dock where you will board the boat that will take you on a journey through the mangrove forest. As you glide across the waters that coil through the verdant tropical rain forest, keep an eye out for the local residents flying in the treetops, swimming in the mangroves and scurrying along the rich, fertile earth. Long willowy branches drape to the surface of the water, and the canopy of green looming overhead allows the sun to peek through in dappled splendor. After your boat ride, your journey will continue aboard an air-conditioned motor coach as you drive through fields of sugarcane, a mainstay of the Costa Rican economy. You reach the highlight of your tour today, a sanctuary dedicated to the Scarlet Macaw. They are sure to announce your arrival. Be prepared to take lots of photos of these magnificent creatures. Their brilliant red plumage is stunning and during your guided tour, as the birds fly freely about, you are sure to get some fabulous pictures in their natural habitat. Then enjoy a light repast of fresh tropical fruits before going on to the Costa Rica Yacht Club for a delicious three-course lunch with champagne before heading back to the ship.

NAWILIWILI, KAUAI: Kauai Plantation Railway and Lunch at Gaylord’s Kilohana - Fascinating afternoon enjoying the lush beauty of Kauai, considered by many to be the perfect tropical island paradise. Your tour begins with a ride aboard the narrow-gauge Kauai Plantation Railway train. Pulled by “Ike,” the plantations 1939 diesel engine you will find yourself in another era with the clattering of the rails and sound of the train’s whistle. And the elegant mahogany coaches you will be riding in are modeled on the private coach of King Kamehameha. During your journey through the nearly 100 acres of the historic Kilohana Plantation your conductor will provide a narrated history of the island and the property as you pass orchards with over 50 varieties of exotic fruit trees including cherries, cashews, mangoes, star fruit, lychee, mountain apple and more. Admire the fields of pineapple, sugarcane, bananas, papayas and taro as well as stands of Native Hawaiian hardwood trees and myriad colorful tropical flowers. Then stop by the paddock to see the sheep, cattle, horses and Clydesdales. Your final stop today is at Gaylord’s restaurant at the Kilohana Plantation. The restaurant is named after Gaylord Parke Wilcox, who built this beautiful house in 1935 as part of a larger sugar plantation. Now a restaurant and art gallery on this working plantation, it is known for its exquisite cuisine and its historic plantation atmosphere. Relax and enjoy a private dessert with refreshments in the covered patio area before heading back to the ship.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: Auckland City Sights, School Visit and Lunch at Mc Hughs - Sprawled across the cones, hills, ridges and valleys of an old volcanic field and stretching literally from coast to coast, Aauckland and its far-flung suburbs are divided by two magnificent harbors and as a dramatic back drop, numerous extinct volcanic cones protrude from Auckland's landscape. New Zealand’s largest city, with a population of over one million it is often called the “City of Sails” since there is at least one boat for every four households! During your tour today you will see some of city’s most renowned historic, natural and architectural landmarks during this scenic introduction. Your first stop is Ponsonby School, a well established public primary school for children aged 5 – 10 years. Here the children will sing local and Maori songs and dances especially to welcome you to Auckland and there also will be time to mingle with them after their performance. Next you travel through the downtown area encompassing the America’s Cup Village and Westhaven Marina. Then travel through some of Auckland’s most affluent suburbs, featuring fantastic views of the harbor and islands before driving along the scenic waterfront to the colonial style village of Parnell, where Victorian buildings have been transformed into stylish boutiques and specialty shops. Visit the Botanical Gardens in the heart of the city with its ponds, statues, tropical glass houses, various flowers and a great variety of trees. Set within this idyllic retreat see the Auckland Museum, commemorating those of the province who served and died in the two world wars.stop on the summit of Mt. Eden, one of more than 60 dormant volcanoes in the greater Auckland area. A short walk will take you to an observation platform offering fantastic panoramic views of the city and its two harbors below. This vantage point also shows further evidence of Auckland’s volcanic history. Then travel to the west coast of Auckland through the wine districts and black sand beaches continuing to the North Shore. Enjoy a buffet lunch at McHugh’s restaurant located on Cheltenham Beach near the historic village of Devonport. Nestled on the foreshore of Cheltenham beach, the restaurant offers spectacular views of Rangitoto and the Waitemata Harbor. After a lunch in this delightful setting it will be time to return to the ship.

BALI, INDONESIA: Balinese Traditions, Seafood Dinner and Kecak Dance - This afternoon discover the beautiful, magical island of Bali, a paradise of ancient temples, dense jungles, terraced rice fields, quaint villages and roadside deities decorated with their daily offerings left by the Balinese who believe heaven and earth to be all one, right here. On your tour today you will experience the island’s unique blend of sights, culture and traditions as they unfold before you concluding with a wonderful Balinese seafood dinner and a performance of the exotic Kecak and Fire Dance. After landing at Padang Bai pier from the ship’s tender board your waiting air-conditioned motor coach and travel along the coastline with its many fishing villages, through the lush green countryside, past the beautifully manicured yellow and green rice terraces that Bali is so famous for as well as other crops like chilis, bananas and papayas. Savor these stunning landscapes on the way to the village of Tohpati where you will meet the owner/designer of a Batik Gallery and learn about the complex process of making Batik. While you are there enjoy some local refreshments. Continue to your destination, Kedonganan, as the sun begins to set, creating a uniquely colorful setting. This gorgeous spot, by Jimbaran Bay beach, is ideal for dinner and entertainment. Young ladies clad in traditional Balinese dress will invite you to relax and absorb the atmosphere as the chefs prepare to grill your dinner which will include deliciously fresh lobsters and prawns. After dinner watch a spellbinding performance of the Kecak and Fire Dance. On Bali, a Hindu island, dance is a very important part of the religion; accordingly Balinese dances are as varied and intricate as the deities they honor and religious tales they tell. Kecak is the most Balinese of dances – a ‘trance’ dance with no orchestra or gamelan to accompany it only a choir of up to 100 men who chant and dance and who act as mediums to convey the wishes of their deities and ancestors. Since the 1930’s the old Indian epic ‘Ramayana’ has been included in the dance drama and ritual that you will see this evening. After the performance rejoin your coach and return to the ship.

SINGAPORE: Singapore Discovery - Spend a delightful afternoon exploring the compact city center of Singapore, a fascinating blend of contrasts between old and new and east and west. Your tour begins with a drive through the old Colonial District for a view of Parliament House, the imposing City Hall and Supreme Court, both of which overlook the Padang to your first stop, the legendary Raffles Hotel. Named after the British founder of modern-day Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, it is one of the world’s finest and most famous hotels. The high ceilings and colonial architecture reflect the era of British rule from 1819 to 1963. Years of tender, loving care have kept this landmark a must-see for all visitors to the city. Few however experience the legend as you will today when you lunch at Doc Cheng’s, a renowned restaurant. After lunch spend some time exploring the shops and quiet courtyards on your own. Then continue your tour with a sight-seeing drive through the city including Orchard Road, renowned for its Western-style department stores and couturier houses; then catch a glimpse of Singapore's multiculturalism during a visit to Little India, a fascinating area teeming with shop houses and colorful, flamboyant temples, before entering the Arab Quarter, where you will see a different side of Islam among the mosques and lifestyles of the people who live here. Next visit the world’s largest Observation Wheel and enjoy a 30 minute flight. While on board you will be able to take in the many different perspectives of Singapore’s dynamic landscape and as the Wheel turns, on a clear day, you can see as far as neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia. Standing at a height of 165m from the ground, the ‘Flyer’ offers you breathtaking, views of Marina Bay, the entire island city of Singapore, and beyond. Finally, admire the world’s largest fountain from the wheel as you pass by ‘Suntec City’ and the Fountain of Wealth. Designed on the principles of Feng Shui, this unique construction is highly regarded in Singapore for its wealth-giving properties. Then drive through Chinatown, which bustles with frenetic street merchants before returning to the pier and your ship.

SALALAH, OMAN: The Essence of Salalah, with Lunch - Discover some of many varied aspects of Oman today as you begin your tour with a drive through the small village of Taqah with its picturesque white beach and the Qara Mountains in the distance as you head east to the ruins of the old frankincense port city of Sumhumram. The ancient city dates back to 100 B.C. and the remains of what is known as Queen Sheba’s Palace stand on a small hill overlooking the beautiful bay at Khawr Rawri. It is said that the queen used to travel from Yemen to Dhofar (South Oman) for frankincense and that she that had the Palace built as a place for her to stay in during her visits and to store the frankincense before it was shipped back to Yemen. The remnants of a temple dedicated to the moon goddess and a 30m deep well lie within the palace ruins and can be viewed from the outside. During your visit you will stop to inspect the crumbling ancient storage areas. Then continue to Wadi Dirbat. As you make your way down into the wadi you will find it is home to an amazing variety of plants, trees and flowers. Surrounded by steep walls of rock it offers grazing and water for cattle and camels. Returning to the city you will make a photo-stop at the Summer Palace of HH Sultan Qaboos, Ruler of Oman, then walk to the renowned Frankincense Souk where the colorful stalls are heaped with mounds of frankincense, myrrh, incense, bottles of fragrant perfume oils and a large variety of fascinating artifacts bringing the essence of the Orient together. As you begin the journey back to the ship, you will stop at the Hilton Hotel where you will be greeted by men in traditional costumes who will welcome you with rosewater. Relax and enjoy a delicious 3-course set menu lunch as a small troupe of talented local dancers entertains you with sinuous dance movements and lively rhythms of local musicians. After lunch return to the pier with fond memories of Salalah.

In addition ot the complimentary shoreside events are part of a generous menu of benefits included for full world cruise guests, along with a complimentary pre-cruise Bon Voyage event and luxury overnight before departing, door-to-door private car transfers, roundtrip first-class airfare or air credit, Personal Valet luggage shipping service and shipboard credits of $2,000 per suite. There will also be special gala celebrations and gifts for guests on board during the voyage.

I will posting observations from Goldring Travel clients enjoying the Full World Cruise and Segments of it on The Gold Standard Forum. Stop by. Read what is happening and add your comments.

Is Virtuoso Hitting a Sour Note?

There have been grumblings within the travel agent world that Virtuoso has become a less attractive option for many of its member travel agents with, it is reported, significant numbers jumping ship to Signature and other consortiums.  (Full disclosure:  I am a member of a "competitor", Ensemble Travel consortium.)

Yesterday Virtuoso announced plans to reorganize its corporate structure, but cutting positions, centralizing operations, etc.  In its statement Virtuoso said, "“Virtuoso has redeployed its resources to focus on the group’s core strengths: increasing sales at a higher yield and providing award-winning, customized marketing to its member agencies.”  

Said another way, increase high profit sales through great marketing.  What does that mean?  Well, Virtuoso has, in the past, created a truly remarkable branding where many of the traveling public believed that, like the American Express Platinum Card Travel Services used to be, the only way to receive the highest quality luxury travel services you had to use their affiliated agencies...and then brag about it.  And, to be sure, Virtuoso does provide quite an array of possible luxury travel extras (at cost...sometimes a great cost) that, when packaged well...as Virtuoso has done...may transform the ordinary to extraordinary.  But just as the Platinum Card has lost much of its luster and its benefits compared to competing products are of less real benefit, it seems that Virtuoso is losing some of its.

As an example, Virtuoso touts it has the best tour operators in Italy, able to provide you with truly fantastic luxury experiences.  As an Ensemble Travel member I was initially a bit jealous of this lofty ability.  But then, after using my operator for a few years, I found out that he...the one that I researched, personally tested out, and initially fed small bits of my business...was exactly the same person.  So I tell my clients that I can provide them with exactly the same quality drivers and guides in Italy for significantly less than a Virtuoso agent.  Why, you might ask?  Because there is no middle man...Virtuoso doesn't get a cut or force the stabilization of higher prices, pay to brand the identical tour, etc.  Said another way, the client receives more value by not using a Virtuoso agent.  (Seriously, do you want to pay for your travel agent to look good or for your travel agent to make your luxury vacation the best it can be?)

And on the other side, the travel agents say, "I am paying Virtuoso how much for what benefits?  I can get the benefits I need either by joining another consortium or going it alone for much less money."  I did seriously consider becoming a Virtuoso agency and a Signature Agency, but I am quite content with Ensemble Travel because it truly provides my agency and my clients everything we need at a much more reasonable price and pricing.

And therein lies the biggest issues with Virtuoso.  In this economy travel agents and clients alike are looking for more value, even when dealing with luxury products.  There are, of course, the issues associated with newer products, better competition, and the like.  And, to be sure, Virtuoso remains an excellent product. 

Remember you need to look behind the marketing...Your travel agent is doing it, shouldn't you?

The Yachts of Seabourn Voted Best Small Ship Cruise Line By Conde Nast Traveller...And More!

Last night, The Yachts of Seabourn, was awarded the Best Small Ship Cruise Line by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine's poll.  This accolade comes on the heels of Seabourn also being voted the Best Small Ship Cruise Line by Virtuoso.

Not wanting to rain on anyone's parade, it is well known that I am not a big fan of polls, so for me to make too much out of the Conde Nast award would be suspect, at best.

HOWEVER, the Virtuoso award (noting I am not a member of Virtuoso's network, but Ensemble Travel's) does mean something because it is a measure of how travel professionals view Seabourn.  Travel professionals formulate their opinions not by glossy brochures or stuffing ballot boxes, but by three major factors:  (1) Client input...which is necessarily related to a travel agent in a very objective manner (for if something wasn't right we are the first to hear about it!); (2) Quality of the Product; and, (3) Service provided to the travel professional.

Virtuoso's CEO stated, when presenting the award, “Seabourn is noteworthy as they epitomize the best of the world’s largest service industry, travel and tourism, in their dedication to their clients. Not only do they excel in delivering life experiences, but they support everyone in the network in such a way that it elevates the entire travel profession."  That pretty much sums it up.

When I have more information on the rest of the Conde Nast Traveller Awards, I will supplement this post.  But in the meantime, consider that I, most certainly, am not the only one who believes that Seabourn provides a truly superior experience for everyone involved in making your cruise the best it can be.

Travel Consortiums: Ensemble Travel, Virtuoso, etc.

Ensemble Travel Group calls itself, "An International Collection of Expert Travel Agencies with Exclusive Offers That Make Your Travel Dreams Come True".  Virtuoso takes that a step further and has established an impressive international network of high end/luxury providers and, admittedly, is the tops when it comes to marketing itself and providing the ultimate in luxury offerings.  There are other travel consortiums as well, such as Signature (also focused on the upper end of the market) and Vacations.com (focused more on the mass market).

These travel consortiums of travel agents use their joint marketing and purchasing power to work with travel suppliers around the world in an effort to bring added value, better pricing and more information to their clients.  You should also be aware that in order to be a member of one of the upper level consortiums (Ensemble, Virtuoso, Signature), membership requires (aside from the payment of fees) that the agency not only be legitimate, but that it have a history of producing a very significant amount of revenue.  That requires, obviously, each travel agency to have established itself for a number of years and that it has a substantial client base. 

I digress for a moment to let you know/disclose I am a member of Ensemble. Years ago I was a member of Vacations.com, but as I will explain, it wasn't a good fit for me or my clients.

What do these consortiums do for a travel agent and, ultimately, for you?  They provide travel agents with a network of travel providers (whether they be cruise lines, hotels, tour operators, etc.) that cooperatively allow the agent to offer its clients - on occasion - special pricing, or added value (onboard credits, complimentary tours, a room upgrade, included breakfasts or dinner, or similar).  They also provide marketing programs, so that the travel agent can cost-effectively send out not only postcards and flyers, but glossy catalogs and magazines to its clients...and those dreaded emails (which I try to avoid sending unless it is something really good!).  And they provide the travel agent with information.

One thing that I find interesting is how the cache belonging to a consortium is directly proportional to the cost of the vacation. As a former Vacations.com agency, I do not recall any clients caring (and most not knowing) that I was a member.  For my luxury clients there really was little benefit, while those sailing on Carnival or Princess did benefit from some onboard credits (and, to be sure, they do add percentage-wise a much greater value on a lower priced cruise).  So it was a really poor fit for me and a very short term relationship.

On the other hand, there are those that believe using a Virtuoso travel agency is akin to wearing a Rolex; it is a status symbol.  Virtuoso provides its agents and their clients with some really good stuff, but at least for me as I write this, I do not find the value to be there.  That is, in large part, because of my involvement in the superyacht industry.  Many of the contacts and access Virtuoso affords its member agencies I already have.  Much of the information it provides is already in my knowledge bank because I have actively traveled all over the world for decades.  I have never been one to be impressed with hype (heck, being in the superyacht business, if I was swayed by "flash" I would have self-destructed years ago!), so I have looked at what works best and is the best value for me and my clients. 

I readily acknowledge that Ensemble Travel does not have the cache of Virtuoso.  But there are so many similarities between the two that other than Virtuoso having higher quality marketing materials and the aforementioend access, I find little useful difference.  As an Ensemble Travel agency, I am able to provide similar (or even identical) hosted tours and cocktail parties, some great European hotel upgrades and/or benefits (complimentary breakfasts, wine, etc.) and more.  One benefit that I believe Ensemble has over Virtuoso is that because its focus is not so much on the luxury end, I can provide some better pricing and amenities on the premium lines (such as Celebrity and Holland America); which is a significant portion of my business.

You may have noticed that I have not really discussed what the information is that the consortiums provide its member agencies.  There is a reason:  For the client it is many times simply irrelevant.  I do not care what information is available if it is not accessed, understood, efficiently utilized and then conveyed properly by the particular travel agent to the client.  I have had too many experiences of clients coming to me from another agency (one that is a member of a consortium) and their complaining about the misinformation, the lack of service or serious mistakes that were made...by a specific travel agent. 

Alas, it is not about reading something off a computer screen or "hearing" the Great Barrier Reef, Dubai or Amsterdam are wonderful.  You want to know that you can have a float plane fly you too the reef for your day of diving rather than enduring a two hour boat ride each way...and explain what it is like.  You want to know why Dubai's newest hotel, Raffles Dubai, is incredible and you just might enjoy knowing more about the incredible museums of Amsterdam (and how to miss the lines entirely) rather than the Red Light District.

Also, remember that marketing material (no matter how impressive) is intended to get you to go on vacation; not be your vacation.  So when you are looking to book your next cruise you should think about whether the travel agent's membership in a consortium and offering a complimentary tour or onboard credit is really what is important to you...or is it the knowledge that your cruise will be booked at a good price, with you being provided solid information, and receiving exceptional service that really matters. 

If you are fortunate, and I try to make all my clients fortunate,  you will get it all!