IAJGS2016Discussion Mailing List: Last Call for Our Alaskan Cruises.

[Chuck Weinstein (chuck1]

We still have a few cabins left for the cruises, but all reservations must be completed by March 15 if you wish to go on a cruise.  Note that our Travel agent, Sharon Furlong, can only accommodate US Citizens, due to Homeland Security rules in the US.  If you are not a citizen, you can book directly with the cruise lines.

 

Pre-Conference Cruise

A Pre-Conference Cruise departs Seattle, Friday afternoon, July 29, 2016 at 5:00 PM, returning to Seattle on Friday morning, August 5, 2016 at 8 AM onboard the Celebrity Solstice.  The seven day itinerary is scheduled to take you to Ketchikan, Alaska, Tracy Arm Fjord (cruising through the fjord and glaciers), Juneau, and Skagway, Alaska on the northbound route and cruising the Inside Passage with a port call in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the return leg.  This is a family-friendly cruise with many amenities available for children.  Prices start at $1299 per person, double occupancy for an inside cabin.  For cabins with an ocean view or a balcony, the prices are higher.  Note these fees do not include approximately $200 per person in taxes and port fees, and any other amenities you may wish to purchase.  The Celebrity Solstice receives top ratings consistently from people who have taken cruises on it as reported by http://www.cruisecritic.com, which ranks cruise ships based on objective measurements of quality and allows individuals to rank ships by quality, as well.  By the way, this website offers a lot of great information, whether this is your first cruise or your hundredth.  There are additional costs for more than two people in a cabin and prices are not guaranteed until the cabin is booked with a deposit of at least $500. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions, photographs, WI-FI  and medical services  are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account.  Prices are not firm till the day of booking. Deposit is due at the time of booking.

 

Two Post-Conference Cruise Choices

We have elected to offer two post-conference cruises, both departing Seattle on Sunday, August 14 at 4 in the afternoon and returning Sunday, August 21 in the morning.  Boarding begins at 1:00 PM and you must be aboard by 3:30 PM.  Both ships appeal to slightly different clientele, so you may wish to consider this.

The Ruby Princess offers a variety of opportunities for a family oriented cruiser.  Departing from Seattle, the itinerary includes port stops at Ketchikan and Juneau, a morning  cruise around the Tracy Arm Fjord, a day in Skagway, and a day in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the return.  Rates begin at about $950 per person, double occupancy and to that, you must add about $225 in taxes and port fees.  If you put down a refundable deposit of $500 per person by October 29, there is a price reduction on this cruise. The Ruby Princess is also rated highly onwww.cruisecritic.com.  For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI  and medical services  are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI  and medical services  are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account.  Prices are not firm till the day of booking. Deposit is due at the time of booking.

The Holland America Lines’ MS Amsterdam departs Seattle and offers a more adult-oriented cruise.  Holland America is a preferred choice for distinguished and experienced cruisers, but it is not expensive.  Port stops include Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, Alaska, plus Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, as well as a cruise around the mouth of the Hubbard Glacier, and around scenic Stephen’s Passage on the Inside Passage and around Puget Sound. Rates start at $1,179 per person, double occupancy, with port charges and taxes of about $255.   For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI  and medical services  are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account.  For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI  and medical services  are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account.  Prices are not firm till the day of booking. Deposit is due at the time of booking.

Booking Your Cruise

We have made exclusive arrangements with Sharon Furlong , a Travel Agent who has  over 30 years  of experience with Sharon’s Travelers, an affiliate of Incentive Connection Travel, to book cruises on behalf of the Conference attendees.  She has already reserved a limited number of cabins for each cruise for conference attendees and their families and friends.  You may contact Sharon Furlong by Email at sharonstravelers [at] hotmail.com, or contact Sharon directly at (631) 357-7947 for voice or for text messages.  Please do not call her between the hours of 6 PM to 9 AM, Eastern Time (GMT-4), as this is her cell number.  Sharon is the owner and she will personally handle your booking. Please do not contact the Conference chairs or IAJGS, as Sharon has all the information available on these cruises.

When you Email Sharon, please use the subject line: IAJGS CRUISE. If you text her, please mention IAJGS Cruise at least once in the exchange.  If you have food requirements (Kosher, Vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.), please mention that in your Email or text. Sharon  will require your full legal name as stated on your passport, for all traveling with you in your cabin, DOB, Residence of what Country, mailing address ,airport departure city, Passport number and expiration date. Please note you must be 21 years or older to be in a cruise cabin or have a connecting room cabin with an adult. Single people in a cabin will pay a double cabin rate. Please look and make sure your passport will not be expiring before  March, 2017, or you will have to renew your passport now to take the cruise in Aug 2016.  US and Canadian citizens will not require a visa, but citizens of other countries may require a Canadian visa for all cruises that stop in Victoria. A Credit Card will be the form of payment for Deposit and final payment with the cruise lines. If you are interested in doing anything other than staying aboard the ship during port calls, Sharon can recommend shore excursions for what you are interested in doing and seeing.  For those of you who are looking for a package that includes both the cruise and your air fare to Seattle, Sharon can help with that as well.  In addition, for those of you who expressed interest in a longer or different cruise, Sharon can help you make those arrangements as well.

Please note that if you book through another travel agent or through the cruise lines direct, you will not be able to get any conference discounts that are available, and the conference will not get credit for your travel. 

What’s Included in a Cruise price:

Taxes and fees are included in your final booking prices.
Your choice of inside, ocean view, balcony or suite accommodations

All meals onboard including 24 hour room service

Coffee, tea, milk, juice and non-bottled water

Onboard entertainment including shows, discos, comedy clubs, bars, lounges, etc.

Age appropriate kids programming for toddlers, kids, and teens.

Use of all fitness facilities, pools, hot tubs, sports courts,

 Not Included:

Airfare and transfers to the ship

Gratuities

Casino gambling or Bingo

Meals in any alternative or special dining restaurants or venues

Soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees, or alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, spirits.

Shore Excursions and sightseeing tours

Spa or Salon Services

Items of a personal nature like souvenirs, photos

Travel Insurance (recommended)

 

Chuck Weinstein

Co-Chair, 36th Annual IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy
Seattle, WA
August 7-12, 2016

Chuck [at] iajgs2016.org

www.iajgs2016.org

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