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Royal Caribbean continues to be a leader in the industry with LNG

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Again, Royal Caribbean is setting new standards and leading the industry!

Construction on Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), is well underway. Watch the recent installation of the game-changing ship’s first LNG fuel tank, which is 307 tons and 90 feet long. With energy-efficient technology to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, from LNG to shore power connection that removes emissions while connected at port, Icon will be a significant milestone in the cruise line’s journey to becoming emission-free. The first of the revolutionary Icon Class is set to make its debut in fall 2021, and it will make waves with a mix of innovations and adventures cruising’s never seen before.

 

 

Contact your favorite DWB Vacations advisor today to book your next cruise!

Comparing Credit Card Travel Protection to Tradition Travel Protection

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DWB Vacations strongly recommends travel protection on any trip you purchase! Travel Insured International is our preferred provider for travel protection. Below is their blog post explaining the differences between the protection your credit card offers and the coverage of a traditional travel protection plan like the ones offered by DWB Vacations from Travel Insured International. 

 

credit vs travel protection
A common practice among travelers is choosing not to buy travel protection because they believe their credit cards have enough protection. What they may not realize is there can be significant differences between credit card travel protection and traditional travel protection. Those differences can really affect travelers if things go wrong on their trips.

Here are 3 differences to keep in mind:

Credit Cards May Not Offer Choices

Although many credit cards offer travel insurance, your credit card may not offer a variety of coverage options to pick from. Also, your card may only be able to provide protection for trip costs purchased on that card1. It’s best to check a credit card’s benefit summary or contact a company directly to see what travel protection they offer or include2. However, by purchasing a plan from Travel Insured, you can choose from among several different plans.

Credit Card Benefits May Be Limited

Credit cards that do offer travel protection may offer fewer benefits than a traditional travel protection plan3. Some cards with travel protection may offer trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost baggage, and rental car protection1,3. They also may offer limited or no medical protection, medical evacuation, or emergency evacuation coverages1, 3. Those benefits may vary by card or not exist at all.

At Travel Insured, we offer those benefits and more.  Benefits like:

  • Cancel for Any Reason
  • Significant medical protection
  • Significant medical evacuation protection

More benefits mean more comprehensive coverage for your trip, and who wouldn’t want that?

Credit Card Companies May Have Limited Covered Reasons

For both credit card and traditional travel protection plans, a traveler’s situation must fit a covered reason in order to be eligible for certain benefits, such as trip cancellation or trip interruption. Credit card plans may have a limited set of covered reasons for benefit eligibility2, 3. In comparison, Travel Insured’s Worldwide Trip Protector plan has 24 covered reasons that can make a traveler eligible for trip cancellation or trip interruption benefits.

 

Before you settle for what a credit card company has to offer in terms of travel protection, ask your DWB Vacations Travel Advisor for more information!

 

Buy travel protection from Travel Insured International

 

  1. https://creditcards.usnews.com/articles/how-good-is-credit-card-travel-insurance
  2. https://www.thebalance.com/guide-to-using-your-credit-card-s-travel-insurance-4590119
  3. https://www.kiplinger.com/article/insurance/T059-C050-S002-credit-card-travel-insurance-coverage-not-enough.html

Help us, Help you!

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I hear from people all the time, “I am waiting to book my Disney vacation until the promotion comes out” or “I’m waiting for free dining”. Waiting for the best deal is not always the best way to save money on your Disney vacation. In some cases it can actually cause you to end up spending more than you will save. In recent years, it is best to book your Disney trip as early as you can to be sure to get the best prices and availability possible. Let’s debunk the myth that waiting for a deal is the best way to save on a Disney vacation (or really any vacation).

There are no guarantees
With Disney and the products that they offer there are no guarantees. Until your trip is booked your prices are not guaranteed. You could be checking the web everyday waiting for that perfect deal to be released, and one day with no warning the prices can increase or additional costs and fees could be added such as the recently added parking fees. There are also no guarantees that a promotion will be offered for when you want to travel. The promotions that are offered often have many different conditions which can cause you to spend more money than you are actually saving. There is no guarantee your package meets the requirements for a promotion that comes out. As travel advisers, we see it all the time. A promotion is released but in order to qualify for it clients must be traveling for a certain number of nights, stay at certain resorts in select room types or have a certain type of park ticket. This can end up costing our clients more than they actually save.

Christmas lights
Christmas lights on Cinderella’s Castle

Prices can increase
Disney does price increases at different times throughout the year. This is why it is important to book your vacation as early as possible. When you book your vacation and place your $200 deposit you lock in your price. The only way the price will change is if you make some type of change to the reservation. When you book your Disney vacation with DWB Vacations your travel adviser will monitor Disney for any possible promotions that are released that will save you some money. This is part of our concierge service. Sometimes promotions are released that are not helpful to our clients. They may result in higher prices for our clients. We are diligent at analyzing the promotions that are released and ensure that our clients get the most value for their money. We are here to help you. As soon as you make your reservation with a DWB Vacations adviser we give you our full attention to ensure that you get the best value in your vacation. If we can save you some money doing so, it makes us even happier.

Availability can disappear
As promotions are released with their restrictions certain room types at certain resorts can disappear very quickly. This can make it difficult for you to reserve your dream room or resort for your vacation. By making your reservation earlier in the year you can ensure that you have the exact room and resort that makes your heart happy. Your travel adviser can always make changes to your reservation without penalty up until thirty days before your trip. Reserving your room early with just a $200 dollar deposit helps you get as much on your wish list as possible. This is also true for dining reservations and fast passes. When waiting for a promotion to be released your 180 day window for dining reservations or 60 day window for fast passes might have already begun. By making your reservation early your DWB Vacations travel adviser diligently monitors those dates as well to ensure that you are able to make those reservations when your window of time opens so you have the best chance at availability. Dining and fastpass reservations are easily cancelled or can often be modified once they are created, however waiting for a promotion can cause you to miss the harder to book reservations.

Your Travel Adviser is on the Case
When you book a Disney Vacation package your adviser is on your side and on the case. We have a whole team working together to look for discounts for our clients. When a promotion is released the whole team works diligently to check those promotions for every single package booked by a DWB Vacations travel adviser. We work diligently, usually hours before you are even aware that a promotion is released to try and save our clients as much as possible. When you book a vacation early it allows your agent to share your trip details with the team so that you then have a team of advisers working together in your best interest.

We understand the costs that are associated with a trip to Walt Disney World, and we completely understand why you want to wait for a promotion to be released. We want you to have the most enjoyable vacation possible without breaking the bank. The best way for us to do this is for you to book your vacation as soon as possible. Then trust in us, your team at DWB Vacations, to get you the best price from any promotions offered. We are here for you. Please help us, help you.

We Like To Party! And you will too! Why you should go to the after hour parties at Disney

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Disney offers some pretty awesome after hour parties throughout the year, but not all guests choose to purchase tickets to these awesome events. There are multiple parties for this coming fall like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but you don’t have to wait until the fall. There are also parties for this summer that you still have time to enjoy like H20 party nights at Typhoon Lagoon or Villans After Hours party at the Magic Kingdom. Also, special after hours nights at Hollywood and Magic Kingdom are happening now. All of these events are a great way to enjoy a little more time in the parks with some extra magic. I’m sure your question is…”Why spend the extra money?” There are many reasons so let’s talk about them.

Smaller Crowds
Since the amount of tickets that are sold to these events are limited the number of people in the parks is significantly lower than on an average day. This means you are able to move more freely through the parks getting a chance to ride on attractions that might have a longer wait normally. You are also able to get better pictures without so many people in the background of your photographs. Plus as an added bonus the lines for your favorite foods and treats are significantly lower than they normally are. This might be your time to finally try that treat that the lines have always been to long for. Everyone loves a smaller crowd at Disney. Parties are a great way to maximize your time since the crowds are far smaller.

 

Special Food and Treats
Along with the special party nights comes the special party themes which brings all the special party theme foods and drinks. Each of the different parties have their own specialty items that the foodie fans are sure to love and even non foodie fans are excited to try. Some events like the after hour parties at Hollywood and Magic Kingdom even include select ice cream and popcorn as well as bottled soft drinks in the ticket price. Even if you are not interested in the special foods having shorter lines at the regular food venues is a great way to be able to try some of the foods that long lines that normally people are discouraged from trying because of longer lines.

Extending your Trip
Party tickets are half day tickets with most of the events starting in the early evening. Party tickets can be a great way to extend your trip by giving you an extra half day at a park. With most party tickets you can enter whatever park the party is taking place in as early as 4pm. So you can spend the day enjoying your resort, lounging in your pool or the other amenities at the resort and then spend the early evening into the wee hours of the morning having a blast at a park. Going to one of these parties gives you at a minimum of 5 hours at a park for in most cases less than the cost of adding on an additional day to your reservation.

The point is…
Disney party tickets are a great enhancement to your family vacation. It gives you access to some of your favorite parks with much smaller crowds. It also gives you a chance to experience special treats and shows that you wouldn’t see at any other time in your Disney stay. Party tickets are a wonderful way to add a little more magic at the most magical place on earth.

Basic Party Information

Disney H2O Glow Nights
At Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Select nights now until August 24, 2019.
Party is from 8pm to 11pm but guests with tickets may begin entering the park at 6pm.
DJ- hosted dance party on the sandy beaches of the Surf pool
Playful mix of Toy Story- themed experiences featuring Character appearances
Tempting array of limited- time food and beverage offerings
Special area just for adult party goers

Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios
Select nights now through the end of July.
3 hour park event featuring some of your favorite attractions, ice cream and popcorn carts and Character Greetings.
Purchased in advance tickets are $125 per person plus tax. Purchased the day of the price increases to $129 per person plus tax.
Ice cream novelties, popcorn and select bottled beverages are included with the cost of admission.
Guests may enter the park at 7pm with the private event taking place from 9:30pm till 12:30am.

Disney’s After Hours at Animal Kingdom
Select dates now through September 2019.
3 hour park event featuring some of your favorite attractions, ice cream and popcorn carts and Character Greetings.
Purchased in advance tickets are $125 per person plus tax. Purchased the day of the price increases to $129 per person plus tax.
Ice cream novelties, popcorn and select bottled beverages are included with the cost of admission.
Guests may enter the park at 7pm with the private event taking place from 9pm till 12am.

Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park
Select dates from now through August 8th
Three hours of access to over 20 popular attractions including thrilling villain inspired surprises at some attractions after the park closes.
Special Villains show at Cinderella’s castle and Maleficent breathing fire during the night.
You get to dress up in favorite villain gear and purchase special villain themed items.
Sinfully delicious villain-themed food and beverage offerings for purchase.
Ice cream, popcorn and select bottled beverages are included with the price.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween
Select nights from August through November at the Magic Kingdom
Trick or Treating through out the park with allergy friendly fun as well.
Costume fun for the whole family.
Your favorite characters will be in costume too and special appearances by some villainous clients.
Ghoulishly good eats, special stage shows and fireworks show.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Select dates in November and December
Select attractions are open with lower wait time
Special holiday treats and eats
Special character appearances
Cinderella’s castle shimmers, joyful music fills the air and Disney characters don their most festive attire.

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