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EnCompass®
The AAA Companion |
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September | October 2004
Volume 78 Issue 5
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Travel Tips & Trends
'Close-to-Home' cruising
includes non-traditional U.S. ports
Close-to-home" cruising is on the rise as cruise lines continue to position their ships in our backyards by adding "non-traditional ports" to their already large selection of U.S. ports.
The advantages for you?
Comfort and convenience. Close-to-home cruising gives you a wider choice of itineraries, while saving you money and time by cruising from a departure city within driving distance. Non-traditional cruise ports that are becoming popular include:
Baltimore, Md.
One of the hottest new cruise venues in the country, the Port of Baltimore has nearly doubled the number of ships leaving its port. Visitors can experience the vibrant harbor city of Baltimore, home to Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, and Chesapeake Bay's blue crab. Celebrity Cruises offers 10- and 11-day cruises to the Caribbean onboard the Galaxy.
Boston, Mass.
New England's biggest city takes great pride in its history, culture, picturesque cobbled streets and brownstone buildings. The Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, minutes from downtown Boston, offers sailing north along the majestic New England and Canadian coastlines, south to the pink sand beaches of Bermuda, and east across the Atlantic to Europe. The new Royal Caribbean International ship, Jewel of the Seas, will make her U.S. debut in Boston in September/October 2004 to offer 10-night Canada/New England cruises.
Galveston, Texas
Located on the upper Texas coast at the mouth of beautiful Galveston Bay, the port of Galveston provides plenty of nearby beaches, fancy Victorian mansions and 19th-century storefronts. Carnival Cruise Line's Elation offers seven-day cruises to destinations in Mexico and Belize from this port. Princess Cruises sails on a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise, beginning November 2004 through April 2005, with the Grand Princess. Royal Caribbean International's Rhapsody of the Seas offers seven-day cruises sailing to Florida and Mexico.
Jacksonville, Fla.
JAXPORT, The Jacksonville Port Authority, is America's newest cruise port. Located in northeastern Florida, Jacksonville offers a variety of upscale shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Beginning Oct. 12, 2004, Carnival Cruise Lines will bring in its 1,452-passenger ship Celebration for year-round service. The ship will offer four-day cruises to Freeport and Nassau, and five-day cruises to Key West and Nassau. Celebrity Cruises' 1,375-guest ship Zenith offers 11- to 14-day cruises from November 2004 through April 2005.
Mobile, Ala.
Where southern hospitality is a way of life, Mobile is home to great golf venues, nearby white-sandy beaches and historic homes and museums. The Port of Mobile, one of the oldest port cities in America, is an ideal cruise departure point for many southeastern U.S. residents. On Oct. 16, 2004, Carnival Cruise Lines' Holiday will kick off Mobile's first year-round cruise program. The ship will depart on four- and five-day vacations to the Western Caribbean with stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Calica/Playa del Carmen.
New Orleans, La.
New Orleans has the Mississippi River, the historic French Quarter, world-class restaurants, an arts district and shopping-all within walking distance of the port's Julia Street cruise terminal complex.
From New Orleans, Royal Caribbean International's Grandeur of the Seas returns to offer Western Caribbean cruises throughout the 2004/2005 winter season. Crystal Cruises' Crystal Harmony sails to the Caribbean in December.
Whether you have three or seven nights to travel, Delta Queen Steamboat Company, Inc., offers unique "Steamboatin'" vacations from New Orleans, including the 2005 AAA Colorado President's Collection cruise.
Norfolk, Va.
Situated in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic coastal region, Norfolk is known for its scenic waterways, lush landscape, thriving port and historic sites. Its cruise ship ports have become one of the fastest growing on the East Coast. During 2004, Holland America's ms Maasdam will be offering 10- and 11-day sailings to the Caribbean. Between May and September 2005, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises will offer seven-night cruise vacations to Bermuda onboard the Seven Seas Navigator.
Contact your local AAA Travel professional to select a close-to-home cruise vacation, or visit www.aaa.com and play with the new cruise research and booking engine.
TripTik still "top choice"
Two years ago, the Wall Street Journal tested several internet mapping services and rated AAA's TripTik as its "top choice." The Washington Post conducted a similar test this spring and, once again, TripTik came out on top.
On May 30, 2004, the Washington Post ran a story by Ben Abramson titled, "Lab Report: Comparing Map Sites" (see www.washingtonpost.com for the complete article).
The reporter compared four internet-available mapping services-Mapquest, MSN Maps, TripTiks (for AAA members only), and AAAmaps.com (a new, pared-down version of TripTik that is available to members and non-members).
Each site was asked to map a specific route as well as find a specific location within the United States.
How did AAA do?
The article ended: "Conclusion: AAAmaps.com's search strikes us as best in class, and if you're looking for a simple locator map for an airport or national park, this is the site. However, for driving directions, AAA's decision to withhold the vital detail maps for its members-only site renders Mapquest and MSN more useful for most roadtrips.
"AAA's members —
only TripTik is the most useful
of all, especially for multi-leg trips;
it offers all the great road trip info
AAA members are accustomed to..."
Ancient culture
receiving much deserved exposure
Despite its fame as one of the most impressive archaeological sites in South America-and its importance to later peoples, including the Inca-the ancient civilization of Tiwanaku has never been subject of a comprehensive international art exhibition.
Organized by the Denver Art Museum and drawing from collections in Europe, South America and the United States, "Tiwanaku: Ancestors of the Inca" will introduce audiences in the United States to the striking artwork and fascinating sacred rituals of the Tiwanaku culture, which thrived near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia from A.D. 300-1000. More than 100 works of art will be on display, including monumental stone sculptures, spectacular gold and silver jewelry, masterfully crafted ceramics, carved wood ritual objects and remarkably well-preserved textiles.
A fully illustrated catalog, educational activities for families and a symposium will complement the exhibition, which runs from
Oct. 16, 2004 through
Jan. 23, 2005.
A special exhibition ticket is required. AAA members receive their normal $1 off admission price.
Beware
of internet
counterfeit IDPs
Those who browse and use the internet should be aware that counterfeit International Driving Permits (IDP) are continually and increasingly being offered for sale. For a fee, which is far more than the cost of a legitimate IDP, unscrupulous operators provide a fake IDP, which isn't recognized by authorities and could get the holder into trouble.
The only entities authorized to issue IDPs in the United States are AAA and the American Auto Touring Alliance (AATA). With the help of AAA and AATA, the Federal Trade Commission is constantly researching and prosecuting companies that are, in effect, duping the public into believing that they are purchasing a legal document.
AAA Travel
AAA Colorado has 41 travel professionals and 46 auto travel counselors in 15 district offices around the state, making it one of the largest leisure travel agencies in Colorado. Each AAA Colorado office offers a full range of travel planning and booking services, as well as AAA TourBooks, maps and TripTiks. AAA offices also have travel stores that contain guidebooks, atlases, luggage and other travel-related items.
To plan your next trip: visit your local AAA travel professional, call 866-235-7070, click on www.aaa.com, or see the various vacation packages and special events (such as cruise seminars) advertised on pages 37-42.
Health tips
for long drives
and flights
In the past few years, due to greater media awareness, most travelers have become aware of a potentially fatal ailment-blood clots. Thought to be brought on by long periods of sitting — such as on extended airplane flights or even multi-hour car rides — this condition is also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or "economy-class syndrome."
Preventive tips include:
- Exercising the legs periodically
- Not keeping your legs crossed for more than a few minutes at a time
- Drinking plenty of water to
stay hydrated
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Wearing "compression stockings"
Additionally, those with cardiovascular disease and those at risk for clots in their legs should ask their doctor about taking an anti-clotting drug or even a plain aspirin before boarding an airplane or getting in a car for a long drive.
For further information the internet has an overwhelming supply of information-e.g. if you type "economy class syndrome" into the internet search engine, Google, up comes 151,000 sites. The best material will come from legitimate, medical organizations such as the American Heart Association (Americanheart.org, or 800-242-8721).
Tips to keep your home safe while traveling
1. Lock all windows in the house and garage; use slide locks for sliding glass doors.
2. Leave blinds and curtains in normal positions. Move all expensive electronic equipment or personal items away from windows to avoid attracting potential thieves.
3. Property that has been engraved with proper ID is less attractive and can lead to quick recovery.
4. Arrange for mail and newspaper delivery to be stopped unless a trusted neighbor or family member can pick up both daily.
5. Use auto timers so interior lights (and even a radio or TV) periodically go on or off.
6. Make arrangement for safe storage of valuables.
7. Ask a trusted family member or friend to check the house regularly and give them a key to your car in case it needs to be moved for an emergency.
8. Make sure your homeowner/renter's insurance is up-to-date and paid.
9. Never leave spare keys hidden anywhere outside the house.
10. If traveling by air, make sure luggage tags list a business address and not a home address — a thief may read luggage tags to determine the houses that could be easy targets.
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