Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

"Using your Virtuoso travel advisor to plan even a close-to-home hotel stay is a smart move: Your advisor can secure a great rate, along with fun extras such as daily breakfast, complimentary upgrades, late check-outs, even spa treatments, resort credits, bottles of wines and spirits, and the like.... There are more than 800 Virtuoso hotels and resorts and this, our annual Hotel Issue, showcases more than 100 of them. Each one offers something amazing."  Editor Elaine Srnka. Click here to enjoy this issue of Virtuoso Life .

An hour after Carnival's press release, the other cruise lines have followed suit (big surprise). Here is a link to to an article  describing all revised itinerary details. As of April 29 at 10a, the US State Department has NOT restricted US travel to Mexico. The CDC has suggested that Americans avoid non-essential travel to Mexico. The WHO has not advised that any borders be closed or any travel to be restricted. That said, I am advising my clients to cancel their upcoming trips to Mexico.  Most airlines have relaxed their change penalties for tickets to Mexico for travel within the next couple weeks. Here's a link to a summary of airline policies . Many resorts and vacation wholesalers have also relaxed their cancellation penalties and will allow trips to be re-scheduled without penalties. Contact your travel agent for more information. 

Carnival Cruise Lines seems to be the first company to cancel all stops in Mexico for the upcoming week due to the Swine flu epidemic. I received this notification at 8pm.  I predict that Royal Caribbean will follow suit shortly to avoid massive cancellations. Most other lines have their fleet based in Europe and Alaska this summer, which are unaffected areas.   Here's the email: April 28, 2009 Dear Travel Partner, Carnival Cruise Lines has decided to cancel all calls at Mexican ports for all current sailings and all voyages departing on Thursday, April 30th through Monday, May 4th.  In many cases, we will be able to substitute the cancelled call with an alternative port.  Additionally, we are working on alternatives for those itineraries impacted by this decision. Full details will be available by 5pm Wednesday, April 29th. Once final details are confirmed for these itinerary changes, we will send you an automated message listing your impacted bookings for each affected voyage. In...

Cruise deals abound for the rest of 2009 and now cruise sales have been extended through all of 2010, so booking early this year is a great value.  Luxury cruise lines are offering unprecedented discounts, on-board credit offers and booking incentives.  Please enjoy the latest Virtuoso Travel catalog - ADVENTURES AT SEA, which highlights a variety of special offers. To access the digital edition, simply click here .

Please enjoy the latest issue of VIRTUOSO INSIGHTS. To access this digital edition, simply click here to download the issue. As you read through this Family Issue of VIRTUOSO INSIGHTS, you'll find great ideas for relaxing and reconnecting with those you love while creating travel memories you'll treasure forever. Now is a great time for finding exceptional value on extraordinary travel. As your Virtuoso travel advisor, I'm here to guide you through the terrific options available.

In celebration of Linden Travel's 40th anniversary, we are offering three great travel prizes in the Linden Travel 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Enter every drawing period to increase your chances of winning.  Click here to enter drawing and view official rules.