Going Up? Why, YES!

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, but the first quarter of the year is like the Super Bowl in the travel business. It's just been too busy, and in fact the business has been coming in at unprecedented levels. Yes, I know there's still unemployment and issues and all that jazz, but Americans are SICK AND TIRED of staying home! Now that the stock market has recovered from its lows of the past year or two, people are on the move. And so is the price of oil, coming back up into the $80+ dollar-a-barrel level in the last few days. I think the cruise lines learned a valuable lesson a couple of years ago, with the debacle of adding a fuel supplement, then adjusting it, then having to remove it, etc. What an insane dance that was! But when fuel cost, which is one of their biggest expenses, hits these levels they can't just sit back and watch their bottom line erode. For that reason, virtually all the cruise lines are raising their rates across the board, and some have even set specific dates! Carnival is the earliest, with a March 22nd deadline before the increase. If you book between now and March 19th, you can still enjoy their best Summer prices, but if you wait through the weekend and call on Monday, expect prices to go up at least 5%. That's every category, every ship and every itinerary for Summer 2010 sailings on Carnival! Norwegian cruise line is raising rates even further, an estimated 7%, while some premium lines are saying it will be up to 10%. That may not sound like a huge hit, but for a family of 4 that can add up to hundreds of dollars just because you procrastinated! Our advice is to pick up the phone and call NOW for your best Summer pricing. People who say "I'll just wait until they have open cabins at the end and have to give it away." There is a term for that kind of thinking: MYTHOLOGY. Forget what you hear on the news about the economy, people are traveling and these ships are all going out 100% full, and they're selling out way in advance. If you wait, you'll either pay more or be staying home cutting the grass. End of story. Don't be Mr. Smart Guy who outwits the system. This isn't Survivor, where you can outwit or outlast the cruise lines. They're bigger than you. They have highly-paid teams who set price points at levels where they know they are going to sell out, and last-minute cheap availability during the Summer simply doesn't exist. Supply and Demand 101. Once schools let out, families, teachers, professors, school administrators and staff ALL OVER THE COUNTRY are now free to travel. The supply is finite, not infinite, and demand is 5-10 times normal. That's the math. So grab that phone and call me today!

Catholics. Protestants. Jews. Muslims. Buddhists. I thought I had heard of just about all religions at some point, but according to Miami Police, there's a new show in town. Devotees of a man claiming to practice a traditional African religion (not identified by name) said they were told to ingest the mucus of a Giant African Snail. Federal authorities raided the Miami man's home, after receiving complaints that many people were violently sickened. The man has not been criminally charged, but prosecutors and State and Federal wildlife agencies are investigating. The Giant African Snail is prohibited in the U.S. without special approval since experts said it devastates new ecosystems. The snail can grow up to 10 inches long, can reproduce on its own and even can even eat plaster. The unidentified "priest" said he meant no harm, and his religion uses the snails in healing ceremonies. His followers say besides getting violently ill, they lost weight and developed strange lumps in their stomachs. Here are my questions: Who on EARTH is following this guy? And why? Isn't it easier to become a devotee of American Idol or something, where you're not having to ingest snail mucus, or at least it's optional if you disagree with Simon? Who knew snails have noses and sinus congestion in the first place? I guess when they get congested they have to go to a snail specialist. I can just picture the Doctor now, reaching under the slug and saying "Cough."

If You MUST Commit A Crime, Plan Better!

Authorities in Riverside County California say a woman with a gun robbed 11 customers at a market earlier this week. The Sheriff's Department's spokesperson says the woman was armed with a semi-automatic pistol, when she arrived at the La Chicanita Market, in the town of Thermal on Tuesday afternoon. Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela says the woman confronted 10 customers in the store, and also demanded money from a person who was entering the market just as she was leaving. No one was injured in the brazen robbery, but authorities added up the combined take from the 11 customers, and concluded the suspect got away with just over $6.

NY Cheese? Yeah, I'll stick with Wisconsin....

The New York Post has recently run a story about a chef and his wife, who are using her breast milk to make cheese, while answering criticism that the human dairy product is unsafe. Lori Mason said, "I eat healthier than your average cow, and I'm not pumped full of steroids!" Mason co-owns Klee Brasserie in New York with her chef husband, Daniel Angerer. While the cheese is not technically against any current health codes, City officials have advised diners to take a pass on general ethical reasons. Several curious people showed up at the couple's restaurant after the story ran, just to try a sample. A New York City cheese shop owner gave his own review: "It was slippery, slightly crunchy and tasted like pickles." Mmmmmm. Can I get that on a burger to go please? Sounds titillating!