September 9, 2004

TIMES TRAVELS

Holland America Cruise Line’s Family Reunion Program is an industry first

Recognizing the growing popularity of multi-generational family travel, Holland America Line has created its Family Reunion Program, the first of its kind in the industry, to reward families who cruise together with extra amenities.

Holland America Line’s new Family Reunion Program offers amenities that benefit the entire family. Available to families booking five staterooms or more on any cruise, the program features such benefits as special group pricing; a Fountain Soda Package for every member of the family (unlimited soft drinks throughout the voyage); a family photo per stateroom; and a choice of either dinner for the entire family in the line’s alternative Pinnacle Grill Restaurant or, on Caribbean cruises, free rentals of snorkel gear and swim mats or banana boat rides for all on Half Moon Cay, HAL’s award-winning private island.

For families booking 10 or more staterooms, the line offers its Head-of-the-Family Reward: one complimentary upgrade from an outside stateroom to a verandah. Family groups will receive the free upgrade to a verandah stateroom for the head of the family if booking only five staterooms or more on a holiday cruise in 2004.

“We are very excited to debut our Family Reunion Program—it offers choice, extensive value, and a benefit for every member of the family,” says Richard D. Meadows, CTC, senior vice president, marketing and sales.

“Cruising is the perfect family vacation offering something for everyone. Sharing an exceptional meal with the entire family at the Pinnacle Grill or enjoying all the fun beach toys at Half Moon Cay provides an opportunity for families to bond and create lasting memories—all with our compliments.” For more information and reservations, call the Travel Desk in Almaden at (408) 723-0283, or visit their Web site at www.traveldeskonline.com.

AirTran Airways launches travel promotion

AirTran Airways has launched a 14-day sale for flights to all of the airline’s destinations with fares starting as low as $39 each way. Travelers may purchase these sale fares through travel agents. These special fares are available for purchase through Sept. 21, 2004, are good for travel through Feb. 2, 2005, and are not valid for travel on Sundays. Like all AirTran Airways fares, prices included in this sale are one-way tickets and do not require a roundtrip purchase or a Saturday night stay. One-way fares start at just $39. The San Francisco to Atlanta fare is only $99. Fares require a seven-day advance purchase and are valid in either direction. For more information and reservations, call the Travel Desk in Almaden at (408) 723-0283.

Carnival introduces digital photo processing

New self-service, digital photo printing kiosks are appearing on board the ships of Carnival Cruise Lines. Pixel Magic’s iStation 150 photo printing kiosks are located near the ships’ photo galleries. To print their photos, passengers insert the memory card from their digital camera into a card reader located within the stand-alone printing kiosk. Selected images are then printed on high quality digital photo paper. Photos can be customized with borders, backgrounds and other features. To pay for the photos, passengers simply swipe their “Sail & Sign” shipboard card. For more information, call the Travel Desk in Almaden at (408) 723-0283.

—By Sean Eastwood