Now is an extremely nerve-racking and exhilarating time for me. While I started in travel in 1978 and worked as a travel agent for 16 years from 1978 to 1994, I left travel at that time to pursue other options. During that period I worked in the banking, medical, and automotive industries as a teller, medical records analyzer, computer operator, customer service representative, and a technical trainer. I also completed my Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems, Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Masters Degree in Business / Human Resources, and almost completed a second Masters Degree in Business Management.
In 2007 after much deliberation and soul searching, I decided to start back in travel with my own agency. This has been such an exciting time for me working on travel arrangements for friends, associates, clients, and groups! I have even had the opportunity to escort one group to Alaska with another group coming up in March. That is so exciting going out with others and having a group of friends / clients traveling together experiencing the wonderful excitement of cruising. During this time I have worked my agency in my spare time while working at a full time employment. This has been difficult with trying to spend as much time as I wanted dealing with learning new travel destinations and gaining new clients.
Beginning October 1, 2009, I will be working my travel agency on a full time basis! Very scary and very exciting! I will finally be able to spend the time that I want dealing with my customers and learning about new destinations. I have one client looking for a destination wedding, so I will be able to gather information about that. Was this my choice to take this route? No, I did not plan on leaving my employment at this time, but my contract is ending, so I will take the opportunity!
The timing is wonderful since my home office is hosting a corporate convention leaving on October 4, 2009 on the Carnival Pride from Baltimore, which I will be attending learning new methods of promoting my business and exciting industry changes. So many new ships are coming out in the next couple of years, constant changes are occurring.
As I stated earlier, I love hosting groups. My first experience hosting was back in the 80’s with a group to Acapulco. Last year I had a small group of family and friends who traveled with me to Alaska on the Norwegian Star. That was so wonderful having so many people to experience the beautiful sights of Alaska with me. By traveling in a group everyone always had someone to do an excursion with. Then, at the end of the day, we were all able to share our experiences about the excursions.
In March I will be hosting a Singles Spring Break Cruise – March 21 – 27, 2010 aboard the Carnival Freedom. This week, I had an article published in the Dayton Single Source News Magazine talking about cruising and the group. I am hoping that the trip sells out! We have room for a total of 52 passengers so it will not be a large group. The cruise will be going to Key West, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica! We will also have 2 days at sea to enjoy the ship.
The Carnival Freedom is a huge ship that offers, pools, spa, casino, several lounges and bars, nightly entertainment, and a huge movie screen so that we can have movie night out by the pool enjoying movie and pop corn! The ship will offer many activities throughout the cruise, in fact when you travel on a ship and look at the daily activities, it is sometimes difficult to decide what you ‘have to do’ and what you will not have time for! We will also be offering group activities so that our traveling companions will have the opportunity to get acquainted with their fellow group members.
Some of the activities that we are planning include – a meet and greet pool party, a hosted cocktail reception, friendly sporting competition on the miniature golf course, movie night under the stars – I’ll even provide the pop corn! We will also be able to offer you the chance to do excursions as a group. That does not mean that you ‘have’ to travel with us at all times, but if you want we will have that available to you for a group excursion!
So drop me an email and plan to travel with us on this trip to the exciting Carnival Freedom! Future groups will be offered and announcements will be forthcoming.
Contact – Carol or Peg at cmontgomery@cruisesinc.com or check out our web site at www.flyawaycruises.com
Oh my, I almost forgot, my companies 2 year anniversary was on Aug 1st! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!!
Showing posts with label alaska cruise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alaska cruise. Show all posts
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Traveling with a food allergy.
A very good friend of mine will be traveling with us on the Singles Spring Break – 2010 cruise aboard the Carnival Freedom, she asked me; ‘Will I be able to eat while on the cruise?’ To most of this, we do not understand the concern; however, if you have a friend or family member with a gluten allergy, the question is highly logical. I have been out to eat with her at many restaurants where it becomes an issue finding something on the menu that she can eat. We went to a steak house one night and they told us that they did not have anything on the menu she could eat. (Very depressing!)
I started looking into what could she eat on the Carnival Freedom and would she have a issue. The answer in this case to this cruise is….I DON’T THINK SO!! Carnival works with passengers who have food allergies each and every week. While it is best for you to have your Travel Agent inform them in the prior to traveling to ensure that the chefs are prepared for the allergy.
Each cruise lines handles the request differently, but on Carnival they request that you inform your Maître Dee on the first day so that they can make a note of the needs. Each evening you will be shown the menu for the next day’s meals and you will make your selections at that time. This will give the galley time to prepare your meals and ensure that you will have the same wonderful meals that your table mates are enjoying. Some of the items that you will be able to enjoy are Eggs Benedict, pasta dishes, bread, pizza, and molten chocolate cake! (Of course they are modified for your needs.)
Passengers who have provided a review based on their experience with these meals have said that they are very delicious and that they enjoyed them tremendously. So if you have a food allergy or some other medical concern that will need to be addressed so that you too can have a fabulous trip, make sure you let your travel agent know ahead of time.
I hope you are looking forward to traveling with us on our Singles Spring Break – March 21 – 27, 2010 aboard the Carnival Freedom. Visit our web site at http://www.flyawaycruises.com/ or drop me a email at cmontgomery@cruisesinc.com we are currently holding space for 50 of your close friends and would enjoy your company on the trip!
Carol
I started looking into what could she eat on the Carnival Freedom and would she have a issue. The answer in this case to this cruise is….I DON’T THINK SO!! Carnival works with passengers who have food allergies each and every week. While it is best for you to have your Travel Agent inform them in the prior to traveling to ensure that the chefs are prepared for the allergy.
Each cruise lines handles the request differently, but on Carnival they request that you inform your Maître Dee on the first day so that they can make a note of the needs. Each evening you will be shown the menu for the next day’s meals and you will make your selections at that time. This will give the galley time to prepare your meals and ensure that you will have the same wonderful meals that your table mates are enjoying. Some of the items that you will be able to enjoy are Eggs Benedict, pasta dishes, bread, pizza, and molten chocolate cake! (Of course they are modified for your needs.)
Passengers who have provided a review based on their experience with these meals have said that they are very delicious and that they enjoyed them tremendously. So if you have a food allergy or some other medical concern that will need to be addressed so that you too can have a fabulous trip, make sure you let your travel agent know ahead of time.
I hope you are looking forward to traveling with us on our Singles Spring Break – March 21 – 27, 2010 aboard the Carnival Freedom. Visit our web site at http://www.flyawaycruises.com/ or drop me a email at cmontgomery@cruisesinc.com we are currently holding space for 50 of your close friends and would enjoy your company on the trip!
Carol
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Recently, I was told ‘start a blog,’ so here is my NEW blog!
First let me introduce myself, I’m Carol Montgomery from Bellbrook, Ohio and I love to travel. Well, yes I love to travel, but mainly I love to cruise! When I was a senior in High School way back in 1978 at Bellbrook Sr. High, I decided to be an Account. Already enrolled at Bowling Green University, my mother saw an advertisement in a magazine for Southeastern Academy and without asking anyone, sent off the form.
I was a little surprised with the recruiter called to set up an appointment, but decided to talk to the man. The recruiter came to our house to talk about this wonderful travel school in Kissimmee Florida. Thinking that it sounded like a lot of fun, I decided to attend Southeastern Academy! Upon graduation from Bellbrook Sr. High in June, I was packed up and on the plane to Florida. Oh the fun we had….but that is a totally different story!
After graduation from Southeastern Academy, it was off to work as a travel agent! That was a field I was in from 1978 to 1999. The trips I not only arranged for business, vacation, and group travelers were so exciting and I was even able to escort a few of my groups! Talk about exhilarating!!
The travels that I was able to take were so much fun and I always held a special place for the cruises! Oh, the first time that I stepped onto Norwegian Cruise Lines Starward I was hooked for life! Currently I have traveled on 5 cruises with 2 more scheduled in the next year! Stepping onto the ship still brings back that excitement and offers so much to the traveler!
But, I haven’t finished my story…after high school; I did not attend college, but instead went to ‘Trade School.’ Don’t get me wrong, without that trade school; I would not have had the opportunities that I took by being a travel agent. Deciding that I wanted to go back to school, I am now happy to say a college graduate, not one time…but, 3 times soon to have my 4th degree! I have an Associates from Sinclair Community College, a Bachelors from Urbana University, my 1st Masters from Central Michagan University, almost completed my 2nd Masters from Keller University, and I’m contemplating going on for my PHD! In my opinion, it was a great idea for me not to attend college straight out of high school.
In 2007, I decided that I missed the travel industry. Not wanting to go back to work for a agency and not wanting to quit my ‘day job’ I started a home based agency! Oh how the industry has changed since 1999! My business is called Fly Away Cruises.
This is so exciting to me, to actually be a member of such a wonderful organization!
First let me introduce myself, I’m Carol Montgomery from Bellbrook, Ohio and I love to travel. Well, yes I love to travel, but mainly I love to cruise! When I was a senior in High School way back in 1978 at Bellbrook Sr. High, I decided to be an Account. Already enrolled at Bowling Green University, my mother saw an advertisement in a magazine for Southeastern Academy and without asking anyone, sent off the form.
I was a little surprised with the recruiter called to set up an appointment, but decided to talk to the man. The recruiter came to our house to talk about this wonderful travel school in Kissimmee Florida. Thinking that it sounded like a lot of fun, I decided to attend Southeastern Academy! Upon graduation from Bellbrook Sr. High in June, I was packed up and on the plane to Florida. Oh the fun we had….but that is a totally different story!
After graduation from Southeastern Academy, it was off to work as a travel agent! That was a field I was in from 1978 to 1999. The trips I not only arranged for business, vacation, and group travelers were so exciting and I was even able to escort a few of my groups! Talk about exhilarating!!
The travels that I was able to take were so much fun and I always held a special place for the cruises! Oh, the first time that I stepped onto Norwegian Cruise Lines Starward I was hooked for life! Currently I have traveled on 5 cruises with 2 more scheduled in the next year! Stepping onto the ship still brings back that excitement and offers so much to the traveler!
But, I haven’t finished my story…after high school; I did not attend college, but instead went to ‘Trade School.’ Don’t get me wrong, without that trade school; I would not have had the opportunities that I took by being a travel agent. Deciding that I wanted to go back to school, I am now happy to say a college graduate, not one time…but, 3 times soon to have my 4th degree! I have an Associates from Sinclair Community College, a Bachelors from Urbana University, my 1st Masters from Central Michagan University, almost completed my 2nd Masters from Keller University, and I’m contemplating going on for my PHD! In my opinion, it was a great idea for me not to attend college straight out of high school.
In 2007, I decided that I missed the travel industry. Not wanting to go back to work for a agency and not wanting to quit my ‘day job’ I started a home based agency! Oh how the industry has changed since 1999! My business is called Fly Away Cruises.
This is so exciting to me, to actually be a member of such a wonderful organization!
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