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Franchise independently owned and operated by
Richman, O'Hare & Associates, Lantana, FL
Main Number (561) 899-3206 |
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a publication by Richman, O'Hare & Associates
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August 2014 |
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Greetings!
We are very privileged to be in a business where our objective is to help people create incredible memories!
We received an email one evening (while still composing this newsletter) from a client in upstate NY who was referring a good friend to us. The comment that touched our hearts though was "I have not gone on any cruises since my husband passed away in 2012. I am so glad I have wonderful memories of the times we did sail."
She also updated us on her two children that we met years ago in Miami when they went on a little spring break cruise on the Majesty of the Seas. One is now a Physician's Assistant with 2 kids and the other a teacher at the State University who has also married. WOW, how time flies!
Recently, another client, Eileen Scanks of Friendship (love the name), TX sent us a picture from their first cruise on the Carnival Tropicale in 1984. No, we did not book that one for her, in fact we didn't go on our own first cruise until 13 years later (1997). And it wasn't until 2002 when we began as Cruise Specialists and could help our own customers create new memories (and first cruise experiences) of their own.
We have always recommended that "first timers" purchase the Welcome Aboard picture from their first cruise as that is a memory that cannot be duplicated (it's like your first kiss.)
Continue reading our own personal 'first cruise' picture story and how we almost lost it in FYI - Memories continued
We would be pleased to have you share your first, or any special memory picture from a cruise so we can feature it in a future CNAV. Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Al & Helen
on behalf of the entire team at Richman, O'Hare & Associates |
Our Exclusive Customer Monthly Appreciation Program | |
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FYI- Memories continued |
We had a terrible scare ourselves this week. Those who have been to our home have seen our personal "Cruise Memory Wall" but we had to take all the pictures down when moving the house in 2012. They have lived in boxes in several storage units and most recently, our shed. We finally were able to get the boxes out of the shed (after a year) and, unfortunately, moisture had gotten in and many pictures and the frames were ruined including our personal first Welcome Aboard (below). We fell in love with the concept of cruising vacations during that first experience, but little did we know that 4 years later it would become our business.
The pictures we were able to salvage are now in an album. Luckily, we had a copy of that first picture in a photo file on an old computer and were able to print a copy to put in the album (plus one for the wall in the office affectionately known around here as "Cruise Central") where we work to create new memories for all our clients.
Those of you who became clients back in 2002-2005, probably still have the little blue book we wrote and sent to everyone we booked, called "Al & Helen's Personal Cruising Tips and Tricks."
Talk about a memory! One of the things we wrote about in that book was making friends with your Cabin Attendant and why. The Christmas Pin Helen is wearing in this Welcome Aboard picture got lost during that cruise and we asked the cabin attendant if he might have seen it - plus we checked at the lost and found daily but to no avail.
The last day of the cruise, our cabin attendant, who had seen the pin on Helen earlier in the week, told us he spotted it in another cabin in his section, but could not just remove it without talking to those people first. He did that evening and brought the pin back to us. The Christmas Tree pin was a favorite of Helen's Mom, and it became Helen's after she passed away - something impossible to replace!
Since that first cruise, over the last 18 years we have had some incredible vacation memories while on cruises both of places and people (including many of you who are reading this).
Don't take the memories you create today for granted! In the years to come, they will become much more valuable. Don't end up in your later years saying to yourself "if only..........!"
Want to share one of your special memories? We would love to hear about yours and feature it in a future issue of CNAV and maybe someone may can get an idea that will be of benefit as well.
The "Secret Word" for August is MEMORIES |
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August Question of the Month and July Question Results |
Our question last month was "Do you think you get the best price/value booking earlier or later?" The results were:
67% said "Earlier"
33% said 'Later"
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For August, our question is about the dining experience.
There are many reasons a cruise vacation has always been considered such a good value. Food, entertainment, accommodations, only unpacking once and still visiting new places/islands almost every day.
Today, cruise ships are getting so much bigger with more activity choices as well as specialty restaurants instead of the main dining room or the buffet. However, most specialty restaurants, do have a small additional charge.
There are Steak Houses (regular and Brazilian style), as well as French, Italian, and many other types to give people many choices. Is this a good or bad thing? Apparently good, since they keep adding them on the new ships and people must be making reservations and enjoying the new culinary experiences.
The question for August is twofold:
1) Do you think the specialty restaurants are worth going to and priced fairly?
2) Do you think the quality of the food and dining experience has gone down in the "included" choices to get people to pay for the specialty restaurants?
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Client Recommendations & More! | |
This is our clients' section to share thoughts, opinions and perhaps photos from ports they visit, excursions to take (or avoid), ships, or anything you feel others should know about to make their cruise vacation better.
The Chessin's from New Jersey sent the following about their recent Baltic cruise on Emerald Princess.
"St. Petersburg was outstanding - the history and the "wow" factor can't be put into words.
We also enjoyed Tallin - a small medieval town and Brugge - the best chocolate in the world!! Brugge can definitely be done on your own. Download a walking tour and follow it.
We enjoyed the Vasa Museum in Stockholm - not to be missed.
We did Oslo and Copenhagen on our own and with a little research, it's very easy.
In Oslo, the tourist office is near the pier. You can buy an Oslo card for the day which covers most museums and all transportation."
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We recently met Ardeth Herbel (in the striped blouse next to Helen in red) and her family (kids and grandkids) from NJ and PA prior to their cruise on Caribbean Princess in July. The picture was taken at the LaQuinta Inn and Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport which we have been recommending for a long time, and many of our clients have enjoyed this property pre-cruise.
Notice the table? This was only a short time before going to the ship so maybe the kids were afraid there would not be any food?
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Featured Cruise Line - Holland America |
Holland America Line is widely recognized as a leader in the premium segment of the cruise industry. The company's fleet of 15 ships annually offers more than 500 cruises to 415 ports of call in 98 countries, territories or dependencies. From one-day mini-vacations to once-in-a-lifetime Grand World Voyages of more than 100 days, the line visits all seven continents to call at a variety of exotic, tropical, historical, cultural and adventure-filled destinations. The line currently has a new ship on order from Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in February 2016.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE'S FIVE-STAR FLEET
Ship Name |
Delivery |
Passenger Capacity | |
ms Nieuw Amsterdam |
2010 |
2,106 | |
ms Eurodam |
2008 |
2,104 | |
ms Noordam |
2006 |
1,972 | |
ms Westerdam |
2004 |
1,916 | |
ms Oosterdam |
2003 |
1,916 | |
ms Zuiderdam |
2002 |
1,916 | |
ms Prinsendam |
2002 |
835 | |
ms Amsterdam |
2000 |
1,380 | |
ms Zaandam |
2000 |
1,432 | |
ms Volendam |
1999 |
1,432 | |
ms Rotterdam |
1997 |
1,404 | |
ms Veendam |
1996 |
1,350 | |
ms Ryndam |
1994 |
1,260 | |
ms Maasdam |
1993 |
1,258 | |
ms Statendam |
1993 |
1,260 | |
TBD |
2016 |
2,648 |
Highlights: 1873 - Present
Celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2013, Holland America Line has carried more than 11 million passengers from Europe to the New World and to vacation destinations across the globe since its founding. Today, it carries more than 800,000 cruise passengers a year.
- Holland America Line began in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, a shipping and passenger line. It became known as Holland America Line because it was headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and provided service to the Americas.
- The company's first ocean liner was Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden 15-day voyage from Rotterdam to New York City on Oct. 15, 1872.
- By its 25th anniversary, Holland America Line owned a fleet of six cargo and passenger ships. It also was providing service between Holland and the Dutch East Indies via the newly constructed Suez Canal.
- The line was a principal carrier of immigrants from Europe to the United States from the 1880s to the 1920s, taking 850,000 passengers to new lives in the New World.
- In 1895, the company offered its first vacation cruise. Its second leisure cruise - from New York to the Holy Land - was in 1910.
- In 1971, Holland America Line suspended its trans-Atlantic passenger trade and offered cruise vacations full time.
- In 1989, Holland America Line Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corp., the largest cruise company in the world.
Worldwide Itineraries and One-of-a-Kind Programs
Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships visits all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages, Grand World Voyages and popular sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.
Holland America Line launched Signature of Excellence in 2003, designed to enhance all aspects of the guest experience: elegant accommodations, sophisticated five-star dining, gracious, award-winning service and extensive enrichment programs and activities. To date, Holland America Line has invested more than $500 million in Signature of Excellence. Its one-of-a-kind programs and enhancements include:
Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine: a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where celebrated guest chefs and experts provide cooking demonstrations, wine-tastings, a cocktail mixology, hands-on themed cooking classes for both adults and kids, and other entertainment presentations.
New "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" experience featuring theme cruises in 2013 and 2014, a chance to meet the dancers and see a dazzling production starring celebrities and the famed dance pros. In addition, all ships also will feature an exclusive "Dancing with the Stars" program including dance lessons and an opportunity for a few lucky guests to dance center stage in an exciting dance-off performance leading to top winners enjoying a chance to compete for a Mirror Ball Trophy on the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champions Cruise in 2014.
An Evening at Le Cirque takes place in the Pinnacle Grill one evening on each cruise. The line re-created the legendary eatery's whimsical ambiance and award-winning dining experience on-board. Menus, wine selections, table decorations and the restaurant setting reflect an authentic Le Cirque dining experience.
New alternative, vegetarian-only menu, as well as 30 new vegetarian dishes to the main dining room menu.
A new 20-dish Master Chef's International Dinner in the main dining room showcases signature dishes from around the world.
Taste of De Librije aboard ms Rotterdam and ms Eurodam that features the cuisine of Culinary Council member and Michelin Three Star Chef Jonnie Boer. The menu showcases a selection of starters, soups, entrees and desserts from his land-based eatery.
A sustainable seafood program that supports environmentally responsible purchasing practices and features menus that showcase best and good choice sustainable seafood.
As part of its social responsibility initiative, Holland America Line contributes more than $1 million a year in cash, in-kind shipboard events and useable goods to a broad range of charitable organizations nationally and internationally. In addition, the line provides over 2,000 reduced-fare cruises annually to support charitable fundraising events throughout the United States and Canada.
The innovative On Deck for a Cause program is a non-competitive 5k fundraising walk held on each sailing. This program, announced in February 2013, supports cancer organizations in North America, Europe and Australia: Cancer Council Australia, Canadian Cancer Society, Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid), KWF Kankerbestrijding (Dutch Cancer Society), Cancer Research UK and American Cancer Society.
The information provided was copied from the Holland America Cruise Line website section About Us. |
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Our Client Loyalty Rewards Program |
We want to do more than just tell you how much we appreciate your loyalty. We want to show you! With every reservation you make with a Richman. O'Hare & Associate Agent, you will receive Reward Points for that reservation.
Here are the basics of this program.
Each passenger over the age of 21 receives one (1) point per night sailed.
Once you have accumulated 50 points, you choose whether you wish to receive either a $50 on board credit or a $75 credit towards our travel protection for your next trip.
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ROA Franchise Agent of the Month | |
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August Secret Word of the Month | 
Each month, only for subscribers of CNAV, we have a "Secret Word" and it is worth a $25 on-board credit.
To receive this special bonus, you just have to mention the current "Secret Word" when making a new reservation with your Richman, O'Hare & Associate agent.
The "Secret Word" for August can be found in FYI -Memories continued. |
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 And a little humor to end with.........
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Internet security and figuring out a "password" to protect your computer or online presence is important not only personally but for companies as well.
During a recent password audit by a company, it was found that one employee was using the following password;
"MickyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento"
When asked why such a long password, the person rolled their eyes and said
"Hello! It has to be at least 8 characters and include one capital!"
A Joy Filled month to You And Yours |
The Team at Richman, O'Hare & Associates | |
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All Clients who make a new reservation during the month are automatically entered into that month's drawing with the winner receiving $25 on-board credit for the qualifying reservation.
