Coastal LA hopes for a better year

With the Deepwater Horizon well now permanently sealed and workers associated with the oil spill’s clean up slowly moving out of the coastal communities, tourism officials are hoping visitors will soon fill local hotel rooms.

“We’re hoping that all our efforts to market the area and let people know our seafood is safe will convince them it’s OK to visit,” said Kelly Gustafson, director of the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Consider these facts about Louisiana seafood:

For more information, contact the Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 688-2732 or www.houma tourism.com. Visit www.AAA .com/Traveler (November /December 2010) for a story about the Louisiana Gulf Coast oil spill recovery.

– Cheré Coen is a contributor from Lafayette, La.

Volunteer walkers hit the beach

On Nov. 6, 4,000 volunteers walked 825 miles of Florida shoreline and uploaded their photos to share to tell travelers the state’s beaches are as gorgeous as ever.

“By sharing thousands of photos of every one of Florida’s 825 miles of beaches, we will put to rest any lingering concerns from (last) summer’s oil spill,” said Will Seccombe, VISIT Florida chief marketing officer.

Photos are available to view at www.VISITFLORIDA.com/beachwalk.

AAA full-service offices have maps, TourBooks®, TripTiks® and discounted admission tickets to theme parks to members planning a Florida vacation.

AAA Travel experts experience new ships

Three AAA Travel professionals recently experienced two new cruise ships, Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas, and Celebrity Cruises’ Eclipse. Kelley Gonzalez, a AAA Travel agent in the Florissant, Mo., office, sailed on one of Allure’s first cruises. Tamara Sehl, travel marketing administrator, and Sue Wells, vice president of travel, sailed on the Eclipse as part of AAA’s Friends and Family Cruise. Here’s what our at-sea correspondents had to say.

AAA Southern Traveler: There’s been a lot of publicity concerning entertainment options onboard the Allure of the Seas. With the DreamWorks Animation character parades and shows; the at-sea debut of “Chicago: The Musical”; aerial, aqua and ice shows, how would you rate live entertainment on the ship?

Kelley Gonzalez: “Chicago” was very good. The dancers in the show were exceptional. It was a little long for a cruise show–about 90 minutes–but the familiarity of the music and the great dancing were a joy.

We had a 15-minute sneak peek of (the outdoor aquatic show) “OceanAria.” Above us–with no net–two artists performed aerial acrobatics.

The water show–with the fountains, music and lights–was gorgeous.

I found the DreamWorks aspect an awesome addition. Prior to the ice show, which had a theme based on the movie, “How to Train Your Dragon,” several of the characters came out and interacted with the audience.

Also, there are different areas of the ship that have the characters available for photos at designated times.

The character parade every night down the promenade was awesome. Get the best view for the parade from the Rising Tide bar. Get there about 30 minutes before the parade starts. There were so many characters present, and they mingled with the kids. The colors were wonderful, and the music was so fun.

I recommend passengers reserve shows online before they leave for their cruise to guarantee seating. Once on the ship, come to the venue at least 10 minutes before a show. The cruise staff will swipe your stateroom key card at the door. It was very easy.

ST: The Allure is a huge ship: 1,187 feet long, 213 feet high from the water line, 16 passenger decks. More than 6,000 passengers can be accommodated per sailing. Is getting around such a vessel manageable?

KG: I found it very easy to get around the Allure. If you just remember that Deck 5 is the promenade, it all makes sense. We used it as a crossing point from one side to the next. There were plenty of elevators and stairs, as well. Many of the public rooms had ramped entrances for guests in wheelchairs or scooters, so that made it easier all the way around.

ST: Any final thoughts about Allure of the Seas?

KG: The embarkation and debarkation of a cruise can be its downfall. The Allure, as well as the Oasis of the Seas (its sister ship), are doing something right. I have been on many ships and due to the sheer size and passenger capacity of these two, I was amazed at how smooth and quick getting on and off the ship is handled. Smooth as silk and very timely.

Overall, it was a great getaway. The staff is exceptional. At every turn, they greeted you with a smile and hello.

ST: Royal Caribbean International’s Celebrity brand appeals to the cruise passenger who is looking for a bit of sophistication, and much has been said in the travel trade about onboard dining choices. How would you rate your meals onboard the Eclipse?

Tamara Sehl: We chose the traditional fixed seating in the Moonlight Sonata Dining Room, a two-story venue of understated elegance. New and fixed items are on the menu each night, offering beef, chicken or pork, pasta and vegetarian selections. The presentation is beautiful and the meals are very flavorful. There is a number of specialty restaurants on the ship, too.

Sue Wells: I did not eat at Qsine but spoke to people who did. They were very impressed and said it was quite a dining experience with so many items to try. They highly recommended it.

ST: Passenger enrichment opportunities–classes, workshops and lectures–are a big part of the Celebrity experience. While some of these workshops involve additional charges, did you experience any enrichment offering?

TS: The glass-blowing demonstration is unbelievable. This is done daily, and whatever is made during the demonstration is used on the ship.

ST: This ship is being touted as one that’s sleek, pretty, easy on your eyes. Was the visual appeal noticeable?

TS: This is not your average cruise ship. The design is modern and sleek, with glass staircases, marble floors and lots of common areas, which is nice for meeting new people.

The majority (85 percent) of staterooms have balconies, and I loved the chairs on ours. Not only can you sit to eat or write from the table, but they recline to relax and just look at the view.

ST: Did you have any favorite public areas?

TS: I absolutely loved the solarium, an adult-only area that’s like a Zen paradise. It’s so quiet and comfortable. You never have to search for a chaise. It’s a wonderful place to totally relax. I loved to go there and read.

The new iLounge (internet cafe) is kind of cool. All the computers are Apple laptops. You can even purchase an iPad here. The set up is nice, too. The outdoor running/walking track is different because it goes around the ship and you don’t have to navigate any stairs, unlike other ships. It’s flat. A lot of people were using it.

AAA Travel will showcase Cruise Week, Jan. 24–29, in its travel agency offices. Through-out the week, special offers from Celebrity, Royal Carib-bean and other preferred cruise lines will be available. Call your AAA Travel agent or (888) 366-4222 for more information about Cruise Week.

Travel trend in 2011: group tours

Arevival of group tours is one of the trends expected in travel for 2011.

“With the economic recovery still in progress, many travelers are looking for a great experience at a lower price point,” said Sue Wells, vice president of AAA Travel.

Group tours provide value with unique destinations, and some of those sought-after areas of the world for this year will include Libya, Jordan and Zimbabwe.

Learn about what’s new for travel this year–and take advantage of deals–at the annual Travel Market Place, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Cruise and tour representatives, AAA Travel agents will be at the show. Day-of-show specials, seminars, door prizes and free passport photos will be available.

For more information, call (314) 523-7350, ext. 6500.