From Chuck Weinstein, Co-Chair, 36th Annual IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy, Seattle, WA, August 7-12, 2016:
If you wish to book one of our cruises, the booking information is at the bottom. Due to limited availability, our travel agent will have to take deposits on a first-come first-served basis. First of all, I want to thank all of you who indicated to me that you were interested in taking an Alaska cruise either before or after the Conference in Seattle, next summer. When we sent out the message, we hoped we might get 20 or 25 responses, enough to put together a group of about 40-50. I received over 60 responses, indicating an interest from a total of over 130 people, including spouses and families (and, in at least one case, neighbors) Due to the timing of cruises available, many of the cruises we looked at were already close to or completely sold out. We determined that by booking through Sharon Furlong, a travel agent who is very experienced with Alaska cruises, we could offer each cruiser a personalized experience based on their interests. There is no additional charge for this service, and she will make you aware of discounts available, which may include retired military, AARP, former cruisers, etc. Instructions for booking follow the descriptions of the cruises. All cruises depart from the Seattle Ship Terminal Pier 91, which is a convenient 10 minute cab ride from the Conference hotel. As noted, some of these cruises have specials for people who book quickly. In order to make the cruises available to the most people possible, we have decided to offer three choices:
Pre-Conference Cruise
A Pre-Conference Cruise departs Seattle, Friday afternoon, July 29, 2016 at 5:00 PM, returning to Seattle on Friday morning, August 5, 2016 at 8 AM onboard the Celebrity Solstice. The seven day itinerary is scheduled to take you to Ketchikan, Alaska, Tracy Arm Fjord (cruising through the fjord and glaciers), Juneau, and Skagway, Alaska on the northbound route and cruising the Inside Passage with a port call in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the return leg. This is a family-friendly cruise with many amenities available for children. Prices start at $1299 per person, double occupancy for an inside cabin. For cabins with an ocean view or a balcony, the prices are higher. Note these fees do not include approximately $200 per person in taxes and port fees, and any other amenities you may wish to purchase. The Celebrity Solstice receives top ratings consistently from people who have taken cruises on it as reported by http://www.cruisecritic.com, which ranks cruise ships based on objective measurements of quality and allows individuals to rank ships by quality, as well. By the way, this website offers a lot of great information, whether this is your first cruise or your hundredth. There are additional costs for more than two people in a cabin and prices are not guaranteed until the cabin is booked with a deposit of at least $500. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions, photographs, WI-FI and medical services are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account. Prices are not firm till the day of booking. Deposit is due at the time of booking.
Two Post-Conference Cruise Choices
We have elected to offer two post-conference cruises, both departing Seattle on Sunday, August 14 at 4 in the afternoon and returning Sunday, August 21 in the morning. Boarding begins at 1:00 PM and you must be aboard by 3:30 PM. Both ships appeal to slightly different clientele, so you may wish to consider this.
The Ruby Princess offers a variety of opportunities for a family oriented cruiser. Departing from Seattle, the itinerary includes port stops at Ketchikan and Juneau, a morning cruise around the Tracy Arm Fjord, a day in Skagway, and a day in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the return. Rates begin at about $950 per person, double occupancy and to that, you must add about $225 in taxes and port fees. If you put down a refundable deposit of $500 per person by October 29, there is a price reduction on this cruise. The Ruby Princess is also rated highly on www.cruisecritic.com. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI and medical services are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI and medical services are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account. Prices are not firm till the day of booking. Deposit is due at the time of booking.
The Holland America Lines’ MS Amsterdam departs Seattle and offers a more adult-oriented cruise. Holland America is a preferred choice for distinguished and experienced cruisers, but it is not expensive. Port stops include Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, Alaska, plus Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, as well as a cruise around the mouth of the Hubbard Glacier, and around scenic Stephen’s Passage on the Inside Passage and around Puget Sound. Rates start at $1,179 per person, double occupancy, with port charges and taxes of about $255. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI and medical services are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account. For all cruises alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees , specialty restaurant, spa services, shore excursions , photographs, WI-FI and medical services are available to purchase at an extra charge onboard added to your shipboard account. Prices are not firm till the day of booking. Deposit is due at the time of booking.
| Booking Your Cruise |
| We have made exclusive arrangements with Sharon Furlong , a Travel Agent who has over 30 years of experience with Sharon’s Travelers, an affiliate of Incentive Connection Travel, to book cruises on behalf of the Conference attendees. She has already reserved a limited number of cabins for each cruise for conference attendees and their families and friends. You may contact Sharon Furlong by Email at sharonstravelers@hotmail.com, or contact Sharon directly at (631) 357-7947 for voice or for text messages. Please do not call her between the hours of 6 PM to 9 AM, Eastern Time (GMT-4), as this is her cell number. Sharon is the owner and she will personally handle your booking. Please do not contact the Conference chairs or IAJGS, as Sharon has all the information available on these cruises.
When you Email Sharon, please use the subject line: IAJGS CRUISE. If you text her, please mention IAJGS Cruise at least once in the exchange. If you have food requirements (Kosher, Vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.), please mention that in your Email or text. Sharon will require your full legal name as stated on your passport, for all traveling with you in your cabin, DOB, Residence of what Country, mailing address ,airport departure city, Passport number and expiration date. Please note you must be 21 years or older to be in a cruise cabin or have a connecting room cabin with an adult. Single people in a cabin will pay a double cabin rate. Please look and make sure your passport will not be expiring before March, 2017, or you will have to renew your passport now to take the cruise in Aug 2016. US and Canadian citizens will not require a visa, but citizens of other countries may require a Canadian visa for all cruises that stop in Victoria. A Credit Card will be the form of payment for Deposit and final payment with the cruise lines. If you are interested in doing anything other than staying aboard the ship during port calls, Sharon can recommend shore excursions for what you are interested in doing and seeing. For those of you who are looking for a package that includes both the cruise and your air fare to Seattle, Sharon can help with that as well. In addition, for those of you who expressed interest in a longer or different cruise, Sharon can help you make those arrangements as well. Please note that if you book through another travel agent or through the cruise lines direct, you will not be able to get any conference discounts that are available, and the conference will not get credit for your travel. What’s Included in a Cruise price: Taxes and fees are included in your final booking prices. All meals onboard including 24 hour room service Coffee, tea, milk, juice and non-bottled water Onboard entertainment including shows, discos, comedy clubs, bars, lounges, etc. Age appropriate kids programming for toddlers, kids, and teens. Use of all fitness facilities, pools, hot tubs, sports courts, Not Included: Airfare and transfers to the ship Gratuities Casino gambling or Bingo Meals in any alternative or special dining restaurants or venues Soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees, or alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, spirits. Shore Excursions and sightseeing tours Spa or Salon Services Items of a personal nature like souvenirs, photos Travel Insurance (recommended) Thank you for your interest. We look forward to seeing you in Seattle and enjoy a lovely cruise! Bon voyage! |