Beyond Group Travel

A BGT Introduction and Insider’s View of Marina

2011-05-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Are you a regular reader of the Beyond Group Travel blog? If so, take a guess at who the author is! Did you guess Cindy? Oops, you are incorrect. Did you guess Linda? I’m so sorry to say that you did not select the right answer, yet again. It’s a face you may only have seen once on our blog.
Now you know our blog author

I’m Krista Borchard, Assistant Tour Coordinator at Beyond Group Travel, Inc. I met Cindy and Linda in May of 2010, just a few short months after the incorporation of BGT, and I began working with them at the beginning of August 2010. For further interest, you can read about our entire staff here. If you have traveled with us since that time, perhaps we have spoken via phone or you have received an email or two from me. If we have not met or spoken, then I hope to hear from you soon as one of our travelers!

Now, to be fair in my above statements, the three of us compose these blogs together We are, in fact, a team, and we eagerly put this information together to share with you via our blog. That said, you remember that Linda and Cindy have seen Oceania Cruises most beautiful Marina, correct?! Recall this post from their trip to Miami.

Now how do you suppose one composes a post about a ship she’s never seen? You must rely on second hand information and photos, right?! Well, not anymore! This girl has now walked the fresh carpet of Marina! I’m excited to share with you that I was able to make a day trip to Miami to see this ship in all her glory and, most importantly, beauty. I was one of the lead stalker’s in the construction updates of Marina, and I agree with posts and reviews that this must be the best ship to sail the high seas in 50+ years (although I know there’s quite a few years in there that I was not able to vouch for).

With camera in tow (including additional lenses, batteries and memory cards), it was off to the races once I was onboard. In just one hour’s time, I was able to capture over 200 photos across 10 decks. Oh yes, hurrying was involved, don’t you worry. I can imagine the picture that comes to mind of such an insane amateur photographer, but it’s ok; I don’t own a fanny pack and nor did I wear one.

More importantly, I was highly impressed with Marina’s décor, and even that is putting it lightly. I think one would naturally expect a new ship to be constructed well and have new technology, all details engineers, architects, etc. would take great interest in. But it’s the fabric on the chairs, the selection of furniture and lighting that peaks my interest! Having seen this ship, I can’t imagine why one would sail on any other vessel Oh wait…there is ONE other ship that I would make an exception for; Marina’s sister ship, Riviera, which will take her inaugural sail April 2012. You can actually join our group for this maiden voyage sailing of Rivieria! She’ll travel from Barcelona to Athens for her first voyage. We are able to offer 2 for 1 cruise fares, a free hotel night pre-cruise, free airfare, an a bonus $1,000 savings per stateroom if you reserve with us before August 31, 2011. This actually applies to all of our 2012 Europe sailings!

Now, you may notice that I have not shared one single photo of my trek through Marina with you as we do in our normal posts. Well, after over 200 photos, I did not presume you would like to scroll for days on end. Thus, I present you with an easy viewing method of everything I captured onboard. As I snapped away, I kept thinking about what, you, our travelers really needed to see about the beauty of this ship. The abundance of Marina’s beauty, however, makes it difficult to chose just a few key points.

We hope you enjoy this look at Marina!

Our experienced clients can attest that we are experts with Oceania Cruises as they are our preferred vendor. We are happy to help you with any sailing with Oceania, but you can also join Beyond Group Travel for the following group cruises!

Baltic Treasures – June 20 – July 1, 2011 – Marina
10-day Voyage – Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Germany

Treasures of the Continent – July 29 – August 10, 2011 - Marina
12-day Voyage – England, Holland, Belgium, France, and Spain

Grecian Glory – October 1 – October 11, 2011 - Marina
10-day Voyage – Greece, Turkey, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy

Ancient Mysteries – January 21 – February 8, 2012 – Marina
16-day Voyage – Chile and Peru

Splendors of Down Under – February 5 – 22, 2012 – Regatta
16-day Voyage – New Zealand and Australia

Islands in the Sun – February 16 – 26, 2012 - Marina
10-day Voyage – B.V.I., St. Barts, Antigua, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands

Samba Serenade – March 8-22, 2012 –Insignia
12-day Voyage – Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil

Mediterranean Tapestry – April 13-23, 2012 – Riviera
10-day Voyage – Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece

Tuscan Artistry – May 11-22, 2012 – Marina
10-day Voyage – Spain, France, Monaco, Italy

Exotic Lands – June 4-17, 2012 – Riviera
12-day Voyage – Spain, Portugal, Morocco

Italian Reflections – November 7-15, 2012 – Marina
7-day Voyage – Greece, Italy, France, Spain

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours! 713.954.4825

The Best Way to See Australia and New Zealand

2011-03-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Recently, Anne Campbell of ShipCritic Blog wrote a remarkable post detailing cruises that should be considered even for those who ‘wouldn’t be caught dead on a cruise ship.’ We feel she made some tremendous points in stating that seeing Antarctica or Alaska best should be done by cruising. Being able to see the vast size of a glacier from afar on the deck of a cruise ship truly gives you the full picture of the amazement of Antarctica. Much the same, at the railing of a cruise ship, you might best capture breeching whales as you sail the coast of Alaska.

Anne’s words intersected a conversation that we recently had in our office about an upcoming group sailing we have on the 2012 Beyond Group Travel calendar with Oceania Cruises Regatta for Australia and New Zealand.As you look at the 16-day itinerary below, truly think about how you would actually do this much within the same amount of days yet by air/land. Realize that, by land, you’ll be packing and unpacking for each destination.

February 5th – Embark from Auckland, New Zealand at 10:00pm
February 6th - Tauranga, New Zealand from 10:00am to 8:00pm
February 7th - Cruising By White Island/Great Mercury Island
February 8th - Napier, New Zealand from 8:00am to 5:00pm
February 9th - Wellington, New Zealand from 8:00am to 6:00pm
February 10th - Christchurch (Lyttelton), New Zealand from 8:00am to 6:00pm
February 11th - Dunedin, New Zealand from 8:00am to 6:00pm
February 12th - Cruising the Fjords of Milford Sound
February 13th - Cruising the Tasman Sea
February 14th - Cruising the Tasman Sea
February 15th - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia from 8:00am to 6:00pm
February 16th - Cruising the Tasman Sea
February 17th - Geelong, Australia from 8:00am
February 18th - Geelong, Australia to 3:00am
Melbourne, Australia from 8:00am to 6:00pm
February 19th - Cruising the Tasman Sea
February 20th – Arrive Sydney, Australia at 8:00am
February 21st - Sydney, Australia

Seeing this much of Australia and New Zealand in this amount of time is definitely a challenge by land. Your travel time involved is excessive, requiring you to have additional days to experience each of these destinations above. Not to mention, the beauty of White Island/Great Mercury Island, the Fjords of Milford Sound, and the Tasman Sea would all likely be missed. With this fabulous Oceania Cruises sailing, you can pack once and return to the same accommodations each night. There’s no change of mattresses to adjust to, learning a new hotel every night or two nights, or discovering a new place to eat in each destination. You enjoy the plush accommodations of Regatta and delight in the magnificent cuisine, including Toscana, Polo Grill, Terrace Café, Waves and the extraordinary Grand Dining Room, of Oceania Cruises. Not to mention, you can efficiently use your two weeks of vacation for the year!

For these reasons, we echo Anne’s comments when cruising is a necessity, and experiencing Australia and New Zealand during the same trip is the perfect time for a cruise. This mode of travel allows you to see bodies of water that are a photographer’s dream, view country sides thought to be creations in movies, and visit landmarks that will fulfill your bucket list. Even better, you still have additional time at the end of your cruise to see Sydney. No other hotel arrangements are needed as you can return to Regatta to stay for your last night and continue to explore Sydney further the following day.

Without a doubt, we know you will enjoy this cruise with us! After all, not only is it an incredible destination, but this cruise sails on the marvelous Oceania Cruises with the finest cuisine at sea and exquisite service. Come see the splendors of Australia and New Zealand.

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

Five European Countries in One Cruise

2011-03-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Wouldn’t you love to sip wine in France for your next vacation?

What about shopping for authentic and handcrafted Spanish ceramics and antiques?

How about taking a tour of a real Belgian chocolate factory?

Undoubtedly, you’d surely love a canal cruise through Amsterdam, no?

To top off your dream vacation, how about a ride on the London Eye to catch a full glimpse of the city of London?

Guess what? You can do all of this and more on a 12 day cruise embarking this July! Have you ever dreamed you could do all of the above and more in one voyage? That’s FIVE different countries all in one vacation. Wait…not just one vacation, a 12 day vacation. You can take this summer’s vacation time and return to the office a well-traveled, cultured and relaxed individual. Gander at this invigorating Treasures of the Continent itinerary:

July 29th – Embark from London (Dover), United Kingdom at 6:00pm

July 30th - Amsterdam, Netherlands 10:00am to 10:00pm

July 31st - Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium 10:00am to 7:00pm

August 1st - Paris (Honfleur), France 9:45am to 11:00pm

August 2nd - St. Peter Port (Guernsey), United Kingdom 8:00am to 6:00pm

August 3rd - Saint-Malo, France 11:00am to 8:30pm

August 4th - Pont-Aven (Concarneau), France 11:00am to 6:00pm

August 5th - La Rochelle, France 8:00am to 6:00pm

August 6th - Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France 8:00am to 9:00pm

August 7th - Biarritz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz), France 8:00am to 6:00pm

August 8th - Santander, Spain 8:00am to 4:00pm

August 9th - Cruising the Bay of Biscay & English Channel

August 10th – Disembark London (Dover), United Kingdom at 5:00am

As well as embarking on any one of the aforementioned excursions/activities, this itinerary allows you the opportunity:

to visit Normandy and the landing beaches where D-day occurred.
to learn more about the history of Anne Frank and visit the museum and home/annex where she and her family sought shelter during WWII.
to visit Vannes, France (considered to be the premier tourist town in southern Brittany).
to experience the Guggenheim Museum.

In addition to all of these sites, countries and marvelous outings…oh yes, there’s more…this sailing is onboard the ALL-NEW Marina!!!You’ll be able to experience each and every one of Marina’s fabulous details that we told you about from Cindy and Linda’s inaugural sail. As if these destinations weren’t spectacular in and of themselves, your accommodations will be plush, exquisite, and all new with Oceania Cruises. Without a doubt, you’ll dine in top notch restaurants onboard your brand new ship with exquisite cuisine under the direction of Chef Jacques Pépin.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind sailing as well as this new state of art ship that is being called the most sophisticated and elegant ship to debut in the past 50 years. We have staterooms available for you, so give us a call today to make sure you are onboard the classiest ship at sea for the most exciting itinerary in Europe!

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

Autumn Maritimes II on Seabourn Sojourn

2011-02-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are thrilled and excited that our September 30, 2011 group sailing of Canada and New England with Oceania Cruises sold out so quickly! As we still have clients requesting this itinerary, we thought it best to find a similar trip to satisfy the itch of our interested travelers.

We are excited to add this new group cruise program to our travel schedule for 2011! We found another perfect Canada/New England sailing with one of our preferred cruise partners: Seabourn. Turns out, it departs the same day as our Oceania Cruise and out of our favorite destination city; New York!

With Seabourn’s current newest ship, Sojourn, currently at sea, Seabourn has received some great recognition, including this February 2nd Houston Chronicle article by Harry Shattuck. He discusses Seabourn’s famous luxurious service and exquisite cuisine created by acclaimed chef Charlie Palmer, making this ship the benchmark in luxury small-ship cruising.

We look forward to having you join us on this Seabourn sailing to New England and Canada, Fall 2011.As guests set sail on Seabourn’s current newest ship, Sojourn, they will enjoy the following fabulous itinerary.

September 30th – Embark from New York, New York at 5pm

October 1st – Cruise the Atlantic Ocean

October 2nd – Boston, Massachusetts 8am to 6pm

October 3rd – Bar Harbor, Maine 12pm to 6pm

October 4th – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 2pm to

October 5th – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 1pm

October 6th – Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada 8am to 5pm

October 7th – Cruising the Gulf of St. Lawrence

October 8th – Cruising the Saguenay Fjord

Port Saguenay, Quebec, Canada 1pm to 6pm

October 9th – Disembark Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at 8am

These fall foliage filled destinations are a hot topic this year, so don’t miss your chance to see the beauty of New England and Canada with their historical sites and famous lighthouses along the coast; call us for further details and pricing information. Don’t delay as this sailing will sell out!

Oh, and if the above itinerary wasn’t intriguing enough, have a look at your surroundings while on board the ship…

Come join us on this fabulous ship that is like no other as well as enjoy over-the-top service! Contact us or call 713-954-4825.

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

Marina’s Inaugural Sailing and Christening

2011-02-13T13:00:00.002-06:00

Linda and Cindy had the wonderful opportunity to join Oceania Cruises for their preview sailing of Marina from February 5th-8th as well as be present for her Christening ceremonies complete with Marina’s godmother, Mary Hart. Below you will see the wonderful spot Hart did for her show, Entertainment Tonight, about the festivities.

Oceania did a fabulous job and definitely pulled out all the stops for this Christening Ceremony.

A nebuchadnezzar $10,000 bottle of champagne was custom designed for the occasion by Armand de Brignac, and guests were permitted to sign before this bottle was used to christen Marina. Of course, our ladies took the opportunity to leave their John Hancock. This really shows just how large this bottle is!

Cindy and Linda were both highly impressed with the ship, and she far exceeded their expectations. In waiting for embarkation and the christening ceremonies, Cindy got some great pictures of the ship in port. She certainly is grand but still the perfect size.

After boarding the ship, the ladies learned that Marina is just large enough without being a challenge. With a full ship, there are plenty of people to meet with lots of activities to do, yet still feel like you are on a small ship. Speaking of meeting people, look who these ladies ran into!
It’s Chef Jacques Pépin himself! If you are foodie, like our office is, then you’ll likely be familiar with him. Otherwise, you may not have heard his name specifically, but perhaps you know of his work. He’s fabulous, and he’s the master chef and inspiration behind the cuisine of Oceania Cruises, specifically his namesake restaurant, Jacques.

In further discovering Oceania’s brand new beauty, Cindy captured some great photos of some of the common areas of the ship.
Delightful! Don’t you just want to lay on a chair and bask in the sun?!
Looks like people did!
Compare this real photo to the artist’s rendering, but note the view is from the opposite direction.
The shallow lounge areas look so enticing, don’t you think?!

If you haven’t seen our previous posts about the excitement this office holds for the Bon Appétit Culinary Center on board, let us just bring you up to speed on how innovative and fabulous this enrichment program onboard Marina is. Guests can take cooking classes while onboard their cruise to learn techniques and great recipes from Oceania’s well-trained and diverse chefs. Classes range from single sessions of breakfast dishes or modern Greek to multiple sessions of Homemade Pasta!
Just as exciting, the staterooms were spacious, and the buzz about the bathrooms concurs in our office, too; the separate tub and shower with the extra square footage in the bathroom is a plus! Oceania Cruises management team were right to make these bathrooms what cruisers have been asking for in a cruise ship. This applies to every stateroom category.
To state it as conclusively as we can, Marina sets the new standard for what a cruise ship should be, and there is no way you’ll want to miss sailing on this beauty no matter where she goes!
Join us for one of our fabulous group sailings already scheduled onboard Marina, or call us about any other departure which provides interest to you. You’ll surely not be disappointed!

Treasures of the Continent – July 29 – August 10, 2011
12-day Voyage – England, Holland, Belgium, France, and Spain

Grecian Glory – October 1 – October 11, 2011
10-day Voyage – Greece, Turkey, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy

Islands in the Sun – February 16 – 26, 2012
10-day Voyage – B.V.I., St. Barts, Antigua, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

The Benefits of Group Travel

2011-01-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

No doubt, traveling with your spouse or significant other is fun and memorable. Likely, traveling with your family is exciting, too.

No?

Ok, well, pretend it is!

Even traveling with a friend has great benefits.

That said, adding to you and your spouse with several other couples, adding extended family members to your immediate family trip, and gathering a group of friends together for a trip makes for a wonderful and exciting time for all allowing multiple experiences and memories.

There are various benefits to group travel, but most often people find the greatest benefit is price. Hotels, cruise lines, airlines, etc. are eager to provide group contracts with pricing at a lower cost because it’s less work for them. We, your group travel agent, are able to pass those savings on to you!

Additionally, many people enjoy the opportunity of traveling with people of similar interest. Joining a group for travel provides a greater energy and vibe than traveling with just your partner or small family. In fact, we find many of our evaluations state that ‘this is the only way to travel.’

Enjoying a stress-free trip is a bonus for many as well, as there is little to no planning involved for each individual. Allowing us, your group travel experts, to coordinate a trip for you permits you to sit back, relax and focus on the enjoyment of your trip instead of planning every hour of your journey.

This stress-free trip will likely come from having a group coordinator on your trip to travel with you! Groups of a certain size (typically 20) will allow you to have a group coordinator on your trip! Having this coordinator is key in ensuring that your group stays on their well-planned itinerary and is able to see all the sights and destinations that your group chooses to view.

With these great benefits, we trust you will want to join us for a group trip soon. If you don’t see a trip you’d like to join us for, let’s create one for your group!

Below are some great ideas for groups:

Large families
Family Reunion
Collegiate class year alumni
All collegiate alumni
High school class year alumni
All high school alumni
Destination Weddings
Multiple couples and their children
Bible study
Girlfriends only
Guys only
Country club
Garden club
Tennis club
Fitness club
Golf buddies
Anniversary with friends and family
Birthday with friends and family

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

US Open in New York City August 30-September 2, 2011

2011-01-19T06:00:00.003-06:00

We are thrilled to announce a new trip on the Beyond Group Travel 2011 calendar! Join us as we travel to New York City for the US Grand Slam event of tennis; the US Open.

Trip highlights include*:

Roundtrip airfare from Houston. (other air cities available on request)
Roundtrip transportation between the airport and hotel
Deluxe accommodations for three nights including hotel taxes at the Hilton Times Square
Welcome lunch with open bar
One (1) roundtrip Metro pass on Subway to Flushing, NY
Baggage handling upon arrival in New York City
One Upper promenade seat at Arthur Ashe Stadium including grounds ticket to USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Gratuities on included package features
Trip managed and accompanied by Beyond Group Travel, Inc.

As you can see, we are returning to the Hilton Times Square, the hotel we fell in love with on the Maggie Dixon Classic trip.

Furthermore, here’s a few more details on the itinerary of your trip with us to the US Open.

Tuesday— Upon arrival in New York City, we will transfer from the airport to enjoy a Welcome New York Pizza lunch with open bar at John’s Pizzeria in Times Square, a popular NYC restaurant featured on The Food Network and The Travel Channel’s Top 10 Pizzerias in the US. Following lunch, stroll to the Hilton Times Square with your room key in hand and luggage conveniently stored in your room. The remainder of this day is open for you to explore on your own activities.

Optional theatre performance viewing such shows as Jersey Boys, Wicked, or Billy Elliot. Beyond Group Travel can help you find the right one for you.

Wednesday—This is our full day of tennis—strap on your comfortable shoes as we will travel by subway to Flushing, NY. Your ticket today provides access to the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as well as a reserved seat in the upper promenade section in Arthur Ashe Stadium for both the day and evening sessions.

Thursday—This day is yours to create. Choose from an optional second day evening ticket of tennis at the US Open or optional morning World Trade Center Site Tour by New York subway.

Friday—Before your return home this afternoon, you will have the morning free to enjoy shopping along Canal Street, take a walk through the world famous Central Park, or allow Beyond Group Travel to make arrangements for you to tour one of the many sights of NYC. Transfer to airport for flight home.

Package Price:
$1,589.00 per person - double occupancy
$1,929.00 per person - single occupancy
LAND ONLY AIR CREDIT - $325.00 per person (transportation to/from hotel on your own)

This trip is a great value! Book by January 31, 2011 to receive this published trip price offering tremendous value. Rates will increase after this date due to ticket prices at the US Open. Click here to view the brochure and contact us as soon as possible to reserve your space while you still can!

Additionally, we still have limited space available on the Mediterranean Mosaic sailing April 26, 2011! If you are interested in sailing from Rome to Venice with ports of call including Portofino, Florence, and Amalfi, we would love to have you join us. It’s not too late! Deadline is Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

*Trip highlights subject to change based upon hotel, tickets & theatre availability.

Beyond Group Travel is 1 year old!

2011-01-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Above: Top, Krista and Henry Borchard. Bottom, Linda and Gary Triplett, Cindy and Dave Chambers.

Happy New Year to all of you and Happy 1st Birthday to us! Tomorrow, we celebrate one year from our Incorporation date. What a fabulous year this has been!

Cindy and Linda started the year off running and quickly built fabulous clientele, terrific quality trips, all while keeping a straight and organized business. All the while working on 2010, we were able to build on 2011 and EVEN 2012! That’s right; keep up with us to see the exciting details we have planned for upcoming years.

We were pleased to host trips with various collegiate alumni travel organizations, country clubs members, garden clubs and more to the following locations in our first year of business:

Fredericksburg, TX
Santa Barbara, CA
Guiliano Hazan’s Cooking School in Italy at Villa Giona
Annual New York Theatre Trip (Linda has had the pleasure of hosting this trip for 25 years!)
Austin, TX
Thanksgiving in New York (our annual bucket list trip!)
Holidays in New York
Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York

As you can tell, New York is definitely the signature destination at Beyond Group Travel, Inc. 2011 is already packed full with new destinations and, by popular demand, we’ve included more cruise groups! If you are interested in hosting your group (family, friends or any other type of group) contact us to discuss the options available to you. We are looking forward to an even better 2012!

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

Maggie Dixon Classic

2011-01-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Back in October, we told you about our upcoming trip to New York with the Traveling Aggies and Aggie Women’s Hoops for the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden. This trip departed on December 17th and returned home on December 20th; it was fantastic!

Linda was fortunate to be able to travel with the group of 25 fans that gathered to cheer on the Aggie Women’s team. Jennifer Bohac, Director of Traveling Aggies at the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University, was also able to join Linda for this trip.

Accommodations were at the Hilton Times Square, and this is definitely a favorite NYC hotel for Beyond Group Travel. Providing our clients with the largest hotel rooms in Manhattan is a plus, and the staff is great as well. We are very pleased!

Our group also enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Carmine’s on Friday evening with all of the Aggie Women’s team, their coaches, and their staff. The girls seemed to love the family style of dining!

Saturday, the Aggie Women’s team received a touching and well-planned tour by Linda through some of NYC’s highlights and on into the World Trade Center site. That afternoon, our group of fans and the team were able to see the Rockettes in the Radio City Spectacular.

Sunday, the reason for this trip arrived, and it was time for the girls to dominate Rutgers in the Maggie Dixon Classic!

Our group of fans thoroughly enjoyed their NEAR COURTSIDE seats! They commented on the fantastic view they had for not only the A&M game but the UCONN vs. Ohio State game following. The Aggie Women’s team did a terrific job and indeed won their game against Rutgers. Great job ladies!

It was a wonderful trip and one we hope to repeat! We look forward to other trips with the team and Coach Gary Blair. Thanks for a wonderful time to our travelers and the Aggie Women’s Basketball team!

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

New Cruise Ships for 2011

2010-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Recently, MSNBC posted an article about the brand new cruise ships taking their inaugural sail in 2011. We found it very intriguing as there are so many new cruise ships this year! Several more are planned for 2012 as cruising becomes many traveler’s preferred method of travel!

One of our favorites, Marina, is actually mentioned 2nd in this article and is the newest ship in Oceania Cruises fleet. As we anxiously await this ships completion, Cindy and Linda are preparing to attend the inaugural ceremony on February 5th! We are even more excited about having travelers join us twice this year onboard Marina for the Baltic Treasures sailing as well as the Grecian Glory sailing. Let us know if you want to join us on one of these fabulous sailings. After all, how could you not be excited about seeing this?!

Also within this article, we are thrilled to see the Seabourn Quest debut!

Seabourn really does have a service in a league of their own, as Cindy and Linda have experienced first hand. Now, with Quest, Odyssey and Sojourn in their fleet, they have new yacht-like ships that look like the service they provide. Quest accommodates just 450 passengers creating a smaller cruise experience, however Seabourn does not incorporate “small” in anything the provide. You want for nothing when you sail with Seabourn.

We are thoroughly looking forward to taking our travelers aboard both of these ships. In 2012, we also anxiously await the debut of Oceania’s Riviera!

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

Last Minute Christmas Gift Baltic Treasures

2010-12-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

Give the gift of travel this holiday season! Still have someone you haven’t purchased a gift for? Not to worry! We can get you taken care of before Christmas and put your special someone on a cruise through the Baltic Sea. This fabulous sailing makes ports of call at:

Fabulous itinerary, right?! ***Well, as if that wasn’t enough, we are thrilled to have Giuliano Hazan onboard with us for this cruise! Hazan, the only son of Marcella Hazan, began working as an assistant at his mother’s renowned School of Classic Italian Cooking at 17. Now, Giuliano is an author, teacher, entrepreneur, and one of the foremost authorities on Italian cooking.(http://www.giulianohazan.com/about_chef_giuliano_hazan/) ***Those who board this cruise with us will have the opportunity to take an onboard culinary class from THE Giuliano Hazan himself in the ALL NEW Culinary Center aboard Marina (taking her inaugural cruise February 2011).
***This private course with Giuliano is exclusive to travelers with Beyond Group Travel.
I’m sure we’ve provided enough reasons to board this cruise, but there’s more! You’ll sail this fabulous cruise onboard Oceania’s newest ship, Marina. This brand new ship is ultra luxurious, built with fabulous cuisine in mind, and more spacious than her sister ships.
Above: Marina’s Grand Staircase accented with Lalique Crystal.

Above: Marina’s NEW restaurant, Red Ginger.
Above: A view of the Owner’s Suite bedroom.
There are several staterooms available to join us for this cruise, so contact us today to ask your questions and make your reservation.
We have other sailings with space still available, as well. Join us for one of the following:

Mediterranean Mosaic – 10 day voyage – April 26 – May 6, 2011 – Marina – Rome to Venice
Treasures of the Continent – 12 day voyage – July 29 – August 10, 2011 – Marina – London to London
Grecian Glory – 10 day voyage – October 1 –11, 2011 – Marina – Athens to Venice
Frontiers and Glaciers – 10 day voyage – June 7 – 17, 2011 – Regatta – Vancouver to Vancouver

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

***As of 1/11/11, Giuliano and Lael Hazan will no longer be joining us on this cruise.

Thanksgiving in New York 2010

2010-12-15T11:17:00.001-06:00

Wow! What a fabulous trip we had hosting the Traveling Aggies, Georgia Tech Alumni Travel, and Emory Alumni Travel Program in New York City November 24-28, 2010 for our signature Thanksgiving in New York Program featuring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After arriving via Continental Airlines, accommodations were at the fabulous New York Sheraton hotel which provided amazing views of the parade, excellent staff, and scrumptious buffets. We were able to provide a memorable trip for families and friends that joined us for this terrific trip. Porter Garner, President and C.E.O. of the Association of Former Students, joined Jennifer Bohac, Director of Travel Programs at the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, in hosting the Aggies this year; they each did a terrific job in ensuring a magical trip for all of the Aggies involved. Don Chapman continued his talented service as host for the Georgia Tech Alumni. This was Emory Alumni Travel’s introductory year traveling with us, and appreciated their involvement in the educational component of the World Trade Center site during our Manhattan tour.

Linda has hosted this trip for many years and is excited that this trip has continued so successfully with its first year under Beyond Group Travel! This year, we were able to do:

a welcome cocktail/reception party
multiple theatre performances including, The Addams Family, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, and Wicked
a Private Thanksgiving Day breakfast buffet with indoor PRIVATE parade viewing at the Sheraton

performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Football Game Watching parties for the Texas A&M vs. UT game as well as the Georgia Tech vs. Georgia game
a cocktail reception and Thanksgiving dinner at Maloney and Porcelli.
a Private NYC Manhattan tour
a Circle Line cruise viewing Manhattan from the Hudson and East Rivers as well as an up close view of the Statue of Liberty.

We’ve received many gracious and thoughtful compliments thus far which really warms our hearts; it makes us proud to do what we do! We are thoroughly looking forward to hosting the Flying Longhorns and Alabama next year for Thanksgiving in New York 2011!

Take the hassle out of group travel; call us to plan your next group trip or join ours!

Signature Spa Experiences announced for Marina’s Canyon Ranch SpaClub

2010-12-01T13:39:00.001-06:00

Have a look at this article from Breaking Travel News on the fabulous treatments Canyon Ranch Spa will be offering on Oceania’s Marina!

Aggie Christmas Match-Up - Maggie Dixon Classic

2010-10-20T15:34:00.001-05:00

Join the Traveling Aggies and Aggie Women's Hoops at the Maggie Dixon Classic in New York City! We have extended the deadline to November 2, 2010 and would love to have you join us.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

Three night’s accommodations at Hilton Times Square – Soaring 44 stories above Manhattan, The Hilton Times Square offers over-sized guest rooms with spectacular, panoramic views, surrounded by Broadway theatres, shopping and fine New York restaurants.
Attend the Basketball Games in Madison Square Garden – on Sunday, December 19^th, watch our Big 12 Champions Texas A&M Women take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Noon for the 5^th Annual Maggie Dixon Classic! Immediately following, watch the 2010 National Champion UCONN Huskies take on Ohio State.
Radio City Spectacular starring the world-famous Rockettes – enjoy the flawless precision of the Radio City Rockettes as they perform legendary numbers such as the “Parade of Wooden Soldiers”. Marvel at the re-enactment of the first Christmas in the “Living Nativity”.

Land Only Package Includes:

Accommodations for three nights at the Team hotel
Hotel Taxes
Reserved ticket for Maggie Dixon Classic games to see 4 Top-15 ranked teams, including our Aggie Women on Sunday, December 19^th
Orchestra ticket for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Team on Saturday December 18^th at 4:30pm
Porterage for one bag upon arrival at hotel
Trip is escorted by Beyond Group Travel, Inc.

Click here to access and print the brochure. Contact us for further details or contact the Traveling Aggies with questions.

Passport Applications and Renewals

2010-10-18T14:16:00.000-05:00

Source: http://travel.state.gov/passport/

It is always a good idea to ensure that your passport is current and up to date. In fact, should you need to travel with a passport, Beyond Group Travel, Inc. recommends that your passport be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date. In other words, should your trip leave on November 1, 2010, we suggest your expiration date not proceed May 1, 2011. If your passport will expire soon, please look into to the Renew Passport page on travel.state.gov. There you will find the proper procedure for renewing your passport.

Has your name changed since your last passport (issued over 1 year ago)? If this is the case and you have proof of the name change, you will be following the renewal steps as well that are linked above. Documents that you provide to prove your name change (if submitting by mail) will be returned to you, though they might come in a separate package from your new passport.

If you do not currently have a passport and are planning to travel internationally, it's urgent that you apply now. Routine service is taking anywhere from 4-6 weeks, at the current time, per the Department of State website. It it definitely possible to have your passport expedited, just be advised that you can expect an extra $60 charge for the expedition of your passport application.

What happens if you lose your passport on your trip? Beyond Group Travel, Inc. hopes this never happens to you, of course, but it's always a possibility. Lissa Harnish Poirot gives some great tips on FamilyVacationCritic.com.

"Contact the local embassy, which you will have to do in order to receive an emergency passport. These will be granted on a limited basis and can get you home; once home you'll have to apply for a new passport. However, in order to receive an emergency passport, you will need:

Three passport photos for every person applying for an emergency passport
A photo ID
Proof of U.S. citizenship
Airline ticket, booking confirmation or itinerary
A police report, if your passport was stolen
$100 (U.S. dollars) passport application fee"

She goes on to discuss how beneficial an emergency passport kit, with the above items, could be when kept in another piece of luggage. Should all of your things/luggage not be lost or stolen, you'd likely have this emergency passport kit to save you in a sticky situation.

Further information on checking the status of your passport, changing or correcting a passport, or lost or stolen passports can be found on the Passport Services website of the Department of State.

Also, be sure to check out how you can reserve your spot for one of our upcoming trips!

Introducing Oceania Cruises Newest Ship MARINA

2010-10-08T17:22:00.001-05:00