DEPARTURES TRAVEL NEWSLETTER

The official newsletter of Departures Travel 12/16

Hello fellow travelers,

2016 is just about over, we hope you have completed your memory albums for 2016! It’s now time to move into 2017 & 2018 , need ideas? We have scheduled several in office Presentations for 2017 and 2018. AMA Waterways, river cruises, ALL About HAWAII, GLOBUS, MONOGRAMS, AVALON and PRINCESS CRUISES, COLLETTE VACATIONS, Australia and New Zealand. EXHILARATION or RELAXATION –You choose to cruise or to take a tour! ALL PRESENTATIONS START AT 6:00pm at DEPARTURES OFFICE COMPLEX PLEASE RSVP 480-830-8822 or travel@departuresaz.com

Jan. 11th – AMA Waterways – Meet AMA’s Representative – Brandon Oscarson Jan.25th - All About Hawaii – Representative Lydia Torres will be here Feb. 7th – Avalon, Globus, Monograms – Patti Burton & Princess Cruises – Larissa Hess Feb. 16 - Collette Vacations - Megan Saxon - Australia/New Zealand escort Cheryl Jones

If you are interested in Hawaii, we encourage you to RSVP for our Hawaii & Fiji presentation.

We have mentioned Cuba in several of our past newsletters. Restrictions have been

changing so quickly and you have many options for visiting this exotic land, including aboard a cruise ship. Contact Departures today to find out more about this once forbidden island.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you someone that would like to give back or do some volunteer work on your travels? Are you aware that Departures works with tour operators that specialize in volunteer vacations and "give back" travel programs? Maybe you would like to help build some houses, or assist in creating a working water system for a village? How about planting some trees or working with needy children? Maybe it is as simple as painting or making minor repairs. A scuba diving trash clean up trip? There are so many ways you can give back while seeing the world. Contact Departures to find out how you can travel and give back to somebody in need.

WHAT'S NEW? HARMONY OF THE SEAS

It's VOOM - The Fastest Internet at Sea and The Ultimate Abyss

Royal Caribbean believes no adventure should go unshared. VOOM, the fastest internet at sea,

allows you to do just that. This is instantly streaming, sharing on the fly, high speed internet –

and it’s available on Harmony of the Seas. Enjoy all your favorite movies and shows on Netflix,

or listen to your favorite playlist on Spotify. Share every unforgettable moment of your vacation

on Facebook and Instagram. Keep in touch with family and friends on Facetime and Skype, or

via text and e-mail. Enjoy your cruise vacation, without having to be disconnected from

it…unless you want to be. Also the Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at seat, 10 stories high.

VIRTUAL BALCONIES Designed to provide real-time views of the ocean and our exciting destinations, these select interior rooms will feature virtual balconies that span nearly floor to ceiling and capture all the beauty of the sea to wow our guests in a way never done before. Imagine enjoying the sunrise and sunset from the comfort of your interior stateroom

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Disney Cruise Lines is coming to the West Coast.

2-NIGHT BAJA | Disney Wonder 3-Night Baja | Disney Wonder

Sailing from San Diego, CA – Ensenada, Mexico Sailing from San Diego, CA – Ensenada, Mexico 2017 Sail Dates l May 12 • Sep 15, 22 • Oct 13 2017 Sail Dates | May 14 • Oct 5 2018 Sail Dates l Apr 27 • May 4, 11 2018 Sail Date l May 13 4-NIGHT BAJA | Disney Wonder 5-Night Baja | Disney Wonder Sailing from San Diego, CA – Cabo San Lucas, Sailing from San Diego, CA – Ensenada, Mexico; Mexico 2017 Sail Date l Oct 1 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

2017 Sail Dates | May 7 • Sep 17 • Oct 8, 22 2018 Sail Dates l Apr 22, 29 • May 6

7-Night Mexican Riviera | Disney Wonder Sailing from San Diego, CA – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Mazatlán, Mexico;

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 2017 Sail Dates | Sep 24 • Oct 15

Call Departures to book every detail of your Disney adventure.

Adventures by Disney® was honored in the 2016 Cruise Critics Editors’ Picks Awards as “Best River Cruise for Families” in the River Cruise Lines category

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Since the last newsletter, a few of us at Departures have been able to take a couple of trips. Whether they are for research or pleasure, we always like to share what we have learned with our clients. Pat recently took a Trans-Atlantic Crossing on the Queen Mary 2 with her daughter Dina. Cheryl hit the road with the family while exploring the southwest. She also had the opportunity to drop into Vegas and catch the Rolling Stones in concert.

New York Queen Mary 2 London

From Pat

A “Dream Come True” a Trans-Atlantic Crossing on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 another hoped for trip crossed off my “bucket list” The Queen Mary 2 was everything I looked forward to doubled, no tripled. Dina, my youngest daughter reluctantly said she would go along with me. She is very port oriented and this sailing New York to London had no port stops along the way.

We flew into New York city the day before the ship departed. Walking the streets of the city around Times Square, we became part of the crowd (not the weird ones) picturing the ball dropping on New Year’s Eve, excitement just fills the air and you are snapping one picture after another. We found an authentic pizza shop, $1.00 a slice. While eating we watched the dough tossed into the air, grabbing handfuls of cheese and pepperonis, no gloves on, the heck with sanitation it was delicious and the price was right, we ate with the locals. The following day we went to the 9/11 Memorial prior to boarding the ship. The ship is beautiful having just been remastered. She looked truly like a Queen. The ocean was calm and the sun was out all but one day. We were on the sunny-side of the ship and enjoyed our balcony stateroom to the fullest. Breakfast on our balcony, reading, knitting, sprinkled in between swimming, Jacuzzis, golf, lectures given by key-note speakers, trivia games, 3 times around the deck equaled one mile, if it were to windy on deck the gym had enough equipment there was never a wait to work out and then back to the balcony to chill out. My favorite shows were at the Planetarium, the only one at sea. Queen Mary 2 also has the largest library at sea. New kennels have been added, it was fun seeing the dogs play area and their owners spending time with them. There was even a Great Dane. Can you imagine a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and a 100 friends stopping by everyday to help get it built before the end of the cruise? The chocolates on our pillow each night were Godiva. We would look forward to the following day events. Afternoon tea & scones with cream. Shopping onboard with quality shops or going to the spa with a huge Jacuzzi & steam room. Nightly entertainment plus the casino. The Black & White Ball, Masquerade Ball where we wore fancy masks and the last night of the cruise, the Land Fall Party where we joined in singing the Queens Song, waving Union Jack flags and ending with Old Lange Synge. Something different every night. Disembarkation in Southampton was very smooth. The ride into London took 2 hours. With an extra day in London we went shopping on Oxford Street and attended a theatre Show in the evening. It is amazing what one can do in 9 days. Dina was surprised how quickly the time went by and she was not bored at all. A 7 night non-stop, no port cruise and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. If you are the type who enjoy sea days, sleeping in and partying at night this is the cruise for you. Would you like more information? Call Pat who would really enjoy sending you on a “Trans-Atlantic Cruise” 480-577-7513 or 480-830-8822

From Cheryl I love a good road trip and after traveling to Africa and Europe earlier in the year this fall was all about the road trip! My family and I spent a very long weekend driving in a big circle through New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. We even touched Utah at Four Corners. It had been at least 20 years since we had ridden the Durango Silverton Train and it's just as beautiful as I remembered. Mesa Verde and Petrified Forest plus the Very Large Array near Socorro, we crammed a lot into a few days!

A couple of weeks later was Vegas, we were there for the Rolling Stones concert (Mick's still got it)! It was held at the new T Mobile Arena, behind New York New York and the Monte Carlo it's part of a new development of restaurants and shops. If you have not been in Las Vegas for a while you won't recognize it, new hotels and attractions everywhere. A lot of the old Vegas is now gone but still fun! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ready for an Incredible Adventure?

FROM THE OUTBACK TO THE GLACIERS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND SEP. 11TH - OCT. 1, 2017

Join Departures manager CHERYL JONES on this 21 day Adventure. See the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback with Ayers Rock and the Aboriginal people Melbourne/the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney/the famous Opera House, have your picture taken with a Koala. Then it is onto New Zealand, Christchurch and the Garden City. Experience dinner in the home of a New Zealand family. Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier, Mt. Cook National park, Queensland, watch sheep herding dogs at work and sheep shearing.

Single and triple also available. $7,999 per person double occupancy. Book by 3/1/17 and save $200

per person Air from Phoenix and 29 meals included. RSVP for our Presentation February 16th at 6:00pm or call for brochure.

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REMEMBER WE HAVE 2 LOCATIONS

Gilbert – Western Skies Executive Suites 1166 Warner Rd Suite 114) (M-F 9am - 5pm)

Mesa – Power Rd. & Thomas Rd. (Appt. only)

Please call for Sat. and evening appointments.

DON’T FORGET THAT DEPARTURES TRAVEL IS ON FACEBOOK.

Please visit and give us a like. https://www.facebook.com/DeparturesazTravel

Visit our web page at www.departuresaz.com

480-830-8822