Recently our owner had the pleasure of staying at the Namale Resort and Spa in Fiji.  Despite the name of our agency, findacruisedeal.com, we are also specialists at planning LAND-based vacations.  In fact we are South Pacific experts specializing in the islands of Tahiti, Hawaii and Fiji as well as Australia.

Perhaps the best way for us to tell you about the magnificence of the Namale Resort and Spa is through the photos we took during our stay.  They can be found under the "Photo Album" tab on our website.  To make it easy for you Click Here to open the slide show displaying photos from our stay at Namale.  

The Namale resort is located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Spread among lush tropical plants are various types of separate bungalows (called "bures" in Fiji).  Each bure offers privacy and a unique view of the grounds and/or the ocean.  The dining room overlooks a spectacular bay and the tide pools below.  The spa is among the most beautiful we've seen with a great view of the blowhole from the various relaxation pools and treatment rooms.  

For the active person there are many daily options offered by the activity staff.  These events include snorkeling trips, nature walks, village visits and a variety of other outings.  A huge plus of Namale over other resorts is the fact that they are "all-inclusive".  Activities (with some exceptions such as SCUBA), meals, entertainment and beverages are all part of the price!

Like most resorts in Fiji, Namale is the perfect setting for honeymoon couples or those celebrating a special anniversary.  The staff can arrange such activities as couples massages, a private breakfast overlooking the blowhole or a special private lunch at the base of their on-property waterfall. 

Perhaps our favorite part of our stay at Namale is the people.  It is our opinion that Fiji has the nicest people in the world.  And the welcoming staff at Namale are the best of example of that "Bula" spirit that is such a crucial part of visiting these picturesque islands.   Thank you, vinaka and Bula to my new friends at #namaleresort  Well done!

In December of 2015 our owner visited the Galapagos Islands for the first time.  He enjoyed the trip so much upon his return he decided to put a vacation together for his current and future clients.  

The 9-night April 2017 package includes:

• Two nights in Quito, Ecuador including a visit to the "Center of the Earth" exhibit on the Equator
• Five nights aboard the Santa Cruz II sailing the Galapagos Islands.
• Two nights at the Finch Bay Hotel in the Galapagos.

Because space is limited on this trip, interested parties are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. For further information click on the link below.   A PDF flyer regarding the specifics of the trip can be open, viewed and printed.   

This is an adventure we have been working on and anticipating for months.  We hope to escort this trip with Lindblad Expeditions to the archipelago in the very northern part of Norway where we will search for polar bears and other arctic wildlife.  

We begin the trip in Oslo on May 30, 2017 and then fly to Longyearbyen where we will board our ship, the National Geographic Explorer.  

For the following six days we will go on journeys to be planned based on local conditions and animal movement.  This promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime journey.  We do anticipate that this trip will sell out very early and encourage our new and existing clients to sign up as soon as possible!  

For further information and pricing click on the link below.  It will open a PDF flyer with more details and pricing.  

We hope to escort a group of our clients on this luxury voyage aboard the Regent Seven Seas Navigator.  The ship departs Lisbon on October 23, 2016 and sails for 24 nights down the west coast of Africa to the port of Cape Town...one of our favorite world cities. 

Regent Seven Seas is an all-inclusive cruise line so your spirits, gratuities, shore excursions, air and transfers are all included!   We'll even include some extra shipboard credits to sweeten the deal even more!

For pricing and the itinerary, click on the PDF file below. 

On September 3, 2016 USC will play Alabama at the Cowboy's AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (near Dallas).  We are offering a package for the game.  

The cost for this package is $550 per person (double occupancy) for a run-of-the-house room or $610 per person for a junior suite.  This cost includes:

• Two nights in the Westin Dallas Hotel (Friday and Saturday nights, September 2 & 3, 2016)
• Transportation to and from the game
• A pre-game tailgate

For those who wish to stay extra nights at the hotel the cost is $285 per night for standard room and $345 for a junior suite.  Optional airport transfers can also be added for $42 per person, round trip.  

A $200 per person (double occupancy) non-refundable deposit is due to hold your reservation.  

Please contact our office to hold your space now!  (Game ticket is not included in this package price.)

Earlier this summer I returned from my tenth trip to Alaska.  This time I had about 20 findacruisedeal.com clients with me.  As a result of my frequent trips to Alaska and my 20 years in the cruise business I've gained a great deal of knowledge about this destination. 

I'm hoping this Alaska tip on my blog will help our current and future clients as they plan their own first, second or multiple trip to this great state!  I always tell people that if they can only go on one cruise in their lifetime, Alaska is the place to go.  I never get tired of this destination. 

I remind our readers in this and every tip...  You do NOT save money by booking your Alaska cruise direct with the cruise line.  Please call us to let us help you plan the Alaska cruise that is best for your situation.  We always try to find the best possible deal for our clients...and you will likely receive added benefits you would NOT get booking direct!

What are the itinerary options for an Alaska cruise?  While there are cruise lines that offer unique itineraries, more than 90% of Alaska cruises are either:

 a) Round trip from Seattle
 b) One way between Vancouver and Anchorage (Northbound or Southbound)

And, more than 90% of Alaska cruises are 7 nights in duration.  (Again, there are other options.)  For example, one cruise line offers 10-night cruises from San Francisco. 

So many people choose the round trip Seattle option because of the convenience of a round trip flight within the Continental USA.  But should you choose the itinerary strictly because of the convenience of the flights?  I much prefer the northbound or southbound cruises to the round trip cruises.

Add-on Land Packages:  For those sailing round trip from Seattle or Vancouver we can add on a pre or post-cruise land package to Whistler, Jasper and/or Banff, Canada!  For those doing a one-way cruise between Anchorage and Vancouver, we can add a 3-7 night pre or post-cruise land package with such destinations as Denali National Park, the Yukon, Fairbanks and many other stops in the interior of Alaska.

Cruise Line Options:  There are many different cruise line companies that sail to Alaska...from the most budget of lines to the top-of-the-line luxury lines.  One of the benefits of working with an agency like findacruisedeal.com is that we help you select the correct cruise line for your situation and budget.

For a complete list of Alaska cruise itinerary options contact our office.  We already have a record number of clients booked for 2016!