ZION TRAVEL AND TOURS

 

ZION TRAVEL JOINS FAM TOUR
Davao City (28 October) — After the familiarization tour to San Francisco and the Western Caribbean cruise, travel agents from Mindanao last September, top selling travel agents of Philippine Air Lines (PAL) are ‘back into action’, this time to promote the cruise packages of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL).

Tita M. Manabat, manager of PAL’s Davao City Ticketing office said the cruise was conceived to provide incentive for top selling travel agents and likewise promote cruise packages of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line which has for years tied up with PAL.

Manabat said ten travel agencies in Mindanao joined the ‘fam tour and the western Caribbean cruise which originated in San Francisco. It was participated in by 14 participants from the travel agency sector who were top sellers of outbound travel in 2007.

The group left for San Francisco in two batches on September 23 and 24 but joined in catching the Enchantments of the Seas ship of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Inc. at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 25, 2008 and returned to Fort Lauderdale on September 29, 2008.

Joining the group was Carlo Tan of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Inc. They later proceeded to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where the RCCLl’s ‘Enchantment of the Seas’ home port is.

‘Fam tour and cruise’ participants include the following: Wren Teo, Mt. Apo Travel & Tours; Ivy Tan, Frontier Travel & Tours; Joy Loyola of Allied Travel; Riza Canda, AquaGem Travel & Tours; Chastity Ann Sarmiento, Lite Travel; Bebot Jairol, South West Travel; Francis Sablon, Zion Travel & Tours-GenSan ; Nelly Sablon, Zion Travel-Koronadal; Christine Baluyot, Mt. Apo Travel-GenSan; Eleonore Ramchand, Great Vacations Travel; Christine Serrano, Astoria Queen Travel & Tours; Bernadette Gomez, PIA; and Tita M. Manabat, PAL.

The cruise package which was initiated by Wanda T. Teo of Mt. Apo Travel & Tours, Inc. few years ago is now picking up as people have started to recognize the benefits of taking the cruise either in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas or Europe.

Teo said taking the cruise is different from the usual traveling to another country or hopping from one country to another.

A cruise not only brings travelers to many places but offers the amenities of the ship which is of five-star status. If the passenger stays in the hotel, which usually is the case they only avail of the free breakfast and the rest of the meals either in other places or restaurants. While some passengers may opt to stay with their relatives or friends amenities offered by the cruise ships are far modern than in most hotels, she said

Teo who is a certified cruiser like Manabat has many things to say about cruising.

She said taking the cruise is not only full of fun and excitement, it is educational as one gets to know more of the places included in the cruise. Port and shopping shows are done nightly, a fitness center orientation for those who want to avail physical fitness facilities, spa tours, a library for those who want to borrow books of interests, a regular bingo, a casino, dancing, swimming belly flop contest, a street dancing, cooking demo by the executive chef, art auction and so much more.

Each day has a different theme and schedule of activities all rolled into one. For those who love music and dancing, it is the vacation to take. For the sports enthusiasts, there is a rock climbing facility and a huge swimming pool.

And to top it all there is good food with a flowing supply of coffee, tea and drinks. One will have a grand time with fruits, pasta, pastries, vegetables and greens, ice cream, fruit juices, barbecue, omelets and all types of coffee tea. Or one can opt for different recipes for beef, turkey, pork, chicken and fish. Name it you will have it, even for midnight snacks pizzas and sandwiches are served free, she said.

Teo added that one can take the cruise anytime but there is always an appropriate time for celebrating special occasions with the family or with friends and for companies for its corporate incentives. The best way to take the cruise is flying with Philippine Airlines as it offers service above par. Royal Caribbean Intl. and PAL share the same by-word of those who want to borrow books of interests, a regular bingo, a casino, dancing, swimming belly flop contest, a street dancing, cooking demo by the executive chef, art auction and so much more.

Each day has a different theme and schedule of activities all rolled into one. For those who love music and dancing, it is the vacation to take. For the sports enthusiasts, there is a rock climbing facility and a huge swimming pool.

And to top it all there is good food with a flowing supply of coffee, tea and drinks. One will have a grand time with fruits, pasta, pastries, vegetables and greens, ice cream, fruit juices, barbecue, omelets and all types of coffee tea. Or one can opt for different recipes for beef, turkey, pork, chicken and fish. Name it you will have it, even for midnight snacks pizzas and sandwiches are served free, she said.

Teo added that one can take the cruise anytime but there is always an appropriate time for celebrating special occasions with the family or with friends and for companies for its corporate incentives. The best way to take the cruise is flying with Philippine Airlines as it offers service above par. Royal Caribbean Intl. and PAL share the same by-word of service beyond one’s expectations. (PIA)