Endless Vacation Options

By: Mike Franks, Owner-Operator, Cruise Planners-Orange Park, FL

Although many of my clients are looking for cruise vacations, there are lots of other vacation options available. There are so many options available; it’s smart to let your travel advisor do all the heavy lifting for you. Here are just a few to get your creative juices flowing.

Introducing Royal Caribbean’s Fabulous New Ship-Symphony of the Seas

By: Mike Franks Owner-Operator, Cruise Planners-Orange Park, FL

Royal Caribbean International just launched the newest and best ship of its fleet Symphony of the Seas. Since I have clients planning to cruise on her over the next few months, I decided to take a closer look at what makes this ship so special. In doing so, I intentionally stayed away from RCI’s web site and press releases and relied on various cruise line critics for their opinions on this ship. After three years of construction, the world's largest cruise ship just set sail from Barcelona, Spain, on its inaugural cruise around the Mediterranean.  But the ship's record-breaking size isn't its only claim to fame.

Want a More Sophisticated Cruise Experience?

By: Mike Franks

When most travelers think about a cruise vacations, they typically consider the Caribbean, Alaska or some of the Polynesian Islands of the South Pacific. All of these destinations will deliver a quality vacation and memories of a lifetime.

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But perhaps you are looking to expand your cruise horizons a bit and think outside the normal cruise itineraries and explore some more exotic destinations. In the next couple of articles, I will highlight some more exotic and luxurious options currently offered.

A Visit to Rome, the Eternal City

By Mike Franks

Travel and tourism, particularly Europe, is at an all-time high. One of the most popular cities to visit is Rome, Italy. The beautiful architecture and rich history of the city and its surroundings make Rome a tourist favorite. Rome is called the “Eternal City” because ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened in the world or how many empires came and went, Rome would go on forever.

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My wife and I visited Rome last year. Here are a few of our favorite sights.

St. Peter's Basilica is an Italian Renaissance church in Vatican City, the papal enclave within the city of Rome.