A Good Buy on a Lanai

A Good Buy on a Lanai

What is a Lanai, anyway? You have probably lived in an apartment or house that claimed to have one but never quite figured out the difference between a patio and lanai. Well it would appear that they are one and the same. So, why the buzz from Holland America about “lanai staterooms” being introduced on the Veendam? Well, it’s due to the fact that oceangoing lanais are a rarity and Holland America seems to be cornering the market on them. These staterooms offer direct access to the open decks. It is funny how old things become new again because many early cruise ships introduced in the 1950’s had outside corridors for access to staterooms.


The addition of 38 lanai staterooms on Veendam is a key feature in the latest round of Signature of Excellence enhancements at Holland America. Similar in size to the premium line’s outside-view staterooms, the new lanai accommodations were recently added to the ship and feature large sliding glass doors with direct access to the Lower Promenade wrap-around teak walking deck. Lanai staterooms will be added to ms Rotterdam this year and three other ships by 2013. Each lanai stateroom also features reserved deck chairs outside sliding glass doors that have a one-way mirrored coating to ensure privacy.

Thirty-two new verandah staterooms also were built on the aft portion of the ship, along with eight new inside staterooms. All staterooms aboard Veendam received new decor, modern wall sconces, carpeting, drapes, pillows and bed runners and resurfaced desks and vanities. Bathrooms saw an “extreme” makeover with new vanities and cabinetry.


A final stateroom enhancement was the creation of 15 spa staterooms -- 12 outside converted to verandah in drydock and three other inside -- featuring a variety of exclusive spa amenities. The rooms offer their own ambiance with a decor reflecting natural elements and soft earth-tones. A counter-top water feature in each stateroom provides a natural, ambient background sound and artwork reflects serene images in nature. Exclusive spa treatments and a spa room service menu are offered only in these staterooms.

Cruise Planners - About Cruise Planners

About Cruise Planners

We are NOT just about CRUISES...



Cruise Planners/American Express has a tremendous reputation for quality, service, and very competitive pricing for ALL of your travel needs. Due to our high sales volume, our buying power enables us to offer you the opportunity to travel in style at the lowest prices available, while still receiving the best service in the travel business.



Buying travel over the Internet can be a bit mysterious - we'd like to put your concerns at ease. Cruise Planners is a licensed, bonded, and insured agency. We are members of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), NACOA (National Association Of Cruise Oriented Agencies), and ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents).



When a Cruise Planners Travel Advisor arranges your trip, you can feel confident that you are receiving an exceptional cruise and/or tour vacation. Our goal is to work extremely hard to ensure that your overall experience meets your needs and exceeds your expectations. We offer negotiated rates with exceptional service and look forward to assisting you with all of your travel needs.


We are an award-winning company. Here’s proof.

American Express - 2010 Travel Agency of the Year
Home Based Partner of the Year – Royal Caribbean International – 4 years in a row (the ONLY winner ever!)
Home Based Partner of the Year - Norwegian Cruise Line - 2010
American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award – 6 years in a row
Entrepreneur magazine ranked #1 cruise only agency – 8 years in a row
Entrepreneur magazine Franchise 500 – ranked #62
President’s Club Elite – Norwegian Cruise Line 8 years in a row
Top Premier Travel Partner Award – Globus Family of Brands – 4 years in a row
Globe Award – Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations - 3 years in a row
Florida Premier Apple Agency – Apple Vacations – 3 years in a row
Gold Award Winner – 2010 & 2009 Travel Weekly Magellan Award
Silver Award Winner – 2010, 2009 and 2008 Travel Weekly Magellan Award
Gold Award Winner - 2010 AFF-ADDY Award
Silver Award Winner - 2010 AFF-ADDY Award
Agency of the Year – Carnival Cruise Lines
Pinnacle Award – Carnival Cruise Lines – 10 years in a row
Elite Travel Partner – Celebrity Cruises
Key Account – Celebrity Cruises – 8 years in a row
I Excel Gold – Princess Cruises
Centurion & Premium Preferred Agency – Holland America Line
Millionaire Producer – Crystal Cruises
Top Producer – Silversea Cruises
Key Account – Regent Seven Sea Cruises
Inner Circle Member – Cunard Line
Connoisseur Club – Oceania Cruises


Cruise Planners Executive are active member of these boards:

Royal Carribean International Advisory Board
Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines Executive Forum
Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL Home Based and NCL Partnership 2.0 Advisory Board
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Council
American Express Advisory Board
CLIA Travel Agency Advisory Board



American Express Travel ServicesCruise Planners - About Cruise Planners

Parrot Island Band

Parrot Island Band

The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal was completed in 1914 under the administration of Teddy Roosevelt at a cost of $533 million, requiring 35,000 men and 10 years to build. An engineering marvel, no pumps are used in filling or emptying the locks or "steps" that rise and fall between the two mighty oceans on either side. The Canal saves 13,000 miles of ocean travel around the tip of South America for vessels that traverse the 51.7 mile course. It takes 58 million gallons of water for a single ship to descend the 85 feet from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and takes a mere 8 hours.

Panama Canal Attractions

While you're sailing through the Panama Canal, take time out to explore the beautiful surrounding area. A great way is a kayaking ecological tour through the islands that surround Gatun Lake. Rich in animal and plant life, these islands are home to 93 species of mammals, 366 species of birds and 1,368 species of vascular plants.

Panama Canal Activities

Explore Portobelo, the former emporium of the riches of the New World, once an important commercial depot and a paradise for pirates.
Take a tour of the Gatun Locks, once the most massive in the world and still an impressive sight today.
Go monkey-watching on a tour of the small islands dotting the Chagres River.

Get Paid, simply by referring your Friends, family, co-workers and anyone else you know who will enjoy taking a cruise

Make your own scrapbooking design

Cruise Planners - Family Cruising

Cruise Planners - Family Cruising


Family Cruising


If you’ve vacationed with your children you know the look - a couple of bleary-eyed, bedraggled parents returning back to the hotel at 6 p.m.. In tow, are 2 hyper-active offspring wearing mouse hats or whale t-shirts sporting cotton candy hair extensions. Next it’s the big choice: wash them up and suffer through another dinner or collapse in the hotel room with another room service or take-out pizza meal. And today’s receipts for all this fun? Well, let’s just say it cost more than your first car did?

If this is how you define vacation in your household, maybe it’s time for something different. How about an experience where EVERYONE actually gets a vacation? The answer is quite simple and does not end with the words “Park”, “World” or “Land”. But it does end with the word “Happy”. On a cruise it is possible to make everyone happy with their vacation.

Contemporary cruise lines figured out quite a while ago that if you can keep the kids happy and occupied, then the parents follow right along. Over the years, children’s programs on board ships have blossomed from having one children’s counselor on board over the holidays to full blown year round programs and separate facilities for the different age groups. Every year from 6 months to 16 years is covered and child care is offered at various levels.

Cruise lines are now savvy enough to plan nighttime activities for the children so their parents can enjoy the facilities of the ship in a relaxed style simply unavailable at most land-based resorts. Cruises are an exceptionally good idea for single parents as they have a controlled environment and child care on the ship, but have the freedom and time to make new friends around the ship. Extended families also love ships because cousins and friends can hang together on the ship while the adults reconnect.

Before you plan your next road trip, let a “cruise expert” Cruise Planners and More fill you in on the many choices and the “secret” affordability of family cruising. Oh, did we forget to mention that all meals, snacks, entertainment, accommodations and transportation are included in one upfront price? This year take a cruise and leave the mouse hats, maps, and (cotton candy remover) shampoo at home.