News

Back to Hawaii

2016-06-13 By Linda Tatten

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I just returned from another trip to Hawaii and I’m happy to report the Aloha Spirit is alive and well!

I attended the Maui Showcase with seminars and events to explore this beautiful island. I also spent time on Kauai and Oahu, checking on new hotels and updates on each island; as a Hawaii Expert it’s important to know what is best for my clients. Beside inspecting hotels, I went to luau’s, cruised along Kauai’s spectacular NaPali Coast – including a swim off the boat, visited beautiful and different botanical gardens…and much more.

I will be posting about my Hawaii adventure in the weeks to come as well as posting more photos on Facebook.

Pride of America’s Extensive Renovation

2016-06-03 By Linda Tatten

NCL Cruise Line, Pride of America, Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii

Pride of America is now essentially a new ship after an extensive renovation completed in March. Staterooms aboard Pride of America received new bedding, new furniture, new flat screen televisions and updated flooring. The pool area, public areas and restaurants have all been done over to create a more upscale feel…even the menus are new!

The Pride is the world’s only US-flagged cruise ship, which allows her to spend 100 hours in port…lots of time to explore each island. She sails year round, on a 7-night cruise of the Hawaiian Islands, including overnights in Maui and Kauai. A very special part of the cruise is an afternoon sail along the spectacular Napali Coast. The Napali Coast is breathtaking and the only way to see it is by boat or by air.

I have sailed on the Pride of America and loved how much time I had on each island, very different then most cruises where you spend a few hours in each port.

Visit the enchanting islands of Hawaii aboard this beautiful ship…unpack once and enjoy!

Autism Friendly Program

2016-05-27 By Linda Tatten

I want to share the following information from Royal Caribbean on their Autism Friendly Program. I know many families have extra challenges when travel with children with autism, I hope you find this helpful.

Royal Caribbean has achieved the following Autism Friendly Certifications fleet wide:

Bronze Level – all required autism friendly products and services in place.
Silver Level – all Youth staff trained on autism awareness.

Royal Caribbean also requires their Youth staff to have a four year University degree or international equivalent in education, recreation or related field. Their Youth staff has at least three to five years qualified experience in working with children ages six months to 17 years.

Royal Caribbean offers a wide range of autism friendly products and services including:

Priority check-in, boarding and departure.
Special dietary accommodations including gluten-free and dairy-free
Adventure Ocean flexible grouping by ability for children 3 to 11 years old.
Adventure Ocean toilet-trained policy exception.
Pagers/phones for parents of children in Adventure Ocean program while signed into care. (subject to availability)
Autism friendly toy lending is available in their Adventure Ocean Youth Program on all ships – can also be used in their room.
A “Social Story” available online before cruising, helps parents explain the cruise experience.

Autism Friendly Films

Presented in a low-lit and low volume environment. Guests are encouraged to freely talk and walk around during the film. These films will be offered on all autism group cruises and cruises when there are at least five children with autism on board.

New Travel by Tatten Website Debuts!

2016-05-17 By Linda Tatten

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

I am happy to debut the new website design. We had the goal of modernizing the design while keeping the travel business and trip information obvious and easy to find.

We hope you find it user-friendly, and welcome your feedback. Please, take a spin and use the contact form to send me your suggestions.

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