Luxury – Boscov's Travel: Blog | Insider Travel Info

The World’s First Discovery Yacht Gives You Luxurious Amenities Unlike Ever Before

Posted on September 20, 2019 by boscovstravel

The following post is a review of our experience aboard Scenic’s newest venture – the Scenic Eclipse, the World’s First Discovery Yacht. Both Janet and Yana from our Reading, PA office experienced the inaugural sailing in September 2019 as the ship made her way from Halifax to NYC.

Previously, access to a yacht vacation was reserved for the ultra wealthy. With Scenic’s introduction of the Eclipse, travelers can now discover the farthest reaches of the world while experiencing 6-star luxury aboard the World’s First Discovery Yacht. The all-inclusive* experience is unlike any other. From specialty dining to shore excursions, open bar to kayak and bike use, this vacation is incredible.

Tell us about the look of the ship.
Every feature of the ship was designed by the founder Glen Moroney’s wife, Karen. She and her team took form and function into account. Whether it was the beauty of the lobby, the inviting spa complete with infared sauna, steam-room and plunge pool, or the lovely art gracing the ship, there was always a new feature to discover around every corridor.

Our cabin was spacious and well accommodated. The bathroom featured a large shower stall with rainfall showerhead, a minimalist European style sink and a Dyson hairdryer. Inside the cabin, no expense was spared. A dual adjustable mattress, TV sleekly hidden within the mirror, and the stunning artwork made the room inviting and comfortable.

The ship’s interior is dark and sleek, while making minimal but effective use of light and reflective surfaces. The darker grey coloration is unlike any other ship and was unexpected, but truly elegant. Speaking of striking features…

What were you most surprised by when onboard the Scenic Eclipse?
If you’re an avid cruiser, you know that noise between the cabins can happen frequently. These cabins and the public areas were different. Sound is minimal and we didn’t hear anyone in the corridors or next room. What a difference this makes!

If you do cruise, you typically need to pre-register a credit card before you sail. When you get onboard, you’re on vacation and there’s no need to pre-register a card.

On our balcony, we had a full size table. Typically cruise ships give you a coffee/side sized table. Having the larger table allowed us to enjoy full meals overlooking the sea and served by our butler. Yes, you read that correctly. Every cabin on board has butler service.

Whenever a client tells us about their cruise experience, they always touch on the dining. What was the experience like on the Scenic Eclipse?
The entire dining experience was incredible. I came home and literally said, “That was the best dining I’ve ever had.” With the all-inclusive* experience, all specialty dining is included at any one of the yacht’s 10 dining experiences including Azure Bar & Café where you can enjoy relaxed all-day grazing.

Our favorite was Teppanyaki @ Koko’s featuring private dining with an open Teppanyaki grill. Everything was so perfect, it will be hard to ever enjoy Japanese food as much as we did here.

Notable highlights include a class at Epicure where you can learn to cook like a chef and the espresso + cappuccinos that rival the Italians.

To recap: beautiful spaces, unexpected delights and delicious fare. Tell us about the service.
The ship can accommodate 228 guests and with a guest to staff ratio of 1:1, there is not a thing they will not do for you. Exemplary service was experienced from our butler service to the chefs to the captain. With many recruits from Seaborne and Crystal luxury cruises, the caliber of service is truly 6-star.

Who is the ideal guest for this type of cruise vacation?
The ship is a first of its kind discovery vessel. A client looking to discover the furthest reaches of the world would love the experience. The ship was built for discovery with 18 onboard Discovery Crew Members taking care of this portion of the trip. With a high concentration of PhDs, this group takes guests closer to nature with the ability to cut through and navigate icy waters, Zodiac boats allowing you to explore shallower waters. The ship is equipped with kayaks, bikes, as well as access to two onboard helicopters and a submarine (nominal fee). An ideal trip would be to Antarctica, more intimate ports throughout Europe or Greenland.

A luxury yacht is not for everyone, so understanding the true value of the complete experience is important. With your cruise fare comes all excursions, all meals with specialty dining, all drinks, tipping and gratuities, and more. There are no hidden taxes or fees.

Ultimately a discovery yacht vacation is perfect for a client who understands the value of an all-inclusive* experience fused with the ultimate luxurious accommodations. We’re here to help you decide where you want to go on your next adventure.

Visit Boscov’s Travel located within select Boscov’s including Pennsylvania (Camp Hill, Colonial Park/Harrisburg, Easton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Neshaminy/Bensalem, Wyomissing, Reading, Pottstown, Pottsville, Scranton, Selinsgrove, Wilkes-Barre), New York (Binghamton), New Jersey (Atlantic City and Moorestown), Delaware (Wilmington), and Maryland (Salisbury). View our locations here. If you live a little further away, book over the phone by calling us at 800-755-8020. Learn more at boscovstravel.com

*All-inclusive with the exception of submarine excursions, helicopter rides and spa treatments.

Nickelodeon’s Newest Resort is Surprisingly Luxurious

Posted on November 14, 2016October 31, 2017 by boscovstravel

The following post is written by Jennifer from Boscov’s Travel within Boscov’s in Camp Hill. Jennifer recently visited Nickelodeon Resort on a FAM trip. In the travel industry, FAM trips – better known as familiarization trips – help travel agents learn what’s available for their clients in destinations across the globe. Jennifer traveled on the FAM in October 2016.

I had the opportunity to visit the Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana – WAIT, don’t stop reading because I said Nickelodeon…hear me out. While there are nods to the characters especially in the Kids play area (Just Kids), the water park and the character breakfast (additional charge) this resort has so much to offer families and adults alike.

It’s on a beautiful stretch a beach with a gorgeous infinity pool, some ocean front restaurants and well located wedding venues. Does that sound ‘kiddie’? The water park is quite literally across the street – but very easy to get to with an under the roadway access and golf carts or walking paths to get there. This is also where the ‘Just Kids’ playhouse is and the sports hub with tennis courts, soccer play area, running track, pool and video games. The sports hub is a great place for teens to hang out. This entire area is separate from the lobby, courtyard of dining and shops and the rooms.

The Nickelodeon resort shares amenities with the Karisma resort Sensatori but these rooms are only available in the Canadian and European market. There is even an adults-only section at Sensatori and yet the amenities like restaurants, pools, spa, etc are shared. This area is a large courtyard walking area almost like a planned communities shopping area. There was family appropriate but non-branded entertainment going on in the courtyard at night. A violinist, a juggler, a mime (who hired the mime?!?) and a popcorn cart. This is an indicator that the ‘Nickelodeon’ element of the resort by the same name is really only an aspect of it. You just need to look at the pictures to see what I mean. Yes there are touches of Nickelodeon orange, shadows on the buildings of characters and a lone pineapple villa (aka Spongebob’s House) done tastefully and kind of minimalist. Let me tell you it’s a pretty spectacular villa!!

What is more expected of the brand are the numbers of swim up suites and rooms with plunge pools on the second and third floors, spectacular restaurants with an upscale feel, and entertainment that has nothing to do with Nickelodeon themes. My friend just took her daughter here (age 9) and her favorite thing was the swim up suite. Most of the room categories have a safety gate at the sliding glass door to prevent little ones from having access to the pool without assistance.

Nickelodeon is a family friendly LUXURY resort with as much for the parents as the kids… the name sells the kids but the luxury will convince the parents. This resort would be a great tropical follow up to an exhausting Florida theme park for families looking for a more relaxing vacation.

If you’re ready to learn more about Nickelodeon Resort, email [email protected], DM Boscov’s Travel on Facebook, or call 800-755-8020.

Which Cruise Line is Right for You?

Posted on July 7, 2016 by boscovstravel

If you are new to cruising or looking to explore a new destination on a cruise, it can become confusing to decide what’s the best cruise line for you. Whether you’re traveling on a budget with family or looking for a one-of-a-kind luxury cruise experience, we can help!

Our travel specialists brought together their top recommended cruise lines based on service, value and overall cruise experience and made a handy quiz to help you to see which cruise line is the best fit for you!

JCAM2016-85x11CruiseInfographic

Click here to view infographic in full screen.

Now that you’ve chosen your cruise line, take advantage of savings and perks during Boscov’s Travel July Customer Appreciation Month! All month long, enjoy discounts, perks and bonus offers on every cruise line featured here. Learn more about our July events here.

If you’re ready to book your cruise adventure, email [email protected], call 800-755-8020 or direct message us.

A Traveler’s Perspective: One of the Best Resorts in Punta Cana

Posted on February 5, 2016 by boscovstravel

Zoetry Agua in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is an all-inclusive luxury resort boasting a 6+ Global Apple rating from Apple Vacations (basically, the place is ranked at the very top of the chart). Two of our clients recently visited the resort and provided insider-access into one of the most beautiful Punta Cana hotels we’ve ever seen!

Stacy and Tyler, avid travelers and repeat Boscov’s Travel customers, were looking for an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. Having booked several trips for them in the past, Boscov’s Travel Camp Hill Travel Specialist Amy Bressler knew the amenities that Stacy and Tyler preferred, what type of atmosphere they gravitated to and what resort would provide the best vacation experience for them. They ended up on a different island all-together and settled on Zoetry Agua resort in Punta Cana.

Below, Stacy gives us her perspective on the resort (they had their own private butler!), why she recommends using a travel agency and why travel continues to be one of her favorite hobbies.

Why did you choose the particular resort?

Amy, our Travel Specialist, most definitely steered us in the right direction. She found an awesome deal at the Zoetry Agua Resort and once she showed us the resort, we were sold!

What did you like about the accommodations at the resort? (It looks like your room had its own private pool, too!)

I loved everything about this resort and our accommodations. The resort was a smaller resort with fewer rooms than most of the other resorts we have been to (96 to be exact). This made for a nice, quiet, and relaxing vacation. We had our own butler that took care of everything. He made our reservations for our spa appointments, set up transportation and tee times for two golf trips, and found us on the beach and by the pool just to make sure we had fresh drinks and beach towels.

Our room at the resort was amazing; it was bigger than some apartments. There was a “yard” with a small private pool to cool off along with lounge chairs. There was a separate sitting room with a couch and a dining table to enjoy room service. We had an open air bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and rain shower.

The beach and pool areas had plenty of available lounge chairs, umbrellas and natural palm trees for shade. The wait staff at the resort was top notch. They took very good care of us, our drinks were never empty, they paid great attention to detail, and they knew our names. The staff really made us feel that we were a priority and the only ones at the resort!

How were the food and drinks?

The food was excellent and the drinks were always well made. The variety of menu options was great, I don’t eat seafood and there were more than enough choices from which to choose. The steaks were probably the best tasting and well prepared steaks I have ever had on a vacation like this!

Do you have any stories from the trip that stand out?

I honestly loved everything about this trip. It was by far the nicest resort we have been to. Two things that stood were the service and the staff. From the beach and poolside staff, to the wait staff at breakfast, lunch and dinner, to our butler and even the staff at the spa, everyone was just fantastic. The resort was gorgeous, clean, and quiet – it just had such a relaxed atmosphere. I would definitely recommend this resort to anyone who wants to be taken care of and truly relax on their vacation!

So how did you learn about Boscov’s Travel?

I had been familiar with Boscov’s Travel for quite some time, my mother worked for Boscov’s department store for several years so I was aware Boscov’s had a travel division. At the time I booked my first trip through Boscov’s Travel, I did so because I was traveling with a group and Boscov’s Travel was the travel agency the group was working with. I met my travel agent Amy when booking that first trip and we have been planning vacations with her for four years now!

What makes you continue to choose Boscov’s Travel when you want to plan a vacation?

There are many reasons Boscov’s Travel is our go-to travel agency to book a vacation. We love our travel agent, Amy! She is the best and I recommend her to anyone and everyone who is looking to plan a trip. She is quick to return my calls and emails, she answers any and all questions, and makes us feel confident we are getting a great price at a perfect location with all the amenities. We also love Boscov’s Travel because of the prices they are able to offer. I have researched booking a vacation at the rate Amy has quoted us and it is definitely impossible.

Since you have been on a few trips with us and seem well-traveled, why do you choose to continue to travel?

Travel and adventure is a passion of mine. I grew up going on family vacations to Florida, cruising up and down the east coast, to the Caribbean and Canada and taking weekend trips to cities like Baltimore, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia. I even took a school trip to Europe. I absolutely love to travel, visit new places, explore new cultures, or just relax on the beach or poolside with a fruity umbrella drink. That is what I love about traveling – the possibilities are endless. In one trip you can be RV-ing through the jungle in the Dominican one day and the next laying by the beach and eating a traditional Dominican dinner.

Any advice to other travelers?

My advice for other travelers: if you want a worry free vacation beginning to end, book your vacation through a travel agent. We have never had to worry about how we are getting from the airport to our resort or back to the airport from the resort, we have never had any surprise fees or other unexpected expenditures. We have never had to spend hours paging through resorts, comparing prices, and trying to find flights. Our vacations are truly vacations because we let our travel agent do all the work for us so all we have to do is show up, order a drink, and relax! Aside from that, don’t over pack and relax – you are on vacation.

Thanks to Stacy for sharing her vacation experiences! If you’re ready to book a vacation, visit Boscov’s Travel located within select Boscov’s including Pennsylvania (Camp Hill, Colonial Park/Harrisburg, Easton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Neshaminy/Bensalem, Wyomissing, Reading, Pottstown, Pottsville, Scranton, Selinsgrove, Wilkes-Barre), New York (Binghamton), New jersey (Atlantic City and Moorestown), Delaware (Wilmington), and Maryland (Salisbury). View our locations here or call us at 800-755-8020. Learn more at boscovstravel.com