The Travel Show: Hawaii and Mexico Specials!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:11):
You're listening to the Travel Show and welcome for another
star studded broadcast of the number one travel show in
the nation. Yes, we are syndicated all the way to
the East Coast. I'm Larry Gelwicks, that get away Guru.
The Travel show is sponsored by Morris Columbus Travel, where
you always travel more and pay less. Do check out

(00:34):
their website Morriscolumbus dot com. That's Morriscolumbus dot com. I'd
like to welcome back to the show one of our favorites,
John Potter, Travel Advisor Extraordinaire. John, Welcome back to the show.
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
It's always good to be here.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
This is like old times.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
It is. Yes, you know how long were.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
You on the show before you took your time.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Out from the time you got back from your mission
until January of twenty four.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Wow, long time, long time. Well, it's great to have
you back. We just finished last weekend the thirtieth annual
Utah Travel Expo. It's the biggest and best travel show
anywhere in the Inner Mountain area, brought together over one
hundred and twenty travel vendors. That's airlines, cruise lines, safari companies, hotels, resorts,

(01:31):
tour companies, all things of travel, and it's you know,
it's such a wonderful event, John, because you can go in,
sit down, one on one talk to Delta Vacations. That's
the vacation arm of Delta Airlines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines,
Discovery Expeditions, the hotels and resorts, cruise Lines. And what

(01:56):
people came with is questions. Yeah, and it's your asking questions,
is this the perfect vacation for me, for me and
my family, for me and my partner or spouse, whatever
you want to do. What are the promotions? Now? There
were exclusive travel Expo discounts. That's on top of anything

(02:20):
else that might be offered. It was like a discount
on top of a discount on top of a discount.
And I will tell you were over in the travel
advisors section. But yeah, I could hardly walk ten feet
with someone coming and say, hey, we listened to the
travel show. People always ask where's Pluto?

Speaker 2 (02:41):
I had that as if I, you know, left to
go to the restroom, it would take me a long
time to go the restroom because everybody was stopping me
along the way. Luckily I didn't have an accident.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
I was just going to ask if you peed your pants?

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah, no, thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Did you wear your pluto hat?

Speaker 2 (02:55):
I didn't. I had it with me on I had
it with me, and I just got they're busy and
did not think to put it on.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Oh my goodness. Anyway, what was your experience and take
on the Travel Expo?

Speaker 2 (03:08):
It was very busy. Everybody was excited to be there.
Sometimes you get some grumpy people, and I did not
experience any grumpy people.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
I didn't see any grumpies.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, it was great. We had great weather, so I
think that encouraged people to come out. And I thought
it was a very well attended event, and a lot
of the vendors would say, oh, this is just the
best show we ever.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
Do you know.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
I've asked many suppliers and vendors. They all say this
is the best show they attend, and they do these
shows year round across the country. And I said, why
do you say that? What is it about the Utah
Travel Expo that's different? And the number one answer I

(03:50):
get is the people who attend, yeah, you know, rather
than everyone in what I call the where's my free pen? Crowd? Right,
many with written questions, but they ask questions and their
intelligent questions. These vendors are telling me they get more
intelligent responses than at any other show. And people come

(04:13):
to buy, people come to enjoy, people come to just consider.
But it's a lot of fun. And you know what
was really cool is we gave away major travel awards. Yeah,
airline tickets to Europe, Hawaii, a Fiji, vacation of Mexico,
a vacation Hawaii, Europe vacations, hotel and resort stays, you know,

(04:36):
one thousand dollars discounts off tours. And as always said, now,
somebody's going to win these, and it may as well
be you. Every year at the expo, you have to
be there to register, but you don't have to be
present to win.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
That's correct, Yes, and neither one of us won. I
don't understand why I'm.

Speaker 1 (04:55):
Going to rig it next time. Here's the few of
the expo discounts. Now, the bad news is the expo's over.
The good news is that almost all of the suppliers
have extended their promotions and discounts. Yeah, for one to
two weeks, most of them two weeks. Yes, here's a
few that I really like. Viking cruises free and reduced airfare. Now,

(05:19):
you were just telling me that you've been booking Viking
right and left.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yes, they've they're trying to close out the rest of
their twenty twenty six inventory and it's getting quite full.
What's the draw Low prices on the crewse on the cruise.
We're seeing low prices on the crews and low prices
on the airfare. Now again that's just for sailings in
twenty twenty six, but that's a good time to go
when it's discounted.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
That really is Celebrity Cruises. That's a premium line. I
really do like Celebrity Me too. A savings of up
to seven hundred dollars per state room plus a one
hundred dollars OBC.

Speaker 2 (06:01):
What's an OBC on board credit? It's like free money
to spend on the cruise ship. You can pretty much
spend it on anything except the casino.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
So you could, all you folks could buy me gifts.
Delta vacations again, this is Delta Airlines vacation arm. You
can save up to two hundred dollars per booking below
their lowest price. However, if you're a Delta Sky Miles member,
you can save up to two hundred and fifty dollars

(06:31):
a booking. Now, I really like Norwegian Cruise Line. And
by the way, the key account director for Norwegian Cruise
Line is going to be in our next segment, Lisa pressedly.
She is a delight to tell. Guess what's going on
with NCL. What are some of the Norwegian Cruise Line promotions.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
Well, they've got the second guest flies free, and they've
done a little thing that I kind of like with
the guest fly free is now you are going to
fly in the day before your cruise leaves to avoid
missing your cruise.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
I think that's a good I think it's a good move.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
I really do. You also get the free opening bar,
you just pay the gratuities, free upgraded dining to the
specialty restaurants, free WiFi, shore excursion credits and on select
cruises kids sail free.

Speaker 1 (07:22):
But it's not just kids, not kids.

Speaker 2 (07:24):
Anybody's everybody is somebody's kids, so it's third.

Speaker 1 (07:28):
And fourth person and no family relation is required, right
sharing your cabin, just pay the taxes. You know what
I really like about that free airfare is the first
person they're not doing some jacked up price. It's a
legitimate discount rate. And I'll give you an example. We're

(07:48):
using the buy one, get one free for our May
of this year Tahiti to Hawaii. We got I think
one hundred and four people on that. You do our own,
your excursions are on onboard activities. Well, my ticket is
about seventeen hundred dollars. That's Salt Lake all the way
to Tahiti and home from Hawaii. Kathy goes absolutely free.

(08:13):
So that's an effective airfare of about eight hundred and
fifty dollars per person. If you were to buy this individually,
it's over two thousand.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
Dollars, yes, per person, per person, Yes.

Speaker 1 (08:26):
And so to me, that's one of the great benefits.
Tell me about Talk Tours. Tauck Talk is a premium line.

Speaker 2 (08:37):
They do river cruises. They also do some escorted touring
as well in Europe, mostly Europe, and they're a premium line.
They do a very good job. They're they're a high
end and just really good.

Speaker 1 (08:49):
Part of the expo promotion book that Talk Tour with
Morris Columbus Travel. And you can get a complementary pre
or post night hotel stay. Yeah, absolutely for you. Well,
these will last for about another week and give Morris
Columbus Travel a call. We've been seeing some great deals

(09:12):
to Mexico all inclusives. Hawaii. Hawaii's kind of got expensive.
It has tell me what's going on in can Kun
and Puerto Bayota.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
Uh huh. In can Kun we have rates starting at
just ten fifty eight per person. Of that is your
round trip airfare, that is your round trip transfers between
the airport and the hotel and spending five nights at
the Catalonia Yucatan.

Speaker 1 (09:40):
Beach right on the beach days five nights. Now, also
your meals, your drinks, most your activities, even your tips
and gratuities. You could literally go without a peso.

Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, the rates vary by date, but these prices are
based on an April twenty third departure.

Speaker 1 (09:57):
Now, if I want to upgrade in and Kun to
a five star, what am I going to.

Speaker 2 (10:04):
Pay eleven eighty five per person?

Speaker 1 (10:07):
So it's just about one hundred bucks?

Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, and it's so worth it. That would be at
the Grand Sunset Princess.

Speaker 1 (10:12):
Uh. The Crystal hotels are fantastic. Very quickly, we got
about thirty seconds where toe Iarcta in late April We're.

Speaker 2 (10:20):
To Iarta rates starting at nine thirty three per person
of the crystal.

Speaker 1 (10:23):
The front door. Because you say nine to thirty three airfare,
resort meals, drinks, transfers, tips and gratuities. Yeah, that is
the deal of the century.

Speaker 4 (10:33):
It is.

Speaker 1 (10:33):
Well listen. When we come back, we'll be speaking with
Lisa Pressley, Regional key account director with Norwegian Cruise Line
and they've got some exciting new itinerary, some new ships
stay tuned for NCL and cruising the Seven Seas. Welcome

(11:11):
back to the Travel Show. I'm Larry Gelwiz, they get
away Guru, joined today by John Potter, one of our
best Morris Columbus Travel advisors. And do remember the Travel
Show is sponsored by Morris Columbus Travel, where you always
travel more and pay less. I'm pleased to welcome one

(11:31):
of my dearest friends in the travel industry, Lisa Presley,
Regional key account director with Norwegian Cruise Line. Lisa, rather
than say welcome to the show, I'm going to say
welcome back to the show.

Speaker 5 (11:46):
Thank you, Larry. I'm excited to be here. We have
a lot of great information to share with everyone today.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
Well, you know, one of the items that's catching headlines
in all the travel magazines is what you've done out
in the Bahamas at Great Stirrup K. What's happening out
there with your upgrades.

Speaker 5 (12:06):
Oh, I'm so happy that you asked. The Great Stirrup
K has been going through a very dramatic transformation. It's
always been an awful fine island that's a private island
that ncl owns. But what we've done is we've added
so many different adventures for our guests to be able
to partake while they're on it. And Larry, you're not

(12:28):
going to believe this, but one of my very very
favorite new styles of enjoying a pool on Great Syrup
K is going to be cliff jumping. What. Yes, we're
offering cliff jumping. There's two different heights. There's one that's
ten feet and there's one that's fifteen feet. And this

(12:51):
cliff jumping area is actually going to be part of
cliff Side Cove And within that code area there's a
wonderful pool area. There's a big slide that families can
enjoy where you can have four people going down and
at the same time there's a place to relax, lots
of lounge chairs, But that's just one small part of

(13:13):
the updates. A great stirrup K. A lot of people
have probably heard of a lazy river.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
Yeah, you know the river.

Speaker 5 (13:21):
Yeah, the river that you get in an inner tube
and you.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
Kind of mildly float around.

Speaker 5 (13:26):
Yeah, but we have upgraded that river to called a
dynamic river. It's going to have a nice current to it,
so you can get in your inner tube and you
can just float all around it. And I'm so excited
because of one of the other things that we can
do is you float around that lazy river, you can

(13:47):
get off of it in multiple different areas and there
is a very large what we call tidal tower that
has multiple different levels of water slides.

Speaker 1 (14:00):
Well, I'm Lisa, I'm looking at the press releases and
first of all, on that cliff jump, do you have
a two foot cliff jump for me?

Speaker 5 (14:10):
Nope, You're going to have to either do ten or fifteen.

Speaker 1 (14:12):
Larry, Okay, Well, this is the most amazing water park
and slides I think I've seriously ever seen in my life.
And what's nice and I'll have you talk about that,
but what I'm seeing a great stirrup K. You can
be as laid back or as active. It's not all

(14:33):
river runs and water slides. There's something for everybody's activity level.

Speaker 5 (14:41):
Absolutely, if you want to just sit back and enjoy.
We have an adult area too, called the Vibe Short Club.
Within the Vibe Short Club, there is wonderful chairs in there.
You can have bar service right at your chairs. Those
are covered chairs. We have Hammock Bay where you can
just grab a hammot and just sit back and relax,

(15:02):
or even have a swim up bar if you want
to just go grab a little barstool within the water
and sit and have a soda, have a cottail and
just enjoy mean outside, Yeah, just enjoy being in the water.

Speaker 1 (15:15):
We're speaking with Lisa Presley, Regional key account directed with
Norwegian Cruise Line. We've got about three minutes left. Time
goes quickly. I want you to highlight the Norwegian Luna,
a new ship making its debut I think in like
two months or something.

Speaker 5 (15:34):
Yes, really quick to be here in March. The Luna
is the big sister to the prim Ndaviva, which came
out with respectively over the last couple of years. Oh yes,
they're absolutely gorgeous. On the top of the ship, we
have the Aqua Slide coaster. It's the fastest and wildest
to person ride there is, and it's also a great

(15:54):
opportunity to get wet while you're enjoying a little bit
of the sun. Of course, we've got the Haven, which
is our exclusive area with our suites. Plenty of different restaurants,
but of course I think you and I had a
favorite restaurant though on board, and it happens to be
the Indulged Food Hall. It's a restaurants.

Speaker 1 (16:12):
It's a wild court. Hey listen, we've only got about
a minute and a half left. Time flies when you're
having fun. You've got some great promotions out there. Highlight
those for us.

Speaker 5 (16:24):
We do. We have the buy one, get one free
airfare promotion, which now has been updated to include a
pre night so you can fly in a day early.
We have our free at Sea promotion that includes the
unlimited beverages, dining, Wi Fi excursions. Currently, right now we're
doing an onboard credit offer. Also, there's so many different

(16:46):
promotions out there, Larry, is the best time to book
your cruise right now?

Speaker 1 (16:51):
Well, I'll tell you how to find out all the
promotions is give John Potter or any of our Morris
Columbus Travel Advisors. You know that we are big, big
fans of Norwegian Cruise Lines. Now, Lisa, where how many
ships does NCL have now including the Luna, including the

(17:12):
Luna twenty twenty. We are Yeah, where do you sail?

Speaker 5 (17:17):
Everywhere?

Speaker 1 (17:18):
Where do you want to go?

Speaker 5 (17:19):
We have ships all over the world and right now
is the perfect time to book your cruise with Morris
Columbus Traveled because we do have such great deals out there.

Speaker 1 (17:27):
Do you know I'll be with Norwegian Cruise Line on
the Tahiti to Hawaii. We now have I believe one
hundred and six people on that. I love that itinerates.
It's French Polynesia, Tahiti, Morea, Rayeta, Bora Bora, the Toumotu Archipelago.
You know what's really fun is crossing the equator and

(17:51):
you know what I've learned about that is the the
ocean looks the same, It is blue into that. Okay, Hey,
one final question, as we have just about thirty seconds left.
There's a lot of good cruise choices out there. Why

(18:13):
Norwegian Cruise Line.

Speaker 5 (18:15):
The region and Cruise Line offers a destination anywhere in
the world that you would like to go and we
have a wonderful value and the best part about it
is if you book it through Morris Columbus Travel, you'll
actually get an extra amenity too.

Speaker 1 (18:30):
Well, that's one of the benefits of dealing with Morris
Columbus Travel. Lisa Presley, Regional key account director with Norwegian
Cruise Line. Lisa, thank you for joining us on the
Travel Show. Welcome back to the Travel Show. I'm Larry Gelwicks,

(19:06):
then get Away Guru. The Travel Show is sponsored by
Morris Columbus Travel, where you always travel more and pay less.
Check out their website Morriscolumbus dot com. I'm joined today
by John Potter, one of our very good travel advisors
in the Bountiful office of Morris Columbus Travel. If you'd

(19:27):
like to speak to John direct eight oh one four
eight three fifty two fourteen. Eight oh one four eight
three fifty two fourteen And that's a direct line John,
right to your desk.

Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yes, you don't have to go through that whole phone system.
Miss it's right. Just dial a number and all answer.

Speaker 1 (19:46):
I've been trying to call some government offices lately and
I am so frustrated. All I mean, you press two
press three and it doesn't go anywhere. Yeah, it's just well,
John will answer it live. What is it about cruising
river and ocean that you like? Because I know you're
a big cruise fan.

Speaker 2 (20:06):
I love cruising.

Speaker 1 (20:08):
I think no we talk in State Street or on
the seventh seats.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
On the water, it's got to be on the water.
I love the relaxing, the just being on the ship.
I just the minute I'm on that ship, I am relaxed.
I'm enjoying. You've got all the food, you've got the
free entertainment. I just love watching people. My last several
cruises have been Disney cruises, and I love.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
Just hanging out. Now there's a shocker.

Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, I just love hanging out in the atrium and
watch the little children and the adults interact with the characters.
It is just so fun to watch, and there's just
nothing like cruising.

Speaker 1 (20:44):
What's your favorite Disney character?

Speaker 2 (20:46):
Pluto?

Speaker 1 (20:46):
Of course, of course, of course I kind of identify
with Goofy. Yes you do, Thank you very much. You know,
there are some considerations and questions that our listeners should
think about before booking their next cruise, and some of
those are am I looking for a destination cruise or

(21:11):
an experienced crew both. Yeah, but it's the primary purpose
a destination cruise is I want to see Alaska. I'm
not going to book Mexico. I want to see the Mediterranean.
I'm not going to go to the Caribbean. In other words,
I want a really good experience, but I'm driven by
a desire to cruise a specific geographic destination. Contrast that

(21:34):
with an experienced cruise is. I could be happy in Mexico,
the Caribbean, the med Alaska, wherever. But I'm looking for
a great experience, a good ship, a good price. Case
in point. Almost nine years ago, Kathy and I celebrated
our fortieth wedding anniversary. Can you believe she hasn't kicked

(21:56):
me out of the house yet?

Speaker 2 (21:57):
My mind is blown up?

Speaker 1 (21:59):
It is. I trust me she's had cause we will
be married forty nine years this April fifth. Oh wow,
isn't that exciting?

Speaker 2 (22:08):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (22:08):
And by the way, that's the day we leave with
our family on the spring Break cruise. We're flying down
there anyway. So for our fortieth wedding anniversary, we wanted
to go on a cruise without a group, just the
two of us and I didn't care. I looked at Mexico,
I looked at the Caribbean, Eastern, Western, Southern. We found

(22:31):
a great deal with Norwegian Cruise Line to the Eastern
Caribbean on a brand new ship, and so we booked it.
We wanted a good destination, but we were driven by
I could be happy anywhere if I have a great
experience with that. I've got to tell you, it's kind
of weird because most of my travels are with groups.

(22:51):
I love traveling with our travel show listeners. It took
me a couple of days. I kept looking for people
to organize. Yeah, you know, it's about the third day
I started to relax. The next question is is the
cruise adults only or family friendly? Excuse me. Viking, for example,

(23:14):
is adults only eighteen years of age and older, so
it's virgin Yeah, okay. The next thing is to pay
attention to your port times. You know, I told the
story once of looking at a wonderful Alaska cruise and
glacier day. You can only have one ship at a time.
They're usually there for an hour or two with a permit.

(23:34):
They don't have five ships looking at the same glacier
at the same time, right, Well, the glacier viewing was
at six am.

Speaker 2 (23:42):
Who's wrong with that?

Speaker 1 (23:43):
Who's up at six as?

Speaker 3 (23:44):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (23:45):
I am, yeah, well you go enjoy the glacier, Thank
you very much. What is the age of the ship.
There's nothing wrong with the older refurbished ships, but the
newer ones have so many more amenities, dining ops and yes,
size does matter. Yes, are you looking for a smaller ship?

(24:06):
Some of them, like Crystal Ultra Deluxe ocean Liner may
only hold six or seven hundred people with massively huge cabins.
Everything about it. Holland America, you know later in mid February,
I have that travel listeners group in Australia and New
Zealand where with Holland America a great line. Yeah, but

(24:28):
it holds about twenty five hundred people. Most of the
cruise ships are in that thirty five hundred to four thousand,
but the newer ones hold as many as seven thousand guests. Yeah,
three and a half football fields in length. Now, there's
no right or wrong answer. It's a matter of personal choice.

Speaker 2 (24:45):
It is a lot of people say, well, I don't
want to go in one of those big chips because
there's so many people it's like, well, yeah, there's a
lot more people, but they're also one a much larger area.

Speaker 1 (24:53):
And what they're doing is they're dividing the ship into
neighborhoods so it doesn't feel crowded. What is really in
in your cruise fair Like a river cruise, you'll generally
have your beer, wine, soft drinks included with meals and
happy hour. Shore excursions are included with river cruises, most

(25:15):
ocean cruises, the air additional expense. And last thing, what
is the target audience? Every product, all goods and services
have a target audience. How can you tell? Look at
the photos in their brochure, look at the photos online?
For example, if I look at a Disney brochure, John,

(25:36):
what photos am I going to see?

Speaker 2 (25:37):
Families?

Speaker 1 (25:38):
Will they take grandma and grandpa just as a couple
without a family.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
Oh absolutely, there's a lot of us that do that.

Speaker 1 (25:44):
Of course they will. But if I looked at say
Seaborne or Crystal cruises, I'm going to see photos of
kind of that fifty to fifty five country club. Look.
Will they take young kids? Yes? Some of them? Yeah,
that's not through target audience. So those are questions that
you want to ask give me a cruise report. You

(26:07):
just got off yet another Disney cruise Yes, give us
a report.

Speaker 2 (26:12):
Yeah. Two weeks ago I got off the Disney Destiny,
which is their newest cruise ship that's actually sailing with guests.
And we met their newest cruise ship, the Disney Adventure,
as it was sailing from Europe to Florida, and it
was really touching. We had watched that it was coming

(26:32):
and it stopped. We stopped, and then the Disney Fantasy
joined us, and the three ships there together they had
a horn salute to each other. It was just an
amazing thing. So it was a lot of fun. And
the new ships, the Disney Treasure, the Disney Destiny, the
Disney Wish. They're larger ships, but the public areas are
much smaller. So I still like the Dream and the

(26:52):
Fantasy class better. But you never can go wrong on
the Disney cruise ship and all their shows are amazing.
This ship had Hercules is their specialty. Disney's Hercules is
a musical Broadway musical and also frozen.

Speaker 1 (27:06):
His body pattern after mine.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
No, no, he had muscles, thank you. Yeah and so
and for the first time that I can ever remember,
Disney has a cruise sale on They've never s l
e yes on select sailings ever, never discounts out there
on select sailings. And I say select, it's all four

(27:32):
day sailings on either the Wish or the Disney Dream. Uh,
they save twenty percent off the voyage fare and you're
going to get a two hundred and fifty dollars on
board credit.

Speaker 1 (27:44):
I've never never seen them do anything. Never seen that.
Disneyland never discounts it. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
Yeah, and so again just on the Disney Wish, the
Disney Dream, their fortnight sailings, selects sailings. It's not every
single sailing, but if you're wanting to go, they do
have a sale.

Speaker 1 (27:58):
Now, how would you care, either for a couple or
family or grant get whatever's going? How would you characterize
what is a Disney cruise experience like and how does
it differ from traditional cruising. Some of the things, of course,
are the same.

Speaker 2 (28:14):
Yeah, some of them are the same. Your soda is included.
You do not pay extra for soda. You've got all
the entertainment. A lot of the pictures on board the ship,
if you walk up to them, they will come to
life and do magical things. The Kids program, the kids
enter on deck three to go down to deck two

(28:34):
down a slide. They slide down to the deck the
Children's program. They have fireworks on the ship Pirate's Night,
which is just one of my most favorite things. Now,
just one night during the cruise Pirate's Night, and that's
a lot of fun. And they have places on the
ship for children only, places on the ship for family,
and places on the ship for adults only, so you
can get away from the children if you would like.

Speaker 1 (28:57):
You mentioned soda is included for adults. Is beer and
wine available.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
Cockyl It's available for a cost, of course.

Speaker 1 (29:05):
Yeah with that. And you know the silly question is
is it worth the extra cost?

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yes, it is. I think you get it in the
value of what you get everything. You know, it's the
Cadillac of the cruise industry, and they do a wonderful job.
I've done. I think I'm up to fifteen cruises now
on Disney and I've loved every one of them. Hockey,
and it's not going to be my last.

Speaker 1 (29:29):
Now. I gave some questions that our listeners should ask
before they book the cruise. What are some of your
travel tips when people are actually booking it. I did
before they book it. Now they're in the process. They're
sitting at your desk or talking to you or any
of our travel advisors on the phone. What advice would

(29:49):
you have in selecting a cruise.

Speaker 2 (29:52):
I always ask them if they're more interested in sea
days or in port days, because that makes a difference.

Speaker 1 (29:58):
I like the sea days. I do too.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
I could just be at sea all the time and
enjoy it, and so that's a good question to ask. Also,
I like to review the dining options. It's amazing how
many people I run into that think if you don't
pay for the specialty restaurants, you get horrible food, and
that is so not true. And then a lot of
people think that all of the food that they get
free is the buffet, which is not true true, And

(30:22):
so I kind of like to go over the different
food options so when they get there they kind of
know what to do and where to go to eat.

Speaker 3 (30:28):
You know.

Speaker 1 (30:28):
One of the things I like is, depending on the
crews and the price, you can usually have a refundable
deposit or a non refundable. Yes, sometimes the non refundable
will give you a lower price, but whenever possible. I
like the refundable deposit because you may be booking six
months a year, two years out and you just don't

(30:51):
know what's going to happen. I highly recommend travel protection
also known as travel insurance, be aware and Wi Fi
is additional. And pick your stateroom carefully. Now generally you
have two prices. The cruise line picks your cabin, you
get it sometimes just a few days before you arrive,

(31:15):
or you pick your cabin. I even though it's a
slightly more, I like to pick my own stateroom. I
like the location. I'd like to control that. For example,
I avoid the bow in front of the ship. If
it's calm waters, everything's fine. If you get a little
rough seas the front of the ship is bouncing a

(31:35):
bit more than midship or half. When we come back,
we're going to be talking about a unique cruise the
bout John and Larry are hosting on the Send River
in France. You're listening to the Travel Show, and may

(32:05):
I give my personal thanks to you. You know, I
think about this all the time. What a wonderful group
of travel show listeners. And it was very gratifying to
be at the Utah Travel Expo, and you know, I
couldn't go ten feet and I'm grateful for that without
someone saying, hey, we listened to the Travel Show. Now

(32:26):
John is not on with us every week, but he
is on with us often. And John, that was your
experience too, it was yes, Yes, that's very flattering. We
take it as an enormous compliment.

Speaker 2 (32:38):
Oh it is. Yes.

Speaker 1 (32:40):
Just Thursday, two days ago, I was at Walmart and
I had six different people stop me, just strangers, say oh, hey,
I know you. You're the travel guy. You're Larry Gelwicks,
You're the getaway Guru. Now I don't say that for
any selfish reasons. I say that to say thank you,

(33:01):
you know. And I always stay and talk to him, yeah,
you know, and say what's on your travel bucket list
and this and that. But I know it's just got
six people in the matter of a half an hour.
And I often him in the store and someone will say, hey,
I recognize that voice. You know, after thirty five years
on the radio. We we have a wonderful thank you

(33:26):
for listening. I'm Larry Gelwicks to get Away Guru today,
joined by John Potter, one of our travel experts at
Morris Columbus Travel. John works in our bountiful office. You
want to talk to John direct, particularly about anything Disney
eight oh one four eight three fifty two fourteen. That's

(33:46):
John Potter eight oh one four eight three fifty two fourteen. Now, John,
you and I are doing something rather unique.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
We are, We're not at the same time.

Speaker 1 (33:58):
At the same time, we are both hosting and Alma Waterways,
the ultimate deluxe river cruise company hosting an Alma Waterways
send river which flows north out of from Paris Sea.
It sails round trip from Paris. Same itinerary you were

(34:18):
going this year, and I'm going to have you talk
about that in a minute. I'll be going in twenty
twenty seven. But it sails round trip from Paris. It
visits Roenne, which I'm telling you I've been there. You
think you have stepped back in time. It's Joan of Arc.
We can visit the very place where she was tried
and executed, the cobblestone streets, the ancient architecture, and then

(34:40):
over to han flor That is Gothic architecture everywhere, Vern
and Los Andeless, LaHave and of course Paris.

Speaker 2 (34:49):
But the highlight is what Normandy.

Speaker 1 (34:52):
Normandy and the d Day Beaches. And I'm just telling
you I was there with a group in July and
it's emotional, it really is.

Speaker 2 (35:01):
I've been there before too, and it just is tier jerking.
And to see all those graves at the cemetery, nine
three hundred and eighty eight people American soldiers are buried at.

Speaker 1 (35:12):
Almost ninety four. They're also a German and Canadian and
I think a British cemetery that are there. But you know,
it's interesting to be at the cemetery at four o'clock
there's two flags. Everybody stands at attention looking over these
ninety four hundred graves, mostly teenage boys and young men

(35:32):
in their early twenties. Yes, and they play taps as
they lower the flag. I got teary eyed, literally, Tyri.

Speaker 2 (35:40):
I'm getting that. We just hearing of it.

Speaker 1 (35:41):
And you know in that surrounding area, they these businesses,
the homes fly an American flag year round. So you
are going this year introduce us to the John Potter
hosted Send River with Almah Waterways.

Speaker 2 (35:56):
Yes, my tour is August twenty sixth September the fifth,
this coming summer and early fall and of course, John
Potter style, we're going to do Paris. Two nights in
Paris pre cruise that includes your hotel, the transfers, an excursion,
plus you're gonna have free time to eat all the

(36:17):
crepes you would want to eat and croissants. And then
we're going to course board the cruise ship and do
the itinerary that Larry talked about. And then in true
John Potter style, at the end of the cruise, there's
going to be an optional trip to Disneyland. Paris a shocker. Yes,
I'm speechless. And for those on my cruise that have

(36:40):
been waiting for those prices, I should have them next week.
I'm going to be camping out at Disney when you're
dealing with Paris. Everything's on their timeline, and I've been
trying to get prices for a couple of months and
they promised me that I'll have them next week, So
sit by your emails. I will have them next week.

Speaker 1 (36:56):
Well, John, you want to give those dates this year.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
Twenty sixth through September the fifth, and uh, it's a
great time to go. Yeah, it really is. And of
course sailing out of Paris, the ship's leave right down
by the Eiffel Tower, and it's just a beautiful, beautiful thing.
I am so looking forward to this. I've been to Paris,
I've been to Normandy, I've been to Disneyland, but these
other places I'm excited to go and visit and go

(37:23):
again to Normandy.

Speaker 1 (37:24):
Now, if you want to travel with John, call him
direct eight oh one four eight three fifty two fourteen.
This is a special sailing, so you won't see it
on the group department website eight oh one four eight
three fifty two fourteen. I'll be taking a group of
travel show listeners in twenty twenty seven next year June

(37:44):
seventeenth to the twenty fourth, same itiner and we did
something kind of interesting. We took what's called inventory risk,
where we went in and actually bought the cabins and
we could offer them at significant discounts. Love to have
you join us with John end of August this year,
or join with me June seventeenth to the twenty fourth,

(38:08):
twenty twenty seven. And for my cruise, you can book
that with John. Two. Don't let him talk you out
of going with Meek, But any of our travel advisors
are talked directly to our Group department When we come
back in our number two, we're going to have John
and another Disney expert join us with Disney updates and

(38:32):
suggestions on visiting Disney with kids. Welcome back to our

(38:54):
number two of the travel show, The Best two Hours
in Radio. I'm Larry Gelwicks, then Get Away Guru, joined
in studio today by John Potter, one of our excellent
travel advisors at Morris Columbus Travel Morris Columbus Travels website.
Be sure to check it out at Morriscolumbus dot com.
That's Morriscolumbus dot com. If you already have a favorite

(39:17):
Morris Columbus travel advisor, we'll stick with him or her.
If you don't have one, simply call eight hundred triple
nine forty six forty six. That's eight hundred triple nine
forty six forty six. If you'd like to speak to
John Potter direct, His direct line is eight oh one
I Love Disney. Okay, that's not really it. Eight oh

(39:41):
one four eight three fifty two fourteen. Now we're gonna
be talking about Disney, and I consider John Potter the
smartest person on the planet with all things Disney. But
we have invited the number two expert, the number two experts,

(40:01):
The number two expert, My own daughter, Jenny gil She
is the ultimate Disney file. She visits once or twice.
He used to have a season pass but as kids
in school. But every year Jenny and her two boys,
Milo and Brooks, and her husband Brandon will go. Well

(40:23):
just this what last month? We're still in January? John,
last month December? Brand that is family trip planned. Brandon
couldn't go, so I selflessly jumped in and took his place.
So what we want to talk about is Disney visiting
Disneyland California, particularly with kids, which most people do so.

(40:47):
So first of all, John, what recommendations as far as
Disney hotels or Disney area hotels and what are your
best choices? And Jenny, I know what you're gonna say.
I do too, John, go ahead.

Speaker 2 (41:06):
Okay, you can stay at the Disney on site hotels.
They're quite pricey, and I just don't think they're worth it.

Speaker 1 (41:14):
What is quite pricey for exac, I'm a Grand California.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
Eight night that's insane, Yes it is.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
And didn't they just take away the early entry?

Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yes, you now get a lightning a free lightning laying
pass to use for one time on one riot instead
of the early entry.

Speaker 1 (41:31):
Why would they do that?

Speaker 2 (41:32):
I don't know, it's just it's just mind boggling. So
I recommend staying. I don't like to be more than
a blog or two away from bus. I usually stay
at the Fairfield Inn, which is kind of over by
McDonald's on Harbor Boulevard. I know you, Jenny loves the
Best Western. Stovealls over on the West Side introduced.

Speaker 1 (41:53):
Me Jenny Stoveall. Fact, we had Mark Harrison, the sales
manager on the show last week at the Jenny tell
us about the Stoveveall. It's about a ten minute walk.
Why do you love that place?

Speaker 4 (42:07):
Well, we've been going there for about twenty years. Honestly,
the value for what it is, you just can't beat it.

Speaker 5 (42:14):
You know.

Speaker 4 (42:14):
Two blocks away is the Grand Californian is down is
the Disneyland Hotel. Picks our Pier and it it's for
one night at the Grand. You can stay four nights
at the Best Western. So I am my father's daughter
and I see a value and I take it. It
has two pools, it has a hot breakfast breakfast I

(42:37):
guess the Continental, the full breakfast with They rotate daily,
but it has you know, bacon or sausage, eggs, pancakes. Yeah,
and so you know, you when you think we have
a family of four, it says us easily fifty dollars
in breakfast just by staying there. It's a very I

(42:59):
think it's a leisure you walk there. You also get
to go into the security on the Disneyland Drive side.
The Harbor side has all of the little busier well
the Harbor is like across the street, but it has
all of the buses that come in out. So sometimes
the security is a little bit a longer wait times,
and so I like and you do have to walk

(43:19):
farther because you have to go through downtown day, but
it's not that much farther. And all in all, I
just like the fact that it's not quite as busy
as the other side. And it's a good value.

Speaker 1 (43:30):
Very good John. And then I'm going to ask Jenny
the same questions. Food suggestions. In the park.

Speaker 2 (43:37):
It's expensive, it's expensive in the park. It's expensive everywhere,
but especially in the park. I usually just do the
quick service ones. I never eat breakfast there. I always
have breakfast off site because it's cheaper, but then I
usually do a salad or just something light for lunch
and then have a bigger dinner, but just plan on

(43:58):
spending money.

Speaker 1 (43:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (44:01):
Yeah, I always do a character breakfast. Always, always kids,
there's three. They love it and I love it too
because you're you get to see my kids, and I
don't really like to wait for characters. My kids get
a little bit freaked out, but they do like the
characters when they walk by, and so we always do
at least one character breakfast. And my favorite Storyteller's Cafe

(44:23):
in the Grand Californian. It's the most expensive one, but
it is to me it has the best food, and
so I always stay there. I'm with John about the
quick service. I would say that you need some of
the places you have to You can schedule your food,
which is awesome, but you have to schedule it kind
of fast because like food at the Jolly Holiday sells
out really quickly.

Speaker 5 (44:43):
Ye.

Speaker 4 (44:44):
The other thing I would just recommend the Oh yeah,
like Christmas time, when we got to the park, it
was already sold out for the day because of a
gingerbread man. So all the like, all of the times
for quick service were gone. The other thing. I would
just recommend to people that if you do want to
make reservations, they are available sixty days out and you
do that on the website or the app.

Speaker 1 (45:05):
Jenny is the California Adventure good for smaller kids.

Speaker 4 (45:11):
I think if you take one day to go to
either park, I would recommend Disneyland. But if you go
more than one day, I think it's nice because it
does have a little bit of a slower it's smaller,
or at least it feels smaller, but a slower vibe.
But it definitely is four kids. It just doesn't have
as many options. My kids love the Redwood Creek Trail.

(45:32):
They honestly will be there for an hour running around.
It's just like a little like a little park that
has like ziplines and stuff like that. They love it,
you know, And I think to myself, I paid this
money for them to go and run around. But they
have rides for kids, They have really good food there.
They have the animation what's it's called the Animation Studio

(45:54):
where you can go and learn to draw. They have
the dance Party, Yeah, Turtle Talk with christ There are
a lot of things for kids to do. I would
say again, if you just had one day, I would
do Disneyland. But if you have two, I would do
one park per day, and I honestly wouldn't park up.
I wouldn't pay the difference for it. If you have
small children.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
And Toy Story Many is one of the highlights of
that park for children. They just love that ride.

Speaker 4 (46:20):
Yeah, that's my favorite ride in that park.

Speaker 1 (46:23):
I think the best day is the three day pass. Yes,
two days at Disneyland, one at California Adventure. Jenny, I
know you. The concern of all parents is keeping the
kids safe. Little kids run around. What are some of
the things you do to help keep your kids with
you and safe.

Speaker 4 (46:41):
One of the things we do is an Apple air
tag on each of them. I put a strap on it,
and I put it around their ankles, just because it's
less visible and it's less likely to fall off or
keaven forbid, be taken off. I also write my name
and phone number in sharpie on their arms. I also,
I've gotten away with it so far, but I dress
them alike so that if one goes missing, I can

(47:04):
and I always take a picture of them too, But
I always you know, this is what this is. These
are the clothes that they're wearing. Another thing that kind
of goes back to when we were little with you Dad,
I always, you know, we look at when we walk
in if it's Christmas time. If you get lost me
that here's the giant tree, go find the tree, or
if you're you know, go find the castle. And then

(47:25):
always pointing out to the kids. If you know, look
for people with name tags. Name tags will help you.
Or if you can't find a name tag, look for
families with small children. They will help you.

Speaker 1 (47:36):
No, very good. Well speaking to Jenny Gelwick's the number
two expert in Disneyland and John Potter, the number one. Hey,
we've only got about two minutes left, so let's go quickly. John,
what are the rules.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
For strollers strollers? They do not allow stroller wagons or wagons,
and the stroller sizes they've kind of reduced. Strollers cannot
be any larger than thirty one inches by fifty two inches,
and again stroller wagons are not permitted. The double sided ones.
They need to allow people to be able to walk.

(48:11):
If you're taking up the whole walkway with a stroller,
it's horrible.

Speaker 1 (48:14):
Now, Jenny, you.

Speaker 4 (48:15):
Do have a bob double stroller. That's pretty much the limit.

Speaker 1 (48:19):
Yeah, Jenny, you do something special with balloon, a helium balloon.

Speaker 4 (48:25):
Yeah. So they're very expensive. They're about twenty dollars for
a balloon. But on the first day that we're at
the parks, I have the boys pick out a balloon.
They get one total. They don't each get their own,
but we attach it to our stroller because as anybody
knows that's gone with a stroller through a park. You
may park it in one spot and when you come
back it is nowhere the strollers and they're all black,

(48:48):
constantly moving them. They're constantly rearranging them, moving them for
this or that. So there it's very hard. We have
there's so many. We have a Bob double stroller and
I still take my seven and ten year old in
it to save them their walking feet to and from
the hotel, but end to put stuff in it. But
we have a balloon that helps this easily identify where

(49:08):
it is and sometimes it's much farther away than we
left it. And then on the last day and we're
leaving because you can't take them on the plane and
it's you know, driving them home. They are humongous, so
We just have the kids go and find a family
that is somewhere in the park and give it to
them and.

Speaker 2 (49:23):
Then we leave.

Speaker 1 (49:24):
Thank you, Jenny Gelwicks and John Potter the Dynamic Disney Dohl.
Thanks Jenny, Thanks John. We come back. We're headed river
cruising here on the Travel Show. You're listening to the

(49:53):
Travel Show and I'm Larry Gelwicks to get away Guru.
The Travel Show is sponsored by Morris Columbus Travel. We
always travel more and pay less. Check out their website
Morriscolumbus dot com or give them a call eight hundred
triple nine forty six. I'm joined today in studio, the

(50:13):
last day of January, and it feels like April weather
out there.

Speaker 2 (50:19):
It really does.

Speaker 5 (50:20):
You know.

Speaker 1 (50:20):
I'm even going out in the day with no jacket on. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (50:23):
Well, you know Wednesday we actually got snow at my house.
We have two inches. We had two inches on my
lawn and it's like, wow, that was great.

Speaker 1 (50:31):
Two inches.

Speaker 2 (50:32):
Yeah, well that all year.

Speaker 1 (50:34):
Well for this year, that's a blizzard.

Speaker 2 (50:36):
It is a blizzard. Yes.

Speaker 1 (50:39):
What is it about river cruising that people just love?
I mean, Kathy and I love ocean cruising, But she
says river cruising is her absolute favorite. What are you
hearing from clients, and of course you've rivercruise. What is
the draw in the appeal?

Speaker 2 (50:56):
I think having these short excursions included, everything included is
a big plus. And then the river does not get
choppy or wavy like the ocean does.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
No seasickness.

Speaker 2 (51:09):
No, You've just got a smooth transition, and you've got
land on both sides. You can always see the land,
and then you are right in the heart of the city.
You don't have the long commute from the ocean into
the city like you do in Rome, for instance, it's
an hour and a.

Speaker 1 (51:25):
Half, two hours away, yeah, Tavecia.

Speaker 2 (51:27):
Yeah, and so I think those are the main reasons. Plus,
they pamper you like you've never been pampered before.

Speaker 1 (51:33):
Most river ships are about one hundred and sixty people.
You get into Africa and Southeast Asia, you know it's
eighty to one hundred. The larger river boats are one
eighty one ninety. Yeah, and I love pulling into small villages.
Oh yeah, the way places. Now I'm going to talk
about cruising river cruising on the Make Kong, but that's

(51:56):
Southeast Asia. We do a lot of business at Morriscumbus
traveled in Southeast Asia, primarily Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Yes,
what do you hear from your clients, John, what is
the appeal that it just has a magnetism when they
go to Southeast Asia?

Speaker 2 (52:15):
I think it's the history involved, that it is so
much history. You're walking past buildings that are thousands of
years old. We don't have that here in the United.

Speaker 1 (52:24):
We get worked up over one hundred years.

Speaker 2 (52:26):
Yes, yes, like Carlos, Yes exactly, And so I think
that's the big draw is just the history and the lore.

Speaker 1 (52:37):
It's just no I find it's the people, the culture,
the food. There's a graciousness on it, and you have
everything from tropical islands, rice patties, the foothills of the
Himalayas and tropical weather. Now, I think the best time

(52:58):
to visit Asia like Thailand and Vietnam and Cambodia is
November to February, even early March works the summers get
pretty muggy. Think Houston or.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
Florida July or August.

Speaker 1 (53:16):
I've also made the comment that I have no fear
of going to Hell. I've been to Houston in July
and August. It can't be.

Speaker 2 (53:23):
Worse than that, that's true.

Speaker 1 (53:24):
I agree, my goodness, but I'll tell you I was
just there. I got back what two weeks ago, less
than two weeks ago, ten days ago. I had a
group of radio show listeners in Thailand and Cambodia, and
the weather was perfect, absolutely perfect. Now, something that Morris

(53:47):
Columbus Travel does on select river cruises is what's called
inventory risk, where we as a company go in and
buy a third or a half of a cruise ship
and as a result, typically the discounts are anywhere from
one to two thousand dollars per person. Now double that

(54:09):
two to four thousand for a couple sharing a cabin
for the same date, the same cruise, everything the same
as opposed to buying it from any other travel agency
or directly from the cruise line. You can count on somewhere,
but usually between one thousand and two thousand dollars per person.

(54:29):
I love Southeast Days. You know, there's a shocker.

Speaker 2 (54:32):
Yeah, the first time I've heard that.

Speaker 1 (54:34):
And Kathy and I'll be hosting a November great Weather Maykong,
the Mighty Maykong. It's Cambodia and Vietnam, We'll start in
Sin Reap. That's the home of Anchor Watt, one of
the great natural or one of the great monument wonders
of the world, dating back to the twelfth century. We're

(54:56):
the largest religious complex on earth is Anchor Watt and
other temples Tapram and Anchor Tom and others. We got
a wonderful program planned and you can join us for
a pre cruise option to see Anchor Wat and all
of that. But we're going to be sailing down the

(55:18):
Maykong this, I promise you folks. I've been to one
hundred and seventeen countries. This is absolutely positively one of
my favorite river cruisers. We get into the backwaters, the backwoods,
the remote villages of Cambodia and Vietnam. We also visit
the big cities like Nampen, the capital of Cambodia, down

(55:42):
to Saigon now known as Ho Chi Minh City. It's
a wonderful thing. The cruise dates are November ninth to
the sixteenth. This year, we have four cabins left at
discounts ranging a thousand to two thousand dollars. Now, if
the cabin category that is your first choice isn't available,

(56:04):
put it on a wait list and book something else
because between now and then, surely there'll be some cancelations. Yes,
and get there. On the other one that I am
really excited about is in September of next year twenty
twenty seven. We already talked about the San River in
June and yours this year in August, but in September

(56:26):
September twenty sixth to October third next year twenty twenty
seven is one of the most sought after cruises on
the Danube. Now the Danube goes north, south, right, and
east west. The east west goes into eastern Europe. We're
going to sail from Budapest to Bucharest. Our visit will
take us to Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, including

(56:54):
a visit to Drachio's guest seeing and go see the count. Yes,
do Recula who goes to this part of Eastern Europe.
And these savings on this are anywhere from one thousand
to two thousand dollars per person less than if you
bought the same date September twenty sixth, twenty twenty seven.

(57:15):
All those detail Horriscolumbus dot com. When we come back
Dan Hone will be taking us to the Holy Land.

(57:43):
You're listening to the travel show. I'm Larry Gelwicks. They
Get Away Guru, joined in studio today by John Potter,
one of our fine travel advisors at Morris Columbus Travel.
You want to talk to John direct eight oh one
four eight three fifty two fourteen. Now, John, we've got
on the line. One of my favorite people and best

(58:05):
friends on the planet. He and I have been the
best of friends for fifty years or more. Now, and that,
of course is Dan Hone. Now Dan is too Dan,
Welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (58:19):
Dan is Thank Swarry. You don't have to go anymore.
Let's jump into the show, Celencio.

Speaker 2 (58:26):
He's very humble.

Speaker 1 (58:27):
Yeah, Dan is too humble to brag about himself, a
character trade I've never been accused of. But Dan was
one of the founding members of the BYU Jerusalem Center,
thirty two years with the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture
and Travel Study, got his graduate degree from an Israeli university,

(58:49):
sixteen different languages, most of them ancient languages, and is
the smartest guy I know on all things Holy Land.
So let's start with the Holy Land and the Middle East.
Of course we follow in the news some of the
troubles over there. What is the state of things, particularly
for American visitors in the Holy Land, which is much

(59:13):
more than just Israel.

Speaker 3 (59:16):
Well, when you talk about the Holy Land, then we're
going everywhere from Turkey through the Middle East to Egypt
and so forth North Africa, and this area of the
world has always had its struggles and things. But you know,
going over there right now is you get so much
in the media and all about what's going on over there,

(59:39):
But in actuality, we're I and my son and others
are in contact weekly even daily with people, and we
hear a different story over there. Like Israel, some of
these areas, remember that it's going to open up. And
you know the number one key if anybody's considering going
over there right now, watch brig Young University, the BYU

(01:00:01):
drew some students have been there since last May a
year ago, and we've had students changed. The next group came,
and the next group is there right now, and the
next group has already been advertised and open up to
go over there. And if there's any conservative group about,
say that's right, they pull them out when they think

(01:00:26):
it's too dangerous to be there.

Speaker 1 (01:00:28):
Yeah, I think that's a good barometer. And of course
then later in February you'll be taking group to Egypt.
That's pretty exciting, you know. In the news, Dan, there
have been some new discoveries highlight some of the really
important ones.

Speaker 3 (01:00:45):
Wow, it's hard to tell, you know. There's been three
major ones done in this in Egypt and Israel since
January this month, and all that we're finished. He had
just finished. Where we have, for instance, one of the
great ones that affects us biblically, and a lot of
them do just in Israel alone is Toutmosis are common.

(01:01:10):
Hotep the Third's discovery of him. We had his mommy,
but we never had his tomb, and they found the
tomb and as a result of that, this is one
who lived at the very time of the Exodus and
may have been the pharaoh of the Exodus and all.

(01:01:31):
And his tomb is exciting, not because it's so much
elaborate as some of the other tombs, although it has
a lot of the technical things in it, but the
fact that we have found it, and that tomb is
not where he was buried. He was buried there for
a time, but everything was taken out and rein tired
in another tomb. And so we had the mommy at

(01:01:53):
the Egyptian Civilization Museum, which is one of the places
we visit when we go over there. There in that
museum you can find you all the mummies, and there's
one I'm an office the third that his mummy is
covered with the kind of sores or barnacles, much like

(01:02:14):
the Bible describes as the Pharaoh and the excess. And
it's the only one that way that embalming couldn't take
calare be able to take place for salt. And that's
just one of many much about Josiah, much about finding
names now in the Bullye below the Jerusalem Center there
in Jerusalem, where they were going through all of the

(01:02:36):
things all of the Rebbele left from excavations of underneath
the Temple mount a.

Speaker 1 (01:02:44):
Lot of exciting, a lot of exciting discoveries. Now, one
of the things that at firesides and talks that you
have a conductor that I have conducted also and spoken on,
I'd like you to highlight maybe one or two of
the rituals and ceremonies. Let's start with the ancient temple

(01:03:06):
ceremony in Egypt. Now, I want to emphasize that we
are only talking about verifiable ancient rituals of which we
have evidence and writings and high glyphs. We're not making
a comparison to any religious ritual in any church today.

(01:03:27):
If you want to make that leap, go ahead, We're
not going to make it. We're going to talk only
on ancient rituals. Take us through the temple and the
questions of.

Speaker 3 (01:03:38):
Ma'at well, Ma'at as of course the truth, the spirit
of truth. You know, for those that know lvs the
pearl great price. When you see the Book of Abraham,
the very second fact simile underneath it, underneath the central
figure upside down as a bowl or an ox that

(01:04:01):
is on top of a little square. That's the Maaut
stand and my aud is true of voice if you will,
d chap Soot, the ancient queen talks about her half
brother husbands as the voice of truth. And I'll let's ay,

(01:04:22):
so let's talk about a little bit about that and
the ordinance if you will, that they went through. It
was available not just to the pharaohs, it was available
to even the common people.

Speaker 1 (01:04:33):
And let me jump in and just kind of an
to understand the background of what we would call a
temple ceremony, endowment ceremony. By that I said secular term,
not a LDS religious term. Is it was believed to
be a practice for the afterlife. You go to the

(01:04:55):
temple to prepare yourself to meet in the afterlife. And
very briefly, we've only got a few minutes left. Take
us through the ancient Egyptian temple ceremony. Again, we're only
talking about ancient, we're not making any comparisons.

Speaker 3 (01:05:15):
Well, we begin actually in a garden place, going to
the temple of Dendera. You still have the garden out there.
There you learn about the creation, if you will, of
the luck rise of the ben benstone. From there, you're
taken into a central hall where there are many veils.
Each of these veils have questions asked, and you must

(01:05:38):
know the names. Some of the names are over a
paragraph long that you have to recite in order to
pass through. And you're asked the forty two questions. I
think you know those forty two questions.

Speaker 1 (01:05:50):
Well, let me talk. Let me talk about the forty
two questions, because when they do it, they'll change their closing,
they'll be ceremoniously anointed with oil and water. They'll have
an escort, and then go into the judgment hall. But
these forty two questions really are about character, morality, honesty.

(01:06:12):
For example, one is are you honest in the marketplace?
Do you do you treat your servants fairly? One of
the most kind of a humorous one, John is have
you committed adultery with your neighbor's.

Speaker 2 (01:06:27):
Wife anybody else?

Speaker 1 (01:06:29):
It's okay, yeah, I guess so, no, just kidding. But
I think one of the most telling that I kid
Kathy about is is there one person this one of
the questions, is there one person who is glad that
you lived? And I look at Kathy and she's silent,
and I'm saying, Kathy, Kathy, would you anyway? So take

(01:06:52):
it up. We've changed our clothing, We've been anointed ceremoniously
with oil and water, we have an escort, we move
into the hall of judgment. The forty two questions of
lot take us the rest of the way.

Speaker 3 (01:07:07):
Well, of course, says you go through these, you're ascending
and the ceiling is actually also reducing so that it
looks like your ascending fast and you think, and as
you go from this, each of the places that you're
clothed in robes of priesthood, power, and so forth. When
you finally come to one place, you have a circle

(01:07:29):
prayer that is done there. The incense burning sometimes is
the veil itself between some of the pillars and things
where they ask questions. When you finally get you get
to a final point where you can see what is
being said on both sides. And it's symbols that represent

(01:07:49):
eternal lives. That is the ont symbol, which is more
than just the immortality. Eternal lives has to do with progeny.
To the symbol of the Jed call the backbone Jed
pillar that represents strength and domination and ability to rule

(01:08:10):
over empires and things. Also it represents health, just as
the eternal symbol does. So this represents health. And then
the wise scepter, which is authority or power. These are
given at the veil where you're in a sacred embrace,
and then as as it's given to you. The symbol

(01:08:33):
there at the bottom is a symbol of Ray, the
dominant god Almon Ray, and it's like a sun symbol,
but it also has a chord on it. And what
that represents is to be bound or sealed upon you,
then you can enter into the presence of the gods.
And of course these were done for the living, but

(01:08:54):
sometimes repeated for the dead. And some of the most
recent discoveries we have made is that that the priest
often did this on a regular break basis for the Pharaoh,
so that there was a substitute for them, so that
he could enjoy the blessings too. He may go through
the coronation, he may go through it may be carried

(01:09:16):
to a degree through some of that to after his death,
in order that he might spirit might pass beyond right
and come to the final judgment.

Speaker 1 (01:09:28):
Well, it's a fascinating study. Dan, we've got about thirty
seconds left, and we wanted to talk about burial practices
of the ultra Orthodox in Israel, the opening of the
gates of Mahina. We'll have to save that for another day. Gahen,
I want to mention this well later in February. You've

(01:09:49):
already got a group going to Egypt. But this fall
October tenth is the Holy Land with Dan. Dan and
I are looking at some dates next year, twenty twenty seven,
and I might say we have a lot of wonderful
guides for throughout the year taking you to the Holy
then Dan is one of them. Dan, thank you for

(01:10:09):
joining us here on the Travel show and can I
invite you back.

Speaker 3 (01:10:15):
To come?

Speaker 1 (01:10:16):
Very good, very good. Hey, thanks to Dan, Thank you,
Thank you, Dan Hone. When we come back, we're going
to talk about a special cruise to Alaska and our
best travel advice. Welcome back to the Travel Show. I'm

(01:10:44):
Larry Gelwicks to get Away Guru, joined today in studio
by John Potter with Morris Columbus Travel. He's in the
bountiful office. Dan Hone is something else. He's in the
league of his own.

Speaker 2 (01:10:58):
He really is. I just have nothing but respect and
love for Dan.

Speaker 1 (01:11:01):
You know, he and I have been best friends for
over fifty years. We sat next to each other in
graduate school, and he and I take Holy Land tours together.
My graduate studies included Hebrew, Coptic, Coptic being one of
the Egyptian languages and religions, and first century Christian literature
in graduate school, and we've worked together and stayed to

(01:11:26):
get in touch and take He takes groups like this
one in October himself, but when my schedule allows it.
We go together as a team, and it's one bus.
It's not two or three buses, it's one bus. And
Dan does a lot of the translation and the history
and scripture. I do the scripture, but I do what's

(01:11:48):
called the takeaway. You know, what do you take away
from this? How does this affect our lives? One example
up in Caesarea Philippi, Paul was imprisoned there. There's a
stone there with engrave the name Punctious Pilot, which King
Herod built a seaport there. But Paul was in prison

(01:12:10):
there and he gave the famous speech in front of
King Agrippa. And you remember King Agrippa's response, almost persuadest
thou me to be a Christian? But he said almost,
And so your takeaway will likely be different than mine.
So I share my takeaway. What am I taking away

(01:12:30):
from where Paul stood and spoke to King Agrippa, because
that's where we're standing, and I talk about that famous
declaration of the of Jesus and King Agrippa almost persuadest
thou mean to be a Christian? And I said, as
Christians are we and almost or an always? You know,

(01:12:55):
and what does that really mean? Because I've said the
big frustration in my life sometimes is I feel like
I got one foot in Babylon and one in the
Promised Land. You know which character is going to take
me over today? And am I an almost or in always?

(01:13:17):
And sometimes I both, you know? And I'm striving to
be and always. But those are the type of things
up on. I love the amount of beatitudes Sermon on
the Mount Matthew five, chapters five, six and seven. And
the takeaway is where Jesus says, blessed are the peace makers.

(01:13:40):
You know what he didn't say, blessed are the peace lovers. Now,
there's a big difference between simply loving peace and making
peace in our own life, in our family, in our neighborhood,
in our community. We need more peace makers, especially in
today's politics.

Speaker 2 (01:13:58):
Oh yes, not just peace people.

Speaker 1 (01:14:00):
Who talk about peace. So I do a lot of
the takeaways fireside type talks. How does this affect us?
You know? John? The most common remark we get from
all of our Holy Land tours is this, I can't
wait to read the four Gospels again.

Speaker 2 (01:14:19):
Yes, I bet everybody runs home and does that.

Speaker 1 (01:14:21):
They do that. What is it about the cruise that
you love?

Speaker 2 (01:14:26):
I think it's the combination of the beautiful scenery and
the wildlife. Those are my favorite things.

Speaker 1 (01:14:32):
Now you've heard me say that. I divide destinations to
two general categories, the one and done. I'm glad I went.
Don't ever have to go back a place like Cleveland, Yeah,
all right, and then others I get giddy just thinking
about it, like you with Disneyland. Yeah, I'll come back.
I get up to alask every year, and I'll come back,

(01:14:55):
will I always a group of travel show listeners do
the same thing, sometimes see something new. Every trip is different, however.

Speaker 2 (01:15:04):
It always is always, and.

Speaker 1 (01:15:06):
I get home and I can't wait to go back.
I keep it's gonna be a whole year till I
get back there.

Speaker 2 (01:15:14):
Yeah. I have not been to Alaska since twenty twenty three,
and I'm dying. I'm going next year, Are you really?
I really am? Yep?

Speaker 1 (01:15:21):
God, Well, I'll be taking a group of travel show
listeners July twelve to nineteen this year. Now, prices on
airline tickets, hotels, cruises are not static. They don't remain
the same. As the cruise ship fills up, the hotel,
the airplane fills up, the prices go up. Right, and

(01:15:42):
so it's a great deal. We do some very special things. John.
We charter our own whale watching boat up in Juno.

Speaker 2 (01:15:52):
Yes, that is such a fun, fun excursion.

Speaker 1 (01:15:54):
We go where we want to go.

Speaker 2 (01:15:57):
We go to where the whales are.

Speaker 1 (01:15:58):
That's right. And you know, we combine it with a
visit to Mendenhall Glacier in catcha can we go wildlife
viewing out into the woods and areas, and then to
the Totem Park, the largest Totem park in the world.
And it's just absolutely magnificent. Love to have you join me, folks,

(01:16:20):
alast July twelve to nineteen, twenty twenty.

Speaker 2 (01:16:25):
Six and on a brand new ship.

Speaker 1 (01:16:27):
Oh it's the Star Princess.

Speaker 2 (01:16:28):
Yes, it was dog next to us at one of
my cruise ports. And it is a beautiful ship.

Speaker 1 (01:16:33):
You know, it only debuted in November, what three months ago.
It's three months old. Yeah, I guess it'll be nine
months old when we sail on it.

Speaker 2 (01:16:42):
Yeah, less than a year.

Speaker 1 (01:16:44):
And I have read the reviews of the Star Princess
and it's off the charts.

Speaker 2 (01:16:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:16:49):
I still like the pizza the best. They have the
best pizza.

Speaker 2 (01:16:51):
Oh, no question.

Speaker 1 (01:16:52):
Well, listen that brings the end to another travel show.
We're going to say goodbye to the month of January
next week. Welcome February. Do check out the website Morriscolumbus
dot com. Have a great week, God bless and we'll
talk to you next Saturday.