Page 21 - 2018 Conway Senior Expo

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE • SENIOR EXPO SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018
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A cruise can be an ideal vacation for seniors who have the time to get away.
and checking into a nearby hotel. Some hotels may offer free parking or shuttle service to the ship.
CHOOSE A CLOSE PORT
Select a port within driving distance to avoid airline costs and the extra hassles of coordinating luggage and travel to the port.
BOOK DINING AHEAD OF TIME
Cruise ships often have a main dining room and specialty restaurants. If you want a particular meal, make reservations before leaving port. Certain restaurants may offer discounts or perks, such as a free bottle of wine or premier seating.
UNDERSTAND WHAT’S INCLUDED
Cruise ships have many foods and drinks that are included in the packaged price. Certain branded items, such as specialty coffees or ice creams, may be available at an additional charge, as are premium drinks. But chances are you can find a free, similar version elsewhere on the ship.
EXPLORE SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
When shopping for a cruise, see if there are discounts available for seniors, teachers, people in the military or those who belong to certain clubs. Cruises often love to incentive, so it pays to ask about discount pricing.
MAKE A LIST OF ACTIVITIES
It can be easy to get overwhelmed by all of the offerings on a cruise ship, so much so that there’s some stress over trying to fit it all in. Recognize that you can’t see or hear it all, and prioritize what’s important to you. Make sure you have plenty of time to relax.
BOOK AT THE RIGHT TIME
Cruises may be more available after Labor Day, when kids go back to school, and the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas,
when many are too busy to travel.
First Service Bank also launched a new Travel Club for First Service Bank customers who are 50 or older, have $5,000 or more in deposits with the bank and have a First Service Bank checking account. Travel Director Ira Standridge said trips are being planned for Ireland in March 2019 and the Pacific Northwest and California in September 2019, and a few local day trips are also being planned for next year.
“[The Travel Club] takes the worry out of traveling because we do all the planning,” she said.
For more information, visit firstservicebank. com.
Centennial Bank’s Diamond Club was also started this year. To qualify for the Diamond Club, members must be 50 or older and have a combined total of at least $5,000 in Centennial Bank accounts.
“Our Diamond Club is set up to where we love to have a program out there that offers our customers safe travel and helps even with travel tips if they are going on their own vacations,” said Eric King, senior vice president of business development at Centennial Bank. “But we also like to have other folks, the people traveling with us, invite others.”
King said most of the big trips are all-inclusive, but some trips, like an upcoming trip to South Africa, might have add-ons available that can offer a different travel experience.
For more information on the Diamond Club, visit www.my100bank.com.
Cruising can be an ideal vacation for travelers who are savvy enough to do their research.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative, with contributions by Cody Graves, special sections writer
Conway Senior Expo | Friday, August 24 9am - noon Conway Regional Fitness Center | 700 Salem Road