China, Spain, cruises of all kinds woo travelers

Local travel agents' predictions for 2010's hot travel trends and destinations are wildly divergent. Continuing from last week, here's more of what they have to say about this year's travel:

China

Barry and Margaret Richcreek, owners of Richcreek Vacation Center in Lower Paxton Twp., include China on their lists. 
  
 
"This year, China is the value," Margaret Richcreek says. For example, a nine-day tour that includes visits to Beijing; Xian, home to the terra cotta warriors; and Shanghai starts at $1,299 per person, she says, with airfare starting around $1,000 from Baltimore.

Spain

Spain is on the lists of both Mari Atchason, president of Travel Professionals in Lemoyne, and Margaret Richcreek, but not for your typical tour. Rather, both agents see wine and culinary trips to Spain as the new way to vacation there. Richcreek describes one such tour that includes visits to vineyards, private wine tastings, menu planning with local chefs and cooking lessons.

Cruising

This is huge, with all sorts of possibilities for 2010. "Cruising is still hot!" says Heather Enck, a travel consultant for AAA in Camp Hill. "Prices are excellent. With the Carnival Pride out of Baltimore, people can do a cruise from about $100 per person per day. And there is no airfare needed.

"Also, Holland America is going back to Bermuda in 2010 to Hamilton and St. George," she notes. "It's a five-star ship with an awesome itinerary. Again, no airfare is needed as this cruise departs from New York City."

Tracy Beitman, a travel consultant for AAA in Hummelstown, predicts that the Caribbean and Panama Canal will be the hot cruise itineraries this year.

Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's new ship that carries more than 5,000 passengers, is the big talk for 2010, according to Lori Heathcote, group and leisure agent at Bailey Travel Service in York. "The Oasis is the destination," says Ken Fronk, branch manager at Boscov's Travel Camp Hill. "Most clients don't even care where she's sailing to."

Agents predict that European cruising will be especially hot this year, including ocean and river cruising.

"Cruising in Europe is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in the Mediterranean," says Craig Haberle, director of AAA in Lancaster."

AAA's Enck agrees. "It's a great way to do Europe since all your food and onboard entertainment is included," she notes. "And it saves the long bus rides between cities."

Margaret Richcreek also includes European cruising on her list but specifically cites the Disney Cruise Line.

"For families wanting to go to Europe with the kids, nothing can beat a Disney cruise," she says. "The ships speak for themselves, [but] it's the shore excursions that really set this cruise apart. Disney has taken its storytelling expertise to its shore tours to create unique and kid-friendly experiences. The shore tours tell a story of the city and history in a way that only Disney can."

Travel Professional's Atchason predicts that river cruises to France and the European Christmas Markets will be popular, but she also foresees the popularity of luxury ocean cruising, thanks to the 2-for-1 deals and shipboard credits that are being offered by the luxury lines this year.