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Infinity Travel is a Full Service Travel Agency located in Keller Texas.  Infinity Travel is a member of the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce and OSSN.  My certifications include, Trinidad and Tobago Specialist, Tahiti Specialist, Destination Weddings and Honeymoon Specialist, Celebrity Cruise Line Europe, Caribbean and Alaska Specialist.  

My love is TRAVEL and my passion is for my clients to Love to Travel!   

We are members of Jurni Consortium and from time to time have specially priced blocked cruise space available at great prices.

Infinity Travel & Tours provides you with memorable vacation packages, Honeymoon travel and destination weddings to the Island of your Dreams.   

Prices are subject to change due to air, resort and cabin availability.  Call me for special pricing and availability or supplier special promotions.    

Special handling applies on Escorted Tours and customized itineraries.

Mexico and Caribbean Cruises from Galveston, Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale

Alaska  - Galapagos - Antarctica - Europe - Hawaii - Tahiti - Caribbean

Cruises come in every shape and size from large vessels to mid size to small luxury sailings.  There is no better way to see the Hawaiian islands than with a Hawaiian cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of Heaven, who hath gathered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen." - Job 38:29

It is a land with little soil, where 96% of its mass is covered in ice, with no indigenous people, no indigenous government. No economic activity exists, except for that in small isolated encampments of scientists and from the incursion of tourism to the island continent.

Antarctica is a land of many superlatives. It is the driest place on earth, it is the coldest. Its land mass forms the largest desert on the planet. Its average precipitation is the lowest anywhere, and its mean elevation the highest of any other continent. It is the southernmost continent, its 14 million square miles almost entirely contained within the Antarctic circle, 620 miles south of the coast of South America. It is the windiest place on earth, the most remote. It has no time zone, since all time zones converge in its interior. There are no non-indigenous animals - no dogs, cats or other pets - as a matter of treaty. Over the continent, an atmospheric anomaly - a giant hole in the earth's ozone layer.

The name Antarctica is derived from the Greek word antarktikos meaning "opposite to the Arctic." In 1959, a group of twelve countries devised the Antarctic Treaty - that document, now signed by forty-five countries, prohibits activities of a military nature or any commercial mining operations. Seven nations claim territories ( UK, Norway, Chile, France, Australia, Argentina and New Zealand) and two others, (the United States and Russia) have reserved the right to do so. The Antarctic treaty neither recognizes nor contests those claims. Today, more than more than 4,500 scientists work there conducting research not possible anywhere else. The population tends to be seasonal, increasing to over 33,000 in its summer. In 2006, more than 28,000 tourists visited, carried there by the approximately 25 ships that have regular routes through the region.

Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, larger than both Australia and Europe. The Transantarctic Mountains split the continent in half. The ice pack averages a thickness of over one mile. Nearly 85% of the world's ice and 75% of the world's fresh water is frozen here - if it were to melt, ocean levels would rise approximately 200 feet; the Antarctic Peninsula has experienced an accelerated warming over the past 50 year of almost 5 degrees Fahrenheit, causing icepack and glacier melt and the appearance of plant life where none was previously recorded. Every visit to the continent will reflect its changing environment.

At one time, Antarctica was much further north. Fossils of trees, plant life and dinosaurs have been found, and large deposits of low-grade coal are present. Additionally, scientists have discovered more meteorites in concentration there than in any location in the world, many of which originated on Mars and have given tantalizing hints of life elsewhere in the solar system.

Most visits from travelers occur during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when there is typically 20 or more hours of sunlight each day. Sunglasses, hats and sunscreen are a must as more solar radiation hits the earth here than anywhere else - due to both the length of the day and the invisible, infamous hole in the ozone layer. During the summer, the coastal zone ice melts, making incursion by ice-hardened tourist vessels possible. The scenery is comprised of every shade of purple, blue, white and golden images and reflections against the water, which is filled with enormous icebergs. Winter visits by tourist ships are nearly impossible due to the shifting ice flows that can encapsulate a ship very quickly, stranding it in the pack ice that extends for more than 600 miles around the continent in the near total dark of the southern winter.

Antarctica is far from the lifeless void many perceive it to be. Summer is the mating season for penguins and the many species of seabirds. Fur seals and elephant seals breed here, and more than 200 species of lichens grow. The long days create spectacular lighting conditions for photography as the penguin chicks begin to hatch and the rookeries become a maddening cacophony of noise. As late summer approaches humpback, orca and minke whale are a common site. Antarctic expeditions offer some of the most unique and esteemed photography and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Most leisure expeditions to Antarctica originate in Ushuaia in Argentina or other South American ports in the Western hemisphere and either Hobart or Christchurch in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Interestingly, visiting requires no visas or other travel documents beyond the trip's point of origin. It does, however require an eagerness for adventure, time (most journeys are fifteen days or more) and a budget within a wide range of $4,000 to $50,000, depending on the itinerary, tour company and ship accommodations.

Ships that visit range in size from small 20 person vessels to larger 900+ passenger cruise ships. Companies that bring tourists are almost uniformly conscientious of the ecological systems and maintain a rigorous respect for the environment. Visitors are inevitably accompanied by experienced naturalists that watch over both travelers and wildlife, ensuring that each keeps its appropriate distance from the other. Many such tour operators belong to an organization known as the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) that voluntarily restricts the number of persons who may land at any one time.

Inflatable boats known as Zodiacs provide much of the transportation for sightseeing as they shuttle from the ships, filled with travelers. Trips out in a Zodiac can be invigorating, rigorous and on most ships, completely optional for passengers. A few ships have on-board helicopters, allowing for visits to the interior. Biologists, ornithologists and experts in oceanography accompany many, if not all of the trips to enlighten and engage the passengers. Itineraries are well planned - and subject to change. Glaciers calving into the water, animal sightings, moving ice-flows, wind and water all conspire to keep everyone flexible and excited.

Because of the small number of tours operating in Antarctica, the short length of the tourist season, and the capacity limitations of the IAATO, it is best for travelers to plan well in advance of their visit, as available space goes quickly. Working with an established tour operator and a solid travel consultant on your Antarctic adventure ensures the trip of a lifetime and an experience reserved for the lucky few.

 

 

The popular image of cruising is a modern, mass market ship filled with literally thousands of people freighted from one familiar port-of-call to the next; not so eco-cruising. As the name implies, eco-cruising is all about the exploration of nature and the environment from the vantage point of the earth's oceans, seas and rivers. The expanding appeal of environmental tourism in general and eco-cruising in particular is evident in the great number of options a traveler now has to commune with the natural world from the bow of a ship.

Eco-cruising is characterized by an emphasis on visiting ecologically significant destinations with an eye to an educational experience. For the traveler looking to enhance their travels with something different from the ordinary, eco-cruising offers an alternative to a "7-day Western Caribbean" itinerary. If the idea of ecologically based cruising sounds good to you, speak with your travel consultant, who can hook you up with just the right opportunity for you to view nature as a seagoing traveler.

Instead of Vegas-style entertainment, eco-cruise companies generally staff their vessels with one or more onboard experts in the environment: a naturalist, zoologist, or biologist acting as a tour guide, instructor and lecturer during the trip - some cruise operators employ more than a dozen such experts per voyage. The smaller size of the vessels and their passenger count (often fewer than 200) means that travelers have greater access not only to any on-board experts but to the crew in general. A smaller vessel also allows the ship to respond quickly to opportunity and circumstance. Wildlife sightings, events at ports of call or even the whim of the captain or on-board naturalist can cause a complete change in itinerary.

Most ships used by eco-cruise companies fall into the category of "small ship". These boats have very shallow drafts (the depth of the boat's keel) and can enter areas that larger ships could never contemplate. In general, ships carrying fewer than 800 passengers fall into the small ship category, but most eco-tourism vessels carry fewer than 100 passengers. The on--board ambience is relaxed, casual and friendly. The passengers range in all ages, and a respect for the theme of the voyage is tangible. Overall, the travelers will be an active bunch, looking for every possible opportunity to physically engage in the trip.

 

Accommodations onboard these ships vary, but because of the smaller passenger count, cabin size compares favorably to mass-market ships - typically between 100 and 150 square feet. Some cabins will have twin beds and some double with private baths. Some ships also offer a small number of more spacious suites. The out-of-doors emphasis of the itinerary requires participants to have excellent viewing opportunities, so many ships have all "outside" cabin facilities with large picture windows.

Meals are typically one of the highlights of cruising, and eco-cruises, in general, have carried on this tradition. Seating is usually open style and meals may be a buffet or served seated. Special meal requests often can be considered, but be sure to make your cruise operator aware early on of any special accommodations you might require, such as vegetarian or vegan meals. While meals are typically taken in a dedicated dining room, occasionally they are served on the decks to allow 360 degree viewing of the scenery while dining.

Most expedition vessels carry smaller boats on board for exploring the locales they visit. Zodiac rafts and kayaks are common ways of viewing wildlife and glaciers up-close and personal. Launched from divots or a landing platform, these small auxillary craft allow travelers to slip into even more remote pockets of the local landscape. Typical activities involve hiking, kayaking, scuba, snorkeling, wildlife sightings and lectures.

The eco-cruise industry provides itineraries in every possible destination. Antarctica is one of the prime destinations for eco-cruise companies. Far from being a lifeless desert of snow and ice, Antarctica has abundant sea life and opportunities for exploration. Itineraries are often photography tours of southern Argentina, the Falklands and the adjacent islands, as well as the continent itself. Steeple Jason Island in the Falklands is the world's largest albatross nesting area, and visitors to this part of the world are treated to large penguin rookeries, giant elephant seals, fur seals and pods of orcas careening in and out of the icy channels.

The Galapagos Islands are the home to the species that gave Charles Darwin much of his inspiration for the theory of evolution. Many animals here remain largely unafraid of man. The great diversity of the bird species is truly amazing: flightless cormorants, Galapagos Penguins (on the equator!), Galapagos hawks, finches and blue-footed boobies. Seals and sea lions, iguanas and giant tortoises abound. Travelers who want to snorkel or scuba will see marine iguanas, manta rays, hammerhead and white tipped sharks, sea turtles and a great variety of other pelagic species.

A cruise down the Amazon is perhaps one of the most exotic eco-cruise itineraries. The rainforests of the Amazon are home to the world's broadest biodiversity. On either side of the river, the shores are thick with dense rainforest canopy. Pink river dolphins and colorful birds are common sights. The otherworldly Amazonian sloths meander in the tops of the trees and toucans and howler monkeys provide a daily serenade of sound. Many excursions involve meeting the local population and allow travelers to learn more about the river culture and how modernity is affecting their lives. The trips often foray into small tributaries, channels and passageways as the naturalists on board guide passengers through waters churning with life.

Some of the most accessible of the eco-cruise itineraries go to Alaska. The combination of scenery and wildlife create a high demand for Alaskan eco-cruises. Whales, both orca and humpback, eagles, salmon, seals, walrus, polar and grizzly bear appear against a scenery of high mountains and calving glaciers. Zodiac rafts launched from the small ships allow travelers to get within a hundred yards of newly formed icebergs as they fall from glaciers overlooking the sea. Naturalists that accompany these voyages know the best possible locations for wildlife viewing, far from the reaches of the mass cruise line market.

The Sea of Cortez, where the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean meet, is a fantastically rich feeding ground for aquatic life of every variety. Especially important to travelers are the California gray whales that calve here. But note that over 35 species of whale and dolphin make their home or transit through the Sea of Cortez. Travelers make frequent sightings of whale sharks and giant Pacific manta rays. Large pelagic fish of almost every variety are found in these waters, along with the spectacular coast line and reefs that make diving and snorkeling popular activities. Inflatable excursion craft frequently ferry travelers to uninhabited islands to dive and explore. So important is this vitally sensitive area that on July 14, 2005, UNESCO registered the region as a World Heritage Site.

 

During your search for an eco-cruise tour operator, consider the reputation of the eco-cruise line and its history of working with travelers. It is an unfortunate fact that too many hotels, resorts and others in the travel industry bill themselves as eco-friendly without a great deal of substantiation. The lack of globally recognized standards for being ecologically sound makes the process of selecting a tour operator a bit more difficult. Many countries have enacted their own local standards for hospitality industry participants, as has the World Travel and Tourism Council.

In addition, the manner in which your cruise operator interacts with the local cultures and environment will play a role in how you ultimately remember and relate to your voyage. To the extent that your eco-cruise line seeks actively to minimize the impact of its activities on the local environment, the better for all concerned. It is entirely appropriate to ask a cruise ship operator about its environmental philosophy and whether it has published its standards. You will also want to inquire as to the training and expertise of staff members who will be accompanying you on your trip. The end result should be a solid environmental and cultural travel experience.

You will want to determine that not only the character of the cruise line, but also of your fellow participants, will be a compatible fit. Ask about the passenger demographic and age range. Inquire about the number of passengers on a typical voyage and the ship's capacity. Make sure that you will be able to participate fully given any physical limitations you may have by informing your cruise operator early on of access issues for you or your traveling companions. If traveling with children, make sure that the policies of the cruise company accommodate their age and maturity level.

Your cruise line will provide to you a list of recommended clothing and gear. As always, pack as lightly as possible, and remember to take along the essentials for recording your voyage on film or in a diary. Binoculars, sunglasses and sunscreen are some important items often left behind. Ask a doctor about any recommended medical treatments or vaccinations for your planned destinations. Ask your travel consultant about travel insurance to cover unexpected cancellation and medical events or trip interruption due to sickness. Finally, make sure that your travel documentation is appropriate and in order for your chosen destination.

Eco-cruising presents a real opportunity for personal excitement and growth. The options are many, affordable and accessible -- why wait?

Is it really possible that less is more? If you are talking about small ship and niche cruising, the answer is a definitive "Yes"! Whether you want to cruise on a tall-masted ship, sail the Amazon, visit small, secluded islands or see Antarctica up close and personal, niche cruising offers a fantastic alternative to mega-liner cruise ships. Because most niche cruise lines are operated by smaller companies, their itineraries and even their existence is often not known to the traveling public. Yet these cruises offer an exciting, intimate adventure that simply cannot be matched by mass market cruises.

Many of the small ship lines carry fewer than 800 passengers, some as few as 100 or even less. The "niche" part of niche cruising is all about destinations and themes. Itineraries are geared to travelers looking for a more adventurous, off the beaten track type of travel. Some have sails, some steam engines, and some are barges. Some visit exotic South Pacific destinations, some visit the arctic extremes of the planet and still others cruise European waterways, rivers and fjords. Some niche cruises focus on luxury and some on ecology. The choice is yours.

If niche cruising is for you, contact your travel consultant and prepare to set sail!

Niche cruises typically use ships that are smaller than the mass market boats operated by better known cruise lines. This gives the niche cruise lines a tremendous advantage over their larger counterparts. The smaller ships can go where bigger ships cannot, seeking out smaller ports, narrow waterways and more shallow waters. The smaller passenger count means the ships are more environmentally friendly, and can visit more ecologically sensitive areas. Their itineraries often focus on a destination or a theme. Many niche cruise operators employ experts in zoology, history, anthropology or biology to give informal lectures and to act as guides.

The words most often associated with niche cruises are words like "adventurous", "intimate", "personal" and "rewarding". All types of people travel on niche cruises, but in general the crowds are quieter and less rowdy than on large, mass market cruise experiences. The typical niche cruising enthusiast loves adventure and a sense of discovery. They view their travels as an opportunity to explore and learn. They are travelers, not tourists, and take an active, engaged participation in the voyage. The age range varies widely with the theme and personality of the itinerary. 

The traveler considering a niche cruise typically decides first on a destination to visit and then researches the niche cruise lines servicing the chosen destination. Niche cruises are literally world-wide in their scope and schedules. Some have set itineraries, and others deviate not only from trip to trip, but during the course of a single trip. The smaller size of the vessels gives the crew the option to respond quickly to changing conditions, special opportunities and events and to make unscheduled port calls.

The rivers and fjords of the world are some of the most sought after small cruise adventures. Niche-river cruises give participants a close-up view of the villages and cities lining the banks of the world's great rivers. In Europe, cruises on the river waterways of Russia, Germany and France capture the history, the castles, and the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants. The fjords of Norway ease through towering green mountains and the deep Scandinavian waters. Small ships can slip into the wilds of the Amazon and the jungle rivers of South America like the Orinoco. American history comes to life on the Mississippi in authentic steamboats, while on the East Cost of North America, small ships visit ports from the Florida Keys, to the antebellum ports of Charleston, South Carolina to the fishing villages of Nova Scotia and Greenland. On the other side of the world, niche cruise operators and English speaking guides lead travelers down the endangered Yangtze River in China.

Some of the most remote and ecologically fascinating destinations on the planet are open to the niche cruising vessels. Travel to the northern arctic regions of Greenland, Iceland and Alaska are available, typically accompanied by naturalists and trained scholars that provide both formal and informal talks and lectures. The southern boundaries of Argentina and Antarctica are favored destinations for the small cruise industry. Participants go ashore to the stark white and rocky landscapes and colonies of penguins that live in a world that few people ever get to experience. A lucky few each year get to visit the Galapagos Islands off of Ecuador to see the same exotic wildlife that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. And in the South Pacific, small tropical islands and the wonders of New Zealand are on many niche cruise itineraries.

One of the best aspects of a niche cruise is that you unpack only once. The destination "comes to you" as you experience the comforts of the ship. The small ship experience offers a wide variety of amenities. Many ships have a full array of services and entertainment options such as casinos and on-board nightclubs. As in all cruising, dining is taken seriously and the cuisine aboard is almost universally applauded by travelers and travel magazines. Most programs are all-inclusive, meaning most of your expenditures like meals, entertainment and planned sightseeing excursions are included in the cost of your trip. Work with your travel consultant to determine exactly what is, or is not, included in the cost of various packages as you research your options.

The atmosphere aboard a niche cruise vessel tends to be relaxed and informal. The more intimate setting lends itself to striking up conversations with other passengers and crew. The vessels tend to have very distinct personalities reflected in the themes chosen for the itineraries, the destinations, the decor and meal selections. As you research your options, be sure to cover your preferences with your travel consultant to ensure that your experience meets your expectations. This is particularly important with your choice of cabin. Some ships have all "outside staterooms" while others have both interior and exterior cabins. On some ships verandas and suites are available. An experienced travel consultant can best explain the type of cabin options available to you and can work with the cruise line to obtain suitable accommodations.

This year, do something special for yourself and seek out a cruise unlike any you might have imagined and try a niche cruise!