The Flagg Agency

I have just had the scariest middle of the night phone call I have ever received*. It was 1:40 in the morning and the ringing phone startled me awake. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening until I heard my wife’s voice on the machine. She was back in Atlanta the message began, and I jumped to pick up the phone. After a lengthy weather delay, Laura’s flight had attempted to land at (an airport in Virginia). I am not clear on the exact details but apparently her plane had broken out of the clouds only to find there were no runway lights to be seen. They had to quickly attempt a go-around procedure. Again they tried to land and again there were no runway lights. Making a quick decision they returned to Atlanta.

I am still trying to process what I saw yesterday. For now, here are some of my photos from the Dachau concentration camp memorial October 2012. My dad had been a liberator and I understand now why he never told stories from those days near the end of World War Two.

Would you mind if I got personal for a bit? It has been over two months since I last wrote. I got hit with a bit of writer’s block, and I also got busy. The Flagg Agency blog is where I share tips, tricks, reviews and more about cruises and travel. The Flagg Agency, a Cruise Holidays franchise, is the business I own and that is what helps pay the bills. Fortunately, I have had one of the best years since my wife and I opened our agency.

Today is Wednesday, February 1, 2012. I wanted to stop for a moment and thank you for an amazing January. My readers. my clients, and my friends  who have all been a part of this journey. This entry will be a bit more personal than usual. I hope you won’t mind reading. It has been a busy and long month of personal triumph and tragedy for my industry. As I did before, I must pause to take time to remember those victims of the sinking of Costa Concordia.

My daughter stands by the rock wall

As a cruise consultant who helps families choose the cruise of their dreams, I have had some questions of late about cruise ship safety. Current and prospective clients have been asking me “Are cruise ships safe for children?” With the image of Costa Concordia still fresh in their minds, I fully understand their concern.

One of the biggest appeals of a cruise vacation, especially for families, is the ability to spend time together. So much of our life is spent apart, or in traffic, or driving from one activity to the next. A cruise allows your family to spend special time together, splashing in the onboard pools, playing games on deck, enjoying delicious food in the dining room and exploring on shore.