If you are looking for vacation packages and deals in Europe and the Mediterranean, Central Holidays can help.

Central Holidays has great vacation deals with cruises. You can browse our selection of Mediterranean, River, and Aegean cruises and barges. Cruising is one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel market. We have many options on all of our cruises so you are sure to find an all-inclusive cruise package that fits your budget and needs.

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Travel Writer Press Releases

Central Holidays Appoints Vice President of Sales: James Zitani

Moonachie, NJ – (March 15, 2011) –Central Holidays is pleased to announce the appointment of James Zitani to serve as Vice President of Sales for the Central Holidays Travel Group, effective immediately. With more than 30 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, Zitani first began his career with the Central Holidays Travel Group over 25 years ago.
Since Zitani joined Central Holidays, he has worked his way through several of the Company’s key departments including reservations, operations, groups, ski and sales.  As Vice President of Sales, Zitani will be responsible for identifying sales goals and strategies to actively promote the Company’s array of travel products and services, overseeing the sales management team and sales support staff and working directly with the customer base to establish, maintain and leverage agent and business relations in support of sales objectives. In the course of performing this role, he will work closely with executives in the Company’s numerous brands as well as the office in Italy.
"We are honored that James Zitani has accepted this key sales leadership role within our company," said Fred Berardo, president of Central Holidays. "Zitani’s long history with Central Holidays, in-depth working knowledge of our internal departments and his unending enthusiasm for the promotion of our company objectives made him the perfect candidate for this position."
"I am thrilled to take on yet another new role at Central Holidays," said Zitani.  "Over the past 25 years I have watched our Company achieve a very advantageous position in the marketplace, offering expertise and product depth to some of the world’s most desirable vacation destinations. As Vice President of Sales, I will continue to assert our leadership as the number one European and Mediterranean travel specialist and look forward to what our future holds."

Central Holidays Wins Travel Weekly Magellan Award

Moonachie, NJ - (September 14, 2009) - Central Holidays is pleased to announce that it has been named a 2009 Silver Award Winner in the prestigious Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. The company earned the Silver Award designation in the Tour Operator segment within the Advertising category. "This recognition speaks highly of the creative work that our marketing team has been producing and their knowledge, not only of our vast range of travel offerings, but also of the industry," said Fred Berardo, President and CEO of Central Holidays. "We are proud of all the hard work that allowed us to win this award and look forward to continued success from our team in marketing our ever-increasing range of travel opportunities to destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean." The Magellan Awards are judged and overseen by a one-of-a-kind panel of top travel professionals representing the best names and most accomplished leaders from the industry. This year, the renowned judges included: Bob Dickinson, former president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines; Peter Greenberg, Travel editor of Today Show-NBC News; Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die; Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman of Carlson, a global group of integrated companies providing travel, hotel, restaurant and marketing services. Bill Fischer, President of Fischer Travel Enterprises; and Lalia Rach, founder of Rach Enterprises and Associate Dean & HVS International Chair, Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management School of Continuing and Professional Studies, New York University. As detailed on www.travelweeklyawards.com, entries are evaluated on a ten point performance scale. In determining winners, entries do not compete with one another, instead they are judged against a standard of excellence based on the long experience of Travel Weekly. To uphold this high standard of excellence, a category may have multiple winners, or may have no winners at all. About The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards The Magellan Awards is the premier award for the travel industry. From design to marketing to services, the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honors the best in travel and salutes the outstanding travel professionals behind it all. Honoring a broad range of industry segments including Hotels and Resorts, Travel Destinations, Cruise Lines, Online Travel Services, Airlines and Airports, Travel Agents and Agencies, Tour Operators, and Car Rental Companies, the Magellan is the award to win if you are in the business of travel. Please visit www.travelweeklyawards.com for more information. About Central Holidays Founded in 1972, Central Holidays offers superior travel programs, value and service to enchanting destinations throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey, plus dozens of Mediterranean and European River Cruise itineraries and worldwide Ski programs! For more information, contact Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or visit their Web site at www.centralholidays.com.

Central Holidays Unveils New Website, Celebrates It With Rome and Sorrento Hotel Offers

Central Holidays is pleased to unveil a new, more user-friendly and interactive website. To commemorate the event, they are offering their customers a special on Rome and Sorrento hotels.

Moonachie, NJ - May 5, 2010 - Central Holidays, a leading tour operator to Italy and the Mediterranean, is pleased to unveil a brand new website that will offer visitors better access to vacation specials, destination and hotel information, and an overall easier and more enjoyable user experience. To celebrate the launch of the new website, Central Holidays is offering their clients two Italy hotel specials, one in Rome and the other in Sorrento.

The new website, which was launched on April 12th, 2010, will offer clients a simpler way to navigate through the pages, travel programs and vacation specials that Central Holidays has to offer. On the homepage, visitors can search for that ideal Europe vacation three different ways. One way is using the Perfect Package Search console, which allows users to input specific search criteria via drop down boxes in order to view a list of results based on those reference points. The Vacations Just For You section categorizes travel packages by the personality of the visitor. Right next to that is Top Travel Deals, where the latest vacation specials and travel promotions can be found.

To make browsing the selections easier, the website utilizes a Refine Your Results feature that can filter and display the vacations by price, trip length and package type. Icons and a legend are incorporated to help the user quickly determine what inclusions and features are part of the vacation package. There is also access to image and video galleries that supply information to the customers about the destinations and package types offered by Central Holidays. For users that want to build their own package, the Custom Trip Planner is a step-by-step wizard that will compile the information and send it to a Central Holidays travel specialist to complete the process.

"Our main goal is to offer our visitors a website that is easy to use, easy to navigate, and also gives them the information they need to plan their European vacation," said Patrick Berardo, Director of E-Commerce. "On top of that, the videos, interactive online brochures and image galleries make the website as complete as an interactive travel experience can get, without actually being there".

To celebrate the launch of the new website, Central Holidays is offering their customers two Italy hotel specials, one in Rome and another in Sorrento.

The Rome hotel deal includes a 4 night stay in a superior room at the 5 star Ambasciatori Palace, which is said to have been the catalyst around which grew the famous Via Veneto and its Dolce Vita phenomenon. The package also includes complimentary Prosecco wine and hors d'oeuvres in room, and a dinner for two including wine, coffee and mineral water with a price that starts at $832 per person.

The Sorrento hotel special is for the 5 star Parco Dei Principi, which sits on a cliff top in Sorrento, and overlooks the same bay as Naples and the island Capri. The package includes a 5 night stay in a Park View room (with a free upgrade to a Sea View room based on availability at the time of check-in), a complimentary Spa Treatment, and a dinner for two including wine, coffee and mineral water with a price that starts at $478 per person.

Central Holidays' Garnier Honored by French Government

Louis Garnier, regional sales manager for the Central Holidays Travel Group, received the French Government Tourist Office's first Honorary Achievement Award, which was specifically created to honor Garnier's contributions in promoting travel and tourism between France and the United States, and to celebrate his more than 60 years in the industry. The award was presented by Jean Philippe Perol, head of the French Government Tourist Board, at its annual French Affairs meeting Oct. 25 in New York City. Garnier, who has been promoting France travel since 1974, received a standing ovation upon receiving the award.

"We could not think of anyone more deserving than Garnier to have received this honorable award, which not only highlights his accomplishments made in promoting France travel but also honors his extensive history of hard work, service and dedication in the travel and tourism industry," said Fred Berardo, president of Central Holidays. "For over 30 years, Garnier has been a key asset to Central Holidays, and his vast knowledge in promoting France and European destinations has been essential in creating the value-driven travel programs that we've built our company's reputation upon."

Garnier was born in Paris in 1920, earned a degree from University of Paris School of Law and first came to the U.S. upon his graduation, where he began working with TWA. Over the span of Garnier's career, he has significantly contributed to promoting France tourism throughout the U.S., and has played a key role in developing Central Holidays' celebrated travel and tour programs. Founded in 1972, Central Holidays offers travel programs to destinations throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey, plus dozens of cruise itineraries and ski programs to single and multi-country European destinations! For more information, call 800-935-5000 or visit www.centralholidays.com.

Central Holidays Names Miradoli Chief Operating Officer

Central Holidays appointed Gianni Miradoli to the newly created role of chief operating officer of Central Holidays Travel Group, effective immediately. Miradoli, a travel and tourism industry veteran with 35-plus years in the field, most recently served as senior executive vice president of Central Holidays Travel Group, where he has held numerous leadership roles within the company. Miradoli will be responsible for the overall operation of the organization to ensure that business efficiency and effectiveness are carried through within each function of the company as a whole. He will work closely with executives in the company's brands as well as the office in Italy. "I consider it an honor to have a professional like Gianni Miradoli in our group and accept this key leadership role within our company," said Fred Berardo, president of Central Holidays. "Gianni's long history with Central Holidays, coupled with his extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry and European markets, made him the perfect candidate for this position. His command of the marketplace, in-depth knowledge of tourism, and time-tested, strong business relationships are tremendous resources for our company, which translates into an equally great resource for travel agents, group planners, clients and our strategic alliance partners." Miradoli has served in management and consultant positions for European travel and tour programs and has gained expertise in resort and hotel Operations. In 1974, Miradoli began his travel industry career in Italy, where he held the positions of general manager and chief executive officer for several resorts in Italy. In 1982, Miradoli worked as a consultant for Diplomat Tour in Rome. Prior to joining Central Holidays, Miradoli also served as president of Columbus Travel in California. Miradoli was first hired by Central Holidays in 1995 as vice president of product development and MIS. In 2003, he was appointed to serve as executive vice president of World Travel Group and senior vice president of product development and operations for Central Holidays. Founded in 1972, Central Holidays offers travel programs to destinations throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey, plus cruise itineraries and ski programs. For more information, call 800-935-5000 or visit www.centralholidays.com.

Central Holidays Unveils HOT DEALS to Italy for Fall or Winter Travel -- 6-DAY Air-Inclusive Rome or Florence from $799 or Venice From $879 (Including Fuel Surcharge) --

Moonachie, NJ - September 8, 2009 - CENTRAL HOLIDAYS today unveiled 6-day air-inclusive HOT DEALS to Rome, Florence or Venice, Italy for travel between November 15, 2009 and March 25, 2010. Priced from $799 per person, these amazing deals are valid for new bookings made by October 31, 2009. This fall and winter is a great time to experience Central Holidays' Italy HOT DEALS - to Rome, Florence or Venice, including round-trip airfare from New York (prices includes fuel surcharge) on Alitalia, arrival transfer, 4-night hotel accommodations, half-day city tour, breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges. Central Holidays has negotiated these attractive offers directly with suppliers, passing along a significant savings to travelers. ROME from $799 (4-night stay at centrally-located 3-star hotel and RT air from NYC on Alitalia) - Travelers can take their time to embrace the surroundings at the birthplace of western civilization in the "Eternal City", Rome...the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain...and Vatican City's Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Square. They'll stroll along the ancient streets of Rome experiencing everything from Imperial temples, early-Christian churches and medieval bell towers to baroque basilicas and ancient ruins. - Price DOES include fuel surcharge and arrival transfer from airport to hotel in Rome. Air taxes of $118-$136 are extra. FLORENCE from $799 (4-night stay at centrally-located 4-star hotel and RT air from NYC on Alitalia) - From Brunelleschi's Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio to Michelangelo's David at the Academia and the city's breathtaking view from Pitti Palace overlooking the the famous Boboli Gardens, Florence inspires and delights at every turn. In Florence, travelers can delve into Renaissance architecture, world-renown paintings and sculptures, fine leatherwork and jewelry, plus sumptuous food, wine, and culture. - Price DOES include fuel surcharge and arrival transfer from airport to hotel in Florence. Air taxes of $118-$136 are extra. VENICE from $879 (4-night stay at centrally-located 3-star hotel and RT air from NYC on Alitalia) - Experience the island city of enchanting palaces, bridges and canals, featuring such renowned sites as the Basilica of St. Mark, Bridge of Sighs, and Doge's Palace. Along the Grand Canal travelers can take a Gondola ride and see some of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, or visit nearby Murano and Burano for a captivating look at each island's unique offerings. - Price DOES include fuel surcharge. Air taxes of $110 are extra. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Package rates do not include air taxes of approximately $110-$136. Rates are valid for mid-week AND weekend travel. Transfers, extra nights and hotel upgrades are available upon request. Black-out dates apply. For more details call Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or visit www.centralholidays.com Founded in 1972, Central Holidays offers superior travel programs, value and service to enchanting destinations throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey, plus dozens of Mediterranean and European River Cruise itineraries and worldwide Ski programs! For more information, contact Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or visit their Web site at www.centralholidays.com.

Central Holidays Offers Enhanced Insurance for Job Loss

Central Holidays is offering an enhanced travel insurance that enables cancellation of a trip should travelers experience a loss of employment after booking their travels. In these difficult economic times, travelers can be hesitant about booking vacation plans for fear of a potential economic setback or job loss. The company has included this new feature to alleviate this anxiety. Central Holidays' insurance policy eliminates any cancellation penalties for a reservation should the traveler become unemployed prior to their travel departure date. The enhanced plan is valid on new bookings with the insurance premiums collected on or after May 1 and is available to travelers as a bonus feature at current plan rates. To qualify, the traveler must have been employed for a minimum of one year on a full-time basis at the time of booking. Redemption of the new Travel Insurance Plan requires an official letter for proof of loss of employment by no cause of their own. Some restrictions may apply. "The enhancements to the insurance plan available to Central Holidays' travelers give them what they need to navigate today's travel landscape," said Fred Berardo, president and CEO of Central Holidays. "The enhanced coverage is also another way our travel agent partners can help make their travelers more confident booking the trip of their dreams right now, when the deals are hot, even if their employment situation is uncertain. Purchasers of the plan needn't do anything different to take advantage of the enhanced coverage. It's not an 'add-on' that they need to pay extra for. It is automatically included at the same price at which we've always offered the plan. Plus, since they are traveling with Central Holidays, they can rest assured that they will be exceptionally attended throughout their travels, as on all of our trips." For more information, call 800-935-5000 or visit www.centralholidays.com.

Central Holidays Introduces Travel Insurance Plan That Eliminates Cancellation Penalties Should a Traveler Experience Loss of Employment

Moonachie, NJ - (May 26, 2009) - Central Holidays is pleased to introduce its newly enhanced Travel Insurance that enables cancellation of a trip should travelers experience a loss of employment after booking their travels. In these difficult economic times, travelers can be hesitant about booking vacation plans for fear of a potential economic setback or job loss. Central Holidays has proactively included this new feature to alleviate this anxiety. The company's insurance policy eliminates any cancellation penalties for a reservation should the traveler become unemployed prior to their travel departure date. Central Holiday's enhanced plan is valid on new bookings with the insurance premiums collected on or after May 01, 2009 and is available to travelers as an added bonus feature at current plan rates. To qualify, the traveler must have been employed for a minimum of one year on a full-time basis at the time of booking. Redemption of the new Travel Insurance Plan requires an official letter for proof of loss of employment by no cause of their own. Some restrictions may apply. Complete details about Central Holidays' Travel Insurance Plan are available online at www.centralholidays.com and by calling Central Holidays at 800-935-5000. "The enhancements to the insurance plan available to Central Holidays' travelers gives them what they need to navigate today's travel landscape," said Fred Berardo, President and CEO of Central Holidays. "The enhanced coverage is also another way our travel agent partners can help make their travelers more confident booking the trip of their dreams right now, when the deals are hot, even if their employment situation is uncertain. Purchasers of the plan needn't do anything different to take advantage of the enhanced coverage. It's not an "add-on" that they need to pay extra for. It is automatically included at the same price at which we've always offered the plan. Plus, since they are traveling with Central Holidays, they can rest assured that they will be exceptionally attended throughout their travels, as on all of our trips." About Central Holidays Founded in 1972, Central Holidays offers superior travel programs, value and service to enchanting destinations throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey, plus dozens of Mediterranean and European River Cruise itineraries and worldwide Ski programs! For more information, contact Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or visit their Web site at www.centralholidays.com.