Hundreds of our clients had their cruise vacations cancelled for April, May or June of this year.
Many had planned their trip a year or more in advance, only to have it cancelled at the last moment. Now they have to wait even longer!
The majority have already re-booked for the fall, or for next year.
But what if you need a vacation NOW?
Where can you go this summer?
The cruise lines are planning to start up again in July, but it will be phased-in approach, and there are variables like airline schedules and the decisions of foreign governments that will impact the cruise lines’ plans. These things will only become clear in time.
For those who want to make vacation plans worrying about the details involved in international travel, it might be time to look at domestic options.
There is no doubt that air travel within the United States will resume more quickly than service to other countries. You could also avoid flying altogether by travelling to your destination by train or car.
If you’re looking for cruise options, believe it or not, there are some great options available within the US:
- The Mississippi River – the most common routing is between New Orleans and Memphis, but in the summer months, you can go as far north as Minneapolis.
- The Columbia/Snake Rivers in Oregon and Washington – these cruises have scenery and wildlife that rival Alaska. The Pacific Northwest is one of this country’s best kept secrets.
There are also several non-cruise options that we’re looking at right now.
“But wait”, you say, “aren’t you guys the cruise people?”.
Yes, until now we have focused heavily on cruises for our clients.
However, even before the pandemic, we had been receiving inquiries from our clients about other vacation options that may NOT involve a cruise ship.
We started investigating what we cheekily termed “land cruises” – vacation packages that allow you to visit multiple scenic and/or culturally fascinating locations in one trip, where all the logistics and details taken care of by the someone else. In other words, trips with many of the same benefits as ocean or river cruises.
Up till now, Bob and I have put a priority on international travel for our personal trips.
We certainly have a huge desire to explore the US, and in particular it is our goal to visit all 62 of our National Parks.
But we knew that the wonders of this vast country would always be there “waiting for us” whenever we were ready. We felt that travelling closer to home would be a good option later in our lives, and we were not willing or able to take longer trips if (for example) our mobility became restricted as we aged.
Well, now we are ‘restricted’ in our travel, but not for mobility reasons.
And, as promised, the US is still there, waiting to be explored.
We’ve selected a limited number of carefully vetted tour partners to work with in the US.
You’ll benefit from their expertise as we partner with them to help you plan “land cruises” in your own back yard.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you inspiration and practical guidance for amazing US-based trips.
We’d like to be certain that we are providing information that is most useful for YOU.
What type of US-based trip would you be most interested in within the next 12 months?
Click here to join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/2675907129358451
Thanks in advance for your participation!
Warm Regards,
Sue and Bob Bradley
Sue Bradley
