There are two seemingly unrelated things I wanted to share with you this week. Please bear with me, as I tie them together.
Our daughter got married a couple of weeks ago. We feel remarkably blessed because we really like the fellow she married, and they truly are a fantastic match for each other. She’s also been trying to get this wedding “across the line” for the past 18 months.
In a story that is certainly NOT unique to her, this wedding was originally scheduled for the spring of 2020, then the fall of 2020, and then finally in the summer of 2021. Thanks, Covid.
In the run up to this third attempt at getting married, she simply declared, “We’re getting married this time regardless of the restrictions or circumstances”. Luckily, there were very few restrictions or compromises to their intended plans, and they (and we!) were extraordinarily thrilled with how it all turned out.
The other thing that happened in the past two weeks is that the news media announced that European Council recommended closure to US Passport Holders, and the Government of the Netherlands had closed their borders. Both these headlines were based on a true story, but sadly missing context and facts to help people make good decisions.
For the record, the European Council recommended non-vaccinated American travellers be quarantined for 10 days upon arrival (a far cry from being “closed”), and member states were left to make their own decisions.
The Dutch Government did restrict stays in the Netherlands to people from outside the EU, but that does not stop people from connecting in Amsterdam, OR from embarking or disembarking their ships there.
So how are these stories related?
Our clients (in what I think is typical of people travelling right now) simply responded by saying, “I’m going… so what do I have to do to make this work?”. The language is different, but the sentiment is exact the same as my daughter being determined have a wedding no matter what.
There are many milestones and life events that have been postponed due to the pandemic. In some cases, this has been unavoidable. However, we are seeing more and more people willing to simply forge ahead, jumping through new hoops as the situation requires, because we can’t put life on hold any more.
This is not cavalier… it is the willingness to adapt to the conditions in which on finds oneself.
Next week, I’ll offer some suggestions on how to plan a milestone trip. Such trips usually involve more people, so they can be a bit trickier to plan.
Until then, here’s some travel opportunities I uncovered this week:
20% Off SilverSea Cruises
A few weeks ago, I mentioned this opportunity for those who might like to try out a small ship luxury cruise or expedition cruise. The good news is that SilverSea has extended this sale through to the end of September.
Get 20% off select Silversea cruises when you book by Sept. 30th:
- Alaska departing Anchorage on June 23, 2022 for 7 nights, bound for Vancouver: $5310 per person.
- Western Mediterranean departing Barcelona April 7, 2022 for 7 nights, bound for Rome: $5120 per person. You also get a $300 on board credit on this sailing, and you can add Business Class flights for an additional $699 per person
- Eastern Mediterranean departing Rome April 14, 2022 for 11 nights, bound for Athens: $6160 per person (you also get a $300 on board credit, and the opportunity to fly in Business Class for $699.
- Antarctica: departing Ushuaia February 26, 2022 for 10 days: $11,360 per person with a $300 OBC.
- Canada/New England: Departing Fort Lauderdale on May 3, 2022 for 11 nights, bound for Halifax: $6560 per person. Upgrade to Business Class flights for $349.
- Dubai to Mumbai: Departing December 8, 2022 for 12 days: $5280 with a $300 onboard credit. Add Business Class flights for $1499.
The prices above reflect the 20% discount you’ll receive when you pay in full by the end of September.
Also, we are excited to announce we are partnering with Silversea on a Consumer Event scheduled for September 22nd at 7pm ET.
Because you work with me, a Virtuoso travel advisor, you have access to this exclusive session. I’ll be joining along with you.
During the webinar, you’ll discover more about Silversea’s all-inclusive cruises, its luxurious fleet, and its destination-immersive voyages.
The event will be hosted by Mark Conroy (President of SilverSea) and Karl Kannstadter (Head of Expeditions), and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get help planning your next trip.
By attending this session, you’ll be eligible to save $500 per person on any sailing with Silversea! This offer is available ONLY to webinar attendees.
Click here to register for the webinar: https://virtuoso.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtcOqorj8iEtNBQU_agptFnqfLmD9Q_jpl
IMPORTANT – After you register, send me your confirmation email for a further exclusive bonus from me and Bob (forward your confirmation to sue@pamperedcruiser.com).
FREE Flights on Viking Cruises
If you’re ready to travel in March 2022, then you can get FREE flights on various Rhine, Danube, and French river cruise itineraries with Viking River Cruises.
You can also get FREE airfare on many January / February 2022 Viking Ocean Cruises in the Mediterranean.
A special code is required to get this free airfare, so get in touch with me if you’d like to book a trip during these periods.
Travelling early in the season is not for everyone. I take Cologne, Germany as an example because it is in the middle of the itineraries on offer. In March, the highs are to 55 degrees, lows to 35 degrees, and there are normally 12 days during that month with some rain. The good news is that the shore attractions in Europe are much less crowded than they are in the summer months.
However, if you’re ready to wear a coat, these off-season departures offer incredible value.
$300 Off US Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer
The famous Canadian luxury rail line has finally begun its inaugural season in the US Rockies between Denver and Moab, Utah, with trip extensions to either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. For selected departures in November 2021, you can get $300 off. Here’s a link to the video we did earlier this season about the Rocky Mountaineer US experience: https://youtu.be/OYO1WoxJ-e0
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
