I hope you have enjoyed the holidays. For us, it’s a time to clean up some remaining details of the year ending, and to make plans for the next year. Part of this is making guesses at what to expect for the coming year.
We do this with one eye on what we’ve been booking for departures in the next twelve months, and new patterns and trends we may be seeing.
There is a very high margin of error, and in some ways I’m reluctant to comment – mostly because someone next year around this time will pull out this piece, and point out all the things I got wrong!
Here you go anyway (and please be forgiving if you’re reading this in late 2024):
- It will remain busy. 2023 was our biggest booking year ever, eclipsing 2019 by almost 100%. This is typical from what we hear from our peers. The average time between booking and travelling is about 11 months. So based on what’s on the books now, it’s going to be busy out there.
- You are booking close-in (3 months or less), and further-out (beyond 12 months). Having two or three vacations on the books is the new normal. This is a wise strategy: any deals we see are usually for travel in the next several weeks (hence the close-in bookings). Due to excessive demand, you need to book well in advance for those bucket-list trips (hence the bookings for 2025 and 2026).
- You are going away for longer. This might be making up for lost time after 2020 and 2021, or it might be to get maximum return on the investment in pain and frustration involved with flying anywhere.
- It will cost you more. Inflation is real, it is global, and it’s not cycling back as quickly as we’d like. We’ve seen this manifest in hotel prices, but not as much in cruise pricing – although I don’t know how long it will stay that way. You may want to lock in your price now for your 2024 and 2025 trips… they’re not going to get cheaper.
- Europe will be busy this summer. The Summer Olympics take place in Paris in late July and first half of August. France will be particularly busy, but you can expect more traffic throughout Western Europe and the UK.
- Foodie Tourism – There’s a strong link between a place, its culture and its food. For this reason, we’re seeing more food and culinary themed cruises and shore excursions.
Destinations
For the last 18-months it’s been Portugal, Egypt and Japan. Here are some destinations we are seeing more interest in 2024:
- Europe: Croatia, Slovenia, Lower Danube (Hungary to the Black Sea), Malta, and Morocco (yes… I know it’s in Africa, but cruises that originate in Europe end up there).
- Domestic & Canada: National Parks (in both countries), Great Lakes Cruises, Quebec, Newfoundland, and Greenland (yes… I know Greenland is not the USA or Canada, but it’s nearby, and people want to go there).
- Across the Pacific: Those concerned about the geopolitical situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Eastern Europe are looking across the Pacific Ocean: Mekong River (Vietnam & Cambodia), New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Tahiti.
- South America: Likewise, South America offers new destinations far away from war zones: Galapagos Islands, river cruises in Columbia, Buenos Aires to Santiago cruises, Amazon River.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Denver to Salt Lake City with Tauck for 8-days (including 2 days on Rocky Mountaineer)
- Visit Denver, Denver foothills, Glenwood Springs, Moab, Flightseeing over Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City
- Departures May to September from $7590.
Regensburg to Amsterdam. Three-River Journey with Tauck for 10 days.
- Highlights include: Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Bonn.
- Departures in July and August from $6390.
- A great mix of Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers.
Explora Journeys
This exciting new brand is currently offering some itineraries at up to 35% off. All suites are large verandas, and your fare includes an open bar, gratuities, specialty dining, and wifi on the ship.
Barcelona round-trip departing November 10 for 10 days
- Visit Cadiz, Arrecife, Casablanca (overnight), and Gibraltar
- $3835 (represents 35% off)
Miami round-trip departing January 14, 2025 for 10-days
- Visit New Orleans (overnight), Cozumel, Merida (overnight), Ocean Cay (Bahamas)
- $4800 (represents 25% off)
Miami to Lisbon for 14-nights March 14, 2025
- Visit San Juan, St. John’s, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Madeira, Lisbon
- $5625 (represents 25% off)
- A great way to avoid one-way of a trans-Atlantic flight. You could then do a river cruise from Lisbon to Spain & Portugal.
Viking Free Air Promo Codes
We’re seeing a number of Free Air Codes from Viking right now. If the dates work for you, it’s worth taking a look. The Catch: must be booked by December 31:
| Destination | Departure Date for Free Air |
| Mississippi River | Throughout 2024 |
| Antarctica | November & December 2024 |
| Scandinavia (various itineraries) | May to July 2024 |
| Great Lakes | April through October 2024 |
| Longer European River Cruises (12 – 14 nights) | March & April 2024 |
Recently booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
