We offer just one piece of advice when it comes to travel insurance: You definitely need it.

We normally provide our clients with two different insurance quotes: one from the cruise line or tour operator, and another from a third-party insurance company.  We then highly recommend consulting a licensed insurance agent for guidance on this important aspect of travel.  Insurance pros have access to a much wider variety of insurance plans and can give you knowledgeable advice about which one would be best for your unique situation.

There are two reasons we don’t give detailed insurance advice:

1. Our passion and expertise is travel, not insurance.
2. As travel advisors we are required to offer travel protection, but we are not allowed to interpret the coverage.

Here is a bit of guidance to help you when you are speaking with an insurance pro:

Three Aspects of Travel Insurance

Most travel insurance policies bundle these three aspects together, but if you only wanted one of them, a good insurance broker can help you with that:

1. Trip Cancellation.  This covers you if you are unable to make the trip (for specific reasons).  Without this coverage you are risking whatever you paid for the trip.
2. Trip Interruption.  This is for annoying things like flight delays or when your luggage goes missing.  You are not mitigating much risk with this type of insurance, but it does make your life way easier when things go wrong.
3. Travel Medical.  This is the critical one, and you are taking a significant risk if you leave home without this.  It can cost you tens of thousands of dollars if you are caught without this type of insurance.

Here is some of the rationalization we sometimes hear from clients about insurance, and why they may want to talk to an insurance professional about the flaws in their logic:

“Health Care is Free in Europe/Canada/Australia/NZ”.  It is true that in all other developed nations, health care is available to residents without a direct charge.  This is NOT extended to visitors, who will pay (a lot) for medical attention.

“I’m insured on my credit card”.  Check the fine print – you may or may not be covered, and there may be significant limitations to that coverage.  Unfortunately, this probably means reading through a few hundred pages of legal double-speak, but if you’re relying on such coverage, make sure you know what’s in there (and what is not).

“I’ll just fly home if I have a problem”.  This is truly asinine, and a really poor risk mitigation strategy.  You are betting everything you own that if you become sick or injured, you’ll be able to fly across the world on a commercial jet.

The pandemic has added to the complexity of travel insurance, underscoring the need to chat it through with an insurance pro.  

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA WATERWAYS RIVER CRUISES

Due to our exclusive arrangement with AMA Waterways, we are able to offer 5% OFF published prices (plus $150 on board credit) for all itineraries except Portugal and Southern Africa.  In most cases, the savings will amount to $500 or more per stateroom.  

Our private sale IS combinable with AMA’s Free Land promotion (get free pre/post cruise extensions):  https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/freeland/2025 

THE CATCH?  It must be booked before February 28.  Here are a few examples:

PORTUGAL & SPAIN departing July 4th for one week:

OK – I know I said above that Portugal is excluded, but on the ONE SAILING ONLY, we’re holding group space, and get you over $500 off per cabin.  The Douro River is in huge demand, so there’s not many spots left:

●  Visit Porto, Douro valley, Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Salamanca, Afurada.

●  See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.

●  Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon.

●  This trip is on the brand new AMA Sintra, carrying just 102 guests

●  Fares from $4639

●  Click here for more details: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/enticing-douro

FRANCE, GERMANY & NETHERLANDS: Basel to Amsterdam for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Basel
• Depart July 19 from $3989 (less 5%) AND $400 on board cabin credit on this sailing only.

EGYPT for 11-nights (4 nights Cairo and 7-nights on the ship)

• See the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum (with King Tut’s room), Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and a Nile Felucca ride. 
• Depart 2025 (Sep – Dec) from $6344 (less 5%)
• Depart 2026 (Jan – Jun, Sep – Dec) from $5779 (less 5%)

EASTERN EUROPE: Budapest to Bucharest departing for 7-nights

• Travel through Hungary, and then visit Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
• Optional extension to Transylvania/Dracula’s Castle and Bucharest.
• Departures March – December from $2939 (less 5%)

PARIS & NORMANDY round-trip from Paris for 7-nights

• Start in Paris, then visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens) before returning to Paris
• Departures March – November from $3839 (less 5%)

PROVENCE, FRANCE:  Lyon to Marseille for 7-nights

• Visit Lyon (overnight), Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles (overnight).  Experience farm to table food, wineries, Roman Ruins, and the French countryside.
• Departures March – December from $3139 (less 5%)

BORDEAUX WINE:  round-trip from Bordeaux for 7-nights

• Enjoy the famed wine region, historic architecture, and ancient castles
• Departures March – December from $3139 (less 5%)

MEKONG River: Vietnam & Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap for 7-nights

• Visit local markets and temples, do a local school visit, get a tuk tuk tour of Phnom Penh, and experience the amazing people, culture and food of the unique part of the world on a fully escorted trip.
• Departures January to April OR September to December from $2639 (less 5%)

CHINA with VIKING OCEAN

Viking has dedicated one of its ocean ships exclusively to China, and they have some really interesting itineraries if you want to immerse yourself in that country.  If you’re ready to travel in 2025, they’ll also throw in FREE AIR:

HONG KONG to BEIJING (with TIBET) departing October 3 for 22 days:

• Start in Hong Kong, then on to Shenzhen, Xaimen, Pingtan, Dongtou, Zhoushan, Shanghai (overnight), Qingdao (overnight), Dalian, Beijing (Tianjin), fly to Chengdu, Lhasa (Tibet) for 4-nights, Xian (to see the Terra Cotta Warriors) for 2-nights, then back to Beijing to catch your flight home.
• Veranda fares from $11,999 with FREE Air

JAPAN & CHINA departing October 31 for 15-days

• Start in Tokyo, then visit Shimizu, Osaka (overnight), Kochi, Miyazaki, Hiroshima (overnight), Jeju, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, and finish in Beijing. 
• Veranda fares from $7499 with FREE Air

If you want to see ALL the Viking itineraries for CHINA (many with FREE AIR), here’s the link:

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/asia/countries/china/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

ADVENTURES in Remote Destinations with HX

You don’t have to be an elite athlete to enjoy these locations, but you do have to be curious about the more remote corners of the world.  Sail on the world’s FIRST hybrid-electric cruise ship, with only 450 guests. 

GREENLAND & NEWFOUNDLAND from Reykjavik to St. John’s for 18-days

• Start in Reykjavik, and then visit 2 ports in Greenland, before travelling down the Labrador coast to Newfoundland, and finish in St. John’s. 
• Depart September 18 from $11,264.

ANTARCTICA round-trip from Buenos Aires for 12-days, with 5-days of landings

• Includes flights to/from Ushuaia (from BA) to board the ship.
• Departures November through March from $9721

See our ship tour video of Roald Amundsen here: https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

• 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights.  Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.  

• Depart May through August from $7839
• Depart September through December from $7643
• 2026:  January through March from $6900

LAND PACKAGES closer to home with TAUCK:

NATIONAL PARKS: America’s Canyonlands departing Phoenix to Las Vegas for 8-days

• Visit Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon
• Departures March to October departures from $4990.
• Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/american-canyonlands-grand-canyon-escorted-tour?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser 

Michigan’s Lakes and Mackinac Island from Traverse City to Detroit for 8-days

• Visit Traverse City (for the sand dunes, vineyards, and sandy beaches), Petoskey, Mackinac island, Midland, Bay City, Frankenmuth Bavarian Village, Dearborn (for Henry Ford Museum), Detroit.
• Departures from May through October from $5290 per person.
• Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/michigan-lakes-mackinac-island-escorted-tour?tcd=mi2025&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser 

Ken Burns Journey from New York to Washington for 12-days

• New York (dinner at ONE World Observatory, Walking tour of Manhattan, 911 memorial, Central Park), Valley Forge NP, Philadelphia (early access to Museum of American Revolution, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell), Amish Country in Lancaster, Gettysburg National Military Park, Harper’s Ferry, Charlottesville, Jefferson’s Monticello, Richmond, Williamsburg, George Washington’s Estate, Washington DC (National Mall, Early Access to National Archives to see Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights)
• Departures March through October from $6990
• Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/freedom-footsteps-philidelphia-washington-dc-guided-tour?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

In Case You Missed It:

BOOMERNOMICS:  If you read this regularly, you’re probably a Baby-Boomer… so are we.  We’re regularly advised to attract a younger clientele… here’s our reasons for sticking with you:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-were-sticking-with-the-baby-boomers/

WINDSTAR YACHT CRUISING:  We were in Tahiti a few months ago on one of Windstar’s motor yachts.  Here’s a description of how that’s different than a cruise ship:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/yacht-cruising-with-windstar/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

NORWEGIAN COAST:  First of all, the Norwegian Fjords are NOT closing anytime soon.  Get the rest of the information from Kim (from our office) who travelled with her husband to the Norwegian Fjords, Bergen, Oslo, and the incredible Flam Railway:  https://youtu.be/JJ_Ga4jlmB0 

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

• $100 per person on board credit
• 6-month final payment date
• $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

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