The Pampered Cruiser

Dream. Travel. Share.

Only 18 Summers

You’ve undoubtedly heard Harry Chapin’s 1974 classic “The Cat’s in the Cradle”.  If not, it’s worth finding that song, and listening carefully to the lyrics.  I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, as Bob and I welcomed our second grandson to the world a few weeks ago. 

With our own children, we did our very best to be present for both the milestones AND the everyday ordinary miracles.  The age at which we become parents necessarily means this is always tempered with busy lives, building careers, and in some cases taking care of aging parents.

As grandparents, we usually have a little more time on our hands, and certainly more perspective as a result of more life experience.  If we’re paying attention, we’re also painfully more aware of the passage of time, and how temporary ALL things are. 

I’ve heard others comment “You only have 18 summers with your kids (or grandkids)”.  This hits people hard because 18 is a really small number.  Then it occurred to me that 18 is a REALLY GENEROUS number for such musings… it’s actually far less than 18 years.

If you’re looking to create memories with your grandchildren that they will retain, you probably can’t even start until they’re about 5 years old.  By the time they’re 15 years old, they are usually a lot more interested in their friends than their grandparents, and they probably have part-time jobs or other activities that will compete with your noble intentions of creating memories with them.  So it’s probably closer to TEN SUMMERS.

Our two children are in their 20s and 30s, and we feel truly blessed to be able to see them as often as we do.  However – much like we were at that age – they’re very busy.  And frankly, neither of them yet have the perspective to fully understand how quickly time will pass.  So that means WE need to create memories with them and their children.

Yes, we have selfish motives here too – our grandchildren are unbelievably adorable (if you have 45 minutes or so to spare, I’ll invite you over for a slide show of the cutest kids ever!).  We WANT to be there.  We WANT to create memories with them.  

So, we now find ourselves disavowing previous pledges to NOT over-indulge our children.  We always believed that they should achieve their own successes and own their own failures.  We felt NO obligation to buy them a car when they become of age or finance their other ambitions.

Yet, here we are now buying them (and their families) plane tickets to experience things WITH US.  

Selfish motives?  YOU BET… but the grandchildren really are adorable.  AND you only live once. 

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about the SMALL WINDOW we have to make travel memories with our kids and grandkids.  There are also baby pictures in this video!

https://youtu.be/2MwJrihBKk8

In Case You Missed It:

ALASKA:  It’s relatively nearby, and a cruise vacation is a great choice for multi-generational groups: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/ultimate-alaska/

EXPLORA JOURNEYS:  This European luxury lifestyle brand was launched during the pandemic, and their third ship debuts next year.  

https://pamperedcruiser.com/explora-journeys-world-debut/

TRAVEL INSURANCE:  You will be best served by seeking out the advice of an insurance professional.  Here are the 3 aspects to travel insurance, and some questions you should ask:  

https://pamperedcruiser.com/our-advice-about-travel-insurance-2/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

Introducing SEA CLOUD.  If you want to learn whether this new brand is a good fit for you:

https://youtu.be/fy7Kfd1i3ZQ

Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there.  It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

You have TEN SUMMERS or less to create memories with your kids and grandkids.  Today, I’ll focus on some multi-generational travel options.

SEA CLOUD Yachting Adventures

If you want to travel with active children while at the same time enjoying a first rate food and beverage experience, this is a great choice.  You can sip mimosas, while you watch your grandchildren climb the mast, or go swimming right off the boat.  Of course you can join them in these activities too!


Learn more about Sea Cloud here: https://youtu.be/fy7Kfd1i3ZQ 

We’ve also got some really special pricing with them available this month (SALE ENDS SEPT. 30th).  Here are two examples:

Greek Isles (Athens round trip), departing July 17th/24th/or 31st 2026 (7 nights) 

Costa Rica & Central America (Panama City to Cozumel), departing Mar.13th 2026 (12 nights)

SEA CLOUD is our Vendor of the Month for SEPTEMBER so we can offer you:

  • DISCOUNT:  5% OFF any Sea Cloud cruise 
  • OBCs: Get $50 USD per guest per DAY in onboard credits to spend on spa treatments, high-end wines or upgraded shore excursions. That’s $350 per person for a 1-week trip!
  • ALL INCLUSIVE: open bar, onboard gratuities, all dining, wifi on the ship, and many shore activities.

When you layer these offers together, the value is pretty hard to beat.  Remember though, you must book by Sept. 30th.

TAUCK BRIDGES – Multi-Gen Trips

Tauck Bridges has a series of products specifically designed for families and multi-generational groups, with age-appropriate activities to meet everyone’s needs.   

Here’s a great overview of Tauck Bridges Family tours: https://inspires.to/experiences/tauck-bridges-family-journeys-1dgpo

Here are two examples of Tauck Bridges trips:

AFRICAN SAFARI: Kenya, Tanzania for 10-days

MT. RUSHMORE & NATIONAL PARKS from Jackson WY to Rapid City for 8-days

  • Visit Jackson, Snake River Ranch, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Cody WY (for Buffalo Bill Center), Ucross, Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

If you’d like to see the complete line-up of TAUCK BRIDGES trips for Multi-Gen Groups:

https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/family-travel?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX

In the “old days” kids used to play outside.  If that’s something you’d like to re-introduce to society, here are two ways to do so:

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

  • Swimming, snorkelling, nature spotting, and the world’s most exotic zoo (without any fences).  Show the kids tropical fish, sea lions, exotic birds, giant turtles and more. 
  • 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.  
  • January through March from $6725
  • April through December from $7785
  • See our video blog from when we took our kids on this trip: https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ 

Outdoor ALASKA: Vancouver to Anchorage for 10-days

  • Take the kids beyond the T-shirt shops in Alaska and British Columbia.  Create memories of them sea kayaking, riding in a zodiac boat, going whale watching and wildlife spotting, all while you enjoy the remote Alaska scenery.  Just for fun, they can also experience the world’s longest zip-line at Icy Strait Point!
  • Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Klawock, Fjords of the Alaskan panhandle, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Prince William Sound, and then on to Anchorage
  • Departures May through July 2026 from $4340.
  • Here’s our ship tour video if you want to see the ship: Tour of the MS Roald Amundsen – YouTube 

AMA RIVER CRUISES

River cruises don’t attract many families, and unlike ocean cruises, there aren’t facilities on board for children and teens.  However, AMA has a number of adjoining staterooms, and they do attract Multi-Gen groups during school vacation times.  

2025 HOLIDAY CRUISES in EUROPE!  

  • If you’re ready to go this year, AMA has 7-night cruises:
    • Rhine (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland)
    • Danube (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary)
    • Saone/Rhone (Provence region in Eastern France)
  • BONUS: Includes pre-cruise hotel night prior to boarding, AND post-cruise extra night on the ship at the disembarkation port.
  • Limited availability.  Pricing from $2589 per person.  Here’s the list:

https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/new-year#offer

COLOMBIA: Barranquilla to Cartagena for 7-nights

  • Take the kids to a Carnaval celebration, take a stilt-house village tour, enjoy a jazz street performance,  and San Felipe Castle and Walled city tour.  Enjoy the Latin music, sample the famous coffee, and take in the tropical rainforest.
  • Only a 4 HOUR FLIGHT from many US Gateways.
  • Pre/post available to Medellin and/or Panama.
  • Departures year round.  Pricing starts at $3339

Here’s a short video of a MOTHER-SON trip with AMA in Colombia that perfectly captures why you need to make memories with your kids and grandkids when you can:

https://youtu.be/tGbLg6R7mfI?si=YLDqAyklNozmvlM2

EXPLORA JOURNEYS

Explora is the only small ship luxury line that has a staffed children and teens center on board their ships.  They also have “Residences” for those travelling with larger family groups.  Here are two suggestions if you want to travel with the kids or grandkids for SPRING BREAK:

Eastern CARIBBEAN from Miami to San Juan departing March 18 for 8-nights

  • Visit US Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Martinique, Saint-Kitts, 
  • Veranda fares from $4275

SPAIN & ITALY round-trip from Barcelona departing March 25 for 8-nights 

  • Visit Marseille, Corsica, Florence, Rome, Valencia, Mallorca, 
  • Veranda fares from $5225

AZAMARA Pop-Up Sale

Azamara is the all-inclusive small ship cruise line that offers outstanding value for those that want to travel on the famous R-Class vessels, holding just 680 guests.  Any reservations made this week, we can add an additional on board credit:

  • $150 per person for Ocean View Rooms.
  • $200 per person for Veranda Rooms
  • $250 per person for Suites

AZAMARA has 4 vessels that operate on 6 continents.  Here’s a link to their website:

https://www.azamara.com/home

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 recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.

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

Hi There!

My mission is to help my clients accomplish the dream experiences on their travel-related 'bucket lists'.  Often, that includes a small ship cruise.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sue Bradley

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The Pampered Cruiser

The Pampered Cruiser