You’ve heard us refer to “Land Cruises” previously – those vacations that have the structure and rhythm of a cruise, but without the ship.  Historically, I resisted the idea of group travel.  In the old days (when people read books), we’d pick up the Lonely Planet Guide, or Rick Steeves Europe and fend for ourselves (and we did pretty good).

Now imagine if instead of a Rick Steeves guidebook, you could travel WITH Rick Steeves himself.  That’s what a “guided vacation” actually is.  I sometimes describe it as travelling with a hyper-organized friend that has already travelled through the region you want to explore. 

So here are some questions to consider if you’re looking at travelling by packaged land tour:

WHY Choose a GUIDED VACATION?

• You can’t go everywhere by ship.  We’ve chosen Guided Vacations to discover Central America, Morocco, Newfoundland, Poland, Thailand, and Turkiye.
• You get a better experience.  You’ll discover things you wouldn’t have otherwise because you’re travelling with a local guide.
• It can be cheaper.  In both Central America and Thailand, I’m sure I couldn’t have done the same trip as cost-effectively. 
• Trouble-shooting.  Missing a bus or a train was part of the adventure when we were younger.  Now it’s annoying and anxiety provoking. 
• Pre and/or Post Cruise.  If you can’t find a land extension you want through the cruise line, then look to a land tour operator to help you pre or post. 

HOW Does COLLETTE Differentiate?

• Collette is an American owned and family operated business since 1918.
• Small Group Offerings.  Collette’s “Explorations” have a maximum of 24 guests.
• Themed Trips:  Spotlight Tours (only unpack once!), Private Groups, Faith based trips. 
• Cancel For Any Reason as late as 24 hours prior to departure. 
• You are accompanied by a Tour Leader AND Local Guides

WHERE does COLLETTE Go?

• Everywhere… they have over 160 different Land Tours on all 7 continents.
• The most frequent requests we get are for Africa, Ireland, Italy and Morocco. 
• City Spotlight Tours are also a great way to see cities like New York, London or Paris.

QUESTIONS to Ask When Selecting a Land Cruise

• Size of Group.  How many people will you be travelling with?
• Pace.  How many nights in each place (how much packing and unpacking)?
• Quality of Hotels.  Are the hotels 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star accommodations?
• Inclusions:  How many meals?  Are the “shore” excursions?
• Unstructured Time:  What is the mix of scheduled and free time?
• Choices for Activities.  Is it like shore-excursion on ships?

Collette is a power-house in this often overlooked segment of the travel industry.  They are also our VENDOR OF THE MONTH for November, and we can get you an additional $100 credit that can be used towards optional tours, pre/post tour packages, etc.  Consider it like an On Board Credit as a bonus for booking this month. 

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about what a LAND CRUISE is, for whom it’s a good choice, and where COLLETTE fits in the market:   https://youtu.be/RJB9L3zCJLk 

In Case You Missed It:

WIFI ON CRUISE SHIPS:  Who has the fastest wifi, what can you expect, and hacks for getting the best connectivity when you’re on vacation:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/wifi-on-cruise-ships/

MEET THE TEAM:  We’re the FIRST people you “meet” on vacation.  Here’s a bit more information about our core team, and who you will end up communicating with:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/our-team-the-first-people-you-meet-on-vacation/

EGYPT:  There is a lot of pent-up demand for this destination, so if it’s on your BUCKET LIST, you need to start planning before it sells out (again): 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/egypt-its-time-to-experience-it/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

We were on CRYSTAL SERENITY a few months ago, and we took a walk around the ship to share with our clients:  https://youtu.be/QPyVijoO8Nk

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

TRAVELLING in SUMMER 2026?  BE READY

FIFA WORLD CUP is the largest sporting event on the planet, and it’s coming to North America next summer.  Even if you’re NOT a Soccer fan, you SHOULD have this on your radar if you plan to travel (internationally or domestically) in June or July of 2026.  Here’s why:

• AIR TRAVEL domestically, as well as to/from Canada and Mexico will be very busy.  You should be particularly aware of flights through Toronto and Vancouver. 
• AIRPORTS:  Even if you’re flying to Europe or Asia, domestic airports will be busy. 
• HOTELS:  If you’re trying to find lodging in a host city around game day, it will be tight. 
• SECURITY:  The security in airports and at venues will be enhanced, and slow everything down. 
• SEATTLE & VANCOUVER:  If you’re going to Alaska in June or July, book your hotel NOW.  Both these cities are hosting multiple games. 
• HOST CITIES:
  • CANADA:  Toronto, Vancouver
  • MEXICO: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
  • UNITED STATES: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle

Don’t wait until the last minute for ANY travel in June and July of 2026.  FIFA is only rivalled by the Olympic Games in terms of scope and size. 

Have something to say about this?

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

GUIDED TRAVEL with COLLETTE

You can do it on your own, but it will be easier, and quite possibly more cost-effective if you use COLLETTE for your next land vacation OR for pre/post cruise.  Here are the trips our clients ask for most frequently with COLLETTE:

AFRICAN SAFARI:  Kenya & Tanzania for 15-days round-trip Nairobi

• See Mt. Kilmanjaro, 12-game drives to spot the Big 5, see the Farmhouse from Out of Africa, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP.
• 2026: Departures weekly from $6999
• 2027: Departures weekly from $7699

ITALY: Rome and the Amalfi Coast for 10-days

• Stay in Rome for 3-nights to visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and just to enjoy the sidewalk vibe in Rome.  Then on to Amalfi, for coastal townships, beaches, Sorrento,  and Pompeii
• Optional Pre and/or Post in Florence and/or Naples
• 2026: Departures March through November from $3499.
• 2027: Departures March through November from $4999.

IRELAND from Dublin to Kilkenny for 15-days

• Visit Dublin, Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Derry, Donegal, Wild Atlantic Way, Fermanagh, Devenish Island, Enniskillen, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle, Kilkenny.
• 2026: Departures March through November from $5399
• 2027: Departures March through November from $5999

NATIONAL PARKS of AMERICA from Phoenix to Rapid City, SD for 12-days.

• Visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Buffalo Bill Center, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, Lake Powell.  
• Departures May through October from $4999 per person. 

CITY SPLOTLIGHT TOURS

SPOTLIGHT tours mean you only UNPACK ONCE, and can explore a city or region in depth while having the logistics taken care of for you:

NEW YORK for 5-days

• Visit Greenwich Village, Wall Street, Chinatown, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial.
• Includes 4-nights at the Sheraton Times Square, 5 meals, and 2 Broadway shows.
• Year-round departures from $2299.

PARIS for 7-days

• See Notre Dame, Montmartre, Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower.
• Includes 8 meals, 6-nights hotel, Seine River dinner cruise, Louvre Museum, Le Marais, Place de Vosges, Palace of Versailles, and dinner at the Eiffel Tower
• Departures April through November from $2699

Here are some of COLLETTE’s other SPOTLIGHT tours:

• The French Riviera – 9-days from $2599
• London – 7-days from $2499
• Northern Italy – 9-days from $2349
• South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore & the Badlands – 7-days from $2649
• Tuscany – 9-days from $2149
• Washington, DC – 6-days from $2499

As our VENDOR OF THE MONTH, Collette is offering an additional $100 credit that can be used on pre/post tour stays, or optional tours. 

On the RIVER with AMA WATERWAYS

You can take a Land Cruise to just about anywhere, but there are some destinations that lend themselves better to travelling by ship.  Here are two:

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. 
• Egypt is experiencing incredible demand – book your trip before it sells out. 
• 2026:  Departures from $6029
• 2027:  Departures from $5749

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.
• 2026: Departures March – December from $2899
• 2027: Departures March – December from $3179

Here’s a link to our video from when we did this trip:  https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c 

CRYSTAL Small Ship Luxury

All the small-ship cruise lines have their claims to fame.  For Crystal: the maximum amount of space per passenger.  See why Crystal Cruises has the most loyal guests in the industry:

SOUTH AMERICA: from Buenos Aires to Santiago departing November 11, 2027 for 18-nights

• South America ENCOMPASSED!  Visit Uruguay, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas (overnight), 2-days in the Chilean Fjords, and then 4 port stops in Chile before finishing with an overnight in Santiago. 
• Fares from $8830

AUSTRALIA & BALI departing Melbourne on February 27 for 18-nights

• Visit Sydney, Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns (overnight), Thursday Beach, Darwin, Kupang, Komodo Island, and finish in Bali (overnight).
• Fares from $10,000

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS – Lindblad

Here are two CLOSE-TO-HOME options for incredible scenery and outdoor activity:

OREGON & WASHINGTON: Columbia River from Portland to Clarkston for 6-days

• Visit Portland, The Dalles (for Multnomah Falls and fish hatchery), Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Palouse River.  Traverse the locks by river boat right here at home!
• Go hiking, kayaking, ride on the zodiacs, visit museums and wineries
• 2026: March/April from $3675.  September/October from $4243.

WHALE WATCHING in MAGDALENA BAY (Baja California) for 6-days round-trip Loreto

• Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay for 6 days Jan, Feb, Mar.
• See the Gray Whales, explore the sand dunes at Sand Dollar Beach, and visit the fishing village of Puerto Magdalena.  Go kayaking, zodiacs, paddleboarding, hiking, and cycling.  
• 2026:  Departures January through March from $2524.
• 2027:  Departures January through March from $3947.

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