Sometimes GOOD people go rogue, but not because they can’t get their meds adjusted properly.  It’s usually because they didn’t think a certain behavior through.  And many behaviors that make perfect sense at home, don’t translate well when you’re abroad. 

It isn’t JUST Americans either.  Bob and I were travelling in Alaska a few years ago, and there was a German couple that gave the ship’s crew a terrible time.  Dinner came too fast, and they cleared the dishes away as soon as the meal was done.  They didn’t offer different types of mustard with ham, and they kept interrupting the dinner to check if their patrons required anything else.  Imperial measures were used.  These were treated like capital offences by the Germans, who clearly should have stayed at home, rather than travel somewhere different.  

DON’T be THOSE people.  At the risk of sounding like I’m offering up a lecture on etiquette, here we go: 

Common Mistakes Americans make when Abroad:

• Assuming everyone speaks English.  Many do… but don’t assume. 
• Speaking LOUDER when they don’t speak English.  This won’t help. 
• Asking locals to convert to imperial measures.  Metric is universal – the onus is on us to learn it, NOT on others to accommodate the one country still using imperial measures. 
• Asking people to convert prices to USD, or asking “how much is that in REAL money?”
• Assuming “Best Country in the World” is a fact, rather than an opinion. 

WHY It Happens

• Most of us don’t set out to be intentionally rude.  We just don’t think it through.
• We tend to think of the world as “here” or “not here”.  It’s more nuanced than that. 
• We think of Europe (for example) as ONE PLACE, even though it’s much larger than the United States and has 44 sovereign nations.   Turkey and Norway are very different. 

HOW To Be a BETTER TRAVELER

• Learn to say “hello” and “thank you” in the local language wherever you are travelling.  Google Translate is VERY useful in this regard.  
• Spend a few minutes on the internet to learn about local customs and language at your destination before you leave home. 
• Set realistic expectations.  For example, I don’t like that dinner in Europe is 3-hours long, and I don’t get home until 11.00 PM.  But that’s their custom, and I need to adjust when I’m there. 

If you go on vacation to experience new things, learn about cultures you didn’t know, and to meet different people, these things are already on your radar.  Those that want everything to be exactly like it is at home, need to stay at home and save themselves and others the aggravation. 

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

In this episode of UNPACKED, we discuss the travel habits that can turn otherwise good people into bad travelers—and how a few small changes can dramatically improve your experiences abroad.

https://youtu.be/lzn5r5t19f8

In Case You Missed It:

OCEANIA:  You’ve got a few days to take advantage of our PRIVATE SALE.  Here’s more info:

Oceania https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-cruises-explained-the-unicorn-cruise-line-for-food-lovers/ 

PANAMA:  It’s nearby, and very different than other ocean cruises:  

https://pamperedcruiser.com/panama-canal-cruises-explained/

Our PACKING LIST:  We packed for vacation WRONG for years.  Here’s how we fixed it: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/i-packed-wrong-for-years-heres-how-i-fixed-it/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

VANCOUVER GUIDE:  It’s Alaska season, so millions will travel through Vancouver this summer.  You definitely don’t want to go directly to/from the ship, so here are some ideas on what to do for a couple of days pre or post cruise in Vancouver. 

https://youtu.be/Dtn_1BR_z3k

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

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0iapgzXc5kcd6LUp6Vq69dHRyzt6JMZxYM36rUobvEHPwoSMw6tNptfMFA5ZGcGzxl

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA – A la Carte Luxury on a Small Ship

Oceania has an elevated culinary experience, and you can choose whether you prefer included beverages or a shore excursion credit.  We’re also running a PRIVATE SALE with them until the end of the month.  This is the BEST TIME to book an Oceania Cruise, with offers not available elsewhere. 

MORE INFORMATION on OCEANIA:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-cruises-explained-the-unicorn-cruise-line-for-food-lovers/

VIDEO RESOURCES for OCEANIA:

We’ve got lots of videos on our YouTube channel on our experiences with OCEANIA:

• Ship tour videos of REGATTA, RIVIERA and VISTA
• Itinerary videos of GREECE/TURKEY and NORWAY
• Oceania’s culinary program video

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVGQsl6hgtmLc2mb3UcfIPAT

RIVER CRUISES with AMA WATERWAYS

If you’re looking to travel in 2026, AMA still has some space left, and we can get you additional on board credits.  Here are two ideas: 

PARIS & Normandy round-trip Paris departing September – December for one-week

• Visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Honfleur, Normandy Landing Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon, Paris (overnight). 
• Optional 2-night Paris Extension
• Fares from $3129

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 August through December from $2299

AMA on the MEKONG.  Kim travelled with Alex Pinelo from AMA Waterways on the Mekong, and put together this video: https://youtu.be/tvA_WHOYuLo 

COLLETTE Premium Guided Land Journeys

HAWAII:  Visit 3 different islands over 10-days:

• Start in Oahu and visit the city of Honolulu, Waikiki, and Pearl Harbor Waikiki.  Then move onto the Big Island for Volcanoes NP, Honaunau Bay, and Kona.  Then finish in Kahului on Maui.
• Includes 14 meals, a luau, Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, and Volcanoes NP admissions. 
• Departures year-round from $5449
• Pre-trip extension in Honolulu, and/or post-trip extension in Maui available.

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 $2699.

Here are some of COLLETTE’s other SPOTLIGHT tours:

• Washington, DC: 6-days from $2999
• South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore & the Badlands: 7-days from $2999
• LONDON: 7-days from $2999
• TUSCANY: 9-days from $2999
• PARIS: 7-days from $3599
• FRENCH RIVIERA: 9-days from $4199
• NORTHERN ITALY: 9-days from $3049

REGENT SEVEN SEAS Small Ship Luxury

Regent is the most inclusive of the cruise lines with all shore excursions, and everything on board included in your fare. 

ALASKA:  Anchorage to Vancouver departing June 2, 2027 for 7-nights:

• Visit Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. 
• Veranda Fares from $6249
• Pre-Trip Denali available on this cruise.

ST. LAWRENCE & EAST COAST: Montreal to Miami departing October 30 for 16-nights

• Start in Montréal and visit Quebec City, Saguenay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Sydney, Halifax, Philipsburg, Antigua, Saint Kitts & Nevis, British Virgin Islands, San Juan, and finish in Miami.
• Fares From $12,499

ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES Yachts

All of ATLAS’ yachts carry less than 200 guests, so they can get you into some of the smaller places, and you’ll see the larger places differently.  

EASTERN CARIBBEAN:  From Saint Maarten to Barbados departing October 14 for 7-nights.  Go into small harbors where the big ships can’t go:

• Visit Philipsburg, St. Barts, St. Kitts & Nevis, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Vincent/Grenadines, Bridgetown. 
• Fares from $6299

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & IRELAND:  London to Glasgow departing May 11, 2027 for 9-nights

• Start in London and visit St. Malo, St. Mary’s, Cork, Dublin, Liverpool, Belfast, and end in Glasgow.
• Fares from $5988

If you prefer more REMOTE DESTINATIONS: 

If you want to get to the POLAR REGIONS in comfort and style, here are two suggestions.

ANTARCTICA:  Buenos Aires to Ushuaia departing February 19 for 11-nights

• Start in Buenos Aires, then take an included flight to join the ship, and traverse the Drake Passage.  There are 7-days of scheduled landings, before returning to Ushuaia
• Fares from $16.499

GREENLAND, CANADIAN ARCTIC & NEWFOUNDLAND: Departing September 21 for 17-nights

• Visit Kangerlussuaq, Sisimiut, and Disko Bay in Greenland, Qikiqtarjuaq, Lady Franklin Island, Monumental Island, and the Button Islands in Nunavut Territory, Saglek Fjord, Hebron, Tikkoatokak Bay, L’Anse aux Meadows, Red Bay, Norris Point and Woody Point in Newfoundland, as well as St. Pierre & Miquelon (France) and finish in St. John’s. 
• Fares from $13,945

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