So alike… and yet so different.  That is the only way to describe Australia and New Zealand.  These destinations are really popular right now – because of their own merits, and because they are perceived as safe and easy to travel (they are BOTH those things). 

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that although I was born in Iowa, my mother was Australian, so I lived in Canberra for several years as a child.  Long before I ever knew Bob, he also lived there as well – first to work at World Expo ’88 in Brisbane, and then as a backpacker around both Australia and New Zealand.  So we both have a strong personal connection to both these countries.  

There is no doubt that Australia and New Zealand are a long way away.  LA, San Francisco and Vancouver are the largest North American gateways to ANZ, and it’s a 15-hour flight from any of them to get down-under.

That’s a long way, and if you’ve only got a week to spare it’s a non-starter.  For those with a bit more time, it’s well worth exploring.  Here are some reasons why you want to visit:

• It’s easy.  The Aussies and Kiwis may talk funny, but they all speak English, and in many regards it’s easier than traveling within Europe.
• It’s unique.  There are many species of animal, birds (and other) that only exist down-under.  The geology and geography are also much different than here. 
• It’s diverse.  We tend to think of Australia as a beach – and there are plenty of those.  It also has a ton of other geography in its vast land mass.  Australia is about the same size as the Lower 48 – so it is huge.  New Zealand, while only about the size of Colorado, is even MORE diverse in terms of its climate and geography.  They have beautiful sandy tropical beaches in the North, and snow-capped volcano glaciers in the south.  There are wineries, hot springs, and a series of charming small cities and towns throughout the country.

Ways to see Australia & New Zealand

There are essentially 3 types of cruises to Australia/New Zealand:

1. A cruise that starts or finishes in Australia, but with most of the port stops in New Zealand.  This is the most common cruise, and for many people the best choice.  These trips are usually 2 weeks long.  Other than Auckland (a city of 2 million), NZ is a series of charming smaller cities and towns, and a ship is a great way to explore them.
2. A cruise that starts or finishes in Australia and visits the South Pacific Islands or Southeast Asia. 
3. A circumnavigation of Australia.  Only consider this cruise if you really like sea days.  As noted above, Australia is as big as the USA, but with only 25 million people – so the cities and settlements are few and far between.  These cruises are a minimum of 4 weeks, and often have fewer than 10 port stops. 

Here are my best suggestions for seeing these two beautiful countries:  

• Go for as long as you can.  The flight is long, and never cheap.  
• See both countries.  Australia tends to attract more visitors, but in many ways there is more to see in New Zealand.  
• Cruise ships are in ANZ November through April – the Austral spring & summer.
• In repositioning season, the cruise ships migrate between Alaska and the South Pacific.  If you don’t feel like a 15 hour flight, you can make the journey one-way by ship.  They either cross to Japan, and then down the east side of Asia, OR head out to Hawaii, and then to Fiji, Tahiti and the Pacific Islands.  Either trip is usually about 4 weeks.  

As different as these countries are from the United States, and each other, they are probably the MOST like us when it comes to travel.  English is overwhelmingly the most spoken language in both places, and their infrastructure is very similar to ours. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE

If you’re considering a trip to Australia & New Zealand (or really anywhere else Oceania goes – which is everywhere), then we can get you 5% off their best price for a veranda (and above) if you book this month.  Here are some examples:

Auckland to Sydney departing December 8, 2024 for 14-days

• Visit Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Bluff, Milford Sound, Melbourne (overnight), Tasmania, Sydney.
• Verandas from $7099 with a $400 per person shore excursion credit. 

Sydney to Tahiti departing December 10, 2025 for 19-days

• Visit Sydney, New Caledonia, Mystery Island, Fiji (2 stops), Tonga (2 stops), Samoa, Pago Pago, Cook Islands, Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea, Papeete (overnight)
• Verandas from $8599 with a $500 per person shore excursion credit. 

Taipei to Perth departing April 14, 2025 for 20-days

• Visit Taiwan (2 stops), Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Java, Bali (overnight), Komodo, Broome, Geraldton, Perth.
• Verandas from $7499 with a $500 per person shore excursion credit, AND prepaid gratuities.

Circumnavigation:  Sydney round-trip departing December 22, 2024 for 34 days

• Visit Brisbane, Whitsundays, Cairns, Cooktown, Darwin, Bali (overnight), Komodo, Geraldton, Perth (overnight), Brusselton, Albany, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Portland, Cowes, Melbourne, Geelong, Tasmania, Eden, and Sydney.
• Fares from $8199 with a $900 shore excursion credit.

Repositioning: Auckland to San Diego (via the tropical islands)  departing May 28, 2025 for 37-days

• You’ll only have to fly one-way on this one, and then visit Auckland (overnight), Bay of Islands, New Caladonia, Mystery Island, 2 stops in Vanuatu, 2 stops in Fiji, Samoa, Pago Pago, Bora Bora (overnight) Raiatea, Tahiti (overnight), Moorea, Fakarava, Nuka Hiva, Honolulu (overnight), Hilo, San Diego,
• Fares from $9299 with a $900 shore excursions credit. 

If you want to look over the hundreds of itineraries available through Oceania:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/cruise-finder#sort=featured:desc&page=1&pageSize=10 

AMA WATERWAYS

If you’d prefer a river cruise, then here are a few from AMA Waterways that caught my eye:

Mekong River to 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.
• Twin Balcony rooms from $2999 in September 2024, or $3099 in September 2025.  Lots of other departures dates available – inquire. 
• See our ship tour video of AMA’s Mekong River ship:  https://youtu.be/T6YIfrUbDwk?si=oXnRW6fNH9mvO9yX 

Rhine & Moselle Rivers from Amsterdam to Basel for 11-days

• Visit Basel, Breisach (for the Black Forest & Riquewihr), Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen, Rudesheim, Rhine Gorge, Bernkastel, Trier, Cochem, Cologne, Amsterdam (overnight). 
• Fares from $4599 ($1000 off) on August 4, 2024
• Fares from $4049 on June 15, 2025.  

Tulip Cruise departing from Amsterdam March 30, 2025 for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam overnight, Kampen (for Flevoland tulip fields), Ghent (for a chocolate workshop), Antwerp (for the Floralia Flower Show), Rotterdam, Kinderdijk (for the windmills), Keukenhof Gardens, and an Amsterdam canal tour.
• Fares from $3299.  Other dates between mid-March and early-May available.

TAUCK DOMESTIC LAND CRUISES

You’ve been asking for more domestic options, so here’s a couple:

Michigan 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.
• Limited space from now through October in 2024 from $4890 per person.
• Departures in 2025: May to October from $5290 per person.

Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Mexico from Albuquerque to Santa Fe for one week:

• Visit Albuquerque (historic old town and sawmill district), Pueblo Culture center, and Nuclear Science museum, Bandalier National Monument, Taos, float trip on Rio Grande, Santa Fe, Georgia O’Keeffe museum.
• Be part of the world’s largest hot air balloon festival
• Daily departures October 6 – 13 from $5990 per person

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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

A few of you have sent personal messages to us during or after our recent trip to the Galapagos and commented “Wow!… You two sure travel a lot”.

Yes… we do.  And not a single day goes by that we don’t greatly appreciate these travel opportunities.  We’ve both always been travellers – even long before joining the industry. 

Now, it’s part of the job.  It’s a tremendously FUN part of a FANTASTIC job… but we are working.  I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for us because we’re working when visiting locations most people consider to be the vacation of a lifetime.  Nobody could possibly be more appreciative than Bob and me of this incredible privilege.  

Here’s a little insight into how, where, and why we travel.  

• We typically do 3 international trips per year.  We try to stay home during the summer months.
• There are a lot of travel agents that treat the business like a hobby.  In the biz, these folks are called “Kitchen-Table Mabels”.  There’s nothing wrong with being a Mabel… but that is not what we do – this is a professional business, and we treat it (and conduct ourselves) accordingly.
• Most of our vendors have exquisitely well-trained call center staff.  They are polite, professional, they know the product, and they’re knowledgeable.  However…not many of them actually travel.  We DO.
• If you want to take a river cruise out of Amsterdam (for example), they’ll give you all the reasons you should travel with THEIR company.  In contrast, we can compare all the cruise lines to help you make the best decision for you.  We’ll also tell you our favorite places and sites in Amsterdam.
• We go to places like Amsterdam to see where each of the cruise lines dock, what hotels the cruise lines use, the best way to get to/from the airport, and what attractions might NOT be on some of the cruise lines’ lists.  A google search will tell you they don’t use Euros in Budapest.  Having travelled there will reveal whether local vendor will TAKE Euros (they do). 
• When we travel, we also collect a lot of photos and video clips we share with our clients.  How many power outlets are in the cabin on a cruise line?  When we go to a destination or take a cruise we usually produce 3 or 4 videos about that trip, and post them to our YouTube Channel:  YouTube
• In the past two years, Bob and I, as well as Kim have travelled to the following places so that we can better assist you in making the best decisions for you:
  • Alaska & Yukon
  • Canada & New England
  • Croatia 
  • Ecuadorian Amazon
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Great Lakes Cruise
  • Greece
  • Italy & Malta
  • Mississippi River cruise
  • Morocco
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Provence & Lyon river cruise in France
  • Rhine River Cruise (Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland)
  • Turkey 
  • Venetian Lagoon and Northern Italy
  • Vietnam & Cambodia

• In the last two years, we’ve travelled with the following Brands:
  • AMA Waterways
  • Explora Journeys
  • Globus
  • Holland America
  • Hurtigruten HX
  • Intrepid Travel
  • Metropolitan Touring
  • Oceania
  • Uniworld
  • Viking (River, Ocean & Expedition)

Yep… a lot of travel to be sure, and it makes us much better able to assist you when you want to travel. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE

In case you missed our announcement last week, we have a private sale running with Oceania: 

Oceania Private Sale – Time to Try a Small Ship

The short story is that you will get an additional 5% off their best price on just about all sailings for balcony rooms and above.  Here are a few examples, and on the sailings below, we can get prepaid gratuities for you too!

JAPAN:  Tokyo round-trip departing April 1, 2025 for 12-days:

• Visit Tokyo, Nagoya, Kochi, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Busan, Hiroshima, Beppu, Kyoto (overnight), Shimizu.
• Verandas from $6934 with prepaid gratuities.  Space is VERY limited.

MEDITERRANEAN:  Barcelona to Istanbul departing November 8, 2025 for 12-days

• Visit Toulon, Nice, Rome, Naples, Catania, Argostoli, Crete, Santorini, Athens, Ephesus, Istanbul (overnight)
• Verandas from $4559 with prepaid gratuities.

TAHITI:  Papeete round-trip departing February 5, 2025 for 10 days:

• Visit Papeete (overnight), Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, Rangiroa, Bora Bora (overnight), Raiatea. 
• Verandas from $5224 with prepaid gratuities.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISE COLLECTION

Uniworld custom builds its ships to suit the area through which they sail, and they are showing some strong pricing in 2024, and a 10% early booking bonus for 2025:

EGYPT for 12-days (4 nights Cairo and 7-nights on the ship)

• See the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, and a Nile Felucca ride.  
• 2024: September 14 or 28 $5999 per person
• 2025: Departures in January through April from $6749.

AMSTERDAM to BUDAPEST for 15-days

• Visit Cologne, Rudesheim, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Rothenberg, Bamberg, Nuremburg, Regensberg, Passau, Melk, Vienna, Budapest.  
• 2024: October $7499 per person
• 2025: July & August $5849

LAND CRUISES 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.
• Departures weekly from September 24  – April 25 from $6145

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. 

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

Those of you who read this newsletter weekly will know that we really like Oceania.  We love their strong focus on food and wine, and we like how they’ve positioned themselves in the market as a step above the premium lines but without the price tag of the luxury cruise lines.  It’s a great fit for many of our clients.  

It seems they like us back.  This month, they are offering a private sale with exclusive pricing for our clients.  They’ve also given us a heads-up that there will be a price increase on July 1.  So whether you’re a dedicated Oceania enthusiast, a foodie, or just wanted to check out this cruise line, it’s worth looking at making a reservation this month. 

Here’s the deal:

• 5% off the published fare on the Oceania website, on Veranda rooms and higher categories.  
• Includes all taxes & fees, beer/wine with meals, specialty dining, starlink wifi, and a shore excursion credit.
• The CATCH:  It must be booked before June 30, and ONLY through our agency.  You can’t get this pricing anywhere else, or from Oceania directly.  This is only for NEW bookings and the discount cannot be applied to existing reservations.

Here’s a bit more about Oceania, and why we like them:

• Oceania has an unrelenting focus on their culinary program, but it’s NOT all about caviar and food that you have to ask what it is.  They make excellent food very accessible, and if you prefer a burger or a pizza, you can get that too (and they’re really good!).  If you want a better idea of what to expect, see our culinary video here:  https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo?si=Dtp75qb3kmOLN0k2 
• Oceania technically has 3 classes of ship, but for the purposes of our discussions, let’s break it into just two categories:
  • The Small Ships carry 1200 people.  You’ll have a bigger stateroom on these ships, and there are 5 specialty restaurants included in your fare (in addition to the main dining room, the Terrace Café, and room service).  
  • The Smaller Ships carry 680 guests, and the smaller size ship allows them to get into some interesting ports.  They still have a strong focus on food and wine, but don’t have as many specialty restaurants.  However, the most popular dishes from the specialty restaurants on the other ships are featured in the main dining room on the smaller ships. 
• Destinations:  Oceania often chooses big marquis ports as the embarkation and disembarkation ports to make your air arrangements easy, and then hit some ports of call that perhaps you’ve never heard of.  For example in Alaska, most of the cruise lines go to the standard ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.  Oceania also visits Klawock, Wrangell, Kodiak, Homer, Haines and Dutch Harbor.  It’s a great mix.
• Overnight stays:  Ports are a different experience after dark, and on many sailings Oceania will offer an overnight stay or late departure, adding another dimension to your itinerary.
• Segmented luxury:  Oceania has positioned itself between the Premium and Luxury segments of the cruise industry, and for many of our clients it’s the “Goldilocks” product. 
• Inclusions:  The Simply MORE price structure includes beer/wine with meals, a shore-ex credit based on the length of cruise, specialty dining, and wifi.  If you want more information here’s the short video we produced on Simply MORE:  https://youtu.be/0115RvMoa6M?si=miXSuG39L6lNbUiZ 

The Bottom Line:  If you’re a Premium Cruise Client (Celebrity, Holland America, Princess), and you find yourself in verandas and suites on those cruise lines, then this is a great chance to try a small ship cruise experience for a great price.  You’ll have more space, better service, better food, and get to some ports you haven’t been to before.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE FARES

Our Private Sale includes just about ALL Oceania sailings (there are a tiny handful of exclusions), and on the example sailings below, we can ALSO get free prepaid gratuities thrown in for you (value $18 per person, per day):

New York to Montreal departing October 17, 2024 for 11-days:

• Visit Newport, Cape Code, Boston, Portland, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Cornerbrook, Saguenay, Quebec City.
• Veranda for $6459 pp with a $300 shore excursion credit and free prepaid gratuities.

Los Angeles to Miami departing January 24, 2025 for 16-days:

• Visit Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, full daylight transit of the Panama Canal, Cartagena, Cayman Islands.
• Veranda for $6459 pp with a $400 shore excursion credit and free prepaid gratuities.

Miami round-trip departing March 27, 2025 for 12-days:

• Visit Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico, Bahamas.
• Veranda for $4844 pp with a $300 shore excursion credit and free prepaid gratuities.
• This is a close-to-home sailing and a great way to check out Oceania.  It’s also on the brand new Oceania Vista.  See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/nN5lyXCEy_g?si=gvKdHsN3McAgN29f 

Lisbon to Barcelona departing May 1, 2025 for 7-days:

• Visit Huelva, Morocco, Melilla (Spain), Alicante (Spain), Palma de Mallorca, and Marseille.
• Veranda for $3087 pp with a $200 shore excursion credit and prepaid gratuities. 

Vancouver to Seattle departing June 17, 2025 for 9-days:

• Visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Haines, Wrangell, Victoria
• Veranda for $3894 pp with a $200 shore excursion credit and free prepaid gratuities.
• You don’t have to decide between Seattle and Vancouver.  See both!

Rio de Janeiro to Santiago departing January 22, 2026 for 24-days:

• Visit 4 ports in Brazil, Montevideo, Buenos Aires (overnight), Falkland Islands, Cruising the Antarctic Peninsula, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, 2-days in the Chilean Fjords, 4 ports in Chile.
• Veranda for $8739 pp with a $500 shore excursion credit and free prepaid gratuities.

The cruises above are only a small sample of the hundreds of Oceania sailings included in our private sale.  Contact us for more options. 

TAUCK RIVER

Paris to Normandy for 10-days 

• Visit Paris City highlights, Palace of Versailles, Rouen, Caen, Honfleur, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Chateau Gillard, Monet’s Gardens, 
• Departures April through October 2025 from $6390 pp.  Limited space available in 2024. 

Oktoberfest:  Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September.

• Visit Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Lucerne, Munich
• $8190 in September 2025.  Limited space in 2024 from $7490 pp.

Have something to say about this?

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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

We’re just finishing up our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.  We’ve been documenting the trip with daily posts and photos on Facebook, if you want to follow along, visit our FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/ 

So Why Do You Want to Come Here?

The Galapagos is really not like anywhere else I’ve ever been, so here’s a few reasons you might want it on your Bucket List:

• The wildlife has not learned that humans are a threat.  It’s like being at the zoo, but on the side of the fence with the animals.  If you don’t get out of their way, they’ll step on your feet.
• One reason the land and sea creatures here have no fear of humans is that this place was uninhabited until the 1800s, and even now, there are very few human settlements, with 97% of the land area designated as a protected National Park. 
• You like being outside.  These trips are active and busy.  You’ll be walking, snorkeling (or a glass-bottomed boat), sea kayaking, and taking zodiac boat rides.  You DON’T have to be an Olympic athlete – we met an 82 year-old woman on this trip.  You DO have to be curious about the natural world. 
• Darwin’s Research.  If you’re a student of biology or ecology, this destination is already on your list.  Charles Darwin was here in 1835, and the research he conducted is still being discussed today.
• It’s not too far away, but very exotic.  It’s only a 5 hour plane ride from Houston or Atlanta to get here, and Ecuador is in the same time zone as Atlanta (Galapagos is one hour earlier – or the same as Houston) – so jet lag is minimized. 

Is this an Expedition Cruise?

• Yes… but “Expedition” is a misunderstood word, and not nearly as scary as it sounds. 
• If you can walk for an hour on uneven surfaces, and get in and out of a bathtub unassisted, then you pass the fitness requirements.  
• Glass-bottomed boats are available for those that don’t want to snorkel.
• The biggest ship here is small – 100 guests maximum.  Many are as few as 16.

What’s the best cruise line for me to travel with to Galapagos Islands?

As always, this is highly dependent on the individual, so here’s a bit of cheat sheet:

• Hurtigruten – this is who we’re travelling with this week on Santa Cruz II.  The ship holds 90 people, and it is a solid 4-star offering, with fantastic food, and comfortable cabins all of which have a picture window.
• SilverSea – If you’re looking for a 5-star luxury experience, look at the Silver Origin (100 guests).  She’s brand new, all veranda suites, and has the service and amenities that SilverSea is famous for.
• Celebrity Flora (100 guests) – If you want something in between the first two options look at Flora.  Keep in mind Celebrity has 3 ships in Galapagos, and Flora is unique both because she’s new, and because the other two ships are a lot smaller.
• National Geographic – has 2 ships in Galapagos.  One holds 48, and the other 96.
• Intrepid, G-Adventures and Celebrity’s smaller 2 ships:  These operators have between 16 and 50 guests.  There is an advantage to being on a ship with only 16-guests, but keep in mind there will be fewer naturalists and experts on board.  

If you want a day by idea of what the itineraries look like for Galapagos, click the link above to our FB page, and follow along.  We’ll post more videos to our YouTube channel (subscribe if you’d like to be notified of when), and we’ve already posted a snorkelling video:  https://www.youtube.com/thepamperedcruiser 

Finally, a great thing about this type of cruise is that there’s a professional photographer on board to capture high quality images of the stuff you see (they give you those images, you don’t have to buy them like on the floating amusement parks).  This takes the pressure off, and you can enjoy this unique place in the moment. 

We are doubly lucky, because we’re also travelling with a professional photographer, and most of the images we’re posting on Facebook and YouTube belong to him.  If you want to see more of Callum’s images from Galapagos:  https://callumeastwoodphotography.com/galapagos 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

I’ve put some Galapagos Islands travel options below, but in case that’s not on your radar, we’re seeing some layering up of offers on AMA Waterways that caught my eye:

AMA WATERWAYS:

The sailings below have a reduced fare, and we can also combine:

• Air for $899 (economy), $2299 (Premium), or $4299 (Business)
• $150 per person on board credit.

Paris & Normandy departing July 13 for 7-nights

• Visit Chateau Gillard (where Richard the Lionheart lived), Le Havre, Honfleur, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec en Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens), and a day in Paris.
• Fares from $3499 ($1000 off).  

Wine Cruise in Burgundy departing August 29 for 7-nights

• Visit Dijon, Seurre, Chalon sur Saone, Tournus, Macon, & Lyon.  Experience the wine and gastronomic capital of France.
• Fares from $3599 ($1000 off).

Danube River Wine Cruise departing November 11 for 7-nights

• Visit Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Melk Abbey, scenic cruising in Strudengau Valley, Linz (for Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov), Passau, Vilshofen.
• Fares from $3199 ($1000 off).

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Here are some options if you’re feeling inspired by the information above.  Keep in mind that Galapagos cruises often have add-ons for Machu Picchu, the Amazon Headwaters, and/or Quito.  All of the cruises below are round-trip from Quito, and include the flight between there and the Galapagos (you will still need to get yourself to Quito). 

HX (Hurtigruten)

• 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.
• $6539 for departures in November & December of 2024.  Fare also available in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2025.

SilverSea’s Silver Origin

• Visit San Cristobal, Kicker Rock, Isla Bartolome, Santiago, Isabela, Punta, Espinoza, Tagus Cove, Elizabeth Bay, Floreana, Champion Islet, Punta Comorant, Santa Cruz.
• Depart February 1 or 8, 2025 from $12,900 for 7-days. 

Celebrity Cruises

It’s the same company that runs the megaships but these Celebrity Cruises are vastly different:

• Celebrity Flora – 100 guests (brand new yacht)
  • $7880 for 7-nights departing June 15, 2025.
• Celebrity Xpedition — 48 guests
  • $5791 for 7-nights departing May 10, 2025
• Celebrity Xploration —  16 person catamaran 
  • $5407 for 7-nights departing June 28, 2025

DOMESTIC TRIPS with TAUCK

If you’d rather explore a tropic paradise closer to home… how about Hawaii?

4 Different Hawaiian Islands (with air connections between them) for 12-days

• Visit Oahu (for Waikiki and Pearl Harbor), the BIG Island (for Volacanoes NP), Kauai (for helicopter flight-seeing), and Maui (for beach, the scenery, and an authentic luau).
• Several departures January through April from $12,190

Music & Food tour from Nashville to New Orleans for 9-days

• Visit Nashville (for the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry), Memphis (to see the Peabody Ducks, Elvis’ tailor, Graceland Manor, Sun Studios, and the Civil Rights Museum), the Blues Highway through Mississippi, and New Orleans (for Creole food, the WW2 museum, Bourbon Street, and the French Quarter). 
• Several departures March through May 2025 from $6290

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

We all have biases, and in the United States our views of life abroad are formed by what we know from home, as well as how countries are portrayed in the “news” and popular culture.  None of these are very accurate, and it’s the small pragmatic details you need to be aware of when travelling to other countries.  

Here are some common TRAVEL misconceptions or questions we are frequently asked by our clients.

• English is NOT a universal language, but the metric system is.  A retired Navy Admiral that Bob used to work for famously said “we switched to metric decades ago… people just haven’t noticed yet”.  You may or may not agree with that, but when you’re abroad, you’ll get along much better if you make some attempt to understand metric.  It IS universal (it’s also much easier than the Imperial System once you understand it). 
• Renting a car might be the worst way to get around.  If you’re travelling in the United States or Canada, renting a car can be a fantastic way to explore.  In Europe and other places, it is less likely to be the case.  You may be driving on the other side of the road, the roads are far less easy to navigate than ours, and with the exception of Germany, they aren’t designed to get around quickly.  Luckily, their public transit infrastructure (usually the train) is exponentially better than what is available here.  Investigate the train before renting a car.
• The world is not as dangerous as you might think.  You should always keep your wits about you, and be cautious anytime you’re travelling, but statistically it’s MUCH more dangerous here at home than it is in MOST other countries.  The Global Peace Index captures data, and attempts to create a comparison of public safety and rank countries.  We sit at 131 (between South Africa and Brazil).  The top 25 countries are just about all European with Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
• Tipping is not done in MANY places, and in some cases it can be really insulting.  Sometimes offering someone a cash tip can be considered an arrogant way of trying to draw attention to yourself and your own perceptions of your wealth.  Do a quick google search before you leave home to understand the tipping culture in your destination.  
• Outside the US, nobody swipes credit cards anymore.  We are in Ecuador right now (follow along on Facebook!), and there’s very little need for cash.  Like most of the world, chip cards are in use here, and we tap our credit card for just about everything.  In some cases we have to enter our PIN.  Make sure you know your PIN anytime you leave the country (including visiting Canada or Mexico).
• Passport Control in Europe.  You will be asked for a passport when entering Europe, and again when leaving.  Other than that, you can travel between the 29 countries in the Schengen Zone without producing your passport. 
• Shoulder Season is getting shorter.  Europe used to be quiet in the winter, and it still is, but that interval of “quiet season” gets shorter every year. 
• Expedition Cruising is the fastest growing segment in travel.  You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy an expedition cruise.  You DO need to be curious about the world around you, and those that love outdoors will love expedition cruises. 

• Family and Multi-gen travel is growing considerably.  We get a ton of requests for travel with mom & dad, the kids, and the grandparents.  It’s a great way to create collective memories to last a lifetime.  Our 20-year old son, David, is with us in Ecuador, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. 
• Extreme weather will shape people’s choices.  Your travel options will be increasingly impacted by hurricanes, forest fires, extreme heat or cold, or water levels in rivers.  These factors, as well as seemingly permanent high demand for travel means if you have move trips from your BUCKET LIST to your NEXT LIST… soon.
• The Chinese are coming… and there will be a lot of them.  If you think things are crowded now, wait a few more years.  Currently the United States is the number one “exporter” of tourists.  By the end of the decade, it will be China.  This will likely trigger many destinations to limit the number of tourists… so see my previous point about your BUCKET LIST.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA 30% OFF FLASH SALE UNTIL MAY 29.

Our friends at Oceania have some compelling fares on select voyages.  Here are some examples:

• Athens to Istanbul departing July 23 for 10-days
  • Visit Santorini, Crete, Bodrum, Antalya, Cyprus, Marmaris, Ephesus, Troy.
  • Verandas from $4799 with a $300 shore-excursion credit.
• Australia/New Zealand round-trip Sydney departing January 25 for 16-days
  • Visit the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Picton, Akaroa, Dunedin, Melbourne (overnight).
  • Fares from $6799 with a $400 shore-excursion credit.
• Canada/New England from New York to Montreal departing October 17 for 11-days
  • Visit Newport, Boston, Portland, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Cornerbrook, Saguenay, Quebec City.
  • Fares from $4299 with a $300 shore-excursion credit.
• Alaska from Vancouver to LA departing September 14 for 12-days.
  • Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Holkham Bay, Klawock, Prince Rupert, Victoria, Astoria.
  • Verandas from $3599 with $300 shore-excursion credit.
• New York to Reykjavik departing July 12 for 14-days.
  • Visit Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Cornerbrook, followed by 3 ports in Greenland and finishing with an overnight in Reykjavik.
  • Fares from $5099 with a $400 shore-excursion credit.

All Oceania fares above reflect the flash sale discount, and include beer/wine with meals, specialty dining, wifi, and a shore excursion credit as indicated.  Here’s a link to the rest of the sailings on their sale:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/flash-sale

UNIWORLD 2024 RIVER CRUISE SAVINGS EVENT

If you’re looking for a river cruise this year, UNIWORLD has some voyages for you to consider.  See the examples below, or see the full list here: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/current-offers/2024-cruise-savings 

EGYPT for 12-days departing September 14 or 24.

• Spend 2-days Cairo (to visit the pyramids and the Egyptian Museum), board the ship at Luxor for 8 days, and then on to Dendera, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Edfu, Esna, and then back to Cairo for 2 days.  See 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites. 
• $5999 per person ($3000 off cabin).  

BUDAPEST TO AMSTERDAM departing October 19 for 16-days

• Visit Budapest (overnight), Vienna, Wachau Valley, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Cologne, Amsterdam (overnight)
• Fares from $5499 ($2000 off)

MEKONG RIVER: Vietnam & Cambodia departing December 6 for 15 days

• Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
• 2 days at Ho Chi Minh City, 8-days on board the ship (with a visit to Phnom Penh amongst others), 3-days at Siem Reap, 2-days Hanoi.
• Ha Long Bay Post cruise extension available. 
• Fares from $6999 ($1000 per person off).

COLLETTE CITY STAY:

New York City (including tickets to Hamilton) for 5-days in February or March

• See Wall Street, Greenwich Village, 2 Broadway shows (including Hamilton), Statue of Liberty, 911 Memorial.  Stay in Times Square. 
• February departures: $2399.  March departures: $2699

Have something to say about this?

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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