I hope you were able to spend it with family and other people that are important to you.  At our house, Thanksgiving is a mix of different traditions, and like many families where there’s an American and Canadian in residence, you end up doing the whole thing twice.  

This year is even more strange, because for Canadian Thanksgiving (on October 9^th) we were Stateside, and right now we’re in Mexico (where, by the way, it’s very difficult to find a turkey).  So in both cases, we celebrated on our own. 

This is a mere inconvenience, because both our kids and our grandson are here to mark the occasion with us.  So the fact that our Thanksgiving dinner had rice and refried beans, rather than brussels sprouts and stuffing, doesn’t matter because those most important to us are with us.

If you consume television news (you really should try to quit – your mental health will be far better), it would be easy to think there’s little to be thankful for.  I don’t subscribe to this.  We consider ourselves to be amongst the most fortunate in the history of humankind, and the long list of things to prove this, greatly outweighs those challenges we face (you know… those things the TV news focuses exclusively on). 

One of the questions I’m often asked at this time of year is about the Black Friday Sales, and all the related hype.  It is always worth looking at, of course, but in the luxury leisure travel segment, I haven’t really seen anything that qualifies as a smoking deal.  Most of the time, I see the cruise lines and packaged land tour operators highlight the few dates or itineraries they have that are a bit soft.

So today, rather than bombard you with more noise about Black Friday advertisements, I thought I’d highlight trips that lend themselves well to travelling with family and close friends.

Because those are the experiences to be truly thankful for.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Tauck Bridges Tours

The folks at Tauck have a whole series of trips intended for families and multi-generational groups.  Here are two examples:

• Paris to Normandy Family River Cruise.  Expose your children or grandchildren to the culture of Paris, and the important history of the Normandy Beaches.
  • Highlights include: Paris City tour (by foot, or bicycle), Eiffel Tower, Monet’s House at Giverny, Omaha beach and the American Cemetery at Normandy, Rouen (to visit the Roman ruins, and Joan-of-Arc’s museum and place of death), the Palace of Versailles.
  • Departures in June/July for 8-days from $4990.
• Canadian Rockies.  If you’d like to get outside with your family, this is a place that is safe, easy to travel, and has spectacular scenery.
  • Highlights include Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, Maligne Canyon, Jasper NP, Athabasca river rafting, a ride across the Athabasca Glacier and Banff NP. 
  • Round-trip from Calgary for 1 week in June, July, or Aug from $4990.

Galapagos Islands with your kids or grandkids:

• Travel with Hurtigruten for 9-nights (2 nights Quito, and 7-nights aboard)
• Includes transfers, flights between Quito and Galapagos, all meals aboard, expedition gear and activities, gratuities, lectures, discussions, access to science center on board, and wifi. 
• Departing April 10 from $5687 per person.  Some departures qualify for 50% off children between the ages of 6 and 15.

Spring break with the kids on Seabourn

• Round-trip Barbados for 7-nights departing March 17 or November 23. 
• Visit St. Lucia, St. Johns, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago.
• 2-category upgrade and up to $2,000 on board credit
• Verandas from $4699 with $500 per person on board credit.

Viking Free Air Codes

We’re seeing a number of FREE AIR codes for certain Viking itineraries.  Here are a few examples that include free round-trip economy air:

• Northern Lights Cruise from London to Bergen for 13-days departing March 12
  • Visit Bergen (overnight), Alta (overnight), Tromso (overnight), Narvik, Amsterdam, London for $6699
• Panama Canal from LA to Fort Lauderdale for 18-days departing March 1.
  • Visit LA, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, full transit canal, Colon, Cartagena, Cozumel, FLL for $6499
• Athens to Istanbul for 8-days departing April 6
  • Visit Athens (overnight), Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus, Troy, Istanbul (overnight) for $4799
• Buenos Aires to Santiago for 15-days departing March 2.
  • Visit Ushuaia, Chilean Fjords and Glaciers, Puntarenas, Puerto Chacabuco, Castro for $7995.
• Toronto to Milwaukee for 7-nights departing May 2, 9 or 16.
  • Visit Toronto, Welland Canal, Point Pelee, Detroit, Alpena, Mackinac Island, Milwaukee.
  • Includes a complimentary room upgrade for $5995.
  • See our ship tour video video here: https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo?si=8TVYGrbmXanghNeB 
• Antarctica for 13-days with 7-days of scheduled landings
  • Depart January 18 or February 9 for $9995 including round-trip air from the United States or Canada. 
• Tulip Cruise for 10-days.  Departures from March 17 through April 2
  • Visit Amsterdam, Ijsseleer, Nijmegan, Kinderdijk, Antwerp, Middelburg, Zeeland for $3199.

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

Rocky Mountaineer is typically recognized as one of the world’s must-do rail journeys – both for train enthusiasts, and those that just really enjoy great scenery.  National Geographic describes the Rocky Mountaineer as “One of the world’s greatest trips”, and recently named the World’s top train journey by readers of Travel & Leisure. 

If you’ve spent any time on the Rocky Mountaineer website, it’s easy to get confused with the dozens of different options, so here is a quick cheat sheet:

The Canadian Train

There are dozens of different packages, but they are all centered around 3 different rail routes:

• Vancouver to Banff or Lake Louise (via Kamloops) – this is the original Rocky Mountaineer itinerary that has been operating since 1990.
• Vancouver to Jasper (via Whistler, and Quesnel) – this routing is a bit further around and crosses the Rockies further north than the Banff itinerary
• Circle Journey round-trip Vancouver – this incorporates both the above routings.
• Gold Leaf service is a double-decker, domed rail car, where you enjoy the scenery upstairs, and retire downstairs for your meals on board the train.
• Silver Leaf service, offers the same food, but it is served to you at your seat on a single-deck domed rail car. 
• Calgary (for Banff) and Edmonton (for Jasper) are nearest major airports on the Eastern terminus of these itineraries.  Vancouver Airport is very well served, and about 6 miles from where the train boards.  Some of our Vancouver cruise clients also use Seattle Airport (about 100 miles south).  

Where it gets unnecessarily confusing is that there are literally dozens of different packages ranging between 2 and 14 days.  My best suggestion is to sketch out the itinerary you want (how many days in Vancouver, Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise etc.), and then we can help you go looking for the itinerary that best suits you.  

Here is ONE example for each of these rail routes:

Vancouver to Banff for 6-nights

• Vancouver (2), Kamloops, Banff (2), Calgary.
• Prices range between $2520 – $5006 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. 

Vancouver to Jasper 6-nights

• Vancouver (2), Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper (2)
• Prices between $3854 – $5380.

Circle Journey 14 -days

• Vancouver (2), Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper (2), Lake Louise (2), Banff (2), Kamloops, Vancouver (2)
• Prices start at $8391 per person.

The USA Train

Rocky Mountaineer began operations in the United States in 2021 with itineraries between Denver and Moab, Utah (via Glenwood Springs).  

• Much like its Canadian counterpart, there are dozens of itineraries, but they all incorporate this two-day rail journey into them.
• There is no Gold Leaf service in the US, because the tunnels along the route are not large enough to accommodate the double-decker Gold Leaf cars.
• If you’re looking for something more than Silver Leaf service, then Silver Leaf Plus is offered.  This enables access to a lounge car with a bar, and outdoor viewing platform. 
• Moab does have a regional airport, but most people use Las Vegas or Salt Lake City for the western terminus of their trip. 
• There is an option to go round-trip from Denver

Here are two examples of US itineraries

Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights

• Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
• $3947 to $5140

Denver round-trip for 7-nights 

• Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
• $4293 – $5857

Partnership with Tauck

Tauck (the luxury land tour operator) has recently announced a partnership with Rocky Mountaineer.  Here’s the Tauck itinerary between Denver and Salt Lake City.

• Start with 2-nights in Denver with a City Sightseeing tour, and scenic drive to the Foothills.
• 2 days on board Rocky Mountaineer via Glenwood Springs to Moab.
• A flight-seeing trip over Canyonlands NP, and then on to Salt Lake City to take in Capital Sights, Great Salt Lake, and Park City.
• Departures May through September from $7590 per person for 7-nights

Some notes on all Rocky Mountaineer itineraries

• You don’t sleep on the train – otherwise you’d miss some of the incredible scenery.  The train operates in daylight hours, and you sleep in hotels at night.  They take care of your luggage, so the logistics are made as easy as possible.
• These trips are about scenery, wildlife, food and wine.  The scenery on the Canadian side rivals what you would see in Denali National Park in Alaska (some would argue the Canadian Rockies are even more impressive).  On the US side, the scenery is different, but every bit as spectacular, and you have close proximity to several of the Southwest’s National Parks. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Rocky Mountaineer has a Black Friday Sale underway, that will offer up to $1500 off some rail packages that are 6-days or longer.  Here are a few others that crossed my desk this week:

Uniworld’s President’s Cruise departing June 16 on the Rhine for one-week

• Ellen Bettridge is the President and CEO of Uniworld, and she always has a few extra surprises on cruises that she hosts.  She’s also a blast to travel with.
• This coming year, she’ll host 110 guests on the SS Victoria – one of the two former Crystal ships Uniworld has acquired. 
• Visit Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, and Amsterdam. 
• French Balconies start at $5999. 

Viking World Cruise Segments

• As often happens on world cruises, some cabins have opened up at the last minute, and Viking is marketing them on individual segments.  Each of the cruise segments below includes round-trip air, and the Silver Spirits Beverage Package as well Viking’s regular inclusions of all taxes & fees, a shore excursion in every port, and wifi on the ship:
• LA to Sydney for 40 days departing January 6.
  • Sail down-under via Hawaii, Tahiti, and New Zealand
  • $12,999 per person
• Sydney to Singapore for 28 days departing February 15
  • Travel up the Australian East and North coasts, to Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand before landing in Singapore
  • $9999 per person
• Singapore to London for 55-days departing March 13
  • Visit Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, before arriving in London.
  • $17,999 per person

Explora Journeys Mediterranean

This exciting new brand has a casual, yet sophisticated vibe with fantastic entertainment, and a really interesting culinary scene.  Due to our exclusive arrangement with them, we can offer you up to 10% off the pricing you see listed on their website, AND get you an additional €150 Euro Experience Credit.

• Barcelona to Athens departing June 19 for 8-nights
  • Visit Sicily (2 ports), Malta, Crete, and Naxos.
  • Verandas from $5550 per person
• Athens to Venice departing July 5 for 7-nights
  • Sail up the Croatian Coast visiting Paros, Kefalonia, Dubrovnik, Split, Rovinj, before arriving in Venice.
  • Verandas from $5250 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

Cruise vacations lend themselves well to themed events, if for no other reason that unlike hotels and resorts, cruise ships can move to where such events occur.  

Here are a few different themes and events that may be of interest to you:

Bridge Cruises

If you’re a Bridge player, and would like to travel with others with the same interest, then our friends at Oceania have 36 departures with a Bridge theme.  Here’s a link to their list of Bridge Cruises:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/bridge-cruises 

On board will be an American Contract Bridge League Accredited Master Instructor (imagine having that title on your business card!), and there are lectures and educational events, as well as tournament play.  It is appropriate for all levels.  Here is ONE of the 36 options:

Miami to Barcelona departing April 5, for 14-nights

• Visit Nassau, Bermuda, the Azores, Seville, Granada, and Alicante (Spain)
• Verandas available from $4099 – $4499, and include a $500 per person shore-excursion credit.  
• We also get extra goodies on this departure for reservations made by November 15.  
• This trip is on board Marina.  If you want to see our ship tour video of her identical twin, Riviera, here’s the link:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU?si=VpEgz6q82_zR4Qys 

Wine Cruises on AMA

AMA has dozens wine themed every year that are hosted by wine experts, with tastings and winery visits included in your fare.  Here’s their complete list:  https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/wine-cruises/2024

Some Examples:

Basel to Amsterdam for 10 days departing July 14

• Visit Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen, Rudesheim, Bernkastel, Trier, Cochem, Cologne, Amsterdam.
• Hosted by Kimberly Zacharias of Black Star Farms Winery in Sutton’s Bay, MI
• Fares start at $4480 per person

Portugal & Spain for 7-nights departing August 14.

• Visit Porto, Entre-Os-Rios, Regua, Pinhao, Barca D’Alva, Vega de Terron.
• Hosted by Regina Gaines, from House of Pure Vin in Detroit MI,
• Fares start at $4049 per person

Golf Cruises with Azamara

Azamara has a partnership with PerryGolf for fully hosted and all-inclusive golf vacations where you get to try out courses in different ports.  Your fare includes green fees, carts, and gratuities.  Here’s a list of all their golf themed cruises: https://www.azamara.com/cruises?keywords=golf-cruise

Some Examples:

Ireland Golf Experience from Dublin to Oslo for 13-days departing July 1

• Visit Dublin, Cork, Bantry Harbour, Foynes, Galway, Donegal, Belfast, Londonderry, Ullapool, Kristiansand, Oslo
• Verandas from $5601 per person

Spain Golf Experience from Lisbon to Barcelona for 10-days departing September 11:

• Visit Lisbon, Portimao, Cadiz, Seville, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona.
• Verandas from $4400 per person

If you are travelling with someone that is NOT a golfer, then this is the perfect vacation.  While you’re on the links, your travel-partner has a long list of other excursions and activities available.

Ken Burns’ American Journeys with Tauck

If you’ve seen his documentaries, then you’re aware of what an iconic photographer and story-teller Ken Burns is.  He has partnered with Tauck to enable guests to experience what he has documented on camera in his documentaries.  Here’s a list of all those truly American experiences:https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/exclusive-partnerships/ken-burns

Some Examples:

Philadelphia to Washington for 11-days with departures May through September

• Visit Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, and Washington.
• See the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Gettysburg Museum and battlefields, Jefferson’s House, Virginia State Capitol, Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate, National Mall, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Exclusive visit to National Archives for a private viewing of the declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the bill of Rights.
• A great trip for American history enthusiasts, or perhaps those that want to offer their kids or grandkids a window into this world. 
• $6190 for departures in May and September.  Enquire for pricing other months. 

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for 8 days with departures June through September:

• Visit Wyoming and the Tetons, Snake River, Mormon Row, Jackson, Yellowstone NP, The Bighorns, and Mt. Rushmore
• Pricing from $5490 in June, July, August, or  September

Monte Carlo Grand Prix with Windstar

If you’re a racing enthusiast, it’s too late for 2024, but 2025 is still available.  This cruise is hosted by a Formula One racing expert, and includes Section K seats for Saturday’s time trials, and higher seats for the final on Sunday.

Barcelona to Rome for 7-nights departing May 20, 2025

• Visit Barcelona, Palamos, Sanary-sur-Mer, Antibes, Monte Carlo (overnight), Portoferraio, Rome
• Your Race Kit includes a program, ear plugs, binoculars, seat cushion, poncho & cap.
• Fares from $8399 per person.

Viking Free Air to Australia and the South Pacific

OK… this one doesn’t have a specific theme, but we rarely see free air across the Pacific, so I thought I should include it this week: 

Sydney to Singapore departing for 28 days on Feb 15

• Visit Sydney (overnight), Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Thursday Island, Komodo NP, Bali (overnight), Java, Ho Chi Minh City, (2nights), Koh Samui, Singapore (overnight)
• Includes all taxes & fees, air, transfers, a shore excursion in every port, Silver Spirits Beverage Package, and wifi on the ship
• $13,499 per person for a veranda room.

Veterans Day

Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day, and I don’t have any specific themed cruises to highlight, but I do want to thank all those that have served for enabling the privilege the rest of us enjoy to be able to travel freely both at home at abroad.  We do not forget your contribution, nor do we take it for granted.  

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online or by phone.  Our clients worry that if they book on-line, 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).

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 getting a lot more inquiries from you about river cruise packages in Vietnam & Cambodia, so I thought I’d offer a bit of information on that this week.  

Even though you may not be too familiar with Southeast Asia, rest assured that most of your favourite cruise lines from the rivers of Europe are also on the Mekong River. 

Here are some things to consider when looking at the Mekong River for your next adventure:

• It’s “New”.  The river cruise lines have been there for over a decade, but the number of ships they have there is a fraction of what we see in Europe.
• It’s Fully Escorted.  Most of the river cruise lines have packages or extensions to complement a one-week river cruise.  About half our clients to Europe travel independently pre or post cruise.  In SE Asia, just about everyone takes the cruise line extensions, and they do a very good job of it.  After all, you really don’t want to fly all that way for a one-week cruise.
• Flying across the Pacific.  We sometimes forget the Pacific Ocean occupies half the planet.  It is a very long flight to get to Vietnam – about 15 hours.  The good news is there are direct flights from San Francisco.  Just like travelling to Australia/New Zealand, once you invest that much time on a flight, you’ll want to stay as long as you can.  
• The Food.  For some, the culinary experience in a foreign country is a key part of the trip (and Vietnam & Cambodia won’t disappoint).  Others prefer to stick to meat and potatoes.  The river cruise lines offer you both.
• Happy People.  You can expect seemingly never-ending smiles and very accommodating locals.  Given the somewhat tragic history in these countries, it’s a real testament to human resilience.
• The Heat.  It will be hot if you go May through October.  The ships and hotels are all air conditioned, but if you’re sensitive to the heat, go November through April, where your average temperatures will be in the 70s.
• The Ruins at Angkor Wat.  The world’s largest religious structure; a UNESCO world heritage site, and much different than anything you’ll experience in Europe.  This is a true highlight according to our clients who have been.  
• Stop Over?  Australia and New Zealand are the other popular destinations WAY across the Pacific.  Some of our clients are combining these destinations with a Mekong river cruise,  so they only have to cope with one set of long flights.
• It’s Trending.  The popular destinations change year to year based not only on demand, but on geo-political considerations as well.  Many of our clients (who are typical of travel consumers nationally), are looking for alternatives outside of Europe and the Mediterranean.  Japan has been hot for a while, Australia/NZ has seen tremendous demand in the last 18-months, and we’re seeing the same trends with Vietnam & Cambodia.  There’s no need to panic if there’s just two of you travelling.  But if you’d like to go with a larger group, then the options are already somewhat limited for 2024.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA Mekong departing September 30, 2024 for 7-nights

• Visit Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Cai be – Sa Dec, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Oudong, Kampong Tralach, Oknhatey, Angkor Ban, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap.

• $2400 for a 251 square foot twin balcony.  Price reflects 20% off per person
• Available 7-night trip extensions to Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, Hanoi and/or Halong Bay for $2399 per person

Uniworld Mekong departing February, March, or September for 15-days

• Visit Ho Chi Minh City for 2-nights, 7-nights on the ship, 3-nights in Siem Reap, and 2-nights in Hanoi.  
• $7999 for a 340 square foot French Balcony on the 68 passenger Mekong Jewel.

Viking Mekong —  only a handful of cabins left in 2024 – Please enquire. 

• Visit Ho Chi Minh City, Cai Be, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, Hanoi.  
• 2025 departures for 15-days from $7999 for 305 square foot French Balcony

Oceania South Pacific Special Itineraries

If you’re looking for something near Australia, then you’ll be interested in these two really unique itineraries with Oceania – the small-ship cruise line for foodies.  Due to our exclusive relationship with Oceania, we can get some nice additional perks on both these cruises.  Contact us for details.

Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tahiti for 21-days departing March 10.

• Visit Sydney, Napier, Rotorua, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Lautoka (Fiji), Suva (Fiji), Samoa, Pago Pago, Bora Bora (overnight), Raiatea (French Polynesia), Moorea, Papeete (overnight). 
• This cruise cuts your return flight time down significantly, OR you can choose to stay on the ship and ride it all the way to LA.  
• Verandas from $9199, with a $600 per person shore excursion credit. 

Sydney to Singapore for 20-days departing March 22

• Visit Sydney, Newcastle, Townsville, Cairns, Alotau (Papua New Guinea), Port Moresby (PNG), Darwin, Komodo (Indonesia), Bali (overnight), Java, Singapore (overnight).
• This itinerary visits Australia’s Queensland remote coast, and the Island nations nearby with large airports to fly in and out of pre and post cruise.  
• Veranda rooms from $7199 with a $600 shore-excursion credit 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

Here are some seemingly random bits of news that have come across my desk this week, that I thought I would share:

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection:

• Uniworld has acquired 2 new ships that formerly belonged to Crystal Cruises.  This is a very big deal for fans of Crystal Cruises, and those ships will be in very good hands at Uniworld.  The ships will be renamed Victoria and Elisabeth, and will operate on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.
• Uniworld is continually innovating its product offering and the latest one is a cycling trip where you will be fully escorted with guides and support vehicles, with a tablet attached to your handle bars with a GPS unit.  Best part is you only have to unpack once, as the Uniworld ship will follow you on your bike ride through Europe.  These trips will operate on the Rhine and Danube Rivers.  And no… you DON’T have to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy this trip. 

Paris in Summer 2024

• Speaking of Olympic athletes… the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11.  If you have plans in France around this time, make sure you’re aware of what disruptions the Olympic Games will have on public venues and transportation. 

Explora Journeys

• We just finished a trip through Quebec and New England with this new brand.  You can see some of our posts on our Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/pamperedcruiser 
• They offer a great experience, and one thing I think will be a game-changer is their ANTHOLOGY restaurant.  This is where a celebrated chef does a residency on board the ship, offering their tasting menu for a period of several weeks or months.  On our cruise, Emma Bengsston – the 2-star Michelin Chef behind Aquavit in New York was featured.  This is a great opportunity if (like us) you would probably never go to such a restaurant on shore.

Viking Cruises

• A 2023 survey of over 525,000 Conde Nast Traveler readers named Viking #1 in River, Ocean, and Expedition categories.  This is the first time any one brand has taken the top spot in all 3 categories.
• To add to the accolades, Travel & Leisure readers also rated Viking #1 in all three categories in 2023.  Viking has some fans!

Oceania Cruises 

• Oceania’s new ship, Vista (we participated in her christening in May), made her first port stop in the United States a bit earlier this year, and scored 100% on the USPH Vessel Sanitation Checklist.  Any vessel that calls in at US ports is inspected twice yearly, and the criteria is rigorous.  So this is quite an accomplishment.  Imagine if hotels were subject to the same scrutiny… probably wouldn’t have as many headlines about bed bugs.  
• Oceania is launching Vista’s sister ship ALLURA in 2025, and that ship is now open for bookings.  

Seabourn Expedition

• Seabourn now has two expedition ships, and both were in North America in September.  Seabourn Venture was in Vancouver after a Northwest Passage Cruise, and the brand new Seabourn Pursuit was in Florida on the same day making her North American inaugural.
• Seabourn will be doing an itinerary on the Kimberley Coast in Western Australia.  This area is remote, but stunningly beautiful, if you’d like to do an Expedition trip, but perhaps in warmer climates.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Viking Free Flights available until October 31:

Buenos Aires to Barcelona departing March 17 for 22 days

• Visit Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Cape Verde, Casablanca, Granada, Barcelona
• $4999 per person.

Antarctica departing January 20 or 29 for 13 days

• Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
• $9995 per person – Including round-trip air from the US, and the flight between BA and Ushuaia.
• Includes kayaks, zodiacs, special operations boats, Expedition gear, and an expedition jacket you get to keep.
• See our ship tour video of Viking Polaris: https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo?si=K4Qk4JGgMPve_GZA 

Mississippi River New Orleans round-trip departing November 23, 30, or Dec 7, 2024 for 8 days

• Visit New Orleans, Darrow, St. Francisville, Natchez, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge
• $4299 per person with free round-trip air

All the above Viking fares include round-trip air, all taxes and fees, a shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship. 

Oceania Cruises Exotics in Asia

Oceania Japan, China & Korea departing February 26 for 12 days

• Visit Hong Kong, Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Hualien (Taiwan), Ishigaki, Shanghai (overnight), Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Seoul.
• Verandas from $5999 with $1300 optional air add-on

Oceania Singapore to Cape Town departing April 11 for 28 days

• This is a great opportunity to visit several countries that are hard to get to.  Tick off a bunch of bucket-list destination in one trip!
• Visit Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Seyschelles, Mozambique, South Africa.  5 overnight stays.  
• Fares from $8799 with a $1500 optional air add-on.  

AMA Waterways 20% off Sale

Our friends at AMA are offering 20% a list of river cruises in Europe and the Mekong for a limited time.  Here’s a link to their list of cruises:

https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/save20-2024#sailings

Tauck Southeast Exploration

For those looking for a land-cruise closer to home:

• Visit Savannah, the coastal Low Country, Fort Pulaski, Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Charleston.  Tour the islands off Beaufort SC, see Savannah’s beloved Madeira traditions at the Davenport House Museum.  Have dinner at 45 Bistro in Savannah’s oldest hotel – The Marshall House. 
• 8-day inclusive packages with departures in April, May, and September, October from $5290 per person.  

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online or by phone.  Our clients worry that if they book on-line, 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).

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