Over the last couple of years, TV shows like Zac Efron’s ‘Down to Earth’, and Stanley Tucci’s ‘Searching for Italy’ became instant hits while we were all under “house arrest” and not actually able to travel. 

In that same period, Bob and I dreamed up the idea that we would do short videos from our dining room, re-enacting various river cruises we had taken, pretending to discuss that day’s port of call, so our clients could “travel” with us.

Wait… you didn’t you see these videos? 

That’s because we didn’t produce them!  Here’s why.

First, producing that much video is a lot of work that we had to fit in around rebooking all our clients (sometimes multiple times).  Second (and perhaps more significantly) Viking launched Viking TV.

At the outset, this was obviously a marketing device to keep people engaged with Viking when we couldn’t travel.  But then something happened – they kept adding content, and it’s REALLY GOOD (certainly much better than we could have done ourselves).

Even if you’re not a Viking client, they have all kinds of videos of varying lengths related to travel, and just enjoying life in general.  They are constantly adding to the site with more content, and it’s all on demand (you don’t even need a Netflix membership).  Here’s a peak at some of the content:

1. Destination information
2. Insight into attractions at shore stops
3. Enrichment lecturers that you might experience on one of their cruises.
4. Food and wine education
5. Behind the scenes at Viking – with crew insights, and ship tours
6. Alastair Miller – a professional photographer visits various locations and shares his work.
7. Art & Culture:  some of highlights on travel itineraries.
8. Extraordinary Lives:  Interviews with interesting people
9. Historians’ lectures – from places you might visit on a cruise
10. Music from destinations
11. Information on some of their individual Viking Cruise offerings.

Viking tags itself as “The Thinking Person’s Cruise”, so having such enrichment content available on their website does make sense.  Some of the videos are a few minutes long, while others might be up to an hour.  Either way, you might find it interesting. 

For example, here is one about River Cruising on the Mississippi with Viking: https://www.viking.tv/tv/viking-journeys/viking-mississippi

These HIGHLY anticipated voyages debut later this year.  If you’re thinking of the Mississippi, you’ll want to plan well ahead of time!

See details of Viking’s Mississippi itineraries here: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/mississippi/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

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

So… it looks like you might actually make that trip overseas after it was re-scheduled a couple of times (or more).  Are you feeling out of practice?  When’s the last time you crossed multiple time zones?  These questions are top of mind for many of you, so I thought I would dedicate some space to managing jet lag.

In normal (non-pandemic) times, Bob and I are in Europe two or three times per year.  I don’t adjust well… I love my sleep, and I don’t sleep well on planes.  As every year advances, I find it more difficult to make the adjustment.  So, I’ve had to build a more deliberate strategy when I go to Europe or Asia (or really when I’m crossing more than 4 time zones to anywhere).

Here’s my strategy starting about a week before I leave.  The examples I use here are for flying eastward (to Europe), so I have to adjust this list when I fly to Asia or Australia/NZ.

• Advance my “clock” one hour each day, for a week prior to departure.  This is easier said than done, and existing commitments may mean you have to compromise here and there, but essentially, it means going to bed one hour earlier, and getting up one earlier EACH day for the week prior to departure.  I usually fly from the west coast (9-hour time change to Europe), so if you’re flying from the east coast, you can start 4 or 5 days in advance.
• “Live” in the time zone of my destination.  This means earlier meals, as well as adjusted bedtimes for the final days before departure.
• Change my watch to destination time as soon as I board the plane.  The inflight services the airlines provide are timed for their convenience, NOT for helping you adjust your rhythm.  Based on the time at your destination, figure out if you should be eating when the meal cart comes around, or if you should be asleep.
• Sleep on the plane if it’s nighttime at my destination.  This is the one I struggle with the most.  Some people take melatonin or sleeping pills.  Not everyone is willing to do this, and you’ll want to consult your physician and make your own best judgment.  At the very least, earplugs and an eye-mask can greatly increase your chances of getting rest on the plane.
• Drink water, not wine on the plane.  This one I struggle with almost as much as the one above (!!), but I know it’s important to remain hydrated to help my body adjust to the interruption of its circadian rhythms that I’m subjecting it to.
• Consider Premium Economy.  Business Class flights overseas are cost prohibitive for many of us, but Premium Economy is only a few hundred dollars more, and provides much more space than “cattle class”.  It’s easier to sleep, and I’m more comfortable on a long flight.
• Add a one-day buffer at my arrival point.  If I’m doing a cruise or land tour, I always arrive at least one day early, knowing my first day on the ground is not going to be productive.  I usually don’t feel well, so I find it’s best to kick back and allow some time to adjust (hard to do if I schedule myself to hit the ground running).  In some cases, I have even taken an airport hotel for one night upon arrival (much more cost effective in cities like London, Paris, or Rome), and then moved closer into the city the next day to start my trip.
• Hydration and poop.  Sorry… it has to be discussed.  I use rehydration formulas (you can buy them anywhere) for my first 2 or 3 days upon arrival and do my very best to become regular as it relates to all bodily functions.  This may mean altering what I eat the first day or two I’m on the ground.
• Sleep with the drapes open.  I want to be exposed to sunlight in the morning at my destination to quickly adjust my body-clock.  If I can get outside into direct bright sunlight, that’s even better.

The return trip home:  Remember, you get to do this all over again when you return home!  However, most times it’s easier on the return because you can adjust in the comfort of your own home.  The one rule I’ve started to follow on our return journeys:  Never drive home from the airport.

If you’re flying across more than 3 or 4 time zones, you will definitely be compromised.  You will not be as alert as you should be to operate a motor vehicle.  If you can have someone pick you up, that is great, but if not then a taxi or Uber is probably in order.  Its usually costs less than long term parking at the airport, anyway.

We’re overcoming some jet lag ourselves, so we don’t have any specific travel opportunities for this week!

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3233272896955202

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

Over the next couple weeks, ships that have been travelling to Antarctica during the past few months will begin to migrate to points further north.  It is nearing the end of summer in the southern hemisphere.

In the 2020/21, there weren’t any ships in Antarctica due to the pandemic and this season, only about half the ships originally deployed to the last continent made it there. 

The 2022/23 Antarctica season is going to be in high demand, so if this is on your radar you may want to get a move on.

The Antarctic season is short:  the first ships arrive in November, and they begin to leave in mid-March. 

We’re often asked when the “best” time to go is.  There’s not a best time, but rather a series of trade-offs to consider when deciding on the best choice for you:

• Early (November/December):  There is still sea ice on the water, and it will be virgin snow on land, and you’ll feel like you’re the first person who’s ever been there.  When you go ashore, you will see penguins finding mates.  Once the penguins begin to lay their eggs, you might see them waddling around balancing an egg on their feet.
• Mid-season (December/January/February):  The longest daylight hours are late December and January, and it’s also the warmest time – with temperatures usually above freezing.  The penguin chicks, and seal pups make their appearance in this time.
• Late (February/March):  If you want to see whales, then a trip late in the season might be best. 

I was lucky enough to travel to Antarctica in 2018, and Bob and I put together this YouTube video about that trip:  https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls  It includes detailed information about my experience, and stunning images.

In that video, we talk about the three different ways to get to the last continent.  Here they are:

1. A “Drive-by”.  Cruise lines like Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess do trips from South America, where you sail by the Antarctic Peninsula.  You do NOT get off the vessel over to land; no ship with more than 500 people is permitted to land on Antarctica.
2. Expedition Ships.  Expedition vessels maximize immersion in Antarctica, and you will spend a lot of time on sea kayaks, zodiac boats, and doing landings on the continent.  Typically, scientists are conducting research on board, and you can participate in those studies.  Cruise lines like Hurtigruten, Lindblad/National Geographic, Quark, Abercrombie and Kent fall in this category.
3. Luxury Ships.  If you want to go in maximum comfort and style, then a number of luxury cruise operators have ships that are specially designed for Antarctica.  Some of these have helicopters and submarines on board for excursions.  To be clear, many of these luxury brands have begun to blur the lines between the luxury and expedition segments, so they might look much like the category above.  Lines like Ponant, Seabourn, SilverSea, and Viking fall into this category. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Here are some suggestions for Antarctica: 

The “Drive-by”
Celebrity Infinity – Round Trip Buenos Aires
14-days departing February 25, 2023

• Inside: $2089 per person
• Window: $2439 pp
• Balcony:  $2899 pp
• Suite:  $7199 pp

Expedition Ship
Hurtigruten Roald Amundsen – Round Trip Ushuaia
11-days departing March 1, 2023

• Window: $7993 per person
• Balcony: $10,849 pp
• Includes transportation to/from Buenos Aires
• 5 scheduled days of landings in Antarctica

Roald Amundsen is the world’s first hybrid-powered cruise ship, and Bob and I were on its North American inaugural sailing.  Here’s a link to our YouTube video if you want to see what the ship is like:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0

Luxury Expedition
Silver Wind – Round Trip Ushuaia
10-nights departing February 28, 2023

• Window Suite:  $8,850 per person
• Veranda Suite:  $10,550 pp
• 5 scheduled days of landings in Antarctica

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3227846110831214

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 commonly receive requests from you about wine-themed river cruises, or at the very least where you can visit wineries on your non-themed river cruise adventures.  In reality, just about all river cruises in Europe make at least one visit to a winery, so let’s talk about those ones first.

Most people are well aware that France and Spain are amongst the world’s largest wine producers.  Some are more surprised to hear that Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Croatia all have wineries that can easily visited when making port stops on many river cruises.  In some cases, the wineries are visited on the cruise lines’ included excursions, and in other circumstances you will either have to take the optional excursion or make you own arrangements. 

Here’s a quick reference guide of which ports of call have wineries nearby:

• Rhine River Cruises between Amsterdam and Basel:  Strasbourg, Speyer, Mannheim Rudesheim, all have wineries.  The Alsatian region in France near the German and Swiss borders is a well well-known wine region (particular for crisp white wines).
• Provence River Cruises between Lyon and Avignon (or Marseilles):  The Beaujolais region south of Burgundy near Lyon is full of wineries.  There are also other small wineries in this agricultural region of France.
• Danube River Cruises between Bavaria (Nuremburg, Regensburg, or Passau) and Budapest:  The Wachau Valley in Austria has some incredible estate wineries, and believe it not, there wineries you can visit just outside of Budapest.
• Bordeaux River Cruises:  It’s probably not a surprise that every port of call on these cruises has easy access to wine – particularly Libourne, Saint Emilion, and Chateau.
• Douro River Cruises in Portugal:  Many of these cruises start or finish in Porto that is famous for Port (as the name would imply).  Vila Nova de Gaia is the place to ask about when in Porto.
• Moselle or Mainz River Cruises between Trier (or Luxembourg City) and Nuremburg:  We are seeing more river cruises in the Moselle valley, and Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt, Schloss Volrads all boast wineries.
• Lower Danube Cruises between Budapest and Bucharest:  The former Yugoslavian states have wineries as well.  Most notably Ilok in Croatia (near the Serbian border).

That list will help if you want a bit of wine on your non-themed river cruise.  If you’re looking for an actual wine cruise, then I have a different list.

What’s the difference?

On a wine-themed cruise, there will be a host on board the ship with some expertise either as a sommelier, or perhaps a winery owner, with lectures and other enrichment activities related to wine.  There is usually wine pairings with dinner, and off-ship shore excursions related to wine included in the fare as well.

AMA Waterways does this really well, and they have a whole list of wine themed cruises on their website.

If you don’t feel like flying all the way to Europe, then the Columbia/Snake River cruises between Portland, OR, and Spokane WA can fit the bill for you – particularly if you go during the harvest in October.  Wines from Oregon and Washington are one of the best kept secrets out there – some varietals of grape do much better with the long daylight hours experienced the further north they grow.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Following on the wine theme, here are some cruises that caught my eye:
American Empress between Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon:

• Visit Clarkston, Richland, The Dalles, Stevenson, and Astoria
• Departs on October 30, 2022 for 8-nights (inquire about other dates):
  • Window:  $2799 per person
  • Veranda:  $2899 pp
  • Suite:  $5199 pp
• Includes pre-cruise hotel night, transfers to ship, open bar, unlimited shore excursions, Wi-Fi on the ship.
• A private wine reception the night before boarding.
• Tastings, wine-pairings, and educational series

Ama Waterways Wine Cruise between Amsterdam and Basel, Switzerland

• Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, & Strasbourg
• Departs November 7, 2022 for 7-nights
  • Window: $2749 per person
  • Balcony: $3548 pp
  • Suite: $6348 pp
• Pre/post package for 2-nights in Amsterdam, and 3-nights at Lake Como for an additional $2250 per person

Here are a couple of NON-wine related cruise deals from a Viking Flash Sale (must book by March 6th).  Round trip flights are INCLUDED in the prices below.

Pacific Coastal (7 nights between LA and Vancouver):
Visit San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Portland, and Victoria, BC.
Depart April 9, 17, or 25, 2022
Fares start at $1999 for a Veranda INCLUDING return air
This is a great way to try out small-ship luxury on Viking Ocean

Panama Canal Full Transit (11 nights from Ft. Lauderdale to Panama City):

• Visit Colon (Panama), Costa Rica, Roatan, Belize City, Cozumel, and Key West.
• Depart October, November or December 2022
• Fares start at $3399 for a veranda INCLUDING return air
• This trip is great for those that want to do a full transit of the canal, but don’t want to be away for the length of time required to go all the way between Florida and California.

Remember, this Flash Sale ends in just a couple of days on Mar. 6th so please get in touch immediately if you’re interested in one of these Viking cruises.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3222681678014324

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

You may have heard rumblings that during the time the pandemic shut down the cruise industry in 2020 and 2021, many of the cruise lines took the opportunity to refurbish and update their ships. 

Princess Cruises accelerated the conversion of their vessels to Ocean Medallion technology. 

Even if you’re not a regular Princess client, the upgrades on the Princess ships are an indicator of the future of the industry… so here’s a bit of a peek at the benefits of this new technology.

Ocean Medallion is a wearable technology that connects you with the enhanced Wi-Fi on the ship, with your smartphone, as well as interactive panels (think of this as a giant iPad on every deck in the elevator lobbies).

If you’re like me, you’re probably less interested in the technological marvel, and more interested in how it will enhance your experience.  Here goes:

• Check-in.  If you’ve ever waited an hour or more to board a cruise ship, you’ll be happy to see this improvement.  Before you leave home, you upload a picture, enter your passport and credit card details, and then walk right onto the ship at embarkation.
• Directions – If (like me) you’ve ever wandered around a big ship for a full week before finally feeling confident finding your way around the ship just in time for disembarkation, then you’ll love this feature.
• Faster Wi-Fi – the internet is still painfully slow on most cruise ships.  Princess is promising that you can comfortably stream video with this new technology.
• Keyless Stateroom – Once you have proximity to your stateroom, the door will unlock automatically, eliminating the need for inserting a key card.  no more searching pockets and bags for the elusive key card.
• Ordering Food or Drinks from your phone.
• Accessing on board services:  Make dinner reservations or other ship services from your phone.
• Locate Others.  You can volunteer to allow other passengers you’re travelling with know where you are through the Medallion.  For example, if Mom & Dad want to know where their teenagers are, they can simply look up their location on the smartphone.  This of course assumes that these hypothetical teenagers are actually wearing their medallions and didn’t leave them in their stateroom to frustrate their parents (not that I have any such experience).
• Touchless Payments at onboard shops as well as some shore locations.  Princess has enabled independent merchants in some shore locations to allow Princess guests to pay for things on shore simply by scanning their medallion.  As an added bonus, these shore purchases are eligible for a percentage back, which shows up as an onboard credit back on the ship!
• Gaming and Casino – you can now do this from anywhere on the ship through your smartphone if you don’t feel like going to the casino.

Of course, some people don’t want digital enhancement, and there is no pressure to do so.  If you want to board the ship and manage onboard transactions the way you always have, then you are free to do so. 

On the river side of the industry, AMA Waterways has always been a leader in on board technology.  Here are some of the things they do:

• iMac in every stateroom.  This makes it very easy to leave your laptop computer at home, and it also makes it easy for restaurant or spa reservations, or for booking shore excursions.
• Digital Postcards.  The AMA smartphone APP also allows you to send daily emails to those back home who might be interested in following you on your journey.  It sends a location image “today Sue is in Cologne!” AND you can add your own images too.  This is fun, and even easier than posting on Facebook.
• Daily Cruiser.  Your itinerary and a list of daily activities is still delivered in hard copy to room, but it is also available on your smartphone.
• GPS Tracking.  If you ever wonder exactly where you are (maybe I travel too much), then the AMA APP will tell you.
• Port information.  Again, this is provided in hard copy as well, but there’s an electronic version (along with maps etc.) that is much easier to have on your phone than it is to carry around.
• Check-In.  Much like Princess, the boarding process is much quicker because you upload all your information in advance, so it’s not being done at the purser’s desk when the motor coach pulls up.

These technologies ultimately reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in line, and it allows the cruise lines to provide a more personalized experience.  These technologies are a bit of a preview of things to come across not only the cruise industry, but also in hotels and resorts.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Given that we were talking specifically about Princess and AMA Waterways, I thought I’d highlight travel opportunities on those two lines this week.

Princess Cruises Best Sale Ever
 
If you book by March 2nd, then your fare includes all bar beverages, specialty coffees and juices, gratuities, WiFi, specialty dining and a stateroom location upgrade. 

If a Princess cruise is on your radar, this is a great time to book.  Here are a few examples:

Grand Western Mediterranean:  11-days between Barcelona and Rome

• Visit Provence, Florence/Pisa, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Messina, & Naples
• Depart November 6, 2022: 
  • Inside: $1939 per person plus tax
  • Balcony: $2589
  • Suite:  $2889

Iceland & Norway:  14-days round-trip from London

• Visit 6 ports on the Norwegian Coast, and Reykjavik, Iceland
• Depart June 25, 2022:
  • Inside $2979 per person plus tax
  • Balcony $4459
  • Suite: $5179

Full Transit Panama Canal:  15-days between Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco (New Locks)

• Visit Cartagena, Panama City, Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas
• Depart March 19, 2022:
  • Window $1899 per person plus tax
  • Balcony $2999
  • Suite $4199

Book a Mini Suite or higher and we can get you an additional night of Specialty Dining.  We can often add extra onboard credits as well (any cabin category).

Tulip Time with AMA Waterways
If seeing the tulips in Holland is on your bucket list, this is the year to do it.  Floriade 2022 is a rare horticultural exhibition that only happens every 10 years. While in Almere, right outside of Amsterdam, you will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the flourishing gardens, explore the innovative sustainable gardening exhibits, and learn what a green future could look like.

Many Ama Waterways departures in April take you to Floriade as an included experience.

Given that mid-to-late April is the ideal time to see the tulips in their prime, here is the departure I would choose:

• Amsterdam round trip starting April 23rd, 2022 (7 nights) 
• Prices from $3398 per person for a Standard (window) cabin – Note: the Ama website shows prices starting from $3098 but those lower-priced Category E cabins are sold out.
• Prices from $3898 per person for a French Balcony 
• Optional: Add 2 nights pre-cruise in Amsterdam ($750 per person)
• Get $100 onboard credit per stateroom exclusively by booking through Pampered Cruiser (up to $300 per stateroom on other dates/itineraries)

Read more about the Tulip Time itinerary here (note the multiple tabs you can click – itinerary, dates/pricing etc.): https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2022/tulip-time

Bob and I love cruising with Ama Waterways. Click here to see why: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/explore/luxury-of-more

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3217098325239326

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