Is Alaska on your bucket list?  Judging by the number inquiries we’re getting about the 49^th State, many of you do. 

Normally, we see interest for Alaska start to ramp up in the autumn months for the following summer.  It appears the pandemic has accelerated this cycle, so today I thought I’d provide some general information about visiting this unique part of the world.

Here is my suggested hierarchy of decisions when choosing an Alaskan Cruise and/or Land Tour:

WHEN?   The tourist season runs from late April through to early October, and there is no “best” time to visit, just a series of trade-offs:

April, May and early June have lots of daylight hours, are usually light on rain, and fewer crowds.  If you are going to Denali, it is also possible you won’t be able to get all the way into the depths of the park until the middle of June.

June, July, and August have reliable weather (although the further north you go, the more subject to rain you are starting in July).  There are also more crowds, and you’ll find it to be a bit more expensive in these months.

September and October things get a bit quieter, but the later in the season you go, the fewer daylight hours you get, and you are more subject to rain.

CRUISE, LAND, or BOTH?  You can do round-trip cruises out of Seattle or Vancouver, but those trips really only go halfway up the coast.  This might be fine if you’re just looking for a taste of Alaska, but many people who do these cruises vow to return to see the rest of the state so they can get into Denali.  Land tours are great for those that have already done one of these round-trip cruises.  If you’re going to go to the time and expense of visiting Alaska, I would suggest doing a cruise with a land extension to Denali National Park (and other points if you have time).

NORTHBOUND or SOUTHBOUND?  If you’re not doing one of the round-trip cruises, the endpoints of your trip will be in Anchorage/Fairbanks in the north, and Seattle/Vancouver in the south.  It’s a matter of personal opinion as to which is preferable but remember that the northern end of the trip is a much longer flight.  Vancouver is actually closer to Mexico than it is to Anchorage, and if you fly from Seattle to Fairbanks or Anchorage it is about 4 hours.  You’ll want to consider whether that longer day of air travel should be pre-vacation or on your way home.

LENGTH OF TRIP?  There really aren’t any Alaskan cruises shorter than 7 nights because of the huge distance you are covering.  The land extensions are an additional 3 days to 8 days.  If you’re going to Denali, keep in mind it is about 8 hours by train or motor coach from the port, and the park itself is larger than Massachusetts.  If you choose a 3-day land extension, plan on spending most of that time on a bus just getting to and from the park.  The most common land extension is 5 nights, which makes for a more comfortable pace.

SEATTLE or VANCOUVER?  Both these cities are spectacular in their own way, but logistically, they are very similar.  Vancouver has a larger cruise ship port and airport, but Seattle is better served for domestic flights.  In both cases you need a passport.  These two cities are only about 100 miles apart, and if not for the international boundary between them, they would be one continuous city by this point.  This should be your last criteria, after you’ve decided on all the ones above.

There are two factors people tend to overlook when planning a trip to Alaska.  First is how far away it is.  For more than half the population of the United States, Europe is closer and easier to get to than Alaska.  I had a client from Chicago who wanted to drive from Vancouver to Anchorage…. until I pointed out that the driving distance was greater than that from Chicago to Vancouver.  The second factor is Alaska’s sheer size.  Texas fits three times into Alaska, so once you’re in Alaska, keep in mind how long it might take you to get between destinations there.

Here’s a few travel opportunities for this week:

Alaska in 2021

If you want to go this season, there are one-week round trips from Seattle on Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess.

• Celebrity departing September 3^rd, 2021.  Balcony cabins start at $1699 per person.
• Holland America departing September 25^th, 2021.  Balcony cabins start at $1599 per person
• Princess departing September 5^th, 2021 (visits Glacier Bay National Park).  Balcony cabins start at $1069 per person

American Queen’s “Autumn on the River” Promotion

If you’re ready to cruise this fall, American Queen is offering up to $1000 off for some cruises departing in October.  Here’s one example:

• Memphis to Chattanooga departing October 24 for 9 days.  Prices from $2299 (inside), verandas from $4199.  Includes pre-cruise hotel night, all beverages specialty dining, a shore excursion in every port, and wifi on the ship. 

Alaska in 2022

SilverSea:  departing Anchorage on June 23, 2022 for 7 nights, bound for Vancouver:  $5310 per person (includes flights, transfers, gratuities, all beverages, specialty dining, a shore excursion in each port, and wifi on the ship)

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

If you keep up with the news, you may have caught the quiet announcement from the Prime Minister of Canada earlier this week that our northern border will reopen to US residents on August 9^th.  Most of our clients travel by cruise ship, and Canadian ports will not reopen until November so at first, I was ready to dismiss this announcement as not particularly relevant.

Regardless of whether you have a desire to visit our northern neighbor, the psychological aspect of this reopening is huge.  The boundary between the two countries is the world’s longest border (over 5500 miles), and other than a couple of days in September of 2001, it has never been closed.  Canada also represents our LARGEST trade relationship (not Mexico, not China, not Europe).

There are about 2 million Americans who live in Canada, and nearly 1 million Canadians who live in the United States, all of whom have been effectively isolated from their home countries for the past 15 months.  That alone makes this announcement significant.  We have so often taken for granted our ability to move freely between other like-minded nations, and that all changed with this pandemic.

Perhaps most important is that this border opening signals the “beginning of the end” of the pandemic.  Canada and the United States had very different experiences over the past 15 months.  Canada (amongst a handful of other nations) isolated early, endured long lock downs, and proceeded with extreme caution.  The fact they have chosen to reopen to American visitors is a positive sign that we might be getting near the end of all this nonsense.

Our news media, in its ongoing quest to secure viewers by stoking the emotions of anger and fear, will not offer commentary on positive news such as this.  We still have work to do to tame the pandemic, but the reopening of the world’s longest border surely qualifies as positive sign.

In recognition of this announcement, here are some travel ideas if you did want to make a trip North:

Rocky Mountaineer

We’ve highlighted the new Denver to Moab route lately (https://pamperedcruiser.com/trip-ideas-for-2022-and-beyond/), but Rocky Mountaineer is most famous for its trips through the Canadian Rockies, where it has operated for more than 30 years.  Your trip starts in Vancouver on the western side of the Rockies, and travels to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper on the eastern side of the continental divide.  The scenery and wildlife are spectacular, and the train journey itself ranks up there amongst the best in the world.  Here are a few examples:

• Vancouver to Banff National Park.  2 days on the rail with one night hotel from $1637 per person.
• Vancouver to Jasper National Park.  A 6-night journey visiting Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff and Jasper starting at $4469 per person.
• Vancouver round-trip.  A 9-night journey visiting Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper and Kamloops starting at $5497 per person

Rocky Mountaineer is operating in Canada now and will continue through October.

Vancouver & Whistler

Many people experience Vancouver as a cruise ship port, but it is a destination in and of itself.  With steep mountains to the north, the Pacific to the west, and the US border to the south, this cosmopolitan city of 2.5 million is one of the most scenic urban places in the world.  The world-class ski resort of Whistler is 90 minutes north and is worth visiting at any time of year.  Here are a few different Vancouver packages:

• Vancouver to Whistler “land-cruise”: (8 days for $2287 per person – Sep 2021).  Experience the urban flair of Vancouver, then drive over the Mountains to British Columbia’s wine growing region (often described as being similar to Napa before it was over developed).  Then take the remote back route through the wilderness to Whistler, where you spend your last couple of days at this former Olympic site.
• From the Rockies to the Coast “land-cruise”: (9 days for $2699 per person – Sep 2021).  Start in Calgary, and transfer to Banff National Park (and visit Lake Louise), and then travel through several mountain ranges to arrive in Kelowna (BC’s wine growing region).  From there, travel through a few more mountains to the coast, and spend your last 2 nights in Vancouver.

Quebec City

Quebec is North America’s only walled city – left over from the early days of colonization.  Back then, the English and the French fought for dominance in the New World, but today they coexist in the Province of Quebec.  Quebec City itself is very French, and you will feel very much like you are in Europe when you visit this unique part of North America. 

• Canadian Cities Highlights “land-cruise”: (9 days for $4690 per person – Sep 2021) – Start in Toronto, and take in one of the world’s most diverse cities, then visit Niagara falls on your way to Ottawa.  Like other capital cities, Ottawa is full of parks and museums, and you’ll fully experience both the English and French culture of Canada.  From there head over to Montreal to take in that city’s unique cultural and food scene before finishing up in Quebec City.
• Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel) – starting at $359 per night – Every year in January through March, this hotel just outside of Quebec City opens up.  Many people think they have travel to Europe for such an adventure, but you can do it much closer to home.  If you would rather stay in the comfort of a conventional hotel in Quebec City, you can purchase tickets to go visit the Ice Hotel, and then return to the comfort of your heated room.

Viking 2024 World Cruise

OK… not a Canadian trip, but hot off the press.  Viking announced its 2024 world cruise this week.  Here are the details:

• Departs LA on January 9, 2024 and travels westbound to London over the course of 121 days visiting 23 countries.
• Fares start at $49,995 per person for a veranda room, and include:
  • Business Class Air and all transfers
  • A shore excursion in every port (50 of them)
  • All taxes and fees, as well as the cost of all visas
  • A $2000 per person credit for optional excursions, and $1000 shipboard credit
  • All gratuities, beverages and wifi on board the ship
  • Luggage shipping service
• As usual, you’ll receive extra perks when you book a cruise through us rather than directly with the cruise line.

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

What are your plans for this Independence Day holiday long weekend?  Many people will do some travelling, while others are still in the DREAMING phase.  I’ve got some domestic travel ideas below, but more on that in a minute. 

Something happened this past week that hasn’t occurred in 15 months, and it has made me somewhat reflective:  We got paid. (YAY!)

Although the work never stopped during the pandemic (in fact it increased with having cancelled and rebooked some people 3 or 4 times), the nature of the travel biz is that you only get paid once people travel.  And slowly… that is beginning to happen.  People are starting to travel again.

It will be a long march back to “normal”, but it made me think about some things that I wanted to share. 

First of all… thank you.  The overwhelming majority of our clients are truly kind people who were tolerant and flexible in the face of confusion, delays, and ever-changing conditions over the past 15 months.  It affirmed my faith in humanity that so many people showed genuine concern for Bob and me, as we worked our way through this crisis. 

In reality, the travel industry will take several years to rebuild itself.  Our clients and travel suppliers are at the front edge of the recovery – luxury leisure travel is always the first to come back.  Other segments of travel industry will take years.

It is worth noting that (as usual) those from developing economies have suffered disproportionately through the pandemic and will take longer to recover economically.  For all of the tourist industry’s strengths and weaknesses, there is no doubt it can be a highly efficient way to transfer wealth from rich countries like ours, to other regions that are still developing.  This is one key reason we need to continue to travel. 

Now, on to this week’s travel opportunities. 

Alaska

If you want to do a round-trip cruise to Alaska from Seattle, that is still available this year (although availability is tight).  If you want a quick trip to get a flavor of the last frontier, these cruises fit the bill.  Most people who do these round-trip cruises choose to return to Alaska another time later, so they can experience ports and attractions only accessible by ship AND discover the splendor of Denali National Park and the land portions between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

All the major cruise lines will be back in Alaska in 2022, so here is my suggestion for the ultimate Alaska trip:

1. Fly to Fairbanks – Enjoy this small town, visit the 40-below room (to see for yourself what it’s like there in the winter); go to Gold Dredge #8 to explore Alaska’s gold mining history; take the paddle wheeler boat trip down the Chena River.
2. Visit Denali National Park – Larger than Massachusetts, the namesake volcano (formerly known as Mt. McKinley) is North America’s highest peak.  You need at least 2 nights in the township of Denali because your park tour is one full day.
3. Take the train to Talkeetna – this small town with a seedy history is the perfect place to drink wine and take in the scenic majesty of Denali.  If the town of Denali is about going into the park, Talkeetna is like sitting in a ski-lodge with huge windows to appreciate the views.
4. Fishing or light hiking/walking on the Kenai Peninsula – a couple of days to kick back, and be close Alaska’s unique nature.  For those looking for a more urban experience, Anchorage is nearby, and offers many attractions for the city slickers.
5. Board a ship in Anchorage.  Most Alaskan cruises are 7-night voyages, and the land itinerary described above is 5 to 7 nights.
6. Disembark in Seattle or Vancouver and spend a couple of days there.  You can, of course, do this trip starting in Seattle/Vancouver, and more northward.

There are expedition ships, small ocean luxury ships, and mega-ships that visit Alaska, so there really is something for everyone.  Bob and I have been to Alaska many times, with many different cruise lines, so we are uniquely positioned to help you make the best choices for you.

Normally the booking window for Alaska is September through December for the following year BUT for 2022, it will be largely sold out before that due to the travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021.  You’ll want to book early.

Great Lakes

The Europeans have been coming to the United States and Canada for decades to experience our incredible Great Lakes.  It’s about time we discovered this region for ourselves.  The mega ships can only get as far down the St. Lawrence Seaway as Montreal, but smaller ships are able to travel further, to Duluth, Minnesota. 

Ultimate Great Lake Itinerary

This cruise travels between Chicago and Montreal over the course of 13 days.  Both Chicago and Montreal are great destinations in their own rights, with well-served airports for those us who have to fly there.  Here’s what else you get to see:

• Mackinac Island:  This National Historic Landmark is like travelling back in time to the 19^th Century, will full Victorian building restorations.  There are no cars on the island, so it truly does harken back to a different time.
• Sault Ste. Marie:  This small city is right on the Canadian border, with towns on both sides bearing the same name.  These were once a single city, but the war of 1812 put the international border where it is now.
• Manitoulin Island:   This is the world’s largest freshwater island, and is home to a thriving indigenous community, and a spectacular natural environment.
• Detroit: Visit the Henry Ford Museum, the Museum of African American History or one of the other attractions in Motown.
• Cleveland:  Visit one of this city’s many museums, and/or take in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
• Niagara Falls:  Not just for honeymooners and day trippers from Toronto.  This is one of North America’s true natural splendors and well worth the visit.
• Toronto:  Experience one of the world’s most diverse cities with the collision of multiple languages and cultures.  It’s still Canadian though – the Hockey Hall of Fame is right downtown.

This cruise is available in July, August, and September, with prices starting at $5999 per person.  This price includes all beverages, wifi on the ship, shore excursions, and a pre-cruise hotel the night before embarkation.  Of course, you may want to also spend a few days pre/post cruise.  There are also 7-night itineraries if you prefer a shorter trip.

Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tour and National Parks

This is another great domestic trip.  Here’s the link if you’ve missed what we wrote about it in the past: https://pamperedcruiser.com/trip-ideas-for-2022-and-beyond/

River Cruising in the United States

You don’t have to go to Europe.  Both the Columbia River system (Washington and Oregon), and the Mississippi River system have river cruise options.  There is a little bit of space left for 2021, and 2022 look just fine at this point.  Video: https://youtu.be/LLPzn1wD8_Y

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Join the conversation on Facebook: 

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

For the first time in 15 months, we have clients travelling abroad again. 

If this isn’t a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is! 

Here’s what you can expect if you’re travelling in the next few months:

• There will be hiccups.  Travel requirements change daily, and they are different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  I fully understand you want to know how it’s all going to unfold two or three months from now.  But we don’t know… and neither does anyone else.  A high tolerance for ambiguity is required if you are travelling in 2021.  The people who will have the best time will be those who consider this part of the adventure.
• Service levels will vary.  Cruise lines are having to retrain their crews.  Restaurants and hotels are facing similar situations.  Great customer service is a reasonable expectation of the higher end cruise lines and hotels.  You’ll need to cut them a little slack as they get back in the game.
• Air travel will be challenging.  We get more negative feedback about airlines and air travel than all other things combined.  Expect to wait longer to check in and clear security.  I’d bring a good book to read while I’m waiting to make it a little less frustrating.
• There will be confusion over protocols.  Expect to repeatedly show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test, and wear a face mask.  If any of these requirements are NOT in place when you travel (they will all go away at some point), then consider that a bonus.  You will be much happier if you set your expectations in advance as having to jump through all these hoops, and then be pleasantly surprised if one or more of them is waived at your time of travel.
• Check your documents well in advance.  Many of us haven’t looked at our passports in over a year – check the expiry date, and make sure it is valid for six months past your RETURN date.  Bring original proof of vaccination and also have a picture of it just in case.
• Bring proof of travel insurance.  You don’t need a full copy of the legalese produced by the insurance company, but you may be required to show proof of travel insurance.  Most people fully realize the importance of having such coverage, but if you’re asked to prove it, will you be able to quickly locate those documents?
• Itineraries will change.  The cruise lines are incredibly risk adverse, so if there are any covid flare-ups, they will skip ports.  This is much less of a risk with river cruises and ocean cruises that visit only one country. 
• Shore attractions will be altered.  In an effort to enable social distancing, venues may restrict the number of entrants on a certain day.  River and ocean cruises were operating last summer in Europe (although without Americans), and we didn’t get reports of any huge disruptions to shore activities, but (again) there is a need to be flexible. 
• Masks are the new normal.  You will be wearing a mask on planes until further notice.  Indoor public spaces in many countries will require masks.  As visitor to other countries, we are obliged to comply with their rules, so those will significant opposition to wearing a mask should stay at home until such requirements are lifted in other countries. 
• New home ports and destinations are popping up.  For example, a substantial percentage of the world’s cruise ships home port in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand.  All three of those countries are closed to tourists, which has caused the cruise lines to go looking for alternatives like Malta, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Iceland.  It’s not clear whether such itineraries are a temporary measure or will be more permanent. 
• There are going to be cases of covid on ships.  Don’t expect zero covid cases.  We saw a handful of cases both last summer and again in the past few weeks as guests returned to cruising.  The good news is that the containment and mitigation measures are working.  There have not been substantial disruptions to these cruises.

The bottom line is that a healthy dose of patience and tolerance for ambiguity will be required to get the most out of your travels this year.  Just about all of our clients are in this frame of mind, so I have nothing but optimism for their upcoming adventures.

On to today’s travel opportunities.  I went looking for offers that expire on June 30^th so I could give you the heads-up in case you are contemplating such a trip.

Greek Isles with Seabourn

Seabourn is the all-inclusive, all-suite small ship cruise line with impeccable attention to detail that is perfect for those craving great food and incredible service.  The Seabourn Ovation is doing one-week trips round-trip from Athens, but if you wanted to do 2 weeks, the itineraries are alternating so you can back-to-back cruises without repeating any ports.  Here’s an example:

• July 31, 2021 one-week round trip from Athens from $4999 per person for a 300 square foot veranda suite. 
• Visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Nafpilon
• Includes all beverages and specialty dining, gratuities, internet, transfers, and a $150 per person on board credit
• Air add-on:  $699 per person round trip economy to Athens.
• There are lots of other dates this summer with similar fares, as long as it’s booked by June 30^th.

Croatia with Viking

Viking has two ships home-porting in Malta between now and October.  Don’t know where Malta is?  Don’t worry about it – the Viking Air department will fly you there directly from Newark (and arrange your connections if you don’t live near NYC).  Here are the details:

• Multiple departures (4 -5 per month) between now and the end of September
• 11-days visiting Valletta, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik, Mgarr
• Fares from $3599 for a veranda suite, and air from $1299 (round trip economy)
• Includes a shore excursion in each port, wifi, beer/wine with meals, transfers.
• Between now and the end of this month, they are throwing in the Silver Spirits Beverage Package (all beverages available at all times), and a $400 per person past passenger discount (if you’re new to Viking, they’ll knock $250 off your fare).
• Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee is set to expire on June 30^th, so for maximum flexibility you’ll want to book before the end of the month (any Viking cruise, not just Malta)

Mississippi River with American Queen Steamboat Company

AQSC resumed operations on the Mississippi back in June, and have a few cabins left in 2021.  They are offering $1000 off per stateroom for sailings on the American Countess in July and December, as long as you book by June 30.  Here is an example:

• July 24^th, 2021:  8-night package travelling from New Orleans to Memphis.
• Fares from $1699 for an inside cabin, and $3499 for a veranda
• Includes 1-night pre-cruise hotel, all dining, all beverages, wifi, and shore excursions on their Hop-on, Hop-off bus in every port of call.

This is a great opportunity to get back into travel mode AND experience the rich culture and history of the Lower Mississippi River.

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Last week I listed some international cruises that are available if you want to travel in the next 3 or 4 months.  The cruise lines are working hard to get people on board, so there are some good value opportunities for those fully immunized and willing to travel this year.  Here’s the link if you missed it:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-opportunities-between-now-and-september-2021/

Not everyone is willing or able to travel this year, so 2022 is a better choice for some (and some of you want to travel now AND next year – maybe several times!).  We are assuming a return to “normal” for 2022 and beyond, but I thought I’d throw a few ideas out there for those wanting to make some plans.  Availability for many 2022 trips is much tighter than we would normally see this far in advance.

Rocky Mountaineer

This world-class rail experience has attracted travellers from around the world to the Canadian Rockies for the past 30 years.  In August of this year, Rocky Mountaineer will finally be operating trips in the US Rocky Mountains between Denver and Moab, Utah (with extensions to either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City).  Both trains run from April through October in a “normal” year (some modifications for 2021). 

Rockies to Red Rocks (USA):

• 3-night packages starting at $1469 per person
• 7-night packages start at $3434 per person
• For 2021 departures, you can save $300 per couple simply by choosing an Eastbound trip (time limited special)

Rocky Mountaineer (CANADA):

• We don’t anticipate the Canadian border opening until at least Labor Day, so if you want to go this year, it will have to be late in the season.  For 2022, you can go as early as April, and right through the summer until October.
• 3-night packages starting at $2053
• 7-night packages starting at $3387

We’ve recently updated our Rocky Mountaineer “Rockies to the Red Rocks” video.  Here’s the new link: https://youtu.be/OYO1WoxJ-e0

Tahiti

Normally Australia and New Zealand are popular destinations November through March.  However, we don’t believe either of these countries will fully reopen in that time frame (I would love to be WRONG about this).  On the other hand, Tahiti is open NOW to US tourists.  Tahiti is often compared to the Polynesian Paradise Hawaii was 75 years ago.  Our preferred cruise line in Tahiti is Paul Gauguin Cruises (especially when you add a few days in one of those over-water bungalows you see on all the magazine covers!).  They are currently running a sale with reduced prices on many sailings (sale ends June 25^th):

• 7-nights (October through December 2021) starting at $4095 per person. 
• Includes round-trip flights from LA, all transfers, all onboard meals and beverages, gratuities, and select watersports.
• Remember that Tahiti is only 2 hours past Hawaii by plane, but a million miles away in terms of crowds. 

Oberammergau

If you’re unfamiliar with this, the Passion Play is produced every TEN years in the German village of Oberammergau.  The play recounts the story of Jesus Christ, and was originally produced in 1634, as a thanks for sparing the village from the plague.  With a few interruptions (including in 2020), it has been reproduced every 10 years since.  The rescheduled Passion Play takes place in 2022 (May through September), and several of the river cruise lines offer itineraries that include tickets to the play:

• 10-day packages in August 2022 starting at $4399 person.

Floriade

This horticultural expo is a must for gardening enthusiasts, or those who just want to see the tulips in Holland.  This also happens only once every ten years (Europe is going to be very busy in 2022). 

• 7-night river cruise that includes tickets to Floriade: starting at $3299 per person.

Galapagos Islands

This cluster of islands is located off the Pacific Coast of South America, and is politically part of Ecuador with Peru often included in the packages to get there.  Both these countries fared quite well through the pandemic, and they are open to visitors again.  The number of tourists, and the conditions under which they are permitted to visit the Galapagos is tightly controlled, so we are seeing some availability issues, but it looks OK in 2022 and beyond. 

• Prices from $9899 per person in September 2022
• Includes a 7-night cruise around the Galapagos Islands
• 2-nights pre-cruise AND 1-night post cruise Quito
• Includes flight from Quito to Galapagos
• All meals, drinks, gratuities while on the ship
• $750 Air credit to get to South America

Sailing Trip

Ever dream of sailing in the Mediterranean or Caribbean on a small sailing vessel?  Don’t worry – these trips aren’t just for hard core sailors.  There’s a full crew, and you’ll enjoy a few hours of sailing every day, with the focus on finding small coves and beaches to have barbeques and drink rum-punch.  You’ll be giving up the Broadway shows and casinos found on cruise ships, but you’ll get to explore corners of the Caribbean or Mediterranean you’ve never been to before.  Here are a couple of trip examples:

• Caribbean:  $1999 per person.  7-nights round trip from Tortola (British Virgin Islands). October 2022.  Sail on a catamaran with 4 double staterooms (each with private toilet facilities)
• Greece:  $1579 per person (August 2022). 7-nights from Athens to Mykonos.  Sail on a 52 ft sailboat with 8 passengers. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3027616914187469

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley