Who Should Sail This Cruise Line?

HOLLAND AMERICA?  Our clients overwhelmingly travel on river boats, small-ship ocean cruises, and increasingly on expedition ships.  So why might you consider Holland America?  

• The SMALLEST of the Big Ships.  We can’t call HAL’s ships “small” like the luxury lines, but they are a fraction the size of the floating amusement parks.  HAL ships carry between 1400 and 2600 (as opposed to 5000 or more) and ALL HAL ships are under 100,000 tons (as opposed to 240,000 tons (or more). 
• Take the kids or grandchildren.  River or small ship ocean cruises might not be optimal for younger people.  HAL isn’t overrun with children like the floating amusement parks, but there are facilities and programs for children and teens.
• Alaska Land-Sea Combos.  HAL has 6 ships in Alaska, and along with their sister brand, Princess, own just about all the lodge and transportation infrastructure in the 49^th State.  You’ll have MORE choices (upwards of 2 dozen) for Land-Sea combinations.  While you’re up there visit YUKON – only HAL can get you there. 
• Selection of Suites:  If you travel with HAL in a Signature Suites, Neptune Suite or a Pinnacle Suite, you’ll have between 500 -1300 square feet, and a KING bed.  The suites have jacuzzi tubs, and if you go in the Pinnacle Suite, you’ll have a hot tub on your outdoor deck.  Suites also get priority embarkation/disembarkation and tender queuing. 
• Entertainment.  Like the other big-ship lines, they have the Vegas-style production shows in the big theatre, but I really like the smaller venues geared to those of us over 50: The BB King Blues Lounge, the Dueling Pianos, the Rolling Stones Lounge, and the Strings (if you feel like classical music). 
• Pickleball anyone?  It’s hard to believe how popular this has become, and HAL has got you covered, if this is part of your routine.  
• Extended Voyages.  You might not be ready for a 6-month world cruise, but if you wanted to try living on board a cruise ship for 20 to 100 days, HAL has more choices, and the BEST journeys aren’t always about getting somewhere quickly!
• Big Ship Amenities… but without the floating amusement park vibe. 

Getting the BEST VALUE:  Layer it up

• EARLY BOOKING BONUS for 2027:  You’ll get FREE gratuities, the Elite beverage package, Premium wifi upgrade, and a shore excursion credit.
• MARINERS’ CLUB CREDITS:  If you’re a previous HAL guest, you’ll get an additional on board credit in recognition of your loyalty.
• VERANDA OBC:  We can add an additional $50 per person OBC for Veranda rooms (and higher).
• CLUB ORANGE:  Add club orange for upgrades, concierge service, priority embarkation/disembarkation.  
• AARP Members:  Get an additional On Board Credit. 

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

In this episode of UNPACKED, Bob and Kim take a practical look at Holland America Line: where it fits, where it does not, and why it remains especially important for Alaska, Yukon, longer voyages, and travelers who want a larger ship without the amusement-park atmosphere.

https://youtu.be/tFgXu9l9alA

In Case You Missed It:

ALASKA:  Holland America really excels in Alaska itineraries.  Here’s some other ideas on how to maximize your visit there:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/ultimate-alaska/

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.  Yes… we intend to use it to help us be better, cheaper and faster.  NO… you won’t be dealing with an algorithm, because ALGORITHMS DON’T TRAVEL.  We DO!

https://pamperedcruiser.com/do-you-want-to-deal-with-artificial-intelligence-or-a-real-person/

TRAVELING WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.  Eventually we all reach a place where we’re not as agile as we once were.  Does this mean you CAN’T TRAVEL?  No… but it does mean you have to get over yourself to a certain degree, and have the courage to get out there:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/travelling-with-mobility-issues/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

ALASKA trip planning can be like drinking from a fire hose.  Here’s a video we made on the SEVEN QUESTIONS you need to ask yourself to plan your best trip to ALASKA.  

https://youtu.be/CwWytuiuK8M

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

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

HOLLAND AMERICA in ALASKA

There are over 25 different Alaska itineraries with HAL.  Here are three that will allow you to see lots:

DENALI Cruise-Tour(D1L):  Fairbanks to Vancouver departing June 8 for 12-days

• Start in Fairbanks and visit Denali National Park, Anchorage, Whittier, cruise the Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, cruise the Inside Passage, and finish in Vancouver. 
• Veranda Fares from $5264

DENALI & YUKON (Y5L): Anchorage to Vancouver departing June 12 for 11-days

• Start in Anchorage and visit Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Dawson, Whitehorse, Skagway, cruise Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, cruise the Inside Passage, and finish in Vancouver. 
• Veranda Fares from $3699

ULTIMATE ALASKA & YUKON (Y1C): Vancouver round-trip departing May 30 for 17-days

• Start in Vancouver and cruise the Inside Passage, visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, cruise Glacier Bay, College Fjord, and disembark in Whittier.  The carry on to Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Dawson, and finish back in Vancouver. 
• Veranda Fares from $5684

EXTENDED VOYAGES with HOLLAND AMERICA 

If you’re looking to do a longer cruise, but aren’t quite ready for a world cruise, HAL offers more itineraries than anyone else.  Here’s a few: 

HAWAII & TAHITI: San Diego round-trip depart February 13, or October 14, 2027 for 35-days

• Start in San Diego and visit Hawaii (Hilo, Honolulu, Maui, Kona), French Polynesia (Tabuaeran, Avatoru, Huahine, Bora Bora, Society Islands, Moorea, Papeete, Fakarava, Taiohae), and finish back in San Diego. 
• Fares from $4324

ARCTIC CIRCLE and ALASKA: Seattle round-trip departing June 6 for 28-days

• Start in Seattle and cruise Puget Sound, Seymour Narrows, Johnstone Strait, Bella Bella, Grenville Channel, and the Great Bear Rainforest.  Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Valdez, Dutch Harbor.  Cruise Hubbard Glacier, Prince William Sound, and College Fjord, and cross the Arctic Circle.  Head southbound, and visit Dutch Harbor, Nome, Kodiak, Anchorage, Haines, Juneau, Wrangell, Prince Rupert, and finish in Seattle.
• Fares from $6059

GREAT BRITAIN & ICELAND: Boston round-trip departing July 17, 2027 for 35-days

• Start in Boston and visit Portland, Sydney, Corner Brook, Red Bay, Greenland (Paamiut, Nanortalik), Iceland (Isafjordur, Akureyri, Reykjavik), then carry on to Norway, Ireland, and Holland.  Head back across the Atlantic and stop in at Newfoundland and Halifax before finishing in back in Boston.
• Fares from $9279

UNIWORLD Boutique RIVER Collection

Uniworld is the Boutique Hotel on the river with ships that are custom-built and decorated for the areas through which they are sailing.  Here’s two examples: 

PARIS & NORMANDY:  Round-trip from Paris for 8-days 

• Visit Paris (overnight), Giverny (for Monet’s Gardens), Vernon, La Roche Guyon, Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Normandy Beaches, Versailles. 
• 2026: Depart August through November from $5599
• 2027: Departures March through November from $4399
• See our video playlist from this trip: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEP9ouRrZGrhocmhYp7EUPW 

AMAZON Headwaters round-trip from Lima for 11-days

• 7 nights sailing on the Amazon and 3 nights in Lima. 
• Your ship, the Aria Amazon, only holds 32 guests, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows in every suite, offering unparalleled views of this pristine part of the world.
• Have lunch with a family in Lima, visit a remote Amazon village, shop at a local market, take a skiff ride at night to view nocturnal creatures, visit local artisan and craft markets, and more. 
• 2026: Depart December 2^nd from $16,349
• 2027: Departures year-round from $13,999
• ADD: Extension to Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX

You DON’T have to be an elite athlete to do an EXPEDITION CRUISE.  You DO need to be curious about more remote places on the planet.  If you’re unsure if an expedition cruise is right for you, here are two ways to check it out: 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

• 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.  

• 2026:  September through December from $6787
• 2027:  Year-round departures from $7358
• See our video blog from when we did this trip: https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ 

NORTHERN LIGHTS in NORWAY

• Round-trip from Tromso, for 8-days with 5 stops on Norwegian Coast
• Northern lights PROMISE.  If you DON’T see the Aurora Borealis on this journey HX will offer credit towards another cruise.
• 2026: Depart November, or December from $4167
• 2027: Depart January through March or November through December from $4559

INTREPID PREMIUM Guided Land Journeys

You can’t go everywhere on a ship, and INTREPID TRAVEL will escort you to many of those places.  

YELLOWSTONE NP Guided Walking Tour for 5-days

• Experience the rivers, lakes, geysers, waterfalls, and hot springs up close.  
• Stay at Canyon Lodge… right in the park!
• Includes a daypack, hiking poles, and NP entrance fees. 
• There is 3 – 5 hours of walking per day.
• Departures in June through September from $4775

CROATIA & SLOVENIA for 16-days:  

• Start in Venice and then travel to Slovenia where you’ll see Postojna Caves, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, and Lake Bohinj.  You’ll then travel to Croatia to visit Motovun and Buzet before heading inland again to see the incredibly scenic Plitvice Lakes NP.  From there it’s out to the Dalmatian Coast to experience Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Korcula, before finishing with 2-nights in Dubrovnik.  
• This trip offers a comprehensive experience in Croatia, with some days in Slovenia, which has yet to be discovered (but it won’t be long).  
• Weekly departures April through October from $11,665

ATLAS Small Ship EPICUREAN EXPEDITIONS

Atlas carries under 200 guests, and when their ships aren’t in Antarctica, they conduct CULINARY and CULTURAL Expeditions in Europe.  Here are two examples:

ITALY & CROATIA: Rome to Dubrovnik departing September 9 for 6-nights

• Start in Rome and visit Capri, the Aeolian Islands, Corfu, Montenegro, and finish in Dubrovnik. 
• Fares from $4271

PORTUGAL, SPAIN & FRANCE: Lisbon to Bordeaux departing May 7 for 7-nights

• Start in Lisbon and visit Porto, La Coruña, Gijón, Bilbao, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and finish in Bordeaux. 
• This one is all about FOOD and WINE!
• Fares from $5999

A NOTE on ETAs?

ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATIONS (ETAs) are already in place for many countries, and there will be more.  We get lots of questions about these, and they are really NOT a big deal.  IT IS NOT A VISA. 

COUNTRIES / REGIONS REQUIRING ETAs for US Passport Holders:

• Australia
• European Union (implementation has been delayed until 2027)
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)

THE PROCESS

• Go to the website of the government of the country you are visiting, and download their official APP.  There are lots of knock-offs, so make sure you’re using the official one.
• Answer the required questions.  You’ll need your passport number, and you’ll be asked about the purpose of your trip, and some other questions.
• Pay the fee.  This is usually around $20 USD (New Zealand is more).

VIDEO RESOURCES

We’ve documented our experience when applying for these ETA’s

• United Kingdom: https://youtu.be/6NGfCqOsDKk

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

When YOU travel, your name ends up on a list that is prepared for me at the beginning of every month, and if you travelled this past October, you were part of a list that was the longest one EVER for our little agency.  Apparently October is the new peak season amongst our clients. 

Our clients may be slightly ahead of the curve on this trend.  This is because many of you are retired, or semi-retired, or at least have a high degree of control over your own schedule.  Use this to your advantage, but you might want to KEEP QUIET about QUIET SEASON: 

WHAT Exactly is QUIET SEASON?

• The exact dates vary by destination, but it’s often the winter months.
• PEAK season for Europe, Canada, and Japan is now May through September (yes… the “September Secret” is out – the busiest month of the year for river cruises in Europe). 

WHY Travel in Quiet Season

• Way fewer people to compete with on shore.  This means shorter line-ups. 
• It will usually cost you less.
• It’s easier for restaurant reservations, museum tickets, and hotel availability.
• You can support local, small businesses when they need it most. 

The Trade-Offs for Travelling in QUIET SEASON: 

• You’ll need to wear a jacket, pack in layers, probably bring rain gear. 
• It’s more difficult to travel with kids or grandkids
• There are fewer flight options.
• Fewer daylight hours in winter, and this is MORE pronounced at higher latitudes (like Europe, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand). 
• Some shoppes or attractions may have reduced hours or be closed. 

WHEN is QUIET SEASON for Destinations our Clients Visit Most:

• EUROPE:  October through March.  You’re not going to Europe for a beach holiday anyway, so the cooler temperatures aren’t a problem.  Do remember the daylight hours are short in winter.  Rhine & Danube cruises are now available year round.
• CANADA:  Our clients go to Vancouver, the Canadian Rockies, or Quebec.  If you can cope with rain, Vancouver is relatively warm in winter, and there are occasional cruises to Hawaii.  OR-if you want a unique winter escape, visit the Ice Hotel near Quebec City.
• AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND:  March through October is the austral winter.  Aussies and Kiwis are BIG cruisers, so there are ships there year-round if you want to beat crowds.
• JAPAN:  October – March.  People go for Cherry Blossoms in spring but that’s the busiest time to visit.  If you like winter getaways, go North, and visit Mt. Fuji during ski season. 

Life is full of trade-offs, and travelling in non-peak season is one of them.  Experienced travellers have found Quiet Season… and all indications are that October 2026 will exceed October 2025 for the month with our most clients travelling ever.  Experienced travellers want to enjoy “being there”, as opposed to just saying “I was there”. 

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

In this episode of UNPACKED, we talk about why more experienced travelers are choosing to travel outside traditional peak season—and why the old idea of “shoulder season” may not mean what it used to.

https://youtu.be/SMsVu3WuJy8

In Case You Missed It:

QUIET SEASON MEDITERRANEAN.  Several cruise lines leave ships in the Mediterranean year-round, and that creates a great opportunity to explore the sites without having to compete with quite so many others:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/quiet-season-mediterranean/

AIR COMPARE:  In June, Bob and I found ourselves flying on American, Air Canada, Delta, and United all within a few weeks of each other, and we were even on a Boeing 737-MAX for each leg.  How often do you get a direct comparison like this?!?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/which-north-american-airline-is-best/

SEACLOUD:  If you’ve been seemingly everywhere, or you like to be the first to experience something new, then look at what SEACLOUD is doing.  It very well could be your next bucket list trip!

https://pamperedcruiser.com/sea-cloud-a-river-cruise-lovers-dream-on-the-ocean/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

Silversea’s SILVER NOVA Ship Tour.  We were on board a few months ago, and Laurie Bohn from Silversea walked Bob around this innovative vessel:

https://youtu.be/9yqmgJqNlgw

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

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

YACHTING Experiences with WINDSTAR in the QUIET SEASON

With a maximum 320 guest, WINDSTAR is a casual experience with a great culinary experience. 

MEDITERRANEAN in the WINTER: Venice to Barcelona departing January 30 for 15-days

• Start with an overnight stay in Venice on board the ship, and then sail to Zadar, Dubrovnik (overnight), Messina, Naples, Rome, Livorno (overnight), Genoa, Nice (overnight), and finish with an overnight stay on the ship in Barcelona.  
• Fares from $5686

HOLLAND TULIPS round-trip Amsterdam departing April 22 for 7-nights

There’s lots of Tulip cruises on riverboats, but it’s off-season for Ocean Yachts in the Netherlands – except for WINDSTAR:

• Start in Amsterdam and visit Harlingen, Oudeschild, Bruges, Antwerp, and cruise the Scheldt River.
• Fares from $5479

RIVER CRUISING with TAUCK

Quiet season for river cruises in Europe is March, April & November.  Here are some ideas from TAUCK – the most inclusive of the river cruise lines in Europe:

PORTUGAL & SPAIN on the Douro River for one-week:

• Visit Porto, Douro valley, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Mateus Palace, Guimaraes.
• See the vineyards and estate wineries, traverse the locks, take in spectacular scenery, visit castle ruins, see paleolithic art, and enjoy architectural treasures.
• 2027: Depart April – May or July – November from $5990
• Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon. 

THE BLUE DANUBE from Budapest to Prague for 12-days

• Start in Budapest for 2 nights (with extensive sight-seeing in both Buda and Pest), Bratislava, Vienna for 2-nights (with a private visit to a palace), Durnstein (where you’ll visit castles and wineries), Wachau Valley, Linz (for side trips to Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov), and Engelhartszell.  Disembark in Vilshofen, and visit Regensburg on your way to Prague for 2-nights where you’ll have a private dinner at Lobkowicz Palace, and get a private tour of the Baroque Library at Strahov Monastery. 
• Depart April through October from $7290

VIKING OCEAN QUIET SEASON

Viking leaves two ships in the Mediterranean year-round, providing LOTS of options for those that want to explore Southern Europe in the QUIET SEASON.  Here are two examples:

PORTUGAL & SPAIN: Lisbon to Barcelona departing for 8-days

• Visit Lisbon (overnight), Seville, Tangier, Granada, Cartagena, and Mallorca.
• Depart February 3, 10 or 12 in a veranda room from $3999 with air from $999
• Pre/post extensions available to Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, or Basque Country

SPAIN, ITALY & NORTHERN AFRICA round-trip Barcelona for 16-days

• Visit Marseille, Corsica, Rome, Malta (overnight), Tunis, Algiers, Casablanca, Seville, Granada. 
• Depart January 13 or 24 in a veranda room from $8499 with air from $799
• Pre/post extensions available to Madrid, Barcelona or Basque Country

Viking also has RIVER CRUISES on the Rhine and Danube in January and February.  

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REMOTE EXPLORATIONS

With NATGEO it’s always quiet season.  They put far fewer people on vessel than other cruise lines, and they go to remote places.  

WHALE WATCHING in Baja California round-trip from Loreto for 8-days

• Experience the best of the Sea of Cortez.  Get up close encounters with gray whales; do zodiac tours in search of dolphins, sea lions and whales; go snorkeling to see the sea life; go for a walk in Espiritu Santo Archipelago NP; go bird watching for Blue-Footed Boobies and other species.  
• Departures January through March from $6450

COSTA RICA & PANAMA CANAL:  San Jose to Panama City for 8-days

• Start in San José and visit the Osa Conservation Area, Golfo Dulce, Coiba National Park, Gulf of Panama Islets, Gatún Lake, and finish in Colón
• Departures November 2026 through April 2027 from $6485

CRYSTAL Small Ship Luxury

Crystal has the highest space per guest on their ships in the industry, so regardless of when you go, it will feel like QUIET SEASON on board their ships.  

Cruise with VANESSA WILLIAMS: Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena depart November 23 for 9-nights

• Start in Fort Lauderdale and visit Paradise Island, Samana, San Juan, Jost Van Dyke, Oranjestad and finish in Cartagena. 
• Fares from $4200
• OR stay on board for 19-days, and disembark in Costa Rica from $9520
• $1000 Air Credit available.

San Diego to Vancouver departing January 8 for 139 nights 

• Circumnavigate the Pacific: Start in San Diego and visit the Mexican Riviera, Central America, the Pacific Coast of South America, the South Pacific and Polynesian Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Alaska, and finish in Vancouver.
• Fares from $76,200

COLLETTE — Premium Guided Land Journeys

If you travel outside of the summer months in most of the US, it will be much quieter.  Here are two examples: 

Northern CALIFORNIA and Yosemite for 8-days

• Visit Monterey, Carmel, Modesto (for Yosemite), Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, San Francisco.
• 2026: Departures in October from $3799
• 2027: Departures April through October from $3799

NORTHERN LIGHTS in Alaska for 7-days

Visit the 49^th State BEFORE the cruise ships get there, and catch the Northern Lights too!

• Visit Anchorage, Prince William Sound, Talkeetna, and travel the railroad to Fairbanks
• March departures from $4699.

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, 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 (even if you booked ON BOARD).

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.

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

Columbus – you know…the Italian, who sailed under the Spanish flag to “discover” the Americas, while looking for a shorter route to India.  He was RIGHT about the earth being an orb.  He was wrong about most everything else.  He also NEVER made it to what is now the Lower 48.  Many of us go to Italy (Columbus’ home), but today I’m going to talk about two US Territories that Columbus actually DID visit:  Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  

WHY Visit the Caribbean US Territories?

• Proximity:  Most obviously, they are close-by with reasonably easy travel logistics.  They’re not like anywhere else in the US, and they’re closer than Hawaii.
• Weather:  For those of us in the northern half of the country, the warmth, turquoise water and white-sand beaches, are very appealing in winter.
• Cruise Ship Home Port.  San Juan is a major cruise ship port, with lots of options.

DIFFERENTIATORS: How do Puerto Rico and USVI compare to other Caribbean Destinations?

• You don’t need a passport, and you’ll use US dollars.  They are American territories.
• Minimal language barriers.  There’s some Spanish, Creole and French, but mostly English
• Accessible:  These destinations are relatively well served by airlines

WHO is Puerto Rico and USVI Perfect For?

• Those looking to get out of the dark and cold in the winter months without travelling too far.
• Those considering a cruise.  San Juan is only one hour further than Miami by plane from Chicago (for example), and there are different cruise choices from Puerto Rico. 

HOW to Visit US Territories in the Caribbean

• Cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and do pre or post cruise:
• Enjoy the cobblestone streets, old forts, and Spanish colonial architecture. 
• Experience the rainforests, coffee plantations and mountain villages.

• Go stay at a land resort on one of the US Virgin Islands:
  • St Thomas:  most frequented by cruisers.  Great for shopping and beaches. 
  • St John:  the most relaxed, and best to be in nature, go hiking or snorkelling. 
  • St. Croix:  the most historical, and great for diving or visiting rum distilleries (not on the same day!)
• Cruise lines:  All the mega ship lines go there, but you’ll get a much better experience on a small ship.  We’ve made some suggestions below.

MORE INFORMATION ON PUERTO RICO: 

https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/bobbrad77410/travel/destinations/caribbean/puerto-rico/san-juan

MORE INFORMATION ON US VIRGIN ISLANDS: 

https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/bobbrad77410/travel/destinations/caribbean/u-s-virgin-islands

Sometimes the best part of travel isn’t discovering someplace completely foreign, but discovering a familiar place that still manages to surprise you. 

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim and Bob explore two of the easiest tropical destinations for American travelers: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

https://youtu.be/FHkL5E55Jns

In Case You Missed It:

SEACLOUD in the US Caribbean Territories.  If you’d like to explore the remote harbors of Puerto Rico and the USVI on a ship much closer in size and configuration to a river boat, than an ocean cruise ship, then look at SEACLOUD:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/sea-cloud-a-river-cruise-lovers-dream-on-the-ocean/

MISTAKES WE MAKE WHEN ABROAD.  Good people can be bad travelers simply because they don’t think some things through before they travel.  Here’s some suggestions on how to NOT be that person: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/good-people-bad-travellers/

THE BOOMERS ARE OUR TRIBE, and not just because we fall in that cohort.  While the travel industry chases Millennials, we’re comfortable dealing with people a bit older: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-were-sticking-with-the-baby-boomers/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

EXPLORA JOURNEYS ENTERTAINMENT.  Explora has a different concept for cruise ship entertainment, and Bob interviews Drew Gowling from Explora to learn more about those differences: 

https://youtu.be/9ELX0zxNjZ0

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

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Today’s Travel Opportunities to US Caribbean Territories

SEACLOUD Salt Water River Cruises

If you want to see the US Caribbean territories and nearby destinations up close, there’s no better way than on a Sea Cloud vessel, holding a maximum of 136 guests with a first class culinary offering.  You’ll see coves and harbors the bigger ships can’t get near. 

Eastern CARIBBEAN: round-trip Philipsburg departing December 6 for 8-nights

• Visit Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Iles des Saintes, Nevis & Antigua.
• Sail the scenic Eastern Caribbean islands, and get into small coves and harbors on board the 136 guest Sea Cloud Spirit.  
• Fares from $5995

GRENADINES:  Round-trip from Bridgetown, Barbados departing December 8 for 7-nights

• Close to home with easy flight connections!
• Start in Bridgetown and visit Port Elizabeth, St. Vincent & Grenadines, St. George’s, Saint-Pierre, Soufrière and finish in Bridgetown.
• Fares from $4870

PANAMA, COSTA RICA, BELIZE from Colon to Cozumel departing March 13, 2027 for 12-nights

• Start in Colón and visit San Blas Archipelago, Bocas del Toro, Puerto Limón, Roatán, Belize City, Lighthouse Reef, and finish in Cozumel.  
• Fares from $8740

EXPLORA JOURNEYS

If you prefer a ship a bit larger, but DON’T like the mega-ships, then Explora may be your sweet spot.  They have lots of itineraries that travel between Florida and Puerto Rico that include the US Caribbean Territories.

Explora has a vessel that will be making runs back and forth between Florida and San Juan Puerto Rico for most of this coming winter and spring.  You can do 7-night one-way voyages or 14-night round trip voyages from either Miami or San Juan.  

US CARIBBEAN Territories for 7-nights from Miami to San Juan (or reverse)

• Start in Miami and visit Saint John, Antigua, Barbuda, Terre-de-Haute, Philipsburg, and finish in San Juan. 
• Departures October through March: Fares from $4880

US CARIBBEAN Territories for 14-nights round-trip from either Miami or San Juan:

• Visit Miami, Saint John, Antigua, Terre-de-Haut, Saint Thomas, San Juan, Philipsburg, Gustavia, Saint Kitts, Nevis, and Grand Turk. 
• Departures October through March: Fares from $8300

OCEANIA a la carte LUXURY 

Here’s one more from Oceania.  Oceania includes all your specialty dining, wifi on the ship, and offers a choice of included beverage package OR a shore excursion credit. 

Miami to San Juan departing February 5 OR 19, 2027 for X-nights

• Start in Miami and visit St. Thomas, Philipsburg, Antigua, St. Kitts, and finish in San Juan.
• Fares from $2812

Today’s OTHER Travel Opportunities

If you’re looking to go further afield than the Caribbean, here are a few other ideas:

AMA Waterways on the RIVER

If you like lots of choices for your included shore excursions, and an elevated culinary offering, then AMA’s the right choice for you on the river:

PROVENCE, FRANCE:  Lyon to Marseille for 7-nights

• Visit Lyon (overnight), Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles (overnight).  Experience farm to table food, wineries, Roman Ruins, and the French countryside.
• 2026: Departures September through December from $3099
• 2027: Departures March through December from $3229
• Here’s our video from when we did this cruise:  https://youtu.be/H2rBL8J7DIU 

EASTERN EUROPE: Budapest to Bucharest departing for 7-nights

• Start in Budapest, and then travel the Lower Danube River through Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania before finishing near Bucharest. 
• Optional extension to Transylvania/Dracula’s Castle and Bucharest.
• 2026: Departures September – December from $2999
• 2027: Departures March – November from $2929

Here’s our video from when we did this trip:  https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c 

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with ATLAS 

All the ATLAS yachts carry less than 200 guests, so it’s a great way to see the polar regions up close:

NORWAY & ICELAND:  Longyearbyen to Reykjavik departing July 10, 2027 for 10-nights

• Get NORTH of the Arctic Circle, and experience the midnight sun, the Greenland Sea, and urban Reykjavik
• Start in Oslo, and then take an included charter flight to board your ship in Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean.  Spend 3 days spotting whales, polar bears, and other wildlife in coastal Norway before heading across the Greenland Sea.  Make 3 stops in remote parts of Iceland before finishing your trip in Reykjavik.  
• Fares from $10,764

ICELAND ENCOMPASSED: Reykjavik round-trip departing June 5, 2027 for 7-nights

• Circumnavigate Iceland with landings on 6-days, and cross the Arctic Circle 
• Fares from $6236

LUXURY RAIL Vacations with CANYON SPIRIT

This is the perfect way to take in the incredible scenery in Colorado, Utah, and the surrounding National Parks:

Denver to Las Vegas for 5-nights with 5 National Parks:

• Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
• 2027: Departures available April through October from $5163

Denver round-trip for 7-nights with 4-Days on the Rails

• Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
• 2027: Departures available April through November from $4638

Oberammergau – The Passion Play

Every ten years since the 1630s, the residents of this small Bavarian town put on this play to give thanks for being spared from the Bubonic Plague in the 17^th Century.  Your next chance to see it will be in 2030, but it will sell out long before that.  Viking has TWO river cruise itineraries that include Oberammergau and tickets to the Passion Play:

Oberammergau, Innsbruck & the Rhine from Amsterdam to Munich for 13-days

• Board your ship in Amsterdam, and visit Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel.  Next transfer to Innsbruck, and then to Oberammergau for 2-nights where you’ll see the Passion Play.  Finish in Munich for 2 nights. 
• Optional land extensions to Amsterdam, Belgium, Munich or Prague.
• Departures May to September 2030 from $7499.

Oberammergau & Salzburg on the DANUBE: Oberammergau to Budapest for 12-days

• Start with 2-nights at Oberammergau where you’ll see the Passion Play, and then head to Salzburg for 3-nights.  Next board your river boat in Passau, and visit Linz, Wachau Valley, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava and finish in Budapest (overnight).
• Optional land extensions to Munich, Prague, Budapest or Croatia/Slovenia.
• Departures May to September 2030 from $6999.

Additions to ship inclusions:  5 or 6 hotel nights (dependent on itinerary), transfers, admission to the Passion Play, and an included excursion in each land stop. 

Learn More HERE:  https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/specialty/oberammergau/index.html

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

• $100 per person on board credit
• 6-month final payment date
• $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.

We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:  

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32

Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

We Flew Air Canada, Delta, United & American… Here’s What We Learned

“Air travel has become so corrosive to the human spirit, that we talk about it in the same way we once discussed war”.

Cathal Kelly

Cathal Kelly can turn a phrase like no other journalist, and he’s nailed it with this observation.  I had his quote in mind as we completed a road-trip last month that included time on each of North America’s four largest “full-service” airlines.  By pure fluke, we were also in a Boeing 737-800 for each of these four flights on different airlines.  In another fluke, all four flights were on-time, and we (and our checked luggage) arrived at our destination without incident.

You all have horrible stories to tell about one or more of these carriers, so I’m not attempting to change anyone’s mind.  I will say that the overwhelming majority (well over 90%) of flights go according to plan, and no significant grievances are accrued. But when things go wrong…!

STATE OF THE AVIATION INDUSTRY in NORTH AMERICA

• The adage in the travel biz is that if you live in Asia, you get 5-star airlines; Europe 4-star airlines; and in the Americas (North or South) you get 3-star carriers.
• Skytrax is an independent and international rating organization that surveys passengers and audits airlines for performance and service.  Their results mirror the point above.
• Alliances and Code Shares.  US airlines make a big deal about their partnerships with foreign carriers, but none of them can manage to get their act together on codeshare flights.  This is when you buy a plane ticket on American Airlines (for example), but end up on a British Airways plane.  You almost certainly won’t be able to select your seat in advance in such a situation.  This is only ONE example of Air Alliance failures. 

OUR EXPERIENCE

We were in a 737-800 on 4 different airlines, and were in business class with checked baggage in each case.  We assessed the airlines on check-in, lounge, boarding, in-flight, and post-flight.  

• Air Canada (Montreal to San Jose).  The in-flight service and meals were very good, however as North America’s only 4-star airline, our expectations were a bit higher than for the others.  The lounge was terrible, but that’s Montreal Airport’s problem. 
• American Airlines (San Jose to Charlotte).  Catering was very good.  The hard-sell on the AA credit card was a bit tiresome after the 5 or 6^th announcement. 
• Delta Airlines (Salt Lake City to Vancouver).  Check-in was the quickest of any of the airlines.  They initially denied us entry to the lounge, because we didn’t have a Delta loyalty number.  This eventually got sorted, but not without unnecessary effort. 
• United Airlines (Grand Rapids to Denver). Boarding was quick and painless.  I did think it was a bit strange to charge for internet on board for Business Class passengers.  

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Did any of these four airlines stand out either for good or for bad?  NO.  

All of them had good points, and room for improvement.  All of them are very clearly big, bureaucratic, oligopolies that are not particularly customer focused.  I would not be inspired to patronize any one of these carriers more than others, so my top priority will be to purchase the most direct routing to where I’m going, followed by price.

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

By pure coincidence, we recently flew all four of North America’s largest full-service airlines within a single month—using the same aircraft type (the Boeing 737-800), checking luggage on every flight, flying Business Class, and experiencing each airline’s lounges, boarding process, onboard service, baggage handling, and overall customer experience.  Here’s our story:

https://youtu.be/wUTqDkasqBc

In Case You Missed It:

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS.  Viking is one of very few ocean cruise lines that include shore excursions in your fare.  What do you get, and should you upgrade those excursions?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/are-vikings-included-shore-excursions-worth-it/

ANTARCTICA.  It’s the seventh and final continent for many travellers’ bucket lists.  What are the different ways to get there, and what cruise lines have vessels there?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/antarctica-all-the-way-down-under/

SILVERSEA is probably the best example of classic luxury, so what can you expect on board, and how do they differentiate from others?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/silversea-classic-luxury/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

ANTARCTICA:  I was lucky enough to visit a few years ago, and we put together this video guide for selecting an Antarctica cruise.  Just about all the things we talk about in this video are still valid, but there are many more options now, than there were a few years ago: 

https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls

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

Have something to say about this?

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

WINDSTAR YACHTING EXPERIENCES

If you like a smaller ship, with a casual atmosphere, then here’s some ideas from WINDSTAR.

TAHITI:  Papeete round-trip departing week for 7-days

• Tropical Beauty, Remote Islands, Dreamy Lagoons.
• Start in Papeete, and visit Moorea, Raiatea (overnight), Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight), and Huahine before returning to Papeete.  

• Fares from $2693
• Here’s our video blog from when we did this cruise with WINDSTAR: https://youtu.be/ctytpPPx1tM 

ICELAND: Round-trip from Reykjavik for 7-days

• Visit Reykjavik, Sertsey Island, Helmaey Island, Seydisfjordur (overnight), Akureyri, Isafjordur, Grundarfjordur.
• 2027: Depart July or August from $3468

If you’re a FOODIE, WINDSTAR is a member of the James Beard Foundation.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

Uniworld has custom built ships to reflect the region in which they sail, and go to places the other river cruise lines don’t go:

ITALY’S VENICE LAGOON:  Venice round-trip for 8-days

• Uniworld operates a river boat in Venice – the very best way to immerse yourself in that corner of Italy.
• Explore all around Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia, Bologna. 
• Departures April through November from $2319
• Here’s a link to our video blog when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=IJvnYEJlqJt_iV4n 

INDIA:  Ganges River Cruise for 13-days between New Delhi and Kolkata

• Few countries simultaneously fascinate and frighten travellers as much as India, so visit it in comfort while still being exposed to the things that make this country so unique.
• Visit New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal), Kolkata, Cruise the Ganges, Kalna, Matairi, Murshidabad, Baranagar, Khusbagh,, Mayapur, Chandannagar.
• Includes 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and internal flights. 
• 2026: Depart September – December from $7039
• 2027: Depart January – March from $6569
• OR do one week on the riverboat, and one week on the Maharajas Express Luxury Train from $21,599

SILVERSEA CLASSIC LUXURY

If you like butlers, and white-glove service, you’ll find it on Silversea:

MOROCCO, SPAIN & PORTUGAL:  Barcelona to Lisbon depart November 30  for 9-days

• Visit Valencia, Malaga, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Casablanca (overnight). 
• Fares from $4565

NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA:  Sydney to Auckland departing December 4 for 14-days

• Start in Sydney and visit Hobart, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Stewart Island, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga, and finish in Auckland. 
• Fares from $11,610

Here’s our latest ship tour video of Silversea’s SILVER NOVA:

https://youtu.be/9yqmgJqNlgw

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX

If you’re looking to go to the more remote corners of the planet, here are two suggestions from HX (both of which should be on your bucket list). 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and Quito for 9-days

• 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.  

• 2026:  July through December from $6787
• 2027:  January through December from $7358
• See our video blog from when we did this trip: https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ 

ANTARCTICA round-trip from Buenos Aires for 12-days, with 5-days of landings

• Includes flights to/from Ushuaia (from BA) to board the ship.
• Start with an included flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, and embark your hybrid electric-powered expedition ship. Cross the Drake Passage and enjoy 5 days of scheduled landings in Antarctica before returning to Ushuaia followed by a flight back to Buenos Aires. 
• Departures October 2026 through March 2027 from $9567

TAUCK PREMIUM GUIDED LAND JOURNEYS

US NATIONAL PARKS: America’s Canyonlands departing Phoenix to Las Vegas for 8-days

• Visit Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon
• Departures March through October from $5290
• Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/american-canyonlands-grand-canyon-escorted-tour?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser 

SOUTHEAST US from Jacksonville to Charleston for 8-days

• Visit St. Augustine, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Beaufort.
• 2026: Departures in September and October from $5290
• 2027: Departures March through December from $5690

AFRICAN SAFARI for FAMILIES: Kenya, Tanzania for 10-days

• This is the perfect trip for those wanting to take children or grandchildren to AFRICA.  Give them memories to last a lifetime:
• Visit Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Masai Mara Village, Ngorongoro Crater, and take a balloon ride over the Serengeti.
• Do game-drives, visit a Maasai School, and a coffee plantation.  You’ll see elephants, leopards, lions, buffalo, rhinos, giraffe, zebra, antelope, and many more. 
• 2026: Departures August and December from $9,890
• 2027: Departures June through August, and December from $9,390
• Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.ca/tours/tanzania-family-safari?tcd=YZ2026&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

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, 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 (even if you booked ON BOARD).

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.

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

If you’ve previously exited a cruise ship while it’s moving onto a zodiac, then you lead a more eventful life than me, and have some incredible stories to tell.  Let’s have coffee.  

Doing exactly THAT is part of the program on Seacloud, and the photos and memories we collected while doing so will last a lifetime. 

About SEACLOUD 

• They have 3 ships with the largest one carrying only 136.  For this reason, we call it a SALT WATER RIVER CRUISE.
• Their first and namesake vessel (the SEACLOUD) was built in 1931 by the Post Family (check your cereal box for why you recognize the name).  Seacloud II followed in 2001, and their latest vessel SEACLOUD SPIRIT was launched in 2021

How SEACLOUD Cruises Differentiates

• The food and beverage experience is next level.
• The off-ship photo safari while the ship is under full sail power.
• It’s not really a cruise ship, but rather a tall ship or sailing yacht.  They don’t compete with the luxury cruise lines.  It’s a connection to the romance of ocean travel. 
• The Sails:  Watch the crew unfurl 40,000 square feet of sails by hand.
• You’re closer to the water. Smell the salt air. Hear the water lapping against the ship.
• Experience: The moment the engines shut down and the sails catch the wind is one of those travel experiences that stays with you for years.

Where SEACLOUD Cruises Goes

• The Mediterranean – but not to the ports you’ve been to before.  With a ship that small, they get into places you’ve never heard of, so you can really experience the people and culture.  Maybe smaller Greek Islands, or a Croatian coastal village. 
• We went from Monte Carlo to Rome over the course of a week.  We didn’t dock with ANY other cruise ships, and we only visited ONE port that we’d experienced previously.
• The Caribbean – likewise in the Caribbean, you’re NOT going to a “private island” with thousands of others to be sold over-priced cocktails.  You’ll be swimming or paddleboarding directly off the vessel in some small, unnamed harbor. 

WHO Goes on SEACLOUD Cruises – It’s not for everybody

• It’s NOT for those that like mega-ship amenities like Vegas shows, ziplines, and casinos.
• It IS for those loving casual luxury, and an elevated culinary experience.
• Those that love history, cultural immersion, and destination-focused travel.
• Those wanting to be the first to try something new, and report back on it. 
• Those that like the size of a river boat, but want to visit salt-water destinations. 
• Those that have been seemingly everywhere, and are looking for new experiences. 
• Those looking for a quieter, more casual, more personal, refined experience.

Insider Tips About Sea cloud

• When the crew is preparing to deploy the 40,000 square feet of sails, park yourself horizontal in a lounge chair.  Your neck and shoulders will thank you for sparing the constant upward gaze.  Lie down, and get your camera ready for a great show.
• Book with us this month to get an additional $50 per person, per day on board credit.  This is NOT available on direct bookings, OR elsewhere. 

The PODCAST:  Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED

In this episode of UNPACKED, Bob shares his and Sue’s firsthand experience aboard SEACLOUD Spirit, one of the world’s most unique luxury sailing ships. With just 136 guests, SEACLOUD offers an experience that feels surprisingly similar to a river cruise—except you’re sailing the Mediterranean or the Caribbean aboard a magnificent tall ship.

https://youtu.be/f0tFOdMyVtc

In Case You Missed It:

THE CARIBBEAN & MEDITERRANEAN of 60 YEARS AGO:  The hardest part about time-travel is getting the Delorean up to 88-miles-per-hour.  Here’s how to visit the Med and the Caribbean and experience them like you could have before it was overrun with tourists:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/cruise-ship-time-machine-the-mediterranean-or-caribbean-of-60-years-ago/

WIFI on CRUISE SHIPS:  It’s gotten substantially better in the past few years, but there are still limitations.  Here’s what you can expect:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/wifi-on-cruise-ships/

REMAINING MOM & POP:  Our travel business has grown beyond being able to personally speak with every client about every trip, but we still work hard to remain a people-focused Mom & Pop Shoppe:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/remaining-mom-pop/

Featured YOUTUBE Video:

SEACLOUD CRUISES is our featured vendor this month, and we’ve got a few video resources to share if you want to learn more:

INTRODUCING SEACLOUD:  It’s new to the American market place, but has a long and proud history.  Kevin Smith from SEACLOUD talks to Bob from the bridge of Seacloud Spirit:

https://youtu.be/fy7Kfd1i3ZQ

SEACLOUD “Unicorn” EXPERIENCES:  You can’t do this stuff anywhere else.  Follow us as we climb the riggings, and leave the ship while it’s under full sail:

https://youtu.be/iyRxhlBPGj0

SEACLOUD SPIRIT Ship Tour:  Kevin Smith walks Bob around this magnificent vessel:

https://youtu.be/XkhWMx4dK20

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

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Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid031ozM9sAzNSyz5DzqDm2GWq7yA2mf1j9BX6PKyjxpSPZpJBEwnsLV4vGnmKZ3ow3Fl

Today’s Travel Opportunities

SEA CLOUD Salt-Water River Cruise Experiences

You may have been to these places before.  This time see them up-close, and get to where larger ships can’t take you.

Eastern CARIBBEAN: round-trip Philipsburg departing December 6 for 8-nights

• Visit Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Iles des Saintes, Nevis & Antigua.
• Sail the scenic Eastern Caribbean islands, and get into small coves and harbors on board the 136 guest Sea Cloud Spirit.  
• Fares from $5995

GRENADINES:  Round-trip from Bridgetown, Barbados departing December 8 for 7-nights

• Close to home with easy flight connections!
• Start in Bridgetown and visit Port Elizabeth, St. Vincent & Grenadines, St. George’s, Saint-Pierre, Soufrière and finish in Bridgetown
• Fares from $4870

PANAMA, COSTA RICA, BELIZE from Colon to Cozumel departing March 13, 2027 for 12-nights

• Start in Colón and visit San Blas Archipelago, Bocas del Toro, Puerto Limón, Roatán, Belize City, Lighthouse Reef, and finish in Cozumel.  
• Fares from $8740

SCOTLAND & IRELAND: Edinburgh to Dublin departing June 28, 2027 for 8-nights 

• Start in Edinburgh and visit the Orkney Islands, Isle of Lewis, Isle of Mull, Oban, Belfast, and finish in Dublin. 
• Fares from $9135

SPAIN:  Palma de Mallorca to Malaga departing October 25 for 8-nights

• Start in Palma de Mallorca and visit Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Cartagena, and finish in Málaga. 
• Fares from $8220

CROATIA’s DALMATIAN COAST:  Venice to Dubrovnik departing August 30, 2027 for 7-nights

• Start in Venice and visit Rovinj, Sibenik, Korcula, Hvar, Vis, and finish in Dubrovnik. 
• Fares from $7495

REMEMBER:  On ANY SEACLOUD sailing, we can offer an additional $50 per person, per day on board credit to spend on Spa Treatments, an elevated Shore Experience, OR a great bottle of wine!

RIVER CRUISING with TAUCK

Tauck is the MOST inclusive of the River Cruise Lines in Europe, and have 35% fewer people on the same sized ship as competitors.  

TULIP CRUISE: Amsterdam to Brussels for 9-days

• Visit Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, the Hague, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam (overnight). 
• Departures in March and April from $5790

GERMAN OKTOBERFEST:  Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf (to visit local craft breweries), sail the Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg for a beer-paired lunch, Strasbourg, Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus, Lake Konstanz, and then on to Munich for 2 nights for the world’s largest festival!
• 2026: Sold Out
• 2027: Depart September 15 or 22 from $8990

INTREPID Premium Guided Land Journeys

INTREPID operates small group guided land journeys on six continents.  Here’s a couple of examples: 

NEW ZEALAND: Auckland to Wellington for 8-nights

• Start in Auckland and visit Waiheke Island, the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Rotorua, Taupō, Tongariro National Park, and finish in Wellington. 
• Departures September through April from $5250. 
• OR stay for 18-days and carry on to the South Island and visit Christchurch, Greymouth, Punakaiki, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Doubtful Sound, and finish in Queenstown. 
• Departures September through April from $12,595

COSTA RICA:  round-trip San Jose for 9-days

• Costa Rica is both exotic and nearby (under 4 hours from Houston, Atlanta, or Miami). 
• See a turtle sanctuary, enjoy coffee where it is harvested, slide into the hot springs at Arenal Volcano, see the abundant wildlife in the rainforest, and take a surfing lesson in Tamarindo (or maybe just watch it!).
• Departures year-round from $3368

AZAMARA Small Ship Destination Cruises

Azamara has a fleet of R-Class vessels carrying just 680 guests.  They offer an affordable way to get on board a smaller ship for a more intimate experience, and better destination immersion.

NEW ENGLAND & QUEBEC: New York to Montreal departing October 7 for 12-nights

• Start in New York City and visit Newport, Cape Cod Canal, Boston, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Magdalen Islands, Saguenay Fjord, Saguenay, Quebec City, and finish in Montreal. 
• Veranda fares from $4839

ALASKA Cruise Tour: Fairbanks to Vancouver departing May 30 for 14-nights

• Start in Whittier and visit Valdez, Cruise the Hubbard Glacier, Haines, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, Klawock, Nanaimo, Victoria, and finish in Vancouver. 
• Fares from $8879

Azamara’s COUNTRY INTENSIVE VOYAGES are fantastic if you really want to immerse yourself in a particular place.  Here are some examples:

• Chile
• Croatia
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Norway
• Scotland
• Spain

If you’d like to see AZAMARA’s full line-up of COUNTRY INTENSIVE Itineraries:

https://www.azamara.com/cruises?keywords=country-intensive

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

NatGeo will get you all the remote corners of the world, but here are two close to home the PACIFIC Coast: 

OREGON & WASHINGTON: Columbia River from Portland to Clarkston for 6-days

• Visit Portland, The Dalles (for Multnomah Falls and fish hatchery), Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Palouse River.  Traverse the locks by river boat right here at home!
• Go hiking, kayaking, ride on the zodiacs, visit museums and wineries
• 2026: September/October from $4778

PACIFIC NORTHWEST: US San Juans & Canadian Gulf Islands for 8-days round-trip Seattle

• Visit Victoria BC, Desolation Sound for kayaking and hiking, Alert Bay for First Nations immersion, the Gulf Islands to visit quaint communities, Friday Harbor for the Whale museum, and other islands in Puget Sound. 
• This corner of the country is a well-kept secret.  Visit remote islands to see the sea lions, eagles, humpback and orca whales.  Go for a bike ride in Victoria; kayaking, zodiacs, and paddleboarding in remote bays.  
• 2026: Departures in October from $5061
• 2027: Departures in October from $6150

A NOTE on ETAs

ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATIONS (ETAs) are already in place for many countries, and there will be more.  We get lots of questions about these, and they are really NOT a big deal.  IT IS NOT A VISA. 

COUNTRIES / REGIONS REQUIRING ETAs for US Passport Holders:

• Australia
• European Union (coming soon – late 2026 or 2027)
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)

THE PROCESS

• Go to the website of the government of the country you are visiting, and download their official APP.  There are lots of knock-offs, so make sure you’re using the official one
• Answer the required questions.  You’ll need your passport number, and you’ll be asked about the purpose of your trip, and some other questions.
• Pay the fee.  This is usually around $20 USD (New Zealand is more).

VIDEO RESOURCES

We’ve documented our experience when applying for these ETA’s

• United Kingdom: https://youtu.be/6NGfCqOsDKk

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