If you follow us on Facebook, you’ll know that we’re just back from Tahiti with the Virtuoso Cruise Icons on Windstar Cruises.  We’ve had a variety of questions both about Windstar and Tahiti.  Here’s the link to the article I published a couple of weeks ago if you want more information about Windstar, and how to get 10% off any of their sailings:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/yacht-cruising-with-windstar/

Which brings us to Tahiti:

Where is it?

• It’s in the middle of the Pacific Ocean… south of the equator.  It’s almost exactly half way between Hawaii and New Zealand, and approximately half way between South America and Australia.

How difficult is it to get to?

• There are direct flights from LA and San Francisco that take about 7.5 hours.  There’s also flights from Seattle that take about an hour longer.  In logistic terms, it’s 2 hours further away than Hawaii.

Why do I want to go there?

• Unspoiled tropical beaches, friendly natives, and not nearly as crowded as other such places.  Hawaii gets more tourists in a week, than Tahiti gets in a year. 

What’s the difference between “Tahiti” and “French Polynesia”

• Tahiti is the largest island in the region of French Polynesia (somewhat like the Big Island of Hawaii).  Other French Polynesian islands you’ve heard of: Bora Bora, the Marquesas, and Moorea.  Much like we often call the Netherlands “Holland”, French Polynesia is often collectively referred to as Tahiti (just don’t make this mistake in front of the locals).  

Is a cruise the best way to see it?

• It is certainly the most cost-effective was to see French Polynesia.  However, if you want to plant yourself on a pristine tropical beach (or overwater bungalow), there’s plenty of land based options in French Polynesia as well.  

What is the best time of year to visit?

• The weather is moderate year round, but the Austral winter months (May to October) are less humid, and have less rain.  If you’re looking to escape our Northern hemisphere winters, I wouldn’t hesitate to go November through April… just be ready for a bit of rain, and some humidity (very much like planning a trip to Hawaii). 

Fun Facts

• The Paris Olympics start next week, but Paris is a long way from the surf, so those events will take place in Tahiti.  
• About 70% of Tahitians are Polynesian, and many of them still speak local languages.  It is much like Hawaiian with a small alphabet, and lots of vowels.  The official language is French (Bob tells me it is a very specific dialect (translation: he doesn’t understand it well)), but English is widely spoken in tourist areas. 
• French Polynesia is a semi-autonomous territory of France.  They have their own currency (don’t use the Euro), and their own government (there is a President), but receive financial and military support from France.  
• French Polynesia is made up of 121 islands covering an area over 4 times as large as the Lower 48 states.  

ICYMI:  In Case You Missed It:  Why we Travel: https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-we-travel/

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Let’s start with some Tahiti itineraries in case any of the above motivates you:

WINDSTAR

We can get you 10% off any Windstar cruise between now and the end of July (not just Tahiti).  Here are some Tahiti options:

Papeete round-trip for 7-nights:

• Visit Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea (overnight), Tahaa, Bora Bora (overnight), Huahini
• This is the same itinerary we did with WINDSTAR, so check out our daily blogs on Facebook for more information.  
• 2024:  Depart October 10, 17, 24, 31 or December 19 from $3899.
• 2025:  Depart March 20 from $3999 OR April 17 or  July 3 from $4122

SILVERSEA

Tahiti & Hawaii departing April 17 for 16-days

• Visit Papeete, Bora Bora, Fakarava, Marquesas, Honolulu (overnghti), Kauai, Kona, Hilo, Maui. 
• A great way to explore BOTH these tropical paradises.
• Fares from $10,900.

OCEANIA

Papeete round trip departing September 5, 2025 for 10-nights 

• Visit Papeete (overnight), Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, Rangiroa, Bora Bora (overnight), Raiatea.
• Veranda rooms from $5599

Papeete to San Diego departing June 16, 2025 for 17-nights:

• Visit Papeete (overnight), Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, Honolulu (overnight), Hilo.
• Great if you only want the long flight one-way, and you like sea days!
• Veranda rooms from $6599

OCEANIA is running its SUMMER SALE right now with reduced fares on more than 50 different itineraries.  Here’s the link: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/summer-sale

Here are three “close to home” examples:

Montreal to New York City departing October 28, 2024 for 11-days:

• Visit Quebec City, Saguenay, Cornerbrook, Sydney, Halifax, Saint John, Portland, Boston, Newport.
• Verandas from $4200

New York city to Aruba departing November 8, 2024 for 14-days:

• Visit Hamilton (overnight), St. George, St. Barts, Dominca, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba.
• Verandas from $4005

Panama Canal:  LA to Miami departing January 24, 2025 for 16-days

• Visit Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Full Daylight transit of the Panama Canal, Cartagena, Cayman Islands.
• This is the brand new Oceania VISTA.  See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/nN5lyXCEy_g?si=SZeYIBvDgsQgvIXO 
• Verandas from $6480

TAUCK RIVER CRUISES

Tauck has the most inclusive and highest-end product, and they sail on all the major European Rivers.  Here are two examples:

Dutch Waterways round-trip Amsterdam for  8-days.

• Visit Amsterdam, Kampen (for the Lakes District), Enkhuizen (with private access to Zuiderzee Museum, and a ride on a century old schooner), Nijmegen (for the van Gogh museum), Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft (with canal lined streets… it’s like Venice without the crowds), then back to Amsterdam for Rijksmuseum.
• This is a great itinerary if you’ve already done a Rhine River cruise, but want to explore the Netherlands more.
• 2024:  departures August 14 or September 11 from $4790
• 2025:  Not available. 

Portugal & Spain on the Douro River for one-week on their 84-guest vessel:

• 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.
• Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon. 
• Family departures available if you want to take your grandkids on a river cruise.
• 2024 is sold out, but travel April to November 2025 from $5890 

LAND CRUISE WITH COLLETTE

Fall Foliage Tour for 8-days from Boston to Portland, Maine

• See the fall colors at every turn, as well as Georgian Homes, visit local craft artisans, Historic cider mill, scenic lighthouses, museums, and historical sites. 
• 2024: Sep 20, 26, Oct 6 for $3999
• 2025:  Sep 21 through Oct 21 (over 20 departures) for $3999

Nashville & Smokey Mountains Christmas for 8-days

• Visit the Grand Ole Opry, and the music scene in Nashville including RCA Studio, Country Music Hall of Fame, Great Smokey Mountains NP, Dollywood, and Asheville.
• A great Holiday trip if you don’t want to go the Europe to the Christmas Markets.
• 2024:  December 2, 3, or 5 for $3399
• 2025:  November 29, December 6 or 8 for $3499 

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board.  Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.

We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.

We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.

There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).

If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02UARNdQcGNRFpN1hs3N6s4RgtEiHRhH8KY4Fu2AEYHjh5xJoadhgToHXBu6aMQEX2l

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

Do you have a 5-year plan for your travel adventures?

Bob was a Management Consultant for 20 years.  I still don’t really understand what that means.  He tells me he helped his corporate clients become better, cheaper, and faster.  I’m pretty sure the hangover from that job is responsible for the checklists and process maps that I now must suffer through not only in our business, but when we travel personally.

So it is with this backdrop, that I reacted with more than a little skepticism when he emailed me a copy of our 5-year travel plan.  I said, “This is a bit much, isn’t it?” – thinking Bob had become the travel version of Phil Hartman’s SNL character, the anal-retentive chef.

“We have to get things OFF the Bucket-list and ON to the NEXT list” was his reply. 

After a couple of glasses of wine, I warmed to the idea.  Like many of you, I am acutely aware of the effects of my own aging.  I am still fortunate enough to be able to do pretty much anything I want, but I know that window will narrow in the coming years.  Then there are the things we DON’T know… like the next time an international health crisis might close borders.  

Or geopolitical events narrowing options.  

THIS is what motivates Bob.  In September of 2001, he had planned a 4-month trip leaving from London and finishing in Kathmandu.  He was supposed to travel quickly through Europe, and then into Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal.  A week before he was to leave, the world changed forever, and more than two decades later, that travel opportunity is still not available.  So you never know when options will be taken away.  

I also don’t know when I won’t WANT to do certain types of travel – I’m sure a time will come where I won’t have an interest in visiting more challenging destinations. 

A five-year travel plan doesn’t mitigate risk of geopolitical events, or health emergencies.  It ELIMINATES the risk of not getting around to making the trips you want to make.  You know how it goes:  “We should go to the Maldives one day!”, and then months turn into years, and next thing you know the Maldives are underwater.

So we now have a 5-year travel plan.  How about you?

ICYMI:  How to get 10% off any Windstar Cruise. https://pamperedcruiser.com/yacht-cruising-with-windstar/

ICYMI:  In Case You Missed It:  MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT TRAVELLING: https://pamperedcruiser.com/deprogramming-travel-misconceptions/

Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA WATERWAYS

Our friends at AMA always have several promos running concurrently.  Here are a few examples

Budapest to Bavaria on the Danube River for 7-nights

• Visit Budapest (overnight), Bratislava, Vienna, Durnstein (for Melk Abbey), scenic cruising in Wachau Valley, Greinburg Castle, Linz (for Salzburg OR Cesky Krumlov), Passau, Vilshofen (overnight).  
• Optional 3-night extension to Prague. 
• 2024:  Depart October 26 from $3623
• 2025:  Depart April 2 from $2960.

Paris & Normandy on the Seine River for 7-nights

• Visit Paris, Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens)
• 2024:  Depart November 7 from $3644
• 2025:  Depart August 2 from $3839

South America: Columbia on the Magdalena River for 7-nights

• Be amongst the very first to discover this new river cruise destination, and immerse yourself in the food, music, scenery and culture of this South American gem.
• From Barranquilla to Cartagena with optional extensions to Panama City and/or Medillin
• Experience Latin Music, the Carnaval experience in Barranquilla, tropical birds & wildlife, famous local coffee, a village tour in Nueva Venecia, a Jazz Street performance in Santa Barbara de Pinto, Historical walking tour in Mompox, Cumbia performance in El Banco, Bird watching in Magangue, visit the San Felipe Castle and do the Walled City tour in Cartagena. 
• Depart June 11, 2025 from $3755.  Other departure dates available. 

** On AMA your deposit will be $400 and your final payment due 90 days prior to departure.

AZAMARA COUNTRY INTENSIVE VOYAGES

Experience Azamara’s small ships (680 guests), that really focus on a certain country or region.  Here’s a few examples:

JAPAN intensive voyage departing May 3, 2025 for 15-nights

• Visit Tokyo, Hakodate, Otaru, Aomori, Niigata, Toyama, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato, Busan, Nakasaki, Kitakyushu, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Kobe (overnight)
• Fares from $6715

NORWAY intensive voyage departing July 28, 2025 for 16-nights

• Visit Edinburgh, Olden, Alesund, Lofoten, Troll Fjord, Tromso, Honningsvag, North Cape, Alta, Harstad, Bod, Trondheim, Eidfjord, Stavanger, Copenhagen
• Remember that after 2025, cruise ship traffic to the Norwegian fjords will be significantly restricted, so this is a great chance to visit this unique destination. 
• Fares from $5869

ICELAND, GREENLAND & CANADA departing July 21, 2025 for 15-nights

• Visit Reykjavik (overnight), 3 stops in Greenland, Saint-Pierre (the French Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence), Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal.
• Your flights are considerably shorter on this itinerary than for other Northern European cruises. 
• Fares from $5395

HOLLAND AMERICA WORLD CRUISE SEGMENT

Maybe a world cruise is not on your radar, but this world cruise segment is well priced, and has a really interesting itinerary.  Very few cruises stop in some of these ports (notably Easter Island), and if you want to visit Australia & New Zealand, but only want to fly one way (or if you have time take a repositioning cruise back across the Pacific), this is a great option

Fort Lauderdale to Sydney 37-days departing January 4, 2025 

• Visit the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, full daylight transit of Panama Canal, Ecuador, Lima, Easter Island (overnight), Pitcairn Island, Tahiti (3 stops), Cook Islands, Tonga, New Caledonia, Sydney
• Fares from $8494 per person.

TAUCK LAND CRUISES

Australia & New Zealand for 20 days.

• Australia is so large and so sparsely populated that it can be difficult to travel.  This itinerary has a number of internal flights included in the price, so you get to see a wide variety of Australian attractions before doing the same in New Zealand.
• Visit Melbourne, fly to Ayers Rock, then to Cairns, cruise the Great Barrier Reef, then on to Sydney.  Fly to Wellington, Blenheim & Marlborough Sound, Te Anau, Fjordland NP & Milford Sound, Queenstown, Auckland, and Waiheke Island. 
• Departures January through April, and September to December of 20225 from $16,290

America’s Canyonlands departing Phoenix to Las Vegas for 8-days

• Visit Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon
• 2024: October departures from $5690
• 2025: March to October departures from $5990.

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks 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

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid033kwhiHqFnPiT9fvvDGVTfovFPyDiJyvqRzVoczELejkroRd2fDzMZmYxrKK1Ym7tl

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

Imagine yourself having been invited on some billionaire’s private yacht (but without all the pretentious dinner conversation), sailing from scenic bay to remote harbor to uncrowded port.  Rather than a motor coach tour of busy tourist attractions, you instead go to a BBQ lunch on a private atoll with a few new friends.

That’s what sailing with Windstar is like, and you don’t have to know a billionaire to get invited aboard.  

Windstar is a niche player in the cruise market, so it’s hard to compare them to others.  They have three motor yachts that carry 320 guests each, and 3 sailing yachts that carry between 148 and 342 guests.  Here are some reasons you should have them on your radar:

• It’s casual – you’ll need to wear pants when you go the dining room, but other than that it’s extraordinarily relaxed.  You can leave your ties and ballgowns at home.
• You’re close to the water – there’s a swim platform at the back of the vessels where you can swim in the ocean, go snorkelling, go kayaking, or just hang out — just steps from your room.
• You’ll visit NEW places – if one of the criteria of great cruise itinerary is being exposed to ports you never been to (or maybe even never even heard of) you’ll experience them with Windstar. 
• It’s NOT crowded – not only because there are such a small number of people aboard, but also because their itineraries don’t go where other ships go.  Most often, it will only be you and your fellow Windstar guests at a port of call.
• There are more active options – want to explore a place by E-bike rather than motor coach?  That’s available with Windstar.  The average age on board is still over 50, but the demographic skews a bit younger than other small ship cruise lines. 
• Food & wine – Windstar partners with the James Beard Foundation so you’ll find the cuisine and dining experience on board to be excellent.

#WindstarCruises #sovirtuoso #virtuosocruiseicons 

Here are a few itineraries that caught my eye:

Mediterranean including the Corinth Canal for 8-nights

• Visit Istanbul, Myrina, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Santorini, the Corinth Canal, Delphi, Athens
• 2024:  Depart October 4 from $4299*
• 2025:  Depart April 11 from $4911 (also includes $250 per person on board credit).

Caribbean round-trip from San Juan for 6-nights

• Visit St. Maarten, Charleston, Gustavia, Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands.
• 2024:  Nov 3 or 16 from $2499
• 2025:  Nov 2, 9, 16 from $3299

Iceland round-trip from Reykjavik for 7-nights

• Visit Reykjavik, Sertsey Island, Helmaey Island, Seydisfjordur (overnight), Akureyri, Isafjordur, Grundarfjordur.
• 2024: August 30 from $4499
• 2025:  July 7 from $4622 (also includes $250 per person on board credit).

Tahiti round-trip from Papeete for 7-nights

• Visit Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora (overnight), Huahini.  Remember this tropical paradise is only 2 hours past Hawaii, and has a fraction as many tourists. 
• 2024: October 10 from $3899 (also includes $250 per person on board credit).
• 2025:  March 13 from $4299 (also includes $150 per person on board credit).

*Prices include all taxes and fees, all drinks, specialty dining, gratuities, and wifi on the ship.

We’re travelling with Windstar this week in Tahiti, so check our FaceBook feed often if you want to travel “with us”.  

BONUS 10% OFF:  Because WE are on board Windstar, we can get you an additional 10% their best price for bookings between now and the end of July.  This is NOT available on Direct Bookings, and NOT available anywhere else.   Contact us for more details.

Today’s Other Travel Opportunities

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

If you’re looking for incredible scenery, and something not too far from home, consider taking one of these world-class RAIL vacations:

Rockies to Red Rocks for 7-nights round-trip from Denver

• Start in Denver, board the train to Glenwood Springs, continue on the train to Moab for 3-nights where you can do excursions to Arches NP (hiking, E-biking, golfing, horse back riding, fishing, WW rafting, and much more), then board the train again for the journey back to Denver.
• Saturday departures in May from $4481

Canadian Rockies for 9-nights round-trip from Vancouver

• Visit Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper.  People fly in from all over the world to experience cosmopolitan Vancouver, and the incredible scenery between there and Banff National Park.  
• Departures in April 2025 from $5274

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

If a river cruise is more your speed, here some ideas from Uniworld’s floating boutique hotels:

Burgundy & Provence (Lyon to Arles) for 7-nights

• Visit Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Lyon, Beaune.
• Optional extensions to Paris, Athens, or Athens/Santorini.
• 2024:  Departures October 13 from $3499 (only 2 cabins left)
• 2025:  Departures in May from $4499.

Venice & Northern Italy for 7-nights

• Visit Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia.
• Optional extensions to Milan, Rome, Athens OR Athens/Santorini. 
• 2024:  Departs Sundays in October from $3499
• 2025:  Departs Sunday in April, May, & June from $3779

Here’s a link to our video blog when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=IJvnYEJlqJt_iV4n 

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

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

• 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. 
• 2024:  Depart October 4 from $8319
• 2025:  Departures January/February/March from $7136.

ICYMI:  In Case You Missed ItThe Galapagos Islands:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/galapagos-islands-destination-focus/

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid034gtZuHv1qkZp8Pf63ushUegkqAa6xSPssZg7rkaL4kaBEhKPyzd8yPPSxV1usAKkl

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 can remember when there was NO internet, and that it was supposed to put travel agents out of business.  If I could transport this blog post back in time to the mid 90s (when the internet was just starting to become disruptive), it would have been considered heresy in travel agent circles.  With that anecdote as a backdrop, here are some websites and travel APPs that I use (and how I use them).

Let’s talk about the Google ones first:

Google Translate – remember when you’d take a phrase book on vacation?  This APP is reliable (although not perfect), and you can use your camera for instant translation of a sign or document, OR you can speak into it, and it will do instant translation.  

Google Flights – travel agents have fancy booking engines they can use to look at air options across various carriers.  I use Google Flights for my personal flight research  – it has just about all the functionality that those proprietary systems travel agents use.  

Google Maps – you undoubtedly use this already.  When you’re travelling, to save bandwidth (and potential roaming charges), you may want to download maps of the area you’re visiting before you leave home. 

Virtuoso Destinations – this one comes from the consortium we belong to, and the site is designed to help travel agents sell travel (in the interest of full disclosure).  However, there are tons of great short articles, as well as links to hotels and tours.  Here’s the link: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/bobbrad77410/travel/destinations 

Seat Guru (www.seatguru.com).  This provides seat maps for air carriers that I have found to be far easier to use, and with much better information than the airlines’ websites.  There are also reviews of individual seat locations by travellers that have been on that specific plane.

Trip Advisor & Cruise Critic.  These wiki sites can be valuable, but it’s a bit like panning for gold.  The overwhelming majority of the information and feedback on both sites is junk.  Eliminate ALL the 5-star and 1-star reviews, then go looking for specific and thoughtful feedback.  There won’t be much remaining, but the few thoughtful reviews that navigate the shades of gray (as opposed to the black and white reviews that are encouraged on both sites) are really helpful. 

Costco Travel.  Nobody can beat Costco for rental cars, and sometimes hotels.

E-Sim APPS.  These are APPs you can download to your phone to enable better and cheaper connectivity when you’re travelling abroad.  I’ve experimented with a few of them, and when I find one I think is really good, I’ll share that with you. 

Airline APPs.  Some are certainly better than others, but I always download the APP for the carrier with whom I am flying.  You’ll get instant notification of flight changes and delays – something that is very helpful.

Travel Insurance APP.  Likewise if your insurance carrier has an APP you can download to your phone, you should do so.  Trying to find an emergency phone number or your policy number DURING a crisis never goes well. 

E-books & Podcasts.  I load my iPad up with both prior to leaving on a trip – particularly if there’s a long flight involved. 

Uber.  In most places abroad, the Uber APP will work just as well as it does at home, and in many cases is a far better option than a local taxi. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

SEABOURN

Seabourn is like travelling on friend’s yacht – although a bit bigger.  Seabourn ships hold between 450 and 600 guests, and are fully inclusive.  Here’s a couple trips that caught my eye:

Turkey & Greece departing October 27, 2024 for one week

• Visit Istanbul, Canakkale (for Troy), Izmir, Patmos, Rhodes, Spetses, Athens.
• As a gift from our agency, get a private wine tour in Rhodes.
• Veranda rooms from $3999

Portugal, Morocco & Spain departing November 2, 2024 for 14-days

• Visit Barcelona, Malaga, Tangier, Casablanca (overnight), 4 stops in the Canary Islands with an overnight in Tenerife, Madeira, Lisbon
• As a gift from our agency, get a private car & driver in Casablanca.
• This cruise is on Seabourn Sojourn.  See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/RJT7BVFpoqo?si=r337iyX3FMalm-P- 
• Fares start at $7499 on this all-suite vessel.

CRUISING WITH TAUCK

You may know Tauck as the luxury land-tour operator.  Time to check out their river cruises, and small ship ocean adventures.

Portugal & Spain on the Douro River for one-week on their 84-guest vessel:

• 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.
• 2024 is sold out, but travel April to November 2025 from $5890

Great Lakes between Chicago and Toronto for 12-days:

• 2-nights in Chicago, the board the ship (Le Bellot – 184 guests) to visit Muskegon and Holland (Michigan), Mackinac Island, Detroit (for the Henry Ford Museum), Cleveland (for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame), traverse the locks of the Welland Canal, Niagara Falls, and 2-nights in Cosmopolitan Toronto.
• 2025:  Departures in August & September for $10,790.  There are a handful of spots left in August/September 2024 – inquire. 

MOROCCO ADVENTURE WITH INTREPID PREMIUM 

This land-cruise is a 4-star exploration of this incredibly interesting and diverse country in Northern Africa.  Part European, part African, and completely engaging.  This is a great pre or post adventure for a Mediterranean cruise:

Casablanca to Marrakech for 12-days:

• Visit Casablanca, Meknes/Fez, Erfoud, Sahara Desert, Skoura, Ait Benhaddou, Imlil, Marrakech.

• Experience the urban culture in Casablanca and Marrakech; be escorted through the twisting streets of the medinas; see Roman ruins, have lunch with a local family in the High Atlas Mountains, do a Sahara Desert “Camp” and camel ride.  Stay at a desert oasis town, see the Todra Gorge, visit a Kasbah owned by the same family for 300 years. Stay at Ait Benhaddou – a popular spot for film production (Lawrence of Arabia, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Game of Thrones, Gladiator).
• Weekly departures July through December from $3715 pp.  Includes transfers, accommodation, most meals.

CANADIAN ROCKIES and GLACIER NP with COLLETTE

Calgary round-trip for 7-days

• Visit Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, Waterton Lakes, Athabasca Glacier, Glacier NP, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump.
• Weekly departures May through September from $3299.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS WITH HX

• 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights.  Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.
• $6539 for departures in November & December of 2024.  Fare also available in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2025.

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board.  Our clients worry that if they book on-line (or on board), that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation.

We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.

We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.

There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).

If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

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

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

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

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

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

Ways to see Australia & New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMA WATERWAYS

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

Mekong River to Vietnam & Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap for 7-nights

• Visit local markets and temples, do a local school visit, get a tuk tuk tour of Phnom Penh, and experience the amazing people, culture and food of the unique part of the world on a fully escorted trip.
• Twin Balcony rooms from $2999 in September 2024, or $3099 in September 2025.  Lots of other departures dates available – inquire. 
• See our ship tour video of AMA’s Mekong River ship:  https://youtu.be/T6YIfrUbDwk?si=oXnRW6fNH9mvO9yX 

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

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

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

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

TAUCK DOMESTIC LAND CRUISES

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

Michigan Lakes and Mackinac Island from Traverse City to Detroit for 8-days

• Visit Traverse City (for the sand dunes, vineyards, and sandy beaches), Petoskey, Mackinac island, Midland, Bay City, Frankenmuth Bavarian Village, Dearborn (for Henry Ford Museum), Detroit.
• Limited space from now through October in 2024 from $4890 per person.
• Departures in 2025: May to October from $5290 per person.

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

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

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