CRYSTAL CRUISES: If you follow us on Facebook, you know we just finished a MED cruise on Crystal Serenity.  It’s our first time aboard since the brand’s resurrection in 2023, so we were keen to get on board to determine which of our clients might be best suited to this brand.  

The background:  Crystal Cruises went bankrupt during the pandemic.  The previous owners operated two ocean ships, four river boats, and a plane.  We were invited on the Crystal Skye (a pimped-out Boeing 777) in 2019.  Here’s our video: https://youtu.be/4YaJcEpBsSc 

As part of the bankruptcy proceedings in 2022, Abercrombie & Kent along with Manfredi Lefevre D’Ovidio (of SilverSea and Sitmar Cruises fame) bought up the two ocean vessels.  At the time, I thought this was a terrible business decision: the two ships are both over 20 years old, and the brand was badly damaged during the bankruptcy.

I was wrong.  It turns out that Crystal clients are the most loyal in the industry, and they flocked back to these two vessels.  The same is true of the staff and crew.  Over 90% of current Crystal crew were employed in the company’s previous iteration.  EVERYBODY came back.  This is a come-back story the business school geeks will be writing about for decades. 

Why are Crystal clients SO loyal, and what are the cherished aspects of the brand?

• CREW:  All the cruise lines say this, but Crystal is clearly doing something right if it managed to get 90% of the crew to return (after two years!).
• ITINERARIES:  Crystal schedules its itineraries with a series of 6 to 10 day itineraries that don’t repeat ports, so you can stitch together an itinerary that works best for you.  
• BUTLERS in every suite – this personalized service is available to everyone on Crystal. 
• GUEST to CREW Ratio:  Crystal has only 1.1 guests to every crew member.  

What’s NEW on Crystal?

• FEWER GUESTS.  The 2023 refurbishment under the new owners reduced capacity by 30%.  Serenity previously carried over 1000 guests, and now has a maximum of 730.  This means a larger staterooms, and a near-absence of any line-ups. 
• REFRESHED RESTAURANT options:  BEEF BAR and UMI UMA by Nobu, are world-famous land restaurants that are included in your fare on Crystal.
• PRE & POST options:  The ownership by A & K comes through MOST strongly here.
• NEW BUILD.  Crystal’s ocean fleet has been limited to two ships for over two decades.  There are 3 more ships on order of similar size, crew and guest complement as Serenity. 

VENDOR of the MONTH PROMOTION

During the month of July, we are able to offer the following on board credits for any Crystal booking.  This is over and above anything offered directly by Crystal.  You can use these credits for spa treatments, purchases at the on board shops, or for shore excursions:

• $125 per person for cruises 7 or 8 nights long
• $200 per person for cruises 9 or 10 nights long
• $250 per person for cruises 11 nights or longer. 

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about Crystal Cruises, and the cruise Sue and Bob just finished with Crystal. https://youtu.be/KrxMdXk7E1o 

In Case You Missed It:

GO PLACES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF:  There are lots of places out there are only slightly off the beaten-track, and they’re nearby where you’re already travelling to:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/go-visit-places-youve-never-heard-of

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS have been particularly active in the last several months, but here are some ideas if you want to up your chances of seeing this incredible natural phenomenon. 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/northern-lights-and-winter-solstice/

OUR BACKSTORY:  While travelling with clients a couple of years ago, we learned that people wanted to learn a little bit more about us.  Here’s our story:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/our-clients-and-our-backstory/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

GREAT LAKES with VIKING.  It’s right in our own backyard, and we should follow the lead of tourists from around the world that travel to the GREAT LAKES to experience incredible scenery and wildlife spotting, as well as unique urban experiences in both the United States and Canada.  If locks and canals are your thing, you can also experience that on the Great Lakes. 

https://youtu.be/uDeGzBDb0mM

Have something to say about this?

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

CRYSTAL CRUISES JULY PROMO

See the grid above for the additional ON BOARD CREDITS we can get for you this month.  It is also combinable with the following promos offered directly from Crystal:

• STATUS MATCH:  If you’re a loyalty member on one of Crystal’s competitors, Crystal will offer 5% OFF for new guests.

• CRYSTAL SOCIETY members discount.
• REFERRAL DISCOUNT.  If you’re previous Crystal guest, and you refer someone else, those new-to-Crystal guests get 5% off their cruise AND you get the equivalent discount off YOUR next Crystal Cruise.

Here are some examples:

NEW YORK CITY round-trip departing October 7 for 7-nights

• Cruise with GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive!  This is a great way to take Crystal out for a test drive.
• Visit Newport, Provincetown, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John.
• Fares from $5000 (with a $125 pp OBC only from our agency). 

CARIBBEAN: Fort Lauderdale to Bridgetown departing November 28 for 9-nights

• Visit Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Martinique.
• Fares from $4100 (with a $200 pp OBC only from our agency).
• OR stay on board for 24-nights (and visit just about every island in the Caribbean) from $10,800

NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA: Auckland to Melbourne departing February 19 for 8-nights

• Visit Auckland, Tauranga, Lyttelton, Timaru, Fjordland NP, Melbourne.
• Fares from $4800 (with a $125 pp OBC only from our agency).
• OR stay on board for 37-nights, travelling up the Australian East Coast to Indonesia, and then on to Malaysia and the Philippines to finish in Hong Kong from $20,000.

JAPAN:  Seoul to Tokyo departing March 25 for 11-nights

• Visit Busan, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Beppu, Kochi, Kobe, Nagoya
• Fares from $5400 (with a $250 pp OBC only from our agency).

MEDITERRANEAN:  Athens to Rome departing May 17 for 9-nights

• Visit Messina, Naples, Sardinia, Portofino, Villefranche sur Mer, Toulon
• Fares from $5040 (with a $200 pp OBC only from our agency).

ALASKA:  Anchorage to Vancouver departing June 23 for 7-nights from $3420

• Visit Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell, Ketchikan.
• Fares from $3420 (with a $125 pp OBC only from our agency).
• OR go round-trip Vancouver for 11-nights and also visit Klawock, Prince Rupert and Victoria from $5620.

BRITISH ISLES & BALTIC SEA: Copenhagen to Liverpool departing July 16, 2026 for 10-nights

• Visit Sweden, 3 port stops in Norway, and 4 stops in the British Isles 
• Fares from $5950 (with a $200 pp OBC only from our agency).
• OR stay on for 29-nights for the SOLAR ECLIPSE from $17,160 (5 port stops in France, 2 in the Netherlands, 3 in Spain and 2 in Portugal

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

If you’re a former CRYSTAL RIVER client, you’ll be pleased to know that Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler are now in UNIWORLD’s fleet as the SS Elisabeth and SS Victoria.  Each carrying only 110 guests, here’s your chance to get back on board:

If you book with Uniworld during July we can get you an additional $150 per person on board credit. 

TULIP CRUISE:  Amsterdam to Brussels for 8-days

• Visit Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Dorddrecht, Gorinchem, Maastrict, Antwerp, Brussels
• March 27 from $5034
• April 3 from $5889
• April 17 from $6174

GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS: Nuremberg to Frankfurt

• Visit Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt
• 2025: Depart November 24 from $4319
• 2026: Depart November 25, December 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 from $3869
• PRAGUE pre-cruise available

RHINE RIVER EXTENDED VOYAGE: Basel to Brussels departing August 1, 2026 for 15-days.

• Visit Lucerne, Strasbourg, Speyer, Boppard, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Bernkastel, Trier, Cochem, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Roermond, Maastrict, Antwerp, Brussels. 
• Fares from $7649
• ZURICH pre-cruise available. 

SEACLOUD – SALT WATER RIVER CRUISE

If you’re NOT an ocean cruiser, but DO like river cruises, then take a look at SEACLOUD.  Their largest ship holds 130 (like a river boat), but they go to salt-water locations.  

MEDITERRANEAN: Naples to Nice departing October 6 for 7-nights

• Visit Bastia (Corsica), Viareggio (Italy), Portofino, Menton (France), St. Tropez
• Fares from $4575

CARIBBEAN: Philipsburg (St. Maarten) round-trip departing March 26 for 7-nights

• Visit St. Barts, Dominica, Isles des Saintes, Martinique, Anguilla, 
• Fares from $6495

CROATIA: Venice to Dubrovnik departing August 25, 2026 for 7-nights

• Visit Ravenna, Pula, Korcula, Split, Montenegro
• From $7495

CRUISE on the RAILS with ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

The original and most famous Rocky Mountaineer route starts or finishes in Vancouver, making it an easy add-on to many Alaskan cruises.  On both the Canadian and US Rocky Mountaineer itineraries, you’ll get to see world-class scenery and wildlife spotting, all while enjoying great food and wine. 

Vancouver to Banff for 5-nights

• Spend 2-nights in Vancouver, then board the train to Kamloops, and then follow on to Banff for 2-nights.
• Prices range between $2904 and $4968 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October. 

Circle Journey: Vancouver round-trip for 12 -nights

• Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3-nights), Lake Louise (2-nights), Jasper (2-nights), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
• Prices range between $9940 to $12,110 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

CANYON SPIRIT: Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights

• Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
• Prices range between $5215 and $6270 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

VIKING FREE AIR FOR ASIA ITINERARIES in 2025

Viking is throwing FREE AIR and some substantial incentives at their repositioning cruise in September, so if you’re ready to travel soon, you won’t beat this deal: 

JAPAN & ALASKA:  Vancouver to Tokyo departing September 14 for 23-days.  FREE AIR

·  Visit Vancouver, Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Valdez, Seward, Homer, Kodiak, Sapporo (overnight), Tokyo (overnight).

·  Avoid the long flight (at least in ONE direction!)

·  Veranda Fares from $5499 (represents $1500 OFF) including FREE AIR, gratuities, beverage package, and room upgrade. 

JAPAN:  Tokyo to Hong Kong departing October 4 for 15-days.  FREE AIR

·  Visit Tokyo (overnight), Shimizu (overnight), Osaka, Hiroshima (overnight), Beppu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Taipei, Hong Kong (overnight).

·  Veranda Fares from $6999 (represents $2000 off) including FREE AIR, gratuities, beverage package and room upgrade.

Reminder: VISITING THE UK?

You now need to complete an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if you are visiting or connecting a flight anywhere in the UK.  England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland require US Passport Holders to complete this prior to arrival.  Here’s a video we did that contains all the details:  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

You’ve seen the headlines of locals protesting tourism or cruise ship ports restricting traffic.  If you’re like me, you’re wondering where it will all end.  A few thoughts:

Yes… there is some backlash to tourism:

Several cruise ship ports HAVE taken steps to reduce traffic:  Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Palm Beach, Juneau, Santorini, and Venice (to name a few).  Some limit the number of ships or guests.  Others are adding taxes or fees to either discourage cruise ship traffic.

Under Tourism?

What is talked about less is that in many destinations a substantial portion of the economy is driven by tourists, and (as we learned during the pandemic) UNDER-tourism is also a problem.  So it’s not an effort to eliminate tourism, but rather to reach a better balance.

What Happened in Juneau, Alaska?

Juneau has a permanent population of about 30,000 (and many of those are in the tourist trade).  On a busy summer day, there might be six ships in port, each carrying 3000 or 4000 people.  You can imagine what 20,000 tourists can do to a town that size!

When Juneau residents were polled, the highest proportion (46%) felt tourism was a mixed blessing.  Thirty percent viewed it as entirely positive, and only 11% viewed it as entirely negative.  Similar dynamics are undoubtedly in place in busy cruise ship ports around the world.  

It’s also worth noting that outside of North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand, many cruise ship ports are in emerging economies, and tourist dollars are an effective way to redistribute wealth (by supporting local businesses and jobs).  

What can YOU do about Over-Tourism?

• Don’t pay too much attention to the tourism protests that you see on the news.  They are not particularly widespread, and if you get into the details, I’m sure you’ll see something similar to Juneau, with residents viewing tourism as a mixed blessing. 
• Be patient: each jurisdiction is going to have to find an equilibrium that works for both the people that live there, and for visitors.
• Visit in the off-season.  Visiting the Mediterranean in the winter, for example, is a great way to see cultural and historical sites without all the crowds.
• Go on a small ship.  I’ve been to Juneau on a mega ship (they all dock there mid-week), and I’ve also been there with Seabourn with 450 guests, and no other ships in port (because Seabourn visits on the weekend).
• Go places tourists haven’t discovered yet.  If you follow us on Facebook, you’ll know we just visited Slovenia – a convenient pre/post cruise destination for Danube River Cruises, or for ocean cruises that start/finish in Venice, Trieste, Dubrovnik, or Athens.  Slovenia is incredible, and it hasn’t been discovered yet. 
• Be Contrarian to the White Lotus Effect.  Visits to Sicily went up 424% after season 2 of White Lotus.  Where seeing similar demand in Thailand this year.  Taylor Swift concerts have the same effect.  Know where everyone are going, and go elsewhere. 

Equilibrium will be achieved… it’s just that different jurisdictions are in a period of trying to figure it out. 

In Case You Missed It:

ISTANBUL & TURKEY:  Istanbul is a crossroads, and has been for centuries.  That makes it a really interesting place, and a common port stop for Adriatic and Eastern Med cruises:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/istanbul-turkey/

AMA WATERWAYS:  With a strong focus on culinary, and lots of choices for included shore excursions, AMA should be on your radar.  Their final payment date is also 90 days prior:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/ama-waterways-private-sale-90-day-final-payment/

MEET THE TEAM:  You get emails from our core team, and have probably talked to them on the phone.  Here’s a fun look to get to know them better:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/meet-the-team/

Featured YOUTUBE Post:

LOCKS & BRIDGES on European Rivers.  We get lots of questions from first-time river cruisers about how the bridges (that river boats must fit under), and locks (that river boats must go through) affect their trip.  This video is a few years old now, but shows our journey on the Danube through locks and under bridges. 

https://youtu.be/AgGNSU-7Qu8?si=BChxon3ZqDf5MkTK

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid021qXS4Zst9VTcPGrNpAufbushZ4789icrbpXuzMUG2CNNmEsbpHTY6zziA3x5nKEkl

Today’s Travel Opportunities

RIVER CRUISES – AMA Waterways

AMA is on all Europe’s major rivers, as well as Egypt, Mekong, Southern Africa, and Colombia.  They’re really strong on food & wine, offer multiple choices for included shore excursions, and have a 90 day final payment date.  BONUS:  if you book any 2025 European river cruise, we can get you free pre-paid gratuities. 

MEKONG River: 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.  The featured dates below also include a $150 per person on board credit.
• 2025:  Depart September 22 from $3239, or September 29 from $3089
• 2026:  Depart September 28 from $2799.

AMA on the MEKONG.  Kim from our office travelled with Alex Pinelo from AMA Waterways on the Mekong, and put together this video: https://youtu.be/tvA_WHOYuLo 

COLOMBIA: Barranquilla to Cartagena for 7-nights

• Visit a Carnaval celebration, take a stilt-house village tour, enjoy a jazz street performance,  and San Felipe Castle and Walled city tour.  Enjoy the latin music, sample the famous coffee, and take in the tropical rainforest.
• Pre/post available to Medellin and/or Panama.
• 2025: Departures in October & November from $3339
• 2026: Departures year round.  Get a $150 per person on board credit on:
  • July 4 from $3649
  • October 10 from $3549

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.
• 2025: Get a $150 per person on board credit on November 6 from $4139
• 2026: Get a $150 per person on board credit on July 23 from $4549
• Here’s our video from when we did this cruise:  https://youtu.be/H2rBL8J7DIU 

EXPLORA JOURNEYS:  5% off early booking for Select 2026 Itineraries

With a strong focus on culinary, a unique entertainment program, and huge staterooms, this new luxury lifestyle brand is worth checking out.  Click here to learn more about the Explora Journeys experience: https://inspires.to/experiences/the-explora-journeys-experience-43wo3

CARIBBEAN: round-trip Miami departing Jan 5, 2026 for 10-nights

• Visit San Andreas (Colombia), Colon (Panama), Bocas del Toro (Panama), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), George Town (Grand Cayman)
• Veranda Fares from $5270.

NORTHERN EUROPE: Reykjavik to Quebec City departing September 17, 2026 for 11-nights

• Visit 2 ports in Iceland, then sail to Greenland to visit 3 ports, then on to Canada, where you’ll stop in 2 of Quebec’s Eastern townships, before arriving in Quebec City (overnight).  
• Veranda fares from $10,890

ARABIAN PENINSULA round-trip from Dubai departing December 14 or 21, 2026 for 7-nights

• Visit Dubai (overnight), Khor Fakkan (UAE) for archeological sites and Musandam’s Fjords (the Norway of Arabia), Sur (to visit the sand dunes), Muscat to immerse yourself in authentic Arabia or to go snorkeling, Khasab on the remote Omani Peninsula, then back to Dubai.
• Veranda fares from $3800 on December 14 or $4095 on December 21

EXPLORA I SHIP TOUR VIDEO: https://youtu.be/LHjAS0JKCQ0 

EXPLORA ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT: https://youtu.be/9ELX0zxNjZ0 

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE: Get the BOOK ON BOARD price until June 30 and save up to $750 (or more on Grand Journeys over 30 days).  Only 10 days left! 

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX

HX is celebrating its 130^th anniversary this month, and is offering all kinds of goodies, like 5% off most of its itineraries.  Here are a few examples: 

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.  

• 2025: Depart October through December from $6900
• 2026:  January through June from $7271
• See our video blog from this trip:  https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ 

REMOTE ALASKA from Vancouver to Anchorage for 10-days

• Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Klawock, Fjords of the Alaskan panhandle, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Prince William Sound, and then to Seward (for Anchorage)
• Sail on the world’s first hybrid-electric cruise ship.  See our ship tour video here: https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0 
• Departures May through July 2026 from $4554

HX: GREENLAND & NEWFOUNDLAND from Reykjavik to St. John’s for 18-days

• Start in Reykjavik, and then visit 2 ports in Greenland, before travelling down the Labrador coast to Newfoundland, and finish in St. John’s, from where it’s a quick flight back to the US Northeast. 
• 2025: Depart September 18 from $11,264
• 2026: Depart September 20 from  $10,809

If you’re unsure if an EXPEDITION CRUISE is right for you, here’s an interview we did that addresses that: https://youtu.be/niB-OWhUSSs 

LAND CRUISES with COLLETTE

NEW YORK for 5-days

• Visit Greenwich Village, Wall Street, Chinatown, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial.
• Includes 4-nights at the Sheraton Times Square, 5 meals, and 2 Broadway shows.
• Departures in February & March 2026 from $2399
• 1-minute ‘Spotlight on New York’ video: https://youtu.be/_rRyuJ38vYc?si=CKlmKP0UKvNXTT2j 

NATIONAL PARKS of America from Phoenix to Rapid City, SD for 12-days.

• Visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Buffalo Bill Center, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, Lake Powell.  
• Departures May through October from $4999.

SOUTHERN CHARM:  Charleston, Savannah, & Jekyll Island for 7-days

• Visit Antebellum Charleston, and the country’s oldest public market, see historic Savannah, and stay at the Jekyll Island Club, and visit the Sea Turtle Center.  
• Departures March through November from $3149
• 1-minute ‘Southern Charm’ video: https://youtu.be/2EWB9qvQc6c?si=qyFpoKIy265vIUU_ 

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

Visits to New Zealand and Australia have been booming since the end of the pandemic, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.  WHY?  The region is safe and easy to travel, and offers a great diversity of activities, and natural amenities (particularly New Zealand).  

There are essentially 4 types of cruises to Australia/New Zealand:

1. NEW ZEALAND — A cruise that starts/finishes in Australia, but with most of the port stops in NZ.  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. SE ASIA and/or SOUTH PACIFIC itinerary that starts or finishes in Australia and visits the South Pacific Islands or Southeast Asia. 
3. CIRCUMNAVIGATION of Australia.  Only consider this cruise if you really like sea days, and are ready to be on board for at least a month. Australia is as big as the USA, but with only 25 million people – so the cities and settlements are few and far between. 
4. EXPEDITION cruises to the remote and stunningly beautiful Kimberly Coast in Western Australia.

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.  

So, 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.  LA, San Francisco, and Vancouver are the three big North American gateways to ANZ, and it’s about a 15-hour flight from any of them to get down-under.
• See both countries.  Australia tends to attract more visitors, but in many ways there is more to see in New Zealand.  NZ is about the same size as Colorado, but is incredibly diverse in the natural scenery, and the birds and wildlife you’ll see. 
• Cruise ships are in ANZ year-round, but you’ll have the most choices 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. 

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about why you’d want to visit Australia & New Zealand, and the different types of cruise and modes of travel Down-Under: 

https://youtu.be/GKwJypq5v8c

In Case You Missed It:

TRAVEL BROAD, TRAVEL DEEP – You’ve only got so much time and money.  Should you go to one location and immerse yourself completely, or visit several different places to get a small taste of each?  https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-broad-travel-deep/ 

FORCE MAJEURE – What are you entitled to when external factors cause a change in your cruise itinerary?  We learned a lot when the Suez Canal closed last year: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-suez-canal-and-force-majeure/

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE – You’ve still got a couple of weeks to take advantage of the exclusive offer Oceania has for our clients this month.  Here’s the details: https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-private-sale-in-june/ 

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

OVERWATER BUNGALOWS:  It’s just so ridiculous, you really need to do it once in your life PRE or POST cruise.  Here’s our experience in Tahiti in an Overwater Bungalow: 

https://youtu.be/nyxvjEyjbZM

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02RBWRitghgHKrTTJXNafrs3pH5KiupLJ3LY1LiHVz8uo1Qx1yXwkCXBn6Ku4DThyal

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA CRUISES in Australia & New Zealand

Oceania has 3 ships making port calls in Australia and New Zealand, and we’re having a private sale with them this month, and we can get you the BOOK ON BOARD rate.  Here’s the details if you missed it: https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-private-sale-in-june/ 

Auckland to Sydney departing January 25, 2026 for 14-days

• Visit Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Tasmania, Melbourne (overnight), and then to Sydney.
• Veranda fares from $8999 (includes beverage package, $400 OBC)
• Or go from Sydney to Auckland on March 15 for 15-days: Verandas from $10,299 (includes beverage package, $400 OBC)

AUSSIE EAST COAST and SE ASIA: Sydney to Bali departing February 8, 2026 for 14-days

• Visit Sydney, Brisbane, Whitsunday Island, Cairns, Cooktown, Darwin, Komodo, Bali, Benoa (overnight).  
• Veranda fares from $5699 (includes beverage package, $400 OBC).

SOUTH PACIFIC: Tahiti to Sydney departing March 23 for 16-days

• Start in Tahiti (that is HALF as far to fly than ANZ), and then visit Raiatea, Cook Islands, American Samoa, Apia, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and finish in Sydney
• Veranda fares from $8549 (includes beverage package, $400 OBC)

AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATION with VIKING

Sydney round trip departing December 30, for 32-days

• Visit Sydney, Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Cairns, Darwin, Komodo NP, Bali (overnight), Perth (overnight), Busselton, Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Burnie, Eden and then back to Sydney
• December 30 (2025) or February 27 (2026): Verandas from $13,999 with FREE AIR
• Add-on 7-day land extension to Ayer’s Rock, Port Douglas, and Sydney

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS on AUSTRALIA’S KIMBERLY COAST

Western Australia’s Indian Ocean coastline is one of the best kept secrets in the world.  There is scenery and wildlife in this remote corner of the planet that you won’t see anywhere else.  There are pristine beaches, clear water, and natural desert landforms unique to this area. 

SilverSea Silver Cloud departing July 4, 2026 for 10-nights

• Broome, Buccaneer Archipelago, Hunter River, Ashmore Reef, Jar Island, King George River, Wyndam, Darwin
• Fares from $8480

Seabourn Pursuit departing August 4, 2026 for 10-days

• Visit Darwin, King George River, Vansittart Bay, Ashore Reef, Hunter River, Kuri Bay, Freshwater Cove, Montgomery Reef, Talbot Bay, Lacepede Island, Broome
• Fares from $11,199

LAND CRUISES to ANZ with TAUCK

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. 
• 2025: Departures September to December of 2025 from $16,290
• 2026: Departures from January – April, OR September – December from $16,990
• Click here for more details: https://inspires.to/experiences/discover-the-wonders-of-australia-and-new-zealand-with-tauck-ppeg 

Australia for 10-days

• Start in Melbourne, then fly up to Ayers Rock and experience the red center.  Next on to Cairns and the Kuranda Rainforest and Port Douglas and finish with 2 days in Sydney.
• Departures October through March from $8990
• Includes 3 private charter internal flight in Australia

New Zealand for 13-days

• Visit Auckland, Rotorua, Marlborough Sound, and train journey to Kaikoura, take a helicopter ride over Kaikoura, and then on to Christchurch.  Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka, Ruby Island Cruise, Jet boating on Dart river. Fly home from Queenstown
• Departures January to March, October to November from $13,990

RIVER CRUISES in AUSTRIA with TAUCK

Australia and New Zealand DON’T have river cruises, but “Austria” sounds a lot like “Australia” (and they continually joke about this in BOTH countries), so here’s some river cruise ideas for Austria: 

Tauck offers the most inclusive river cruises:  if you missed our feature in January about Tauck, here’s the link: https://pamperedcruiser.com/what-about-tauck/ .  They also have a whole series of trips (both on river boats, and land-tours) that are especially designed for traveling with multi-generational groups:

CHRISTMAS MARKETS BRIDGES TOUR on the Danube for 7-nights from Bavaria to Budapest

• BRIDGES TOUR:  Take children or teens with you, on this specially designed itinerary to the Christmas Markets!
• Visit Munich, Regensburg, Passau, Wachau Valley, Melk, Vienna (overnight), Bratislava, Budapest. 
• 2025: Depart December 21 or 22 from $4590

THE BLUE DANUBE from Budapest to Prague for 12-days [This is Tauck’s most popular River Cruise Itinerary]

• 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. 
• Departures from April through October from $6790

REAL ID for Domestic Flights

Effective May 7, you’ll need REAL ID to board an airplane for a DOMESTIC flight.  Previously a Driver’s License could be used as ID for domestic flights, but now you’ll need REAL ID compliant identification.  Here’s a link to the Government’s website for you to learn more: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id.  Passports are still required for any international travel.  ‘

We are, unfortunately, unable to answer detailed questions on how and why this change is occurring, nor can we confirm whether your ID is compliant or not.  Please use the link above to get more information.

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 probably know we have always aspired to be a MOM & POP shoppe.  The type of business where we have personal relationships with our customers, and know about their kids or grandkids, and where they want to go next on vacation. 

We have two things working against us in this quest:

• We have clients in all 50 states (and a few in Canada), so we try to create a “Main Street store front” virtually.
• Since we emerged from the pandemic, travel demand has soared.  This is a great problem for a business to have, but it is still a problem that needs to be managed. 

HOW IT STARTED:  Both Bob and I have always been wanderers… we’ve placed a high value on travel and experience.  In the course of our travels, we thought we could do better than what we were experiencing from travel agents so a decade ago,  we began to dabble.  

We put some information out into the marketplace to help people navigate cruises to ALASKA, and got a great response to the point where they were asking about where else we could help.

THE APOCALYPSE:  A few years after we’d cracked the code on how we wanted to help people with travel, the world ground to a halt (and we didn’t get paid for 15 months).  We were incredibly busy during this period rebooking the same trip up 3 or 4 times for people because the corona virus had alternate plans for travellers.  

It was during this dark period that we rationalized our business to stop dealing with certain cruise lines and vendors.  We also parted ways with some of our clients.  It seems covid brought out people’s true nature, and in a (very) few cases we didn’t appreciate people’s behavior.

REVENGE TRAVEL:  Emerging from the pandemic, we had both a supply and demand problem.  MANY travel agents gave up in this period, and got other jobs out of necessity.  There was also an overwhelming desire for people to get back out there, so it got really busy, really fast. 

This forced us to become better and faster, but our conundrum was how to keep it personal, and keep delivering a service the way we want to deliver it.  So we made a number of changes in order to scale-up, but still remain as close to a Mom & Pop business as possible.  

What Can YOU Expect FROM US Going Forward?  

• NO call Center or AI Voice Mail Assistant.  We’re going to keep it personal, and this is why we usually ask people to make phone appointments.
• INVISIBLE systems and processes.  Things that are invisible to our clients are already largely automated or delegated to others on our team.  You’ll get emails from me, Bob, Kim or Peri.  We have others on our team that handle background processes, but again… we want to keep it personal. 

We are not looking to grow this business simply for the sake of being larger.  We do, however, need to manage the organic growth of the business, and in doing so, we’re doing our very best to remain a mom & pop shoppe, while trying to provide timely and efficient service.  It’s a real balancing act!

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about the evolution of the Pampered Cruiser, where we see it going, and what that means for our clients:  https://youtu.be/qzZLsNI7MDU 

In Case You Missed It:

TRAVEL MISCONCEPTIONS:  If you grew up in the United States (or really any other English-speaking country), you have to work hard to overcome the information gap about other places in the world.  Here’s a few misconceptions about traveling abroad: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/deprogramming-travel-misconceptions/

MEKONG RIVER in Vietnam & Cambodia.  The popularity of this destination has increased exponentially in the past couple of years.  Here’s a look at some of the reasons you should have this itinerary on your bucket list:  

https://pamperedcruiser.com/vietnam-cambodia-destination-focus/

UNIWORLD’s RIVER & RAIL Itineraries:  Travelling by river boat, and by rail have a lot in common: you’ll see way more than other modes of transport, and you only have to unpack once.  Uniworld has a number of RIVER & RAIL combinations:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/train-travel-uniworld/ 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid037VaoGh3nazj3swAtKyiLXwzTF52KUFikTVxrQbm2UhXhT7wB9aNzmDC2w46nDg5rl?rdid=COIhjDe5uqoJ49X4#

Today’s Travel Opportunities

CRYSTAL CRUISES

We are getting great feedback from Crystal clients that knew the brand in its previous incarnation, and are now enjoying it again.  Bob and I will be on Crystal Serenity this month… follow along on Facebook!

ST. LAWRENCE & NEW ENGLAND from Quebec to New York departing October 22 for 9-nights

• This is the 35^th anniversary cruise, and Gary Hunter – the cruise director that everyone seems to know will be hosting. 
• Visit Quebec City (overnight), 2 stops at Quebec Eastern townships, Halifax, Boston (overnight), Bayonne (NJ).
• Fares from $6200 per person (save $1000) with a $250 pp OBC

JAPAN INTENSIVE from Tokyo to Seoul departing May 20, 2026 for 11-nights 

• Visit Toyko, Hokkaido, Aomori, Sakata, Niigata, Kanazawa, Maizuru, Sakaiminato, Busan, Seoul
• Fares from $5890
• Stay on board for 23 nights, and also visit Jeju, Nagasaki, Miyako-Jima, Okinawa, Aburatsu, Hiroshima, Kobe (overnight), and finish back in Tokyo with fares from $9530

ECLIPSE CRUISE: FRANCE, SPAIN & PORTUGAL departing August 3, 2026 for 11-nights

• Visit Amsterdam, 4 ports in France (Brittany, Brest, Lorient, Montoire de Bretagne), 3 ports in Spain (San Sebastian, Gijon, La Coruna), then finish in Portugal, visiting Oporto and Lisbon.  See the solar eclipse from the path of totality.
• Fares from $7620 

UNIWORLD – Boutique Hotels on the River

Uniworld custom builds and decorates their ships specific to the region in which they sail.  Fares include transfers, a choice of shore excursion at each port, an open bar, and gratuities. 

BUDAPEST to AMSTERDAM for 15-days.  40% off the last few cabins for 2025

• Visit Budapest (overnight), Vienna (overnight), Melk (for Wachau Valley), Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Cologne, Amsterdam.
• Depart October 29 from $4319
• July & August departures from $4998

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. 
• 2025: Depart September 10 from $14,399
• 2026: Departures January through June from $11,699
• Optional extensions to Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls

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. 
• 2025: Depart September or October from $4999.  November 3 from $3359
• 2026: Departures March through November from $3869
• See our video playlist from this trip: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEP9ouRrZGrhocmhYp7EUPW 

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with ATLAS

When they’re not in the polar regions, ATLAS runs EPICUREAN and CULTURAL expeditions.  Here’s a few examples:

SPAIN, MOROCCO & CANARIES departing October 2, for 9-nights

• EPICUREAN EXPEDITION: Start in Lisbon, and then visit Portimao and Seville, before heading for Northern Africa to stop at 4 ports in Morocco, and then sail to the Canary Islands for 3 ports of call. 
• Fares from $6074

CROATIA: Dubrovnik to Venice departing September 15, 2026 for 7-nights

• Start in Dubrovnik, and work your way up the Dalmatian Coast stopping in at Hvar, Split, Vis Island, Opatija, Piran, and Venice (overnight).   
• Fares from $4229

ATLANTIC COAST: Halifax to Philipsburg departing October 2, 2026 for 12-nights

• Visit Halifax, Shelburne, St. George’s (Bermuda), Hamilton, Jost Van Dyke (BVI), St. Kitts/Nevis, Martinique, Dominica, St. Maarten
• Fares from $6919

INTREPID PREMIUM LAND CRUISES

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

• Costa Rica is both naturally exotic, and nearby (under 4 hours from Houston, Atlanta, or Miami). 
• Visit San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio NP.
• See monkeys, parrots, iguanas, caimans and sea turtles.  Enjoy coffee where it is harvested, slide into the hot springs at Arenal Volcano, and go snorkelling, kayaking, or take a surfing lesson in Tamarindo.
• Depart January through May, or September to December from $3695

MEXICO from Mexico City to Tulum for 15-days

• This trip is closer to home, and allows you to comfortably see the wonders of our southern neighbor.  
• Visit Mexico City, Puebla, Teotihuacan (for the pyramids), Oaxaca, Playa del Carmen, Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Merida, Tulum.
• Eat at award winning restaurants, take in Mayan Ruins and Museums, see the pyramids and archaeological sites, experience the wilds of the jungle, swim in a cenote, do a Mayan home visit, and see the artists’ community and musicians in Oaxaca.
• Weekly departures year-round from $6150 with a maximum group size of 12.

Featured YOUTUBE Post:

ANTARCTICA:  I went to the 7th continent a few years ago with Hurtigruten.  A few things have changed since we posted this video (notably, there’s WAY more operators down there now), but much of the information is still valid, if you’re thinking about a cruise to Antarctica.  Oh… and the images in this video are stunning!

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

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

OCEANIA occupies a unique space in the cruise market between the Premium Brands (Celebrity, Holland America & Princess), and the small-ship luxury lines.  They have a strong focus on the culinary experience, and their smaller ships are a great fit for many of our clients.

In June, we’re conducting a private sale with OCEANIA where our clients can get the BUY ON BOARD price.  You DON’T have to be on one of their ships (or even have sailed with them previously at all) to get this offer.  They’ve also given us a heads-up that there will be a price increase on July 1.  So whether you’re a dedicated Oceania enthusiast, a foodie, or just wanted to check out this small-ship cruise line, it’s worth looking at making a reservation this month. 

Here’s the deal:

• Our clients get the buy on board discount on Veranda Rooms and higher, which means savings of up to:
  • $250 on 9-days or less
  • $400 on 10 – 19 days
  • $750 – $5000 off on longer cruises 
• Includes all taxes & fees, gratuities, specialty dining, and wifi.  
• The CATCH:  It must be booked before June 30, and ONLY through our agency.  You can’t get this pricing anywhere else, or from Oceania directly.  This is only for NEW bookings and the discount cannot be applied to existing reservations.

Here’s a bit more about Oceania:

• Oceania has an unrelenting focus on their culinary program, but it’s NOT all about caviar and food that you can’t pronounce or recognize.  They make excellent food very accessible, and if you prefer a burger or a pizza, you can get that too (and they’re really good!).  If you want a better idea of what to expect, see our OCEANIA culinary video here:  https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo?si=Dtp75qb3kmOLN0k2 
• Oceania has two types of ship:
  • The Small Ships that carry 1200 people.  You’ll have a bigger stateroom on these ships, and there are 5 specialty restaurants included in your fare (in addition to the main dining room, the Terrace Café, and room service).  
  • The Smaller Ships carry 680 guests, and the smaller size ship allows them to get into some interesting ports.  They still have a strong focus on food and wine, but don’t have as many specialty restaurants.  However, the most popular dishes from the specialty restaurants on the larger ships are featured in the main dining room on the smaller ships. 
• Destinations:  Oceania often chooses big marquis ports as the embarkation and disembarkation ports to make your air arrangements easy, and then hit some ports of call that perhaps you’ve never heard of.  For example in Alaska, most of the cruise lines go to the standard ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.  Oceania also visits Klawock, Wrangell, Kodiak, Homer, Haines and Dutch Harbor.  It’s a great mix.
• Overnight stays:  Ports are a different experience after dark, and on many sailings Oceania will offer an overnight stay or late departure, adding another dimension to your itinerary.

The Bottom Line:  If you’re a Premium Cruise Client (Celebrity, Holland America, Princess), and you find yourself in verandas and suites on those cruise lines, then this is a great chance to try a small ship cruise experience for a great price.  You’ll have more space, better service, better food, and get to some ports you haven’t been to before.  

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about Oceania, and our private sale happening in June:  https://youtu.be/ZsGqTvEshoo 

In Case You Missed It:

On-Line REVIEW SITES like Trip Advisor and Cruise Critic can be insightful, but only if you read the reviews with a very critical eye:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-problem-with-online-reviews/ 

EASTERN EUROPE:  The Lower Danube river cruises offer different things to see than you get in Western Europe.  You can also increase your country-count to include Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/destination-eastern-europe/

5-YEAR TRAVEL PLAN:  This seemed a bit over the top to me at first, but this is a great way to convert the things on your bucket list to the “next” list: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/off-the-bucket-list-and-on-the-next-list/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

MEKONG RIVER in VIETNAM & CAMBODIA.  Kim from our office sits down with Alex Pinelo from AMA Waterways, while travelling on that itinerary.  Find out how AMA differentiates itself in Asia, and how it is different than European river cruises:

https://youtu.be/tvA_WHOYuLo

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0RMz6g6tKHPG7FHv1YHxfYJWTsJ6uVeELiT5fdnw16z1NhQkQkuuhEh3oSp7kE5gTl?rdid=scLR7dCTs1tme7zP#

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA PRIVATE SALE FARES

Our Private Sale includes almost ALL Oceania sailings (there are a tiny handful of exclusions), and on any of the sailings below, we can get you the BOOK ON BOARD discount on verandas and suites:

SOUTH AMERICA Circumnavigation departing Buenos Aires on December 21 for 20-days

• Visit Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, 4 days of scenic cruising on the Antarctic Peninsula, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, 2 days in the Chilean Fjords, Puerto Chacabuco, Castro, Puerto Montt, Santiago.  
• 2025: Depart December 21 with verandas from $7999
• 2026: Depart Feb 15 with verandas from $7899

PANAMA CANAL from Miami to LA departing December 3, for 17-days

• Visit Jamaica, Santa Marta (Colombia), Cartagena, full daylight transit of the canal, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta.
• Verandas from $7099

JAPAN & ALASKA from Tokyo to Seattle departing May 6, 2026 for 20-days

• Visit Tokyo (overnight), Aomori, Hakodate, Kushiro, Kodiak, Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Wrangell, Prince Rupert, Seattle.  
• Verandas from $6840

ALASKA round-trip Seattle departing July 2, 2026 for 12-days

• Visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Wrangell, Klawock, Victoria
• Verandas from $6349

CROATIA, ITALY, GREECE & MALTA from Trieste to Rome departing May 27, 2026 for 10-days

• Visit Rovinj (Croatia), Zadar, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Olympia, Valletta, Sicily, Amalfi
• Verandas from $5099

SCANDINAVIA from Helsinki to Copenhagen departing June 20, 2026 for 12-days

• Visit 4 ports in Finland, 3 ports in Sweden, before finishing in Denmark.  Overnight stays in Kemi (Finland), Sundsvail (Sweden), and Stockholm. 
• Verandas from $6849

OCEANIA CULINARY VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo 

OCEANIA VISTA SHIP TOUR:  https://youtu.be/nN5lyXCEy_g 

OCEANIA RIVIERA SHIP TOUR:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU 

RIVER CRUISES with TAUCK

If you’d prefer to travel on the river, or maybe want to do a back to back river cruise with OCEANIA, here’s some ideas from Tauck:

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.
• Optional extensions to Madrid and/or Lisbon. 
• 2025: Departures June through November from $5890 
• 2026:  Departures April through October from $5790

EASTERN EUROPE: from BUDAPEST to BUCHAREST for 13-days

• Visit Budapest for 2 nights, then travel to Mohacs, Pecs, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Belgrade (with a private Palace evening at Royal White Palace of Serbian royal Family), Iron Gates scenic cruising, Ruse (also known as little Vienna), Constanta & Mamaia, then disembark to visit Bucharest and Transylvania.  
• 2025:  Depart August 1 or 7 from $7190
• 2026:  Departures April through October from $7490

TULIP CRUISE: Amsterdam to Brussels for 9-days

• Visit Brussels, Anterp, Bruges, the Hague, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam (overnight). 
• Departures in April & May 2026 from $5690

REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with HX

If you’d like to see some places off the beaten path, HX can get you there in comfort.  You can also travel on the world’s first hybrid-electric cruise ship.  See our ship tour video here:

https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0

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.
• Departures November through March from $9721

REMOTE ALASKA from Vancouver to Anchorage for 10-days

• Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Klawock, Fjords of the Alaskan panhandle, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Prince William Sound, and then to Seward (for Anchorage)
• Departures May through July 2026 from $4554

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.  

• Depart May through August from $7839
• Depart September through December from $7643
• 2026:  January through March from $6900
• See our video blogs from this trip:  https://youtu.be/3F38Km2EEjQ 

If you’re unsure if an EXPEDITION CRUISE is right for you, here’s an interview we did that addresses that: https://youtu.be/niB-OWhUSSs 

CRUISE on the RAILS with ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

The original and most famous Rocky Mountaineer route starts or finishes in Vancouver, making it an easy add-on to many Alaskan cruises.  On both the Canadian and US Rocky Mountaineer itineraries, you’ll get to see world-class scenery and wildlife spotting, all while enjoying great food and wine. 

Vancouver to Banff for 5-nights

• Spend 2-nights in Vancouver, then board the train to Kamloops, and then follow on to Banff for 2-nights.
• Prices range between $2904 and $4968 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October. 

Circle Journey: Vancouver round-trip for 12 -nights

• Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3-nights), Lake Louise (2-nights), Jasper (2-nights), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
• Prices range between $9940 to $12,110 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

CANYON SPIRIT: Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights

• Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
• Prices range between $5215 and $6270 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

Reminder: VISITING THE UK?

You now need to complete an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if you are visiting or connecting a flight anywhere in the UK.  England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland require US Passport Holders to complete this prior to arrival.  Here’s a video we did that contains all the details:  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