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

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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?

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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

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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

GO PLACES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF:  Yep… strange advice, but I’ve learned this is a great way to plan travel.

WHAT?  

We often end up adding on obscure places to our existing trips, so we can experience something new, but “book end” the trip with more major airports.  A few examples from our most recent trips abroad:

• Lambinowice, Poland:  This tiny town, about 3 hours from Krakow is where Bob’s Uncle was interred for 3 years during WW2.  A personal visit yes… but also very different than Krakow or Warsaw.
• Coca, Ecuador:  An incredible journey to the Ecuadorian Amazon. 
• Cappadocia, Turkey: to stay in a cave hotel, and take a balloon ride.
• Lyon, France:  OK… you’ve probably heard of this place, but it is every bit as interesting, and much easier to manage (and far less crowded) than Paris. 
• Plitvice Lakes (Croatia): One of the most natural spectacular places we’ve seen.

WHY?

• It is almost certainly LESS CROWDED, and such places are increasingly difficult to find.
• Often places without a souvenir shop and a Hard Rock Café are MORE AUTHENTIC.

WHERE?

This COULD be a never-ending list, but here’s a few places that are either NOT known (or lesser known), and they’re NOT THAT FAR from where you’re already travelling:

• L’ANSE AUX MEADOWS (or Newfoundland, in general).  Newfoundland and Labrador are politically part of Canada, but are vastly different than the rest of that country.  L’anse Aux Meadows is where evidence of Europeans’ first contact with indigenous North Americans (500 years before Columbus) has been found.
• TIKAL (Guatemala) – in 800 AD, when Europe was in the depths of the dark ages, more than 100,000 people lived in TIKAL (much larger than Rome or London at the time).  The highest pyramid in the Americas is there, and parts of Star Wars were filmed in this UNESCO archeological site. 
• ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON – these islands are near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, not far from the US and Canada.  Make sure you take your passport and some Euros… you’ll be visiting France. 
• YUGOSLAVIA – OK… this country doesn’t exist anymore, and you’ve already heard of Croatia.  Don’t overlook some other former Yugoslavian nations: particularly Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia.  All naturally beautiful, and not yet overrun with tourists. 
• ECUADORIAN AMAZON – You’ve probably considered visiting the Amazon basin in Brazil or Peru.  If you go from Quito in Ecuador, it’s closer to home and every bit as spectacular.

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about how and why they end up in out of the way places:  https://youtu.be/BjsZRSslyZo 

In Case You Missed It:

LONGER TRIPS:  It’s an undeniable trend – going away for longer periods of time.  Why should you consider this, and what are some ideas?  https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-long-and-slow/ 

INSIDER’S LOOK at PAMPERED CRUISER:  People have asked a little about who we are, and how we operate:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/insiders-look-at-the-pampered-cruiser/

WINDSTAR CRUISES:  If you’re looking for yachting experience with a maximum of 320 guests, then Windstar’s worth a look: https://pamperedcruiser.com/yacht-cruising-with-windstar/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

MEKONG RIVER with AMA Waterways.  Kim interviews Alex Pinelo from AMA Waterways while they are both on board AMA’s Mekong river boat.  Learn why this destination should be on your radar: https://youtu.be/tvA_WHOYuLo 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02t6sbVrDj4xc7oXRNAYxnUwEe3aNPcpkDtoY8v9tahRTXZYH7YKRV1LndbthQSDkNl

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEAN – WINDSTAR

Windstar has small yachts with the largest one carrying 320 guests.  This allows them to get into smaller ports of call where larger ships can’t go.  Here’s few examples of COMMON regions, with UNCOMMON port stops:

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND from Montreal to New York departing October 7 for 12-days

• Visit Montreal, Quebec City (overnight), Gaspe, Cap aux Meules, Louisbourg, Halifax, Portland (overnight), Cape Cod, NYC (overnight).
• This is a James Beard Foundation Foodie Cruise… for those that want to add an elevated culinary experience to the incredible scenery.
• All-inclusive fares from $8687

PANAMA CANAL from Panama to Costa Rica departing April 13 for 7-days

• Visit Colon, Full daylight transit, Panama City (overnight), Isla Parida, Golfo Dulce, Quepos, Puerto Caldera
• Fares from $4692

JAPAN from Tokyo to Kobe for 10-days

• Visit Shimizu, Shingu, Kagoshima, Hashima Island, Nagasaki, Busan, Karatsu, Hiroshima, Takumatsu.  
• Fares from $6999 September 2026 through May 2027

AMA WATERWAYS

AMA has a strong focus on food and wine, and they have a wellness coordinator on every sailing, and your final payment isn’t due until 90 days prior to sailing.  AMA does all the main European Rivers, the Mekong, and the Nile.  They also go a few places others don’t:

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 January through June from $3549

DISCOVER SOUTHERN AFRICA:  

• Start in Capetown for 3-nights, then board your ship, and spend the next 4 days on Safari both by riverboat and 4 X 4.  Spend 2 nights in Victoria Falls, before finishing in Johannesburg for the trip home. 
• 2025: Fares from $12,045 with departures June through November. 
• 2026: Fares from $12,170 with departures February through November

WINE CRUISE on the MOSELLE: Luxembourg to Basel departing July 15, 2026 for 7-nights

• Visit Wasserbillig (Rome of the North), Cochem (for Reichsburg Castle), Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Breisach. 
• Optional extensions to Paris (pre trip), and Switzerland (Lucerne & Zurich post trip).
• Fares from $4449 (LESS 5% on any cabin category on this sailing ONLY).  

OUT OF THE WAY ADVENTURES with SEACLOUD

SEACLOUD offers guests a new experience in destinations they’ve been to previously on a small ship (132 or fewer).  We’ve been to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean several times… but not to most of these port stops!  SEACLOUD also structures its itineraries, so you can fly in and out of a major airport, but experience brand new things along your journey:

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

LAND CRUISES – TAUCK

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.

England, Scotland & Wales from Edinburgh to London for 14-days

• Start in Edinburgh for 2-nights, and then move on to the Lakes District.  Next visit the walled city of Chester before moving on to Wales to experience Caernarfon and Conwy.  Visit Shakespeare at Stratford upon Avon, and then to Blenheim Palace and Oxford.  Next, its over to Bath and a visit to Stonehenge, before finishing in London for 3-nights. 
• 2025: Departures June through October from $9690
• 2026: Departures April through October from $9990

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

Turkey (or Turkiye, as we’re supposed to spell it) should be on your radar.  It has very quickly become a major cruise ship destination in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it is a country full of a wide variety of attractions to suit all tastes.  Here are a few ideas:

Istanbul

ISTANBUL stands at the intersection of Europe and Asia, the intersection of Islam and Christianity, and the intersection of the ancient and the modern. It is huge – over 15 million people, and is full of historical sites, mosques, palaces, great food, and cosmopolitan hotels — all along a beautiful waterfront.  Here’s some other points of consideration when visiting Istanbul:

• AIRPORT:  If you’re flying to/from Istanbul, you’ll use the world’s largest airport, and Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline.  Although the airport is huge, it is well thought-out, comfortable, and with plenty of shops and services.
• CRUISE PORT:  The Turks are very clearly building for the future.  The cruise ship port here is big and modern, and very central to the sites you want to see in Istanbul.
• This place has been a crossroads for centuries… so there’s tons to see here.  It’s worth a day or two pre or post cruise. 
• Hagia Sofia, the Sultan’s Palace, the Blue Mosque, historical ruins, modern hotels, Bazaars, parks and public space, Michelin starred restaurants… it’s all in Istanbul.

Other Points of Interest in Turkiye

• CAPPADOCIA — This place is a parade of UNESCO sites.  If you’ve seen a photo of dozens of hot air balloons floating effortlessly over the desert – it’s probably Cappadocia.  You can also stay in a cave-hotel here (far more glamorous than it sounds).  Here’s our video blog from there: https://youtu.be/m6L12POlFqU 
• KUSADASI (for Ephesus) — This is the most important GREEK ruin site in the region even though it is now in Turkiye.  The site itself gets the most buzz, but most people miss the museum in Kusadasi…it’s really impressive. 
• PAMUKKALE is a natural hot spring area that has been operating as a spa since the 2^nd century (so there… Canyon Ranch).  The snow-white limestone has been formed from the calcium rich hot springs that run through the area, and give the water a bright blue color.
• HIEROPOLIS – this ancient city gets very few visitors compared to Ephesus, and is where the Apostle Phillip spent the last few years of his life.
• ANTALYA – Imagine the clear waters and pristine beaches you imagine when you think of Greece… but with fewer people. 
• SKIING – OK… we really don’t get requests for this, but who knew there are ski resorts in Turkiye?

If you’re doing an Eastern Mediterranean cruise that includes Greece, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll start or finish in Istanbul.  Don’t miss the opportunity to check Turkiye out. 

Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED:

Check out our VIDEO BLOG where Kim & Bob talk about Istanbul and Turkey, their experiences there, and why it should be on your radar: https://youtu.be/PZQOiko2TqM 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0jXCYcQ31NCRy4MPP3tTX6nFFTw9tZxvyhMFK5MW6SaWFsJd8sGHmoYC4vSfoz3rzl?rdid=EmBwY5JntyJchzj2#

Today’s Travel Opportunities

REGENT Eastern MEDITERRANEAN

CROATIA, GREECE & TURKIYE: Istanbul to Trieste departing October 13 for 9-nights

• Visit Istanbul, Ephesus, Mykonos, Olympia, Corfu, Kotor, Split, Zadar, Trieste.
• Fares from $5895

CROATIA, GREECE & TURKIYE: Istanbul to Trieste departing May 5, 2026 for 12-nights

• Visit Istanbul, Dikili, Ephesus, Mykonos, Athens, Gythion, Argostoli, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Trieste
• Fares From $9399

GREECE, EGYPT & TURKIYE: Istanbul to Athens departing June 3, 2026 for 10-nights

• Visit Istanbul, Bozcaada, Ephesus, Alexandria (overnight), Cyprus, Rhodes, Santorini, Athens.
• Fares from $9399

RIVER & RAIL Combinations with UNIWORLD

There aren’t any river cruises in Turkey, but UNIWORLD has some pre/post river cruise RAIL trips with extensions to Istanbul.  RAIL trips are much like river cruises, in that you get to see a lot of different things, but only unpack once. 

TURKEY to FRANCE: Istanbul to Paris for 15-days

• Board the train for 6-nights starting in Istanbul, and then travel through Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and France.  Transfer to your river boat, and spend one-week aboard sailing to Normandy, and back to Paris
• Departures in May, September or October 2026 from $24,098

ITALY to TURKEY: Milan to Istanbul 19-days

• 2-nights in Milan, then to Venice for 7-nights on the ship, then to Trieste to board the train, where you’ll travel through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Bulgaria before entering Turkey, and finishing in Istanbul for 2-nights.
• 2025: Depart October 17 from $23,198
• 2026:  May 3, August 23, or September 27 from $25,498

Here’s UNIWORLD’S webpage on RIVERS & RAIL:

https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/cruise-and-rail

TURKIYE by LAND with COLLETTE

Treasures of TURKEY for 14-days

• Visit Istanbul 3 days, then on to Izmir for 2-nights (for Ephesus, Pamukkale, and the Cotton Castle), Dalyan on the Aegean coast for blue azure waters, birds, turtles, and colourful fish.  Konya for path of ancient silk road trading route.  Cappadocia for 3-nights to stay in a cave hotel, and do an optional balloon ride, fairy chimneys, and then back to Istanbul. 
• 2025: Departures August to November from $4349
• 2026: Departures March to May from $4799

GREECE & TURKIYE: Footsteps of Paul the Apostle round-trip Athens for 11-days

• Start in Athens for 3-nights, then visit Ephesus, Crete, Kalambaka, Thessaloniki, and Kavala.  
• 2025: Departures in August from $3999
• 2026:  Departures March to May $3699

ACTIVE ADVENTURES with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

You don’t have to be an elite athlete, but if you like to be active on vacation, here are some great options close to home:

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

• Visit Portland, The Dalles (for Multnomah Falls and fish hatchery), Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Palouse River.  Traverse the locks by river boat right here at home!
• Go hiking, kayaking, ride on the zodiacs, visit museums and wineries
• Departures in March, April September or October from $4243

BRITISH COLUMBIA and the SAN JUAN ISLANDS for 8-days round-trip Seattle

• Visit Victoria BC, Desolation Sound for kayaking and hiking, Alert Bay for First Nations immersion, the Canadian Gulf Islands to visit quaint communities, Friday Harbor on for the Whale museum, and other islands in Puget Sound. 
• This corner of the country is a well-kept secret.  Visit remote islands to see the sea lions, eagles, humpback and orca whales.  Go for a bike ride in Victoria; kayaking, zodiacs, and paddleboarding in remote bays.  
• Departures in September and October from $5897

WHALE WATCHING in MAGDALENA BAY (Baja California) for 6-days round-trip Loreto

• Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay for 6 days Jan, Feb, Mar.  RT Loreto Mexico
• See the Gray Whales, explore the sand dunes at Sand Dollar Beach, and visit the fishing village of Puerto Magdalena.  Go kayaking, zodiacs, paddleboarding, hiking, and cycling.
• Departures January through March from $3155

In Case You Missed It:

How TRAVEL CHANGED ME: Hear Bob’s story of personal transformation from a trip nearly 40 years ago:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-travel-changed-me/ 

HOW TO CHOOSE A RIVER CRUISE LINE:  There’s tons of choices out there, and they’re all good.  How do you choose the best match for you? 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-do-you-choose-a-river-cruise-line/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

VIKING – Why you should NEVER book direct.  We love working with Viking, and we know them very well.  Find out in this video the 3 reasons you SHOULDN’T book directly with Viking. 

https://youtu.be/DZHzPU4NhTw

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