Last night, at about 10.30 Eastern Time, we experienced the winter solstice (do you feel any different?).  Yep… today will have a little more daylight than yesterday… we’re over the hump.

The longer nights do, however, make it much easier to see the Northern Lights, and many of you have been asking about this recently, so I thought I’d offer some perspectives.

• The best conditions to see the Aurora Borealis are dark, clear skies, and the further north, the better.  But occasionally mother nature lets us see them further south, and in twilight conditions. 
• They are most visible between October and March.
• A common question is whether you will see them on an Alaskan Cruise.  The Alaskan cruise ship season runs from May to September, so it would be extraordinarily rare to see them from a cruise ship in Alaska. 
• Likewise, you won’t see the Auroras on an Antarctic Cruise… because it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s summer.  
• Many people prefer to see them from a cruise ship because the logistics are easier: you can usually embark and disembark from places easier to get to/from.  Ships can also adjust course to find better places to see the Northern Lights (the big impediment is usually clouds).
• There are some land-based locations where seeing them is fairly reliable.  Bob worked in the Oil Patch in Northern Canada for a couple years, and reports seeing them frequently.  However… I don’t think you’d be all that excited if I sent you to Fort McMurray, Alberta.  Luckily Alaska, Iceland, and Scandinavia all have properties from which you have a reasonable chance to see the Northern Lights.  
• Some of you worry about the cold… I’m afraid I can’t solve that problem for you, but can tell you that most cruise lines and land resorts will provide some winter clothing for you, so you don’t have to buy an entirely new wardrobe if you’re chasing the Northern Lights.  

Here are a few ways to experience the Northern Lights:

Viking Ocean for 13-days between London and Bergen

• Visit London, Amsterdam, Narvik, Tromso (overnight), Alta (overnight), Bergen (overnight).

• 2024 is mostly sold out, but you can go in January through March 2025 in a Veranda starting at $4999 per person.
• For those that love Viking, or prefer a small-ship luxury experience, this trip fits the bill. 

Northern Lights Promise with Hurtigruten for 12-days round-trip from Bergen.  

• Hurtigruten offers the “Northern Lights Promise”.  They are confident enough that you’ll see the Northern Lights, that if they don’t appear, they’ll offer you another cruise free.
• This ship also doubles as a Norwegian Coastal ferry and makes several stops a day.  You won’t find a more authentic way to see these remote parts of Norway, but it’s not a traditional cruise experience.  
• Window rooms with a Queen Bed from $4820 per person in March, or $3688 in November. 

If you’d prefer to see the Northern Lights from Land, here are some suggestions:

Alaska Northern Lights for 7-days with Collette.  

• Visit Fairbanks, Talkeetna, and Anchorage.  Travel by Alaska Rail, go dog sledding, and a Winter Glacier cruise in Prince William Sound.
• Depart March 25 or 30 from $3899

Churchill, Manitoba for 7-days with Natural Habitat Adventures

• Churchill is in the northernmost part of the Canadian Province of Manitoba, on Hudson’s Bay.  It’s about a 3 hour flight north from Winnipeg.  Churchill has some of the most intense Auroral activity on earth, and you can see it from their 360 glass Aurora Pod.
• Churchill’s other claim to fame is that it’s where people go to see Polar Bears in the wild.  
• You can visit January through March for 7-days from $7395 per person.  They provide all the parkas and other cold weather gear for you.  
• This location is much closer and easier to get to than Alaska or Norway.

Merry Christmas if that is what you’re celebrating this week.  If you’ve just finished your Hanukkah celebration, then Crag Sameach.  If there are other festivities in your plans for the next week, then I hope you are able to enjoy a peaceful and happy holiday with those most important to you.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

In the event you’re looking for something different than the Northern Lights, here are a few things that came across my desk this week:

Oceania Happiest Holiday Sale

Our friends at Oceania are pretty good at letting us know when they’re going to raise prices, and that will happen on January 1, 2024, so you may want to take a look now – particularly at those cruises they’ve included in their holiday sale:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/holiday.  Here are a few examples, and due to our exclusive arrangement with them, we can get you free prepaid gratuities on these cruises:

Vancouver to LA departing September 14 for 12-days

• Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, Prince Rupert, Victoria, Astoria
• Verandas from $4599 with a $400 shore excursion credit and prepaid gratuities.

Dubai to Trieste (Italy) departing May 14 for 15 days

• Visit Dubai, Fujairah (UAE), Cephalonia (Greece), Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Venice (Trieste).
• Verandas from $4299 with a $500 shore excursion credit, and free prepaid gratuities. 

London to Barcelona departing September 22 for 10-days.

• Visit Bordeaux (overnight), Bilbao, La Coruna, Oporto, Lisbon, Valencia, Barcelona
• Verandas from $4199 with a $400 shore excursion credit and free prepaid gratuities. 

Uniworld Early Booking Bonus 10% off

If you’re looking ahead to 2025, then Uniworld is offering 10% as an early booking bonus on many cruises: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/current-offers/2025-early-booking-savings.  Here’s two examples:

Portugal & Spain departing April 6 or April 13, 2025 for 7-nights

• Portugal is mostly sold out in 2024, so you may want to look at 2025. 
• Round-trip from Porto.  Experience wineries, scenic cruising, roman ruins, and the Moorish influence of this corner of Europe.  
• Fares starting at $4899 LESS 10% early booking discount

Amsterdam to Bucharest for 24 days departing April through July

• Explore 10 different countries from the Atlantic to the Black Sea, and only have to unpack once on Uniworld’s Boutique riverboat. 
• Visit the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria. 
• Fares starting at $10,199 LESS 10% early booking discount.

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

You may be aware we’re just finishing a river cruise in the Eastern agricultural region in France this week with our friends at AMA Waterways.  Kristin Karst is the co-founder and co-owner of AMA, and she’s invited us to spend a week with her on her namesake ship – the AMA Kristina.  We’ll “re-live” the trip starting tomorrow on our Facebook page if you want to follow along.  Here’s the link:  Facebook

We’ve not done a river cruise in this region previously, so here are some of our impressions if you’re considering something similar.

• Lyon is known as the Gastronomical Capital of France, and the French excel in culinary on a global level, so if you’re a foodie, you’ll really like it here. 
• The city is large enough (the 3^rd largest in France) to provide lots of options, but is ultimately more navigable than Paris.  If you love the French urban scene, but don’t need the Eiffel Tower and other Paris attractions, then Lyon will serve you well.
• We’re here for the Fete des Lumieres (Festival of Lights), and if you’re considering a December trip to this part of France, it’s worth considering coinciding your trip with this event.  There are exhibits all over town that combine light and music.  Consider it like a more diverse (and more interesting) version of a massive 4-day long fireworks display.  
• Most river cruises include 2-nights in Lyon, but if you’re looking to really get into the history and culinary scene, you’ll want to add an additional night or two. 
• The city is very walkable, or if you prefer to get around by bicycle, there are miles of dedicated bike paths.  
• Lyon is located at the confluence of the Saone and Rhone Rivers… so it seems like everything is waterfront.  
• River cruises typically go between Lyon in the North, and Avignon or Arles in the South down near Marseilles and the Mediterranean.  You really don’t go far in a week – It’s only 175 miles between these ports.
• There is wine at literally every turn in this region, with the Beaujolais and Chateau-Neuf-de-Pape being the two best known.
• The Romans occupied this area for several hundred years, and there are ruins and other evidence of their time here. 
• We’re here in December, so there are Christmas Markets, but not to the same degree you would find them in Germany, or in larger cities like Paris, Amsterdam or Budapest.  
• We’re needing to get home in time for Christmas, but MOST of our clients would add on a few extra days in Paris or the French Riviera when doing this cruise.  You’re in the neighborhood… why not?

A note on winter travel to Europe

We’ve learned to love Europe in the winter months, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Europe is much further north than we perceive it to be.  As a point of reference, Venice Italy and Montreal are at the same latitude, so MOST of Europe is north of the Canadian border.  The weather is somewhat more moderate in Europe than Canada, but winter is dark, and can be cool.  We didn’t experience anything below freezing, but it was in the 30s and 40s for most of our trip. 
• There are WAY fewer tourists, and that is the reason we like it here in winter.
• Travel logistics are more tentative in winter.  In the past couple of weeks, both Munich and Amsterdam (two major European gateways) had substantial weather events this month.  We, and virtually everyone on the ship had some adjustments to their flight schedules.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Provence & Lyon, France with AMA Waterways

All the river cruise lines are in Provence, and AMA does it particularly well.  They offer several choices for shore excursions in each port of call, and their membership in the Chaines des Rotisseurs ensures you will have an authentic and top quality culinary experience.  

Come to the Provence and the Rhone Valley to experience farm to table cuisine, abundant Roman ruins (that aren’t completely overwhelmed by tourists), charming small towns, lavender fields, and the urban experiences in Lyon and Marseilles.  

Here are some examples:

• Lyon to Arles departing March 14 for 7-nights
  • Free Upgrades and On-board gratuities
  • Balconies: $4779.  Suites: $6679
  • Optional 3-night pre-trip in Paris, and 3-nights post-trip in Barcelona for $2550.
• Dijon to Arles departing July 18 OR August 8 for 7-nights
  • Extra $150 per person on board credit
  • Balconies: $4899.  Suites: $6599
  • Optional 3-night pre-trip in Geneva, and 3-nights post-trip in Nice for $2730.
• Arles to Lyon departing December 12 for 7-nights
  • Extra $150 per person on board credit
  • Balconies: $4939.  Suites: $6839
  • Optional 3-night pre-trip in Barcelona, and 3-nights post-trip in Paris for $2550

Explora Journeys Total Luxury Offer

Explora has “Goldilocks” sized ships:  big enough to offer a wide range of food and entertainment venues, but small enough to still feel intimate and have intuitive, personal service.  They also have the largest suites at sea:

Barcelona to Miami departing November 29 for 17-nights

• Visit Cadiz, Madeira, Bridgetown, Guadeloupe, Antigua & Barbuda, San Juan
• A great opportunity to enjoy all the amenities on this new ship.
• Suites start at $5460 per person (represents 40% off)

Miami Round-trip departing January 14, 2025 for 10-nights

• Visit New Orleans (overnight), Cozumel, Merida (overnight), Bahamas.
• If you’ve been everywhere in the Caribbean, but would like a winter getaway, this is a unique itinerary. 
• Suites start at $4800 per person (represents 25% off)

Explora Journeys fares include all taxes & fees, an open bar, on-board gratuities, specialty dining, and the minimum suite size is 300 square feet with a 75 square foot veranda with a table and chairs, as well as a daybed.  

Viking Free Air Promos

We’re seeing some free air, and reduced rates on Viking, with many itineraries with some domestic ports:

Duluth, Minnesota to Toronto departing July 20 for 15-days

• Visit Duluth, Thunder Bay, Silver Islet, Mackinac Island, Algoma, Alpena, Fraser Bay, Killarney, Parry Sound, Windsor, Cleveland, Niagara Falls, Welland Canal, Toronto
• A great chance to visit some out-of-the-way places in our own back yard.
• Nordic Balconies from $12,995 including air.

New Orleans to Memphis departing June 13 (or November 14) for 8-days

• Visit Darrow, La Layette, Baton Rouge, Darrow, Natchez, St. Francisville, Vicksburg, Greenville
• Deluxe Verandas from $5999 including air.

Tokyo to Vancouver departing April 23 for 23-days

• Visit Tokyo, Sapporo, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, Vancouver 
• Visit Asia without having to fly both ways, and see some less-frequented ports in Alaska.  
• Veranda Rooms from $7499 including air.

These Viking fares include all taxes & fees, round-trip air, a shore excursion in each port of call, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship. 

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

We are in Lyon, France for the next 10-days to take part in the Virtuoso Cruise Icons annual event.  These are our peers, and we’ve built some strong friendships with many of these folks.  Kristin Karst, one of the owners of AMA Waterways is hosting us on this river cruise through Provence to experience the Christmas Markets and the Fete des Lumieres (Festival of Lights) in Lyon.

Don’t worry… Peri, Kim and Satonis are all in the office if you need anything this next week.  

Our trip didn’t start out very well: The plane that was supposed to carry us to Europe got stuck in a freak snow storm in Amsterdam, so we woke up Monday morning to the news that our flight had been cancelled.  It ultimately worked out, but it reminded me that I haven’t talked about air travel challenges in a while.  Here are some things to keep in mind for the next time you travel by air:

First, the not-so-good news:

• Airlines are still recovering from the pandemic.  Performance of the airlines is better than it was a year ago, but still not as good as it should be.  The Federal Government threw $50 billion plus at the airlines during the pandemic so they WOULDN’T be short staffed post-pandemic… ask your elected representatives what happened.  Before the partisan hate-mail starts, be aware that both the current government and the previous one pushed these billions of our tax dollars to the airlines (in almost equal measure).
• We’re poorly served by airlines in North America.  Skytrax audits airlines globally with an objective criteria as opposed to (un)popular opinion polls.  The highest rating is 5-stars, and currently ALL 5-star air carriers are from Asia.  With the exception of Air Canada (4-stars), all North American carriers are 3-stars or less.

Now some ideas for coping with air travel:

• Plan for weather delays in winter.  Despite my rant about airlines above, it was not KLM’s fault that weather prevented the plane from picking us up.  These things happen in winter. 
• Travel interruptions usually fix themselves.  The first email I got on Monday from KLM was that my flight was cancelled.  Two hours later I was emailed my replacement schedule on one of KLM’s competitors.  Our natural instinct is to want to talk to someone at the airlines when schedules change.  Often it will be faster (and far less frustrating) just to wait. 
• Plan to arrive a day or two in advance of a cruise or land tour.  If you’re crossing more than 3 time zones, you’ll have some jet lag, and having a buffer for potential delays, will save you some worry and stress. 
• Consider Premium or Business Class.  It will cost you more, but sometimes it’s not THAT much more.  For this trip, we ended up paying about $600 more each to be in Business Class… and worth every penny.  Remember it’s not only the extra space on the plane (although that is really nice).  It’s about priority check-in, priority boarding, priority bag handling, and lounge access.  All of which help on a long travel day. 
• Be careful with cruise line air.  Unless you’re saving a lot of money by booking your air through the cruise line, you’re usually better off doing your own thing.  You’ll control way more variables, and have more flexibility if you book directly with the airline. 
• Use Air Tags if you’re an iPhone user.  In the past when the airlines have lost my baggage, I’ve have been able to advise THEM where to look for it.  Also, when my pals at United Airlines decided to “deliver” my bag to the sidewalk in front of my house, instead of to my doorstep, I was able to phone one of my neighbors so they could fetch it for me because I wasn’t at home. 

As I’ve suggested to you before, I don’t see any credible evidence from either the airlines themselves that they will voluntarily improve their performance, or from our regulators (from either political party) that they will enact any meaningful consumer protection laws (like just about all other countries have), so it is contingent upon the individual traveller to navigate the nasty business of air travel. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Viking Existing Client Offer – Up to $1000 off your next cruise

Viking is throwing additional goodies at those with an existing booking that want to book a second cruise.  Here’s the fine print:

• You have to have had a Viking Booking made before November 21, that you have NOT YET travelled.
• If you book another Viking River, Ocean or Expedition cruise, they’ll give you up to $1000 off per cabin for trips 15 days and longer, or $500 off per cabin on shorter voyages. 
• It must be a new reservation, and it must be made before December 31.
• Many of our clients received the letter from Viking with this offer, and jumped on it.  Please remember if you’ve booked directly with Viking, we can still add an additional $100 per person on board credit to your reservation (even on this offer).  Get in touch with us for more details.

Here two additional Viking Offers (must be booked by December 11) :

• British Isles Explorer departing London on July 1 or 24 for 15-days
  • Visit London (overnight), Dover, Dublin, Holyhead (Wales), Liverpool, Belfast, Ullapool, Kirkwall, Edinburgh, Invergordon, Shetland Islands, Bergen (overnight)
  • Veranda rooms from $7999 per person, with air from $999.

• New York City to Reykjavik departing June 24 for 15-days
  • Visit NYC, Halifax, L’Anse aux Meadows (Newfoundland), 2 stops in Greenland, 5 stops in Iceland before arriving in Reykjavik.
  • Veranda rooms from $8499 per person, with air from $999

Uniworld 12-days of Christmas

Uniworld is offering a deal a day, and today is Day 10.  If you want to see what’s been on offer, here’s the link: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/12days

Here are two that caught my eye:

• Venice 2 for 1 fares.  7-nights departing on July 28, or August 11.
  • Make multiple stops in Venice, as well as Mazzorbo, Burano, and Chioggia.
  • This is MUCH better than staying in a hotel in Venice for a week!
  • We did this cruise last year.  Here’s a link to our video blog:  https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=-U8NNBdcoOs39Gxb 

• 25% off Egypt on Sep 14 or 21 for 12-days.
  • Visit Cairo, Luxor, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Edfu, and Esna
  • See 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, and the Valley of the Kings.
  • Fares start at $7499 LESS 25%

Europe in Winter 2024 with Tauck

• Rome to Venice departing December 22 or 29, 2024 for 8-days
  • Visit Rome, the Vatican, Florence, and Pisa
  • See St. Peters and Vatican after hours, as well as other Tauck exclusives.
  • $7390 per person

• Spain (Barcelona to Madrid) departing November 3 for 8-days
  • Visit Barcelona, Malaga, Granada, Seville, Cordoba, & Madrid.
  • $6990 per person

Atlas Cultural Expeditions.  2^nd Guest Sails Free

Atlas’ ships are yachts that hold fewer than 200 guests, making them small enough to get into some less known ports in Europe.  Fares include an open bar and gratuities.

• Malta to Dubrovnik departing June 24 for 1 week
  • Visit Valletta, Katakolon (for Olympia), Kefalonia, Parga, Butrint (Albania), Kotor, Dubrovnik.
  • Verandas from $3649 after the 2 for 1 savings

• Amsterdam to Lisbon departing Sep 20 for 10 days
  • Amsterdam, Paris (Honfleur), Channel Islands, Bordeaux (overnight), Gijon (Spain), La Coruna, Porto, Lisbon
  • Verandas from $5149 after the 2 for 1 savings

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

For some people luxury means having a butler, and other people running around in fine dress, with white gloves, tending to their every need.  Thankfully, this “Mr. & Mrs. Howell” version of luxury is the exception, rather than the rule.

Most luxury is casual… it seems that those ready to pay more for a luxury experience, are also those least likely to want pretense and over-the-top attention.  You’re much more likely to find tuxedos and ball gowns on the contemporary or premium cruise lines than you are on the small-ship or river cruise lines.  

For me, luxury means I can do what I want when I want, and I don’t have to do anything with hundreds of others that makes me feel like I’m being herded like cattle.  

I would urge you to define those things that are most important to you for a vacation experience, and then let us help you match those things to the best product.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• SPACE:  It’s hard to get excited about living in a 100 square foot room with no windows that are offered on some cruise lines.  Conversely, for many people, the stateroom is a place to sleep and shower.  What is more important for you?
• INCLUSIONS:  A luxury product usually offers a single payment for your cruise fare, that doesn’t require a bunch of room charges.  Conversely, so people would rather pay individually for drinks or specialty meals.  Many of the cruise lines agonize over whether to include shore excursions or not because people have vastly different ideas of what they like to do on shore.
• CHOICES:  Are there different options for food, entertainment or enrichment?  
• CROWDS:  Will you be competing with thousands of others for space at the pool, or in restaurants or entertainment venues?  The big-ship cruise lines do a reasonable job of engineering their ships to NOT feel crowded, but I don’t think it’s possible to have a true luxury experience if you’re on a vessel with 4000 or 5000 people.  Those ships are just fine… as long as your expectations are properly set.
• EXCLUSIVITY:  Can the cruise line or land-tour operator get you privileged access to shore attractions?  Often this comes in the form of visits before opening or after closing, or perhaps “skip-the-line” options. 
• SERVICE:  We’ve had excellent service on many cruise lines (including the big-ship lines).  What makes a luxury experience different is whether the crew is anticipating what you’re going to ask for next, and then consistently delivering that.  Do they know your favorite drink?  Do they know your name?  Are you having to repeat the fact you have a gluten allergy?  
• FOOD QUALITY:  This is often in the eye of the beholder, and it’s worth noting that Americans do eat differently than our European cousins, as well as those in other economically advanced countries.  We value volume more than they do, and some of the complaints we sometimes get about food on some river and ocean cruise lines is that the portions were not large enough.  If larger portions are part of the food quality equation for you, be ready for that, and don’t be afraid to ask for more.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Oceania Black Friday Sale

Oceania is best described as segmented luxury.  They have a fantastic culinary program, and many clients from the Premium cruise lines that are looking for a small ship experience end up here.  The pricing on the cruises below are available until December 5, and due to our exclusive arrangement with Oceania, we can also get you free pre-paid gratuities on these voyages.  They also include a $400 per person shore excursion credit, beer/wine with meals, wifi on the ship and specialty dining.  

• Istanbul to Venice departing June 19, for 10 days. 
  • Visit Istanbul (overnight), Izmir, Santorini, Argostoli, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Hvar, Koper, Venice
  • Concierge Verandas start at $3999
• Amsterdam to Oslo departing June 24, for 12 days
  • Visit Amsterdam, Antwerp (Overnight), Paris, London, St. Peter (UK), Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Stavenger, Arendal, Oslo.
  • Verandas from $4799
• LA to Vancouver with Alaska departing May 1, for 12 days
  • Visit LA, San Francisco (overnight), Portland, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver.
  • Verandas from $4199
  • NOTE:  This will be Regatta’s last season in Alaska if you like the small (680 guests) vessels.
• Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro departing March 5, for 10-days
  • Visit Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Punta del Este, Itajai, Sao Francisco, Sao Paulo, Parati, Ilha Grande, Buzios, and Rio. 
  • Verandas from $3599
• New York to Montreal departing October 17, for 11-days:
  • Visit NYC, Newport RI, Boston, Portland MN, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Cornerbrook, Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal.
  • Verandas from $6099

Explora Journeys Exclusive Sale

This new luxury lifestyle brand is taking the world by storm.  We were on board in October, and found the entertainment to be the best we’ve seen anywhere, and we appreciated their strong focus on culinary and unique itineraries.  The rooms are huge, if you like extra space.  Here are some itineraries that stood out, and are available until December 4:

• 50% off:  Athens round-trip departing October 5 for 9-nights
  • Visit Athens, Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Venice Split, Kotor.
  • Verandas from $3125.
• 40% off:  Miami to Barcelona departing May 31 for 19-nights
  • Visit St. Barthelemy, St. John’s, La Palma (Spain), Lanzarote (Spain), Casablanca, Tangier, Malaga, Cartagena, Majorca, Barcelona.
  • Verandas from $6090
• 50% off:  Miami round-trip departing December 6 for 14-nights
  • Visit Miami, St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica, Martinque, Barbados, Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, BVI
  • Verandas from $4700

AMA Waterways

AMA is offering 20% off select 2024 sailings, and you’ll also receive pre-paid gratuities and a $150 on board credit.  

• Paris to Normandy Wine Cruise departing March 14 March for 7-nights
  • Visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens) 
  • You will be hosted by Chik & Polly Brenneman of Baker Family Wines, and your fare includes insightful discussions about making premium handcrafted wines, as well as wine tastings. 
  • French Balconies from $4179.  Represents 20% off. 
• Southeast Europe departing March 31 for 7-nights
  • Visit Mohacs, Vukovar, Belgrade, Iron Gates, Vidin, Rousse, Bucharest
  • Get to this part of Europe before it is fully discovered
  • Balconies from $5179.  Represents 20% off.

Train Journeys with Collette

• Switzerland for 9-days.  Great for pre or post Rhine River Cruise.
  • Experience 3 trains:  GoldenPass Panoramic, Glacier Express, Bernina Pass.
  • Visit Lucerne, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Lake Maggiore.
  • July and August departures from $3569
• Alaska Northern Lights for 7-days.
  • Visit Fairbanks, Talkeetna, and Anchorage.  Travel by Alaska Rail, go dog sledding, and a Winter Glacier cruise in Prince William Sound.
  • Depart March 25 or 30 from $3509

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

I hope you were able to spend it with family and other people that are important to you.  At our house, Thanksgiving is a mix of different traditions, and like many families where there’s an American and Canadian in residence, you end up doing the whole thing twice.  

This year is even more strange, because for Canadian Thanksgiving (on October 9^th) we were Stateside, and right now we’re in Mexico (where, by the way, it’s very difficult to find a turkey).  So in both cases, we celebrated on our own. 

This is a mere inconvenience, because both our kids and our grandson are here to mark the occasion with us.  So the fact that our Thanksgiving dinner had rice and refried beans, rather than brussels sprouts and stuffing, doesn’t matter because those most important to us are with us.

If you consume television news (you really should try to quit – your mental health will be far better), it would be easy to think there’s little to be thankful for.  I don’t subscribe to this.  We consider ourselves to be amongst the most fortunate in the history of humankind, and the long list of things to prove this, greatly outweighs those challenges we face (you know… those things the TV news focuses exclusively on). 

One of the questions I’m often asked at this time of year is about the Black Friday Sales, and all the related hype.  It is always worth looking at, of course, but in the luxury leisure travel segment, I haven’t really seen anything that qualifies as a smoking deal.  Most of the time, I see the cruise lines and packaged land tour operators highlight the few dates or itineraries they have that are a bit soft.

So today, rather than bombard you with more noise about Black Friday advertisements, I thought I’d highlight trips that lend themselves well to travelling with family and close friends.

Because those are the experiences to be truly thankful for.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Tauck Bridges Tours

The folks at Tauck have a whole series of trips intended for families and multi-generational groups.  Here are two examples:

• Paris to Normandy Family River Cruise.  Expose your children or grandchildren to the culture of Paris, and the important history of the Normandy Beaches.
  • Highlights include: Paris City tour (by foot, or bicycle), Eiffel Tower, Monet’s House at Giverny, Omaha beach and the American Cemetery at Normandy, Rouen (to visit the Roman ruins, and Joan-of-Arc’s museum and place of death), the Palace of Versailles.
  • Departures in June/July for 8-days from $4990.
• Canadian Rockies.  If you’d like to get outside with your family, this is a place that is safe, easy to travel, and has spectacular scenery.
  • Highlights include Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, Maligne Canyon, Jasper NP, Athabasca river rafting, a ride across the Athabasca Glacier and Banff NP. 
  • Round-trip from Calgary for 1 week in June, July, or Aug from $4990.

Galapagos Islands with your kids or grandkids:

• Travel with Hurtigruten for 9-nights (2 nights Quito, and 7-nights aboard)
• Includes transfers, flights between Quito and Galapagos, all meals aboard, expedition gear and activities, gratuities, lectures, discussions, access to science center on board, and wifi. 
• Departing April 10 from $5687 per person.  Some departures qualify for 50% off children between the ages of 6 and 15.

Spring break with the kids on Seabourn

• Round-trip Barbados for 7-nights departing March 17 or November 23. 
• Visit St. Lucia, St. Johns, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago.
• 2-category upgrade and up to $2,000 on board credit
• Verandas from $4699 with $500 per person on board credit.

Viking Free Air Codes

We’re seeing a number of FREE AIR codes for certain Viking itineraries.  Here are a few examples that include free round-trip economy air:

• Northern Lights Cruise from London to Bergen for 13-days departing March 12
  • Visit Bergen (overnight), Alta (overnight), Tromso (overnight), Narvik, Amsterdam, London for $6699
• Panama Canal from LA to Fort Lauderdale for 18-days departing March 1.
  • Visit LA, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, full transit canal, Colon, Cartagena, Cozumel, FLL for $6499
• Athens to Istanbul for 8-days departing April 6
  • Visit Athens (overnight), Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus, Troy, Istanbul (overnight) for $4799
• Buenos Aires to Santiago for 15-days departing March 2.
  • Visit Ushuaia, Chilean Fjords and Glaciers, Puntarenas, Puerto Chacabuco, Castro for $7995.
• Toronto to Milwaukee for 7-nights departing May 2, 9 or 16.
  • Visit Toronto, Welland Canal, Point Pelee, Detroit, Alpena, Mackinac Island, Milwaukee.
  • Includes a complimentary room upgrade for $5995.
  • See our ship tour video video here: https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo?si=8TVYGrbmXanghNeB 
• Antarctica for 13-days with 7-days of scheduled landings
  • Depart January 18 or February 9 for $9995 including round-trip air from the United States or Canada. 
• Tulip Cruise for 10-days.  Departures from March 17 through April 2
  • Visit Amsterdam, Ijsseleer, Nijmegan, Kinderdijk, Antwerp, Middelburg, Zeeland for $3199.

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

Have something to say about this?

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley