The Pampered Cruiser

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Travel Hacks YOU Can Use

Here are some travel “hacks” we used on our recent trip to Eastern Europe:

MONEY:

We were in Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.  Croatia is the ONLY of these countries that uses the Euro.  So what did we do?

  • CURRENCY — We landed in Poland, and we flew home from Romania, so we purchased about $100 worth of currency ahead of time for each of these countries.  This enabled us to address any emergencies while in transit or at the airports.
  • EUROS — We always carry Euros in Europe (even in those countries that don’t use it).  In a pinch, you can use them to pay for things.
  • CREDIT CARDS — We used a credit card for everything… and they are accepted everywhere.  You get a better exchange rate than buying currency, and it solves a security problem.
  • TIPPING –The tour guides are happy with whatever currency you give them, and Euros work well. 
  • USING LEFT OVER CURRENCY — We had a bit of extra cash in Romania, so we used it to pay part of our hotel bill, and then paid the balance with a credit card.
  • VISA DEBIT — I also attempted to use a pre-loaded VISA Debit card in Europe, and it was all but useless.  It doesn’t have a chip, and the Europeans (and really the rest of the world) abandoned swipe cards nearly 2 decades ago.

LANGUAGE:

Between the two of us, we have a reasonable command of English, and can carry simple conversations in French and Spanish.  In Eastern Europe, English was quite useful (although not as widely spoken as in Western Europe), Spanish was not at all useful, and French was marginally helpful in Romania (but not to any wide degree).  So what did we do?

  • We had conversations that were half-charades, and half English.
  • Learned the words for “Hello” and “Thank you” in each country.  It makes a difference.
  • We are huge fans of GOOGLE TRANSLATE.  What the APP can do for you is incredible.  If you haven’t used it previously, it’s free… download it and be amazed.
  • We love UBER.  Communicating with taxi drivers in ANY country can be challenging.  Uber solves this by entering the address (or just pushing the general area on a map) on your smartphone.  Payment, tipping, and everything else is taken care of.

TELECOM

The Apps I mentioned above are contingent on access to the internet.  You may have a global roaming plan through your cell phone provider, but if you look at all the restrictions and fine print, you could end up being frustrated.  Here’s what we do:

  • Download an ESIM.  Many people get a local SIM card when they visit another country, but that involves taking the existing SIM card out of your phone, and replacing it with a local one for the duration of your visit.  An ESIM does this electronically.  It’s easy.
  • We paid about $20 for a MONTH of unlimited voice and data.  Some roaming charges are that much per DAY, and you’ll have dreadfully slow service.
  • You’ll find public wifi everywhere in Eastern Europe.  It’s only if you want to be constantly connected you’ll need an ESIM.

METRIC

English is NOT a universal language, and the US Dollar is not a universal currency.  What is universal is METRIC.  Once you learn it, it’s much easier than the imperial system that has been abandoned everywhere except the United States.  Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

  • 30 degrees is really warm, NOT really cold (it’s about 90 F)
  • A meter is a bit longer than a yard, and 1000 meters is a kilometer.  Think of 10 or 11 football fields – that’s a kilometer
  • A kilogram is just over 2 pounds.
  • The easiest hack is to learn it.  Next best hack… a metric converter App. 

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Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA WATERWAYS

We can get you an extra 5% off publicly available fares on the following 3 AMA cruises:  

PORTUGAL & SPAIN departing July 4 for one week

  • Visit Porto, Douro valley, Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Salamanca, Afurada.
  • 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. 
  • This trip is on the brand new AMA Sintra, carrying just 102 guests
  • Fares from $4639.  You’ll get a further $225 pp off (5%)
  • Click here for more details: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/enticing-douro

FRANCE:  Paris, Normandy and Bordeaux departing Oct. 2nd for 14 nights (2 cruises back-to-back)

  • Start in Paris, then visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens) before returning to Paris, and then taking the train to Bordeaux where you’ll spend your 2nd week enjoying the famed wine region, historic architecture, and ancient castles
  • You’re going all the way to Europe anyway, so why not take in these completely different regions of France, with all the logistics between ships taken care of by AMA.
  • Visit during harvest!  
  • Fares from $8179.  You’ll get a further $400 pp off (5%).
  • Click here for more details: https://www.amawaterways.com/agent/pamperedcruiser/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/grand-seine-bordeaux

FRANCE, GERMANY & NETHERLANDS: Basel to Amsterdam departing July 19th for 7-nights

  • Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Basel
  • Optional 4-night extension in Switzerland (2 nights Lucerne, 2 nights Zurich).

SMALL SHIP OCEAN OFFERS Expiring December 31st

WINDSTAR YACHT CRUISING – 10% OFF and $100 per person onboard credit

We can get you an extra 10% off ANY Windstar fare between now and the end of the month.  This is NOT available on direct bookings or anywhere else.  Here are a few examples:

Mediterranean including the Corinth Canal for 8-nights

  • Visit Istanbul, Myrina, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Santorini, the Corinth Canal, Delphi, Athens
  • Depart April 3 from $5591, or September 28 from $5691.

Caribbean round-trip from San Juan for 6-nights

  • Visit St. Maarten, Charleston, Gustavia, Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands.
  • Depart November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from $3292.

Iceland round-trip from Reykjavik for 7-nights

  • Visit Reykjavik, Sertsey Island, Helmaey Island, Seydisfjordur (overnight), Akureyri, Isafjordur, Grundarfjordur.
  • Depart August 4 from $4792, or July of 2026 from $4192.

Tahiti round-trip from Papeete for 7-nights.  Departures every Thursday.

  • Visit Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora (overnight), Huahini.  Remember this tropical paradise is only 2 hours past Hawaii, and has a fraction as many tourists. 
  • Depart in July from $4992, OR November/December from $3892.
  • Here’s our video blog from when we did this cruise: https://youtu.be/ctytpPPx1tM 

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

VIKING FREE AIR PROMO:

If you’re ready to travel in the next few months, Viking is throwing in FREE AIR on these departures.

JAPAN & ALASKA: Tokyo to Vancouver departing April 17 for 26 days

  • Visit Tokyo (overnight), Sappora (overnight), Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Inside Passage to Vancouver. 
  • Veranda Rooms start at $6299 ($1700 off published fares) with FREE AIR.

JAPAN INTENSIVE.  Hong Kong to Tokyo departing April 3, for 15-days

  • Visit Hong Kong (overnight), Taipei, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Beppu, Hiroshima (overnight), Osaka, Shimizu (overnight), Tokyo (overnight)
  • Veranda Rooms start at $7999 ($500 off published fares) with FREE AIR

AUSTRALIA & BALI.  Sydney to Bali for 17-days

  • Visit Newcastle, Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Cairns, Thursday Island, Darwin (overnight), Komodo NP, Lambok.  
  • Optional 6-night pre-trip land extension to Ayers Rock and Port Douglas.
  • Depart February 20 from $6399, or March 21 from $7099.  Both with FREE AIR

EGYPT.  Round-trip Cairo for 12-days with several departures September to December

  • Do 3-nights in Cairo (for the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids & Sphinx, then fly to Luxor to board the ship, and visit the temples of Karnak and Luxor, Qena, Valley of the Kings, Esna, Aswan, Felucca Ride, Edfu.
  • Departures September through December 2025 from $6999 with FREE AIR.

ANTARCTICA with ATLAS 

ATLAS is a new cruise line with yachts that hold less than 200 guests, and visit some remote corners of the world.  Fares include shore shore/landing activities, an open bar, specialty dining, and gratuities.

POLAR NORWAY:  From Tromso to Longyearbyen departing August 17 for 9-nights

  • This is like a safari at sea.  Spot puffins, reindeer, arctic terns and foxes.  See the ice floes, icebergs, and do some glacier cruising. 
  • This cruise includes a private jet ride back to Oslo, Zodiac landings, boots, and a parka you get to keep. 
  • Fares from $5999

ANTARCTICA round-trip from Buenos Aires for 9-days

  • Includes charter flights to/from Ushuaia and 6-days of scheduled landings on the continent.
  • Fares in March, November and December from $9499

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It:

EASTERN EUROPE:  It might be time to explore the other side of Europe:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/destination-eastern-europe/

Get your plans OFF the bucket list, and on to the NEXT list by putting together your 5-year plan:

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

Latest YOUTUBE Video:

VANCOUVER.  It’s a common pre & post cruise destination, so here’s some thoughts on what to do when you’re there:

https://youtu.be/Dtn_1BR_z3k

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.

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

Seabourn Small Ship Luxury

Many of you have been asking about Seabourn lately, so I was planning on addressing this anyway, then they contacted us with a SPECIAL OFFER, so apparently the stars are aligning. 

Our first experience on Seabourn was back in 2016, and it still stands out for us.  The crew all knew our names, our drink orders would just show up when we entered a lounge or entertainment venue (because the crew knew our preferences), and we got to visit corners of Alaska we hadn’t been to before (and we’d been to Alaska several times). 

Here’s what you can expect with Seabourn:

  • All Suites.  All the staterooms on Seabourn are in fact suites that are 300 square feet or larger.  The in-suite bathrooms each have a full soaker tub, and double sinks, with granite counter tops.  It’s nicer than our bathroom at home!
  • Small Ship.  There is a huge difference sailing with only 450 guests as opposed to 4500 guests.  Besides the added service and intimacy, there are also logistic issues – like NOT having to line up to embark and disembark.
  • Casual Luxury.  Pants and a golf shirt (for the guys), is all you need to get in the dining room here.  No need to play dress up. 
  • All inclusive.  It’s nice to have everything in the price, and it also changes the culture on board the ship.  When you order a glass of wine, they’re not asking for your key card, they just bring your wine (and top it up regularly). It’s like being in a friend’s living room.
  • Great value.  Given that the best-priced suite on Seabourn is larger (and better appointed) than the highest cabin category on the premium lines, the value per dollar is quite evident.
  • Ventures by Seabourn.  I like the option to be able to do some expedition offerings right off a luxury ship.  These active options are particularly good if you’re going back to places you’ve already been (like Alaska!). 
  • Aquatic Platform.  In warm water destinations, you can go swimming right off the ship.  They also do their Caviar in the Surf event when anchored near swimming beaches. 

THE OFFER

Seabourn’s Waves Season offer is already published on their website, and offers 15% off on just about all their itineraries (these reductions are already included on the fares on their website).

PLUS:  Book through the Pampered Cruiser to receive an additional $200 per person onboard credit on many sailings (all of those listed below).

PLUS:  For new reservations made between December 13th –  20th, we can add a further $300 cabin credit.

Yes, you can combine these offers.  So what do you do with all these extra credits on an all-inclusive cruise line?  Hopefully, you spend it on something you wouldn’t have done otherwise, and creates a real memory for you.  There are tons of unique shore experiences you can use the credits for, or if you prefer a spa treatment or some shopping on board.  

LUXURY EXPLORATION SHIPS

Seabourn has two ships that carry 450 guests, and two ships that carry 600 guests.  They go all over the world, and prefer to anchor in yacht harbors, as opposed to big cruise ship ports (although you’ll likely embark and disembark at larger ports).  Here are a few examples:

PORTUGAL, SPAIN & MOROCCO departing Lisbon on April 9 for 7-nights:

  • Visit Lisbon, Gibraltar, Tangier, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona
  • Fares from $4393 with a $200 per person on board credit (OBC).
  • Watch our Seabourn Sojourn Ship tour: https://youtu.be/RJT7BVFpoqo

CROATIA & GREECE departing Athens June 22 for 7-nights

  • Visit Athens, Monemvasia, Olympia, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, Venice.
  • Verandas from $5069 with a $200 per person OBC

ALASKA departing Vancouver August 22 for 7-nights

  • Visit Queen Charlotte Sound, Ketchikan, Sitka, Yacutat Bay, Inian Islands, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Juneau.
  • Fares from $4079 with a $200 per person OBC.  Stay on board 14-nights to go round-trip Vancouver from $7224 and also visit Tracy Arm, Wrangell, Misty Fjords, Prince Rupert, and Alert Bay. 
  • See our Alaska PlayList on YouTube, with videos from our adventures with Seaborn in Alaska: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVGIkLzMGzGDOfx8xOSpC2Vt 

JAPAN intensive cruise departing Tokyo October 24 for 12 days.  

  • Visit Tokyo (Yokohama), Tokushima, Takamatsu, Kanmon Strait, Busan, Sakaiminato, Tsuruga, Niigata, Akita, Hakodate, 
  • Fares from $7649 with a $200 per person OBC.

SOLAR ECLIPSE Cruise departing London August 8, 2026 for 14-days.

  • Visit London, Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Galway, Killybegs, Oban, Ullapool, Faroe Islands, Westman Islands (Iceland), Reykjavik.
  • Veranda fares from $12,499

Remote Luxury Discovery Ships

Seabourn has two Expedition Ships that carry 264 guests, for those who want to get off the beaten track a bit more, who prefer more active options for shore excursions.  We resist using the word “expedition” because people don’t associate that word with retired people with moderate fitness levels enjoying such a thing.  In reality, if you can walk up 2 flights of stairs, and can get in and out of a bathtub unassisted, you will do just fine on an “expedition”.  The most important requirement is being curious about the region you’re visiting.

AUSTRALIA: KIMBERLEY COAST from Darwin to Broome departing May 19, 2026 for 10-nights

  • See the waterfalls, visit fresh water reefs, see the horizontal waterfalls at Talbot Bay, visit with the Wunambal Gaambera indigenous peoples, learn about the pearl trade in Kuri Bay, and the mangrove forests at Hunter River, and Darwin.
  • Fares from $11,359

IRELAND, SCOTLAND & ICELAND from Reykjavik to London departing June 19 for 14-nights

  • Visit 8 different ports in Iceland, for light hiking, zodiac rides, to see remote fishing villages, bird watching, wildlife spotting, and Iceland’s spectacular scenery.  Then  followed by 2 stops in the Faroe Islands, and 4 stops in the Shetland Islands.  Next to Scotland for an overnight stay in Kirkwall, and finally Copinsay Island before disembarking in London. 
  • Fares from $16,574

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Today’s Other Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

Uniworld custom-builds their ships for the region they travel, making you that much more immersed in the destination.  They are running two promotions right now:

If you want to travel in 2025:

The 12-days of Christmas promo has some interesting deals with very specific departure dates.  For example, 

  • EGYPT: if you can travel in May, you can get 25% off.
  • FRANCE:  Get a one-year wine subscription with select France river cruises

There are 10 other deals like this too.  Here’s the full list:

https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/12days

If you want to travel in 2026:

Get the early booking bonus of up to 20% off for departures in 2026.  Here’s the list:

https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/current-offers/2026-early-booking-savings

LAND CRUISE with COLLETTE

CANADA: Niagara Falls to Quebec City for 9-days

  • Visit Toronto, Niagara on the Lake, Ottawa, Quebec City & Montreal.
  • Experience the best of Canada’s urban scene, French culture, the historic Quebec City, and the natural splendor of Niagara Falls. 
  • Departures May through October from $3149

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 $2699

In Case You Missed It:

OVER-TOURISM.  Yep… it’s a problem, but the discussion should be on what we do about it.

https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-do-we-deal-with-over-tourism/

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.  If you want to get up close to nature and wildlife, this destination MUST be on your list:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/galapagos-islands-destination-focus/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

VANCOUVER.  It’s a common pre & post cruise destination, so here’s some thoughts on what to do when you’re there: Watch our video here: https://youtu.be/Dtn_1BR_z3k

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

Shore Excursion Survival Guide

SHORE EXCURSIONS are still a point of irritation for many of you when we ask how your trip went.  There is some variation, but this is a problem across just about ALL the cruise lines, and in many different regions around the world.

First, the reasons why:

  • Professional tour guides are highly skilled people.  They are almost always university educated, and speak several languages.  You can’t hire “just anyone”!
  • After not getting paid for two years during the pandemic, many of these capable, skilled people left the industry and haven’t come back. 
  • The cruise lines contract their shore excursions out to local providers… so the same providers are servicing all the cruise lines.
  • About 2.2 MILLION more people got on cruise ships in 2023, than in 2019 (the last “normal” year).  Those extra millions are booking shore excursions with fewer providers.  

So this is both a supply and a demand problem!

What YOU can do about it:

  • Book Early – Don’t wait until the last minute to consider your shore excursions. 
  • Book Independent Excursions — You don’t have to buy your excursions from the cruise line, and it’s a myth that if you stick with cruise line shore excursions, they’ll hold the ship for you if you come back late.  Certainly, some ships HAVE delayed departure because of late comers.  However, more often, the captain of the ship does NOT have the discretion to delay departure.  Tides, commercial traffic, and the Harbor Master’s instructions trump the skipper’s ability to delay departure.
  • Book a Car & Driver — if you have 4 people or more, then it will probably be cheaper, and you’ll have a far better experience than on a motorcoach with 50 others.  The photo is of me, Bob, and our friends Julie & Jesse, when we hired a car and driver in Malta, instead of taking a shore excursion with 40 others on a motor coach.  It was WAY better. 
  • Pay for Privileged Access – Some excursions allow you to pay more to skip the line, or go before/after hours.  For example, both Tauck and Uniworld have some privileged access options.
  • Independent Exploration – you DON’T have to take an excursion.  In the old days, I would buy a guide book, and do self-directed tours of places I was visiting.  Today there are APPs you can download for a specific location that will provide an audio tour, and a map with the highlights.  You can use public transit, taxis or Uber to get around.  
  • Take a Foodie Tour – this a great way to get oriented, there’s usually fewer people, and you get to experience the connection between a people, their culture and their food.  
  • Look at the Big Picture – If you don’t think you’re going to get back to a place, and you have a specific interest, it may very well be worth paying for an upgraded excursion.
  • Ask How Many People will be on your Excursion — and consider whether you’d be better off paying more.  The “death-shuffle” with 40 others is not a good experience.
  • Do some Homework – In ports like Rome (that is over an hour from the port), you’ll want to have organized excursions to help you bridge that distance.  In ports like Vancouver, the ship docks downtown, so you can walk right off the ship and into the city.  These are just two examples, but knowing what you want to do in a particular port of call, and how logistically easy it will be to do that, will help you immensely. 

This is a problem that will probably self-correct, but it’s unclear as to when that will happen.  Until then, it’s worth getting in front of your shore excursions.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

TAUCK RIVER

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. 
  • Family departures available if you want to take your grandkids on a river cruise.
  • Departures April through November 2025 from $5890.

PRAGUE to PARIS for 14-days

  • Visit Paris for 2-nights, then board your ship in Luxembourg, and stop at Trier, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Frankfurt, Bayreuth, Bamberg, and Nuremberg.  Then transfer to Prague for 2-nights.
  • Departures April through October from $9790

OKTOBERFEST:  Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September

  • Visit Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Lucerne, Munich
  • Reserved space in traditional brewery tent for Oktoberfest
  • Departures in September from $8190.  

OCEANIA 

There a few days left to take advantage of Oceania’s sale that will get you an upgrade, and some other goodies.  Here’s a link to the included sailings: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/black-friday?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser 

ALASKA:  Seattle round-trip departing August 8, for 10-days

  • Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines, Juneau, Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Victoria
  • Veranda fares from $4299 including beverage package and $400 per person OBC.
  • See our ship tour video:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU 

HAWAII & TAHITI: Honolulu to Papeete departing September 30, for 15-days

  • Visit Kauai, Maui, Kona, Hilo, and then on to 5 ports in French Polynesia including an overnight in Bora Bora before finishing in Papeete. 
  • Fares from $3899 including beverage package and $500 per person OBC

ICELAND, GREENLAND & CANADA: Reykjavik to Montreal departing July 11, for 16-days

  • Visit 3 ports in Iceland, 3 ports in Greenland, 2 ports in Newfoundland, 2 ports in the Quebec Eastern townships, Quebec City, and Montreal (overnight).
  • Fares from $6649 including beverage package and $500 per person OBC.

CARIBBEAN:  Miami round-trip departing March 27 for 12-days

  • Visit Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico, Bahamas
  • Veranda fares from $4899.  Includes Beverage Package, $400 per person on board credit.
  • See our VISTA ship tour video:  https://youtu.be/nN5lyXCEy_g 

SPAIN & PORTUGAL:  Lisbon to Barcelona departing April 12 for 12-nights

  • Visit Lisbon, Seville (for 2 nights!), Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Majorca, Barcelona
  • Golf excursions available on this trip!
  • Veranda fares from $3819.  Includes beverage package and $200 OBC.

OCEANIA CULINARY.  We get lots of inquiries about Oceania’s food and wine program, so we put together this Video: https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo 

LAND CRUISES WITH INTREPID TRAVEL

COSTA RICA:  San Jose to Tamarindo for 12-days

  • Costa Rica is both exotic, but nearby (under 4 hours from Houston, Atlanta, or Miami). 
  • Visit BOTH Caribbean and Pacific Coasts, see a turtle sanctuary, enjoy coffee where it is harvested, slide into the hot springs at Arenal Volcano, see the abundant wildlife in the rainforest, and take a surfing lesson in Tamarindo (or maybe just watch it!).
  • Departures November through February from $4947

MOROCCO:  Casablanca to Marrakech for 15-days

  • If you’re in Southern Europe, then this North African country is close by, and in many ways is more comparable to travelling in Europe, than Africa. 
  • Visit the Museum of Judaism, and Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca.  Walk the Medinas and Souks in Meknes, get a home-cooked dinner in Fes, visit the desert oasis town of Erfoud, go for a camel ride during your stay at a Sahara Desert Camp, stop in at Ait Benhaddou (where Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, and many other movies have been filmed), stay overnight in a village in the High Atlas Mountains, and finish in Marrakech, where you’ll experience the crossroads of cultures that makes up the place. 
  • Weekly departures year-round from $4520

JAPAN: Tokyo to Kyoto for 12-days

  • Visit the thriving metropolis of Tokyo for 3-nights, and then travel by rail through Hakone, Takayama, Shirakawa, to Hiroshima for 2-nights, and then on to Kyoto for 3-nights.  
  • Several departures per month (year-round) from $7322

In Case You Missed It:

INSIDE LOOK AT THE PAMPERED CRUISER:  If you’ve ever wondered what we do, what we don’t do, and how we differentiate ourselves…

https://pamperedcruiser.com/insiders-look-at-the-pampered-cruiser/

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND Destination Focus:  The cruise ship season on the St. Lawrence is just ending, so here’s some information if you’re looking for next fall:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/canada-new-england/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

Viking Pre-Trip Mail-out Package.  If you’re taking a cruise with Viking, when will you get your luggage tags, and what else can you expect from them pre-trip?  We made this quick video to answer those questions:

https://youtu.be/62QlltkT7xo

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

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

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

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0Uk2c7gQdLH9c89y5mx7P6Q1cvoUZZvR5u3SnTcrSwTPbb7Qe7qJAkVyCGXkjxnK7l

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

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING – I hope you are recovering well from eating too much, and you DIDN’T spend all day today standing in a line-up at some awful shopping mall.  

I DO hope that you spend some time this long weekend 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 once at the beginning of October, and then again this week. 

We’re in Mexico right now, and celebrated with some other expatriates.  We managed to find something beyond rice, beans and tortillas that somewhat resembled a Thanksgiving dinner.  Turkey is not a big part of the Mexican diet, and the Mexicans are more focused on Christmas at this point.  

I find myself largely ignoring the Black Friday marketing – it is more hype than anything substantial – and focusing more on what I believe we should be on this holiday.  Like most of you, I am immensely thankful for the people around me, and the peace and fortune in which I live.  Some of our acquaintances are pretty sure we’re enduring the apocalypse as we speak, and while most of those people are intelligent, contributing members of society, they have two things in common:

  1. They are addicted to television news.  This is not compatible with a healthy mental state, and can be every bit as devastating as other addictions.  And no… it doesn’t matter what channel you watch.  Our brains are not meant to witness a constant stream of images of death, destruction, and other sensationalized bad news on a daily basis. 
  2. They don’t travel.  If you get out into the world, you quickly realize we’ve got a good thing going here.  Yes – we should always look to be aware of those countries that do better than we do at certain things, and learn from that.  On balance – we are very fortunate, and must not forget that.  

It is also at Thanksgiving that I start planning family trips for the following year.  It is a tremendous privilege to be able to share unique experiences with family and close friends, and for an increasing number of people in my orbit, investing in experiences is far preferable than standing in line at the mall, buying more stuff we really don’t need (especially on Black Friday!)

I once heard a mall described as “a place we go to buy things we can’t really afford, and don’t really need, to impress people we don’t really like.”  Perhaps a bit cynical, but perfectly illustrates why many of us would rather invest in experiences with those that are important to us.

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

AMA WATERWAYS

If you want to travel with a multi-generational group, AMA makes that easy.  There are lots of rooms with a third berth, several adjoining rooms, and they allow people under 18.  Here are a few examples, if you’re working around kids in school:

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

PARIS & NORMANDY departing March 13, 15, 22 or 27 for 7-nights

FRANCE, GERMANY & NETHERLANDS: Basel to Amsterdam for 7-nights

  • Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwignshafen, Strasbourg, Basel

EXPLORA JOURNEYS

This luxury lifestyle brand has large rooms (some with 3rd berths), and is one of the only luxury small-ships with dedicated public space for those under 18 who like to travel with their families.  

Click here to learn more about the Explora Journeys experience: https://inspires.to/experiences/the-explora-journeys-experience-43wo3

CARIBBEAN round-trip MIAMI departing February 14 for 7-nights

SPAIN & MOROCCO from Rome to Barcelona departing April 23 for 11-nights

See our Explora ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/LHjAS0JKCQ0 

ATLAS YACHTS to REMOTE LOCATIONS

If you’d like to take your kids or grandkids to the more remote parts of the planet, then ATLAS has some options for you:

We are really excited about Atlas and we think this relatively new brand is a great fit for our clients!  Click here to learn more about the Atlas Ocean Voyages experience: https://inspires.to/experiences/the-atlas-ocean-voyages-experience-wx208

ANTARCTICA round-trip from Buenos Aires departing December 17, 2025 for 11-nights

  • Includes charter flight to Ushuaia and 6-days of scheduled landings on the continent.
  • Fares from $12,654.

ICELAND & GREENLAND departing Reykjavik to New York – August 9, for 10-nights

  • Visit Iceland, and make 8-stops in Greenland, the board a charter flight (included) back to New York.
  • Verandas from $7999

BALTIC SEA departing Stockholm on July 30, for 9-nights

  • Visit Stockholm, Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki, 2 stops in Latvia, Gdansk, Ronne (Denmark), Binz (Germany), and finish in Copenhagen
  • Fares from $5799

TAUCK Bridges LAND CRUISES

Tauck has a whole series of products designed for travelling with children and grandchildren.  The itineraries are especially designed for all ages and generations to enjoy together.

Click here to learn more about Tauck Bridges Family Journeys (they offer Bridges Family River Cruises too!): https://inspires.to/experiences/tauck-bridges-family-journeys-1dgpo

MT. RUSHMORE & NATIONAL PARKS from Jackson WY to Rapid City for 8-days

  • Visit Jackson, Snake River Ranch, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Cody WY (for Buffalo Bill Center), Ucross, Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

COSTA RICA from San Jose to Liberia for 8-days

CANADIAN ROCKIES: Round-trip from Calgary for 7-days.

  • Take your kids or grandkids to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, and visit Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Maligne Canyon, ride across the Athabasca Glacier and travel the Icefields Parkway.  
  • Cycling, light hiking, paddling, and optional river rafting.
  • Departures June through August from $5890.  If you depart in early July, you can travel independently pre or post trip and take-in the CALGARY STAMPEDE – the world’s LARGEST rodeo.  
  • Click here for more details: https://www.tauck.com/tours/canadian-rockies-family-tour?tcd=yr2025&insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser

In Case You Missed It:

DESTINATION CANADA:  It’s right next door, and has become a top tourist destination for Americans.  Here’s some ideas on what to see in this vast country:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/destination-canada/

GLOBAL ENTRY and other frequent traveller programs.  Are these programs worth it?  Which one is best for you?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/trusted-traveller-programs-which-one/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

Viking Pre-Trip Mail-out Package.  If you’re taking a cruise with Viking, when will you get your luggage tags, and what else can you expect from them pre-trip?  We made this quick video to answer those questions:

https://youtu.be/62QlltkT7xo

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid029RkDV93LHmBHdyrWGdizCZZthFq7Tfv53cnYoAUQjDuMCm5hUqK23w6eMby47VAJl

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

Try the Train

LUXURY TRAIN TRIP – You’ve probably heard of Rocky Mountaineer, but you may not know that it is recognized as one of the world’s must-do rail journeys – both for train enthusiasts, and those that just really enjoy great scenery and wildlife spotting.  National Geographic describes the Rocky Mountaineer as “one of the world’s greatest trips”, and it’s routinely listed amongst travellers’ favorite rail trips.  

If you’ve spent any time on the Rocky Mountaineer website, it’s easy to get confused with the dozens of different options, so here is a quick cheat sheet:

The Canadian Train

There are dozens of different packages, but they are all centered around 3 different rail routes:

  • Vancouver to Banff or Lake Louise (via Kamloops) – this is the original Rocky Mountaineer itinerary that has been operating since 1990.
  • Vancouver to Jasper (via Whistler, and Quesnel) – this routing is a bit further around and crosses the Rockies further north than the Banff itinerary.
  • Circle Journey round-trip Vancouver – this incorporates both the above routings.
  • Gold Leaf service is a double-decker, domed rail car, where you enjoy the scenery upstairs, and retire downstairs for your meals on board the train.
  • Silver Leaf service offers the same food, but it is served to you at your seat on a single-deck domed rail car. 
  • Calgary (for Banff) and Edmonton (for Jasper) are the nearest major airports on the Eastern terminus of these itineraries.  Vancouver Airport is well served, and about 8 miles from where the train boards.  Some of our Vancouver cruise clients also use Seattle Airport (about 120 miles south).  

Where it gets unnecessarily confusing is that there are literally dozens of different packages ranging between 2 and 14 days.  My best suggestion is to sketch out the itinerary you want (how many days in Vancouver, Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise etc.), and then we can help you choose the itinerary that best suits you.  

Here is ONE example for each of these rail routes:

Vancouver to Banff for 6-nights

  • Vancouver (2), Kamloops, Banff (2), Calgary.
  • Prices range between $2926 – $5127 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October. 

Vancouver to Jasper 6-nights

  • Vancouver (2), Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper (2)
  • Prices between $4237 – $5661 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

Circle Journey 12 -nights

  • Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (3), Lake Louise (2), Jasper (2), Quesnel, Whistler, Vancouver.
  • Goldleaf service from $8672 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October.

The USA Train

Rocky Mountaineer began operations in the United States in 2021 with itineraries between Denver and Moab, Utah (via Glenwood Springs).  

  • Much like its Canadian counterpart, there are several itineraries, but they all incorporate this two-day rail journey into them.
  • There is no Gold Leaf service in the US, because the tunnels along the route are not large enough to accommodate the double-decker Gold Leaf cars.
  • If you’re looking for something more than Silver Leaf service, then Silver Leaf Plus is offered.  This enables access to a lounge car with a bar, and outdoor viewing platform. 
  • Moab does have a regional airport, but most people use Las Vegas or Salt Lake City for the western terminus of their trip. 
  • There is an option to go round-trip from Denver.

Here are two examples of US itineraries

Denver to Las Vegas for 6-nights

  • Denver (2), Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
  • $5209 to $6474 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

Denver round-trip for 7-nights 

  • Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
  • $4895 – $6484 per person based on your departure date, and level of service.  Departures available April through October

Some notes on all Rocky Mountaineer itineraries

  • You don’t sleep on the train – otherwise you’d miss some of the incredible scenery.  The train operates in daylight hours, and you sleep in hotels at night.  They take care of your luggage, so the logistics are made as easy as possible.
  • These trips are about scenery, wildlife, food and wine.  The scenery on the Canadian side rivals what you would see in Denali National Park in Alaska (some would argue the Canadian Rockies are even more impressive).  On the US side, the scenery is different, but every bit as spectacular, and you have close proximity to several of the Southwest’s National Parks.

Today’s Other Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES

Uniworld has custom built and decorated ships specific to the region in which they sail.  Fares in transfers, a choice of shore excursions at each port, an open bar, and gratuities. 

TULIPS & Windmills departing Amsterdam for 10-days:

  • Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Haarlem (for Keukenhof Gardens), Hoorn, Nijmegen, Rotterdam (Kinderdijk), Veere, Bruges, Antwerp (overnight)
  • March 25 from $3429.  
  • April 3 from $3359
  • May 5 from $3709

VENICE & Northern Italy for 7-nights

  • Visit Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia.
  • Departs every Sunday from April – October from $2939.  This is far more cost-effective than staying in a hotel in Venice for a week.

There are a number of add-ons you can make to this cruise: 

  • ADD: 2-nights in Milan to see Davinci’s Last Supper (after hours access), and a City Tour of Milan.  Stop in Verona and Valpolicella Wine Cellar en route to Venice.
  • ADD:  Lugano (Switzerland)  & Lake Como
  • ADD: Train to Istanbul.  If you want to add to your country-count, then transfer from the ship to board the train in Venice and stop in Trieste, Ljubljana (Capital of Slovenia), Belgrade (Capital of Serbia), Montenegro (beaches every bit as spectacular as Greece, but undiscovered), Bulgaria, and 2 nights in Istanbul.
  • ADD: Rome 3-nights.  Includes a city tour, and a tour of the Vatican.
  • ADD:  Train from Budapest.  Board in Budapest, then visit Vienna, Innsbruck, Zurich, Lake Como, Verona, Trieste, Lake Bled, Ljubljana, then disembark train in Venice to board  the ship. 

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

CRYSTAL CRUISES Upgrade Sale

Guests booking a Veranda will be automatically upgraded to an Aquamarine Veranda Suite. 

JAPAN & PHILIPPINES from Tokyo to Manila departing February 14 for 11 nights

  • Visit Tokyo, Nagasaki, Busan, Jeju, Shanghai (overnight), Currimao, Manila (overnight)
  • Fares from $6800

MEDITERRANEAN from Lisbon to Istanbul departing March 31 for 14-nights

  • Visit Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, Malta (overnight), Crete, Rhodes, Ephesus, Istanbul 
  • Fares from $6800

REMOTE DESTINATIONS with HX

Travel on the world’s first Hybrid Electric cruise ships, with only 500 guests to the remote corners of the globe.

REMOTE ALASKA from Vancouver to Anchorage departing May 29 for 13-days

  • Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, Haines, William Henry Bay, Sitka, Icy Bay, Cordova. 
  • Fares from $5626

Includes drinks with meals, wifi, gratuities, and outdoor gear.  

See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0 

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 January through March from $6727
  • Depart May through August from $7021

Greenland, Newfoundland & Labrador 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. 
  • Depart September 18 from $10,169

ANTARCTICA with VIKING including FREE AIR

  • Round-trip from Buenos Aires for 13-days.  Fly to Ushuaia (included) to board the ship.  Travel the Drake Passage and have 6-days of landings on the continent.
  • Viking has a submarine, special operations boat, kayaks, and zodiacs at your disposal. 
  • Departures in January and February 2025 from $9995 per person with FREE AIR from the US.
  • See our Ship Tour video here:  https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo 

In Case You Missed It:

HOW TO CHOOSE A RIVER CRUISE LINE:  At first, the river cruise lines look almost the same.  The ships are all the same size, and they go to all the same places.  So which one’s right for you?

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

NORTHERN LIGHTS:   The Aurora Borealis have been very active in the past few months, so you’ve been asking about the best way to see them.  Here’s an article we wrote a few months ago that answers those questions: https://pamperedcruiser.com/northern-lights-and-winter-solstice/

Latest YOUTUBE Post:

Windstar STAR BREEZE ship tour video.  Wander with Bob through this 320-Guest motor yacht:

https://youtu.be/VSsLmFZPqdI

Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?

Earlier this year, Viking replaced its Book on Board program with the BON VOYAGE incentive.  This allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 2 weeks BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:

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

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

https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32 
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02faR1UNjrdM2XGhTNQHPuhkAfK322vK1QvNXQ6sVTrGtXAW8wCfQHApfDkjK6hLpzl

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

Hi There!

My mission is to help my clients accomplish the dream experiences on their travel-related 'bucket lists'.  Often, that includes a small ship cruise.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sue Bradley

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The Pampered Cruiser

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