Your very first exposure to the world of cruising may have been on Saturday nights in the 1970s on TV when Captain Stubbing, Doc, Julie, Gopher and Issac welcomed a rotating parade of guest stars every week on a cruise down the Pacific Coast.

Princess still uses The Love Boat in their marketing.  Our clients gravitate more towards river cruises and small ship ocean cruises, but why might you want to look at Princess?

Families and Multi-Generational Groups

Princess caters to families, and it is not unusual to see mom & dad, the kids, and the grandparents travelling together on these ships.  Princess really stands out in Alaska, where they have 7 ships, and 5 land-lodges.  We did a Princess Alaska trip when my parents were celebrating their 50^th Anniversary several years ago, and it was perfect for a group ranging in age from 7 to 77. 

Land Programs

Princess was a pioneer of the “Cruise-Tour” concept in Alaska, and they have similar programs in Australia, South America, and the Mediterranean.  The 5 lodges they own and operate in Alaska are a great way to see the 49^th State.  We were lucky enough a few years ago to visit all of them.  Here’s our video blogs:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEZh4TwDNnSFedD8FOItXHe&si=L19RQGXo53AVzs0h 

Inclusions

Princess offers its guests a choice of 3 different fare structures, and ultimately it comes down to whether you want “cruise only”, or an all-inclusive fare.  The right choice is different for each person, but when we’ve helped clients do the math on this, if you think you’ll drink more than a couple of glasses of wine a day, then you’re better off with the all-inclusive fare.  If you don’t drink alcohol, you are likely better off with the cruise-only fare.  It is nice to have the choice.

Our Private Sale

We know the folks at Princess very well, and we’ve travelled with them personally many times.  We like the product.  They asked how they can capture more of our clients to their brand, and so they put this Private Sale Offer together for us:

10% OFF SUITES on select sailings in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Europe and South America

If you want to take your kids or your grandkids on a trip with you, this is well worth considering.  Luxury ocean ships, and river boats are often not the best place for kids.  The mini-suite category on Princess is over 300 square feet – so the same room size on the luxury ships, and there are family suites as well.  Many of our clients will book a mini-suite on Princess, with an inside room across the hall for the kids.  

Here are a few examples of some PRINCESS itineraries:

ULTIMATE ALASKA departing May 6, round-trip from Seattle for 17-days:

• Visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Anchorage, College Fjord, Sitka, Haines, Glacier Bay NP, Wrangell, Victoria, Vancouver
• Balconies from $4289.  Suites from $6189

CIRCLE JAPAN departing November 12, 2025 from Tokyo for 22-days: 

• Visit 13 ports in Japan, Busan (South Korea), Hong Kong, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore.
• Balconies from $6259.  Suites from $8259

CANADA & GREENLAND departing July 14 round-trip from New York for 18-days

• Visit Halifax, Sydney, St. John’s, and 4 ports in Greenland
• Balconies from $3419.  Suites from $4739

HAWAII, FIJI & TAHITI departing April 8 or October 15, 2025 round-trip from LA for 32-days:

• Visit Kona, Honolulu, Pago Pago, Apia, Lautoka, Papeete (overnight), Moorea.
• Balconies from $4659.  Suites from $6859

GRAND MEDITERRANEAN departing June 20 from Athens for 20-days.

• Visit Athens, Mykonos, Ephesus, Rhodes, Santorini, Crete, Malta, Naples, Rome, Messina, Mallorca, Barcelona
• Balconies from $4458.  Suites from $5661

PANAMA CANAL departing February 5 from Fort Lauderdale for 16-days

• Visit Aruba, Full daylight transit of the canal, Panama City, Fuerte Amador, Puntarenas, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Manzanillo, LA
• Balconies from $3049.  Suites from $3892

IRELAND, SCOTLAND & WALES departing London July 3 for 14 nights

• Visit Cornwall, Cork, Holyhead, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Stornoway, Shetland Islands, Invergordon, Edinburgh.
• Suites from $4719

Today’s Other Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER COLLECTION

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 $3439.  
• April 8 from $4319
• May 5 from $4239

BASEL to AMSTERDAM departing March 30, for 8-days:

• Visit Breisach (for Alsatian villages), Strasbourg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne
• Optional extensions to Lucerne, and/or Amsterdam
• See our video for pre or post in Switzerland: https://youtu.be/REYVepujkeY?si=mxaj9BxA41O5FcIY 
• Fares from $2959.  Or depart in May from $5129

EGYPT for 12-days (4 nights Cairo and 7-nights on the ship)

• See the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, and a Nile Felucca ride.
• Departures in January from $6749, and February or March from $7199.  

COLLETTE LAND CRUISES

Washington, Williamsburg & the Greenbrier – Washington DC round-trip for 8-days

• Grand historical journey with time in Washington (White House visitors’ center, National Mall, Smithsonian, Air & Space museum, Museum of American History), Arlington National Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs (for the Greenbrier), Monticello, Richmond, Williamsburg, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, 
• Departures March through November from $3329.  

Ireland from Dublin to Kilkenny for 15-days

• Visit Dublin, Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Derry, Donegal, Wild Atlantic Way, Fermanagh, Devenish Island, Enniskillen, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle, Kilkenny, 
• Departures March through November from $4399

Australia & New Zealand in Depth departing January 13 or February 2 for27-days

• Visit Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Ayers Rock, Cairns, Sydney, Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown
• $9499 including on-tour air.  Save $1000 per person. 

In Case You Missed It:

BOOMERNOMICS.  We welcome all clients, but here’s why we’re ignoring advice to focus solely on younger people:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-were-sticking-with-the-baby-boomers/

ALASKA is often overlooked as a destination partly because it’s in our backyard, and partly because many people have already done an Alaskan coastal cruise.  What else is there to see?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/alaska-different-ways-to-see-the-49th-state/

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0tXktGnPpE9DhuMTXbkKbLgTiJAXjccYXrGFw5AzLPJeH9yzL7UKH4i38PgG8D1jSl

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

If your kids are anything like ours, you are being reminded on a fairly regular basis that you’re old and out of touch.  This is especially the case when it comes to our consumption of media – specifically Facebook and YouTube.  Our kids have told us that we’ll only connect with old people on these two social media platforms.

If they’re right, then I know for sure those are exactly the channels we WANT to be on.  We’ve dabbled on Instagram and TikTok, but we’re not reaching the right people on those sites.

Many of you read this weekly blog on Facebook (or read it by email, and then comment on Facebook), but today I’m going to talk about YouTube.

In the past year, we’ve doubled our YouTube subscribers – so thank all of you that have subscribed.  The reason this is important is because there’s an aspect of “momentum” with YouTube, and the more subscribers you have, the most organic attention you attract, and in any business (especially a small mom & pop like ours), this is critical.  If you haven’t had the chance to subscribe to our channel yet, please take a minute to do so (it really helps us!)

https://www.youtube.com/thepamperedcruiser

We’ve taken a bit of heat because our videos are not flashy and produced.  This is fair criticism.  However, if you want the flashy stuff, you can go to the cruise lines’ websites.  Our footage is taken with an iPhone, and essentially the same thing that you’ll see: no special lighting, no professional models, no trick camera equipment – just raw footage of what we see when we’re taking the same sort of trips that YOU like to take. 

Our most viewed video is a one-hour long “fireside chat” about travelling to Antarctica, from when I was there in 2018.  This one’s getting a bit dated, but the images are still spectacular, and most of the information is still valid.  

We have ship tour videos, itinerary videos, some interviews with cruise line executives, and some informational videos.  YouTube only offers a handful of our videos in the preview pane when you arrive on our site.  If you want to see ALL the videos, you need to click “VIDEOS” near the center under our logo.

We’re going to start posting videos again next week (we’ve taken the summer off from video editing), and we’ll post something new every couple of weeks after that.

Finally a word about ads on YouTube:  they insert advertisements into OUR videos.  We don’t get any revenue from this, and what ads you see are dependent upon YOUR browsing history.  This (unfortunately) is the “price” of using their platform. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA WATERWAYS

FRANCE:  Paris, Normandy and Bordeaux back to backs for 14-nights

• 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.
• Start in Paris, then visit Les Andelys, Le Havre, Normandy Beaches, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Vernon (for Monet’s Gardens), the take the high-speed train to Bordeaux for the 2^nd week to enjoy the famed wine region, historic architecture, and ancient castles. 
• Visit during harvest!  Depart October 2, 2025 from $8179 ($500 off)

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

• Visit local markets and temples, do a local school visit, get a tuk tuk tour of Phnom Penh, and experience the amazing people, culture and food of the unique part of the world on a fully escorted trip.
• See our ship tour video of AMA’s Mekong River ship:  https://youtu.be/T6YIfrUbDwk?si=oXnRW6fNH9mvO9yX 
• 2025: Depart October 20 from $3189 for a twin balcony room, with $150 per person on board credit.

Colombia: Barranquilla to Cartagena for 7-nights departing June 11

• 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.
• Fares from $3755

CRYSTAL CRUISES

We are getting great feedback from Crystal clients that knew the brand in its previous incarnation, and are now enjoying it again.  

ICELAND & CANADA: Reykjavik to New York departing September 17 for 13-nights

• Visit Greenland, 2 stops in Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, Halifax, Boston (overnight), and New York (overnight).  
• Fares from $7200.

CARIBBEAN: Fort Lauderdale round-trip departing November 28, 2025 for 24-nights:

• This one hits just about every island in the Caribbean including Cayman, Jamaica, Dominican, Puerto Rico, Martinique and Barbados. 
• Fares from $10,300

JAPAN INTENSIVE:  Tokyo round-trip departing April 18, 2026 for 21-nights

• Make 11 port stops in Japan, and 4 stops in South Korea.
• Fares from $10,400

HX Adventure Cruises

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.
• $7477 for departures in January, February, or March.

NORWAY FJORDS IN SUMMER:  Midnight Sun cruises round-trip from Bergen for 15-days

• 10 port stops in Coastal Norway including Svalbard and Tromso. 
• Departures May through September from $4702.

NORWAY ULTIMATE NORTHERN LIGHTS:  Oslo to Helsinki for 17-days

• First, travel from Oslo to Bergen on the Flam Railway.  Then board the Norwegian Coastal Express for 7-nights in the Fjords.  Do a Reindeer Safari in Northern Finland, visit the Santa Claus Village, do a Husky Safari, stay in a Glass Igloo in Lapland, and finish in Helsinki.
• Departures September 2025 through March 2026 from $6412 pp

LAND CRUISES WITH INTREPID TRAVEL

MOROCCO:  Casablanca to Marrakech for 15-days

• 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

COSTA RICA:  San Jose to Tamarindo for 12-days

• Visit BOTH Caribbean and Pacific Coasts, see a turtle sanctuary, enjoy coffee where it is harvested, hotsprings 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

In Case You Missed It:

Norway Fjords:  Cruise ship traffic will be restricted starting in 2026.  Here are the details:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/norway-fjords-better-do-it-in-2025/

Misconceptions About Travel:  Our assumptions about other countries, and the people there are not always correct:

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

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/pfbid02omLn1AeQL99DNY3HPcosYhAYzEEd1BHDjoam7Ug1M9m1cmnLLvvinUZKf5mrNoSGl

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

No… but the entry requirements are changing.  Here’s what you need to know:

The United Kingdom has announced they will require visitors from the United States to have an Electronic Travel Authorization starting on November 27.  The European Union still has an undefined date in 2025.  Here’s your cheat-sheet:

It’s Not really a Visa.  Some countries require you to send your passport to their embassy in advance of travel to get a visa, and often you need to hire a lawyer to get it done.  The Europeans are putting in place an Electronic Travel Authorization… NOT a visa requirement.

It’s no big deal.  Visitors to Australia and New Zealand have been doing this for decades, and generally find the process to be easy.  We expect the same from the EU and the UK. 

What countries does it cover?  ETIAS will cover all 29 countries in the Schengen Zone.  This covers just about all the countries our clients visit in Europe.  The exceptions are mostly in Eastern Europe (Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria).

Is the UK separate?  YES…the British chose to leave the European Union, so ETIAS will not cover your trips to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  The British have put their own Electronic Travel Authorization starting on November 27, so if you have a trip to Europe planned that also includes the UK, you’ll have to get authorization for each separately.

What if I’m connecting in the UK?  If you don’t leave the airport, you won’t need the ETA. 

What are the requirements?  You need a valid US Passport, and a credit card to pay the fee.  You will also be asked questions about your previous travel history, and your occupation.  If you have any criminal convictions, you will be required to disclose those.  I have completed many visas and electronic travel authorizations, and these questions are quite standard.  

What’s the process?  Sometime in advance of 96 hours before you go, you’ll need to go to the ETIAS website, and complete your application, and pay the fee (if applicable).  Once you’ve gotten ETIAS authorization it is good for 3-years for multiple entries for up to 90-days.  The system is expected to issue approvals within a few minutes (or up to 24-hours).  They are currently not taking applications, but once this begins, it makes sense to apply well in advance.  

What’s the cost?  €7 if you’re between 18 and 70.  If you’re older or younger, it’s free.

When does this begin?  There have been several false-starts, but the current time-table is for this to start in the first half of 2025.  The British version starts on November 27.

Don’t be cranky about this.  It’s worth noting that citizens of the EU have been required to get an electronic authorization to visit the USA for more than a decade, and they have to apply every time they come to the US at a cost of $14.  The conditions the Europeans are imposing on us are notably less than we’ve imposed on them.  

Where can I learn more?

Europe Union:  https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/faqs-etias_en 

United Kingdom: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

TAUCK RIVER 

Lyon, Paris & Provence for 10-days

• Do walking tours in Paris and Lyon, experience farm to table cuisine at a private ranch in Provence, have private wine tastings at Beaujolais and Chateau Neuf du Pape, and visit Viviers, Arles, and see the Roman Ruins in Avignon.
• Departures April through October from $6790

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.  Transfer to Prague for 2-nights.
• Departures April through October from $9790

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 

SEABOURN – 15% off

All Seabourn ships carry 600 guests or less, and they define luxury service and amenities. 

Croatia & Greece departing June 1 for 7-days

• Visit Dubrovnik, Kotor, Gallipoli, Sarande, Zakinthos, Nafplion, Athens
• Veranda Suites from $4769

Thailand & Vietnam departing February 2 for 14-days

• Visit Singapore, Bangkok, Ko Kood, Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue (Vietnam), Ha Long Bay, Hong Kong.
• Veranda Suites from $7224

Northwest Passage from Anchorage to Reykjavik departing August 27 for 23-days

• This cruise is only for those with keen desire to visit one of the most remote places on earth, and relive the adventures of explorers from previous centuries that search for the illusive passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific.  
• Visit Nome, Port Clarence (Alaska), Herschel Island (Canada), Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Baffin Island, Pond’s Inlet, 3-ports in Greenland
• Veranda suites from $29,969

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

This luxury train journey is a great way to see these two incredibly scenic sections of the Rocky Mountains: 

US Rockies from Las Vegas to Denver for  7-nights

• Visit Las Vegas, Bryce Canyon, Moab (2 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver (2-nights)
• 2025:  departures in April & May for $4776.  July/Aug for $4959

CANADIAN Rockies from Vancouver to Calgary for 8-nights

• Visit Vancouver (2-nights), Kamloops, Lake Louise (2-nights), Banff (2-nights), Calgary
• 2025:  May from $4444.  July/August $4907

CUNARD CLOSE-IN SAILINGS

If you’re looking for a last-minute getaway between now and the end of the year, CUNARD has a handful of space left of some interesting itineraries:

Norway & Northern Lights departing round trip from London November 1, for 12-nights

• Visit Bergen, Tromso (overnight), Trondheim, Alesund, Stavanger
• Verandas from $2727.  Suites from $9147

Portugal & Spain departing round-trip from London on November 17 for 14-nights

• Visit Seville, Cartagena, Valencia, Malaga (for Granada), Gibraltar, Lisbon
• Fares from $4824 for a 500 square foot Penthouse on the brand new QUEEN ANNE

Go Christmas Shopping in London departing New York on December 3 for 7-nights

• Travel to the UK on the classic ocean liner QUEEN MARY 2.  If you have time you can travel both to AND from London by ship, with some days for shopping in between
• Fares from $3486 for Princess Suite

Caribbean Getaway round-trip New York departing December 21 for 13-nights

• Visit Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Rouseau, Dominica, Castries, St. Lucia, Barbados, Brasseterre, St. Kitts
• Balcony fares from $2599.  Suites fares from $9498

In Case You Missed It:

Cruise the next Solar Eclipse: The next solar eclipse is in August of 2026.  Several cruise lines will sail you into the path of totality: 

https://pamperedcruiser.com/what-are-you-doing-for-the-next-eclipse/

Meet the PAMPERED CRUISER Team: Here’s a bit more background on us and our team

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

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0SMWagjhNiUX3XNmRsZLEmJRGrhNxHWmL6XgWKs6phbdDnurj669vMXNX7mXgESAGl

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 might have already been to Italy – it is, after-all, always in the top five most visited destinations for American tourists.  It seems that most of those Italian visits are to Rome, Tuscany, or Amalfi.  Those places are magical, but today I’m going to talk about Northern Italy.

If you look at what immediately borders Italy in the North, you can begin to see how it is different.  We sometimes forget that borders are imaginary lines that we’ve drawn on maps, and very rarely are those borders a “hard-line”.  So you can see the influence of France’s Provence region in Northern Italy.  The natural beauty of Switzerland’s mountains and lakes doesn’t end at the Italian border.  The incredible Dalmatian Coast in the northeast where Italy shares a border with Slovenia and (almost) Croatia, also offers a window into what to expect in Northern Italy. 

Here’s a look at some places in Northern Italy, and some ideas on how to experience them. 

VENICE gets the most attention, and is certainly well worth a visit if you’ve not been.  It is also your most likely cruise ship port.  You have heard that Venice has outlawed cruise ships with more than 500 guests, so here are the ports in Northern Italy that serve as a proxy:

• Porto Marghera – this is the closest port, and it is on the mainland side, close to the Venice airport.  It’s about 20 minutes into town.
• Fusina – near Porto Marghera.  It’s about 30 minutes by car or water taxi into Venice. 
• Chioggia – this charming little town is sometimes called “Little Venice” and is on the opposite side of the Venetian Lagoon.  By car or bus it’s about an hour from Venice.  You can also take local (boat) transit, and transfer at Lido to get into Venice.
• Trieste – this is about 120 kilometers or 90 minutes from Venice.  You will want to look at a cruise line transfer to get here to/from Venice.
• Ravenna – is actually the port for Bologna.  If your ship is docked here, it’s about 150 kilometers or between 1.5 and 2 hours into Venice. 

MILAN is well known as one of the fashion capitals of the world, and it is a very manageable city to just walk around (or to shop).  It is also a jumping off point to Lake Como and Bellagio.  It is very easy to do pre or post cruise days in Milan, and the airport is the 2^nd largest in Italy with lots of flight options. 

LAKE COMO is a lake-town nestled in the Alps near the border with Switzerland.  If you’ve seen photos of the mountains falling right into pristine fresh water, that could very well be Lake Como.  This destination is a popular pre or post cruise destination for both ocean cruises out of Venice, AND river cruises beginning in Basel, Switzerland.

Turin, Genoa, Verona, Trieste, and Bologna are also cities in the region that people want to explore.  If you’re adding such exploration to a cruise, you’ll want to understand the logistics of getting from these places to or from your docking location.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES

If you really want to immerse yourself in Venice and its surrounding areas, this is the best way to do so:

Venice & Northern Italy for 7-nights

• Visit Venice (several spots), Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia.
• 2025: Departs every Sunday from April – October  from $3509.  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 Uniworld 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 the 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 

VENICE HOTEL STAYS

If you’d rather stay in a hotel in Venice, here’s a link to our agency page:

https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/bobbrad77410/travel/destinations/europe/italy/venice

OCEANIA

Here are some cruises starting or finishing in Venice.  Remember that OCEANIA is changing its pricing structure in October so you need to book by the end of month to get the beverage package, shore excursions, and 5% off included in the fare.  This 5% discount is available on ALL Oceania cruises for Veranda Rooms and Suites.  You’re not ever going to get a better deal on Oceania than right now:

Rome to Venice departing August 22 for 10-days

• Visit Sorrento, Sicily, Malta, Argostoli, Albania, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split
• Verandas from $5199 with a $300 shore-excursion credit and tips included

Venice to Istanbul departing July 17 for 11-days

• Visit 2 ports in Croatia, Corfu, Olympia, Santorini, Athens, Ephesus, Istanbul (2 nights)
• Verandas from $5499 with a $300 shore-ex credit

Rome to Venice departing July 7 for 10-days

• Visit Naples, Sicily, Zakynthos (Greece), Albania, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Ancona (Italy), Slovenia
• Verandas from $5399 with a $300 shore-ex credit

The 5% discount, and changes to the fare inclusions are for ALL Oceania cruises, so get in touch with us today if you want to take advantage of this last chance offer.

We made a short video about Oceania’s planned fare changes:

https://youtu.be/VZYE5iTOZ_8

WINDSTAR 10% OFF Venice Departures 

We can get you 10% off ANY Windstar itinerary as long as it is booked by September 30.  Windstar leaves a vessel in the Mediterranean year-round, if you’d like to visit in quiet-season.  Here are two examples:

Rome to Venice departing January 15

• Visit Naples, Messina, Dubrovnik (overnight), Zadar, Venice (overnight)
• Verandas from $4139.

Venice to Rome departing January 23 or March 23 for 8-days

• Visit Venice (overnight), Zadar, Dubrovnik (overnight), Messina, Naples, Rome
• Verandas from $4139 on January 23.  Verandas from $4639 on March 23
• You can also stay on to Barcelona (15-days) , and see Livorno (overnight), Genoa, Nice (overnight), Barcelona (overnight)
• Verandas from $6979 on January 23

If you want more information about Windstar Yacht cruises, the inclusions, and itineraries outside of the Mediterranean, here’s a link to our Vendor focus article on them:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/yacht-cruising-with-windstar/

COLLETTE LAND CRUISE of Italy

There are dozens of land tours in Northern Italy to suit any time, budget or itinerary requirements.  Here are two:

Italy’s Treasures:  Art, Food & Wine of Italy for 12-days

• Visit the Alpine Lakes region (Lake Maggiore, Stresa, Lake Orta), Liguria Coast, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, do a cooking class in Florence, stay at a Tuscan villa for 4-nights, and finish in Venice. 
• Depart May 19 for $4499.  Departures in June/July/August from $4799

Rome and the Amalfi Coast for 10-days

• Stay in Rome for 3-nights to visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and just to enjoy the sidewalk vibe in Rome.  Then on to Amalfi, for coastal townships, beaches, Sorrento,  and Pompeii
• Departures June through September from $3799

In Case You Missed It:

E-SIMS and Managing Your Telecom When Abroad.  How can you avoid those nasty ROAMING CHARGES?

https://pamperedcruiser.com/telecom-abroad-e-sims/

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

Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE

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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

Have you heard?  Oceania is changing what it includes in its fares at the end of September.  I’ve put more details below, but if you’ve been contemplating booking an Oceania cruise, I don’t envision you’ll get a better deal than you can in the next few weeks.  Starting October 1, the beverage package, and shore excursion credit will disappear, so you might want to place a hold by the end of the month to make sure you get these goodies. 

We can also get you an additional 5% off their best price on verandas and suites.  This isn’t available on direct bookings, or anywhere else.  Our long-time relationship with them is paying off for our clients.  

Here are the details:

Oceania is sunsetting its “Simply MORE” fare structure at the end of this month.  Here’s what Simply MORE includes:

• Beer, wine, and champagne with lunch & dinner
• A shore excursion credit (amount depends on the length of cruise)
• Specialty Dining
• High Speed Wifi

What’s going away?

• The beverage package.  You’ll pay restaurant prices for all your drinks on bookings made after September 30.
• The shore excursion credit.

What’s staying the same?

• You’ll still have included specialty dining.  “The Finest Cuisine at Sea” is core to Oceania’s brand, so I don’t see anything happening here.
• You’ll still have free Starlink Wifi on every ship. 

WHY are they making this change?

• Oceania has said that they are reacting to client feedback.

Will the price go down as a result of fewer inclusions?

• I suppose anything is possible, but demand for travel products still outstrips supply… so I wouldn’t count on prices going down. 
• Oceania raises its prices every quarter, with the next increase scheduled for October 1^st.  Perhaps the increase will be more modest as a result of these fare changes. 

My opinion:

• My impression was they introduced Simply MORE fifteen months ago to better compete with Viking Ocean by offering similar inclusions, on a comparable sized small ship.
• I suspect the strategy worked a bit too well, and began to cut into sales at Regent, which is owned by the same parent company as Oceania.
• By removing these inclusions, it makes them more competitively aligned with Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess (none of which are owned by Oceania’s parent).
• I think this is a strategic error for Oceania, but it does present a great opportunity for YOU, if you’re ready to book between now and September 30.

What if I have an EXISTING Oceania Booking?

• Nothing changes.  If you booked with the Simply MORE inclusions those will be honored regardless of when you sail.  This change is dependent on WHEN YOU BOOK, not when you sail.

The RECAP: What you’ll get if you book by September 30:

• Beer, wine, and champagne with meals.
• A shore excursion credit varying from $200 – $400 per person depending on the length of your itinerary. 
• 5% off Oceania’s best price on their website in Veranda cabins and above (this is only available through our agency). 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

If you’re new to Oceania, or you’re a Celebrity, Holland America, or Princess traveller looking to try a small ship, here’s an article we posted a few months ago with more details on the brand:

https://pamperedcruiser.com/oceania-private-sale-time-to-try-a-small-ship/

Here’s a few Oceania examples:

Alaska from Vancouver to Seattle departing June 17 for 9-days

• Visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Haines, Tracy Arm, Wrangell, Victoria
• Verandas from $4299.  Includes tips, $200 pp shore excursion credit

Australia / New Zealand from Auckland to Sydney departing February 24 for 14-days

• Visit Rotorua, Gisbourn, Napier, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Tasmania, Melbourne (overnight)
• Fares from $6299 with a $400 shore-ex credit

Panama Canal from LA to Miami departing January 24 for 16-days

• Visit Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, full daylight transit of the canal, Cartagena, Cayman Islands
• Verandas from $7399 with tips included and a $400 shore-ex credit.

JAPAN from Hong Kong to Tokyo departing January 27 for 18-days

• Visit Hong Kong (overnight), Taiwan (2 stops), Ishigaki, Okinawa, Shanghai (overnight), Nagasaki, Busan, Hiroshima, Kochi, Kyoto (overnight), Nagoya, Tokyo (overnight)
• Fares from $6199 with a $400 shore-ex credit.

AMA WATERWAYS FREE GRATUITIES

Our friends at AMA Waterways often give us extra goodies, that we can layer on top of their existing promotions.  For all the cruises that follow, we can get you FREE pre-paid gratuities, and a $150 per person on board credit.  If you want to travel in the next 6 months with AMA contact us for special offers. 

2024 Christmas Markets on the Rhine departing December 19 or 21 for 7-nights

• Visit Christmas Markets in Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach, and Basel.  
• Fares from $3923

Tulip Cruise round-trip Amsterdam for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Kampen, Bruinisse, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Kinderdijk
• March 19 from $3185
• March 30 from $3539

Danube from Bavaria to Budapest for 7-nights

• Visit Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley (scenic Cruising), Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest (overnight).
• Depart March 26 from $2880

Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel for 7-nights

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwignshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel
• March 19 from $3339.  Other departures dates available. 

AMA has a strong focus on the culinary experience, and they give you a choice of several shore exclusions (all included in the fare) at each port of call. 

TAUCK LAND CRUISES

Canadian Rockies and Glacier NP round-trip from Calgary for 10-days

• Visit Calgary, Waterton NP, Glacier NP, Banff, Kootenay NP, Morraine Lake, drive the Icefields Parkway, Jasper
• 2025 departures: June through September from $7990

Ken Burns Journey from New York to Washington for 12-days

• New York (dinner at ONE World Observatory, Walking tour of Manhattan, 911 memorial, Central Park), Valley Forge NP, Philadelphia (early access to Museum of American Revolution, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell), Amish Country in Lancaster, Gettysburg National Military Park, Harper’s Ferry, Charlottesville, Jefferson’s Monticello, Richmond, Williamsburg, George Washington’s Estate, Washington DC (National Mall, Early Access to National Archives to see Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights)
• Departures March through October from $6990

CUNARD CLOSE-IN SAILINGS

If you’re looking for a last-minute getaway between now and the end of the year, CUNARD has a handful of space left of some interesting itineraries:

Norway & Northern Lights departing round trip from London November 1, for 12-nights

• Visit Bergen, Tromso (overnight), Trondheim, Alesund, Stavanger
• Verandas from $2727.  Suites from $9147

Portugal & Spain departing round-trip from London on November 17 for 14-nights

• Visit Seville, Cartagena, Valencia, Malaga (for Granada), Gibraltar, Lisbon
• Fares from $4824 for a 500 square foot Penthouse on the brand new QUEEN ANNE

Go Christmas Shopping in London departing New York on December 3 for 7-nights

• Travel to the UK on the classic ocean liner QUEEN MARY 2.  If you have time you can travel both to AND from London by ship, with some days for shopping in between
• Fares from $3486 for Princess Suite

Caribbean Getaway round-trip New York departing December 21 for 13-nights

• Visit Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Rouseau, Dominica, Castries, St. Lucia, Barbados, Brasseterre, St. Kitts
• Balcony fares from $2599.  Suites fares from $9498

In Case You Missed It:

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

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in the Travel Biz: https://pamperedcruiser.com/do-you-want-to-deal-with-artificial-intelligence-or-a-real-person/ 

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