The Pampered Cruiser

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Cruising and Geo-political Risk

One of the questions you all ask most frequently is about the uncertainty regarding travelling to certain regions in the world – particularly when the TV “News” is plastering images of death and destruction 24-hours a day.  

My answer probably frustrates you sometimes:  “I don’t know”.  

I don’t know for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is:

  1. I don’t have a crystal ball, and therefore can’t foretell the future
  2. I am not on the ground in these locations to get an accurate account of what is actually happening. 

So what do you do if you’re feeling a bit nervous?  I’ll share these ideas, but before the hate-mail begins, I make no claims about being expert in geopolitical affairs, not do I offer any guarantees about an ever-changing world (see point #1 above).

  • The Cruise Lines are incredibly risk averse, and they are constantly managing both what is actually happening in these places, AND travellers’ anxiety about their perception of what’s happening.  Here are two examples that tell a story:
    • Egypt:  Despite its proximity to the conflict in Israel, none of the cruise lines cancelled operations there.
    • The Red Sea & Suez Canal:  Just about all the cruise lines have adjusted their itineraries away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal due to the drone attacks by Houthis, and the counter-activities by the British and American Navies.
  • The cruise lines have people on the ground in these locations and are well positioned to assess actual and perceived risk to tourists.  
  • Another example:  Bob and I were in Paris during the Gillet-Jaune (Yellow Jacket) protests in 2019.  The protests and military counter-action was a fraction of what the media made it out to be.  None of the Cruise lines cancelled their itineraries as a result.  We felt completely safe. 
  • State Department Advisories are NOT particularly helpful.  If you followed all the State Department’s advisories, you’d never leave your basement.  Their primary goal is to ensure that if someone does run into harm’s way overseas, they can say “we told you so”, so as to insulate themselves from litigation.
  • TV “News” is equally dubious.  TV “News” is produced to sell advertising, and to do that they need to attract viewers.  They’ve proven repeatedly that they get more viewers by being more sensational (translation: blood, violence, destruction).  Context and nuance have been missing from the news for a long time now, so even though the reporting may be based on a true story, it is not an accurate representation of the situation.  

The bottom line to all of this MUST be your own level of comfort.  If you’re going to be looking over your shoulder the entire time you’re away, then you shouldn’t go, and I would be the last one to talk you into it.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

TAUCK RIVER for FAMILIES

Tauck has a handful of voyages that are specifically designed for parents and grandparents to share the river cruising experience with children.  Bring the history and culture of Europe alive for these young minds.  We love Tauck, and we’ll be talking a lot more about them in the coming weeks.  

Here are a couple of examples:

Rhine River departing Basel, Switzerland on June 19 or July 10 for 8-days:

  • Visit Basel, Lucerne, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Cologne, Amsterdam.
  • Enjoy a private dinner at a moated medieval castle.  Take a train ride to Lucerne for Mt. Pilatus.  See the ruins of Heidelberg Castle.  Scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge. Visit a Chocolate Museum in Cologne, and do a windmill & canal cruise in Amsterdam.
  • Fares from $5190 per person.

Danube River departing Budapest on July 2 or 9 for 8-days

  • Visit Vilshofen and Passau (Bavaria), Linz, Salzburg, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest.
  • Enjoy an evening at a Viennese Palace for dinner and music.  Take a class to make Marzipan.  Do a bike ride on the riverside, see the Hellbrunn Castle, visit the Sound of Music sites.  Scenic cruising in Wachau Valley.  See where King Richard the Lionhearted has imprisioned.  Visit the legendary Schonbrunn Palace.  See a Knight Tournament, and a Fencing Show.  
  • Fares from $4990 per person.

HURTIGRUTEN GALAPAGOS ISLANDS for departures between April 27 and September 25 2024, for 9-nights

If you’re considering the Galapagos Islands this year, this offer from Hurtigruten will be hard to beat.  Bob and I are doing this trip in a couple of months (my choice, to my 60th birthday) and we can’t wait!

  • Includes internal flights from Quito to Baltra, 2 hotel nights pre-cruise in Quito, a tour of Cotopaxi NP, Galapagos National Park admission fee, all meals on the ship, beer/wine, wifi on the ship, kayaking, snorkeling, and a glass-bottom boat. 
  • Visit Quito, stand on the equator with one foot in each hemisphere, walk the sandy dunes on Baltra, visit a tortoise reserve to see the endangered giant tortoises, go to the Charles Darwin Research Station, see the sugar plantations and miles of coral beaches.
  • Wildlife viewing: Sea Lions, Blue Footed Boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs, mockingbirds, lava lizards, albatross, finches, rays, reef sharks, and many more.  Nature is alive here!
  • Fares from $5778 per person.  Extensions to Machu Picchu available 

PRINCESS LOVE BOAT REUNION CRUISE August 31

Most of our clients are small-ship people, but there are luxury touches available on some of the bigger ships, and every now and then some interesting itineraries come up:

Love Boat Cast Reunion departing August 31, round-trip from New York City for 7-nights

  • Join Julie McCoy (your Cruise Director), Gopher (your Chief Purser), Isaac (the Bartender), Vicki (the Captain’s Daughter), and Doctor Bricker.  Yep… the actors that played these roles will all be on board. 
  • Visit Newport RI, Boston, Rockland MN, Saint John and Halifax (Canada)
  • Our small-ship guests would probably prefer a Penthouse Suite, which is more comparable to the staterooms on the small ships.  These are 419 square feet, with a separate bedroom, full bathroom and powder room. 
  • Includes complimentary access to the lotus spa thermal suite, complimentary laundry and cleaning, priority dining and shore excursion reservations, priority embarkation/disembarkation, and specialty dining
  • Penthouse fares from $3998 pp.  

Holland America Repositioning Cruises

HAL has 7 ships in Alaska (they have a HUGE presence up there), and they need to reposition in September.  Here are two interesting itineraries with a great cost per day:

SOUTH PACIFIC: Vancouver to San Diego — via Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, and the South Pacific Islands

  • Depart Vancouver on September 25, 2024 for 56 days.  A great way to see the South Pacific without the long flight. 
  • Visit California (3 stops), 5 stops in Hawaii, American Samoa, 4 stops in Fiji, Tonga, 2 stops in the Cook Islands, 6 stops in French Polynesia including an overnight stop in Papeete. 
  • Oceanview for the inside price of $9999 pp.  Or Vista Suite for $17,199 pp.

PANAMA CANAL:  Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale departing September 19, for 28 days

  • Visit San Francisco, San Diego, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, full transit of the Panama Canal, Aruba, Turks Caicos, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Bahamas
  • Veranda for OceanView price of $5639 pp

LAST MINUTE HAL CARIBBEAN

If you’re ready to travel this month, and are looking for reasonably priced getaway, here’s one:

  • Fort Lauderdale round-trip for 14-nights on Nieuw Amsterdam
  • Visit Nassau, Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Half-Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, 
  • Balconies from $2629 pp.  Suites from $3349 pp.

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

What’s New at Viking?  How about China?

You probably know Viking best as the River Cruise people.  You’re probably also aware they have a fleet of small-ship luxury vessels, and two expedition ships.  Viking is also such a powerful marketing machine (how many brochures a month do you get from them?!?), that I often struggle to offer information in this space that you don’t already know.  

So here’s an attempt to provide an update on all things Viking. 

The hottest news is that Viking has renamed the Viking Sun the Di Yun, and permanently relocated her to China.  It’s still the Viking Ocean experience you’ve come to expect, but this move gave them the opportunity to offer itineraries and trip extensions that nobody else is doing.  

They will be doing 10, 15, and 20 day itineraries in China starting this September, and they are available for booking now.  We expect these to sell out quickly.   Here’s a link to that page on their website: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/asia/countries/china/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Here are some of their other new OCEAN itineraries:

If you’re looking for something new on the RIVER, here’s some ideas:

Expedition is more than just Antarctica, and Viking has some innovative new itineraries for Octantis and Polaris.

Remember that “Expedition” doesn’t mean you have to be a performance athlete capable of scaling Everest.  It does mean you need to be curious about a region, and like to get out and explore those areas. 

We found Viking’s Expedition ship to be one of the best thought-out vessels we’ve ever sailed on. Click here for a “walk-around” video of the ship with Bob:  https://youtu.be/izwAZ6NdFOo?si=fBkcEpISHZVb6EZZ 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

VIKING OCEAN China Itineraries

You will probably hear much more from Viking soon about them renaming the Viking Sun (now the Viking Yi Dun), and giving her a permanent home in China.  Starting in September of this year, Viking will escort you through China on 10, 15 and 20 day itineraries:

Shanghai to Hong Kong (or reverse) for 10-days.

  • Experience the urban cultures of Shanghai and Hong Kong with colonial buildings juxtaposed with brand new sky-scrapers, explore the Chinese coastline and fishing villages, visit ancient temples, 
  • Visit Shanghai (overnight), Zhoushan, Dongtou, Pingtan, Xaimen, Hong Kong (overnight)
  • Departures in September & October 2024 – Verandas between $4499 to $5299 with FREE FLIGHTS if you book before Feb. 29th.  
  • Pre and post land stays available in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
  • See more here:  https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/asia/countries/china/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

We expect these voyages to sell out quickly – particularly with the FREE AIR promo.  

Viking Great Lakes from Toronto to Milwaukee for 8-days

UNIWORLD Flash Sale on until February 29

This is one of those rare occasions when a 2 for 1 sale is actually that.  The catch is that it is on select sailings only, and only a handful of dates and itineraries:

  • Paris & Normandy – 8-days round-trip Paris
  • Bordeaux – 8-days round-trip Bordeaux
  • Burgundy & Provence – 8-days between Arles and Lyon
  • Tulips & Windmills – 10-days between Amsterdam & Antwerp
  • Lower Danube – 10-days between Budapest and Bucharest

All the 2 for 1 dates are in the next few months, but if you’re able to travel quickly, this is a great deal.  Here’s a link to their page for more information:  https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/current-offers/2024-leap-year-flash-sale 

TAUCK AIR PACKAGES to Europe

If you’re contemplating a trip to Europe this summer, be aware that the Paris Olympics has put demand-pressure on flights to ALL of Europe.  Tauck is taking that irritation away with flat-rate air to Europe with the purchase of any of their land tours:

First the Air Add-On:  

  • Economy:  $990 per person
  • Premium:  $1790 per person
  • Business:  $3890 per person

England, Scotland & Wales for 14-days

  • Visit Edinburgh, the Lake District, Walled city of Chester, Conwy, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stonehenge, Bath, London.
  • Stay in the heart of London, and take in a West End Show, tour the Caernarfon Castle in Wales (a UNESCO site), see the Hampton Court Palace, and visit Westminster Abbey. 
  • $8990 per person for departures May through October 2024.

Portugal & Spain Douro River Cruise for 8-days

  • Have a Private Dinner with wine pairings at an Estate winery, see a Port wine cocktail making workshop, bike tour through Vinho Verde Wine country, see Roman Ruins, visit UNESCO world Heritage sites, and drink tons of wine.
  • Fares from $5490 for departures May to November

OCEANIA NEW YEAR SALE – Ends February 29.

Oceania has some really competitive fares as part of their Waves Season promo.  The Catch:  must be booked by the end of the month.  Here’s a link to the cruises included: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/new-year

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER – Canadian Rockies round-trip from VANCOUVER

If you want to see the majesty of the Canadian Rockies, there’s no better way to do so than on the rails, and Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s MUST-DO train trips.  There are tons of different itineraries, but here’s the one I like:

  • 10-nights round-trip Vancouver.  Get to see this thriving metropolis city, AND the remote beauty of the Rockies with visits to Banff & Jasper National Parks.
  • Visit Vancouver (2 nights), Kamloops (1), Jasper NP (2), Banff NP (2), Kamloops (1), Vancouver (2). 
  • Prices from $5049 per 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?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02mbBoTMUvH9bLhcTbatm2sggLD2MTp2rygefz1mqwxCQKXjNVpBtiYxTPGERaf9V1l

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

Decoding the Cruise Line Promos

January and February are what the Cruise Industry calls “Waves Season”.  These two months are the strongest sales of the year for the cruise lines.  

But are the offers really that much better, than other promos throughout the year?

“No”… in most cases.  

The cruise lines generally “tinker around the edges” offering an additional goody here or there, that might be different at another time, but the net-net of what you pay is usually pretty close, regardless of WHEN you book.

Here’s some of the promos often run by cruise lines, and some commentary as to whether you should pay attention or not:

  • Reduced Deposits:  The value of this depends on when the final payment is.  If you get a really low deposit this month, and the final payment is due next month, then who cares?  If you get to keep your money for an extra year, then it has some value.  
  • Upgrades:  This is usually marketing nonsense, and it means a “location upgrade”.  It’s very rare we see people move entire categories (Inside to Oceanview, for example).  I suppose it’s nice when you pay for an aft cabin and get upgraded to mid-ship… but you’re not being upgraded to the Penthouse.
  • Free or Reduced Air:  The devil is in the details here.  Sometimes it can work out well.  Other times the air offered can be really restrictive.  As a rule of thumb, make sure you’re saving a lot of money.  If it’s only $100 or $200 different from what you can get on your own, you’re usually better off managing your own air.
  • 2 For 1 Fares:  This is pure marketing nonsense (nobody ever pays the full price), and outside of the United States the cruise lines have had to discontinue such marketing because it runs contrary to consumer protection laws. 

Often the cruise lines will offer you additional amenities as a booking incentive.  You need to decide whether those amenities have value for YOU (and that might be different depending on the individual). 

  • Free Gratuities:  This has a tangible value ($18 – $20 per day) because you would otherwise have charged these to your shipboard account.
  • Free Beverage Package:  This depends on how much you think you’ll consume, and what is offered in your fare (ie:  Beer/Wine with meals).  You’ll pay restaurant prices for drinks on cruise ships, so it’s worth doing the math to figure out what value YOU would place on this.  ALSO – beware of service fees on beverage packages.  The higher-end cruise lines tend not to have any, but if you’re travelling on one of the mega-ships, the service charge for your beverage package could be $20 per person, per day. 
  • Free Transfers:  This depends on the port(s), and a quick google search can tell you what this is worth (for example: In Rome, it’s worth a lot.  In Vancouver… not so much).
  • On Board Credits:  This has tangible value if you would charge things to your room anyway.  On the more inclusive cruise lines, your only choices to spend OBCs are Spa Treatments, Optional Shore Excursions, and purchases at on board shops.

Finally… some of these cruise line offers have dozens of pages of fine print (written by lawyers), that exclude or limit the goodies they’re advertising.  When you see “on select sailings”, or “capacity controlled” amongst other catch phrases, you need to look carefully at the fine print.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

AMA Waterways – Combinable Promos!

AMA is offering us some incentives for booking this month that ARE real, and oddly enough combinable (normally cruise lines don’t allow you to mix and match promos).  On all AMA Waterways bookings for Europe (except Portugal), and the Mekong (Vietnam & Cambodia) made between now and February 29, we can offer you:

  • $200 per person off – due to our exclusive Private Sale this month, AND
  • FREE Prepaid gratuities – due to our exclusive arrangement with them, AND
  • FREE Land Packages – as indicated in their current promotion.  This varies based on the itinerary, and is on select voyages.  We can help you navigate this.  AND
  • $150 per person On Board Credit on the voyages below.  

Bucharest to Budapest for 7-nights departing June 17

  • Visit Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania.  
  • $3049 cruise only
  • $5029 for 2-nights pre-cruise Bucharest & 2-nights post cruise in Vienna.
  • Includes pre-paid gratuities and $150 pp On Board Credit.

Wine Cruise!  Prague to Paris departing August 7 for 7-nights

  • Visit Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Rudesheim, Rhine Gorge, Koblenz, Bernkastel, Luxembourg 
  • $2799 cruise only (Nuremberg to Luxembourg)
  • $3799 for the cruise and EITHER 3-night Prague Pre-Cruise, OR 3-night Paris Post-Cruise
  • $5079 for cruise and 3-nights Prague pre-cruise AND 3-nights Paris post-cruise.
  • Includes pre-paid gratuities and $150 pp On Board Credit.

Paris & Normandy departing November 7 for 7-nights

  • Visit Paris, Monet’s Gardens, Normandy Beaches, Le Havre, Caudebec En Caux, Rouen
  • $3148 cruise only.
  • $3849 for 7-night cruise, and 2-nights in Paris. 
  • Includes pre-paid gratuities and $150 pp On Board Credit.

Remember that AMA includes a choice of several shore excursions in each port of call, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.  

There are also many other sailings where you can get all the goodies listed above. Click HERE for a full list.

AZAMARA Small-Ship Journeys

Azamara’s ships hold just 680 guests… a great way to experience cruising with some really interesting ports of call.  Azamara fares include and open bar, gratuities, and on the sailings below a $750 on board credit as long as it’s booked by February 23.  

Australia & Bali departing for 22-nights on February 20, 2025

  • Explore the less travelled South and West coasts of Australia
  • Visit Sydney, Eden, Melborne, Adelaide, Esperance, Albany, Margaret River, Perth, Geraldton, Bali, Semarang, Singapore (overnight). 
  • Verandas from $7199 with a $750 on board cabin credit.

Rio Carnival & Amazon River departing for 25-nights on February 25, 2025

  • Visit Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro (overnight for Carnival), Salvador de Bahia, Macapa, Amazon River, Boca de Valeria, Manaus (overnight), Parintins, Santarem, Bridgetown.
  • Verandas from $7380 with a $750 on board cabin credit.

Holland America Last Minute Voyages

HAL is showing some solid pricing for those ready to travel between now and then end of March.  Here are some examples:

Caribbean & Panama Canal for 24-days OR 29-days departing March 30

  • Fort Lauderdale to San Diego (24 days) OR Vancouver (29 days)
  • Visit the Bahamas, Turks/Caicos, Dominican Republic, Curacao, Cartagena, Full Transit of the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, Portland, Victoria BC.
  • Verandas from $4479 to San Diego, OR $5284 to Vancouver

Japan Intensive Voyage for 14-days departing March 16

  • Toyko round-trip
  • Visit Naha, Ishigaki, 2 stops in Taiwan, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Kochi, Kobe (overnight) 
  • Verandas from $2969.  Suites from $4119

Caribbean round-trip Fort Lauderdale for 17-days departing March 27

  • Visit the Bahamas, Turks/Caicos, Dominican Republic, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands.
  • Verandas from $3454.

HAL’s “Have It All” price includes the beverage package, wifi, a shore excursion credit and specialty dining for two.

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

Canada & New England

Many of you have been asking for more domestic options, so for the purposes of this post, let’s include Canada.  In many ways Canada-New England cruises that include stops in New Brunswick and Quebec serve a dual purpose:  they are close enough to be considered (almost) domestic, but the French Language and unique culture makes it feel somewhat European.  Some Canada/New England Cruises also include a stop at the last remaining territory of France in North America: St. Pierre & Miquelon.  

The autumn months are when these journeys usually occur, and if you’re looking at THIS fall, things are filling up quickly.

This is partly because of the fall colors (or “colours”, if you’re on the Canadian side), and partly because the St. Lawrence Seaway is a pleasant place to park cruise ships during hurricane season in the Caribbean.  

Some cruise lines focus on the larger ports: New York, Boston, Halifax and Montreal.  All these cities are well worth a visit, but I like the itineraries that also include some of the smaller, lesser known places.  Charlottetown is infinitely charming, and Bar Harbor is increasingly frequented by cruise ships, but still an interesting stop. 

If your cruise starts or finishes in Montreal or Quebec City, then hopefully you get to visit some of the Quebec townships that dot the St. Lawrence.  If you ever doubted Canada was a French speaking country, a visit to small-town Quebec will clear it up right away.

Quebec City is often an embarkation or disembarkation port on the longer Canada & New England Cruises.  It is North America’s only walled city, and is full of history for both Americans and Canadians.  You’ll want to stay an extra day or two here, and feel the European vibe (and have a glass of wine at the Chateau Frontenac – the world’s most photographed hotel).  

Almost all the cruise lines have some presence in Canada & New England, and the most interesting ones, in my mind, are those that have a mix of the big ports with some more remote ports that you’ll probably only ever visit on a cruise like this.

The best part about these cruises is that for many of us, the journey to the port can be made by a short domestic, or cross-border flight.  Those living in the Northeast may even be able to drive to the port.  

Canada & New England cruises offer a great opportunity to explore something new that is really our own backyard.  There are enough itinerary variations, that even if you’ve already done a cruise in the region, you can probably find another with almost completely different port stops.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

OCEANIA

Our friends at Oceania have TWO ships in the St. Lawrence this fall.  Both ships hold 680 guests for a great small-ship experience, with their exceptional culinary program.  As a bonus, on both the cruises below we can get your FREE prepaid gratuities due to our exclusive arrangement with Oceania: 

Montreal to Miami departing October 28 for 12-days

  • Visit Montreal, Quebec City, Saguenay, Sydney, Halifax, Portland, Boston, New York, Charleston, Miami.
  • Verandas from $4799 with a $300 per person shore excursion credit

London to New York departing August 17 for 15-days

  • This itinerary is the best of the UK and Ireland, as well as Canada/New England.  The best part is you only have to fly one-way to Europe.  It also visits St. Pierre – the small island in the St. Lawrence River that is part of France!
  • Visit London, Bruges, Paris, Dublin, Belfast, Killybegs, St. John’s, St. Pierre, Portland, Newport, NYC
  • Verandas from $6599 with a $400 per person shore excursion credit

These Oceania voyages include the indicated shore excursion credit, beer/wine with meals, wifi on the ship, specialty dining and FREE prepaid gratuities.

HURTIGRUTEN

If you’ve already done a cruise to Canada/New England, but would like to see some of the more remote ports, then Hurtigruten might be your best choice.  You also get to sail on the world’s first hybrid-electric cruise ship.  See our ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0?si=ewhsmbCCokL3W1ac 

Halifax to Boston for 8-days departing September 14

  • Halifax, Sable Island, Lunenburg (UNESCO World Heritage site), Eastport MN, Rockland and Castine (MN), Bar Harbor, Provincetown, Boston.
  • Veranda suites from $4250 per person (represents $2000 off), with a €90 on board credit.

Vancouver to Halifax for 26-days departing August 20

  • This one is for the true explorers – a trek from Pacific to Atlantic across the Arctic Ocean.  Arctic cruises are like going to Africa on Safari – although you’re looking for polar bears and icebergs. 
  • Visit Vancouver, Nome, 4-days in the Bering Sea, 8-days traversing the Northwest Passage, 2 stops in Greenland, Red Bay (Newfoundland), Cornerbrook (NFLD), Halifax.
  • Includes pre-cruise hotel night in Vancouver, transfers, expedition jacket, use of expedition gear.
  • Fares from $22,594

Hurtigruten includes beer/wine with meals, wifi on the ship, and due to our exclusive arrangement, a €90 per person on board credit. 

SILVERSEA

If classic luxury is more your speed, then SilverSea is a great option.  The Silver Shadow will be in Canada/New England this year, and with only 388 guests!

Quebec City to New York City for 12-days departing June 30

  • This is one of only a handful of Canada/New England cruises that DON’T sail in the autumn months.
  • Visit Quebec, Saguenay, Gaspe, Halifax, Saint John, Portland, Boston (overnight), Newport, NYC.
  • Fares from $4950 per person

New York City to Quebec City for 10-days departing September 18

  • Visit NYC, Newport, Boston, Portland, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Saguenay, Quebec City.
  • Fares from $5950 per person

SilverSea includes all taxes & fees, an open bar, a shore excursion in each port, butler service, gratuities, and wifi on the ship. 

SEABOURN REPOSITIONING

Seabourn’s 264-guest expedition ship is relocating for the season to Antarctica, and you can catch a ride part of the way for a fantastic price.

St. John’s Newfoundland to Barbados for 10-days departing September 27

  • This is a great way to check out an expedition ship to see if it’s right for you.  You also get to visit both Newfoundland AND Caribbean Islands.
  • Visit St. John’s, San Juan, Great Harbor Jost van Dyke, Carambola Beach, Fort de France, Bridgetown
  • Veranda suites from $3519 per 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?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02c5ENvqY9Bv3ttWzQWKcXJD6T2iZeuSDJ375s7KgKzaSE4vJE3Q5oVCm7Jm3ZH646l

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

Meet the Team!

Some of you ask about me and Bob, as well as the rest of our team, so this week I thought I’d offer a fun look at the team members you interface the most with.  Hopefully this makes us a little bit less anonymous when we’re communicating with you by phone or email.  

We tried to make this fun… so here goes:

Kim

  • Favorite Travel Destination:  There are so many…!  So I have decided on where I would like to go back to and stay for an extended period of time:  Florence, Italy.  A romantic city, capital of the Tuscany Region known for its food, WINE and culture.
  • Favorite Cruise Destination:  Mekong River – Vietnam and Cambodia.
  • Best place for a City Stay:  Edinburgh, Scotland.  Medieval and historic, new meets old, great pubs, vibrant nightlife, more trees than people and of course the stunning Edinburgh Castle.
  • Best travel experience:  Taking 120 of my favorite clients to dinner at Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin. This church is almost 1000 years old and absolutely stunning. We started the evening off in the crypt where we were served appetizers and bubbly. Followed by an incredible dinner while listening to the church choir sing tunes from the 60, 70 and 80’s.
  • Favorite Food:  Oysters- I once won an eating/shucking contest.  I ate, the Chef shucked. I won’t tell you how many I ate – just know it was a lot!
  • Favorite Movie:  The NoteBook.
  • If I were a FRIENDS character:  Monica – she was a Chef, which I aspire to be and a little OCD which I tend to be sometimes.
  • Best TV show of all time:  Seinfeld… but if I am being totally honest The Bachelor or Bachelorette 🙂
  • Vacation disaster story:  The two that never happened because of COVID – Malta and Marrakech.  
  • Best Travel Tip:  Good walking shoes especially in Europe. My favorite brands are: For casual:  FitFlops (good and sturdy and very comfortable).  For running shoes – a new favorite find, Dr. Scholls White fashion sneakers. For Strappy Sandals – Teva. 

Peri

  • Favorite Travel Destination: My bed. Is this allowed? LOL.  California, the weather is always gorgeous!
  • Best place for a City Stay:  New York City! All the good stuff is usually within walking distance and the food is so unbelievably good.
  • Travel Challenge:  Took a road trip to Banff, Alberta and our car ended up breaking down on the way in a remote area. It was eventually fixed and we were able to return safely!
  • Favorite drink at Starbucks:  Caramel Ribbon Crunch!
  • Favorite Movie:  Big Hero 6! I am a sucker for animated movies.
  • Best TV show of all time:  Lucifer!
  • Vacation disaster story:  I recently traveled to Miami and lost my rental car keys in the Ocean!  Not sure how that happened but a very expensive lesson learned.
  • Best Travel Tip:  Travel light if possible, there may be lots of stuff you want to bring home!  Also makes getting through the Airport easier.
  • Favourite foreign food:  Chimichangas! I could eat these for the rest of my life!
  • Something about you that might surprise others:  I am a huge video game enthusiast. 
  • What you’re reading right now:  1984 by George Orwell.
  • A guilty pleasure:  Watching old cartoons from when I grew up, like Courage the Cowardly Dog, Looney Tunes, or Tom & Jerry!
  • Top destination on your travel list:  Japan!!  I absolutely love the culture and can’t wait to see some of those beautiful Cherry Blossom trees!

Bob

  • Favorite Destination:  Zanzibar – a crossroads of culture for Asians, Africans and Europeans. 
  • Best Cruise Destination: Croatia – as spectacular as Greece & Turkey, with fewer ships and crowds. 
  • Best City Stay:  San Miguel de Allende – this small city in Mexico is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a great place to wander around for a few days. 
  • Travel Story:  I met the Prime Minister of Poland (and had a brief chat) in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo several years ago.
  • Favorite Movie:  Dead Poets’ Society.  Robin Williams was a genius.
  • If I were a FRIENDS character:  People would see me as Chandler (because I’m a smart-ass), but I’m actually more Ross (because I’m a geek).
  • Best TV show:  MASH.  Maybe Seinfeld.
  • Travel Disaster Story:  I slept on a dock in Western Australia.  Got there too late to find a hotel room.  I was young and stupid, so it was all part of the adventure.

Sue

  • Favorite drink at Starbucks:  190 degree skinny vanilla latte with an extra shot.  I like my coffee strong and really hot, and 190 degrees is as hot as they will make it.  
  • Best Travel Tip: – Always try out the Metro.  It’s a great way to orient yourself to a new city and often requires you to figure out the currency at the same time.  I like doing this because it gives me a feel for what it’s like to be a local in the destination.
  • Something about you that might surprise others: I’m 79 years old.  (Just kidding, I’m not 79.  But I like to tell people that, so they think I look young for my age).
  • Best Party Trick:  This isn’t really a party trick, but if you smear your blood on a slide and give me a microscope, I can tell if you have malaria or if you’re iron deficient, and I can also accurately estimate the number of platelets you have.  I used to be a Hematology Medical Laboratory Technologist.
  • A guilty pleasure:  Naps!  Not that I get to indulge very often. 
  • Top two destinations on my travel bucket list: Rwanda (to visit the Mountain Gorillas). Northwest Passage on a small expedition ship (because I want to get there before it’s overrun with tourists).
  • My claim to fame:  I survived having a 3-year-old toddler son, and a 15-year-old teenage daughter… at the SAME time.  That was many years ago, and I’m almost over it. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

UNIWORLD

Uniworld is to river cruising what boutique hotels are on land.  Each of their ships is custom designed and decorated to reflect the area it operates in.  Visit our YouTube channel for a “walk through” of their vessels in France and Italy. 

Save 10% on select 2025 departures.  Here’s some examples:

Venice round-trip for 8-days

  • If you want to visit Northern Italy, this is a much better option than taking a hotel in Venice for a few days.  You get to see Venice, as well as the less frequented areas around this iconic city.
  • Visit Venice (several locations), Chioggia, Bologna, Mazzorbo, and Burano.
  • See our itinerary video from when we did this cruise:  https://youtu.be/QRIHi6SED6g?si=rw6oZkiaCg6iMqdG
  • Prices from $3599 in July & August 2025 — LESS 10%

Douro River in Portugal for 8-days.  Round-trip Porto

  • Experience the Moorish influence in this part of Europe, take in the Roman Ruins, visit the vineyards, and see medieval castles and cathedrals.
  • July & August departures from $4899 LESS 10%.

Paris to Normandy & Provence for 15-days. (Paris to Marseilles)

  • This is actually back to back river cruises with transfers in between.  A great way to see more of France, but you only have to endure one long flight!
  • Visit Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Lyon, Beaune.  Then transfer by high speed train to Paris, and visit La Roche Guyon, Vernon, Giverny (Monet’s Gardens), Rouen, Cauxdebec-en-Caux, Normandy Beaches, Versailles, and then back to Paris. 
  • June, July, & August departures from $8999 LESS 10%

Tauck Domestic Land Tours

You’ve been asking for more domestic options… here’s a few:

Explore the Southeast:  Savannah, Hilton Head & Charleston

  • Visit Savannah, the Coastal Low Country, Fort Pulaski, Hilton Head, Beaufort, Charleston
  • Tauck Exclusives:  Filmed narratives from Ken Burns, Davenport House Museum, Tour the Sea Islands off Beaufort.  Visit historic plantations and gardens. 
  • Departures in September & October for 8-days from $4890

American History Tour: Philadelphia to Washington DC

  • Visit Philadelphia, Amish Country, Gettysburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Washington, 
  • Tauck Exclusives: Filmed narratives from Ken Burns, early admission to the National Archives, Private tour of the Museum of the American Revolution, private tour of Virginia State Capitol Building.  See Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Mt. Vernon, Monticello, Gettysburg, walk the National Mall. 
  • Departures in September & October for 11-days from $5790

Family Tour of Cowboy Country

  • Visit Jackson WY, Grand Teton NP, Yellowstone NP.
  • Take the grand-kids and enjoy these Tauck exclusives:  Wyoming Ranch experience with horseback riding and roping demonstration, the Buffalo Bill Center, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Snake River Raft trip, Mormon Row historical district
  • Departures in June, July & August for 8-days from $4990

AZAMARA Small-Ship Journeys

Azamara’s ships hold just 680 guests… a great way to experience cruising with some really interesting ports of call.  

Hawaii and Tahiti departing San Diego for 18-days on January 6, 2025

  • Normally we don’t see these cruises outside repositioning season.  
  • Visit San Diego, Hilo, Lahaina, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Bora Bora, Moorea, Papeete (overnight).  Finish in Tahiti
  • Fares from $6050 per person

Japan Intensive Voyage departing Tokyo for 15-nights on May 3, 2025

  • Visit Tokyo, Hokodate, Otaru, Aomori, Niigata, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato, Busan, Nagasaki, Kitakyushu, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Kobe (overnight),
  • Fares from $4770 per person

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

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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