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

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

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

First, the not-so-good news:

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

Now some ideas for coping with air travel:

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

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

Today’s Travel Opportunities

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uniworld 12-days of Christmas

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

Here are two that caught my eye:

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

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

Europe in Winter 2024 with Tauck

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

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

Atlas Cultural Expeditions.  2^nd Guest Sails Free

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

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

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

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0H878jth6ppybpFWoALkauCrUNuZKBZRrdihL17Ys1Qz26BpkVbwHTHJEtuco3APgl

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Oceania Black Friday Sale

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

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

Explora Journeys Exclusive Sale

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

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

AMA Waterways

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

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

Train Journeys with Collette

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

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid034n1XqSLe5tSF4qHgu5iqrzgHFY8pFoonU3nfXUxHMkcUXzEPeKY9vYoXCWPy9yXRl

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

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

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

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

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

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

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

Because those are the experiences to be truly thankful for.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Tauck Bridges Tours

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

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

Galapagos Islands with your kids or grandkids:

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

Spring break with the kids on Seabourn

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

Viking Free Air Codes

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

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

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid0xM46gCRSjn7aj8U7Pf8m7C4UPjKsbFULDde5aKwCTf2Q71FD1u6RvuiiPybuAWCkl

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

Rocky Mountaineer is typically recognized as one of the world’s must-do rail journeys – both for train enthusiasts, and those that just really enjoy great scenery.  National Geographic describes the Rocky Mountaineer as “One of the world’s greatest trips”, and recently named the World’s top train journey by readers of Travel & Leisure. 

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 nearest major airports on the Eastern terminus of these itineraries.  Vancouver Airport is very well served, and about 6 miles from where the train boards.  Some of our Vancouver cruise clients also use Seattle Airport (about 100 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 go looking for 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 $2520 – $5006 per person based on your departure date, and level of service. 

Vancouver to Jasper 6-nights

• Vancouver (2), Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper (2)
• Prices between $3854 – $5380.

Circle Journey 14 -days

• Vancouver (2), Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper (2), Lake Louise (2), Banff (2), Kamloops, Vancouver (2)
• Prices start at $8391 per person.

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 dozens of 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
• $3947 to $5140

Denver round-trip for 7-nights 

• Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
• $4293 – $5857

Partnership with Tauck

Tauck (the luxury land tour operator) has recently announced a partnership with Rocky Mountaineer.  Here’s the Tauck itinerary between Denver and Salt Lake City.

• Start with 2-nights in Denver with a City Sightseeing tour, and scenic drive to the Foothills.
• 2 days on board Rocky Mountaineer via Glenwood Springs to Moab.
• A flight-seeing trip over Canyonlands NP, and then on to Salt Lake City to take in Capital Sights, Great Salt Lake, and Park City.
• Departures May through September from $7590 per person for 7-nights

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 Travel Opportunities

Rocky Mountaineer has a Black Friday Sale underway, that will offer up to $1500 off some rail packages that are 6-days or longer.  Here are a few others that crossed my desk this week:

Uniworld’s President’s Cruise departing June 16 on the Rhine for one-week

• Ellen Bettridge is the President and CEO of Uniworld, and she always has a few extra surprises on cruises that she hosts.  She’s also a blast to travel with.
• This coming year, she’ll host 110 guests on the SS Victoria – one of the two former Crystal ships Uniworld has acquired. 
• Visit Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, and Amsterdam. 
• French Balconies start at $5999. 

Viking World Cruise Segments

• As often happens on world cruises, some cabins have opened up at the last minute, and Viking is marketing them on individual segments.  Each of the cruise segments below includes round-trip air, and the Silver Spirits Beverage Package as well Viking’s regular inclusions of all taxes & fees, a shore excursion in every port, and wifi on the ship:
• LA to Sydney for 40 days departing January 6.
  • Sail down-under via Hawaii, Tahiti, and New Zealand
  • $12,999 per person
• Sydney to Singapore for 28 days departing February 15
  • Travel up the Australian East and North coasts, to Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand before landing in Singapore
  • $9999 per person
• Singapore to London for 55-days departing March 13
  • Visit Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, before arriving in London.
  • $17,999 per person

Explora Journeys Mediterranean

This exciting new brand has a casual, yet sophisticated vibe with fantastic entertainment, and a really interesting culinary scene.  Due to our exclusive arrangement with them, we can offer you up to 10% off the pricing you see listed on their website, AND get you an additional €150 Euro Experience Credit.

• Barcelona to Athens departing June 19 for 8-nights
  • Visit Sicily (2 ports), Malta, Crete, and Naxos.
  • Verandas from $5550 per person
• Athens to Venice departing July 5 for 7-nights
  • Sail up the Croatian Coast visiting Paros, Kefalonia, Dubrovnik, Split, Rovinj, before arriving in Venice.
  • Verandas from $5250 per person

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid023aYaaJ5E7yoNp92xbh31gHtK7KxCtqK1FYtqG3x5AwDztre7K34NMhyaG9do4op9l

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

Cruise vacations lend themselves well to themed events, if for no other reason that unlike hotels and resorts, cruise ships can move to where such events occur.  

Here are a few different themes and events that may be of interest to you:

Bridge Cruises

If you’re a Bridge player, and would like to travel with others with the same interest, then our friends at Oceania have 36 departures with a Bridge theme.  Here’s a link to their list of Bridge Cruises:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/bridge-cruises 

On board will be an American Contract Bridge League Accredited Master Instructor (imagine having that title on your business card!), and there are lectures and educational events, as well as tournament play.  It is appropriate for all levels.  Here is ONE of the 36 options:

Miami to Barcelona departing April 5, for 14-nights

• Visit Nassau, Bermuda, the Azores, Seville, Granada, and Alicante (Spain)
• Verandas available from $4099 – $4499, and include a $500 per person shore-excursion credit.  
• We also get extra goodies on this departure for reservations made by November 15.  
• This trip is on board Marina.  If you want to see our ship tour video of her identical twin, Riviera, here’s the link:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU?si=VpEgz6q82_zR4Qys 

Wine Cruises on AMA

AMA has dozens wine themed every year that are hosted by wine experts, with tastings and winery visits included in your fare.  Here’s their complete list:  https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/wine-cruises/2024

Some Examples:

Basel to Amsterdam for 10 days departing July 14

• Visit Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen, Rudesheim, Bernkastel, Trier, Cochem, Cologne, Amsterdam.
• Hosted by Kimberly Zacharias of Black Star Farms Winery in Sutton’s Bay, MI
• Fares start at $4480 per person

Portugal & Spain for 7-nights departing August 14.

• Visit Porto, Entre-Os-Rios, Regua, Pinhao, Barca D’Alva, Vega de Terron.
• Hosted by Regina Gaines, from House of Pure Vin in Detroit MI,
• Fares start at $4049 per person

Golf Cruises with Azamara

Azamara has a partnership with PerryGolf for fully hosted and all-inclusive golf vacations where you get to try out courses in different ports.  Your fare includes green fees, carts, and gratuities.  Here’s a list of all their golf themed cruises: https://www.azamara.com/cruises?keywords=golf-cruise

Some Examples:

Ireland Golf Experience from Dublin to Oslo for 13-days departing July 1

• Visit Dublin, Cork, Bantry Harbour, Foynes, Galway, Donegal, Belfast, Londonderry, Ullapool, Kristiansand, Oslo
• Verandas from $5601 per person

Spain Golf Experience from Lisbon to Barcelona for 10-days departing September 11:

• Visit Lisbon, Portimao, Cadiz, Seville, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona.
• Verandas from $4400 per person

If you are travelling with someone that is NOT a golfer, then this is the perfect vacation.  While you’re on the links, your travel-partner has a long list of other excursions and activities available.

Ken Burns’ American Journeys with Tauck

If you’ve seen his documentaries, then you’re aware of what an iconic photographer and story-teller Ken Burns is.  He has partnered with Tauck to enable guests to experience what he has documented on camera in his documentaries.  Here’s a list of all those truly American experiences:https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/exclusive-partnerships/ken-burns

Some Examples:

Philadelphia to Washington for 11-days with departures May through September

• Visit Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, and Washington.
• See the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Gettysburg Museum and battlefields, Jefferson’s House, Virginia State Capitol, Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate, National Mall, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Exclusive visit to National Archives for a private viewing of the declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the bill of Rights.
• A great trip for American history enthusiasts, or perhaps those that want to offer their kids or grandkids a window into this world. 
• $6190 for departures in May and September.  Enquire for pricing other months. 

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for 8 days with departures June through September:

• Visit Wyoming and the Tetons, Snake River, Mormon Row, Jackson, Yellowstone NP, The Bighorns, and Mt. Rushmore
• Pricing from $5490 in June, July, August, or  September

Monte Carlo Grand Prix with Windstar

If you’re a racing enthusiast, it’s too late for 2024, but 2025 is still available.  This cruise is hosted by a Formula One racing expert, and includes Section K seats for Saturday’s time trials, and higher seats for the final on Sunday.

Barcelona to Rome for 7-nights departing May 20, 2025

• Visit Barcelona, Palamos, Sanary-sur-Mer, Antibes, Monte Carlo (overnight), Portoferraio, Rome
• Your Race Kit includes a program, ear plugs, binoculars, seat cushion, poncho & cap.
• Fares from $8399 per person.

Viking Free Air to Australia and the South Pacific

OK… this one doesn’t have a specific theme, but we rarely see free air across the Pacific, so I thought I should include it this week: 

Sydney to Singapore departing for 28 days on Feb 15

• Visit Sydney (overnight), Mooloolaba, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Thursday Island, Komodo NP, Bali (overnight), Java, Ho Chi Minh City, (2nights), Koh Samui, Singapore (overnight)
• Includes all taxes & fees, air, transfers, a shore excursion in every port, Silver Spirits Beverage Package, and wifi on the ship
• $13,499 per person for a veranda room.

Veterans Day

Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day, and I don’t have any specific themed cruises to highlight, but I do want to thank all those that have served for enabling the privilege the rest of us enjoy to be able to travel freely both at home at abroad.  We do not forget your contribution, nor do we take it for granted.  

Recently booked a Viking Cruise?

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

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).

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/pfbid02DXHCFU58HVx3iuBvM3bXqyB3jKtZ6mJyqA8wPk2MxJvhMV5UgwE97i4YyM6W4Gocl

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