In the rush to travel again, some of you contact us with requests that can be neatly summarized as “Just tell me where I should go next”.  We resist answering such questions (I’ll explain more below), and that has frustrated some of you.

Here’s a personal story that illustrates the point I’m trying to make.  Many years ago, Bob and I were travelling around New Zealand’s North Island.  Bob was really keen to see a geo-thermal power generation project in Rotorua.  This was my idea of a living hell.  Bob spent several years in the energy sector, and thought such things were fascinating.  My father was a hydraulic engineer (also from the energy sector), and I have nightmares of being in the back of the car as a child, while we checked out one more hydro electric project when were on our family “vacation”. 

The moral?  It’s different strokes, for different folks.  Activities some people find completely riveting, others find death in a house fire more appealing.  

Hence, “where should I go next”, will be met with a series of follow up questions from us, rather than an answer.  This question-response is also what differentiates us from the cruise lines’ and travel company’s call centers.  

Let me explain….

There is no doubt that some cruise lines’ call centers are better than others.  The best ones will answer your call right away, and at the other end of the phone is someone that is professional and very well trained to sell their product.  They probably will tell you where you should go next, and be more than happy to sell you their product.  That is their job, and many of them do it very well.

When you call us, and say you want to go on X cruise line from Rome to Barcelona, we are more than happy to book that for you, but we will ask you how you arrived at that decision, and if you want to look at alternatives.  ALL the cruise lines do some variation of that itinerary (and just about all other itineraries), so you probably have more choices than you realize.  

Most of our small-ship ocean and river cruise clients base their decision more on itinerary than they do the cruise line, and we can help you decide what is best for you.  

To put it another way… we are agnostic about what cruise line or packaged land company you choose.  We’re always happy to give you our opinion, but not before we have asked a number of questions so we understand what criteria you value the most.  

Because not everyone loves visiting geo-thermal power projects. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Christmas Markets on the Danube with AMA Waterways

• Depart December 11 for 7-nights
• From Vilshofen (Bavaria) to Budapest.  Visit Passau, Linz (for Salzburg OR Cesky Krumlov), Weissenkirchen, and Vienna (overnight).
• 3-night pre-trip extension to Prague available for $900 per person.
• Fares from $3499 per person with a $150 on board credit.

Tulip Cruise with AMA Waterways

• Depart March 28 for 7-nights.  Amsterdam round-trip
• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Hoorn, Middelburg, Ghent, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Keukenhof gardens.  
• 2 night pre-trip extension in Amsterdam for $750 per person.
• French Balconies from $3859 with a $150 on board credit.

Remember that all AMA cruises include a choice of shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, daily happy hour before dinner, on-board wellness coordinator for complimentary yoga and fitness activities, and wifi on the ship. 

Auckland to Sydney with SilverSea

• Depart January 4 for 14-days.

• Visit Auckland (overnight), Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Wellington, Kaikoura, Dunedin, Bluff, Milford Sound, Sydney (overnight).
• Prices start at $5400 per person if you take advantage of their pay-in-full discount of 20%.

Hong Kong to Tokyo with SilverSea

• Depart March 14 for 16 days.

• Visit Hong Kong (overnight), Jeju (SK), Seoul (overnight), Busan, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Osaka (overnight).
• Prices start at $6360 per person if you take advantage of their pay-in-full discount of 20%.

SilverSea fares include an open bar, gratuities, a shore excursion in every port, and wifi on the ship.  

Viking Independence Day Sale – ends July 11

Viking is offering FREE AIR on select 2023 departures.  The catch – it has to be booked by July 11.

Panama Canal – Fort Lauderdale to Panama City

• Depart October, November or December for 11-days.
• Visit Cozumel, Belize City, Roatan (Honduras), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Colon (Panama), and a full-transit of the Panama Canal. 
• Verandas start at $2999 with FREE AIR

Antarctica from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

• Depart November or December for 13-days
• 5-days of scheduled landings on the continent.
• Nordic Balcony Fares from $10,495 including FREE AIR

Mississippi River round-trip from New Orleans

• Departures in December for 8-days.
• Visit Darrow, St. Francisville, Natchez, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, 
• Fares start at $3299 per person with FREE AIR
• Optional pre or post in New Orleans for 2-nights from $899.  

Viking prices include all taxes and fees, airport transfers, a shore excursion in each port of call, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship. 

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 booking 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).  
Also, in case you’re wondering, there is NO fee to work with us.  We get paid commission by the cruise lines after our clients travel.  So, please get in touch to let us know about your existing reservations (including those made while on board).

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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

Happy 4^th of July!!  OK – I know it’s a few days from now, but many of you will be celebrating this weekend.  There is much to celebrate, and I hope all of you do so with your friends and family in a way that is meaningful to you.

I thought this was a good opportunity to chat about some trends and other news we’re seeing specific to US Passport holders as we continue to get back out into the world (with a vengeance!).  

• Revenge Travel — In the first quarter of 2023 bookings in the Virtuoso network are up 191% over the same period in 2019 (the last year we have full data for).
• Your top five destinations are the US, Italy, France, Spain, and Canada.
• More International — Although domestic travel is still the highest, it is down 12% from 2019, as more of us opt for overseas trips.  
• Cruise bookings are 55% higher than 2019, and river cruise bookings are 128% higher.
• Hotel costs (Average Daily Rate) are 10% – 15% higher than 2022 (and that was already 10% – 15% higher than 2019).  So, you’ll pay quite a bit more for a hotel room – both domestically and abroad.
• Cruise Prices are NOT seeing the same increases, although cruise operators are subject to the same inflationary pressures as land operators.  This may indicate upward pressure on cruise prices in the future. 
• Visas for Europe – we’re fielding lots of calls about whether US passport holders require Visas to visit the EU or the UK.  The answer: not yet… but it’s coming.  Unfortunately, our TV media has provided incomplete and misleading information on this situation.  Here’s what you need to know:  Sometime in 2024, US Passport holders will need to fill out an electronic form in advance of their travels to Europe.  There will be an accompanying cost of between $7 and $15 depending on where you’re travelling and the prevailing exchange rate at the time.  Some TV “news” stations have attempted to whip viewers into an angry froth by suggesting it’s an unfair cash grab.  For clarity, we imposed an identical requirement on European visitors in 2017, and it costs them over double what they intend to charge us.  Frankly… if a $10 entry fee to Europe is going to set you off, you should probably rethink your trip, because you won’t be very happy once you get there.
• Domestic Cruises — Some of you have asked about the lack of options and expense of cruising inside of the US (Hawaii, River Cruises, Great Lakes).  For any cruise that doesn’t touch a foreign port, the rules are completely different.  All staff need to be legal to work in the United States, and the ship must be owned by an American company, and have been built in the United States.  These protectionist measures may have been imposed with the best of intentions, but it also explains why there are fewer domestic options, and why they can be more expensive than others. 

The bottom line here is that Americans want to travel (both domestically and internationally), and the labor shortage in the hospitality and tourism industries is very real on a global level. This will self-correct, but not in the next several months.  

If you’re travelling this July 4^th Long Weekend, then do so safely.  If you’re staying near home, then make some memories with your friends and family.  In either case, creating tomorrow’s memories is well worth the effort. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Introducing Oceania’s ‘Simply MORE’

You may have heard that Oceania is phasing out its O-Life Choice pricing structure starting tomorrow.  This is a good thing.  The O-Life program offered guests “segmented luxury” – meaning you could get a luxury cruise experience, and pay for those things that you valued most.  It was also confusing, so they’ve simplified the structure, and you’ll still have access to their luxury product.  The new pricing structure is called Simply MORE.  Here are the highlights:

• You’ll have the choice of having air included or not.
• Beer, wine, and champagne will be included with your meals (a WIDE range of options, not just ‘red or white’).
• You’ll get a shore-excursion wallet that you can spend exactly as you wish.  It will be enough for a basic excursion in each port of call… but if you’d prefer to spend it all on a helicopter tour and skip the basic excursions, that’s an option too. 
• Oceania’s exceptional culinary program and specialty restaurants will still be included in your fare. 
• Wifi access will continue to be included in your fare.

If you have an existing Oceania booking, then you’re in a great position – you will have the choice of remaining with your current price and O-Life amenities, OR you can choose the new price and amenities.  

Uniworld Flash Sale

If you’re ready to tick off some items on your bucket list this fall, Uniworld is offering some fantastic fares on Exotic River Cruises.  The catch:  must be booked by July 7:

Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong

• Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for 15 days departing November 24, or December 8 on board the spectacular 68-passenger Mekong Jewel.  
• French Balcony (300 square feet) from $5999 per person (regular $8999)
• Spend 2-nights at the Park Hyatt Saigon and then on to visit Ancient Temples, a Vietnamese floating Farmer’s Market, sail up the Mekong to see local villages, and the collision of cultures between ancient Khmer, and colonial French past.  See Buddhist Temples, palaces, and ancient artifacts.  Take a Tuk Tuk ride in Phnom Penh, visit the Killing Fields and genocide museum and visit a local Cambodian school.  See Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Hindu and Buddhist monuments as well as a Hanoi city tour. 

India — Ganges River

• New Delhi to Kolkata for 13-days departing September 28, 2023, on Uniworld’s 56-guest Ganges Voyager II.  
• French Balcony from $5499 per person (regular $8699). 
• Take a rickshaw ride in New Delhi, see the Taj Mahal at sunrise (and sunset!), visit the Amber Palace, as well as Hindu Temples, a Hare Krishna complex, and the Temple of the Vedic planetarium.  Sail the sacred Ganges River, and visit small Indian villages along the way.  Take a horse-drawn buggy ride to the Katra Mosque, and see the former French colony of Mayapur.  Buy flowers at the market in Kolkata, and see Mother Teresa’s home and tomb.

These extremely low prices are subject to availability (and they will sell out), and must be booked before July 7.  

Seabourn Two Category Upgrade Sale

Seabourn is offering a 2-category upgrade and a $500 Air Credit on many of its voyages for those cruises booked before July 10.  Here’s some examples:

Barcelona to Rome

• Departing October 29 for 7-days with fares from $3499.  
• Visit Menorca, Sete (France), Toulon (France), Corsica, Florence/Pisa, Elba (Italy).

Athens round-trip

• Departing October 11, for 11-days with fares from $6499.
• Visit Poros, Sicily, Lipari (Italy), Malta, Crete, Marmaris (Turkey), Bodrum, Ermoupolis (Greece)

Remember that on Seabourn you get a 300 square foot Veranda Suite, and prices include all taxes and fees, port expenses, on-board gratuities, an open bar (including a mini suite stocked with your preferences and replenished daily) and wifi on the ship. 

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

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

A key part of many cruise experiences are the shore excursions, and for these shore-side services, we are still very much still recovering from the shut down.  The same labor shortage we’re experiencing in the United States, is happening in most advanced economies around the world.  

Many professional tour guides gave up after not working for nearly two years, and found other ways to earn a living.  That shortage is becoming an increasing problem for cruise lines and tour operators – particularly those that have included excursions.

As it relates to shore excursions, this manifests in two ways:

1. They sell out sooner than we have seen in the past.
2. Group sizes may be larger.

In normal times the feedback we receive from clients about shore excursions is that they generally lived up to expectations.  Some guides are always better than others, but up until the last several months, we’ve never really had complaints about shore excursion availability.  

So… what can you do if you’ve got a cruise or land-tour planned in the next several months?  Here’s a few ideas:

• Book Early – some people wait until they get on the ship to book their excursions.  This works for those activities you’re somewhat ambivalent about.  If you really want to do a particular excursion, then know when the cruise line will begin booking those, and get on it. 
• Look at independent shore excursions – You don’t have to buy your excursions from the cruise line, and it’s a bit of myth that they’ll hold the ship for you if you come back late.  Certainly, there are circumstances when the ship has delayed departure because a shore excursion arrives back at the ship late.  However, more often the captain of the ship does NOT have the discretion to delay departure.  Tides, commercial traffic, and the instructions of the Harbor Master trump the skipper’s ability to delay departure.
• Do your own thing – In the old days, I would buy a guide book, and do self-directed tours of places I was visiting.  Today there are APPs you can download for a specific location that will provide an audio tour, and a map with the highlights.  For those areas not easily accessible by foot, you can use taxis or Uber to get around.  
• Do some homework – In ports like Rome (that is over an hour from the port), you’ll want to have organized excursions to help you bridge that distance.  In ports like Vancouver, the ship docks downtown, so you can walk right off the ship and into the city.  These are just two examples, but knowing what you want to do in a particular port of call, and how logistically easy it will be to do that, will help you immensely. 

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

Two other notes about shore excursions:

• If you’re travelling with others, and you’re thinking about paying $60 to $80 each to do a group shore excursion, you might very well be able to hire a private car and driver for the same price – and car with four people is infinitely better than a motor coach with 50 people. 
• The cruise lines are just as frustrated as you are with this situation, but they are somewhat powerless to correct this problem in the short term.  You can lodge as many complaints as you want, but if you actually want to solve the problem, you’ll need to use one of the “work-arounds” I mention above. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

We’re seeing some FREE AIR promos from Viking for booking made between now and the end of the month:

Viking Panama Canal: Fort Lauderdale to Santiago, Chile

• Departing October 11 for 18-days.
• Includes round-trip air, Stateroom upgrade, Free Beverage Package, all taxes & fees, a shore excursion in every port, transfers, and wifi on the ship.
• Visit Cozumel, Colon (Panama), full-transit of Panama Canal, Manta (Ecuador), Lima, Iquique (Chile), Santiago
• Fares start at $6995 for a Nordic Balcony on the 378 guest Expedition Ship.

Viking Rome to Athens with Israel

• Departures November 14, 16, 22, 28 or December 6 for 15-days
• Includes round-trip air, Double past-guest discount, all taxes & fees, transfers, shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.
• Visit Rome (overnight), Naples, Heraklion, Jerusalem, Haifa (overnight), Cyprus, Rhodes, Mykonos, Athens (overnight).
• Fares start at $4699 for a veranda room.

Viking Iceland and Norway

• This is a great deal if you’re looking for a last-minute summer cruise
• Depart July 19 for 15-days.
• Includes round-trip air, Double past-guest discount, all taxes & fees, transfers, shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.
• Visit Reykjavik, Isafjordur (Iceland), Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Nordkapp, Tromso, Leknes, Narvik, Geiranger, Bergen (overnight).
• Fares start at $4999 for a veranda.  

If you’d rather not use your passport, and do a domestic land-tour, here are a couple of ideas:

Hawaiian Islands Tour with Tauck

• If you’re one of those people that grows quickly tired of lying on the beach, and would like to explore the various regions of Hawaii, then this one is for you:
• Four Islands, for 12-days with prices starting at $11,390 per person for departures January through June. 
• Visit Waikiki (Oahu – 3nights), Big Island 3-nights, Kauai 3-nights, Maui 3-nights
• Includes after-hours tour and dinner at Queen Emma’s summer palace, flights between islands, Iolani Palace, Helicopter tour of Kauai, traditional Hawaiian Luau, Pearl Harbor tour, Maui Ocean Center, Kona Coffee Tasting, Botanical Gardens and Lavender Farm visits, Sunset Catamaran sailing trip, airport transfer, gratuities, admission fees, resort fees, and taxes

American Canyonlands with Tauck

• If you’re looking to get some more stamps in your National Parks passport, then this is a great way to explore several of them in the Southwest:
• One week from Phoenix to Las Vegas for $4990 per person.
• Visit Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Slot Canyon, Colorado Springs, Bryce Canyon, Zion NP, Las Vegas
• Includes champaign yacht cruise on Lake Powell, Inside Park accommodation at Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion NPs; flight seeing trip over Lake Powell and Glen Canyon, Colorado River gentle float trip, transfers, NP fees, gratuities, admissions, taxes, and fees.

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 booking 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).  

Also, in case you’re wondering, there is NO fee to work with us.  We get paid commission by the cruise lines after our clients travel.  So, please get in touch to let us know about your existing reservations (including those made while on board).

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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

Many of you have been enquiring about South America in past few months, so I thought it was time to make some comments in this broadcast.  South America has long been on people’s radar for things like Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, but interest in cruises and land-tours there have skyrocketed in the past few years?

Why?

Most obviously is the incredible diversity of people, culture and geography on that continent, but also because many of our clients either been to Europe numerous times, and/or have no interest in visiting the Caribbean islands any more.  This is a variation of “been there – done that”, and “looking for new kicks”!

A good problem to have.

We need to avoid talking about South America as one place.  The continent has 12 sovereign countries, and is home to 400 million people.  Most of those people speak Spanish as their first language, but there are also a ton of Portuguese speakers, and well as countless indigenous languages.  It contains tropical rainforests, and alpine glaciers.  You can experience incredible nature in scenery in places like Patagonia or the Galapagos, or the vibrant urban scenes of places like Buenos Aires – often tagged as the “Paris of the Southern Hemisphere”.  

So where to you begin?  Unless you’re planning on visiting for several months, you’ll need to choose what you’re wanting to see on the continent.  Here are some of the regions that our clients have visited in the past few years in South America:

Galapagos Islands – There is really no other place like this in the world, with many species of wildlife, fish, marine mammals and birds found ONLY here.  Local authorities carefully restrict how many people can enter this UNESCO World heritage site (and National Park) at once, but there are still lots of options to explore this place by ship, or in local accommodations. 

The Amazon River – The Amazon is large enough to accommodate larger ocean vessels.  Even the mega-ships can get some distance inland on the river.  Many Amazon trips also include some Atlantic port stops, or in some cases Caribbean Islands. 

Amazon headwaters – we tend to equate the Amazon with Brazil, but the river is long, and its watershed is about 2.7 million square miles.  To put this in perspective, this is almost as large as the lower 48 states.  Cruises to the Amazon headwaters are much more like a river cruise as they explore the small villages and tributaries in Peru that feed the mighty Amazon. 

Patagonia – Exploring this region has been equated to Alaska, and there are many similarities: a rugged coastline (best seen by ship), tidewater glaciers, expansive rainforests, and scenic fjords.  It has fewer jewelry and T-shirts shops than Alaska, and a fraction as many visitors every year.  

Buenos Aires – If you like urban places, with great food, and endless entertainment, then you can’t miss Buenos Aires.  Like many of you, I’ve spent a few days there pre and post cruise, it is one of those cities I want to see more of.  I think I could live there!  

Machu Picchu – This important historical and archeological site is well inland, so it’s not something you do as a shore excursion when you’re on a ship.  However, much like Denali in Alaska, it is a common add-on for many South American cruises.  

Antarctica – I know… this is a different continent, and different trip altogether.  However, the overwhelming majority of Antarctica trips use South America as their gateway.  Ushuaia (at the Southern tip of South America), is much closer to Antarctica than South Africa or New Zealand.  Some South American cruises will do “drive-bys” of Antarctica (you don’t get out, but you do get some scenic cruising on the Antarctic peninsula). 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Around South America with Oceania

If you can’t decide what you most want to do in South America, this cruise visits several of the regions noted above. 

• Santiago to Buenos Aires for 20 days departing February 14.
• Visit Santiago, 4 ports in Patagonia, 2-days in the Chilean Fjords, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia (Argentina), 3-day drive-by of the Antarctic peninsula, Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn (Argentina), Punta del Este (Uruguay), Montevideo, Buenos Aires.
• Get a Veranda for the price of an oceanview at $6099 per person.  Air add-on is $1400.
• This cruise is on Oceania Marina.  Here’s our ship tour video of her identical twin Riviera:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU 

Amazon Headwaters with Uniworld

• Round-trip from Lima for 11-days with departures January through June.
• The ship is all suites (with floor to ceiling glass windows), and only holds 32 guests. 
• Spend 2 nights in Lima, then transfer to the ship at Iqitos for 7-nights, and then back to Lima for the final night.  
• Fares from $12,499 per person (January  – June)
• See Amazon by skiff, Lima city tour, tour of indigenous village, optional swimming, kayaking, canoeing, jungle walk, local fish market, see freshwater pink dolphins, countless flora/fauna. 
• Includes Transfers, gratuities, open bar, daily excursions with local guides.

Magdalena River in Columbia

If you’ve been everywhere, here’s a destination to add to your list.  AMA has two ships entering service in 2024 in this unique part of the world.  Here are the details:

• Each ship will hold 60 guests, and sail between Cartagena and Barranquilla.
• The section of river you will cover has incredible biodiversity, and you’ll visit coffee and chocolate plantations.  Savor the local music and culture of the small towns and villages along the river. 
• You’ll spend 7-nights on board the ship, and there are available extensions to Medellin and Panama City.  
• Prices between $3599 and $3799 per person for departures April through December 2024.  

Viking Antarctica with free round-trip air

• Departing Buenos Aires for 13-days on departures November through February.
• 6 scheduled days of landings on the continent.
• Departures in Nov from $10,995, December $11,995, Jan $12,995, Feb $13995
• We can get Free round-trip Air thrown in, and an additional $100 pp OBC for bookings made before June 30.  
• Includes all taxes & fees, round-trip air, transfers, daily landings, wifi, beer/wine with meals, expedition gear (jackets, boots etc.)

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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

Just like so many of you, we travelled on the bigger ships long before we got into river cruising and small-ship ocean cruising.  I still look back on those experiences with fondness, and had some truly memorable vacations.  

When we did our first luxury cruise, I was apprehensive.  I had no doubt it would be a great experience, but I really didn’t want to be a “Gilligan” on a ship full of “Mr. & Mrs. Howells”.  Neither Bob nor I take any great pleasure in tuxedos or ballgowns.  We both enjoy a nice meal, but caviar or foie gras is NOT something we’d eat on purpose.  We’re just not fancy people.

The big ships also served another purpose for us: they were great for our kids.  Our kids are adults now, so we don’t need the children’s programming, go-kart tracks or zip lines to keep them entertained.  

All of this is to say that the big ships serve a real purpose, and some of them do a really good job of it – we’ve experienced it personally. 

But can a luxury experience be delivered on a mega ship?  I think you need to start by defining what luxury means to you.

For some people luxury means the caviar and foie gras I mentioned above.  However, when we talk to our clients about what elevates a travel experience for them, it falls into a few categories.  Everyone values things differently, and there are trade-offs to be made between these dynamics, so let’s look at those categories.

• Crowds (or more precisely, lack of crowds).  It’s not a big leap to say that the fewer people, the higher-end a cruise will be.  However, fewer people also may mean fewer choices.  The megaships may carry 5000 people, but they also offer over a dozen restaurants, several entertainment venues and other volumes of choices that aren’t available on smaller ships. 
• Space.  A small cruise ship room is about 125 square feet.  On a luxury line, the best-priced room on the ship will be double this size.  Explora Journeys entry-level room is TRIPLE this size!  It’s not just the size of the cabin  – in some ways the amount of public space may be MORE important.  The measure to look at here is called passenger-space ratio, and it is calculated by dividing the size of the vessel (tonnage) by the number of guests on board.  The higher the number, the more space per person there is.  It’s worth paying attention to this. 
• Choices.  This one is ambiguous.  The mega ships have the most choices for restaurants, entertainment and activities because of the size of the vessels.  However, if there are 20 restaurants on board, but you only value one or two of them, then the volume of choice is a false benefit.  Conversely, if you get to choose between a bunch of appealing options – then that is luxury.
• Service.  When we travelled on the big-ship premium cruise lines, the service was really good.  We then travelled with Seabourn on their 450-guest ship to Alaska, and discovered service excellence.  The crew knew our names, and we’d sit down in a lounge, and our favorite drink would just show up without our having to ask.  It’s not that the service was bad on the Premium cruise lines – in fact, quite the contrary.  It’s just that it is an order of magnitude better on the luxury lines.  
• Quality of food.  We’ve had some fantastic meals on big ships.  However, in the past few years, they’ve resorted to charging an additional fee for the specialty restaurants.  The food in the main dining rooms on the big ships is fine.  Most of our clients report that the really good meals are in the specialty restaurants that you pay an additional fee to get into.  On the luxury lines, the food quality comparable to the very best meals available on the mega ships is included in your fare.  Some cruise lines, like Oceania, compete with Michelin starred restaurants on shore… and it’s included in your fare. 
• Inclusions.  Our clients regularly comment about not wanting to be “nickel & dimed” when they’re on cruise.  They would rather pay once, and have everything included.  The Premium lines like Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess have caught on, and offer a more inclusive fare option.  Keep in mind an open bar is not about more booze – it’s about the culture on the ship.  Do you have to produce your key-card every time you order a drink, or does the waiter just fill up your wine glass?  On the mega-ships that offer the cheapest cruises available, it’s not unusual for your on-board charges to exceed your cruise fare.  It might still be cheaper than a luxury ship, but you DO need to look at the total cost – not just the cruise fare.  

So is it possible to get a luxury experience on a mega ship?  It depends on how you value the attributes of luxury that I mention above.  I am dubious about the mega-ships that charge luxury prices on a ship with 5000 people.  It is true you get a lovely suite, but you need to carefully look at what that same amount of money will buy you on a small ship.

Everything is a trade-off… so you need to determine what things you value, and to what degree. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

New Viking River Itineraries

Typically the river cruise lines in Europe don’t run in January and February due to lack of demand.  Given how busy Europe has become at other times of the year, Viking is offering their guests the opportunity to beat the crowds by travelling January through March.  Sure… you’ll have to wear a jacket, but a Rhine River cruise is never a tropical vacation. 

Amsterdam to Basel for 10-days departing January, February or March 2024:

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Arnhem (Holland), Cologne, Mainz, Heidelberg & Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach, and Basel (overnight).
• Optional pre/post extensions to Amsterdam, Basel or Lucerne.
• Veranda cabins from $2999, with air add-ons starting at $599.

Amsterdam to Avignon (France)

• Mix the history and culture of the Rhine River, and the culinary highlights of France’s Provence region on the 15-day adventure
• Visit Amsterdam, Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel, Burgundy & Lyon, Vienne, Tournon & Viviers, Arles, Avignon.
• Optional pre/post extensions to Amsterdam, Antwerp, or the French Riviera
• Departures in April from $5499, May from $6199, or June from $5799

Oceania Marina from Copenhagen to Amsterdam departing September 14 for 12-days.

• This itinerary is the perfect combination of European marquis ports, with some out of the way port stops as well.  
• Visit Copenhagen, Berlin, Kalundborg (Denmark), Gothensburg (Sweden), Oslo, Kristiansand (Norway), London (overnight), Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam (overnight).
• Verandas start at $2599 per person
• See our ship tour video of Marina here:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU 

Tauck Canadian Rockies and Glacier NP Montana

• See the majesty of the Rocky Mountains in style with Tauck.  This “land-cruise” features stays at Fairmont Hotels, and includes guided explorations of several National Parks in Canada and Montana.  It is also round-trip from Calgary, making the air logistics easy. 
• Visit Waterton Lakes and Glacier NP, Kootenay & Banff NP, Morraine Lake, Icefields Parkway, Jasper NP.
• July, August or September departures from $7890 (space is limited)

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 booking 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).  
Also, in case you’re wondering, there is NO fee to work with us.  We get paid commission by the cruise lines after our clients travel.  So, please get in touch to let us know about your existing reservations (including those made while on board).

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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