Our cruise clients often ask whether it’s better to book the air through the cruise line, or to make their own arrangements.  There’s not a straightforward answer to that question, but I thought I’d throw out the considerations, so you can make the best decision for yourself.

The disclaimer here is that in the past few years, air travel has definitely become a necessary evil to get you to a ship or destination so you can enjoy your vacation.  The airlines have been underperforming, and they don’t appear to have any significant plans to improve.  Here in the US, the travelling public has been ignored by regulators in Washington for the past 40 years.  I’m not optimistic any of this will change soon.  

To be clear: I have nothing but respect for the agents, flight attendants, and pilots that work for these organizations, with a very disgruntled public.  My contempt is directed at those running these poorly operated businesses, and the regulators that are supposed to be monitoring them. 

So before we talk about any air options, you should set your expectations to ‘low’, and be pleasantly surprised when things go well.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Price.  Sometimes cruise lines have air add-ons that are far below market value, and in such cases, you should probably take their air.  More often, the cruise lines offer air tickets at market rates, in which case you’ll control many more variables if you book your own air.  
• Contracted Rates.  Cruise lines and other big buyers of airline seats have agreements with certain carriers, and as such it may not work for you.  For example, if a cruise line has contracted rates with American and Delta, but not United, but you live in a United hub – you’re going to end up with a poor routing.  The bottom line here is to do some of your own research before deciding on where to buy your air. 
• Seat Assignments.  There is a myth out there that if you book your air through a cruise line, you can select your seat in advance.  This isn’t true.  What is true is that if you’re flying overseas with two or three legs, and you buy a ticket on United (for example), your actual routing may have you on planes operated by Air Canada, Lufthansa, or Austrian Airlines.  When you have a United ticket, but you’re on another company’s plane (ie. a ‘code-share’ arrangement), most often you CAN’T select your seat in advance of check-in.  This is an airline limitation, and has nothing to do with the cruise lines. 
• Loyalty Points.  If you’re getting discounted air through a cruise line, then you might not be able to get any points for that flight.  That’s usually because you paid far less than market value for your flight.
• Upgrades with Points.  If this is how you like to travel, you should almost certainly book your own air.  The airlines have a mile-long list of exclusions and restrictions as to how you can spend your points, and often air booked through any 3^rd party (in this case the cruise line) is near the top of that list.  
• Business Class and Premium Seats.  First some definitions:  Business Class internationally is usually lie-flat pods.  Premium Seats are about the same as Business Class is domestically (wider seats, further apart, priority boarding etc.).  If you like to fly in one of these classes of service, the cruise lines can often get you a better price than you can get on your own.  For economy class seats, the price is usually the same (but it’s still worth checking).
• Select Airports.  The cruise lines often will only fly you out of certain airports (and they’re usually the larger ones).  It’s always worth checking, but if you live in a community not serviced by a major airport, you’re probably better off doing your own air.
• “Free” Air.  There is no free lunch, although some of the cruise lines make booking air with them pretty attractive.  To be clear… they do this to sell cruises, not because they want to be in the aviation industry.  In some cases if you don’t take the “free” air, they’ll offer an air credit in lieu of.  This is basically a direct discount off your cruise fare, so if you want to fly on points, or have airline privileges, then this is worth investigating.  
• The last $50.  We sometimes get complaints about a bad air routing scheduled by the cruise line’s air desk.  When we dig into this a bit, that 9 hour layover in Newark could have been avoided if the client wanted to pay an extra $50.  This is the same choice you would have faced if you booked your air directly.  The cruise lines have to buy seats the same way we all do.  My advice:  you’re spending $10,000 on a vacation… don’t try to save the last $50 by laying over in Newark for 9 hours and think that kicking up a fuss will make it change.  The airlines don’t care, and the cruise lines aren’t going to buy it for you.  
• Our Experience:  About 80% of the time cruise line air works out just fine.  The last 20% of the time it becomes clear the client would have been much better off doing their own thing.  The best way to make sure you end up in the 80% is to do your homework in advance.  Go to Google Flights https://www.google.com/travel/flights and figure out which flights you would take if you were doing your own air.  Also take note of what it would cost.  Then see what the cruise line can do for you.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Viking D-Day 80th Anniversary – NEW itinerary

The Normandy Landing Beaches are always a huge draw, and with next year being the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Viking has put together a special itinerary.  This one will fill up very quickly:

• 12-day cruise-tour from London to Paris.  
• Prices from $6699 per person.  Air from $599.  
• Visit London for (4-days), then Paris (2-days at Port de Grenelle, within a short walk of Eiffel Tower), Vernon, Rouen, Utah Beach, Juno Beach, Les Andelys, and two more days in Paris.  
• Departures March through November 2024
• Air from $599
• See details here: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/paris-d-day-80th-anniversary/2024-london-paris/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Viking Lyon, Provence & the Rhineland – NEW itinerary

Here’s one more new itinerary from Viking that is actually back-to-back cruises that will take you from Amsterdam to the French Riviera:

• 15-days from Amsterdam to Avignon (or reverse)
• Prices from $4999 per person.  
• Visit Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel, Burgundy, Lyon, Vienne, Tournon & Viviers, Arles, Avignon. 
• Departures March through November.  Available in 2023, 2024, 2025. 
• Many sailings include free air.  
• See details here: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/lyon-provence-and-the-rhineland/2024-avignon-amsterdam/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Azamara

You may not have heard of Azamara.  They are the small-ship cruise line that really focuses on Destination Immersion.  They have a number of itineraries that specialize in one country – getting to more out of the way ports, with longer stops, and many overnight stays.  Their vessels are the famed R-Class ships that hold only 680 when fully loaded.  

Between now and the end of the month, they are running a ‘50% off the second guest’ sale AND an additional $500 on board credit for the cabin.  There is a long list of select voyages, and I’ve put in a few examples below.   The pricing shown here is per person AFTER the the 50% discount has been applied (what you’ll actually pay).   Azamara always includes: a complimentary “AzAmazing Evenings” event on most voyages, and always includes select standard spirits, international beers and wines, gratuities, bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, self-service laundry, and shuttle service to and from port communities.

Best of the Mediterranean 12-nights departing July 8, 2023

• Barcelona to Venice.  Visiting Provence, Monte Carlo, Florence (overnight), Rome, Capri, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia. 
• Ocean View: $4972.  Veranda:  $6616

Iceland for 13-nights departing August 7, 2023

• Oslo to Copenhagen.  Visiting Arendal (Norway), Shetland, Torshavn, 4 port-stops in Iceland PLUS Reykjavik, Skagen (Denmark).  
• Ocean View:  $5525.  Veranda $6769

Dubai round-trip for 7-nights departing November 13, 2023. 

• Visit Abu Dhabi (overnight), Sir Bani Yas (UAE), Doha (overnight), Dubai (overnight). 
• Ocean View: $2917.  Veranda: $3500

Australia & New Zealand for 17-nights departing January 4, 2024.

• Visit Melbourne, Sydney, Eden, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Bay of Islands, Auckland
• Ocean View: $4817. Veranda:  $6233

Japan for 12-nights departing March 7 2024

• Visit Hong Kong, Taipei, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Kagoshima, Mayazaki, Kochi, Osaka, Tokyo
• Ocean View: $5000.  Veranda:  $5999

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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

Today is Good Friday, and I’m reminded of what a significant day this is, even for those who don’t regularly attend a Christian denomination church.  

When our kids were younger, we lived in Mexico for a while (and still return as often as we can).  One of the many things I admire about the Mexicans is the energy they put into their celebrations… and there are many!.  They are also very inclusive – Bob and I are not practicing Catholics, but our Mexican friends and neighbors always go out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable during their Semana Santa celebrations (“Holy Week” is much more than just Good Friday).  

In the context of travel, you don’t need to be adherent to a particular faith to get a lot out of visits to religious sites or events.  We need to keep in mind that religious sites are usually of significant historical value, as well as going a long way in helping us understand many of the social considerations of groups of people.  

For example, I’ve found Jewish heritage tours in Europe to be both fascinating and tremendously moving.  I undoubtedly experience it differently than those devoted to that faith, but it is worthwhile for me, regardless.

Bob and I were in Turkey last year, and visited several Mosques.  The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul was the largest church in the world until the 16^th Century, and now operates both as a church for practicing Muslims, and a museum for those of us that want to learn more about Turkish culture and customs.  

If you’re in Europe, it’s difficult NOT to intersect with religious sites.  Likewise, in other parts of the world understanding the people and culture of the place you’re visiting can be impossible without a visit to a local holy site.  Even when visiting the relics of ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, or Mayans you will interface with their religious sites and symbols.

So where can you go?

• Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington State have many sites of significance to North American indigenous peoples.  The art, culture, and architecture of these First Nations are fascinating.  Cruises that stop at Icy Strait Point will be hosted by the Indigenous band that owns that port stop.  If you go to Juneau, visit the State Museum with lots of artifacts from the local people.  Just south of Ketchikan is the Saxman Village totem park.  Vancouver has several sites.  Check out the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.  
• The Vatican attracts millions of visitors every year.  Only a portion of those visitors are Catholic.  Any cruise that starts or finishes in Rome provides a great opportunity to visit the Vatican.
• Istanbul is an intersection of many things, and is certainly a crossroads for Christianity and Islam.  There are plenty of sites dedicated to both faiths.  If you take a cruise with Istanbul as one of the terminus ports, stay a day or two pre or post.  There is no shortage of things to do. 
• Israel is about the size of New Jersey, and is home to 9 million.  There is no doubt about the religious significance of both Jerusalem, and the rest of Israel, and you don’t have to be Jewish to be greatly enriched by a visit there.  There are an infinite number of land tours of Israel.  If you’d prefer the comfort of a cruise, several ships call in at Israeli ports.  
• Guatemala, Belize, and southern Mexico have incredibly important historical and religious sites from the Mayan culture.  In my opinion the pyramids in Central America are far more impressive than those in Egypt… and most of them are also not nearly as crowded as the Pyramids at Cairo, and the sites at the Valley of the Kings.  

These are only some of the most obvious places to visit that have religious significance.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Jewish Heritage on Uniworld – Budapest to Nuremburg for 8-days

• Depart May 3, 2024 for $4199 per person. 
• Visit Budapest’s Jewish quarter, the Jewish sites in Vienna, scenic cruising and a winery visit in Wachau Valley, Passau, Jewish sites in Regensburg, and Nuremberg.
• Explore Europe’s Jewish legacy with visits to museums, Synagogues, memorials and more.

Egypt on AMA Waterways  – 12-days

• Departures in October/November 2023 from $5699, and January – March from $5999.  
• Spend 3 days Cairo, then fly to Luxor to board the ship, one week on the ship, and fly back to Cairo for a night.  
• Visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Pyramids at Giza, the Temple of Luxor, Valley of kings (visit Nefartari’s tomb), Temple of Horus, Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, and more.  

Barcelona to Istanbul with Oceania for 10-days.

• Departs November 19, 2023.  Veranda Rooms start at $4199.   
• Visit Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, Nice, Rome Sorrento, Sicily, Kavala, Istanbul (overnight)
• Includes the beverage package, 6 shore excursions (for the cabin), AND a $600 cabin credit.  This is part of the “O-Life Ultimate” promotion. 
• Air add-on is $1100 per person round-trip.  

Land Tour of Israel with Collette for 9-days

• Departures June through December 2023, starting at $2899 per person.  
• Visit Tel Aviv, Tiberia, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem.
• Includes breakfasts and dinners, all accommodation and transportation in Israel. 
• Optional 3-night extension to Jordan for $1199. 

Land Tour of Italy with Collette for 11-days

• Departures August through December starting at $2499
• Visit Rome, Assisi, Florence, Loreto, San Giovanni Rotondo, Tomb of Matthew, the Catacombs, Campania, the Vatican (for Papal Audience), St. Peter’s Basilica.  
• Includes 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners, all accommodations, and transportation within Italy & the Vatican. 

NOTE: Recently booked a Viking Cruise?  Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online or by phone.  We encourage you to do this, especially if you are worried about availability.  Don’t worry, you can still work with us even if you already have a reservation.  Get in touch with us afterwards so we can check over your booking to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we also so we can add some onboard credits.  We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any existing Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.  We also have access to unadvertised promotion codes you may not be aware of.  Depending on the exact situation, these promotion codes can save you money and/or get you extra perks.  Many of you have heard this before, but for those who may be new to the Pampered Cruiser, there is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).  We have access to all the same prices and special promotion codes… and we can always add something above and beyond what you’d receive by booking directly with the 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), even if you made them more than 60 days ago.

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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

If you’re looking to do a once in a lifetime trip, that is a little off-the-beaten-path, then Hurtigruten may be a good fit for you.  And your timing couldn’t be better.  We got an exclusive Buy-One, Get-One offer that is NOT available on direct bookings… but more on that in a minute.  

 Hurtigruten is a Norwegian company that has two divisions:

• Hurtigruten Expeditions – Most people know them because of their Antarctica product, but they do many other destinations too.  There’s lots more information below about this.
• Norwegian Coastal – If you want to really immerse yourself in northern, remote communities on the Norwegian Coast, then this is really the only product of its kind.  

What Does “Expedition” Actually Mean, Anyway?

I should start by defining “expedition” because the word conjures up images of hyper-fit, daring adventurers risking life and limb in remote parts of the planet.  In reality, most expedition cruise clients are 55 – 75 years old, and just really like getting outside.  Expedition clients don’t typically have significant mobility challenges, but the fitness requirements are quite moderate:

• Can you climb two flights of stairs?
• Can you get in and out of a bathtub by yourself?  (Surprisingly similar to getting in and out of kayak or zodiac boat).
• Can you walk for 45 minutes at a moderate pace?

Hurtigruten has been going to Antarctica for over 100 years, and is probably what our clients know them best for.  I had the opportunity to travel with them a few years ago, so if Antarctica is on your bucket list, here’s the video from that trip:  https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls.  This is the MOST viewed video on our YouTube Channel with over 58,000 views!

The Antarctica season only runs from November through March, so those same ships migrate northwards for the Northern Hemisphere’s summer.  Here’s a quick look at Hurtigruten’s destinations:

• Alaska – if you want to get into the remote parts of the 49^th State, away from the souvenir stands in Juneau and Ketchikan, this is a great way to do it. 
• West Africa – this part of the world is difficult to travel, so a cruise ship is a great way to see it.  
• Galapagos Islands – travel on a small vessel with expert local guides, and take an optional extension into Machu Picchu.  
• NorthWest Passage – go where few have previously travelled, sailing up the Bering Strait, through the Canadian Arctic, and down the Atlantic Coast. 
• Greenland – Glaciers, icebergs, white sandy beaches, glittering fjords, unique communities… it’s all here waiting to be discovered. 
• Iceland – Come to see the volcanoes and hot springs, or maybe visit the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. 
• South America – When the ships migrate to and from Antarctica, you can visit coastal South America, Patagonia, and/or the Amazon.
• Repositioning — (because polar cruises are their specialty, but poles are long way apart)  UK, Caribbean, Central America, Mexico
• Norway Coastal – Oslo (in southern Norway) is slightly further south than Anchorage, and you go NORTH from there up to North Cape (latitude: 71 degrees)… so you travel well north of the Arctic Circle.  No Alaskan cruise even comes close to getting this far North, and the things you see up there (including the Northern Lights) are incredible. 

Here’s a few other features available on Hurtigruten:

• Northern Lights Guarantee – If the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, then Hurtigruten promises you’ll see them on specific voyages in Norway.  If you don’t, they’ll give you another cruise.  
• Hybrid Powered Cruise Ships – Hurtigruten takes environmental stewardship very seriously, and were the first to launch hybrid-electric cruise ships (the Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen).  Imagine sailing in a remote part of the world, without the hum (and exhaust) of a diesel engine.  See our Ship Tour video of Roald Amundsen:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0
• Onboard enrichment and research – Those looking for Broadway shows don’t end up on Hurtigruten.  Instead, each cruise features an impressive line up of scientists and other experts who provide enrichment lectures and demonstrations about the animals, sea life, ecology, and environment through which you are travelling.  

A Hurtigruten cruise is quite different from taking a vacation on a big cruise ship.  If you’re looking to explore remote parts of the world in some detail, on a small ship with some luxury touches, the Hurtigruten could be a good choice for you.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

We have an exclusive Buy-One, Get-One offer with Hurtigruten, that is NOT available if you book directly with them, or their website.  The offer applies to select voyages only, and there is some fine print (most notably, the BOGO price applies to the cruise only – not taxes, hotels, flights and other add-ons), but it still represents a great opportunity, if a small ship cruise to a more remote part of the world is on your radar. 

Here are some examples.  Please note that pricing shown below is the full price for one passenger, and due to the fine print I mention above, it’s not quite as simple as dividing by two.  The second passenger will have to pay tax, and if there are hotels or air flights included in the package then that portion is not discounted.  

Confused?  Yeah… me too.  Call us and we’ll get you a price. 

Antarctica

If you’ve only got one continent left on your bucket list, then here’s your opportunity to tick it off:

• 12-days round trip from Buenos Aires departing November 2023 through March 2024.
• Includes transfers, one-night pre-cruise accommodation in Buenos Aires, and return flights between there and Ushuaia (where you board the ship).
• All boots and expedition gear is provided, as well as a jacket you get to keep. 
• Prices from $11,269 for one.  The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for the hotel in BA, and the flight to Ushuaia.

Galapagos Islands

• 7-days round trip from Quito.
• Departures between May and December 2023
• Includes 2-nights in Quito, return flight to Galapagos (Baltra), NP Admission fee, all meals, beer/wine, wifi on the ship.  
• See turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, flamingos, Nazca and Red-footed Boobies, and iconic Darwin’s Finches.  
• On board equipment you will have access to: dinghies, kayaks, snorkeling gear, paddle boards, and a glass bottomed boat.  
• Prices from $8447 for one.  The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for the hotel in Quito, and flights to/from Baltra

West Africa: Cape Verde & Bissagos Islands

This part of Africa is the least visited by tourists, and has plenty of remarkable natural beauty. 

• 14-days round trip from Dakar departing between November 2023 and January 2024.
• Your adventures begins in the colorful streets of Dakar.  Next you’ll travel to two island archipelagos filled with historic sites, contrasting cultures, and varied landscapes.  The final stop is Banjul – Africa’s smallest capital city.  
• Explore the volcanic landscapes of Cape Verde.  Watch hundreds of bird species, as well as saltwater hippos, manatees in the Bissagos Biosphere Reserve.
• Participate in scientific research projects
• Prices from $8626 for one.  The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for the hotel in Dakar (pre-cruise), and for taxes. 

Circumnavigating Iceland

• 11-days round-trip from Reykjavik departing in July or August 2023. 
• Visit the restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and museums in Reykjavik, and also visit remote coastal fishing villages.  See active volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls.  Go whale watching and bird watching.  
• Prices from $7589 for one.  The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for taxes.  

Inclusions on all Hurtigruten voyages:  

• Beer/wine with meals
• Wifi on the ship
• Lectures and enrichment activities
• Access to science center where you can participate in research
• Assistance of professional photographers to help you with your pictures.

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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 people who receive this newsletter have been on our list for several years, and have gotten to know us a little bit.  When we speak with clients (or potential clients) on the phone, we are sometimes asked a little bit about us and our business, so I thought I’d give a little background this week in case others were wondering.

Bob and I have been life-long wanderers, and travelled extensively both as individuals and after we were married.  Travel has always been a priority.  We only considered making a business out of it about 10 years ago.  We started in the business part-time, but it quickly flourished and grew, and we’ve both been working full time at it since 2016.

Prior to going all-in on the travel biz, I was a Laboratory Technologist with a specialty in Haematology.  Bob was a Management Consultant who did work all over North America, mostly in the Energy sector.  Both of us think we’ve found our calling in the travel business.  Nothing like being in your 50s when you finally figure out what you want to be when you grow up!

Here are a few notes about what we do (and don’t do!), and how we work:

• Most of our business is cruise.  It is roughly evenly split between river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises.  We also do some organized land tours (you can’t take a ship everywhere!)
• Pre & Post cruise extensions.  Most of our clients add a few days before or after their cruise, and we can help with that.  Most often it is extensions offered by the cruise lines, but some of our clients prefer to do their own thing.
• Insurance.  Our standard advice is that you should seek out the guidance and advice of a licensed insurance broker for your travel insurance needs.  Many of our colleagues in the travel biz think we’re crazy to offer this advice because some travel agents make good money selling insurance.  There are two reasons we roll this way:  First, we are travel experts and want to help you with that.  We feel insurance advice should be left to the pros.  Second – as you can imagine, the liability for providing insurance advice is huge, so you’ll forgive us if we proceed with extreme caution when asked about insurance. 
• How we’re paid.  This is a common question from those who’ve never worked with a travel agent before.  We are paid on a commission basis after you travel.  For cruises and packaged land tours, you’ll NEVER get a better price directly through the supplier (they maintain pricing standards to ensure this), so there are no additional costs to dealing with us.  We deal with just about all the cruise lines and about a dozen land-tour companies, and the commission we earn on a percentage basis is about the same with all of those vendors.  I bring this up to demonstrate that we are agnostic as to which cruise line you choose.  We’ll offer an opinion if asked, but our job is to match you with the most appropriate product for you – not because we’re being paid to promote a specific one.  The cruise line call centers are great at selling their own product, but they won’t be able to help you compare with their competitors. 
• Our Team.  Most of the time, you will deal with Bob or me about your travel plans.  It’s worth noting there’s a whole team of people behind us.  Peri and Satonis do much of the critical administrative work to get you booked on your trip.  Rachel manages our social media channels – although it’s important to know that Bob and I write all these newsletters, and post original content on our YouTube channel.  Rachel’s job is to make this content easier for you to see.  ALSO – we’re thrilled to announce that Kim is joining our team to be our head of sales. She’s also a life-long traveller, and has an extensive background in sales, and we know you’ll love working with her.  
• The Virtuoso Network.  Our agency is part of this invitation-only travel consortium.  This gives us access to additional amenities and benefits that are not available if you book direct.  Virtuoso has about 20,000 travel agents world-wide, and Bob and I have been recognized as “Cruise-Icons” because our sales place us in the top 1% of this group.  The Icons get together a couple of times a year (and they’re a blast to hang out with).
• Hotels:  We learned the hard way that not everyone has the same standards when it comes to hotels, and that hotel standards change frequently.  As a result we will book hotels that are approved by Virtuoso, or ones where we have personally stayed in the past two years.  Here’s a link to the Virtuoso Hotel page if you want to browse: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/bobbrad77410/travel/luxury-hotels 
• Our Location.  Our office is on West 36^th Street in New York, but Bob and I are rarely there.  The best part of this job is being able to work from anywhere (and we do!).  
• Our Travel.  Another great aspect of this job is that travel IS the job.  We typically take 3 international trips per year. This allows us to stay current with travel products and locations.  In 2022 we visited Morocco, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey.  We also did a couple of domestic trips (including Newfoundland), and spent a fair bit of time in Mexico. We try not to travel in the summer months, because we love spending time at the Lake.  As recent first-time grandparents, we are trying to figure out how we are going to continue to travel while also spending as much time as possible with our new grandson!

What we don’t do:

• Custom Travel Itineraries.  Some people want a custom itinerary put together for some part of the world.  You would be best served by someone that specializes in that area, and you should be prepared to pay an hourly fee to access their expertise in planning your trip.  We prefer not to charge such fees, and we know we can’t be expert in all areas, so we stick to what we know best:  cruises and packaged land tours.
• Flights.  Some of our clients use the cruise lines’ air departments, and we’re happy to connect you with them.  If you’re doing your own air, you really don’t want to abdicate the multiple micro-decisions involved in booking an air itinerary.  For example, how much more are you willing to pay to avoid a 6 hour layover in Newark?  You are probably well aware that the airlines stopped paying travel agents a long time ago, so in order to offer this service, agents need to charge fees – something we prefer not to do. 

I was born in Iowa City, and Bob was born in Vancouver (BC).  We’re also currently working on our “Permanente” status in Mexico, which will allow us to live for longer periods of time in all three countries.  

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Free Air on Viking Paris to Swiss Alps

• Spend 2-nights in Paris, then visit Trier, Bernkastel, Cochem, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Strasbourg, Basel, then spend 2-nights in Zurich.  12-day package. 
• Prices start at $3599 per person for departures July through November 2023
• Includes all taxes and fees, round-trip air, transfers, Silver Spirit Beverage Package, a shore excursion in each port, and wifi on the ship.  

Free Air on New Orleans to Memphis on American Queen Voyages

• Visit New Orleans, Nottoway Plantation, St. Francisville, Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenville and Memphis.  9-day package.  
• Prices start at $3219 per person for departures June through October
• Includes all taxes and fees, round-trip air, pre-cruise hotel night, open bar, unlimited shore excursions, on-board gratuities, and wifi on the ship. 

Oceania Ultimate O-Life and Price Advantage

If you’ve got an Oceania Cruise on your radar, now’s a great time to book:

• Price Increase Coming – our sources at Oceania warn us that pricing will increase on April 3rd.  
• Past Guest Discount of 10% available until April 2.  
• Ultimate O-Life.  If you want ALL THREE O-Life perks, they are available on select voyages:  https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/olife-ultimate

Free Air on Viking Ocean London to Bergen

We don’t often see Free Air promos on Viking Ocean, so if you want to go to Northern Europe this summer, then jump on this one:

• Visit London (overnight), Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Shetland Island, Nordkapp (Norway), Tromso, Leknes, Gieranger, Bergen (overnight).
• Prices start at $6999 per person for a veranda stateroom on departures in July and August 2023.  
• Includes all taxes and fees, round-trip air, transfers, beer/wine with meals, a shore excursion in each port, and wifi on the ship. 

$1000 On Board Credit on Viking Ocean Caribbean and Amazon Adventure 

• Visit San Juan (Puerto Rico), Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, French Guiana, Sailing Day on the Amazon River, Santarem, Parintins (Brazil), Manaus (overnight)
• Prices start at $4299 per person for a veranda stateroom on departures in November, December (2023), and January, March (2024).
• Includes all taxes and fees, transfers, beer/wine with meals, a shore excursion in each port, and wifi on the ship.  $1000 on board credit per cabin.

Free Air on Viking Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles

• Visit Cozumel, Cartagena, Colon (Panama), full transit of the canal, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Leon (Nicaragua), Cabo San Lucas.

Prices start at $5999 per person for a veranda stateroom on October 24, 2023, or $5499 on December 17, 2023. 

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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

Every year, there’s a small window of time when many of the ships empty out of Europe, but they’re trying to avoid hurricane season in the Caribbean, so they end up in the New England States and the St. Lawrence Seaway.  September and October are the perfect time of year to take in the spectacular fall colors (“colours” when you’re on the Canadian side of the border!) and to visit this unique part of the world.

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 rural 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.  We often forget that France colonized much of North America, and the Louisiana Purchase began the assimilation of the French into the American melting pot, but the French language, history and culture are alive and well in Quebec City.  You’ll want to stay an extra day or two here, and feel the European vibe.

It’s actually possible to visit Europe without crossing the Atlantic if you choose a Canada & New England cruise that visits the French Islands of St. Pierre & Miquelon.  This island colony in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is still a French Colony (their Head of State is the President of France), they use the Euro as their currency, and the cars carry EU licence plates.  These islands are definitely unique for their language and culture. The dialect of French they speak in this colony is neither European nor Canadian.

Almost all the cruise lines have some presence in Canada & New England.  The mega-ships tend to visit the big ports, but occasionally make a stop at the more interesting out-of-the-way places.  The small-ship ocean lines have a wide variety of itineraries of varying lengths, 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. 

Travel Opportunities

Oceania Ultimate O-Life

If you’re looking to travel in the next few months, then this deal is pretty hard to beat.  Normally Oceania offers a choice of one of:

• Additional On Board Credits ($300 – $800 depending on the cruise), OR
• Free Shore Excursions, OR
• Free Beverage Package

Right now, you can get ALL THREE perks on selected sailings.  Oceania’s price point offers these luxury inclusions compelling under regular circumstances, and to get all three of them represents fantastic value.   Here’s a link to directly to their webpage with a list of eligible departures:

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/olife-ultimate

The rest of today’s travel opportunities, are all about cruises to Canada & New England:  

Explora Journeys – Quebec to New York City – departing October 3^rd 2023 (10 nights)

• Visit Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Charlottetown, Halifax, New York (overnight)
• Bob and I are travelling on this journey – why not join us?
• $6350 per person – Veranda Room (377 Square Feet)

Hurtigruten –  Halifax to Boston for 7-nights departing September 12. 

• Visit Sable Island, Lunenburg, Eastport (MN), Rockland/Castine MN, Provincetown MA.
• Sail on the world’s first hybrid-electric cruise ship. 
• Outside cabin:  $2993.   Veranda  $3562

Oceania – Montreal to Boston for 11-nights departing October 8.  

• Visit Quebec City, Saguenay, Cornerbrook, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Saint John, Eastport, and Portland.
• Outside:  $5199. Veranda: $7499 – O-Life Ultimate Fares
• Includes round-trip air, beverage package, 3 free shore excursions (per person), $300 per person on board credit. 

Viking Ocean – Montreal to New York for 13-days departing June or July 2023

• Visit Montreal (overnight), Quebec City, Saguenay, Gaspe, Halifax, Boston (overnight), New York (overnight).
• Verandas from $4999 with Free Air.
• Includes all taxes and fees, air, transfers, beer/wine with meals, a shore excursion in every port, 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