Greetings from Venice!

Bob and I are on a River Cruise in Italy this week, courtesy of our friends at Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. 

We are excited to announce that our clients have been given access to a very special, unadvertised promotion through our relationship with Uniworld – Get $500 off + $400 onboard credit on ANY Uniworld river cruise booked between April 1st – 15th, 2022

Which itinerary to choose? 

You might want to consider the very trip we’re on, which is exclusive to Uniworld: Venice & the Gems of Northern Italy (7 nights round trip from Venice on the Po River).  In addition to Venice, you also get to visit Chioggia, Bologna, and Burano.  There’s also an optional extension to Milan.

See details about this unique itinerary here: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/italy/venice-and-the-gems-of-northern-italy/2022-venice-to-venice

Uniworld’s gorgeous, newly renovated and re-designed ship La Venezia docks right in the lagoon, close to St. Mark’s Square.  This floating boutique hotel is a way better option for staying in Venice compared to any traditional hotel!

You also have the option to choose one of the River Cruise and Rail combinations that include this itinerary:

1. Milan, Venice & the Swiss Alps (Milan to Zurich – 14 days). Learn more: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/italy/cruise-and-rail-milan-venice-and-the-swiss-alps/2022-milan-to-zurich
2. Venice & the Swiss Alps (Zurich to Venice – 12 days). Learn more: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/italy/cruise-and-rail-venice-and-the-swiss-alps/2022-zurich-to-venice
3. Milan, Venice & Istanbul (Milan to Istanbul – 18 days). Learn more: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/italy/cruise-and-rail-milan-venice-and-istanbul/2022-milan-to-istanbul
4. Venice & Istanbul (Venice to Istanbul – 16 days).  Learn more: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/italy/cruise-and-rail-venice-and-istanbul/2022-venice-to-istanbul

Your pre- or post-cruise journey on the Golden Eagle Train is the perfect complement to Uniworld’s all-inclusive luxury.  Discover more about Uniworld’s Rail and Cruise program here: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/cruise-and-rail

Remember, you’ll receive a $500 discount ($250 per person) off the prices listed on the website, if you book by April 15th.  You’ll ALSO receive a $400 onboard credit ($200 per person).  You will not receive this offer if you book directly with Uniworld.

What sets Uniworld apart from other river cruise lines is their boutique ships. Each one is specially designed and decorated for the region through which it sails. The menus are set to immerse guests in the cuisine and culture of the adjacent landscape.

The Uniworld fare is all-inclusive:

1. Private airport transfers
2. Shore excursions in every port (multiple options to choose from each time)
3. Pre-paid gratuities
4. Alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks at all times
5. Uniworld’s famous personal service. 
6. (Plus, Sue’s favourite… a jar of chocolates in your stateroom that is topped up every evening!)

When you consider the inclusions, the onboard credit, and the special discount I mentioned above, it creates a compelling value proposition that’s hard to ignore.

Here are a few examples of current website rates (remember, you will pay $250 per person less):

1. Round-trip Venice Italy as described above:  Depart May 15th, 2022 – $2699 per person ($4399 for a French Balcony)
2. Amsterdam to Nuremberg.  Visiting Cologne, Rudesheim, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, and Volkach.  Depart August 26th, 2022 – $2499 per person.
3. Round-trip Bordeaux.  Visiting France’s wine growing communities.  Depart July 3rd, 2022 – $3199 per person.
4. Peruvian Amazon & Machu Picchu (round-trip Lima) 2 weeks.  2-nights in Lima, then a week on the ship, followed by 4-nights in Cusco (for Machu Picchu), and then one more night in Lima.  Depart October 26th or November 30th, 2022 – $12,499 per person. 

All cruises are 7 nights unless otherwise noted, are based on double occupancy, with the price valid for the date indicated subject to availability.

In addition to the examples given above, Uniworld sails all the rivers in Europe, as well as in India, Egypt, and Vietnam & Cambodia.

Browse all of Uniworld River Cruise Itineraries here: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us

Remember, this exclusive opportunity to get $500 discount + $400 onboard credit applies to ANY Uniworld cruise.  

Where will YOU go next?

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3244172355865256

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

Over the last couple of years, TV shows like Zac Efron’s ‘Down to Earth’, and Stanley Tucci’s ‘Searching for Italy’ became instant hits while we were all under “house arrest” and not actually able to travel. 

In that same period, Bob and I dreamed up the idea that we would do short videos from our dining room, re-enacting various river cruises we had taken, pretending to discuss that day’s port of call, so our clients could “travel” with us.

Wait… you didn’t you see these videos? 

That’s because we didn’t produce them!  Here’s why.

First, producing that much video is a lot of work that we had to fit in around rebooking all our clients (sometimes multiple times).  Second (and perhaps more significantly) Viking launched Viking TV.

At the outset, this was obviously a marketing device to keep people engaged with Viking when we couldn’t travel.  But then something happened – they kept adding content, and it’s REALLY GOOD (certainly much better than we could have done ourselves).

Even if you’re not a Viking client, they have all kinds of videos of varying lengths related to travel, and just enjoying life in general.  They are constantly adding to the site with more content, and it’s all on demand (you don’t even need a Netflix membership).  Here’s a peak at some of the content:

1. Destination information
2. Insight into attractions at shore stops
3. Enrichment lecturers that you might experience on one of their cruises.
4. Food and wine education
5. Behind the scenes at Viking – with crew insights, and ship tours
6. Alastair Miller – a professional photographer visits various locations and shares his work.
7. Art & Culture:  some of highlights on travel itineraries.
8. Extraordinary Lives:  Interviews with interesting people
9. Historians’ lectures – from places you might visit on a cruise
10. Music from destinations
11. Information on some of their individual Viking Cruise offerings.

Viking tags itself as “The Thinking Person’s Cruise”, so having such enrichment content available on their website does make sense.  Some of the videos are a few minutes long, while others might be up to an hour.  Either way, you might find it interesting. 

For example, here is one about River Cruising on the Mississippi with Viking: https://www.viking.tv/tv/viking-journeys/viking-mississippi

These HIGHLY anticipated voyages debut later this year.  If you’re thinking of the Mississippi, you’ll want to plan well ahead of time!

See details of Viking’s Mississippi itineraries here: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/mississippi/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3238683783080780

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

So… it looks like you might actually make that trip overseas after it was re-scheduled a couple of times (or more).  Are you feeling out of practice?  When’s the last time you crossed multiple time zones?  These questions are top of mind for many of you, so I thought I would dedicate some space to managing jet lag.

In normal (non-pandemic) times, Bob and I are in Europe two or three times per year.  I don’t adjust well… I love my sleep, and I don’t sleep well on planes.  As every year advances, I find it more difficult to make the adjustment.  So, I’ve had to build a more deliberate strategy when I go to Europe or Asia (or really when I’m crossing more than 4 time zones to anywhere).

Here’s my strategy starting about a week before I leave.  The examples I use here are for flying eastward (to Europe), so I have to adjust this list when I fly to Asia or Australia/NZ.

• Advance my “clock” one hour each day, for a week prior to departure.  This is easier said than done, and existing commitments may mean you have to compromise here and there, but essentially, it means going to bed one hour earlier, and getting up one earlier EACH day for the week prior to departure.  I usually fly from the west coast (9-hour time change to Europe), so if you’re flying from the east coast, you can start 4 or 5 days in advance.
• “Live” in the time zone of my destination.  This means earlier meals, as well as adjusted bedtimes for the final days before departure.
• Change my watch to destination time as soon as I board the plane.  The inflight services the airlines provide are timed for their convenience, NOT for helping you adjust your rhythm.  Based on the time at your destination, figure out if you should be eating when the meal cart comes around, or if you should be asleep.
• Sleep on the plane if it’s nighttime at my destination.  This is the one I struggle with the most.  Some people take melatonin or sleeping pills.  Not everyone is willing to do this, and you’ll want to consult your physician and make your own best judgment.  At the very least, earplugs and an eye-mask can greatly increase your chances of getting rest on the plane.
• Drink water, not wine on the plane.  This one I struggle with almost as much as the one above (!!), but I know it’s important to remain hydrated to help my body adjust to the interruption of its circadian rhythms that I’m subjecting it to.
• Consider Premium Economy.  Business Class flights overseas are cost prohibitive for many of us, but Premium Economy is only a few hundred dollars more, and provides much more space than “cattle class”.  It’s easier to sleep, and I’m more comfortable on a long flight.
• Add a one-day buffer at my arrival point.  If I’m doing a cruise or land tour, I always arrive at least one day early, knowing my first day on the ground is not going to be productive.  I usually don’t feel well, so I find it’s best to kick back and allow some time to adjust (hard to do if I schedule myself to hit the ground running).  In some cases, I have even taken an airport hotel for one night upon arrival (much more cost effective in cities like London, Paris, or Rome), and then moved closer into the city the next day to start my trip.
• Hydration and poop.  Sorry… it has to be discussed.  I use rehydration formulas (you can buy them anywhere) for my first 2 or 3 days upon arrival and do my very best to become regular as it relates to all bodily functions.  This may mean altering what I eat the first day or two I’m on the ground.
• Sleep with the drapes open.  I want to be exposed to sunlight in the morning at my destination to quickly adjust my body-clock.  If I can get outside into direct bright sunlight, that’s even better.

The return trip home:  Remember, you get to do this all over again when you return home!  However, most times it’s easier on the return because you can adjust in the comfort of your own home.  The one rule I’ve started to follow on our return journeys:  Never drive home from the airport.

If you’re flying across more than 3 or 4 time zones, you will definitely be compromised.  You will not be as alert as you should be to operate a motor vehicle.  If you can have someone pick you up, that is great, but if not then a taxi or Uber is probably in order.  Its usually costs less than long term parking at the airport, anyway.

We’re overcoming some jet lag ourselves, so we don’t have any specific travel opportunities for this week!

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3233272896955202

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

Over the next couple weeks, ships that have been travelling to Antarctica during the past few months will begin to migrate to points further north.  It is nearing the end of summer in the southern hemisphere.

In the 2020/21, there weren’t any ships in Antarctica due to the pandemic and this season, only about half the ships originally deployed to the last continent made it there. 

The 2022/23 Antarctica season is going to be in high demand, so if this is on your radar you may want to get a move on.

The Antarctic season is short:  the first ships arrive in November, and they begin to leave in mid-March. 

We’re often asked when the “best” time to go is.  There’s not a best time, but rather a series of trade-offs to consider when deciding on the best choice for you:

• Early (November/December):  There is still sea ice on the water, and it will be virgin snow on land, and you’ll feel like you’re the first person who’s ever been there.  When you go ashore, you will see penguins finding mates.  Once the penguins begin to lay their eggs, you might see them waddling around balancing an egg on their feet.
• Mid-season (December/January/February):  The longest daylight hours are late December and January, and it’s also the warmest time – with temperatures usually above freezing.  The penguin chicks, and seal pups make their appearance in this time.
• Late (February/March):  If you want to see whales, then a trip late in the season might be best. 

I was lucky enough to travel to Antarctica in 2018, and Bob and I put together this YouTube video about that trip:  https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls  It includes detailed information about my experience, and stunning images.

In that video, we talk about the three different ways to get to the last continent.  Here they are:

1. A “Drive-by”.  Cruise lines like Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess do trips from South America, where you sail by the Antarctic Peninsula.  You do NOT get off the vessel over to land; no ship with more than 500 people is permitted to land on Antarctica.
2. Expedition Ships.  Expedition vessels maximize immersion in Antarctica, and you will spend a lot of time on sea kayaks, zodiac boats, and doing landings on the continent.  Typically, scientists are conducting research on board, and you can participate in those studies.  Cruise lines like Hurtigruten, Lindblad/National Geographic, Quark, Abercrombie and Kent fall in this category.
3. Luxury Ships.  If you want to go in maximum comfort and style, then a number of luxury cruise operators have ships that are specially designed for Antarctica.  Some of these have helicopters and submarines on board for excursions.  To be clear, many of these luxury brands have begun to blur the lines between the luxury and expedition segments, so they might look much like the category above.  Lines like Ponant, Seabourn, SilverSea, and Viking fall into this category. 

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Here are some suggestions for Antarctica: 

The “Drive-by”
Celebrity Infinity – Round Trip Buenos Aires
14-days departing February 25, 2023

• Inside: $2089 per person
• Window: $2439 pp
• Balcony:  $2899 pp
• Suite:  $7199 pp

Expedition Ship
Hurtigruten Roald Amundsen – Round Trip Ushuaia
11-days departing March 1, 2023

• Window: $7993 per person
• Balcony: $10,849 pp
• Includes transportation to/from Buenos Aires
• 5 scheduled days of landings in Antarctica

Roald Amundsen is the world’s first hybrid-powered cruise ship, and Bob and I were on its North American inaugural sailing.  Here’s a link to our YouTube video if you want to see what the ship is like:  https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0

Luxury Expedition
Silver Wind – Round Trip Ushuaia
10-nights departing February 28, 2023

• Window Suite:  $8,850 per person
• Veranda Suite:  $10,550 pp
• 5 scheduled days of landings in Antarctica

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3227846110831214

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

We commonly receive requests from you about wine-themed river cruises, or at the very least where you can visit wineries on your non-themed river cruise adventures.  In reality, just about all river cruises in Europe make at least one visit to a winery, so let’s talk about those ones first.

Most people are well aware that France and Spain are amongst the world’s largest wine producers.  Some are more surprised to hear that Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Croatia all have wineries that can easily visited when making port stops on many river cruises.  In some cases, the wineries are visited on the cruise lines’ included excursions, and in other circumstances you will either have to take the optional excursion or make you own arrangements. 

Here’s a quick reference guide of which ports of call have wineries nearby:

• Rhine River Cruises between Amsterdam and Basel:  Strasbourg, Speyer, Mannheim Rudesheim, all have wineries.  The Alsatian region in France near the German and Swiss borders is a well well-known wine region (particular for crisp white wines).
• Provence River Cruises between Lyon and Avignon (or Marseilles):  The Beaujolais region south of Burgundy near Lyon is full of wineries.  There are also other small wineries in this agricultural region of France.
• Danube River Cruises between Bavaria (Nuremburg, Regensburg, or Passau) and Budapest:  The Wachau Valley in Austria has some incredible estate wineries, and believe it not, there wineries you can visit just outside of Budapest.
• Bordeaux River Cruises:  It’s probably not a surprise that every port of call on these cruises has easy access to wine – particularly Libourne, Saint Emilion, and Chateau.
• Douro River Cruises in Portugal:  Many of these cruises start or finish in Porto that is famous for Port (as the name would imply).  Vila Nova de Gaia is the place to ask about when in Porto.
• Moselle or Mainz River Cruises between Trier (or Luxembourg City) and Nuremburg:  We are seeing more river cruises in the Moselle valley, and Koblenz, Mainz, Frankfurt, Schloss Volrads all boast wineries.
• Lower Danube Cruises between Budapest and Bucharest:  The former Yugoslavian states have wineries as well.  Most notably Ilok in Croatia (near the Serbian border).

That list will help if you want a bit of wine on your non-themed river cruise.  If you’re looking for an actual wine cruise, then I have a different list.

What’s the difference?

On a wine-themed cruise, there will be a host on board the ship with some expertise either as a sommelier, or perhaps a winery owner, with lectures and other enrichment activities related to wine.  There is usually wine pairings with dinner, and off-ship shore excursions related to wine included in the fare as well.

AMA Waterways does this really well, and they have a whole list of wine themed cruises on their website.

If you don’t feel like flying all the way to Europe, then the Columbia/Snake River cruises between Portland, OR, and Spokane WA can fit the bill for you – particularly if you go during the harvest in October.  Wines from Oregon and Washington are one of the best kept secrets out there – some varietals of grape do much better with the long daylight hours experienced the further north they grow.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Following on the wine theme, here are some cruises that caught my eye:
American Empress between Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon:

• Visit Clarkston, Richland, The Dalles, Stevenson, and Astoria
• Departs on October 30, 2022 for 8-nights (inquire about other dates):
  • Window:  $2799 per person
  • Veranda:  $2899 pp
  • Suite:  $5199 pp
• Includes pre-cruise hotel night, transfers to ship, open bar, unlimited shore excursions, Wi-Fi on the ship.
• A private wine reception the night before boarding.
• Tastings, wine-pairings, and educational series

Ama Waterways Wine Cruise between Amsterdam and Basel, Switzerland

• Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, & Strasbourg
• Departs November 7, 2022 for 7-nights
  • Window: $2749 per person
  • Balcony: $3548 pp
  • Suite: $6348 pp
• Pre/post package for 2-nights in Amsterdam, and 3-nights at Lake Como for an additional $2250 per person

Here are a couple of NON-wine related cruise deals from a Viking Flash Sale (must book by March 6th).  Round trip flights are INCLUDED in the prices below.

Pacific Coastal (7 nights between LA and Vancouver):
Visit San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Portland, and Victoria, BC.
Depart April 9, 17, or 25, 2022
Fares start at $1999 for a Veranda INCLUDING return air
This is a great way to try out small-ship luxury on Viking Ocean

Panama Canal Full Transit (11 nights from Ft. Lauderdale to Panama City):

• Visit Colon (Panama), Costa Rica, Roatan, Belize City, Cozumel, and Key West.
• Depart October, November or December 2022
• Fares start at $3399 for a veranda INCLUDING return air
• This trip is great for those that want to do a full transit of the canal, but don’t want to be away for the length of time required to go all the way between Florida and California.

Remember, this Flash Sale ends in just a couple of days on Mar. 6th so please get in touch immediately if you’re interested in one of these Viking cruises.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3222681678014324

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