Someone recently mentioned to me that they’d visited South Korea.  I was intrigued… perhaps because I’ve never been there, and travel is my profession.  I followed up with questions: where did you go?  How long did you stay? What did you do? How was the food?

The answers were disappointing.  She had only changed planes at the Seoul Airport.  Sorry… that doesn’t count as having visited a country (as lovely as the Incheon Airport is).  

This got me thinking about how we experience places when we travel, and I came up with a scale.  On the extreme left hand side is “Travelling BROAD”: in this case maybe you only connect a flight at the airport  The other extreme is “Travelling DEEP”: this is when you live in the location for some period of time.  All of our adventures fall somewhere in between, and there is no ”right” way to travel.  But there should be an understanding that Broad and Deep are different experiences.  

Cruise ships lend themselves well to Broad Travel.  In most cases, you are only in a port of call for the day, and you generally can’t explore too far away from where your ship is docked.  In some cases, this works perfectly – you can get a little taste of a bunch of different places, and then (later) go back to the ones you really love to experience more deeply.  We see this in the Caribbean and in Europe.  Some cruises in those markets have a port of call every day – offering a little taste of a lot of places in a one or two week period.  

Some cruise lines are beginning to move a bit further to the right on the continuum, to offer a deeper experience.  This involves a longer port stop or even an overnight stay.  Perhaps they depart later at night to allow you to see what the port looks like after dark.  In some cases, the cruise lines are offering 2 or 3 day stays in certain ports of call.  This definitely gives you more of a feel for a place than a 6 hour stop during the day.

These longer port stops really appeal to those who have done a lot of cruising in a particular region before.  If you’ve been to a port before, it’s really cool to go back and be able to do things in that place that you haven’t experienced previously. 

There are also some port stops that simply require more than a few hours to see well.  The old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, I’ve modified to “You can’t see Rome in a day” – particularly because the cruise ships dock about 2 hours away from the things you want to see in Rome.

Vienna, Austria is a common port stop for river cruises, and definitely a place that requires more than a few hours to properly experience.  Istanbul, London, Paris, Jerusalem, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Athens, (there are many more)….the list of places that you need a few days to really see is long. 

To be clear, I’m not advocating for Deep Experiences over Broad Experiences.  I am suggesting that this is a dimension you’ll want to consider when making decisions about your next vacation, to avoid regrets.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Viking River Cruise from Vienna to Bucharest (17-days)

• Explore Vienna for 3 full days, then carry on eastward to visit Bratislava, Budapest (2 days), Mohacs (Hungary), Vukovar & Ilok (Croatia), Novi Sad, Donji Milanovac and Belgrade (Serbia), Vidin and Pleven (Bulgaria), Constanta and Bucharest (Romania).  You’ll get to add a whole bunch of new places to your ‘been-there’ list.
• Prices from $5999 per person (May – August), $6499 pp (September),  $5799 pp (November)
• Includes round-trip international airfare, all taxes and fees, airport transfers, shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.

Northern Lights Cruise with Hurtigruten in Norway

Just as the days are getting longer, it may seem odd to be talking about seeing the Aurora Borealis, which are only visible on the dark days.  However, these cruises sell out, so you’ll want to be out in front of this.

• 14-days Amsterdam round-trip (making for easy flight logistics).  
• Departures in 2024:  January (6 or 20), February (3 or 17), and March (2, 16, 30).
• Encounter the coastal communities, glaciers, fjords, and wildlife of the Norwegian Coast in the winter
• This cruise features the “Northern Lights Promise”, so if you DON’T see them, Hurtigruten will give you another cruise.
• Prices start at $4478 per person

I was on this ship in Antarctica a few years ago, and here’s my video (with some photos of the ship):  https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls

Explora Journeys 

Copenhagen to London departing August 15, 2023 (9 nights)

• Visit Goteborg (Sweden), Oslo, Stavanger (Norway), Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bruges.
• Pampered Cruiser Special price: $5450 per person (Public Price: $5700 pp) – Save $500 per suite! – EXPIRES MAR. 17th

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)

Miami round-trip – departing December 13^th 2023 (9 nights)

• Visit Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, BVI, Guadeloupe, Bahamas
• Pampered Cruiser Special price: $3500 per person (Public Price:  $4700 pp) – Save $2400 per suite! – EXPIRES MAR. 17th

Bridgetown, Barbados round-trip – departing January 19^th 2024 (12 nights)

• Visit Dominica, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Saint Barthe, San Juan, BVI, Saint Kitts, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenadines, 
• Pampered Cruiser Special price: $5500 per person (Public Price: $6750 pp) – Save $2500 per suite! – EXPIRES APRIL 14th

Bridgetown, Barbados to Miami – departing March 1^st 2024 (7-nights)

• Visit Martinique, Saint Kitts, Dominican Republic, Bahamas

Pampered Cruiser Special price: $3000 per person (Public Price: $3650 pp) – Save $1300 per suite! – EXPIRES APRIL 14th

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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

Sometimes our clients want to explore our their backyard here in the United States, and American Queen is perfect for such explorations.  The overwhelming majority of their port stops are inside of the United States, with a handful in Canada and Mexico.  They currently have seven vessels in operation, each of which holds between 160 and 400 guests – so they are ALL small ships with the quality of food, service, and amenities you would expect on a small ship cruising experience. 

For clarity, American Queen Voyages is the name of the company, and their flagship vessel is called the American Queen.  If you’d like to take a look around the flagship, here’s our Ship Tour video:  https://youtu.be/uqpoZrxbFHI

Here’s a look at their most popular itineraries:

Lower Mississippi – New Orleans to Memphis (or reverse)

• This cruise is all about food and music, with some Civil War History thrown in as well.  Take in a jazz show in New Orleans, followed by a Creole dinner.  Visit a Civil War battlefield in Vicksburg, and see Elvis’ Graceland in Memphis.  
• Cruises are one week long, and run late September through to May.
• Departing New Orleans  on September 10,  bound for Memphis
  • Visit Nottoway Plantation, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenville, 
  • Inside from $3219. Veranda from $4419
• Here’s our video blog from when we did this cruise last year:  https://youtu.be/HIfirwH0V5M

Upper Mississippi River System

• In reality, the Mississippi River system spans over half the Lower 48 States, so AQV’s river ships easily move from the Mississippi to the Ohio, Cumblerland, Tennessee, and Illinois Rivers.  
• Unlike the Lower Mississippi, on these cruises you will travel through locks, and the scenery is breathtaking.  
• Retrace Mark Twain’s domain in the middle of the country, or cruise as far north as Minneapolis, Chicago or Pittsburgh in the summer months.  
• Cruises range between one-week and three-week itineraries, and have a variety of start and end points. 
• Departing St. Louis on July 16,  bound for Minneapolis (one week)
  • Visit Hannibal, Bettendorf, Dubuque, La Crosse, 
  • Inside: $3119.  Veranda Cabins from $4419 (air included)
• Departing Minneapolis for New Orleans on August 6 (two weeks)
  • Imagine travelling almost the entire north to south distance of the country looking out from the deck of a river boat!
  • Visit Winona, La Crosse, Dubuque, Bettendorf, Burlington, Hannibal, Kimmswick, Cleveland (MS), Vicksburg, Natchez, Nottoway Plantation. 
  • Inside: $6309. Veranda $9909 (air included)
• Here’s our video blog from Chattanooga to Memphis:  https://youtu.be/1u3QmS7xU3E

Columbia & Snake Rivers – Portland, OR to Spokane, WA (or reverse)

• The scenery and wildlife in the Pacific Northwest rivals that in Alaska.  Waterfalls, volcanoes, snow-capped peaks, wildlife in its natural habitat… it’s all here.  
• You’ll also become privy to one of the country’s best kept secrets:  Washington and Oregon wineries.  Some varietals of grapes do better with the longer summer daylight hours further north.
• This region is open to exploration by river boat March through December.  It is not warm early and late in the season, but still well worth the trip.  If you go in October, you can experience the grape harvest.  
• Depart Spokane on June 18,  for Portland (one week)
  • Visit Richland, The Dalles, Stevenson, Astoria
  • Veranda rooms from $4369

Alaska & British Columbia – Vancouver, BC to Sitka, AK (or reverse)

• All the cruise lines are in Alaska, but if you want to explore it on a ship with 166 people, rather than a floating amusement park with 5000 people, then American Queen’s Ocean Victory may be a good choice.
• You will visit the more remote parts of the British Columbia and Alaska coastlines, and the off-ship activities include sea kayaking, zodiac boat rides, and walking.  
• The ship operates on 12 and 13 day itineraries, and besides Vancouver, Sitka and Ketchikan (where you can do more traditional cruise ship shore excursions), the port stops focus on Alaska’s spectacular scenery and wildlife. 
• You do NOT have to be an elite athlete to take part in these more active excursions.  All you need is an interest in Alaska’s natural beauty for this to be a good choice for you. 
• Depart Vancouver for Sitka on September 8  (12 days)
  • Visit Kynoch Inlet, Ketchikan, Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Waterfall Coast, Petersburg, Tracy & Endicott Arms, Fredrick Sound
  • Window Room: $5719.  Veranda Rooms from $7869 (air included)
• Here’s our Ship Tour video of AQV’s Ocean Victory:  https://youtu.be/KVaMZC2oTrQ

Great Lakes 

• There are a few variations of this cruise, with itineraries as long as 16-days.  Most of them are 11-days between Chicago and Toronto – making your travel logistics to and from the ship very easy.  
• AQV’s Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager both do this trip.  These ships hold 240 passengers, and it is fair to say that the primary attraction for those that take these cruises is on the incredible itinerary, and these ships are simply the best way to get you there.
• On this itinerary, you’ll visit the larger cities of Chicago, Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit, and also the smaller gems of Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, Manitoulin Island, and Niagara Falls. 
• Depart Toronto for Chicago on June 4. 
  • Outside rooms from $5289. Veranda Rooms from $7489.

Southeast USA

The Great Lakes can be chilly for a good part of the year, so Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator migrate to charming destinations in the American Southeast for part of the year. 

• 12-days RT from Jacksonville FLA departing November 19. 
• Visit Savannah GA, Charleston SC, Brunswick GA, Fernanda Beach FL, Port Canaveral FL, and Freeport (Bahamas), 
• Ocean View Rooms from $4759.  Veranda rooms from $7259.

American Queen Inclusions

American Queen Voyages include all taxes and fees, a pre-cruise hotel night, gratuities on the ship, unlimited shore excursions in every port, an open bar, wifi, and incredible on-board entertainment.  Best of all, you don’t need to fly overseas to enjoy these unique itineraries. 

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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 know that Bob grew up in Canada.  He was born in Vancouver, but his mother’s family was from Banff.  Every summer, Bob’s mom would take him and his brothers on the train to Banff to visit her family.  Only the extraordinarily wealthy would travel by airplane in those days, so train was the way normal Canadians got around.

Bob laughs now, because travelling those same tracks he rode on as a child is now a luxury train journey (on the Rocky Mountaineer – see below), while it’s routine to travel the same route by plane.

There is no doubt that many train trips harken to a bygone era and evoke feelings of nostalgia and elegance.  Here’s a quick guide to some of those special rail journeys:

Canadian Rockies on Rocky Mountaineer

This is quickly becoming one of the worlds “must-do” rail trips, and it’s easy to understand why.  The scenery and wildlife viewing has few rivals anywhere else in the world.  There are several different rail routes and packages, but if you’re unfamiliar with that corner of the world, then here’s what you do:

1. Fly to Vancouver and spend a few days there if you haven’t been previously.
2. Board the Rocky Mountaineer, choosing the “First Passage to the West” itinerary, and ride to Banff or Lake Louise.  In reality, these two destinations are only a few miles apart, so you can easily see both.
3. You DON’T sleep on the train (you’d miss all the scenery!), so Rocky Mountaineer packages include your hotel nights between days on the rails.
4. 3-night packages (Vancouver-Kamloops-Banff/Lake Louise) start at $1850 per person.
5. Fly home from Calgary OR ride the alternate routing back to Vancouver.  8-night round trip packages (Vancouver-Kamloops-Jasper-Banff/Lake Louise-Vancouver) start at $4164 per person

Rockies to Red Rocks in the USA

After 25 years in Canada, Rocky Mountaineer finally expanded to the US three years ago.  Again, they have several packages, but they are all based on one rail routing between Denver and Moab, Utah.  Denver is always well worth a visit, and Moab is the perfect jumping-off point to explore several of America’s National Parks. 

1. Just like the Canadian Rocky Mountaineer, you disembark the train at night. 
2. 3-night packages (Moab – Glenwood Springs – Denver) start at $1900 per person.
3. 4-night packages between Denver and Las Vegas with a flight-seeing connection between Moab and Vegas start at $3323 pp.
4. 4-night packages between Denver and Salt Lake City start at $2232 pp

Belmond

If you don’t know Belmond, they offer unique experiences all over the world, and some of those experiences are on the rails:

Royal Scotsman

As the name would imply, this is in Scotland, and is completely sold out for 2023, so you’ll need to plan ahead if it’s of interest. There are several different itineraries, but here’s an example:

1. 5-days round-trip Edinburgh.  Visit Kyle of Lochalsh, Boat of Garden, Rothiemurchus. 
2. Accommodation is on the train, and includes all meals, drinks, as well as some local excursions off the train. 
3. Prices from $9300 per person depending on prevailing exchange rates.

Venice Simplon Orient Express

The famous Orient Express has a number of itineraries in Europe:

1. Paris to Rome.
2. Amsterdam to Venice.
3. There are also itineraries that include Budapest, Prague, Florence, Istanbul, Innsbruck, Vienna
4. Prices from $4300 per person depending on prevailing exchange rates.

Europe River Cruise + Rail Combination

Uniworld offers combination river cruise and rail packages that makes it easy to experience both:

Zurich to Venice.  7-night river cruise in Italy AND 4-night package on the Golden Eagle Express.

1. Visit Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy.
2. Depart in July or September 2023 from $10,398 per person.

Passau to Budapest.  7-night river cruise AND 4-night Rail Package:

1. 4-nights in Hungary and Romania and a 7-night Danube River cruise.
2. June or October 2023 from $11,398 per person

Alaska Rail System

Alaska is far bigger and far more remote than most of us can conceive.  For that reason, rail is a far preferable option than renting a car.  You also get to see WAY more.  Most of our clients find themselves in Alaska pre- or post-cruise, and most of the cruise lines offer extensions with some portion on the rails.  Be aware those cruise lines also move you around by motor coach as well.  For this reason, some of our clients prefer to do their pre or post on the Alaska Rail system (where you’ll maximize your time on the train).  For example, you can do 7-nights from Anchorage to Fairbanks from $2299 per person:

1. 2-nights Anchorage, 1-night McKinley, 2-nights Denali, 2-nights Fairbanks.
2. Includes hotels, and transfer by rail between destinations.

Southern Africa River Cruise + Rail Combination

Yep… there are trains down that way, and you can take a combination river cruise and rail journey with AMA Waterways:

1. 12-nights between Capetown and Johannesburg
2. Visit Capetown for 3-nights, then fly to board the Zambezi Queen for 4-nights to do a Safari in Nambia, 2-nights in Victoria Falls, then a 3-day rail journey.
3. Departures in September and October from $15,395 per person.

Amtrak

There’s no denying that Amtrak is not as exotic as the rail experiences above, but it might still be worth considering.  Here’s a few trips we have taken on Amtrak, that were certainly better than flying or renting a car:

1. Seattle to Vancouver, Canada – Yep… Amtrak does dip its toe into Canada in a few places.  If you’re taking a cruise out of Vancouver, but would rather fly into Seattle, then Amtrak goes a few times a day between those two cities.  It’s incredibly scenic – most of the journey is on the ocean, and when you consider the airport hassle and or the border line-ups, it’s faster than flying or driving between the two cities.
2. Memphis to New Orleans – We took a river cruise between these two iconic cities and had to get back to New Orleans.  The train took about 7 hours, but it’s during the day, so we got to enjoy the scenery of the Mississippi River Delta, as opposed to the seat back in front of us if we had flown.
3. Northeast Corridor – If you’re going anywhere between Washington and Boston, it’s worth considering the train.  The Interstates are fine in the Northeast, but it’s kind of boring.  If you fly, then consider the unreliability of the airlines, as well as wait times at airports if you think it’s going to be faster than the train.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, then rail journeys offer a different perspective.  You see MUCH more than you do from the highway (particularly if you’re the one driving).  You can also get up and wander around on the train – something not possible if you’re in a car or motorcoach. 

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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

Ireland is a frequent request from our clients, so I thought I’d offer a few thoughts about travelling this region.

Ireland is actually TWO countries, and I will speak to them both.  The Republic of Ireland is home to 5 million people, the capital is Dublin, the President is Michael Higgins, and they use the Euro as their currency.  Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland, and Wales).  About 2 million people live in Northern Ireland, the capital is Belfast, their Prime Minister is currently Rishi Sunak, and they use British Pound Sterling as their currency.

So that gets the social studies lesson out of the way.  What can you do in Ireland?

1. Family Heritage Trips.  It’s not a secret that in previous centuries, the Irish provided a ton of immigrants to the United States, so many people have no problem tracing their roots to this part of Europe (Hint: if your last name starts with “O’”, “Fitz”, or is “Ryan”, “Murphy”, or “Byrne” – do your family tree research in Ireland). 
2. Scenery.  Ireland is one of those unique places on the planet where it difficult to find a place WITHOUT stunning vistas.  There are cliffs that fall straight into the ocean, and rolling hills and countryside, too.
3. Learn About the Drink.  There’s a lot of bad jokes about the Irish and their love of the drink.  You don’t have to be a big drinker to find a visit to the Guinness factory or an Irish Whiskey distillery really interesting.
4. Castles.  Every castle tells a story… and there’s plenty of stories in Ireland.
5. Game of Thrones Tours — OK, much of it was filmed in Morocco, but there’s still plenty to see in Ireland for fans of this iconic production.
6. Traditional Irish Dance & Music.  You’ve undoubtedly seen this before – now go see it in its place of origin.
7. Go to an Irish Pub with Music.  The smaller the town, the more local… the better.
8. Ring of Kerry – This 110-mile circuit, is probably one of the most scenic drives in the world.  See it all:  waterfalls, beaches, castles, and a Hermitage built by Christian Monks 1300 years ago at top of a jagged ocean crag.
9. Learn From the Irish – There is no doubt the Irish have endured more than their fair share of misfortune in the past few hundred years – right up until the 20th century.  They have lived in peace and relative prosperity for the past few decades, and there’s lots to be learned from them about how they achieved this.

The Republic of Ireland is about the same size as Indiana but has about 4600 miles of coastline.  This means you’re never far from the ocean, and a cruise ship is a good way to sample several different places in this fascinating country.  Later, you might want to go back to the places you loved the most and stay for a while.

See below a for few suggestions as to how to see Ireland.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Azamara departing Dublin for London on June 13 (or Aug 29) – 12 days

1. Visit Dublin (overnight), Warrenpoint, Belfast (overnight), Londonderry, Killybegs, Donegal, Galway, Foynes, Cork.
2. Oceanview from $2298 per person; Veranda Suites from $6842 pp.

Oceania Riviera departing Belfast (round-trip) on June 21 – 9 days

1. Visit Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Bantry, Galway, Killybegs, Londonderry.
2. Oceanview from $3549 per person; Veranda Suites from $4199 pp.  Air add-on: $1200.
3. See our Riviera ship tour video here:  https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU
4. See our video about Oceania’s Culinary Program here: https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo

Ultimate Ireland LAND Tour departing Dublin on June 20 (or July 11) – 15-days

1. Visit Dublin (3-days), Belfast (2 days), Giant’s Causeway, Derry, Donegal (2 days), Enniskillen, Galway (2 days), Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Kilkenny (2 days).
2. $4599 per person, double occupancy.
3. Includes all breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners, guided walking tours of Dublin and Derry, as well the services of a professional guide that travels with you throughout your journey.

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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

Travelling with a larger group of friends or family can go one of two ways:

1. A fantastic experience that creates memories to last a lifetime.
2. A dumpster fire of mismatched expectations that ends in hard feelings.

To be clear, I’m NOT talking about two couples travelling together, or a multi-generational trip with grandparents, parents, and children – those usually go fine.

Those that go astray are trips that start with an abstract idea (“Let’s go to Europe”), with a large group of people that usually came up with the idea after drinking several glasses of wine (“Let’s all 20 of us take a cruise to Europe”).

The problem at this point is obvious:  In a typical European summer season, there are upwards of 2000 cruises on ocean, river, and expedition ships.  Europe is a big place, and the Norwegian fjords are very different than the Greek Islands.  You can pay $100/night or $2000/night on a ship depending on what you want.  Some people like the idea of a week-long vacation; others think when you’re flying that far, you should stay longer.

And all these variables are before anyone brings up the fact that they really don’t like THIS country or region, and they travelled on THAT cruise line in 1995 and hated it.

These are just a few of the things that can quickly throw group travel arrangements into chaos.

In our experience, there are some things you can do up front to make group travel work – and a trip like this can really fun when it goes well.  Many of these ideas have to do with attitude and mindset, so it may force some awkward conversations in the planning stage.  I can assure you these awkward conversations are far preferable to the angry and bitter conversations that occur during or after travel if things go off the rails:

1. Only travel with those who are capable of flexibility and compromise.  It will not be possible for every single person to be perfectly happy about every decision point, so set the expectation up front that some compromise will be required.
2. Don’t travel with control freaks.  You know who they are… get out of travelling with them.  It is inherent in their nature, and despite their promises, they won’t be able to supress this impulse, no matter how many meds they take.
3. High anxiety complainers also need to be eliminated from the guest list.  You should expect things to be different when you travel and have a good tolerance for when things go wrong (and they will).  Don’t subject yourself to those who inflame the drama.
4. Agree on a region.  “Europe” is too broad, and “Spain” is probably too narrow. 
5. Agree on an approximate budget.  Everyone will need to be flexible in all aspects of your trip planning, but a ballpark budget will help you quickly determine whether you’re going on a mass-market mega-ship, as opposed to a small luxury ship or river ship.
6. Leave flexibility in the plans. If you’re going on a cruise, allow people to choose the best stateroom for them (you don’t all need to be side-by-side).  Some people may want to do pre/post extensions, and those personalized plans should be encouraged.
7. “Come-along” trips work best.  In our experience the groups that function best are those where a smaller group of people (maybe 4 or 6) decide “we’re going to do THIS, you’re all welcome to join us for whatever part of the trip appeals to you”.  This avoids many of the negotiations at the front end that sometimes make people feel they’ve compromised too much. 
8. Set up a closed Facebook Group.  This is an easy way to have a forum where ONLY those in your FB Group can talk to each other and share information prior to the trip.  You can also post photos to share during and after the trip.

What About Group Pricing?

When we’re talking about cruise vacations, the term “Group” has a variety of definitions, so here’s a quick guide.

1. Group Amenities.  This is one of the big advantages of booking through a good travel agent, because you won’t get these on direct bookings. Travel agencies set up groups to get their clients extra goodies.  Many times, clients don’t even know they’re in a “group”.  Often the amenity is an additional onboard credit, but can be other things as well, for example Specialty Dining or a special Shore Experience.
2. Group Discounts.  The cruise lines discount based on the number of “berths” a group buys.  Usually this means if you book 8 cabins (i.e., 8 berths), then you get one “free” berth (called a Tour Conductor Credit).  If you like, the value of this berth can be divided amongst a group to take everyone’s price down a little.  Some cruise lines offer this free berth with only 5 cabins booked.
3. Group Pricing.  Normally, the price of a cruise is the same regardless of where you buy it.  Some cruise lines increase the cost the closer you get to departure.  In this case, travel agents can pre-purchase a block of cabins in order to lock in a price.  Then, after the public prices goes up, you can benefit from a lower group price if you book through the agent who blocked the group space.  Bob and I blocked group space on several Explora Journeys itineraries before they increased prices last month, and now we have a big price advantage to offer our clients.  See the examples below (save up to $3300 compared to publicly available fares). Some of these group prices will expire on Feb. 28th.

Finally, the larger your group, the earlier you need to start planning.  Cruise vacations are selling out sooner than we’ve seen in the past, so while getting 2 or 3 cabins is usually not a problem, if you want 6 or more cabins on a specific date, you’ll want to be looking a year or more in advance.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Explora Journeys Groups

Copenhagen to London departing August 15, 2023 (9 nights)

1. Visit Goteborg (Sweden), Oslo, Stavanger (Norway), Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bruges.
2. Special price $5450 per person (Public Price: $5700 pp) – Save $500 per suite!

New York to Quebec City – departing September 25th 2023 (8 nights)

1. Visit New York (overnight), Boston, Saint John, Quebec City (overnight)
2. $4300 per person (Public Price: $5050 pp) – Save $1500 per suite!

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

1. Visit Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Charlottetown, Halifax, New York (overnight)
2. Bob and I are travelling on journey – why not join us?
3. $5350 per person (Public Price: $6350 pp) – Save $2000 per suite!

New York round-trip – departing September 25th 2023 (18 nights)

1. If you’d like to combine the 2 cruises above and stay on board the whole time (NO ports repeated), you get an ‘extended journey’ discount compared to booking the 2 legs separately.
2. $9100 per person.  (Public Price: $10,750 pp) – Save $3300 per suite!

Miami round-trip – departing December 13th 2023 (9 nights)

1. Visit Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, BVI, Guadeloupe, Bahamas
2. $3500 per person (Public Price:  $4700 pp) – Save $2400 per suite!

Bridgetown, Barbados round-trip – departing January 19th 2024 (12 nights)

1. Visit Dominica, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Saint Barthe, San Juan, BVI, Saint Kitts, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenadines,
2. $5500 per person (Public Price: $6750 pp) – Save $2500 per suite!

Bridgetown, Barbados to Miami – departing March 1st 2024 (7-nights)

1. Visit Martinique, Saint Kitts, Dominican Republic, Bahamas
2. $3000 per person (Public Price: $3650 pp) – Save $1300 per suite!

Alaska

We get a lot of requests for group travel in Alaska.  Here’s a couple of ideas:

Seattle round-trip on Oceania Regatta departing July 21st (11 nights)

1. Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell, Prince Rupert, Victoria.
2. Oceanview from $3499 per person; Balcony from $5699 pp.  Air add-on $600.
3. GROUP BENEFIT:  included gratuities.  (You don’t need to bring a group; you automatically get this when you book with me).

Vancouver to Sitka on Ocean Victory departing May 5th (10 nights) INCLUDING FLIGHTS.

1. Visit Kynoch Inlet, Ketchikan, Metlakatla, Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Waterfall Coast, Petersburg, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, Frederick Sound.
2. Oceanview from $4469; Balcony from $7269
3. Includes all taxes and fees, pre-cruise hotel night, open bar, gratuities, expedition activities (sea kayaking, zodiac boats) in each port of call, Round-Trip Air.

AMA Waterways Group Program

AMA Waterways has very attractive group program with Group Prices and Amenities available for just 5 cabins.  Here’s what we like about AMA:

1. Ships on every river in Europe, as well as Egypt, Mekong, and Southern Africa.
2. A wellness coordinator on every ship that offers complimentary fitness, yoga, and meditation classes.
3. More active shore excursions for those that like to get out hiking or cycling
4. Daily Happy Hour before dinner with included drinks and entertainment. 
5. If you’re considering a larger group river cruise experience, we’d love to discuss AMA Waterways with you.  Please get in touch as soon as possible so we can reserve group space for you.

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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