Most of the cruise-news we’ve been consuming over the past couple of years has been about which companies are operating again, and what hoops you have to jump through to get on those ships. Ugh.

That’s why THIS is such a good news story. 

Explora Journeys is a brand-new cruise line that sails its maiden voyage about a year from now.  Their first ship, Explora I, was floated out last month in Genoa, Italy, with three more identical ships to be launched between now and 2026.

While Explora Journeys is brand new, they are not unfamiliar.  Their parent company is the largest naval freight company in the world (28% of North American ship cargo is handled by them).  They also cherry-picked some of the most trusted people we know in the industry from cruise lines line Seabourn, Crystal, Ritz-Carlton, and Oceania. 

Perhaps most interestingly, they have also been recruiting from the luxury HOTEL industry as well, in an effort to expand their thinking beyond the cruise industry and come up with a product offering that is new, interesting, and unique.  They endeavour to be the “providers of experiences”, rather than  just a “cruise line”, and they are designing their ships to feel more like a luxury boutique hotel. 

To achieve this, they surveyed more than 20,000 consumers – only some of whom considered themselves “cruisers”.  They listened carefully to those people before planning their ships and itineraries.

They also created an advisory board of high-producing cruise travel advisors.  I’m proud to report that Bob and I sit on this board and participate by sharing the things our clients really like about cruise vacations, and some of the things they would like to see done differently.

It is a unique opportunity to help craft a new product from the ground up. 

Here is a short list of some of the things you can expect on Explora Journeys:

The rooms are HUGE.  The entry level (best-priced) rooms are 375 square feet, plus a large outdoor terrace on every suite that has a daybed, and a dining table and chairs for two!

Ship size and space.  Their ships will be 64,000 tons and hold 900 guests.  This makes them leaders in the “passenger space ratio” cruise metric.  This essentially is a measure of how much space there is per guest on a ship.  All the small-ship lines perform well here compared to the megaships, but here are two comparisons for ships around the same size:

• Viking Ocean 48,000 tons for 940 guests
• Oceania 66,000 tons for 1250 guests

Inclusions. Fares include unlimited beverages (including daily replenishment of your in-suite mini-bar), gratuities, all taxes and fees, and Wi-Fi on the ship.

Dining.  Rather than one big main dining room, with a couple of smaller specialty restaurants, there are nine different dining restaurants on board (as well as room service).

Entertainment.  Similarly, there isn’t a big theatre with Vegas-style shows, but rather a series of smaller, more intimate venues with a wide variety of entertainers to meet different tastes.  

Unique ports of call.  The itineraries are designed to begin and end at places with good air service, but the ports in between are a mix of cruise favorites and perhaps some you’ve never heard of before.  This is especially great for experienced travellers who want to discover new places.

Create your own Grand Journey. Explora ships will be constantly roaming around the world rather than repeating the same itinerary over and over again.  That makes is VERY easy to link together multiple shorter voyages and create your own dream itinerary.    

If you think this sounds exciting, then I would like to personally invite you to learn more about Explora Journeys.

On Wednesday, June 22nd, Explora Journeys is hosting a webinar with more information, and some renderings of the next ship.  All those attending will receive a 300 Euro onboard credit for your first experience with Explora Journeys. 

Click here NOW to register for the webinar:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/569902586578567696?source=B2B

You’ll discover a unique luxury travel experience for those who want to explore differently. Learn how Explora Journeys provides “a perfect day, every day”.

Bob and I have been attending regular Travel Advisor Boards sessions and we are SUPER excited about what we’ve been learning.

Please share this email with your friends.

When you register, please make the following selections:

• Are you an Advisor or Client – Choose CLIENT

• Agency Name – Type “Client of Sue Bradley”

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Here are some Explora Journeys itineraries for 2023.  Even if you’ve been to the region before, take note of the unique ports of call.  Prices reflect the best-priced 375 square foot veranda suite described above.

These trips are available to book now. You do NOT need to wait for the webinar.

Spain and Portugal

• Barcelona to Lisbon for 8-days departing June 11, 2023.
• Visit Malaga (overnight), Cadiz, Portimao, Lisbon (overnight)
• $4500 per person

England, Scotland & Ireland

• London to Glasgow for 10 days departing August 24, 2023.
• Visit Edinburgh (overnight), Newcastle, Invergordon, Stornoway, Greencastle (Ireland), and Liverpool.
• $6050 per person

Quebec the St. Lawrence Seaway

• Quebec City to NYC for 11-days departing October 3, 2023.
• Visit La Baie, Saguenay, Baie Comeau, Havre St. Pierre, Charlottetown, Halifax, and NYC (overnight)
• $5350 per person

Caribbean

• Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico for 8-days departing November 3, 2023
• Visit Key West, Spanish Town (Virgin Gorda), Deshaies (Guadeloupe), and St. John’s.
• $2900 per person

Panama Canal

• Bridgetown, Barbados to Panama City for 12-days departing March 18, 2024
• Visit Roseau (Dominica), Willemstad (Curacao), Oranjestad (Aruba), Cartagena (overnight), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Panama City (overnight).
• $4550 per person.

Hawaii

• Vancouver to Honolulu for 10-days departing April 18, 2024.
• Visit Hilo (overnight), and Honolulu (overnight).
• $3700 per person
• If you want to go round-trip and include the voyage back to Vancouver, it will be 19 days aboard for $7400 per person.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3304489919833499

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

You may have been hearing about the challenges within the airline industry lately, which has prompted some of you to ask specific questions about the potential advantages or disadvantages of booking your air through the cruise line or land tour operator.  So, I thought I would put together a short Q & A on the subject.

Underscoring this whole conversation, it should be well understood that cruise lines do NOT operate their own planes.  They have no control (and are every bit as frustrated as you) when the airlines cancel flights or change planes at the last minute.  So, with that in mind….

Q: Can I get Premium Economy, or Business/First Class Seats?

A: Yes, but first some definitions.  Domestically we have 2 classes of service.  Internationally there are three (or more depending on the airline).

1. Economy – “Cattle Class”.
2. Premium Economy – this compares to Business Class on domestic flights.  The seats are wider, with more leg room, and you get priority check-in and priority boarding.  It is NOT the same as the domestic airline’s cash grab of charging you an extra $100 for the first four rows in the economy cabin and giving you an extra one inch of legroom.
3. Business/First Class – this varies between carriers, but it is usually the lie-flat pods for overseas flights. 

Q: Will I get a better price on flights through the cruise line?

A: Maybe.  Most of the cruise lines offer flights at market rates, meaning the price on economy air is almost always the same as you can get on your own (although occasionally they have a better price).  For Premium Economy and Business Class, it is more likely the cruise line will have better pricing than you can get directly with the airline.

ALSO… some cruise lines offer air buy-downs.  Viking is most well-known for this, where you pay a reduced, fixed rate for flights.  In this case, it is certainly cheaper to do your air through the cruise line.  However, even Viking is slowly adjusting this practice – particularly on the Ocean side of their business.

Q: Do the cruise lines deal with all the airlines?

A: No… and this is what sometimes causes problems.  The cruise lines have contracted rates, and sometimes those rates are only with one airline alliance.  That might work just fine if you are flying to and from a place well-served by that carrier.  However, if your origin and destination are served by a different airline, you may be better off doing your own air.

Q: If I take the cruise line’s air, will they hold the ship for me if I’m late?

A: NO… this is a common myth.  On river boats, they often don’t leave on the day of embarkation, so there’s a margin of error built in.  On ocean vessels, the captain of the ship often has very little discretion as to when that ship sails.  The Harbormaster, or other local authorities get the final say, and there are tidal, naval traffic, or other considerations as well.  Undoubtedly, if there is discretion to hold the ship for late guests, they would do so… it’s just not at their call most of the time.

Q: Can I use my airline points to upgrade if I book through the cruise line?

A: Probably not.  Presumably this should be easy, but dozens of our clients have attempted this without success.  They end up in a circular argument with the airlines who first say that if the ticket is booked through the cruise line, then the cruise line must initiate the upgrade.  When the cruise line’s air department calls, the airline tells them that the point-holder must call.  It’s extraordinarily frustrating, but unfortunately what we’ve come to expect from our domestic air carriers. 

Q: Will there be fewer changes if I book through the cruise lines?

A: No.  The cruise lines have no control over the constant changes currently being experienced on domestic air routes.  Hopefully in the next few months this situation corrects itself. 

Q: So, what should I do… what’s the bottom line?

A: Ten minutes of on-line research will serve you very well when you’re booking air.  If you go to google flights, or one of the big on-line websites that sells air, you’ll be able to see everything that a travel agent or the air department at the cruise line can see.  Type in the particulars of where and when you’re going and take note of the options.  You can filter by the best price and also the shortest duration.  Both those things are good to know BEFORE you contact the cruise line or land tour operator for an air quote. 

Write down the top three flight routings you would be willing to take, and the associated costs.  When you call the cruise line, you are then working from a position of knowledge when they tell you what they can do for.  Keep in mind that the price of flights changes from hour to hour, so make sure you don’t let too much time elapse between doing your homework and calling the cruise line’s air department.

REMINDER: If you recently booked a Viking cruise (ocean or river), don’t forget to let me know! I can almost always add extra perks to your existing reservation. Viking makes it VERY easy for you to make a booking online or through their call center, and you might forget to loop me in beforehand. They also might seem to imply that you have to book directly with Viking in order to use a promotion code or get a special price – this is NOT true, and I can get you the same deals or better.  No worries if you already booked; just let me know as soon as possible and I’ll add those extra perks for you.  As you may know, there is NO fee to work with me, and everything about your original reservation remains exactly the same. Thank you for supporting a hard-working small business owner!

Today’s Travel Opportunities

I mentioned Viking’s Air program above.  Viking currently has a GREAT promotion offering Free Air on some 2023 departures (book by June 30th).

Viking’s Capitals of Eastern Europe (NEW!)

This is the perfect trip if you have already spent a lot of time in Western Europe and would like to explore a bit further afield.  This trip will up your “country count” and you only have to unpack once!

1. Sail between Vienna, Austria to Bucharest, Romania over 17-days.
2. Visit Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest, Mohacs (Hungary), Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania.
3. Click here for details:  https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/capitals-of-eastern-europe/2023-vienna-bucharest/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser
4. Prices start from $4999 – $5799 per person depending which month you travel.
5. Includes return economy flights (upgrades available), transfers, all taxes and fees, shore excursions, beer/wine with meals, and Wi-Fi on the ship.
6. Free flights on 2023 departures only (book by June 30th).

Viking’s Cities of Light (Paris to Prague)

This trip will suit you if you want a taste of these two great urban places, while also experiencing some of the small hamlets and townships between them. 

1. Visit Trier, Bernkastel, Cochem, Koblenz, Heidelberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg.
2. Click here for details: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/europe/cities-light/2023-paris-prague/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser
3. This is a 12-day package with prices starting at $3799 – $4299 depending on month of departure.
4. Includes return economy flights (upgrades available), transfers, all taxes and fees, shore excursions, beer/wine with meals, and Wi-Fi on the ship. 
5. Free flights on 2023 departures only (book by June 30th).

American Queen Voyages – Illinois River

If you’re ready to travel a bit sooner, and stay a bit closer to home, American Queen has extended its companion sale, that makes for a nice summer getaway:

1. Chicago to St. Louis or reverse
2. Visit Ottawa (Illinois), Peoria, Havana, Hannibal, Grafton.
3. 9-day package from $1799 per person (Veranda Room) for departures in August 2022.  This price already incorporates the ‘second guest sails free’ promotion.
4. Includes one pre-cruise hotel night, unlimited guided shore excursions, open bar, and Wi-Fi on the ship.
5. Book by June 30th

Two Warm Weather Cruises for the Winter

I know, I know… I shouldn’t even be talking about this before summer has even arrived LOL!  But if you’re already looking ahead for opportunities to escape the winter darkness and cold, here’s a couple of ideas:

Viking’s Classic Panama Canal Passage – Full Transit – 11-days

Most cruises that include a full transit of the Panama Canal are 15-days or longer between Florida and California.  This trip goes between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City, so you get the benefit of a full transit on a bit shorter itinerary. 

1. Visit Key West, Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Costa Rica, Colon (Panama)
2. Click here for details: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/caribbean-americas/classic-panama-canal-passage/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser
3. Pricing starts at $3799 per person with a $799 pp air add-on for departures in October, November, December, and February (book by June 30th).

Viking’s South America & the Chilean Fjords

This trip offers a real taste of South America, with visits to two vibrant urban spots for embarkation and disembarkation, as well as a bunch of stops in between.  Notably you get to do a Glacier viewing in Patagonia, and a sail around Cape Horn.

1. 18-days between Santiago and Buenos Aires. Sail right around the cape between Pacific and Atlantic (Patagonia is like Alaska before discovered, and visit Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Amalia Glacier, Puerto Montt.
2. Click here for details: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/caribbean-americas/south-america-chilean-fjords/index.html?agenturlid=pamperedcruiser
3. Prices start at $6699 per person with $1599 flights for departures in December, January, and February (book by June 30th).

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3299261313689693

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

You are probably aware that cruise ships move with the seasons.  This is one of the distinct advantages of a floating hotel or resort – it can move.  Those migration patterns were interrupted in 2020 and 2021, but it appears as though the pattern is settling out again.

Right now, most of the cruise ships in the world are in Alaska or Europe.  A few remain in the Caribbean and Australia/New Zealand year-round, but the overwhelming majority of ocean ships right now are in the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, or running up and down the British Columbia/Alaska coast lines. 

In September and October, the ships in Alaska will return to Australia, New Zealand and East Asia (and some to the Caribbean), and the ships currently in Europe will head to Canada/New England to wait out hurricane season before returning to the Caribbean, and some to South America.  The reverse migrations happen in the spring.

During these times of repositioning, you will find some really interesting itineraries that aren’t available at other times of the year.  These are usually longer itineraries, and involve some days on the open ocean, so they are not for everyone. 

Here are a few routings or ports of call that we really only see in repositioning season:

Pacific Ocean

• Hawaii – There are cruises to Hawaii from California all winter, but if you want to sail one way to the Hawaiian Islands, and then spend some time, and fly the other way, you can do this in Spring and Fall.
• Alaska to Japan – Some of the ships migrate to/from Asia/Australia via Alaska, Japan and East Asia.  You will visit ports you would never otherwise see on this journey.
• Extended Panama Canal – The ships need to get between Florida and Seattle/Vancouver, so these cruises (usually about 3 weeks long) offer all the diversity that North America has to offer.
• California Coastals – These are usually one week long, between Vancouver and Southern California.  You’ll visit less frequented ports stops such as Portland, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara.  Some of these are wine-themed cruises and include extensions into the Napa/Sonoma regions.
• Australia/New Zealand – if you don’t want the 14-hour plane ride, you can do it by ship in spring and fall, but these itineraries are usually 28 days or more.

Atlantic Ocean

• Iceland & Greenland – These destinations have become more popular in the past few years, but during repositioning season, there are more port stops as the ships make their way to/from North Europe and St. Lawrence Seaway and or the Northeast.
• Canary Islands, Azores, Morocco, and West Africa – these are ports stops during repositioning season when the ships head from the Mediterranean to South America and the Caribbean.
• St. Pierre and Miquelon – who knew that France still had a territory in North America?  This island group near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is politically part of Europe, uses the Euro as its currency, and is very French (and quite different from the variation spoken in Canada).  It is also difficult to get to, so cruise is a great way to get to see it. 

What about river ships?
River boats are much more restricted in their migration patterns.  So much so, that most of the European River ships simply don’t operate in January and February.  In the United States, the same is true for the Columbia River, and on the Mississippi River system we see the Lower Mississippi offered through the late fall, winter and spring months, with trips further upstream (as far as Minneapolis, Chicago, or Pittsburgh) in the summer.

Speaking of river ships… if you recently booked a cruise (ocean or river), don’t forget to let me know! I can almost always add extra perks to your existing reservation. Viking cruises in particular is making it VERY easy for you to make a booking online, so you might forget to loop me in beforehand. No worries, just let me know as soon as possible and I’ll add those extra perks for you. As you may know, there is NO fee to work with me, and everything about your original reservation remains exactly the same. Thank you for supporting a hard-working small business owner!

Today’s Travel Opportunities

If you’re thinking about a repositioning cruise, here are some ideas.

Barcelona to San Juan, Puerto Rico with Viking:

• 15 days, departing on December 3, 2022
• Veranda rooms start $2999 per person, with $799 – $999 flights.
• Visit Valencia, Seville, Strait of Gibraltar, Casablanca, Madeira, St. Maarten

Amsterdam to Fort Lauderdale with Holland America:

• 28 days, departing on October 2, 2022
• Veranda rooms start at $7709 per person.  Insides at $5089 pp.
• Visit Oslo, Gothenburg, Copenhagen Warnemunde, Stockholm, Kiel, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Plymouth, New York (overnight)

If you want to do just the Transatlantic (a 12-day cruise), you can pick up the ship at Rotterdam, with verandas from $3799 per person. 

Vancouver to Tokyo with Viking:

• 23 days, departing September 20, 2022 (also dates in April and September 2023)
• Veranda rooms start at $9599 per person, with $999 – $1199 flights.
• Visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Seward, Kodiak, Dutch Harbour, and Sapporo.

Rome to Fort Lauderdale with Celebrity:

• 15 days, departing Oct 24th, 2022
• Veranda Cabins from $2319 per person
• Visit Corsica, Mallorca, Cartagena, Gibraltar, and Bermuda

Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale with Holland America:

• 23 days, departing October 2, 2022
• Veranda cabins from $3849 per person.
• Visit San Francisco, Avalon, San Diego, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Quetzal, Corinto (Nicaragua), Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica), Full transit of the Panama Canal, Aruba, Bahamas.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3293852377563920

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

Initially, when I heard the term “Expedition Cruise”, I pictured myself sitting amongst a bunch of hyper-fit 30-somethings all bragging about their last marathon and one-upping each other about who climbed Everest the fastest. 

I then imagined hearing muted whispers about “who brought grandma”, with suspicious glances in my direction.

I’m sure that situation does exist somewhere (in hell, most likely LOL), but it’s NOT on expedition cruise ships. 

Expedition ships quite simply get you closer to nature, wildlife and scenery… often in comfort.

Expedition cruising is by FAR the biggest new trend in cruising.  Expedition cruising is where River cruising was a decade ago.  In other words, some people are already doing it (and loving it)… and word is getting out.  Others are hearing about it and starting to get excited about it.  The big cruise lines are preparing for the surge in demand and building dozens of new expedition ships.

Expedition cruises attract a wide variety of people, and only a tiny fraction would fit the description above.  More likely, expedition clients are photographers, nature and wildlife enthusiasts, or more active people who have an interest in, curiosity about, and appreciation for the natural world.

Expedition cruisers are less likely to find the shopping arcades on the megaships (and their affiliated souvenir shops on land) terribly exciting.

Here’s a quick test as to whether you would be able to participate in expedition activities on a small ship:

1. Can you walk for an hour (at a leisurely pace) without stopping?
2. Can you sit down on the floor, and get back up again?

If you can manage these two things, you can easily manage the physical demands of an expedition cruise.

In fact, even those who might struggle with those activities can still enjoy all that an expedition ship has to offer.  There is still plenty to be seen and enjoyed from the deck of a small expedition ship, without ever setting foot in a zodiac boat or kayak.

The line between small-ship luxury cruising and expedition cruising has become blurred.  Gone are the days when decommissioned Soviet icebreakers were the only expedition ships available.  Luxury cruise lines like Seabourn, SilverSea, and Viking all have expedition ships in the water – and they are magnificent.

The biggest advantage to Expedition ships over other ships is the places they can take you, and the types of experiences you can have while you’re there. 

Some areas of this big, beautiful planet are only accessible by Expedition ship (Antarctica, for example). 

Many other areas are accessible by ANY type of ship, but when visited on an Expedition ship allow you to see it from a completely different perspective.  Alaska is one of those areas, and I’ll talk more about that in a moment.

Here’s a bit of an overview if you have an interest in visiting places that are somewhere remote and less accessible, and might be considering an Expedition ship:

• Food:  No… the chef is not from Arctic Norway, offering pickled herring for 3 meals day.  The luxury lines noted above offer their exceptional culinary programs on their Expedition ships too.  Imagine eating meals designed by a Michelin starred chef with a window seat to Antarctica or the Galapagos.
• Accommodation:  Your room will be larger and better appointed than any of the mass-market cruise lines, and on par with the small-ship luxury lines.
• Entertainment:  There won’t be any Broadway shows, but there will be resident entertainers on board – usually a piano player or a small band.
• Activities:  The onboard activities are not shuffleboard and bingo.  Instead, the focus is generally on educational and enrichment activities.  Some expedition lines encourage you to participate in scientific research studies conducted under the supervision of researchers on board.
• “Shore” excursions:  Sometimes you are in an actual port, and the excursion options might look a lot like a regular cruise.  Other places, there is not any shore infrastructure, and you’ll be doing kayaking, zodiac boating, light hiking, or walking.  Some expedition ships also offer rides on helicopters or small submarines.  And of course, you always have the option of enjoying these remote places from the deck of the ship with a pair of binoculars or a camera.
• Fitness Level:  Those with mobility impairments will be challenged to do some of the more active excursions, however if you have passed the test above, you’ll be fine.
• Where do Expedition Cruises go?  Most obviously the polar regions:
  • Antarctica
  • Coastal Norway
  • Greenland and Iceland
  • Canadian Arctic and the Northwest Passage
  • Alaska
• You can also visit warm-weather areas on an Expedition cruise:
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Amazon River
  • North American Great Lakes
  • West Africa
  • Central America (during repositioning season)

Not sure where to start? Many people take their first expedition cruise in Alaska or the Galapagos.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Alaska on Ocean Victory

If you’ve already been to Alaska on a larger ship and found some of the port calls a bit “manufactured”, and wanted more in the way of scenery, wildlife, whales, and glaciers, then an Expedition ship would make Alaska worth another visit.  It won’t be anything like the last time!

The Ocean Victory is a gorgeous, brand-new ship, carrying max. 186 passengers.

1. Sitka to Vancouver for 13-days.  Balcony Rooms start at $5399 per person for summer 2022 departures.
2. Visit Frederick Sound, Endicott Arm, Tracy Arm, Petersburg, Waterfall Coast, Wrangell, Misty Fjords, Ketchikan, Kynoch Inlet, and sail the Canadian Inside Passage.  The fact you haven’t heard of most of these ports is why you want to go!
3. Fare includes pre-cruise hotel night, open bar, expert lectures and enrichment activities, AND kayak and zodiac excursions.

Peruvian Amazon and Machu Picchu with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

This is a 15-day package round trip from Lima.

1. Departures in October or November 2022 for $12,499 per person.
2. Visit Lima, Machu Picchu, the Amazon Rainforest.
3. Includes 5-star cuisine, and open bar on the ship, expedition activities, gratuities

Galapagos Islands with Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity is best known for its megaships, but it also operates 3 ships in the Galapagos islands, each carrying fewer than 100 passengers. 

1. Prices from $5119 per person
2. 7-nights round trip Baltra
3. Multiple departures in 2022 and 2023.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3288517311430760

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

Air has been the most challenging aspect of travel for a long time now, and this is doubly-so as we emerge from the pandemic.  Historically, the problem with air is that our domestic airlines are poorly managed.  More recently, there has been the added complication of a labor shortage for both the airlines and the airport authorities.

Regardless of the cause, the result has been even worse air travel experiences for travellers, causing many people to swear off flying until the situation corrects. 

For those people, here are some travel alternatives that may not require air travel (depending, of course, on where you live).

Mississippi River System

Mississippi river cruises are a ton of fun, and offer a real taste of the music, food, culture and history of the American South.  In the summer months you can also travel as far north as Minneapolis, Chicago, or Pittsburgh by river ship.

If you’re ready to go in the next few months, American Queen is running their Companion Sale, meaning that the second person in the cabin sails free (except for port taxes):

1. Memphis to New Orleans (or reverse).  Depart June 12, 19, or 26, 2022.  Veranda Rooms start at $1899 per person (after the Companion Sale discount).
2. Memphis to Louisville KY (or reverse).  Depart June 13, 20. July 2, or 9, 2022.  Veranda Rooms start at $1699 per person (after the Companion Sale discount).
3. St. Louis to Minneapolis (or reverse).  Depart July 23, 25, 30.  Veranda Rooms start at $1799 per person (after the Companion Sale discount).

All these prices are subject to availability (which changes hourly).  Fares include one pre-cruise hotel night, an open bar, fantastic entertainment, and shore excursions in every port of call.

Alaska

OK… it’s not really an easy road trip to drive to Alaska (about 2300 miles from Seattle to Anchorage).  You CAN, however, do round-trip Alaska cruises from both Seattle and Vancouver.  Interestingly, there is a fair bit of capacity still left for Alaska in 2022 – something we didn’t expect after being effectively shut down for two years.

Ocean Victory is a brand-new ship that holds just 186 guests, so if you want to get up close to the ‘real’ Alaska where the big ships don’t go, while enjoying gourmet meals and a nice glass of wine, this is a great option:

1. Sitka to Vancouver for 13-days.  Balcony Rooms start at $5399 per person
2. Fare includes open bar, expert lectures and enrichment activities, AND kayak and zodiac excursions.
3. This product is perfect for those wanting to get much closer to Alaska and British Columbia’s incredible scenery and wildlife.

We were on Ocean Victory last week (SO FUN!), and posted this ship tour video on our YouTube channel:  https://youtu.be/KVaMZC2oTrQ

Columbia & Snake Rivers

If you want to experience spectacular scenery and wildlife, but have already been to Alaska, then the river cruises that travel between Portland OR and Spokane WA are worth a look.  In addition to the waterfalls, volcanoes, and snow-capped mountains, there are also wineries.

1. American Empress is largely sold out through the summer on this itinerary, but if you want to look at the fall in October and November (during the harvest), balcony rooms start at $3499 per person for 9-days. 
2. Fares include a pre-cruise hotel night, open bar, fantastic entertainment, and shore excursions in each port of call. 

The Great Lakes

There are a ton of interesting communities that dot the shores of the Great Lakes, and seeing them by small ship is much more leisurely than a driving tour (and some of the island stops are not easily accessible by car).  The most common routing is between Chicago and Toronto, but there are several variations that go as far west as Milwaukee, and as far east as Montreal. 

Here are some sample Itineraries:

Viking Cruises 8-nights between Toronto to Milwaukee

1. $5995 per person for departures in Spring 2023. 
2. Visit Niagara Falls, Point Pelee, Detroit, Alpena, and Mackinac Island
3. Includes excursions at each port of call
4. Kayak, Zodiac, and submarine excursions offered
5. Includes beer/wine with meals, airport transfers, and all taxes and fees. 
6.  

Ocean Navigator 12-days round-trip from Montreal.

1. $4499 per person departing October 1, 2022. 
2. Visit Quebec City (overnight), Clayton NY, Port Weller ON, Toronto (overnight), Gananoque ON,
3. Includes pre-cruise hotel night, open bar, excursion in each port of call.

Rocky Mountains by Luxury Train

Rocky Mountaineer operates on the American side of the border between Denver and Moab UT (with extensions to either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City).  Or you can do the Canadian version between Vancouver and Banff National Park (near Calgary).  There are also round-trip Vancouver options for those who wish to drive and park there. 

Denver to Moab and Las Vegas

1. 7-days from Vegas to Moab UT (by flightseeing transfer), then board the train for stops at Glenwood Springs and Denver. 
2. Includes meals on the train, flight seeing transfer, and 6-nights hotel accommodation.
3. $3740 to $4450 per person depending on departure date.

Vancouver round-trip over 7-days.

1. Visit Kamloops, Banff NP, and Jasper NP
2. Includes Canadian National Parks Pass, meals on the train, 6-nights hotel.
3. $6046 per person for 2022 departures.

The domed rail cars that Rocky Mountaineer uses on both sides of the border ensure that you’ll see far more scenery and wildlife from the rails, than you would from the Interstate. 

If you DO choose to fly to your vacation this year, you’ll ultimately be fine… it will just take some extra patience and will cost a bit more than we’re used to.  Taking a book to read while you’re waiting in the security line-up and planning to fly to your destination a day early (in case you’re horribly delayed) takes a lot of the stress away.

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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