If you’ve ever done a dinner cruise in your home town, you quickly realize how different things look when you’re on the water gazing back at the familiar shore.  The same is true of trains – the perspective is much different than when you’re driving in a car.

It is this commonality of difference of perspective that we’ll chat about this week, as our Uniworld Partner of the Month theme continues.

First the trains. 

Uniworld offers Cruise-Rail combinations in Europe.  This is a far cry from the Amtrak.  The Europeans have a much more evolved rail system than we have in North America, but Uniworld’s partnership with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains truly takes it to the next level.  This is a luxury rail experience that has been curated just for Uniworld guests.  You get your own compartment on the train with private toilet and shower facilities, and with meals and service that is meant to be an extension of what you experience on the Uniworld river boats.  Here are some of the Cruise-Rail combinations:

• SWITZERLAND (Milan to Zurich): 2-nights in Milan, then 7-nights on the Po River (round-trip Venice), and then to Trieste to board the Golden Eagle Luxury train.  Visit Slovenia, Austria, and Switzerland over the course of 3 nights, and finish up in Zurich.  $12,099 per person for July or August 2022 departures.
• TURKEY:  7-night round trip cruise from Venice, then board the train for Istanbul, Turkey, visiting Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria.  6 nights on the train, visiting 9 countries, finishing with 2 nights hotel in Istanbul.  $19,199 per person for July or August 2022 departures.
• DANUBE and the castles of Transylvania.  Fly to Munich, and board the ship for 7-nights visiting Passau, Linz (Salzburg), Melk, Vienna, Bratislava, and finish in Budapest.  Then transfer to the train for 4-nights in Hungary and Romania with a private visit and dinner at Bran Castle – the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  $9799 per person for departures in October 2022.
• TRANSSIBERIAN RAILWAY:  There’s no river cruise component to this trip, but you’ll get to experience Uniworld’s quality hospitality on the world’s longest train journey between Moscow and Vladivastok.  On this 15-day journey, you cover 5000 miles and over one-quarter of the earth’s surface.  $22,899 per person for departures in July or August 2022.

If luxury rail trips aren’t your jam, here are some other different perspectives on Uniworld river cruises:

• Jewish Heritage Cruises – 8 to 11 days.  Rhine or Danube River.  Call for details.
• Oberammergau – The Passion Play was scheduled for 2020 and re-scheduled for 2022 due to the pandemic. If you don’t see it now, you’ll have to wait until 2030.  This pre-cruise package for Danube River Cruises are available for departures May through September 2022.
• Cruises for Teens and their Parents/Grandparents – several departures on the Rhine and Danube Rivers in the summer months.
• Foodie Tours – French Food & Wine Cruise:  All Uniworld cruises have a strong culinary focus, but these themed cruises will take you to famous restaurants, vineyards, orchards, truffle farms and other culinary hot spots.  Available in July and August.
• Christmas Market cruises – from the last week of November through December on the Rhine or Danube Rivers.

Remember, as part of our partner of the month promotion, we can get you an additional $200 per person onboard credit on any Uniworld cruise booked during the month of November.

Your First Expedition Cruise?

Many people envision Expedition Cruises as being for the hard-core explorers amongst us.  At one time, this was true.  Now though, it’s more about small ship luxury with expedition options available for the adventurous.  What I LOVE about the cruises below, is that it’s a great way to visit small, out of the way places and while you’re there, if you want to hop in a kayak or ride in a zodiac, those options are available to you. 

The cruises below are on the brand-new Ocean Victory, a ship making its inaugural voyages in May 2022.  This ship is state of the art, and holds only 186 guests, so it is more like a river boat that’s designed to operate on the ocean.

All Ocean Victory sailings include one-night pre-cruise hotel, unlimited guided tours, open bar, specialty dining, and wifi on the ship.

ALASKA

• Vancouver to Sitka (or reverse) over 12 or 13 days starting at $3699 per person ($1000 off)
• Sail the Inside Passage, visit Kynoch Inlet, Ketchikan, Metlakatla, Misty Fjords National Park, Wrangell, Waterfall Coast (Gut Bay), Petersburg, Tracy Arm (for tidewater Glacier viewing), Kake and Frederick.  The fact you may not have heard of many of these places is a testament to the uniqueness of this Alaska itinerary.
• Departures at this price on May 6, May 27, June 27, Sep 9, Sep 19.  Similar pricing in July and August.
• On a per-day basis, this is close to what you’d pay to be on a megaship, fighting crowds of thousands of others through “manufactured” ports.  This is the perfect chance to see the real Alaska on a small, brand-new ship. 

SAN DIEGO to COSTA RICA

If you’re more of a warm-weather person, then why not ride the Ocean Victory down the Pacific Coast?

• 15-days starting at $4099 per person, departing October 3, 2022 ($2500 off)
• Visit Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Playa del Coco, before finishing in Puerto Caldera.  Fly home from San Jose.
• What we like about his cruise is the mix of standard ports and lesser-known places, all visited from a small ship

We are super excited about Ocean Victory’s entry into the market, and we hope you will take this unique opportunity to try out the ship on one of these deeply discounted itineraries!

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3144776599138166

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

Uniworld is our partner of the month for November, and this week we’re going to talk about some of their offerings that are a bit “off the beaten path”.  There are two reasons these will be of interest:

1. Maybe you’ve already done a number of trips to Europe and are now looking to knock off some bucket-list items a little bit further afield.
2. You might not be a river cruiser at all, but can really see the value of exploring some of these harder-to-travel places with the benefit of a luxury boutique hotel that moves with you through your journey.

Here are some ideas:

Milan to Venice:  $1000 off

OK – Italy is not that far off the beaten path, but river cruises on the Po River are hard to find with other river cruise companies.  On Uniworld’s ship La Venezia you’ll do northern Italy in style.  You’ll get:

• 2 nights in Milan
• Transfer to the ship in Venice via Verona and Valpolicella
• Venice walking tour, an after-hours private visit to St. Mark’s Basilica, Chioggia market visit, Bologna for authentic pasta making, Burano, and the islands of the northern Venetian Lagoon.
• April 2022 departures start at $2699 per person.  May and later start at $4399 pp.
• 10% off all 2023 departures.

Egypt:  $1000 off

Cruising the Nile is on just about everyone’s bucket list, and Uniworld has a brand-new ship (the Sphinx) in Egypt that holds just 84 guests to help you make that dream a reality.  This trip is so popular they left their existing ship in service as well, so there are lots of departures.

• 11-night itinerary round trip from Cairo (4-nights at the Four Seasons Cairo + 7-nights on the ship)
• Visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, King Tut’s Tomb, the Temple of Karnac, the Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Aswan, Abu Simbel, a felucca ride on the Nile, and have tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan that was featured in Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile.
• The list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this trip are too many to list, and Uniworld removes many of the frictions and frustrations people have when travelling to Egypt.  It’s the perfect balance between being immersed in the local culture and being escorted through the region.
• May 2022 departures from $4999 per person.  Departures earlier and later in the year start at $6499 pp.  Egypt itineraries are NOT available in June, July, or August.
• 10% off all 2023 departures.

India:  $3000 off

There are few countries that simultaneously fascinate and frighten travellers as much as India, so why not visit it in comfort while still being exposed to the things that make this country so unique:

• 12-night package with 5 nights in hotels + 7 nights sailing the Ganges River on Uniworld’s ship that holds only 56 guests. 
• See remote villages and meet local people.
• Visit the Taj Mahal at Agra, do a rickshaw ride in New Delhi, see the flower markets in Calcutta, go shopping in Jaipur, see the temples at Kalna, artisan crafts at Matiari, architectural moments in Bengali, and go looking for Ganges River dolphins.
• Prices in February & March 2022 from $4999 per person.  October – December 2022 from $7499 per person.  This itinerary is only offered from October through March.
• 10% off all 2023 departures.

Amazon River and Machu Picchu $5000 off

On this trip you get to tick off two significant bucket-list items:  The Amazon, and Machu Picchu.

• 14-night package round trip from Lima, Peru, with 7 nights sailing on the Amazon + 3 nights in Lima and 4 nights for Machu Picchu.
• Your ship, the Amazon Aria, only holds 32 guests, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows in every suite, offering unparalleled views of this pristine part of the world
• Have lunch with a family in Lima, visit a remove Amazon village, shop at a local market, take a skiff ride at night view nocturnal creatures, visit local artisan and craft markets, and more.
• Prices at $11,999 for departures in May or July.  $15,699 later in the year.
• The price includes all transfers, gratuities, visits to 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and all excursions.
• 10% off all 2023 departures

Remember, Uniworld is our Partner of the Month, and we can get you an additional $200 per person on board credit on any Uniworld cruise booked during the month of November.

Viking Ocean Cruises – Free Flights

If you want to visit South America or the Mediterranean in the next four months, then Viking will pick up the tab for flights to get you there and back.  Here are a few examples:

18-days between Santiago and Buenos Aires.  (Dec 2021 and Jan-Feb 2022 departures):

• Sail between Santiago on the Pacific Coast, and Buenos Aires on the Atlantic Coast.
• See a tango demonstration in Buenos Aires, visit Montevideo’s beautiful parks and architecture in Uruguay, see the UK’s Falkland Islands, visit Ushuaia where expedition ships depart for Antarctica, take in the glaciers and Fjords in Patagonia – every bit as spectacular as Alaska, but with far fewer people and ships.
• 270 square foot veranda room from $6999 per person (December), or $7499 pp in January and $7799 pp in February. 

Athens to Rome – 8 Days

• Visit Ephesus, Crete, Sicily, Naples.
• Starting at $2799 per person (for the Jan. 12^th, 2022 departure date).

These prices INCLUDE round-trip economy airfare.

Remember that Viking Ocean Cruises always includes transfers, all taxes and fees, a shore excursion in each port of call, beer/wine with meals, speciality dining and wifi on the ship. 

Tulip Cruises & Vietnam/Cambodia

If you missed our update last week, here’s some other Uniworld travel opportunities: https://pamperedcruiser.com/uniworld-is-our-partner-of-the-month/

In this post we talked about:

• How to get best value on a Uniworld cruise.
• Who is Uniworld?
• What does ‘Boutique River Ship’ really mean?

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3139136639702162

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

November is the perfect month for a special promotion.  For those of us in the northern half of the country, the daylight hours have gotten shorter, and it’s the time of year when people really start feeling the need for a vacation – doubly so this year, after many of us stayed at home last year. 

So, let’s start planning.

During the month of November, we will feature Uniworld Boutique River Cruises as our partner of the month.  You’ll get a $200 per person on board credit on ANY Uniworld cruise booked with us this month. 

Who is Uniworld?

Uniworld is a small, family-owned company whose river ships are truly unique and live up to the billing of being “Boutique River Ships”.  They are also the most inclusive of the river cruise brands, with virtually everything included in the fare:

• Unlimited premium spirits and wines
• All gratuities on board the ship
• A choice amongst shore excursions in every port of call, so you can follow your interests, rather than being herded like cattle.
• Local farm to table cuisine that reflects the area through which you are travelling
• Airport transfers (whether or not you book your air through Uniworld)
• On board fitness and wellness classes.
• Bicycles and walking sticks you can borrow to go ashore.
• Wifi on the ship

Besides the obvious value in having all these things included, it changes the culture on the ship.  There’s a big difference between presenting your key card for a second glass of wine, or instead (if you’re on a Uniworld ship), having someone come along and top you up.  It’s much more like being a guest in someone’s home.

Those extra inclusions also mean you get multiple choices for your included shore excursions every day, rather than just one option.  Some of these included exclusive experiences on Uniworld allow you either skip the line at busy attractions, or in some cases you get access to spaces that are generally not open to the public.

What does “Boutique River Ship” mean?

Most obviously, each one of Uniworld’s ships is uniquely different, designed and decorated to reflect the area though which it sails.  In France, for example, if you sail on the Joie de Vivre, there’s a French Bistro, and Wine Cellar / Demonstration Kitchen right on the boat.  River cruises are all about what you do on shore, and Uniworld’s custom river ships amplify that experience when you’re back on board.

You’ll also notice the design and ornate decorations on every ship that is personally designed by the Tollman family, owners of Uniworld.  Their personal art collection is featured on every ship.  You don’t have to be an art expert to appreciate the benefit of seeing on original Picasso on board a river ship at your leisure, versus lining up in Amsterdam to see one in a museum with thousands of others.

Uniworld river ships hold approx. 120 guests (versus as many as 180 guests on similar sized competitors’ vessels).  Fewer passengers means not only better service, but it also allows space for amenities on the ship like a spa, a pool, a fitness center, self-serve laundry facilities, and extra passenger space in lounges, restaurants and other public areas.  Plus, the staterooms are bigger.

Here’s a preview of the trips we’ll be highlighting in November, with Uniworld as our Partner of the Month:

• November 12:  Exotic River Cruises: Egypt, India, Italy, Peru, Vietnam
• November 19:  Boats & Trains (Yep… Uniworld offers rail extensions to river cruises)
• November 26:  Europe – Uniworld covers the “Standards” with style.

Here’s today’s travel opportunities, starting with some river cruise options from Uniworld:

Best Value on Uniworld

Uniworld is showing some really competitive pricing for cruises in March and April of 2022.  Here’s a link to the offer on their website: https://pamperedcruiser.uniworld.com/us/current-offers/2022-picture-perfect and here’s a few examples:

• $3000 off Mekong River.  13 days departing January 28^th, from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, with fares from $4499 per person.
• $1000 off Tulip Cruise.  10 days from Amsterdam to Antwerp departing March 24^th, from $2499, and April 26^th from $3199 per person.
• $1000 off Lower Danube.  10 days from Budapest to Bucharest departing March 28^th or April 6^th from $3199 per person.

If the spring of 2022 is too soon for you trips, Uniworld is offering an early booking bonus of 10% off pretty much all 2023 cruises.

And remember… during November we can get you $200 per person on board credit on any Uniworld cruise.

Caribbean on SilverSea

If a warm weather cruise is more appealing to you, then SilverSea still has some space available for this winter:

• Fort Lauderdale round-trip departing January 3^rd for 11 days. Fares from $4600 per person (Includes a $150 per person on board credit).
• Fort Lauderdale round-trip departing January 14^th for 11 days. Fares from $6300 per person (Includes a $300 per person on board credit).
• Bridgetown, Barbados to Fort Lauderdale departing February 14^th for 11 days.  Fares from $4900 per person (includes a $300 per person on board credit).

Remember that all SilverSea cruises include round-trip flights, airport transfers, gratuities, an open bar, and wifi on the ship.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3133863096896183

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

Our theme today is how you can make things EASY on yourself when travelling.  To do that, we’ve turned to some of our clients who travelled recently for their best advice:

Tracy Travelled to Provence, France for a River Cruise

Tracy’s tips:

• Arrive at the airport extra early – things are taking much more time, and people ARE missing their flights if they don’t allow enough time.
• In normal times, I would try to minimize layover times for connections.  Now I consider it part of the journey, and the extra time can take a lot of stress away.
• Print all documents and organize them in a folder.  People are trying to provide documents on their smartphones, and that really doesn’t work.
• Pack as if there is a 75% chance that one of your bags will be delayed.
• Don’t count on your carry-on for a change of clothes, as it may be gate-checked through to your final destination.
• Take a “chill pill” – you may need to show your documents multiple times at multiple locations; everybody is doing the best they can under the circumstances.  Your entertainment console on the plane might not work (take a book!) or your luggage may not make it at the same time you do.  These are all minor disasters – don’t let them ruin your trip. Losing your patience is a self-inflicted stressor.
• Be thankful you can travel and share that gratitude – it’s an excellent way to lift your spirits. 

Mark Travelled to Malta for a Mediterranean Cruise

Mark’s tips:

• There were fewer people on the ship and on shore excursions, as well as fewer tourists on land, so this led to an experience beyond expectations.
• Navigating all the covid requirements can be challenging, so travellers need to carefully read all the communications from the cruise line, both before AND during the cruise.
• I saw people (who apparently didn’t do their reading) wait in long lines for their return trip home, and then were stunned to find out they needed a passenger locator form, or a CDC form before they could board their flight.  This information was all provided in advance.  Scrambling at the last minute at the airport to locate and complete the forms is not a good way to end a cruise or vacation experience.
• I had some questions and the guest relations staff on the ship were very helpful in providing guidance and printing out the forms.  Of course, you have to read the instructions provided by the cruise lines to be able to ask questions.
• Travellers should expect to assemble their required documents for their outbound AND return journeys

Robert Travelled to New Orleans for a Mississippi Cruise

Robert’s tips:

• Give yourself lots of extra time airports and airlines are not adequately staffed.  You WILL be waiting. 
• Pack a snack in your carry-on in case the airline doesn’t feed you.
• Read the checklist from the cruise line thoroughly prior to departure
• Print all documents out in hard copy and bring them with you.
• Expect flight delays and cancellations – leave a day early.
• Include a margin of error in your planning – don’t fly home the day before a wedding or other important event… there will be delays.
• Don’t let the idiots drag you down.  People who don’t like mask mandates shouldn’t be travelling, but they are… and they’ll make sure everyone else knows they’re opposed to masks.  You can’t argue with people with no respect for those around them – let the airlines or local police teach them that lesson.  There’s no need for you to become emotionally involved.
• If you’re a control freak, then you should wait a few more months to travel.  Those who are enjoying travel now are those who can roll with the punches.

If you have travel tips from a recent experience, please send them along, and we’ll revisit this in a few weeks. 

A Note about Winter 2021 Travel

200 million Americans who live in parts of the country where it’s dark and cold in the winter months are wanting to get out.  We are seeing evidence of this in spades, as warm weather cruises, resorts, and land tours are significantly booked up.  If you are booking now for this January, February, or March, we can find you something, to be sure.  However, keep in mind that you will be getting what staterooms are available, and there may not be a wide variety of choice. Please get in touch as soon as possible for best selection.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Continuing the EASY theme, today it’s all about EASY TRIPS.  Let’s look at some easy close-to-home trips in the next few months for those just needing to get away:

EASY Middle of the Country: Lower Mississippi with American Queen

There are still a few cabins left for sailings in the next few months. 

For example:

• Travel between New Orleans and Memphis, OR round-trip from New Orleans
• 8-night packages from $1599 per person for December 2021 departures
• Includes pre-cruise hotel night, transfers, unlimited shore excursions, open bar, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi.

EASY East Coast with Regent Seven Seas

• Miami round-trip.  7-nights at $3799 per person, departing Feb 14th, 2022.
• INCLUDES $250 per person On Board Credit,  PLUS a $125 per person personalized experience credit.
• Visit Costa Maya, Harvest Caye (Belize), Roatan (Honduras), Cozumel.
• Includes round-trip air, transfers, unlimited shore excursions, open bar, gratuities, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi.

EASY West Coast with Viking Cruises

• LA to Vancouver (or Reverse). 8-nights for $2499 per person
• Optional round trip flight add-on starting at just $199 per person.
• Visit San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Portland, Victoria.
• Includes transfers, shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, specialty dining, Wi-Fi.

Viking World Cruise – Availability for December 2021!

OK – World Cruises don’t fall into the EASY theme, but a few highly sought-after staterooms just became available on this journey leaving in 2 months.  It’s not for everyone, but if you’re ready to travel, this is a great opportunity:

• Departs December 24th, 2021 from Fort Lauderdale for 136 days, visiting 27 countries.  Veranda suites start at $59,995 per person and include:
• All taxes and port fees
• Round-trip business air
• 55 guided tours
• $1000 Shore Excursion credit per person
• $1000 On Board Credit per person
• Fees for all VISA processing
• Unlimited Silver Spirits Beverage Package
• All transfers
• Gratuities on the ship, Wi-Fi, and alternative dining
• Luggage shipping

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3127860434163116

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

Remember Y2K?  Simultaneously it seems like yesterday AND a million years ago.

In 2000, the largest cruise ship was the Explorer of the Seas (137,000 tons).  Now we have ships well over 200k tons, as well as a long list of small ships created to accommodate those people who don’t subscribe to “bigger is better”.  The river cruise industry was in its infancy, and expedition cruising was a restricted to the hard-core explorer type traveller.

The cruise industry also doubled in size between 2000 and 2010, and then doubled again between 2010 and 2020.

And then, the whole industry got a year or more time off (the pandemic “break”), when questions about the industry weren’t just about WHAT the future might look like, but IF the cruise industry could survive.

Apparently, those who love to cruise have clearly signalled they want to continue to travel in this way, because 2022, 2023, and 2024 bookings far exceed any previous years to date.  Undoubtedly, part of this is a reaction to being unable to travel for many months, but it seems the industry will continue to thrive.

The time off has also enabled a bit of a re-think about how to proceed, and here are some of the early trends we are seeing:

• Smaller is bigger.  We knew that luxury-leisure would be the first segment of cruising to recover, but the trend towards smaller ships with higher levels of quality and service will continue to grow faster than the industry as a whole.  Don’t worry… the massive floating amusement parks will still have a place in the market – those ships will just be slower to return to service and bookings will grow at a more moderate rate.
• More Inclusions.  Higher-end consumers have signalled they would rather pay up-front, rather than be ‘nickel and dimed’ when on vacation, so look to see more inclusions in the fare.  For a listing of inclusions by cruise line, see this article we posted a few weeks ago:  https://pamperedcruiser.com/how-to-get-the-best-value-for-a-cruise/
• Rivers.  This segment continues to grow quicker than others – perhaps because it attracts both ocean cruisers as well as those who hate the megaships.
• Expedition is the “new river”.  River cruising was a novelty 20 years ago and grew quickly.  We are seeing signals that Expedition Cruising is at the front end of that trend now.  Most obviously, people want to go to Antarctica so they can say they’ve been to all seven continents, but demand for the Galapagos Islands, the Arctic, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, the Amazon, and other more remote places continues to intrigue people.
• Less Frequented Ports.  We are seeing cruises start and finish in larger ports (primarily for easy access to larger airports) but have the ports of call be small, out of the way places, so people can return to regions they’ve been to before and still see something new.
• Overnight Stays.  Places look and feel different at night (particularly cities), and cruise ships are spending more time docked at night, so guests can experience these places after dark.
• Wellness.  Cruise ships used to be the place you would go to sit on a deck chair for a week between trips to the buffet, where you’d gain 2 pounds for every day aboard.  Spas, fitness and wellness classes, as well as guest lecturers are now quite common.
• Sustainability.  There is no doubt a 5000-passenger megaship represents gluttony and excess to many people.  The cruise industry faces significant challenges to overcome these perceptions.  Some cruise lines have taken this seriously by re-engineering their ships to consume far less energy and making decisions around things like reusable plastics to cut down on waste.  There is still much work to be done here, but the fact the discussion is occurring is encouraging.
• Longer Voyages.  This trend may be directly related to the pandemic, but people want to be away longer.  Many cruise lines have designed their schedules so you can do back-to-back cruises without repeating any ports, giving guests the option of how long they want to stay aboard. 
• Ship Innovations.  The most imminent engineering improvement is better internet at sea, and the integration of APPs and other technologies that increase connectivity on board.  There are more innovations coming with all the ships currently under construction (and there a lot of them).

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Close to Home with American Queen Voyages

You may have caught the news last month that American Queen Steamboat Company is consolidating its river brand with its Victory brand.  The impact for guests is that you can now get all the things you love about river cruising on the ocean and Great Lakes.  Here’s some examples:

• Yucatan Peninsula: 10 days, departing January 4^th, starting at $1799 per person.  Start in Cozumel, then visit Campeche, Progreso, and Valladolid, and fly home from Cancun.  A great way to see the part of Yucatan that hasn’t been completely overrun by tourism.
• Costa Rica to San Diego: 20 days, departing April 18^th, starting at $4099 per person.  This is the inaugural voyage of the Ocean Victory – a brand new Expedition ship with only 186 guests.
• Portland, Maine to Toronto: 12 days, departing April 28^th for $4049 per person.
• Chicago to Toronto – 11 days.  Multiple departures May through September – $4699 per person.

The Victory ships only hold just 200 guests (186 on Ocean Victory), and have all the inclusions the river ships have: pre-cruise hotel night, unlimited shore excursions, all beverages, Wi-Fi on the ship, etc.

Viking Ocean Cruises

We are seeing some incentives from Viking Ocean for warm-weather cruises, a bit closer to home.  All these cruises include free air and a stateroom upgrade if booked by October 31^st:

• Eastern Caribbean: Round trip from Ft. Lauderdale for 2 weeks, departing Nov 3^rd, for $3299 pp.
• Panama Canal (Full transit): From Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles (or reverse) – 18 days, 6 countries.  Departures:
  • Nov 17^th ($3999 pp)
  • Feb 6^th ($4599 pp)
  • March 23^rd ($4599 pp)
• Panama Canal (Partial Transit): Round trip Fort Lauderdale for 2-weeks – 7 countries at $3999 pp.  Departures on Nov 26^th, Dec 10^th, Feb 23^rd, March 9^th
• Hawaii: 17 days round trip from LA, for $3999 pp.  Departures Dec 4^th and Dec 20^th

The prices listed above are for the best-priced Veranda Room and include all taxes and fees.  These cruises are all protected by Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee, and Viking’s price always includes airport transfers, a shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and Wi-Fi on the ship.

Uniworld Boutique River Collection

We are seeing some VERY interesting offers from Uniworld, and we recently released a video about this on our YouTube channel.  In the video, you’ll discover:

• 5 ways Uniworld is different. (One way: they offer Rail add-ons in Europe, so you can take a luxury train journey before or after your river cruise).
• How to COMBINE river cruise discounts for best value and lowest prices. We give you multiple examples with exact prices, including some for less than $1999 per person.
• How to get 50% off a Christmas Markets River Cruise.
• Are you a good fit with Uniworld? Answer 4 simple questions and you’ll know for sure.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5inci9xXT0M

Book by Oct. 31st, 2021 to get the prices mentioned here and in the video.

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I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley