Nearly two years later, we’re (unbelievably) still talking about this thing called “covid-19”.  Most of us are watching the news with a critical eye and some sense of déjà vu. 

We’ve been fielding a number of questions lately, so I thought I’d address those directly.  Please remember we don’t own a crystal ball, and much like all of you, we’re trying to make sense of the current situation as best we can with the information available. 

Q. Will the world ever return to normal?

A. Yes… but it’s going to take longer than any of us want.  It appears that 2022 will have many of the same travel conditions as the second half of 2021.

Q. Are cruise ships safe?

A. Cruise ships are running at reduced capacities and only permitting fully vaccinated travellers. They are testing guests and crew prior to boarding, and in some cases throughout a voyage.  Masks are required in confined areas, and high trafficked areas are being disinfected hourly.  There are long lists of other risk mitigating measures if you care to look it up.  Compare those measures to those of your local grocery store, or any hotel you might stay at, and then make your own determination as to whether ships are safe. 

Q. Will I have to wear a mask?

A. Yes – you will be wearing a mask to fly until further notice.  In Europe (and just about all other travel destinations) masks are required in any indoor space. 

Q. Why would I travel now?

A. That is a personal decision that everyone must make for themselves.  Our clients who have travelled in the past six month have overwhelmingly reported positive experiences, although they do acknowledge the extra hoops to be jumped through, and small hiccups along the way.

Q. What are these “hoops” and “hiccups”?

A. Travellers abroad need to provide proof of full vaccination, have a negative test result in advance of travel, and fill out some extra paperwork.  The specific requirements vary by destination.  Most people report this to be more annoying than onerous, and easily completed.  In terms of “hiccups”:  airlines cancel flights, hotels and travel providers are still hiring and retraining staff, and there are supply chain shortages that are not resolved yet.  Again, our clients report these things to be minor.  If you’re expecting perfection, you need to stay at home – for at least another year.

Q. Can I buy insurance for covid-related risk?

A. Yes – but you are well advised to speak with a professional insurance broker who can offer advice and guidance, as well as answer your specific questions about such matters.  Be advised that if you buy your insurance from the cruise lines, you’ll be provided with a copy of the policy, but advice and interpretation is not offered unless you phone the insurance company directly.

Q. Are the closures in Austria and Bavaria an indication of things to come?

A. I don’t think so, although I hesitate to make any predictions.  It is worth noting that both Austria and Germany have far lower overall infection and death rates per capita than we have here.  I think the recent temporary closure simply demonstrates they are more cautious.

Q. Will Australia and New Zealand open soon?

A. Yes – although it will be a slow opening for this season.  While these two countries have overall done very well battling the pandemic, their vaccine rollout was delayed, so it is taking more time for them to return to regular travel and tourism.

Q. Are Alaska and Hawaii open?

A. Both states have aligned their entry requirements with the lower 48, so they are available for travel. There is still some friction around rental cars, for example, but they are good domestic options for those wishing to stay closer to home for the next few months.  The Alaska summer season is much more booked up than it is normally this far in advance, and all Alaska cruises for 2022 will require proof of vaccination and a passport (there will be foreign port stops).

Here’s today’s travel opportunities

ALASKA

There’s a new player in Alaska this season: the brand-new Ocean Victory, a ship making its inaugural voyage in May 2022.  This ship is state of art, and holds only 186 guests, so it is more like a river boat that’s designed to operate on the ocean.  The beauty of travelling on such a small ship means you’ll visit smaller, out-of-the-way places the larger ships can’t reach… meaning you’ll get to experience the beauty of Alaska without any crowds.

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

• 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 Monument, 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.

Given the inclusions on Ocean Victory, 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. 

REGENT SEVEN SEAS – Caribbean

If you prefer a warm weather cruise, then we’re seeing some interesting pricing on Regent right now.  Regent is truly all-inclusive, and when you calculate the value of those inclusions, it really puts the cruises mentioned below in the same price range as much larger mass-market ships:

• Miami round-trip for 7-nights departing February 14.  Veranda suites starting at $3799 per person.
• Port stops at Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Roatan, and Cozumel.  Even if you’ve been to these ports before, this is a great opportunity to try out the small ship luxury experience.

Regent has the following inclusions that I welcome you to assign your own value to:

• Round trip Air ($300 – $600)
• All taxes and fees (usually about $200 on a one-week cruise)
• Transfers ($50 – $75)
• Unlimited shore excursions ($300 – $400 – 4 ports of call at $75 – $100 per excursion)
• Unlimited open bar ($35 – $70/day = $250 – $500 for the week)
• Gratuities ($140 for the week)

EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES

Uniworld extended its Picture-Perfect Savings event, so we’re seeing some compelling value for river cruises in 2022.  Here’s a few examples:

• 7-night Danube River between Bavaria and Budapest
  • From $2199 in March/April
  • From $3699 in July/August
• 7-night Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel
  • From $2199 in March/April/May
  • From $3199 in July/August
• 7-night Po River round trip from Venice, Italy
  • From $2299 in April/May
  • From $2499 in July/August

Book through our agency and you’ll get an additional $200 per person on board credit on any of the above Uniworld cruises.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3160298460919313

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 more of you are considering longer getaways than we’ve seen in the past.  This trend is probably driven by the travel opportunities lost to the pandemic, or maybe we’re simply catching up with our European cousins who have always been more prone to two- and three-week vacations.

Bob and I are living this trend right now (although, we’re not really on “vacation”) as we do back-to-back Mississippi River Cruises with our friends American Queen Voyages.  If you want to follow along with us day by day, we’re posting on our Facebook and Instagram pages.  Here are the links:

Follow along on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser

Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamperedcruiser

Most of you don’t have strict work or family commitments anymore, so your ability to be away for more than a week is as much psychological as anything else.  Some folks really don’t like to be away from home more than a week or so.  However, if you’ve never considered it, here are some advantages:

• Most obviously, you get to see more and experience more.  Some of our clients tell us they are going away for a month this coming year to make up for the two-week vacation they lost in 2020.  Take that, covid-19!
• You only have to fly once.  Flying has become like an endurance contest, so in some ways, the longer your trip, the better.  Before the pandemic, I would have excluded domestic air travel from the “onerous” category, and now it appears to be MORE onerous (and certainly way less reliable) than travelling overseas.
• Flights are usually a substantial part of the trip cost, so if you’re flying less, your cost per day on a longer vacation will be lower as well.
• If you’re flying across multiple time zones, then there’s an investment in that adjustment (I usually feel awful for at least a day when I fly to Europe, although I’m slowly building up my list of hacks to help me deal with the time change… but that’s a whole other blog post). 

On our current journey, we’ll be away from home for about 24 days.  This allows us to do two 7-day cruises, with a week on land between the two.  We haven’t done it this way before, but I really like how this is turning out. 

The week in between cruises allows us explore Tennessee and Louisiana and surrounding areas in a bit more depth.

The first river cruise is on the Tennessee, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers between Chattanooga and Memphis.  The scenic cruising through the Tennessee Gorge is every bit as pretty as sailing along the Rhine or the Danube (although the “castles” look different here than in Europe).  We even get to sail through some locks.

The second river cruise is between New Orleans and Memphis, so we get to experience this American standard with all the requisite food, music, and historical sites along the Mighty Mississippi.

It’s not for everyone, but longer trips do make some sense if you can swing it.  Follow along with us on Instagram and/or Facebook and let us know what you think.

Here’s today’s travel opportunities

American Queen Voyages – US River Cruises

If you’re following our daily posts, and it looks of interest, here are some suggestions for your own trips.  Maybe you’ll choose back-to-back voyages too!  AQ Voyages is running a year-end sale right now, so it’s a good time to book. Save up to $2000 per stateroom if you book during the month of December. Plus, you’ll receive $100 Shore Experience credit ($50 per person) from Sue and Bob.

• Lower Mississippi (between Memphis and New Orleans).  History, culture, food, music – it’s all here.  Here’s a few examples where there is great value:
  • March 2022 departures from $1899 per person
  • May 2022 departures from $2499 per person
  • October 2022 departures from $2599 per person
• Memphis to Nashville (for the music lovers!).  Depart June 5^th, 2022, with prices from $1699 per person.  There are several other dates available as well.
• Minneapolis to St. Louis (enjoy the scenery and retrace Mark Twain’s footsteps).  Depart August 28^th, 2022, with prices from $1699 per person.  Other dates available.

All the above cruises are one-week trips, and the pricing includes one hotel night prior to embarkation, shore excursions in every port, an open bar, Wi-Fi on the ship, and American Queen’s legendary entertainment and lectures.  The prices listed above are the year-end sale prices.

Viking Cruises – Great Lakes

Viking is launching its very first expedition ship in the next few months.  The Viking Octantis is a fully equipped luxury expedition vessel that holds just 378 guests.  On her way to the edges of the earth, she will spend the summer in the Great Lakes doing one- and two-week itineraries.   Here’s one example:

• Milwaukee to Thunder Bay, Ontario (or reverse).
• Visits Mackinac Island, Georgian Bay, the Soo Locks, and Silver Islet.
• Special fares from $6695 per person in August 2022

Here are a couple of quick videos showcasing this stunning itinerary.

• Great Lakes Explorer (Milwaukee to Thunder Bay): https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/video/all/play.html?id=151709&agenturlid=pamperedcruiser
• Undiscovered Great Lakes (Thunder Bay to Milwaukee): https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/video/all/play.html?id=152086&agenturlid=pamperedcruiser

Get FREE airfare on this itinerary if you book before the end of December.  Plus, you’ll receive $200 onboard credit ($100 pp) from Sue and Bob.

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3155082398107586

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

This week, we’re wrapping up our Uniworld ‘partner of the month’ promotion, but more on that in a minute. 

Given that we’re in the middle of the Thanksgiving weekend, I’d like to offer my thanks to those who are cautiously returning to travel.  It is not only our own livelihood that benefits from this, but 1 job in 10 in the United States that is in travel/tourism, and in some countries as many as 1 in 4 jobs are dependent upon travel.  These folks have had a rough go in the past two years.  So, thank you for travelling.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales

Many of you have asked if there is any substance in the travel biz to the hype around these sale days.  At the bargain end of the cruise market, you might be able to do quite well.  Many of the mega-ship operators have thousands of cabins to fill, and the consumer event that now defines the Thanksgiving Holiday is a great chance for them to do so.

The small-ship and river cruise lines are much more reluctant to discount their product.  However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a deal or two out there.  It will most probably be a shoulder season departure that they are having more trouble filling.  That means you’ll probably see some offers for departure in March and April for European River Cruises, and maybe some January and February Caribbean small ship sailings.  It’s certainly worth looking around, just don’t expect to find deeply discounted, prime-time product. 

Uniworld River Cruises – European Rivers

Today as we conclude our Partner of the Month promotion with Uniworld, we’ll highlight the standard European offerings.  These are “standards” in so far as Uniworld sails the most popular regions in Europe.  Uniworld’s Boutique River Ships are truly unique, and far from “standard”. 

Uniworld cruises include several choices for shore excursions at each port, an open bar, gratuities, and wifi on the ship.  PLUS – for all bookings made by November 30^th, we’re able to get you an additional $200 per person on board credit. 

The Rhine River

• Travel between Amsterdam & Basel, visiting the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
• Experience the urban splendors of Amsterdam and Cologne, and also small hamlets like Rudesheim and Speyer.  You also get a scenic cruising day in the Rhine Gorge.
• Several departures for 7-nights in March and April offered at $1000 off starting at $2199 per person (from $3999 in the summer months).
• There are many variations of the cruise with longer ship stays, and land extensions as well.

The Danube River

• Travel between Passau (near Munich, Germany) and Budapest, visiting Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.
• See the contrast between western cities like Vienna, and the Soviet-era remnants in Bratislava and Budapest.  You also get a Scenic cruising day in the Wachau Valley in Austria.  Finally, maybe you want to try on some Lederhosen in Bavaria and visit a beer hall.
• Departures for 7-nights in March & April at $2199 per person (just a few spots left).  In the summer months, fares start at $3199 pp.
• There are variations of this trip that extend to Prague, as well as Lower Danube Cruises that sail between Budapest and Bucharest, Romania. 

France

Uniworld has ships on three rivers in France:

• The Seine – round-trip Paris to Normandy, visiting Giverny (for Monet’s Gardens), Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Versailles, and the Normandy landing beaches. 
  • Dock within sight of the Eiffel Tour, and experience the urban wonder of Paris, as well as visiting Versailles.  Further downstream take a trip to the iconic Mont Saint Michel, and visit the charming fishing village of Honfleur and shop in a local market. 
  • Departures for 7-nights in March from $2199 per person, and in the summer months from $3599 pp.
• Rhone/Saone Rivers – between Lyon and Avignon for Burgundy and Provence.
  • See Roman ruins, the walled city of Avignon, ancient castles, and modern wineries in Burgundy, and the culinary centre of France: Lyon.
  • Departures for 7-nights in March for $2199 per person, and in the summer months from $3799 pp.
• Bordeaux River Cruise – round trip from Bordeaux.
  • This trip is about the wine-growing region and its estate wineries to be sure, but there are also picturesque hamlets to be visited, as well as visits to local markets for an immersion into French cuisine.
  • Departures for 7-nights in March/April for $2199 per person (a few spots left), and in the summer months from $2999 pp.

You can also combine any two of these three French River cruises for a two-week trip, and Uniworld will transfer you between regions for complete French immersion.

Save on 2023 Uniworld River Cruises

If you’d rather travel in 2023, then Uniworld is offering 10% early booking bonus savings.

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 by November 30th. 

Fly Free with Viking Ocean Cruises

We’re seeing some solid value offered by Viking in the next few months.  They’ve re-deployed their ship that was intended for Australia/New Zealand, and on a per day basis, it’s not going to get much better for a small ship than we’re seeing right now.  Here’s an example:

Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver, departing March 23^rd 2022 (26 days)

• Visits Mexico, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, California and Oregon. 
• For those with bucket-list destinations in the Americas, this cruise checks a lot of boxes. 
• Price includes round-trip flights, airport transfers, all taxes and fees, an excursion in each port of call, beer/wine with meals, specialty dining, and wifi on the ship. 
• Prices start at $6998 per person for a 270 square foot veranda stateroom.

There are also variations of this cruise offered with free air:

• Fort Lauderdale round trip – 15-days from $4499 pp
• Florida to California (or reverse) – 18-days form $4999 pp
• LA to Vancouver (or reverse) – 9-days from $2699 pp

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  We truly value each and every one of you, and are grateful that you are part of our tribe.  On a personal note, we’re doing back-to-back river cruises on the American Queen steamboat paddle-wheeler.  Follow along with us daily on Facebook and Instagram if you’re interested in this unique trip on the Mississippi and tributaries.  First post coming tomorrow!

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3149886645293828

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

If you’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?

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Sue Bradley